[guest post by Dana]

It’s Christmas Eve, and around here presents are still waiting to be wrapped, the turkey may or may not be adequately thawed, and my efforts to cheat and not make homemade cookies this year was an unmitigated disaster. Note to self: when pre-packaged cookie dough says reindeer “stamped”, consider that a red flag. A picture is not worth a thousand yums, and if it looks like cardboard, it will probably taste like cardboard…

Anyway, I read President Obama’s statement concerning the persecution of Christians throughout the world. On the surface, I wholeheartedly agree with him. But because it’s Christmas Eve, I will graciously refrain from noting a bit of breathtaking irony with his concerns, and will also refrain from looking beneath the surface to point out the sad, but obvious... Suffice it to say, until he looks in his own backyard and backs up his words with corrective action, I am choosing to instead focus on the agreed upon need to pray for Christians who face torture and death because of their faith.

In spite of knowing the risk, these believers who have the immense faith of a mustard seed, refuse to buckle under, refuse to convert, and refuse to deny Him. I don’t know that kind of courage, faith, and resolve. And although I’ve never been tested that way, I don’t need to be in order to know that I would deny belonging to Christ in a hot second if it meant escaping torture and saving my life. Oh, ye of little faith, indeed. Yet, as with most believers, it’s not death that troubles me, it’s the ‘getting there’ – especially if it’s in a land where rampant evil makes itself known at the hands of depraved madmen living in abject darkness, save for the Godly remnant. No one’s life in Christ comes with guaranteed comfort and safety, at least not in this world. But what it does come with is something far deeper, transforming, and lasting than anything mortal man can create: a peace that surpasses all understanding and an eternal life in the presence of God, thus forever absent of evil.

Pastor Su Tianfu of China, where Christians are routinely persecuted and thrive in spite of it, has experienced both mortal fear and divine strength in the face of persecution as have many other saints. So when he claims that faith and love of God cannot be chained, I believe him.

This Christmas I want to stay mindful of the relative ease with which I am able to live out my faith. It’s a luxury not to be taken for granted. And yet no matter where we are and what circumstances we face, the believer everywhere can be assured that God’s promise will forever be a constant: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” God bless those throughout the world who are courageous enough to claim Christ in the face of terror, and are wholly surrendered to His will, no matter what it may be.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, there are two dogs here excitedly awaiting their uh, freshly baked “reindeer” doggy treats…

–Dana

[guest post by Dana]

Earlier this week we learned that 30% of polled GOP voters supported the bombing of the mythical town of “Agrabah”.

Today we find out that even a greater percentage of Democrats support taking in refugees from the same fictional town:

On December 20, 2015, WPA Research fielded a national survey of 1,132 registered voters that found 44% of Democrats would support taking refugees from that same Agrabah. PPP may have proven that some Republicans will support bombing a fictional country, but fully 44% of Democrats will allow refugees from anywhere into the country, whether they are potential ISIS supporters from Syria or potential cartoon characters on a magic carpet ride.

Further, young Democrats may not be as sharp as their party would like you to believe:

Additionally, Democrats ages 18-34, a key constituency of President Obama, are especially eager to take in imaginary refugees.

Nearly two-thirds of these voters support accepting refugees from Agrabah.

This is particularly suprising given this generation grew up watching Disney films such as Aladdin.

Democrats ages 18-34
Support 66%
Indifferent 12%
Oppose 22%

This after officials have acknowledged there is no way to effectively vet refugees coming in from Syria, and after it was discovered that a radical Islamic jihadist used a fake passport to sneak into Europe before wreaking havoc in last month’s terrorist attack in France.

Moreover, given that we now know that San Bernardino terrorist, Tashfeen Malik was not thoroughly vetted before being allowed into the country, there is no question that there is a lack of efficiency and reliability in the current vetting process.

While it’s certainly admirable to want to help those in need, any goodness goes right down the drain when a self-serving compulsion to preen in moral superiority outweighs the safety and well-being of Americans. We are not fooled. Your self-righteous underpants are showing.

–Dana

UPDATE BY PATTERICO: From my earlier post:

For example, you could ask whether we should welcome Daleks as refugees, and I guarantee you that a plurality of Democrats would support welcoming within our borders this Nazi-like group of mutants from Doctor Who, bent on exterminating inferior races. If I were rich, I would commission a poll to ask this very question.

Nice to see that someone commissioned, essentially, that poll.