There was a time, and it was not long ago, when you could sit down and write a column a few days in advance with a better than even chance that events would not overtake it. Reporters would even write “ever-green” columns and stories, to keep in the queue for events such as the sudden cancellation of a full-page ad or the illness of the columnist. The ever-green piece could be dropped in and all would be well.
The Zippy Boys return to celebrate the third anniversary of our podcast! Join Tim and Jason as we touch on the massive foreign aid bill recently passed by Congress, the accompanying TikTok ban, the 2024 St. Louis Cardinals and the hope of Jesus’s resurrection as we mourn the death of loved ones.
In a parallel universe last week, Iranian drones and missiles were launched against two pro-Western democracies. The same two that received those volleys in our universe; just one bit was different in Universe Two: there, the West scrambled jets to protect Ukraine, leaving Israel to fend for itself.
My feed on X has filled with posts from officials of Ukraine, Romania and the Netherlands touting the opening of the European F-16 Training Center in Romania. Highlighting this was a video of Ukrainian pilots showing off their newly acquired skills in piloting said aircraft. The word “resolve” comes to mind given that I can write that sentence at all — for a long time, the West refused the beleaguered nation access to advanced jets. “Resolve” also speaks to the dangerous test ahead hinted at in that hesitancy.
Have you ever re-watched a sad movie, hoping that this time the outcome will be different? Welcome to the world today. Only it’s not a movie.
The worsening of our global situation, including two sparks that appear more volatile than an unfortunate duke meeting a bullet ever could have been, should be a wake-up call. Our politicians have driven us to the brink of a world war by their myopic plans forged by reelection efforts and not our (or the world’s) good.
Babies. They beheaded babies. They are proud of it. It is particularly troubling when acts are so horrific that people of good will are sad that they are not there to personally kill the offenders. But that was my instant, immutable response to a video I saw on Saturday.