Of Far Off Island Lees and the Lies of the Land
On this first day of January in 1739, French explorer Jean Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier discovered an island in the South Sea – where it is summer in our winter – far south of the vague line where the Atlantic ocean ‘ends’, and the vast expanse of far southern water begins. The small ice covered island – 19 square miles – is 93% glacier, with only one rocky landing point. I mention this neglected piece of real estate, now governed by Norway – primarily since it is the most remote piece of land on the face of God’s good earth, the farthest island from anywhere else. Hence, it provides an imaginative escape from these Covidian lockdowns, dreaming of place far, far away, with brisk Antarctic air, cold cerulean water, and, well, freedom, at least of a sort.
For a pandemic of truly apocalyptic proportions, read over what the mis-named ‘Spanish’ flu did in 1918, killing far more people than the just-ending World War – some say 100 million – until the virus burned itself out, reaching even into the very depths of the Arctic and Antarctic, wiping out whole villages. It was only called after Spain, since that country was one of the few places left with a free press, the rest of the world, including America under Woodrow Wilson, censored any American connection; only the government allowed to speak on the effects and nature of the pandemic, whose existence they virtually denied:
Wilson’s Sedition Act of 1918 criminalized “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language” and punished offenders with up to 20 years in prison. Newspapers and magazines considered “unpatriotic” were canceled, as we would say today. Dissenting civilians were intimidated, and sometimes worse. The government spied on private citizens and arrested them even for casual offhand remarks. These efforts were bolstered by the American Protective League, a secret police network staffed by 250,000 employees who spied on citizens in 600 cities and towns. They implanted themselves as undercover agents in places like factories, where they could listen to conversations. They inspired schoolboys to form their own informant organization, the Anti–Yellow Dog League…
Government posters and ads encouraged friends and neighbors to turn in their own friends and neighbors. Wilson was a Democrat and a leading light of the progressive movement, but not even his political opposition in the Republican Party complained about any of this. Republicans backed the White House’s police state wholeheartedly.
Ah, yes, state-mandated obfuscation and lies. They don’t really need the quarter-million ’employees’, with everyone tracked on social media and mobile phones and, barring that, neighbour snitching on neighbour, or mother-in-law on daughter-in-law. Back then, as the author claims, they hid the truth to underestimate the ravage of the virus; now, it seems, they do the same to exaggerate – for similar nefarious reasons, likely.
Anon, we all have to make up our own minds, as the truth will be revealed in the end. As we do so, we should do what we might to learn from history, to avoid what errors there were, and maintain what is true and good, which is what ‘conserving’ really means, and what a true ‘conservative’ should do.
We do our duty, whatever it be, and perhaps dream now and again, of far off islands, of sleek ships driven by gales through salty seas, of a by-gone age, that is not really all that gone. At the very least, even if we cannot sail the seven seas, we can get out into what nature is nearby, breathe God’s unfiltered fresh air, take in a vista, stretch your legs on non-artificial turf, of the ‘rocks, hills and plains’, all charged with the grandeur of God, proclaiming His glory, His joy, His freedom.
Carney’s Amoral Majority
After five defections – euphemistically described as ‘crossing the floor’ – and three by-elections, Mark Carney and his Liberals how have their coveted majority. One wonders what bowls of pottage were offered in back-room deals. In the archaic monarchical system that is the Dominion of Canada, this majority allows the newly-minted Prime Minister to rule[…]Continue reading→
A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop
As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→
Remembering Father Alphonse de Valk
(Today marks the sixth anniversary of the death of Father Alphonse de Valk, C.S.B., a faithful, courageous and indefatigable Basilian priest, pro-life-and-family apostle, and the founder of Catholic Insight magazine. Here is what we wrote those on his entering into eternity five years ago, as we continue to remember him in our prayers and thoughts)[…]Continue reading→
A Tale of Two Benedicts
A grace-filled Holy Week to all our readers! As we await and prepare for the Resurrection about to dawn upon us, we might keep in mind two Benedicts: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, requiescat in pace, elected on this day in 2005; and today’s commemoration of the mystic pilgrim, Benedict Joseph Labre, who died on this[…]Continue reading→
Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk
As a good news, follow-up to our story from Poland, of the persecution of Weronika Krawczyk for her pro-life views, we heard that she has been granted a presidential pardon. One might still wonder why one needs a presidential pardon for simply holding the long-held belief that the child within the womb is a child,[…]Continue reading→
Saint Lydwina of Schiedam and Suffering Joyfully
Saint Lydwina of Schiedam (1380 – 1433) was one of the countless and glorious ‘victim souls’ in the history of the Church, those whose lives are filled with suffering, often of an unimaginable intensity, but who suffer joyfully. She was a fifteen-year old Dutch girl, out skating one day, when she fell and broke one[…]Continue reading→
The Glorious Martyrdoms of Martin and Maximus
As we enter into Eastertide, we recall on this 13th of April Pope Saint Martin I (+655), one of the noblest, if most tragic, of the successors of Saint Peter. Born in Umbria, Italy, he was of noble lineage, with great intelligence combined with charity and love of the poor and the Church. While still[…]Continue reading→
Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace
Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics across the world to join him in a Rosary for peace today, at 18:00 Rome time (6 pm), which would be noon from where I write (EST). If you are able, whether at that time or another, and in whatever way you pray, to join in intercession with the[…]Continue reading→
Payette’s Payout
I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→
Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów
We celebrate Saint Stanislaus today (+ April 11, 1079), in light of this Easter Octave, a bishop and martyr who accepted the episcopacy only at the direct order of Pope Alexander II. He proved a wise and courageous leader of his flock, put to death by his own king, Boleslaus, for rebuking the monarch’s ‘immoral[…]Continue reading→