Business

I Refuse to Play Make Believe Any Longer

There are dozens of examples of things that are being pushed on society that we all know that they are entirely untrue, and yet they continue. They are make believe issues.

Published

2 years ago

March 1, 2021

Chris Widener

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” I Corinthians 13: 11

If you are a parent or grandparent, you have probably at one point or another had one of your daughters or granddaughters come up and ask you if you would like to dress like a princess and have a tea party. Or perhaps your son or grandson has asked to dress up and play Cowboys and Indians. And of course we all did (to be clear though, I did not dress up as a princess). At some point, however, those children stop playing make believe. Or at least they should. Imagine if your 40 year old daughter came out dressed like a princess and asked you for a tea party. It would be even more disturbing if she dressed like a princess every day and went to work that way, demanding that everyone call her “Princess.” Or if your 40 year old son wore a sheriff’s uniform to work each day. We would say that something was a little “off.”

Unfortunately we have tens of millions of people still playing make believe, pretending that something is true when it absolutely isn’t. The simplest example on this is this whole idea that a teenage boy can declare himself a girl and now join the high school girls track team. This requires everyone around him to suspend belief and pretend that he isn’t a boy. In fact, they DEMAND that we do so. Even when it is patently obvious that it is simply not true. Think about it. If they can make you go along with the idea that a human body with a penis is actually a girl, in spite of all science saying otherwise, they can make you believe anything. The make believe is designed to destroy the concept of absolute truth. (And let me say right here, so as not to be accused of “transphobia,” that I believe every transexual has the exact same rights as any other American citizen. Nothing less but nothing more either. They can do what they want to their bodies and call themselves whatever they want. I’m just not going to play along with their desire to claim something that isn’t true.)

And this is just one example. In preparing to write this article, I asked my Facebook friends what other games of “make believe” we are being demanded to play. Here are some of their answers (You will note that I have GREAT Facebook friends):

That we canceled the Pipeline project for the good of the climate but it’s ok that foreign countries produce our oil (like we don’t share all the same climate!)

Just because socialism has failed everywhere else doesn’t mean it won’t work here, because we’ll do it “right.”

You can sit inches from someone on an airplane for four hours, yet it is dangerous to not “social distance” while deplaning.

A higher minimum wage will lead to more opportunity and prosperity and not inflation.

That people crossing into the country illegally should not be referred to as illegal.

That the left can destroy monuments, burn property, destroy businesses, take over municipal and federal buildings but it is called a protest.

How more gun control leads to less violence.

That late term abortion is ever necessary to save a woman’s life.

That we should not defend our property, because the thieves need it more than we do.

That Trump is a white supremacist or a Russian asset.

That at elementary age children are old enough to give sexual consent.

That Democrats are for the common man.

That personal wealth is built on the backs of the working poor.

That young black men – or any race for that matter – are being hunted down in the streets by police.

That two million poor immigrants can be admitted into the country to be fully supported at public expense and it will have no economic impact on the people who are already here.

That science is an oracle with all the answers instead of a process for exploring questions.

That banning plastic bags and straws, particularly in cities hundreds of miles inland, will save the lives of sea turtles.

That you are selfish if you support capitalism and want to see our country prosper.

That requiring ID to vote disenfranchises minorities. The implication being that minorities just aren’t smart enough to know how to get a driver’s license or personal ID.

We need TSA security and proper identification at our airports, but not at our borders or at polling places.

That just because I was born white, I’m automatically racist.

The X and Y chromosome are irrelevant when determining male or female.

Extended lockdowns were necessary or effective.

There you have it. Those were generated from just one Facebook post. I am sure that you may be able to come up with even more. But the point is that there are dozens of examples of things that are being pushed on society that we all know that they are entirely untrue, and yet they continue. They are make believe issues.

The question is why do they continue living in their fantasy land? I think they continue because we play along. They pretend and we go right along and pretend with them.

Well folks, I’m through.

I am by profession, a speaker. I have written 22 books, I am in the Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame, and have spoken all over the world at conferences. I was having a Facebook discussion around the way people are now choosing pronouns that are not accurate at all. For example, a man now requires you to call him “her” or “she.” It is not true and it is therefore not even proper english. Especially when that man wants to be called “they.” It is absurd. One man or one woman is a single, not a plural. In this conversation a friend of mine from the National Speakers Association declared that most corporations are moving this way and if they require me to call their Male CEO “her” or she” or “they,” that he would do so.

That was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me. Why that? I don’t know, but it did. I said that I am done playing make believe. Sure, if their male CEO wants to be called Sheryl or Margaret, I would be happy to do so (although I would snicker in my head every time I did). But I will not play make believe and call him a woman.

In fact, I won’t be playing make believe in anything, ever again. You can pretend whatever you want. I won’t be joining you. Instead, I would encourage you to stop pretending – or even just being silent when they pretend – because allowing them to pretend without speaking up and challenging it has consequences. How bizarre is the make believe we’re talking about? Consider this:

The story I’m about to tell you is from a friend of ours. It happened to her. This is not a secondhand story.

She was at a major clothing retail store and was going to go into the dressing room to try on some clothes. When the person who disinfects the room after someone uses it came out, she started moving toward the dressing room but was told to stop. She was told she had to wait for two minutes.

When she asked why, she was told that it took a couple of minutes for the coronavirus to fall off the surfaces and drift to the floor. Apparently, if she went in too early, she might bump into it in the air and catch the virus. (No mention of whether or not you can catch it on the soles of your feet)

You can’t make this stuff up. And I’m not.

What have we come to?

Until those of us who are concerned with the truth stand up and fight in the marketplace of ideas, we we are doomed because there are enough uninformed and gullible people who will follow right along with the make believe fairy tales being thrust upon the masses. We cannot allow ourselves to be canceled or dismissed.

America was built on the free flow of information and the exchange of ideas. America is a place where everyone’s voice can and should be heard and the goal is that the truth will win out. We must battle for the truth and make sure that every step of the way it is heard.

One of the greatest speeches ever given in a film was Al Pacino‘s character in Any Given Sunday. Right before a big game he tells his team that football and life is a game of inches. You have to battle for every single inch you take. The other team is going to battle fiercely, and we see that each and every day as they flood the airwaves with lies, half truths, misinformation, and disinformation. All of it make believe in order to deceive the masses. We must battle them every single inch of the way. For if we do not, eventually we will lose.

Today is the day to make your voice heard. The left RELIES on your apathy. I get it. I know how difficult it is when somebody is saying something stupid to open your mouth and raise your voice and say the truth. It is a lot easier to just roll your eyes and consider them a moron.

We must make our voices heard. Quit going along with their fairy tales and speak up!

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Chris Widener

Chris is the Founder of PolitiCrossing, one of the World's Top 50 Speakers and a member of the Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame. He considers it a privilege to be able to speak to people, help them lead successful lives, become extraordinary leaders and, masterful salespeople. Chris has authored twenty-three books with three million copies in print in 14 languages and over 450 articles on success, leadership, sales and motivation.

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Business

The Tensions that Will Define America’s Future

Published

3 weeks ago

March 13, 2023

Terry L. Paulson, Ph.D., CSP, CPAE

Agreeing to participate in Robert Tucker’s Pacific Coast Futures Retreat in Santa Barbara has challenged me to explore some of the trends and forces that will influence America’s future. The most impactful forces that define periods in history are often not linear. They are cyclical, a tension of forces that force movement between two extremes. Defining such tensions and where we are on them can open us to opportunity and possibly save us from disasters of our own making. Here are ten tensions in play at this time in history:

Energy Scarcity or Energy Abundance: Affordable energy is needed for economies to prosper and citizens to reach their own potential. With the current administration’s rejection of fossil fuels and promotion of specific alternative energies, energy scarcity with its inflationary pressure is winning the day. Within the next ten years, increased use of nuclear energy, less restrictions on fossil fuels, and developments in fusion energy will help reestablish energy abundance.

Embracing Technological Innovation or Rejection of Technology: Rapid technological innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) have increased our dependence on devices to perform daily activities. This trend will increase with those rejecting such advances falling behind and limiting their employment opportunities. Today, embracing innovation is winning the future, but there are dangers on the horizon. Will the AI innovations we create eventually create machine cognition that becomes hard to control increasing resistance?.

Human Relationships or Virtual Reality: You don’t have to look far to see the preoccupation with smart phone interaction in place of actual social conversations. Expect that metaverse advances in the use and quality of virtual reality (VR) interaction and augmented reality (AR) headsets will become more intense and attractive. True relationships take time, can be frustrating, and are seldom as consistently satisfying. Sadly, pornography will likely be leading the way in driving the expansion of virtual reality. This powerful force will strike a blow at our social fabric and cohesion.

Government Dependence or Personal Responsibility: Biden’s administration has argued for guaranteed income and established more government entitlements. With a small Republican majority in the House and Biden’s veto power, more citizens remain dependent on the government, and those producing services and products face increased taxes. The conflicting draw of socialism and capitalism will always be with us, but free-enterprise capitalism will win the future on the basis of economic results.

Soft on Crime or Strong Enforcement: We’ve witnessed increased criticism of law enforcement abuse and growing demands to defund the police. Traditionally, one of the basic functions of a civil society is for authorities to hold people accountable for crimes and protect citizens and their property. Far too many district attorneys and politicians are refusing to prosecute criminals and are calling for gun control. With citizens feeling unsafe, guns and private security systems have proliferated. The growing call for stricter enforcement will continue to grow in response to the riots and increases in crime. Law and order is a winning campaign issue for 2024 and beyond.

Peace or War: The longing for peace and the reality of war have always been with us. With the proliferation of more powerful weapons, waging war is far more destructive. There is hope that diplomacy, global economic interdependence, and the resulting economic opportunity will be enough to maintain world peace and limit destructive conflict. Unfortunately, the existence of biological, nuclear, EMT weapons makes the likelihood of mutual destruction a frightening reality. The current open conflict in Ukraine gives war a scary advantage for the immediate future.

Out of Many One or Out of Many Tribes: The civil rights movement and the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. was to make our motto e pluribus unum, “out of many one,” a reality. Since that time there has been a strong focus and progress in eliminating racial bias. Recent societal forces have worked to divide citizens by skin color to justify ‘special interest” rewards for certain groups. A reaction to this new “tribal racism” is beginning to gain support and fuel a fight against special interest reparations for past racism. Expect a hard-fought resistance to reparations and a renewed call common rights and responsibilities for all citizens, no matter their age, gender, race, or ethnicity.

School Choice or Public Schools: After the poor performance and questionable indoctrination from public schools, there is a strong drive for school choice. Parents want more control over what schools children attend and what they are taught. With strong minority support, this is a trend that will win the day and result in a better education for our children.

Open Borders or Controlled Immigration: There is no question that we need more workers to continue to drive our economy. With the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants adversely impacting cities throughout the country, there is renewed interest in controlling our borders. Expect a resurgence in demands for secure borders, accountability for drug cartels, and increases in legal immigration.

Greed or Compassion: America has always supported individuals pursuing happiness and success, but it has valued others being able to do the same. A commitment to compassion supports benevolent self-interest where compassion for one’s fellow man is realized as the only way for all to thrive. Care for one’s community over selfishness will remain a strong force that should win the day in coming years.

Secular or Sacred: America has been a Judeo-Christian country that anchored its freedoms and future in the assurance of a loving God who cares about every individual and demands ethical behavior. Dostoevsky’s would observe, “If there is no God, everything is permissible.” Without faith, ethical absolutes are not shared. Although there’s been a decrease in church attendance, there seem to be signs of a spiritual revival. In tough times, people search for and depend on God. Expect a renewed focus on faith, ethics, and involvement in religious communities in the challenging times ahead.

At any given time, all of these tensions become forces that define what the future holds for countries and individuals. There are dangers ahead that must be managed, but tough times develop stronger citizens and demand more responsive politicians. Those who thrive in these times will do so by finding ways to tap and capitalize on the ascending forces impacting society. Thankfully for America, President Biden’s radical liberal changes have created strong counter forces that will result in a rejection of many unpopular changes and fuel a call for more conservative policies and priorities.

Purchase Dr. Paulson’s newly released ”Joy Comes with the Morning” course today! Get ready to enjoy the 31 short, recorded messages on your computer or smart phone. Each message is designed to expand and enhance your joy-filled faith experience whenever you need or want it. Visit tomeapp.com/joy to start bringing more Christian joy to your morning today. Contact him at [email protected]

Business

Top Five Online Scams to Avoid

How to recognize them, and what to do when they come your way.

Published

3 weeks ago

March 8, 2023

News Staff

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Scams have been around for centuries, but with the advancement of technology, it has become easier for scammers to reach a wider audience and deceive more people. In this article, we will discuss the top five scams to avoid, how to recognize them, and what to do when they come your way.

Phishing Scams

Phishing scams are one of the most common types of scams that people fall for. This type of scam involves a scammer sending you an email, text message or phone call pretending to be a legitimate company, such as your bank, PayPal, or Amazon. The scammer will then ask you to provide your personal information, such as your username, password, credit card number, or social security number.

How to recognize a phishing scam:

The email, text message or phone call will usually have urgent language, urging you to take immediate action.

The email or website may have poor spelling or grammar.

The website link provided may look similar to the legitimate website, but it will have a different URL.

The email may come from an unfamiliar email address.

What to do if you receive a phishing scam:

Do not click on any links or download any attachments from the email.

Do not provide any personal information.

Contact the company directly using the contact information on their legitimate website.

Forward the email to the company’s fraud department.

Investment Scams

Investment scams are designed to make you believe that you can make a lot of money quickly and easily. These scams can be found in many forms, such as Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, or high-yield investment programs. These scams often require you to invest a large amount of money upfront and promise high returns in a short amount of time.

How to recognize an investment scam:

The investment opportunity promises high returns in a short amount of time.

The investment opportunity requires you to invest a large amount of money upfront.

The investment opportunity is not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The person offering the investment opportunity is not licensed or registered with the SEC.

What to do if you come across an investment scam:

Do not invest any money.

Research the investment opportunity thoroughly.

Contact the SEC to see if the investment opportunity is registered.

Report the scam to the SEC.

Lottery and Sweepstakes Scams

Lottery and sweepstakes scams are designed to make you believe that you have won a large sum of money. The scammer will then ask you to pay a fee or provide personal information to claim your prize. These scams can be found in many forms, such as email, text message, or phone call.

How to recognize a lottery or sweepstakes scam:

You are notified that you have won a prize, but you have not entered any lottery or sweepstakes.

You are asked to pay a fee or provide personal information to claim your prize.

The email, text message, or phone call is from an unknown source.

The prize amount is much larger than the entry fee.

What to do if you come across a lottery or sweepstakes scam:

Do not provide any personal information.

Do not pay any fees.

Do not respond to the email, text message, or phone call.

Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Tech Support Scams

Tech support scams are designed to make you believe that there is something wrong with your computer or device. The scammer will then offer to fix the problem for a fee or by gaining remote access to your device. These scams can be found in many forms, such as pop-up ads, phone calls, or emails.

How to recognize a tech support scam:

You receive an unsolicited phone call, email, or pop-up

The caller claims to be from a well-known tech company, such as Microsoft or Apple.

The caller will usually use scare tactics to make you believe that your device has a serious problem.

The caller will ask for remote access to your computer or ask you to install software on your device.

What to do if you come across a tech support scam:

Do not provide any personal information.

Do not allow remote access to your computer.

Do not download any software.

Hang up the phone or close the pop-up ad.

Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Romance Scams

Romance scams are designed to make you believe that you have found love online. The scammer will often create a fake profile on a dating website or social media platform and start a conversation with you. The scammer will then ask for money, either for travel expenses, medical expenses, or other reasons.

How to recognize a romance scam:

The person’s profile may have very few details or photos.

The person will often profess their love very quickly.

The person will ask for money.

The person may claim to be in a foreign country.

What to do if you come across a romance scam:

Do not send any money.

Do not provide any personal information.

Research the person’s profile and ask for proof of their identity.

Report the scam to the dating website or social media platform.

In conclusion, it is important to be aware of these top five scams and how to recognize them. By following the tips provided and taking the necessary precautions, you can avoid falling victim to these scams. Remember to always be cautious when providing personal information and never send money to anyone you do not know or trust. If you do come across a scam, be sure to report it to the appropriate authorities. Stay safe and stay informed.