Day: October 15, 2021

WIN for Virginia Parents After Loudon County School Board Member Announces Resignation over ‘Divide and Conquer’ CRITICAL RACE THEORY Rhetoric

On By Geri UngureanIn Critical Race Theory1 Comment

From epochtimes.com

People hold up signs during a rally against “critical race theory” (CRT) being taught in schools at the Loudoun County Government center in Leesburg, Virginia on June 12, 2021. – “Are you ready to take back our schools?” Republican activist Patti Menders shouted at a rally opposing anti-racism teaching that critics like her say trains white children to see themselves as “oppressors.””Yes!”, answered in unison the hundreds of demonstrators gathered this weekend near Washington to fight against “critical race theory,” the latest battleground of America’s ongoing culture wars.

The term “critical race theory” defines a strand of thought that appeared in American law schools in the late 1970s and which looks at racism as a system, enabled by laws and institutions, rather than at the level of individual prejudices. But critics use it as a catch-all phrase that attacks teachers’ efforts to confront dark episodes in American history, including slavery and segregation, as well as to tackle racist stereotypes. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Embattled Loudoun County, Virginia, School Board member Beth Barts, who was the subject of a recall petition, announced Friday that she will resign from her position in November.

“This was not an easy decision or a decision made in haste. After much thought and careful consideration, it is the right decision for me and my family,” Barts said in a statement on Facebook. “Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from the Loudoun County School Board effective November 2, 2021.”

The Epoch Times has contacted the Loudoun County School Board for comment. The Loudon County Public School system also confirmed her resignation on Friday, saying it will start the process of filling the Leesburg District seat.

“I want to thank Board Member Barts for her service to the Leesburg District,” School Board Chair Brenda L. Sheridan said in a statement. “The School Board will announce its process for filling the Leesburg seat at its October 26 meeting and anticipates filling this position at its December 14 meeting.”

Last week, a Virginia judge denied Barts’ motion to dismiss a Loudon County parents’ organization’s petition to recall her before also removing Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj from the case. The decision represented a victory for opponents of critical race theory, a quasi-Marxist ideology that is the center of a culture war that’s going on across the United States.

The group Fight For Schools and other organizations alleged that Barts was involved in a private Facebook group that violated the School Board’s Code of Conduct and local laws after the page’s members allegedly tried to attempt to reveal private information about—or doxx—parents as well as opponents of critical race theory and similar ideologies.

Asra Nomani, vice president of strategy and investigation for Parents Defending Education and a key opponent against critical race theory being taught in schools, hailed the announcement that Barts will be resigning.

“The first domino falls,” Nomani wrote to her 66,000 Twitter followers. “This will not save her from investigations into her corruption,” she added.

School Board Vice Chairwoman Atoosa Reaser said in March that Barts repeatedly violated the school board’s code of conduct. Responding to allegations that she was part of a Facebook group that tried to doxx parents, Barts said earlier this year that “it’s not my job to be liked. It’s my job to ask hard questions, work to provide the best education for our kids, make sure our teachers are paid what they really deserve, and represent the people of Leesburg.”

Barts’ resignation comes just days after the Department of Justice announced it was tasking FBI agents and U.S. attorneys to discuss strategies to address alleged threats against school administrators, teachers, and board members. The move has drawn significant condemnation from Republican lawmakers and officials, who alleged the agency is now treating concerned parents as political enemies.

Barts’ resignation announcement also came after the father of a 15-year-old girl who attends a Loudon County high school told news outlets this week that his daughter was sexually assaulted by an unnamed boy in the bathroom. Scott Smith, the father, suggested that the boy allegedly exploited left-wing school bathroom policies around gender.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the same boy suspect was charged with a second sexual assault at another Loudoun County school after the May 28 incident.

How Can I Be Saved?

MARANATHA!


Supply Chain Backlog to Last Until Summer of Next Year, Despite 24/7 Operating Hours: Officials

On By Geri UngureanIn Supply Chain Backlog4 Comments

Brethren – keep your eyes on Lord Jesus, but know what is coming. He will be with us through all of this.

TRUST HIM.

From epochtimes.com

Ships await to enter the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach on Oct. 14, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Despite President Biden’s announcement Wednesday that the severely backlogged Port of Los Angeles would expand into 24/7 operating hours—similar to the Port of Long Beach—port officials are saying the backlog will continue until the summer of 2022.

Noel Hacegaba, deputy executive director of the Port of Long Beach, said expanding the ports’ operating hours will not impact the supply chain disruptions given the continued shortage of truck drivers, chassis equipment, and warehouse operations and space.

“We think it’ll be summer of 2022 before we clear all 60 ships,” Hacegaba told The Epoch Times Oct. 14. “Of course, if we take some measures now, and everyone in the supply chain starts expanding their hours of operation … we’re going to get there sooner.”

Hacegaba showed optimism that expanding port hours of operation will encourage the rest of the supply chain to step up their efforts.

“If we had the warehouse capacity, if we had enough truck drivers, enough trucks, enough chassis, to pull those containers, we wouldn’t have the 60 ships which are effectively serving as warehouses on the water. I mean, that’s what they’re doing. They’re storing these containers,” Hacegaba said.

Other experts are more pessimistic about the about the impact of Biden’s announcement, saying it will require a lot more than just the ports to solve the backlog.

“I think the Biden Administration looked at the low-hanging fruit [and finally took action],” said Sal Mercogliano, a professor of maritime industry policy at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy out of New York. “The move is better late than never … [but] should have been addressed sooner than this.”

Mercogliano said addressing one end of the supply chain does not solve the problem.

“Everything must be done simultaneously,” including not only addressing the current shortage of truck drivers, but increasing operations of receiving retailers as well, he said.

In a virtual briefing Oct. 14, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said he was happy to be working with the Biden Administration on addressing the backlog, but was unsure about when 24/7 operations would commence and if all seven terminals at the port would follow suit.

“The anticipation is that everybody will be 24/7, [but] those discussions are ongoing … it’s matching up commitments with how we need to service these folks. The dwell times have been super high, we’ve got to push this cargo out as quickly as we can [and] take advantage of that latent capacity when we’re not using our gates and matching that up with truck power, chassis, and corresponding exports and imports,” Seroka said.

When Seroka was asked when the first terminal would begin operating 24/7, he said more discussions will need to take place.

The two ports, which are responsible for about 40 percent of all imports into the United States, are on track to get more than 20 million container units this year, Hacegaba said, which is significantly more than 17.5 million units in 2020. SOURCE

I consider it prudent to have enough food and water and supplies in your home which will carry you and your family for months. If you can’t do that, at least have enough for one month. Hubby and I began stocking these things when Obama was president. We felt that it was the Holy Spirit warning us.

There is something which I cannot seem to stop thinking about. I am NOT saying that this will happen, but I am wondering if our “Occupier” of the White House is setting us up to be overtaken by the Chinese. God forbid it, but we MUST be ready for anything at this point in time.

HOW CAN I BE SAVED?

MARANATHA!