The post Is Pine-Sol Safe for Cats? Vet-Reviewed Health Facts by Jessica Kim appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Most cat owners are aware of the harmful effects that pine oil can have on cats and avoid using products that contain it. Pine-Sol is a popular multi-surface cleaner‚ and while it still does have “pine” in its name‚ most of the current formulations do not contain pine oil. Pine-Sol is safe to use in the household with cats as long as the instructions are followed cats are kept out of the area when in use. However‚ Pine-Sol can be dangerous for cats if ingested or if it gets on their skin. So‚ it’s best to keep it stored in a safe‚ unreachable place for cats and only use it when they’re not in the same room. What’s Inside Pine Sol? Pine-Sol is a multi-surface cleaner that can be used on most non-porous surfaces. It was first invented in 1929 and contained a high concentration of pine oil. The amount of pine oil in Pine-Sol has reduced over the years‚ and it’s no longer a main ingredient in its current formula.1 However‚ there are still formulations of Pine-Sol available online‚ so always check the ingredients of the product you are using. Even if the Pine-Sol product you are using does not contain any pine oil‚ it’s still not safe to have it near your cats because it contains other chemicals that are toxic to cats. Harmful chemicals inside Pine-Sol include propyl heptyl ether‚ alcohol ethoxylates‚ and formic acid. These chemicals are powerful cleaning agents that are harmful if swallowed. Image Credit: SARYMSAKOV ANDREY‚ Shutterstock Can I Use Pine-Sol Around Cats? Pine-Sol can be used in homes with cats as long as you follow the guidelines. According to Pine-Sol’s instructions‚ Pine-Sol can be used in pet areas‚ but it shouldn’t be used as a pet shampoo. Bottles of Pine-Sol should also be sealed securely and kept out of reach of children and pets. If you plan to use Pine-Sol‚ it’s important to keep your cat away from surfaces until the Pine-Sol has dried completely. Stepping on wet Pine-Sol can irritate your cat’s paws‚ and your cat can end up swallowing Pine-Sol if they try to lick their paws clean. Pine-Sol is safe after it has dried completely. If you have a fairly docile cat that doesn’t mind waiting in a different room while you use Pine-Sol‚ you shouldn’t run into any safety issues. However‚ if you have a particularly active or curious cat that won’t stay away while you clean‚ you may want to consider using natural‚ non-toxic household cleaning products. What to Do If Your Cat Comes in Contact With Pine-Sol Pine-Sol mostly irritates the eyes‚ but it can also be a skin irritant. So‚ if your cat steps on wet Pine-Sol‚ make sure to rinse their paws with gentle soap and water right away. Then‚ be on the lookout for any skin irritation during the next few hours. Your cat’s skin can be itchy‚ red‚ or inflamed. If your cat ingests any Pine-Sol‚ make sure to contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control hotline for further instructions. Cats can display varying signs if they’re experiencing chemical poisoning. Here are some signs to look out for: Excessive drooling Vomiting Diarrhea Weakness Increased heart rate Increased thirst Lethargy Restlessness Muscle tremors Seizures It’s not recommended to induce vomiting at home‚ as this can create further complications for your cat. Getting your cat proper veterinary care as quickly as possible will ensure that your cat gets adequate care and has the best chance for recovery. Image Credit: Elisa Putti‚ Shutterstock Conclusion Pine-Sol can be used in pet spaces‚ but you must follow certain guidelines if you choose to use it. Before you use Pine-Sol‚ make sure to keep your cat in a separate space so that they don’t come in contact with it. Wait until surfaces have dried completely before allowing your cat back into the room. If an accident occurs and your cat ingests some Pine-Sol‚ make sure to get them veterinary care right away so that they get the proper treatment. If it’s particularly challenging to adhere to these guidelines‚ it’s best to switch to a different household cleaner that uses non-toxic ingredients. Sources https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/essential-oil-and-liquid-potpourri-poisoning-in-cats https://www.petmd.com/cat/poisoning/poisons-in-cats https://www.thecloroxcompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Pine-Sol-Original-Pine.pdf Featured Image Credit: Gleb Usovich‚ Shutterstock The post Is Pine-Sol Safe for Cats? Vet-Reviewed Health Facts by Jessica Kim appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The post Do Cats Enjoy Sex &; Mating? Vet-Reviewed Feline Facts by Keri-Beth Clur appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. You may have noticed the familiar sounds and behavioral changes in your female cat and guessed that they’re in heat. Their restlessness‚ excessive vocalization‚ and desire to go outside to find a mate may have you wondering whether cats enjoy sex and mating or if their behavior is entirely instinctual. Cats are hormonally driven to have sex in order to reproduce. There is no evidence behaviourally or otherwise to suggest that sexual activity is enjoyable for them. Although it can take hours before the queen approaches the tom cat‚ the mating process usually only takes a maximum of a few minutes. However‚ those few minutes can feel long for an owner as they watch what looks like a fight! Keep reading as we discuss when and how cats mate. When Do Cats Mate? Cats can start mating once they reach sexual maturity. This usually happens from 6–9 months. Female cats go into heat every 2–3 weeks during the breeding season‚ which is usually January to late fall in the Northern Hemisphere. When in heat they’ll show signs of readiness to mate‚ be interested in the tom’s advancements‚ and be more likely to allow a tom to mount them. A female cat will show signs of being in heat and being ready to mate. If they are not in heat‚ they cannot fall pregnant and will reject any advancement from a tom. Once a male cat reaches sexual maturity‚ they are able to mate at any time but will usually only ever attempt to mate with females that are in heat. Male cats will try everything they can to get to a female cat in heat. He knows it’s the right time because he can smell her pheromones‚ which gives him all the information he needs. The unneutered male cat can pick up these pheromones left behind by an in-heat female from hours before and may follow the scent until he finds her‚ which is why many unneutered males roam. Image Credit: Kasefoto‚ Shutterstock How Do Cats Mate? Even with all the calling and flirting‚ the queen usually won’t allow the tom near her until he has put in some work and courted her for several hours. Once she is willing to mate‚ she will bend her chest to the ground and raise her back end to the tom‚ exposing her genital area. Once the tom gets the “go ahead” from the queen‚ he’ll mount her and bite the skin at the back of her neck. The mating process is short and brief. Do Female Cats Enjoy Mating? If anyone wonders if a female cat enjoys mating‚ they probably have never witnessed the act! While the male and female cats are mating‚ the queen will scream and may even fight to break free from the male’s grip. This can involve turning‚ rolling‚ clawing‚ and attempting to bite the tom. A female cat will have this reaction because a tom’s penis is barbed and scrapes the inside of her vagina‚ which is very painful. This scraping is what stimulates ovulation and allows the female cat to fall pregnant. Image Credit: Nathalie-Jolie‚Unsplash What Happens After Mating Has Occurred? Once the female cat has broken free from the tom‚ he’ll run off. If he doesn’t‚ the queen will chase him away. The female cat will become agitated and roll on the ground and show signs of discomfort. This reaction lasts around 10 minutes and is likely due to the hormones and the pain she just experienced. During this time‚ she’ll also groom herself‚ focusing on her genital area. When Can Cats Mate Again? It doesn’t take much time for both cats to be ready to mate again after having sexual intercourse‚ as it can take between 5 to 30 minutes. This can be with each other or with new partners. A queen can mate up to 30 times during her estrous cycle and can mate with many different toms. One female cat can give birth to a litter of kittens who are genetically diverse because they have different fathers. Although penetration stimulates ovulation‚ there is no guarantee that the queen will fall pregnant on the first try. Breeders will encourage mating to happen several times throughout the queen’s estrous cycle to increase the chances of pregnancy. Spaying and Neutering Contrary to what some people believe‚ cats don’t need to mate and will not become more aggressive if they don’t mate. Queens will show signs of being ready to mate when they’re in heat‚ and males will try their best to get them to reproduce. These behavioral changes can be stressful because outdoor cats will roam and sometimes get into fights. There is also the risk of unwanted pregnancies‚ even with indoor cats. The only way to prevent an unwanted pregnancy is through spaying your cat. You will also reduce undesirable behavior in your tom cat by neutering them. Spaying and neutering also protect against certain diseases and cancers. Image Credit: De Visu‚ Shutterstock Conclusion Cats don’t appear to enjoy sex. In fact‚ instead of experiencing enjoyment‚ female cats experience pain because the penis of a tom cat is barbed and scrapes the inside of her vagina. Unneutered cats will mate when the queen goes into heat‚ and behavioral changes will occur. You can prevent undesirable behavior as well as the risk of pregnancy by neutering your cat. Sources https://www.catsbest.eu/all-about-cat-reproduction/ https://www.petplace.com/article/cats/pet-health/cats-and-mating https://be.chewy.com/how-cats-breed/ https://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2009/december/should-pets-have-sex-6969 https://cats.com/do-cats-enjoy-mating https://www.fveap.org/why-do-cats-scream-when-mating/ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781119414612.ch57   Featured Image Credit: Sergey-Neanderthalec‚ Shutterstock The post Do Cats Enjoy Sex &; Mating? Vet-Reviewed Feline Facts by Keri-Beth Clur appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The post Is Patchouli Safe for Cats? Vet-Reviewed Health Facts by Kathryn Copeland appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Humans have used essential oils for eons—as long ago as 4500 B.C. in Ancient Egypt‚ where they were used in ointments and cosmetics. Today‚ essential oils are used as part of aromatherapy and to help with minor health conditions. But there are questions regarding the safety of using essential oils like patchouli around our cats. While patchouli oil is not considered highly toxic‚ there is still a considerable risk of using it on or near pets‚ particularly cats. In this article‚ we dig deep into everything essential oils‚ but with a focus on patchouli and whether it is safe for our cherished felines. A Little About Essential Oils Essential oils are obtained through a distillation method by steam and/or water or by cold pressing. The process of squeezing out the “essence” of the plant gives us the natural smell (and flavor‚ though these oils are not meant to be ingested). They are used in various ways‚ such as in perfumes and other items meant to emit a scent‚ like candles and soaps. They have also been used to induce a mood‚ such as lavender helping to create a calm space‚ or to rub into the skin to help treat skin conditions. There is controversy surrounding the effectiveness of essential oils‚ particularly with health conditions. But the scent does seem to have a mental benefit for some people. Image Credit: Nikolaeva-Galina‚ Shutterstock A Little About Patchouli Patchouli is a kind of aromatic herb‚ and it’s from the plant that the essential oil is derived from. Once you’ve had a whiff of patchouli‚ there’s no mistaking it! It’s described as spicy‚ sweet‚ and woodsy and is commonly used in cosmetics‚ perfumes‚ and incense. It’s said that patchouli can treat skin conditions like acne and dry skin and helps relieve stress and depression. Patchouli has also been used as an antibacterial‚ antifungal‚ and insecticide‚ as well as to control appetite. The Issue of Essential Oils and Cats Essential oils and cats don’t mix! Essential oils can be absorbed quite quickly via the skin and orally and through inhalation. They are then metabolized by the liver. But cats don’t have an enzyme in their liver that helps metabolize and eliminate specific toxins like essential oils. Certain essential oils‚ including patchouli‚ contain phenols and phenolic compounds‚ which cats are also susceptible to. So‚ if a cat inhales‚ ingests‚ or has essential oils put on their skin‚ their body cannot process it‚ and it can prove fatal. This is particularly true if the essential oil is at its most concentrated‚ at 100%. The essential oils that are the most dangerous to cats are: Wintergreen Sweet birch Citrus (d-limonene) Pine Ylang Ylang Peppermint Cinnamon Pennyroyal Clove Eucalyptus Tea tree While patchouli is not on this list‚ it does contain phenol compounds and will likely make your cat quite sick. Image Credit: silviarita‚Pixabay Signs of Essential Oil Poisoning The signs of essential oil poisoning entirely depend on the type of oil and what kind of exposure occurs. They can include: Drooling Vomiting Tremors Wobbliness Respiratory distress Low heart rate Low body temperature Liver failure If your cat was exposed to any essential oils and exhibits any of these signs‚ take them immediately to your vet or closest emergency clinic! Signs that your cat inhaled essential oils are: Labored breathing Fast breathing Panting Coughing Wheezing If your cat looks like they are about to throw up a hairball but doesn’t‚ this merits an immediate vet visit! Protecting Your Cat If you use patchouli essential oil in the home or any other oils‚ you’ll need to put them in a safe place that your cat can’t access. If they are adept at opening cupboards and jumping to high and hard-to-reach areas‚ you’ll want to thoroughly cat proof the hiding place. You might also want to seal the patchouli oil in a resealable plastic bag‚ especially if you can smell it without even opening the bottle. When using the patchouli‚ make sure you only spray it or light the incense when your cat is out of the room‚ and don’t let them back in until the potency has faded. Don’t use essential oil reed diffusers in rooms that cats have access to. Diluted essential oils are better because the more concentrated the oil is‚ the more dangerous it is for your cat. Never spray essential oils on or near your cat. Beyond the inhalation problem‚ if any of it falls on your cat’s fur‚ it can be absorbed through the skin‚ and your cat will also ingest it through grooming. This includes washing your hands before petting your cat if you’ve put on lotion scented with essential oil. It’s likely quite diluted‚ but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Image Credit: Madeleine Steinbach‚ Shutterstock Conclusion Patchouli essential oil is not thought to be as toxic as some other essential oils‚ but it does contain phenols‚ which can pose a danger to your cat. It’s dangerous if your cat breathes it in or if it’s put on their skin and fur. So‚ while using essential oils can prove to be of benefit for us‚ particularly if you’re in love with a scent‚ they’re not safe for use around cats. Play it safe‚ and only use patchouli when your cat isn’t in the room‚ and ensure that it’s quite diluted. If you’re still worried‚ you probably shouldn’t use it at all. Sources https://www.healthline.com/health/patchouli-oil https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/blog/essential-oils-cats/ Featured Image Credit: PaulSat‚ Shutterstock The post Is Patchouli Safe for Cats? Vet-Reviewed Health Facts by Kathryn Copeland appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The post My Cat Is Not Eating But Acting Normal‚ What’s Wrong? 7 Vet-Reviewed Issues by Sarah Psaradelis appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. It is understandable to feel worried if your once food-loving feline has a reduced appetite lately but still acts normal. Although cats can be finicky about mealtimes and their food preferences‚ a poor appetite could indicate that something is wrong. There are various reasons why your cat could be eating less food than usual but still acting normal. Not all cats clearly show their discomfort from illnesses or stress‚ which is why cat parents are encouraged to monitor any changes in their cats’ behaviors. Changes in your cat’s eating habits should not be overlooked‚ as there might be an underlying issue that needs addressing. This article will discuss the seven likely issues behind your cat’s reduced appetite and otherwise normal behavior. The 7 Reasons Your Cat Isn’t Eating But Acting Normal 1. Stress Just like humans‚ cats can be sufferers of stress too. However‚ the reasoning behind our stress versus our cats is different. Rather than stressing about work or money worries‚ cats can become stressed from things like a new pet or baby in their home or other environmental disruptions. Cats do not handle stress well‚ so you will start seeing changes in their behavior. A decreased appetite is a common sign your cat could be feeling stressed or generally feels unwell. Other signs that could indicate your cat is stressed are changes in their litterbox or sleeping habits. Image credit: one photo‚ Shutterstock 2. Age As cats begin to age into their senior years‚ you might notice their appetite starts decreasing. They may otherwise act normal‚ but you might notice subtle changes in their activity levels. It can be normal for a cat to eat a bit less the older they get because of reduced activity and a slower metabolism. If your cat is eating less food because of their age‚ the changes will be more subtle than if it were from stress or certain illnesses. Older cats can also experience changes in their food preferences. However‚ you should first rule out pain and medical conditions as reasons behind your cat’s poor eating habits. Older cats are more likely to be suffering from pain due to conditions such as arthritis or dental disease‚ and many have other long term diseases which may suppress their appetite. Senior cats that are refusing to eat any food for 24 hours should be taken to an emergency veterinarian for a health evaluation. 3. Health Problems If your cat is feeling ill‚ they may start refusing food or eat less than usual. This could be from pain or nausea that is making it difficult for them to keep food down. Various health problems can cause changes to your cats’ eating habits‚ such as kidney disease and pancreatitis. Anything that causes nasal congestion and affects a cat’s sense of smell can also reduce their appetite. If you suspect that your cat’s appetite changes are caused by a health problem‚ they should be taken to a veterinarian. Cats can hide their health problems well because they do not want to show that they are vulnerable. So‚ if they start refusing food or eating less than usual‚ it can be a sign that they are not feeling well and you should get them checked by your vet as soon as possible. Image Credit: Pressmaster‚Shutterstock-1 4. Sudden Dietary Changes Cats can be picky about the food they eat and are not fond of dietary changes. If you have recently switched your cat to a new food or changed up their usual diet‚ your cat might not show much interest in eating it yet. It can take a while for cats to adjust to the different flavors and textures of the new food‚ and they might not enjoy it as much as their old food. It is better to gradually introduce new foods into your cats and allow a transitioning period of 7 to 10 days. This will be much easier on your cat’s digestive system and give them time to adjust to new foods. This gradual transition period is especially important for felines with sensitive stomachs or picky eating habits. Unfortunately‚ some cats struggle to adjust to new foods if they have a strong preference for their old diet. Your cat is probably not fond of the new flavors or prefers either the wet or dry food that they previously ate. 5. Certain Medications If your cat is on medication‚ whether acute or chronic‚ a decreased appetite could be a side effect. Medications such as antibiotics can have side effects like nausea and an upset stomach that can make it difficult for your cat to eat normally. It is important to discuss with your cat’s veterinarian any changes in your cat’s behavior and appetite on their medication. Image Credit: Julia-Cherk‚ Shutterstock 6. Dental Issues Dental issues are common in cats and can impact how they eat. Gingivitis‚ stomatitis‚ mouth ulcers‚ periodontal disease‚ or tooth infections are some of the dental issues that can affect cats. It can be painful and difficult for cats to eat their food if they have dental issues. Not all cats show obvious signs of dental disease until they are evaluated by a veterinarian‚ so a decreased appetite might be the first sign to look out for. If you suspect that your cat is not eating much food because of dental issues‚ you will need to get them checked out by a vet. Otherwise‚ some cats won’t eat for a few hours after getting dental surgery or teeth cleaning. This could be from any swelling and discomfort in their mouth that is making it challenging for them to eat. Your cat’s veterinarian might recommend feeding them wet or soft foods until your cat recovers. 7. Gastrointestinal Problems Like humans‚ cats can have gastrointestinal problems like nausea and stomach pain that can affect their appetite. They could have eaten food earlier that didn’t agree with their stomach‚ or perhaps they have acid reflux or irritable bowel disease. This can cause your cat to lose their appetite and not eat much until their gastrointestinal problems ease up. Image Credit: megaflopp‚ Shutterstock Conclusion If your cat is reluctant to eat their food but still acts normally‚ don’t hesitate to contact a veterinarian. Cats should never go more than a couple of days without eating any food because of the risk of hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease)‚ a common cause of liver failure in cats. It is not a good sign for cats to start eating less food or refusing food entirely. Even if your cat seems otherwise normal‚ the reduced appetite is a sign that they are not. It’s advisable to have them checked out by your vet as soon as possible Sources “Causes and Symptoms of Stress in Cats” “When Is Your Cat Hiding Illness or Injury?” “Feline Hepatic Lipidosis” “Why Your Cat Won’t Eat and What to Do” “Dental Issues in Cats” “Hepatic lipidosis”   Featured Image Credit: 4 PM production‚ Shutterstock The post My Cat Is Not Eating But Acting Normal‚ What’s Wrong? 7 Vet-Reviewed Issues by Sarah Psaradelis appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Gun customization is a big deal in Call of Duty‚ and there’s an overwhelming number of options. There are currently at least 70 different Optic attachments. You can’t realistically try them all‚ so here are our picks for the best Optics in Call of Duty MW3 and Warzone. Related: Best Perks in MW3 Warzone Best Optics for MW3 and Warzone The best Optic attachments are easy to use and don’t clutter the screen. Ideally‚ we’re after an unobstructed sight that doesn’t incur many stat penalties. Here are my picks for the best Optics in the game‚ along with how they look on a weapon and while aiming. Forge Tac Delta 4 Image: PC InvasionImage: PC Invasion The Forge Tac Delta 4 has a few downsides‚ but the pros outweigh the cons. This Optic boasts the highest magnification on the list at 5.5X and has a dull glint. If you can stomach the 5% ADS speed penalty‚ you’re treated to a wide‚ clutter-free pictu...

Geometry Dash has had a very surprising new game mode added. The Tower. Strangely found in the normal level select‚ this game mode has many surprises. What is The Tower in Geometry Dash? The Tower is a new game mode in Geometry Dash since update 2.2. You can find it at the very end of the level selection‚ which is a rather bizarre place considering all other added levels have had their own spaces. When you enter The Tower‚ you’ll find a series of levels. These levels differ from every single level in the game however‚ as these levels are platformers. And very well-created ones at that. For PC players‚ the normal buttons result in a jump‚ however the default movement keys will move you from side to side. For mobile players‚ there will now be two arrows on the bottom left. I’m sure you can work that out. There are coins to collect‚ special blue coins to find‚ and even a time to complete each level under. If you find all of one collecti...

The Confederate Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery is being torn down. After a short legal battle‚ the Biden administration will continue its plan to remove the statue‚ which is over a century old‚ from the cemetery in Arlington County‚ Virginia. Will this monument be treated with care once it’s removed? I find that doubtful.  The statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville‚ Virginia‚ was supposed to go to a museum. It went to a “museum” all right—a museum that melted down the statue and beheaded it in the dead of night. The demolition should have been halted permanently. Arlington’s Confederate Memorial‚ where then-President Barack Obama sent a wreath just over a decade ago‚ should have been left where it was and remained a lasting tribute to the restoration of the Union. The Biden administration’s move to tear down the Confederate Memorial is an ominous sign for the future of our republic. The monument to Confederate war dead at Arlington‚ a cemetery built on land that belonged to Robert E. Lee‚ was not a tribute to racism‚ slavery‚ or the Confederate cause‚ as many contend. The statue was built more in the spirit of President Abraham Lincoln‚ who had “Yankee Doodle” and “Dixie” played at the White House upon receiving news of Lee’s surrender to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.  Malice toward none and charity for all. North and South‚ we are all Americans again. In 1865‚ that was hard to accept for many. By 1900‚ much had changed. The idea of reconciliation and rebuilding was not just a fanciful idea‚ it was becoming a reality. This was in part due to wise leadership from men who fought on both sides of the Civil War. In 1898 President William McKinley‚ a Union veteran of the Civil War‚ made a speech for the “Peace Jubilee” following the end of the Spanish American-War.  McKinley said that … in the spirit of fraternity we should share with you in the care of the graves of Confederate soldiers … Sectional feeling no longer holds back the love we feel for each other. The old flag again waves over us in peace with new glories. This quotation is on the page describing the Confederate Memorial on Arlington National Cemetery’s website. How long will it stay there? In August‚ former Sen. Jim Webb‚ D-Va.‚ made a call to save the memorial in The Wall Street Journal. Webb explained how construction of the monument to reconciliation came together‚ in large part because of McKinley‚ who was insistent that Union and Confederate veterans play a significant role in the Spanish-American War: McKinley understood the Civil War as one who had lived it‚ having served four years in the 23rd Ohio Infantry‚ enlisting as a private and discharged in 1865 as a brevet major. He knew the steps to take to bring the country fully together again. As an initial signal‚ he selected three Civil War veterans to command the Cuba campaign. Isn’t it interesting that a Union veteran who literally had faced the Confederacy in battle was more apt to forgive his enemies than modern-day ideologues separated from the war by over 150 years? Webb noted that one top commander in Cuba was “‘Fighting Joe’ Wheeler‚ the legendary Confederate cavalry general‚ [who] led the cavalry units in Cuba after being elected to Congress in 1880 from Alabama and working hard to bring national reconciliation.” Was Wheeler a Confederate or an American? The world didn’t stop in 1865.  McKinley called for Americans to set aside old feelings of enmity and embrace our shared future destiny as a nation united. From there‚ the American century began‚ and we all should be thankful for it. The idea that the Confederate Memorial at Arlington was made to reinforce “white supremacy” is a reductionist anachronism. There are many who argue that reconciliation itself is racist‚ because it happened between white Americans at a time when civil rights for black Americans hadn’t been fully achieved. If that’s the case‚ shall we not pay tribute to our victory in World War II‚ accomplished decades before the Civil Rights Act and with a still-segregated military? What we are seeing happen with Arlington’s Confederate Memorial and countless other memorials and statues around the country is the ideology of commentator-author Ibram X. Kendi applied to history. Literally everything is broken down to “racist” or anti-racist.” This is the spirit of the “racial reckoning” that was wholly adopted by American institutions in 2020. They will use it to demolish every part of our past‚ including the Constitution. If it wasn’t obvious years ago‚ it should be completely obvious now that those who drove the destruction of the Confederate Memorial at Arlington would like to tear down heroes of the Union too. They would like to make a clean sweep of our past. They will destroy whatever they think they can get away with destroying. Columbus‚ Thomas Jefferson‚ George Washington‚ Lincoln‚ and all the other greats from the history of American civilization are on the chopping block. At no point will the statue-destroying fanatics be content with what’s been removed and decide that enough has been done. Appeasement will simply abet more destruction. Arlington’s Confederate Memorial was created to consecrate the idea that the Union was whole again. Tearing it down sends a signal that the America previous generation built will be deconstructed—just like the statue—and that resolving our differences comes through crushing and erasing our political opponents. The spirit that animates the statue-destroying fanatics‚ if it had been the prevailing attitude at the end of the Civil War and the years that followed‚ would have left us without a country. We’d be a series of shattered‚ petty banana republics fighting for scraps in a world that would have passed us by. Those of us who would like to see another American century need to resist calls to destroy our past. If the history-erasing ethos continues to be promoted by our institutions‚ that apocalyptic outcome may still be our fate after all. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Ominously‚ Biden Admin Will Tear Down Monument to Reconciliation at Arlington Cemetery appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Anyone who listened to the college presidents defending calls for the genocide of Jews with condescending smirks in their Dec. 5 congressional testimony could see they were insufferably smug. But then we got evidence that Ivy League universities may not have selected the best and brightest to lead them. Consider Harvard President Claudine Gay‚ who evinced no ability to think on her feet or even adjust wording undoubtedly scripted for her by lawyers. Yet despite her brilliant display of dullness‚ Gay grinned as though she were the cleverest in the room. This was‚ perhaps‚ understandable. Gay is‚ after all‚ president of Harvard University. Typically‚ you get to be president of Harvard only if everyone knows that you are very‚ very smart. After her shameful performance‚ however‚ it should come as no surprise that Gay rose to this post despite a shockingly unimpressive scholarly record. Manhattan Institute senior fellow Christopher Rufo has since produced convincing evidence that Gay plagiarized parts of her dissertation. Failing to properly quote source material either can be a sign of carelessness or a symptom of struggling to generate original ideas. Her academic output since then suggests it was the latter. Over about two decades‚ Gay has written 10 journal articles and no books. This is about half the average rate for a political science professor‚ even at a middling university. By comparison‚ Amy Gutmann—who like Gay is a political scientist and until early last year served as president of the University of Pennsylvania—has published more than a dozen books and well over 100 articles. Some academics make their name by developing one profound insight into an important question. Others make their reputation by offering consistently interesting insights on a range of questions. Gay has done neither. She has authored only a handful of articles offering uninteresting insights on the narrow question of African-American political opinion and representation. In her last article‚ published six years ago‚ titled “A Room for One’s Own?‚” Gay found that Democratic governors direct federal housing subsidies to supportive constituencies when they have the discretion to do so. Amazing! In “Knowledge Matters‚” Gay found that political ignorance is a key reason why African Americans support Democrats despite policy disagreements. Who knew? In “Seeing Difference‚” Gay found that African Americans resent economically successful Hispanic neighbors. Wow! How did Gay rise so far despite such a mediocre academic record? You already know how‚ or at least part of how. Gay is a woman of color‚ and within the liberal ivory tower of Harvard‚ it’s impermissible for a white professor to accuse a woman of color of being intellectually mediocre. Only a black professor could possibly do that. It’s interesting‚ then‚ that Gay’s institutional rise was marked by a pattern of destroying the careers of genuinely brilliant black scholar who had the stature to point out her mediocrity. Harvard economist Roland Fryer‚ for example‚ has published more in a single year than Gay has in her entire career. But while serving as the dean of faculty‚ Gay led the charge to strip Fryer of almost all of his academic privileges on trumped-up charges of having run an office with a hostile work environment. As documentary filmmaker Rob Muntz put it‚ “Fryer was the victim of a coordinated professional assassination. And … the chief architect of that assassination was none other than Claudine Gay.” Another target of Gay’s character assassination was Ronald Sullivan‚ a black professor at Harvard Law School. In addition to being an accomplished law professor‚ Sullivan was dean of Winthrop House‚ one of Harvard’s residence halls. After Sullivan agreed to serve as an attorney to help defend Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein against rape charges‚ several Winthrop House students complained that they no longer “felt safe.” When she realized that it would be impossible to remove Sullivan for providing legal representation‚ Gay launched a witch hunt to find a pretext for his removal. Despite a decade of leading Winthrop House without incident‚ Gay insisted that he had presided over a hostile environment. Gay’s appointment as Harvard president felt like an “emperor has no clothes” moment. If academics can’t admit or even think that someone is an affirmative action pick‚ then Harvard just pretended that she was robed in the finest scholarly garb. What harm could come to Harvard from picking Gay as its president? As it turns out‚ quite a lot. Although one doubts that Harvard’s newfound institutional commitment to free speech would extend so far as to permit speaking obvious truths‚ the truth is now abundantly clear not only on campus but also across the country. Everyone paying attention knows that Harvard picked its president because of her immutable characteristics‚ despite her lack of scholarly accomplishment. The country also can reasonably suspect that Harvard is refusing to fire its president despite her manifest failure to respond properly to the current wave of antisemitism on campus and despite credible allegations of plagiarism because of her immutable characteristics. Perhaps the Harvard board of trustees will act with integrity‚ but we rather doubt it. It seems more likely that Harvard will be stuck being led by an academic whose alleged early plagiarism could not plausibly be redeemed by the merit of her later scholarship. Play DEI games‚ win DEI prizes. This commentary originally was published by The Washington Times Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post A Failing Grade for Harvard’s Claudine Gay appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Texas has begun the campaign to restore the role of states‚ especially border states‚ in combating illegal immigration. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday signed into law SB No. 4‚ which authorizes state authorities to arrest and order illegal aliens to return to the foreign nation from which they entered. State authorities may do so without involving federal law enforcement or the labyrinthine federal process for adjudicating immigration claims. But in the era of lawfare‚ bicameral legislative support and the signature of the state’s chief executive is not enough. Laws like Texas’ must receive the blessing of the federal courts. Although that is normally an obstacle to be avoided‚ here‚ Texas may hope that the federal courts hear a challenge to the law. Current Supreme Court precedent stands in the way of Texas’ designs‚ but that obstacle will not be removed without a challenge like the one posed by the Lone Star State’s new law. Since 2012‚ conservatives have been wandering in search of a legislative response to the problem of unchecked illegal migration across the southern border.  That year‚ in one of his least creditable displays of legal reasoning‚ Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy‚ writing for a five-justice majority‚ held that an Arizona law criminalizing illegal presence under state law violated the U.S. Constitution. How so? In the since-retired Kennedy’s estimation‚ Arizona’s effort to deter illegal migration in its territory might impinge on federal “policy choices that bear on this nation’s international relations.” Thus‚ Kennedy conjectured that Congress had removed from the states any authority to legislate in the field of immigration enforcement.     Since the decision in Arizona v. U.S.‚ state efforts to address mass illegal migration have been trapped in a series of arcane legal debates. Is the mass movement of millions of self-styled asylum-seekers; economic-migrants; single‚ military-aged males; criminals; and terrorism threats from more than 160 countries‚ including our adversaries‚ an invasion within the meaning of Article IV‚ Section 4 of the Constitution? Do executive-branch policies like President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or President Joe Biden’s en masse parole violate the president’s constitutional duty to “take care that the Law be faithfully executed”? Do states even have a legal right to sue the federal government when it announces enforcement standards contravening the plain text of federal law?  To date‚ none of these questions has been resolved in a way remotely favorable to stemming the tide of illegal migration. The answer ought to be a good deal more straightforward: States‚ as sovereigns‚ have “the inherent power to exclude persons from its territory‚ subject only to those limitations expressed in the Constitution or constitutionally imposed by Congress.” That was the answer then-Justice Antonin Scalia gave in his dissenting opinion in Arizona v. U.S.  But it’s the answer the majority foreclosed. And wrongfully so‚ because‚ as Scalia explained‚ “the power to exclude” is at the “core of state sovereignty.” A political community that has lost the ability to expel those with no lawful right to be within its territory is not meaningfully sovereign. Thus‚ it cannot be presumed that Congress has extinguished that power.  Then‚ as now‚ Congress has not enacted a law expressly negating that state power. Kennedy merely inferred that negation. For much of the 20th century‚ the Supreme Court relied on penumbras and emanations to hallucinate protection for entirely novel individual rights‚ for instance‚ the constitutional right to contraception.  With equal verve‚ the court used constitutional shadows—the supposed negative implications of features such as the Commerce Clause—to restrict the traditionally broad ambit of state sovereignty and defeat core exercises of that authority. Yet that approach cannot continue indefinitely. The ever-increasing demands of the human rights regime cannot always prevail against the older tradition of sovereign rights‚ which ultimately protect the citizens constituting that sovereignty. Nowhere is a shift more necessary than in the field of immigration. The unconcealable anarchy at our southern border is a direct consequence of the court’s ruling in Arizona. Executive branch authority is at its peak in matters of international relations and foreign affairs. By placing the issue of illegal immigration under these headings‚ Kennedy not only transferred sole authority over immigration enforcement to the federal government‚ he gave it primarily (and‚ in practice‚ almost exclusively) to the executive branch. The executive branch‚ which ought to be implementing Congress’ legislative judgments on immigration policy‚ has instead developed the habit of resorting to its prosecutorial discretion and contriving its own policies that disregard restrictions on illegal entry and the necessity to deport certain classes of aliens. Thus‚ the preemption that Kennedy found allowed the executive branch to convert that field of policymaking into a near-total void of enforcement. Some Texas lawmakers have stated that the SB No. 4 complies with Arizona v. U.S. and that they have no need to challenge that decision. Whether Texas lawmakers believe that or not‚ the Biden administration is going to take a more jaundiced view of the matter. And under current Supreme Court precedent‚ one can expect the federal government’s view to prevail in the lower courts. The problem of mass illegal migration long predated Arizona v. U.S. Still‚ the Supreme Court made the situation materially worse by depriving the states of their rightful‚ historic ability to deal with the problem insofar as it came within their borders. For that specific aspect of the problem‚ the court bears responsibility. But Kennedy is no longer on the court‚ nor are Justices Stephen Breyer or Ruth Bader Ginsburg‚ both of whom joined Kennedy’s majority opinion. Thus‚ in addition to persuading Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito‚ who dissented in Arizona‚ Texas would need to gain the votes of all three Trump-appointed justices‚ Neil Gorsuch‚ Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Alternatively‚ Texas could lose one of those votes if they persuade Chief Justice John Roberts‚ who voted with Kennedy‚ to reconsider the reasoning in Arizona.  The court‚ as a whole‚ has good reasons to reconsider Arizona’s rationale. As a purely legal matter‚ Kennedy’s opinion ignored both the original understanding of state sovereignty‚ as well as the long-standing interpretive rule that core attributes of state sovereignty cannot be destroyed by implication.  Scalia described both in his dissent. The justices will also have an opportunity to survey the wreckage‚ so to speak‚ and appreciate that making immigration control an exclusively federal prerogative has produced domestic chaos and little of the international stability that Kennedy thought so desirable. Thus‚ if it comes‚ when it comes‚ the court should take its opportunity to right the wrong and overrule Arizona v. U.S. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Texas Comes Out Swinging in Fight to Restore States’ Role in Curbing Illegal Immigration appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The new Donald Tusk-led Polish government has been accused of engaging in “a barbaric attack on freedom of speech and journalistic independence” after seizing control of the state broadcaster TVP Info‚ taking several of its channels off the air‚ and taking further punitive actions against other state broadcasters. In addition to taking over TVP Info and restricting some of its channels‚ Poland’s new ruling coalition also fired the heads of TVP Info‚ the public broadcaster Polskie Radio‚ and the state-run news agency Polish Press Agency. The TVP Info documentary series “Reset‚” which explored Poland’s relations with Russia between 2007 and 2015 and the actions of former Polish governments during this time period‚ was also removed from TVP’s archive. Poland’s former ruling party‚ the Law and Justice (PiS) party‚ responded to the takeover of TVP Info by staging a sit-in protest at the state broadcaster’s headquarters. The new Polish government claimed that its moves against these broadcasters are part of an attempt to “depoliticise” them and accused the broadcasters of “carrying out propaganda tasks” in favor of the former government. However‚ members of Poland’s previous ruling party argued that the conservative slant of public media was needed to provide an alternative to Poland’s mostly liberal private media. Poland’s former prime minister‚ Mateusz Morawiecki‚ accused the new government of violating its “supposed care for the rule of law… at every step.” JarosÅ‚aw KaczyÅ„ski‚ the former deputy prime minister of Poland and the leader of the Law and Justice Party‚ said: “There is no democracy without media pluralism‚ without strong anti-government media.” Poland’s president‚ Andrzej Duda‚ also criticized the new government’s actions against these state broadcasters by stressing that “a political objective cannot be an excuse for violating or circumventing constitutional and statutory regulations.” Even critics of the Law and Justice (PiS) party have admitted that the new government’s moves against these state broadcasters are problematic. While the Tusk-led government is exercising control over TVP Info‚ the broadcaster is fighting back via its social media channels. It has been providing regular updates on the pushback against the government takeover of these media outlets on X. Additionally‚ TVP Info has uploaded the Reset documentary series to its YouTube channel. TVP World‚ an English-language news channel owned by TVP Info‚ condemned the Polish government’s actions on X. “Recent events conducted by the newly elected Polish government to illegally take control of TVP have left us speechless‚” TVP World wrote. “Our channel and its website have been shut down with no reason provided‚ and our work is on hold.” According to TVP World‚ the Association of Polish Journalists (SDP) has also strongly criticized the government’s actions‚ describing them as “a barbaric attack on freedom of speech and journalistic independence.” The post Polish Government Takes Over State Broadcaster TVP Info‚ Takes Several Channels off Air appeared first on Reclaim The Net.