Logical Fallacies


Posted originally on the CTH onAugust 11, 2024 | Menagerie | 201 Comments

Wikipedia says a logical fallacy is the use of invalid or otherwise faulty reasoning in the construction of an argument. We used to be taught this in school. My first formal exposure to deductive and inductive reasoning was in science class in junior high school. Later I studied mathematical logic in college.

Inductive reasoning is a method of drawing conclusions by going from specific observations to general observations.


Often we tend to think of inductive reasoning as bad, or sloppy reasoning, but that is not the case. Inductive reasoning is the base for the scientific method, for how research is conducted. We use it every day to help us figure the world out, to make sense of things, to make decisions.

That being said, I think it is too often misused.

Before I throw dirt at others, let me come clean with my own worst tendency to use it. Bear with me please, it involves some ideas and conflicts specific to Catholicism, but it’s my best example of where I let my own logic fail me, and emotion take over, and that’s the whole point of this post. If you are Catholic, I’d ask you, no matter which side of the divide you might be on, or perhaps even not relate at all, to look for the point here and not get sidetracked.

The last decades have seen an increasing number of Catholics be just as divided into camps as we are in politics. Catholics who prefer to attend Mass in the Ancient, also called Extraordinary Form, commonly known as the Latin Mass, have become known as Trad Catholics. Some self identify with that term, and some use it, and see it, as an insult.

Most Catholics, including me, choose to attend the Ordinary Form, or Novus Ordo. Little or no Latin is spoken, although there are a number of important differences in the two forms of the Mass.

I have had the unfortunate experience of having a number of bad encounters with Trad Catholics. Indeed, the worst I’ve ever been attacked for one of my posts on this blog was by several Trads, and it was really vicious.

Consequently, I tend to not give Traditional Catholics the benefit of the doubt in my encounters with them. In spite of the fact that theologically my beliefs are almost identical to theirs. My values almost always align with theirs. We have much in common politically and in lifestyle choices.

But because my own specific encounters have been difficult, I often form opinions about their actions and motivations based on a very minute set of facts, and contrary to many other things I know to be true.

So, on to other examples I see, specifically here, that concern me.

Everyone who differs in opinion in some way from commonly held MAGA doctrine, whatever that might be, is not necessarily failing to support President Trump.

Everyone who expresses a dissenting or unpopular opinion here is not necessarily a troll.

Everyone who agrees with the choice of Vance for Vice President or disagrees with the choice is not necessarily a subversive deep state enemy or a brilliant thinker who never fails to connect the dots, or listen to good counsel.

If I have a moral and religious belief or value more closely held than my opposition to abortion, I can’t think what it is. Yet, I will say, not everyone who gets an abortion is evil. There are young, ignorant and uninformed girls and women who are often pressured into this terrible choice. There are sex trafficked victims for whom this is just one more terrible abuse.

There is an awful lot of talk right now, given the British cop who wants to, haha, extradite Americans for exercising freedom of speech. We need to think about what that means, freedom of speech.

If we believe in the right, then we believe in it for everyone. I don’t have to approve of what you say, and I should not therefore decide that you are a bad person, a lazy thinker, or even not just a supporter of President Trump because you said something I don’t believe.

Over the years, some of my most important choices in life have been based on information I obtained by talking to people I thought were wrong, or people I disagreed with. Sometimes those discussions led me to clarify and temper my own thoughts, improving my position and my opinions. Sometimes, they led me to investigate a different path.

My choice to support President Trump in his initial run for president was greatly influenced by Sundance and some of you. I was initially curious, open to learning more and supporting him, as I hated the other choices, but it was not a done deal based on emotion. I had a lot to think about.

I actually never intended to convert to Catholicism, the most important choice of my whole life. I was pursuing knowledge for a different reason entirely. Life is like that, if you set out to learn things.

Do not tell people they don’t belong here because they disagreed with you.

Do not call them a troll because they disagreed with you.

If you only ever go to the library looking for books by one author because you really, really like him, you sure are going to be a stunted, uninformed person throughout your life. And the one who will have lost the most is you.

William J. Federer Walks Through How The God Gives You Value, Not Your Intersectionality Group


Posted originally on Rumble By Bannons War Room on: Aug 03, 2024 at 11:00 am EST

Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee Dies from Pancreatic Cancer


Posted originally on the CTH on July 20, 2024 | Sundance 

On June 3rd it was previously announced by her office that representative Sheila Jackson-Lee was battling pancreatic cancer.  [I wrote about it/her here]

Today, her office announced she died.  Cancer is horrible.  While it is sometimes difficult to find resilient grace and appropriate words for prayer; that does not absolve us of the commands of our faith. I will pray for Mrs Sheila Jackson-Lee and her family.  Understanding the path of light was fully within her control.

Dear Lord, we come to you seeking strength and grace. While we ask You to protect us from those who give no thought to the harmful consequences of their irresponsible actions, we also beg for grace -and forgiveness- within our prayers for those who blindly trespass. Shield us from the injurious situations they cause, let their malicious intents be hindered and target our prayers when comeuppance arrives.

As we earnestly try to live in peace with everyone, keep us away from contentious people who might incite us to react without pause or grace. Provide us with gracious, strong yet gentle words for healing that may help pacify the troubled hearts of the malicious. We make effort to glorify You and give testimony of our faith at every opportunity.

Guide and comfort the family of Mrs. Sheila Jackson Lee. During this time of loss and sorrow, bring them closer to You.  We beg You to wrap Your wing of love around them, in the way that only Your purity can provide.  In Your name of mercy, we pray.

Amen.

Does a Near Death Experience Change You?


Posted originally on Jul 17, 2024 By Martin Armstrong

Trump is alive, for he turned his head to his right just a couple of inches. Had he not done that, the first shot of this patsy would have killed Trump. He said he “‘feels very fortunate” to be alive. Already I am hearing people what independent balisticsand the bullets. With the FBI investigating, there is just no credibility left anymore after what people have seen with the investigation into the JFK assassination.

Babylon BeeTrump_Indicted_For_Inciting_Assassination_Attempt

What I hear is that people are claiming it is Trump’s fault for his rhetoric. Now I hear that Trump will realize he is wrong and will suddenly repent and become a Democrat, I suppose. Let me explain something since I have personal experience with being the target of assassination. This is nonsense!

1 Attack Coma 3 days

Many assume that near-death experiences completely alter a person’s views regardless of how devout they may have been. I can say after the attempt on my life that I survived, to their dismay, when I awoke from a coma days later; it did change me, but not in the way I have read that people assume. In my case, it took the fear of death from me rather than making me more devout and afraid of death. But it also strengthened me as I knew my purpose was to stand up and fight.

Near Death Experience

There has been a recent review of the research into near-death experiences. The most common result seems to be a loss of fear of death, a reinvigorated sense of purpose, and increased compassion for others. Where I had restricted our services mainly to institutional pre-1999, it did make me realize that to create world change for the better; I had to share what I had learned and try to demonstrate to the world that there is a better way if we live with the cycle instead of trying to manipulate it for political gain.

Maralago

I went to dinner at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, and I posted about it on March 13th, 2020. However, it was at that dinner when Trump said he wanted to withdraw the troops from Afghanistan. He was the first head of state ever to really impress me from a human perspective. He said he was tired of writing letters to the parents of a soldier who had died there. He said:

“What are we doing there? These people have been fighting over borders for a thousand years. What difference are we going to make?” 

I find CNN and MSNBC vile. All they ever do is demonize Trump. I was told that people at CNN were upset because this suddenly “humanized” him after so many years of deliberately trying so hard to dehumanize him.

I got to see that Trump was concerned for the soldiers who were dying only because the Neocons, like John Bolton, constantly wanted to convert the United States into an imperial power that dominated the entire world with his endless wars. Let’s make this very clear about Bolton. John Bolton was a fervent supporter of the Vietnam War, yet he managed to avoid combat through a student deferment followed by enlistment in the Maryland Air National Guard. He is always willing to send American boys to their deaths but sought a deferment for himself.

Bolton John Neocon

Bolton openly supported the United States’ interference in other countries under his philosophy that, somehow, we have the right to carry out regime changes worldwide. That is precisely what got JFK assassinated by the CIA because they were engaging in regime change, assassinating leaders, and he wanted to terminate the CIA.

Nevertheless, Donald Trump said on his social media site Truth Social on Sunday that ‘it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.’ He was already against war. I believe he will take the path I did and see that he is here for a purpose. Perhaps that purpose is to try to mitigate this mad rush into World War III.

This is more than just the hatred of Rachel Maddow and all the LEFTIST that should be expelled to some island where they can create a world of communists. They seem to prefer where nobody may say or do anything that they disapprove of. These people are outright traitors to everything that America was intended to be. They espouse nothing but hatred, and this is the very reason the United States will break up.  These people have no respect for civilization, and I refuse even to call my “mother” and birthing person because the term “mother” offended them. They will NEVER change their ideology; any call for unity will quickly fade as the days pass. They will NEVER live under Trump, who they have so demonized with raw hatred.

7 4 24 BBC_presenter_David_Aaronovitch_tweets_if_I_was_Biden_I_d_hurry_up_and_have_Tru

These comments of having Trump killed have been worldwide by the LEFT. David Aaronovitch, who presents Radio 4’s Briefing Room show, and the Daily Mail reported that on July 4th, he put out on Twitter: “If I was Biden, I’d hurry up and have Trump murdered on the basis that he is a threat to America’s security.”

I believe Trump has been stripped of any fear of death, and further, I think he now sees that his saying, Make America Great Again, will form an even more profound sense of purpose. Perhaps this will contribute to the political changes that must come post-2032. Yes, civilization requires unity. But the cancer is on the LEFT where they always present themselves as victims for they do not have what others have and so on. They constantly try to force their way of life upon everyone else right down to punish anyone who has more than they do. the LEFT will never change – it is in their DNA. That is why nations will no longer be able to stand united.

Saturday Speculations


Posted originally on the CTH on July 6, 2024 | Menagerie

Spoiler alert. That might be my $20 (inflation!) word for a rant. And open season, nothing is off limits guys. Whatever’s on your mind.

I will start with truth. After a few things I’ve observed lately, let’s start with the basics. Apparently people on both sides need a primer.

True

Inoun

1. The quality or state of being true.

2. That which is true or in accordance with fact or reality.

3. A fact or belief that is accepted as true.

Let’s discuss. 1. Too vague. 2. Okay, agreed. 3. Absolutely not.

I found something worth a little thought from Webster’s 1913 online.

1. The quality or being true; as: — (a) Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been; or shall be.

It also goes on to expand the meaning of truth, and I’d like to come back to that later.

Fidelity; constancy; steadfastness; faithfulness.

There is truth, and it isn’t fungible. In the real world, we don’t have my truth and your truth. An orange is an orange and a man is a man. Vows are vows, and you don’t get to interpret them after the fact. If you make a commitment, pledge a vow, sign a contract, then you go into knowing and accepting the reality as is, not as you think it should be.

Everyone who has been married understands that we all bit off more than we thought, and reality is different from romance. Most of us buckle down, put in the work, and deal with that, with varying degrees of success.

But suppose your spouse decides they don’t like fidelity and want an open marriage. Nope. Not what you pledged. Suppose your husband decides he wants to be your wife. Again, no.

Those are the easy ones. Let’s do harder. Suppose you work at a low paying job, your boss is abusive, and you are really in desperate straits financially. You begin to take small amounts from the cash register, never really missed, and after all, you are underpaid, and asked to work off the clock.

Again, no. It is a truth that theft is wrong. A truth that is not subject to your interpretation.

I have had people I really do not like offer me good counsel, telling me things that might be difficult to take, especially from them. Some of them had my best interests at heart, and some of them had their own best interests at heart, but helping me in some way suited that interest. My feelings about them, and about whatever difficult truth I was being challenged to face didn’t change facts.

I like this person, it’s easier to agree with their course of action. I hate this one, therefore every thing they do is wrong. Not valid, nor is it productive.

Moving on.

Every American, right, left, Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, really ought to unite in digging through muck and filth and coverup for answers about why the government has been run by proxy, and who is running it.

And yeah, for us, we saw this way back, before Obama even, but let’s just deal with today and the “wink,wink” crowd who just got outraged. Okay, man up, own it, walk back from the brink and fix things.

I can’t calculate that infinitesimal percentage of chance.

For the love of little green apples, climate cultists, EVs are not immaculately conceived. They get here by way of petroleum based manufacturing. But before that, look into lithium mining. The process, the human labor, the precious CO2 emissions in the process, water used. You know, stuff.

Why aren’t parents trustworthy enough to teach reading, writing, and math to their own kids at home, but they know enough medicine and psychology to “understand” that their non verbal 18 month old baby is transgender?

And may I return, yet again, to one of my perennial questions.

Young ladies, why would you enter into a relationship with a man who is more effeminate than you, wears more jewelry, styles his hair, and, Great Aunt Gertie’s garters, wears skinny jeans. No man belongs in skinny jeans. And have you seen the suit pants men wear now? I don’t want them to look like leggings, and I don’t want to see your socks.

Someday life is going to slam you with a level 5 tornado you didn’t see coming, and man bun skinny jeans boys will fold and buckle.

If you’re using buttermilk, it should never be low-fat.

I’ll save the rest for another fine day. Your turn.

Oh yeah, big add. Okay, I consider liberals stupid, to say the least. But pass the popcorn. They finally have to own up, on the international stage, no less, to poor decision making and irresponsible, dangerous actions having unavoidable repercussions. Even for them, epic stupid.

LIVE: GLOBAL POPULISM SPECIAL WITH BEN BERGQUAM AND RAHEEM KASSAM


Posted originally on Rumble By Bannons War Room on: July 04, 2024 at 05:00 pm EST

Terribly Sad – Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie Announces the Death of His Wife


Posted originally on the CTH on June 29, 2024 | Sundance | 123 Comments

The details and cause are unknown; however, Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie announced his wife’s passing on his Twitter account [HERE]

Prayers extended to his entire family.

(Via FOX NEWS) – Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky on Friday announced the passing of his wife, Rhonda.

“Yesterday my high school sweetheart, the love of my life for over 35 years, the loving mother of our 4 children, the smartest kindest woman I ever knew, my beautiful and wise queen forever, Rhonda went to Heaven,” the Republican wrote on X. “Thank you for your prayers for our family in this difficult time.”

Massie said just prior to Rhonda’s death, “We spent last week touring Mt Rainier with our grandson.”

“She was valedictorian at our high school where we went to the Prom together, accepted at MIT and Harvard, earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from MIT, and devoted her life to our family,” he added, sharing images of the couple and their family. (link)

A cause of death was not immediately known as thoughtful tributes from House colleagues began to follow on Twitter.  Rhonda was 51.

Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them, Oh Lord


Posted originally on the CTH onMay 27, 2024 |

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
~Amen~

Every year I post this video. I am very proud to have called the little town of Ringgold, Georgia my home for many years. Every year we drive back down to spend the few minutes it takes to go through town, the main stretch and all the little side roads, and appreciate the flags, and honor the fallen.

May the blood cost of our freedom be increasingly appreciated and honored. And may America always be blessed with towns and people like this, who remember and honor our fallen because they value our freedom and know the cost.

If you hijack this post with political content that belongs on the other threads I will put you in moderation. This is a memorial in remembrance of our dead. Not a place to rant.

Honor Memorial Day – Thank you Veterans


Posted originally on May 27, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

MemorialDay

We at Armstrong Economics honor the men and women who bravely served in the armed forces. We thank you for your service, upholding American freedoms, and sacrificing everything to provide everyone, even the ungrateful, with an opportunity to live in the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.

My father was with the Seventh Army, created during World War II under General George S. Patton, and I understand the sacrifice our forces must make on behalf of our nation.

Thank you, Veterans. 

US Flag

WarRoom Prayer Posse


Posted originally on Rumble By Bannons War Room on: May 25, 2026 at 09:21 pm EST