Author Archives: John Lusk

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, November 6, 2023 | Institute for the Study of War

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https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-6-2023

«Russian nationalist commentators have increasingly fixated on demographic transitions facing Russia particularly relating to the balance between “Russians” and “minorities” within the Russian population, further reinforcing concepts of what it means for Russia to be a fundamentally “Russian” state.»

This seems familiar, somehow. Where have I seen this before…?

Poor Josh Hawley Can’t Help Himself | The New Republic

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https://newrepublic.com/post/176624/josh-hawley-citizens-united-stunt

«But it’s still worth prodding his proposal to assess the full measure of his ambitions—which turn out to be appropriately deceptive. You see, for all of Hawley’s bluster, he’s only targeting one sliver of the boodle that the Supreme Court’s allowed to come sluicing through the gates: corporate money. For all this posturing, Hawley would leave unchecked the flood of dark money.»

Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above – HymnSite.com – United Methodist Hymnal #709

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https://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh709.sht

Sang this hymn, written mid-ish-17th century, today, All Saints Sunday (in which we remember those who have passed on before us), and I’m always struck by how grim it must sound to folks who want it to sound grim and/or don’t have a key bit of context. Definitely something from another time (? maybe?). Catchy tune, though.

(“Blood besprinkled” is a reference to Old Testament sacrifice practices in which the congregants get the blood of the sacrifice sprinkled on them, Jesus being the sacrificial lamb for us now.)

1. Come, let us join our friends above
who have obtained the prize,
and on the eagle wings of love
to joys celestial rise.
Let saints on earth unite to sing
with those to glory gone,
for all the servants of our King
in earth and heaven are one.

2. One family we dwell in him,
one church above, beneath,
though now divided by the stream,
the narrow stream of death;
one army of the living God,
to his command we bow;
part of his host have crossed the flood,
and part are crossing now.

3. Ten thousand to their endless home
this solemn moment fly,
and we are to the margin come,
and we expect to die.
E’en now by faith we join our hands
with those that went before,
and greet the blood-besprinkled bands
on the eternal shore.

4. Our spirits too shall quickly join,
like theirs with glory crowned,
and shout to see our Captain’s sign,
to hear this trumpet sound.
O that we now might grasp our Guide!
O that the word were given!
Come, Lord of Hosts, the waves divide,
and land us all in heaven.