COLD ANGER – A religious-freedom advocacy group has filed its second grievance in as many weeks with the Army, again demanding that imagery featuring a red crucifix be removed from Army signage — and this time, insisting the aviation unit involved change its logo and its nickname.

The logo of Echo Company, 1st Battalion, 212th Aviation Regiment, based at Fort Rucker, Alabama, contains “blatantly unconstitutional Christian Crusader imagery” and should be discontinued immediately, Military Religious Freedom Foundation president and founder Mikey Weinstein wrote Monday in an email addressed to Maj. Gen. Michael Lundy, commanding general of Fort Rucker and the Army Aviation Center of Excellence.

Weinstein, an Air Force Academy graduate whose MRFF claims more than 40,000 active-duty clients across the military, also demanded the unit cease using the name “Crusaders,” which he called “incredibly offensive and unconstitutional.” (more…)

You know times are changing when even Sweden wants to stop their heads from being lopped off. Normally the Brangelina Peacenik Swedes are more than willing to jump to their own demise than offend delicate sensibilities.

SWEDEN Via UK Guardian – Sweden needs “respite” from the tens of thousands of refugees knocking at its door, the government has said, announcing tough measures to deter asylum seekers in a sharp reversal of its open-door policy towards people fleeing war and persecution.

The country’s generous asylum regime would revert to the “EU minimum”, Sweden’s prime minister, Stefan Löfven, said on Tuesday, revealing that most refugees would receive only temporary residence permits from April.

Identity checks would be imposed on all modes of transport, and the right to bring families to Sweden would be severely restricted, he said. (more…)

France’s socialist President Hollande was already in political trouble prior to the terror attack in Paris and this has only been exacerbated by recent events.  In order for Hollande to remain connected to, and a viable leader of, the people of France – he must now embrace the reality of a growing nationalist sentiment.  Enter Vladimir Putin….

( Via Fox News ) French President Francois Hollande and Russia’s Vladimir Putin agreed to share intelligence information and cooperate on selecting targets in the fight against the Islamic State group, raising hope for closer ties between Moscow and the U.S.-led anti-IS coalition following the Paris terror attacks.

Putin said that Russia is ready to more broadly coordinate its military action in Syria with the U.S.-led coalition, but he harshly criticized Washington for failing to prevent the downing of a Russian warplane by NATO member Turkey. Hollande said Tuesday’s shoot-down of the Russian jet was a “serious incident, obviously regrettable” that underlined the need for closer coordination between the nations which are fighting the IS.

(more…)

Holidays are joyful celebrations – Indeed we all have much to be thankful for.  However, many are also experiencing this Thanksgiving inside a cocoon of loss.

Behind many overlooked eyes, are feelings of being disconnected from it all – worsened by a choking guilt associated with not quite feeling the same prior joy, and a worrisome fear of burdening others.

If this strikes a specific cord, you are not alone.  Today we also light a candle for you and for ourselves –thankful– and we pray purposefully for a steadying comfort.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

(more…)

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “2016 Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Presidential Race and/or any of the candidates therein.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

The mid-east Islamist “refugee’s” have bottle-necked in Calais France trying to find a way to cross the English Channel and reach Britain.  However, they have now begun to attack truck convoys -and hijack vehicles- to reach England….

(Via Breitbart London)  The level of intimidation faced lorry drivers passing through Calais at the hands of migrants is “out of control” and “totally unacceptable”, a spokesman for Britain’s road haulage industry has said. His association has now set up a hotline for drivers to report threatening behaviour by migrants, but drivers using the route have dismissed it as “useless,” saying “it’s a war out there!”

Around 6,000 migrants are currently gathered at Calais, looking for an opportunity to make it across the English Channel into Britain. As their numbers swell, so they are becoming more brazen in their attempts to climb on board lorries headed to the UK.

Drivers have described being threatened at knife and gun point, being beaten with baseball bats and having their trailers slashed as migrants force their way on board, describing the situation as “a war”. (more…)

What’s that they say about “Apples and Trees”?   Ivanka Trump is a very sharp, classically elegant, and intensely poised person – a great representative for her family and her own values.

Yes, it’s that time of year when the “Omnibus” spending kicks into overdrive.  Washington DC loves it when the electorate are distracted with the Holiday Festivities.

This year we taxpayers get yet another round of usurpation from the Progressive Republican GOPe critters, led now by Paul Ryan, who infect the spending body.

SPEAKER Ryan and his team of spending enthusiasts is getting ready to “bail out”, meaning give, the ObamaCare health insurance carriers an influx of EVEN MORE money:

WASHINGTON DC – […]  Negotiators are not close to a deal but are looking seriously at the framework discussed by Senate Finance Committee member Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., when the latter served as Ways and Means chair, tax lobbyists and House staffers said. The two lawmakers were unable to agree on the level of funding for highway programs, and negotiations stalled.

(more…)