Evening Dear Berit,

    Thank you for posting this video. It is enlightening and very thought provoking, in many ways from more than one perspective.

    Biblically speaking, this is but another aspect of the state of mankind the world over in preparation to receive the very charismatic Antichrist and the False Prophet. The Antichrist will be very effective in rousing the people to his rallying cry while the False Prophet delivers up the people with signs and wonders in the presence of the Beast. And encouraging the people to worship the image of the Beast. And all this entails in the various nuances of human behavior by which very efficacious deception will be employed to deceive the people to do his will. Is this not but deception of God and His word and ways for pernicious ends. Not unlike the Common Core texts in this video. As people go about deceiving and being deceived. What a shame!

    Of course, sadly, public as well as private discourse in America abounds in and out of Christendom that is not dissimilar to the form of writing and speaking being taught to America's young students via Common Core. This form of communicating is replete in most if not all of America's political leaders. As well as in most of the political commentators. Whether they be in journalism, radio and television, etc., and et al. I am fairly disgusted with what passes for public and private discourse today in America.

    The interesting rub of what the book, Rules for Radicals, is revealing is that the rules radicals employ are not merely deceptive, they are efficacious in getting the "other side/opposition/opponent" to react predictably and thereby "shoot themselves in the foot" with regularity. And to carry out the very plans of those that manipulated them to to their bidding. In essence becoming their own worst enemy for their own cause. Doing the very thing they intended not to do--but in fact what they intended to cause their opponent to do--of their own free will according to the lusts of their flesh so well manipulated. Ah, again, dear Berit, do we not see in this insidious methodology but deception of God and His word and ways. I have heard some "conservative talk show hosts" state a level of understanding--sometimes repeatedly during a brief timespan of their show--yet not really grasp what they themselves are actually saying. And this because they are in their flesh on many levels and therefore are helpless to extricate themselves from themselves. A shame.

    Without Common Core curriculum to our youngest in such a blatant display as in these texts, America is descending into the very state being expressed as a concern. And rightly so are they concerned. However, if we but look into what passed for patriots leading up to and subsequent to the American revolution, were not such as these very efficacious in the very speech and writing styles being taught to our young via Common Core. But thereby solidifying what we see in America by the oldest adults down, but now in our youngest. Not all American patriots, but many prominent ones were very efficacious orators.

    I do remember, dear Berit, before I was Saved at 44 or 45, that in primary and secondary school and then in college, students with a mind of their own--at any level or degree--were not particularly prized or praised. Generally speaking. I did have a teacher here and there that encouraged individual thought. Most did not. As a matter of fact, most of schooling in America taught our history as though all we had to do was accept a very patriotic and uncritical view of ourselves. Without the critical analysis--especially biblically--that might have been applied. We might have even been able to see this coming.

    Besides, dear Berit, is it not naive to color opposing belief systems using the same means as ourselves as not worthy while we ourselves are. Or maybe just blind foolishness. Not seeing that we do the same. You know, Berit, I am oft reminded of the differences between the Serpent's encounter with Eve and his encounter with Jesus. Instead of we being Eve's, let us be conformed into the image of Christ instead.

    Of course, in college, even I could see my professors acting our their conservative/liberal/radical political philosophies in their classes. Teaching in their respective veins. Grading in their respective veins. Encouraging and convincing, even dare I say deceiving in their respective veins. At one point I learned well to read books, articles, etc., with a careful eye to who the author was so I could carefully "interpret" what they were saying in terms of their political philosophy. A sad state of affairs to see with "x-ray" vision into the mind of the author so as not to be deceived. And to more clearly understand in fact what the author was really saying. Always they were cryptically writing or speaking to convince you of themselves and their beliefs. Ah the human condition without Christ. Dissimulation abounds in us all in our sin. Hypocrites to a man/woman, all of us without Christ and His Spirit's work in and through us. Left to ourselves without our Shepherd.

    Jer 9:5  And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. Versus: 1Ti 2:7  Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

    Please see Psalm 15: "¶  <<A Psalm of David.>> LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 2  He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; 3  He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; 4  In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5  He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved (NKJV)." Praise God and Amen!

    Dear Berit, may we who profess Jesus as Lord and Savior be about the Father's business, which is belief in His Son, Jesus the Christ. As we earnestly focus upon Christ, seek to walk in the Spirit, and strive to be conformed into the image of Christ. And all this by the power of the Holy Spirit according to God's word, canonized biblical Scripture. As we strive to enter at the strait gate, by the narrow path. But alas, there be but few who will find it. For narrow is the way and strait the gate, fraught with much trial and testing. Only overcoming by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of our testimony, and not loving our lives unto death. Whew! Jesus always spoke the Truth in love, that whosoever will might be Saved.

    May You Be Blessed This Day and Always,