May 6, 2023

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT LEANING SOURCES

ABC7
— Democrats say “Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson says migrant crisis needs collaboration as Chicagoans demand solutions.” Democrats ever-increasingly promote illegal immigration.
https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-migrants-title-42-texas-brandon-johnson/13215273/
— Democrats say “Several LGBTQ+ bars on Chicago’s North Side are dropping all Anheuser-Busch products from their establishments. It’s all in response to what they say is the company’s lack of support for the LGBTQ+ community after the brand partnered with a trans woman influencer, faced major backlash from the right, and walked back the sponsorship with a semi-apology.” Democrats ever-increasingly promote LGBTQ.
https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-bars-lgbtq-community-anheuser-busch-dylan-mulvaney/13215943/

NBC5
— Democrats acknowledge that “Migrants Arriving in Chicago Temporarily Housed at Police Stations, Former Standard Club Building. Because of the influx of new arrivals, many migrants are now staying at police stations across the city.” Democrats ever-increasingly promote illegal immigration.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/migrants-arriving-in-chicago-temporarily-housed-at-police-stations-former-standard-club-building/3135279/
— Democrats acknowledge that “Migrants Arriving in Chicago Temporarily Housed at Police Stations.” Democrats ever-increasingly promote illegal immigration.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/migrants-arriving-in-chicago-temporarily-housed-at-police-stations/3135300/
— Democrats say “Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson Pledges Collaboration With Chicagoans, City Council to Address Influx of Migrants. More than 8,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s bussing program began in Aug. 2022.” Democrats ever-increasingly promote illegal immigration.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/mayor-elect-brandon-johnson-migrant-crisis/3135202/
— Democrats say “Chicago Police Reveal Public Safety Plans For Summer, Potential Teen Takeovers.” The Democrat Party platform ever-increasingly promotes poverty and crime.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-police-public-safety-plans-summer-teen-takeovers/3135027/

CBS2
— Democrats say “Chicago LGBTQ bars drop Anheuser-Busch products after company distances itself from Dylan Mulvaney.” Democrats ever-increasingly promote LGBTQ.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-lgbtq-bars-anheuser-busch-dylan-mulvaney/
— Democrats promote Mark Kirk.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/former-u-s-sen-mark-kirk-speaks/

FOX32
— Democrats say “Johnson vows to coordinate resources for migrants at all levels. Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson expressed his frustration with the number of migrants flowing into Chicago.” Democrats ever-increasingly promote illegal immigration.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1216825
— Democrats acknowledge that “Naperville gun shop owner says city ban is driving him out of business.”
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/naperville-gun-shop-owner-says-city-ban-is-driving-him-out-of-business
— Democrats ever-increasingly promote illegal immigration.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/migrant-who-traveled-from-venezuela-to-chicago-shares-her-story
— Democrats ever-increasingly promote LGBTQ.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/doctors-alarmed-by-sudden-uptick-in-monkeypox-cases-in-chicago

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Democrats say that “Brandon Johnson ran a pro-worker, tax-the-‘ultra-rich’ campaign” and ask “Can he and business leaders find common ground?” I was a lowly worker 1964-1997. I should write a book about those who use that against me the most.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-brandon-johnson-relationship-business-community-transition-20230505-6i2mbosfafflfjnhrk23cyflwy-story.html
— Democrats crow that “Illinois lawmakers pass bill to require new homes be equipped to handle EV charging stations.” Democrats ever-increasingly promote EVs. Democrats will ever-increasingly promote hatred against those who own gasoline-powered vehicles.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-electric-vehicle-charging-new-homes-20230505-a7ihrxn7gfhptjl2inh75mnjve-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Democrats ever-increasingly promote illegal immigration, but NIMBY.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/5/5/23712507/south-shore-migrant-shelter-chicago-maga-nimby-editorial
— Illinois Democrats decry getting only $8.5 million for illegals when they asked for $191 million.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2023/5/5/23713285/chicago-state-of-illinois-get-8-5-million-in-federal-migrant-grants-asked-for-up-to-191-million
— Democrats say “Getting a handle on unruly downtown gatherings is ‘priority No. 1’ heading into summer, top police official says.” The Democrat Party platform ever-increasingly promotes poverty and crime.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2023/5/5/23712698/chicago-downtown-chaos-loop-mayhem-police
— Democrats ever-increasingly downplay Biden’s age-related problems. Because I was not a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran, my Democrat IRS and GAO superiors ever-increasingly wasted my career because they had not promoted me to GS-13 (currently 109,732/year) by the time I was 25, GS-14 (currently $129,671/year) by the time I was 30, GS-15 (currently $152,527/year) by the time I was 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $183,500/year) by the time I was 40. Extremely few federal employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines. My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2023/5/5/23711073/joe-biden-age-old-2024-election-donald-trump-white-house-gene-lyons
— Democrats ever-increasingly promote LGBTQ.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2023/5/5/23713365/seven-new-mpox-cases-diagnosed-in-chicago-area-howard-brown-health

DAILY HERALD
— Democrats ever-increasingly promote their charges against Trump.
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20230505/trump-is-accused-in-court-of-rape-will-it-matter-in-2024

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Democrats acknowledge that “Expected cost for Illinois’ noncitizen health care program grows to $1.1 billion.” Democrats ever-increasingly promote illegal immigration.
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/05/05/expected-cost-for-illinois-noncitizen-health-care-program-grows-to-1-1-billion/70184797007/

ALTON TELEGRAPH & WSIL TV
— Democrats say “California reparations task force to vote on formal apology.” What do Democrats want you to apologize for? Democrats want me to apologize for taking jobs that they say should have been given to Blacks. I worked for a) GAO 1980-1997, b) IRS 1971-1980, c) Firestone Stores 1970-1972, d) Post Office 1966-1969, e) John’s Sinclair, Thrall Car, and Flossmoor Country Club in 1966, and f) S.S. Kresge 1964-1966. Democrats want me to apologize for getting promotions that they say should have been given to Blacks. GAO promoted me in 1986. IRS promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974.
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/politics/article/california-reparations-task-force-to-vote-on-18082723.php
https://www.wsiltv.com/news/illinois/california-reparations-task-force-to-vote-on-formal-apology/article_8d0f0cd7-6074-54c2-bba5-f5e2ff487dea.html

OUR QUAD CITIES
— Democrats ever-increasingly promote LGBTQ.
https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/state-news/illinois-news/illinois-bill-preventing-library-book-bans-passes-senate/

WROK
— Democrats say “Illinois Pot Heads Smoked So Much Weed The Fire Alarm Went Off.” Democrats ever-increasingly push pot.
https://1440wrok.com/ixp/722/p/pot-smoke-illinois-fire-alarm/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois Pot Heads Came Out Of Hiding In the pre-legal days of recreational marijuana, cannabis fans had to really keep their hobby on the down low. They had to avoid any law enforcement to stay out of jail. Plus, it was extremely frowned upon by society. Any sort of smoke session could easily draw interest in a bad way. Boy, how things have changed. Since January 1st, 2020, everything is all good with weed in Illinois. It’s both legal and acceptable in everyday life. People are no longer afraid to admit they enjoy smoking cannabis. The pot heads were finally allowed to come out of hiding and they aren’t going anywhere. The Perfect Weed Smoking Session In Illinois If you ever wondered what the ultimate smoking session would be like, then just watch an old episode of “That 70’s Show.” The scenes in Eric Foreman’s basement are perfect. Getting together with friends, hanging out, listening to music, munching on snacks, and talking nonsense. Be Prepared For The Paranoia To Kick In One of the side effects of smoking pot is paranoia. It doesn’t matter if you were in the pre-legal times of the past or the modern legal weed era, any little thing could freak you out. This situation I’m going to share with you will blow your mind. I couldn’t imagine dealing with this situation. The Pros And Cons Of Major Smoke Session I’ve found through the years that many fans of cannabis are very competitive when it comes to smoking weed. Who can puff the most? Who’s got the best stuff? I could go on and on. It’s funny to hear them talk trash. I think it’s every pot head’s dream to smoke up their place so bad that you can’t see to the other side. So, some guys were hanging out in an Illinois apartment. They were partaking in a major smoke session. The group felt like the pot head champions of the world. Unfortunately, they puffed on so much weed that it set off the fire alarm in their apartment. Someone had a lot of explaining to do for the police and fire departments.)

CAPITOL FAX
— Democrats say “Afternoon roundup.”
https://capitolfax.com/2023/05/05/afternoon-roundup-80/
— Democrats say “Morning briefing.”
https://capitolfax.com/2023/05/05/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-62/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT LEANING SOURCES

COOK COUNTY RECORD
— McHenry Co. State’s Atty fights to keep alive his lawsuit challenging IL ‘assault weapons’ ban. – Jonathan Bilyk
https://cookcountyrecord.com/stories/642018949-mchenry-co-state-s-atty-fights-to-keep-alive-his-lawsuit-challenging-il-assault-weapons-ban

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Democrat Party leaders work as hard to defend and advance all the planks in the Democrat Party platform as do Democrat plant, Libertarian plant, Green plant, Independent plant, and RINO leaders work against planks in the Republican Party platform. Which of the following planks in the Republican Party platform do your representative on the Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee and the chairman of your Republican county/township/ward organizations work the hardest against: a) individual responsibility, b) traditional marriage/family, c) right to life, d) immigration, e) Second Amendment, f) illegal drugs, and/or g) equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving)? – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Who are the most divisive people who go after you? I should write a book about the most divisive people who demonize me, denigrate me, and condemn me the most. I would focus on those who hint/imply/argue/shout the most that Trump and I share many bad demographics. Both Trump and I are a) conservative, b) Republican, c) White, b) male, c) old, d) married, e) non-poor, f) business degree holders, g) non-drinkers, h) non-dog owners, i) draft avoiders, j) gun owners, k) Protestant, l) German American, and m) our ancestors have been in America for a long time. I would focus on divisive people who stress a) that my wife has a bachelor’s degree and has always had good jobs, b) that we might have more money than you and your wife have, c) that I might have more college degrees, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses than you have, d) that I was a union member for almost 12 years, e) that I was a federal employee for almost 30 years, f) that my superiors took many adverse actions against me and forced me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old, g) that I have been a federal retiree for almost 26 years, h) that Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Milton Township Republican Organization, Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, Wheaton Park District, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc. leaders have taken many adverse actions against me, i) that my wife and I gave up trying to have children and we did not adopt or become a foster parents, j) that I had to work my way through college, k) that I have owned only American nameplate cars, owned a Corvette since 1971, and owned two Corvettes since 2005, l) that I was a Crete resident 1948-1972, and m) that I have been a Wheaton resident since 1978. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— What do you refuse to do to be tolerated, accepted, and/or popular? I refuse to renounce my being conservative, Republican, White, male, old (born in 1948), heterosexual, in a traditional marriage since 1978, Protestant, German American, someone whose ancestors have been in America for a long time, someone who had to work his way through college, someone who took bad jobs that his peers would not take, someone who earned more college degrees, professional certifications, and professional licenses than others, gun owner since high school, non-dog owner, non-drinker, non-gambler, non-drug abuser, union member for almost 12 years, federal employee for almost 30 years, federal retiree for almost 26 years, American nameplate car owner since 1964, Corvette owner since 1971, owner of two Corvettes since 2005, Crete resident 1948-1972, and/or Wheaton resident since 1978. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— In retrospect, with benefit of hindsight, I have concluded that I have spent far too much of my life seeking the tolerance, acceptance, and/or approval of those who despise/hate my demographics: a) conservative, b) Republican, c) White, b) male, e) married (since 1978), d) someone whose wife has a bachelor’s degree and has always had good jobs, e) someone who might have more money than you and your wife have, f) someone who might have more masters degrees (3), professional certifications (6), and a professional license (CPA) than you have, g) non-drinker, h) non-dog owner, i) draft avoider, j) gun owner since high school, k) Protestant (baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran), l) 100% German American, m) my ancestors have been in America since 1844, n) union member for almost 12 years, o) federal employee for almost 30 years, p) someone whose superiors took many adverse actions against him and forced him to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when he was 49 years old, q) a federal retiree for almost 26 years, r) someone whose Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Milton Township Republican Organization, Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, Wheaton Park District, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc. leaders have taken many adverse actions against him, s) someone who gave up trying to have children and did not adopt or become a foster parent, t) someone who had to work my way through college, u) someone who has owned only American nameplate cars, owned a Corvette since 1971, and owned two Corvettes since 2005, v) was a Crete resident 1948-1972, and w) who has been a Wheaton resident since 1978.
http://www.gopillinois.com

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT LEANING SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— NYC mayor to send asylum-seekers upstate to deal with influx – Michael Hill (COMMENT: How soon, if not already, will Chicago send illegals to your county, to your township, and to your municipality? Of course, the more Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, and RINOs who run your county, township, and municipality, the more illegals that your county, township, and municipality will be expected to accept. Once all the buildings are full of illegals, expect that homeowners and renters will be expected to take in illegals. How many empty bedrooms are there in your residence?)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/may/5/eric-adams-nyc-mayor-to-send-asylum-seekers-upstat/
— New border surge has already begun – Stephen Dinan
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/may/5/new-border-surge-has-already-begun/
— Homeland Security bused migrants away from the border to hide border chaos – Stephen Dinan
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/may/5/homeland-security-bused-migrants-away-border-hide-/
— Colleges expand ‘segregated’ graduation events – Sean Salai
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/may/5/colleges-expand-segregated-graduation-events/
— Republican rivals start to pick apart Trump’s record – Seth McLaughlin and Tom Howell Jr. (COMMENT: While Trump was in office, he did more to defend and advance the Republican Party platform than either Bush.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/may/5/republican-rivals-start-pick-apart-donald-trumps-r/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Five white women who lied about their ancestry – Jeremiah Poff (COMMENT: What do you say to those a) who have questioned my not concealing the fact that I am 100% German American and b) who have hinted that I should have pretended to be Swedish American?)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/five-white-women-who-lied-about-their-ancestry

BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Chicago reporter William J. Kelly says city is keeping residents ‘in the dark’, claims untenable situation is a ‘ticking time bomb’ – Terresa Monroe-Hamilton
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2023/05/05/chicago-reporter-kicked-out-of-luxury-migrant-hotel-warns-in-the-dark-residents-in-for-a-ticking-time-bomb-1356489/
— ‘A slap in the face’: Chicago migrant housing plan sparks outrage from South Shore residents – Melissa Fine
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2023/05/06/a-slap-in-the-face-chicago-migrant-housing-plan-sparks-outrage-from-south-shore-residents-1356615/

CENTER SQUARE
— Hondurans released into US with court dates for 2026. Others who’ve just come through the border have brand new US passports. – Bethany Blankley
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_225005aa-eb71-11ed-b32b-3fd9ce01ff8f.html

CREATORS SYNDICATE
— Title 42 Ends in Days. Get Ready to Witness the Fall of Saigon. – Wayne Allyn Root
https://www.creators.com/read/wayne-allyn-root/05/23/title-42-ends-in-days-get-ready-to-witness-the-fall-of-saigon

DAILY SIGNAL
— Biden’s 1,500 Troops Sent to Southern Border Are a Welcome Wagon – Virginia Allen
https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/05/05/bidens-1500-troops-southern-border-welcome-wagon-retired-border-patrol-agent-says/

DAILY WIRE
— The Destructive Consequences Of Biden’s Border Crisis – Jim Nelles
https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-destructive-consequences-of-bidens-border-crisis

EPOCH TIMES
–‘Manufactured’ Media Lies Can End Democracy: Tucker Carlson Makes First In-Person Speech After Departing From Fox – Gary Bai
https://www.theepochtimes.com/tucker-carlson-manufactured-lies-can-enslave-americans-end-democracy_5245175.html

FOX BUSINESS
— Chicago Police Department tells businesses to buy Riot Glass product to prevent burglaries. Employees of Chicago businesses said police response times continue slowing. – Michael Lee
https://www.foxbusiness.com/small-business/chicago-police-department-tells-businesses-buy-riot-glass-product-prevent-burglaries

FOX NEWS
— Former NYPD academy with active indoor gun range to house illegal migrants after city faced ‘no other options.’ New York City’s temporary shelters are beyond capacity, and the NYPD says it will take ‘all necessary steps’ to secure the facility housing migrants. – Aubrie Spady
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/former-nypd-academy-active-indoor-gun-range-house-illegal-migrants-city-faced-no-other-options

HERITAGE FOUNSATION
— Biden Shovels Millions to Nonprofits to Aid His Open-Border Schemes. Congress Must Cut Off Cash Spigot. – Lora Ries
https://www.heritage.org/immigration/commentary/biden-shovels-millions-nonprofits-aid-his-open-border-schemes-congress-must

LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Fox News Finds Hundreds of Migrants Crossing Into Texas Overnight. The border patrol has encountered over 32,000 migrants (8,000 a day) across the whole border in the first four days of May. – Mary Chastain
https://legalinsurrection.com/2023/05/fox-news-finds-hundreds-of-migrants-crossing-into-texas-overnight/

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Progressives Push Abortion Messaging into the Classroom – GARION FRANKEL & DANIEL BUCK
https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/05/progressives-push-abortion-messaging-into-the-classroom/

PJ MEDIA
— Be Our Guest: Chicago Hotel Housing Only Illegal Migrants – CATHERINE SALGADO
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/catherinesalgado/2023/05/05/be-our-guest-chicago-hotel-housing-only-illegal-migrants-n1693039

TOWNHALL
— Border Patrol Union Sounds the Alarm About Coming Catastrophe – Katie Pavlich
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2023/05/05/border-patrol-union-sounds-the-alarm-about-coming-catastrophe-n2622906

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT LEANING SOURCES

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— Democrats say “NYC to Send Asylum-Seekers Upstate to Deal With Influx. New York City’s mayor has announced plans to send hundreds of asylum-seekers to two hotels north of the city for up to four months.” How soon, if not already, will Chicago send illegals to your county, to your township, and to your municipality? Of course, the more Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, and RINOs who run your county, township, and municipality, the more illegals that your county, township, and municipality will be expected to accept. Once all the buildings are full of illegals, expect that homeowners and renters will be expected to take in illegals. How many empty bedrooms are there in your residence?
https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2023-05-05/nyc-to-send-asylum-seekers-upstate-to-deal-with-influx

NEW YORK SUN
— Democrats acknowledge that “Blue State Exodus Could Lift GOP Electoral Prospects in Coming Presidential Contests.”
https://www.nysun.com/article/blue-state-exodus-could-lift-gop-electoral-prospects-in-coming-presidential-contests

NPR
— Democrats ever-increasingly promote illegal immigration.
https://www.npr.org/2023/05/05/1174390679/migrants-entering-u-s-will-face-new-obstacles-when-pandemic-border-restrictions-

GOVERNING
— SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 FLASHBACK: Democrats acknowledge that “Demographics Can Spell Trouble for a City’s Finances. New Census data shows some cities have a lot of residents who consume more public services than they contribute in taxes. That can cause fiscal problems down the road.” Democrats ever-increasingly replace those who have demographics that vote for Republicans with those who have demographics that vote for Democrats. Those who vote for Democrats need/want massive government assistance, lack education, lack job skills, have financial, health, and/or other problems and are non-conservative, minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, non-married, non-Christian, non-Protestant, non-Italian American, non-German American, have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time, and/or are citizens of foreign countries.
https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-census-demographics-cities-fiscal.html

DAILY MAIL
— Bombshell report reveals U.S. officials bussed migrants AWAY from southern border centers and beefed up staff before VIP visits to COVER UP chaos – JAMES FRANEY
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12051923/Bombshell-report-reveals-U-S-officials-bussed-migrants-AWAY-southern-border-hide-chaos.html

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.