Alexa, Lady Gaga and Trigger Words...

The Amazon "Echo." Home to
Alexa, the virtual assistant

About a month ago, I ordered an Amazon Echo. Amazon had a deal for Prime members that allowed us to buy them at a terrifically reduced rate and I jumped at the opportunity. It arrived about two weeks ago in a little box and when I opened it, the fun began.  I was using it to find podcasts I enjoy, setting up "radio stations" on iHeart Radio and Pandora, getting my daily news briefing and checking the weather and traffic before heading out the door for work. I have to say...overall, very cool toy.  But my wife has serious reservations about the Echo, or "Alexa" as she (the Echo device) prefers to be addressed.

To my wife, she sees an inanimate object that is listening to everything that goes on in the kitchen and dining room area of our apartment. Even when Alexa is responding in her electronic, "dulcet" tones, she finds a level of eeriness and creepiness. So...wifey is not as fond of Alexa as her technogeek husband is.

Now, one of the things about Alexa that is not advertised is that she will "improvise" when she does not quite understand what your asking for. Unfortunately, her improvisation skills are somewhat lacking. And the outcome of her improvisation is usually very limited in its scope.  Which brings me to an interesting tale about my wife, my son, me and Alexa.

When I get up for my night time paramedic shift, it is usually about 3PM. I have a routine. First, I get up and pack my lunch. Then I have a cup of coffee and chat with my wife and son. Then I get my uniform on and we sit down as a family in the living room and have our Bible reading with my son and prayer time. It is a good routine.

In between getting up and getting my uniform on, I like to listen to Al Mohler's Daily Briefing and see what Reverend Al has to say about current events. Normally, I listen to him on my cellphone and the whole process takes about twenty minutes. Today I decided to ask Alexa to play the "Daily Briefing" podcast. This is normally pretty easy. You say her name ("Alexa?") and then specify your request ("Play Zack Brown channel on Pandora..."). She usually responds with, "OK. Playing Zack Brown Channel on Pandora." Easy, right?

As I am putting my lunch together I say, "Alexa. Play Al Mohler Daily Briefing podcast."

At this point, Alexa's little light on the top of the Echo device is whirling as Alexa is putting my request to deep thought.  After about 15 seconds she says, "Cannot understand Al Mohler Daily Briefing podcast. How about we try Lady Gaga?" At which point some horrible techno-pop Lady Gaga music comes flowing out from the speaker.

"Alexa. Stop."  No response.
"Alexa. STOP!" Still no response and now my wife is laughing at me.
"ALEXA STOP!" And still no response but now my wife is laughing harder.

My wife then injects her special brand of wisdom and says, "You have to tell her to 'Pause.'"  Of course, I stare at my wife. "I know that...'Alexa...Pause.'" Blessed silence.

Now, I am a pretty forgiving guy. I figure that Alexa just got it wrong when I made my request for Al Mohler's Daily Briefing podcast. I believe in second chances...even for Alexa. So, in a demonstration of grace for my family to emulate and learn from, I said, "Alexa, play podcast, Al Mohler, the Daily Briefing."

"Cannot understand Al Mohler Daily Briefing podcast. How about we try Lady Gaga?" Cue the same horrible techno-pop Lady Gaga music flowing out from the speaker.

"ALEXA STOP!" No response. Wife laughing harder now. My son giggling now to. He's only 3...

Deep breath. I can do this.

"Alexa. Pause." Blessed silence once again.

The beautiful and delicate
college student...err...pansy

In this very "special" political season I have struggled mightily with trying not to make fun of all the "snow flakes" and "pansy" (as in a "delicate and fragile flower") college kid millennials who can't handle real life, much less "real words." In our wimpy college climate filled with students who are worried about "trigger words" people are reacting to things that make them "feel bad," by trying to cause those who say such things to be silenced. Their approach is much like mine is with Alexa.

Trigger words, or "triggers" in language are simply words that evoke a response in the hearer. Preachers and pastors use language like this for the purposes of driving home a message. Politicians use triggers to sway opinion. Lawyers use them to move judges and juries.  The press uses them to get you to vote for Hillary Clinton and accuse Donald Trump of being a racist. And left wing activists use trigger words to convince you that the Electoral College needs to be thrown out for a popular vote and that Hillary actually won the election.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..." (1st Amendment, US Constitution)

Free speech advocates rightly point out that the 1st Amendment offers no protection from trigger words, but instead, protects the right of a speaker, in public, to be able to use whole strings of trigger words without pausing except to take a breath. No matter what side of politics or religion you fall into.

But there is the pansy...uhhh...college student...who can be utterly trodden underfoot by "trigger words" resulting in their inability to take their midterms or do simple things like eat or brush their teeth. And...sad to say...it appears that many campuses are trying to implement policies that forbid people from having to hear 1st Amendment speech from the "trigger happy" speakers that will cause these pansies to feel "oppressed" (maybe it is the widespread halitosis?). They have created "safe spaces" for the delicate and fragile to go to so that they won't have to deal with "triggers" and can continue to pursue their degree in feminine studies or some other equally useful and high paying degree without the fear of being emotionally traumatized.

Unfortunately, when we create places like "safe zones" or that other abomination to Free Speech, the "Free Speech Zone," we have, in effect, allowed a "heckler's veto" of sorts.

Kudzu - a great analogy for
"safe zones" and the "heckler's veto"

In First Amendment law, a heckler's veto is the suppression of speech by the government, because of the possibility of a violent reaction by hecklers. It is the government that vetoes the speech, because of the reaction of the heckler, when the actual role of government is to protect the speaker from the violent person who is incited by the speech. Today, a new form of Heckler's Veto is taking Amerika by storm. This is the one that is not enforced by government, but instead by campus or commercial authority. And no matter what your thoughts on the speech you find offensive, to oppress that speech is a clear violation of the 1st Amendment. And even with a new president that might just support Free Speech, we need to be vigilant in the highways, byways and the courtroom, or the pansies will run us over like kudzu in the south. Soon...all you have is kudzu and no other plants.

God has funny ways of teaching me lessons. And this little event with Alexa is no different. As much as I make fun of the pansies, I found myself, albeit briefly, "in their shoes." Alexa was using trigger words and I was feeling emotionally pummeled as my wife and son giggled at me. My immediate reaction was to suppress Alexa's speech. "Maybe I should put up barricades in the kitchen that are "safe zones" so that Alexa is not allowed to "trigger" me." But then...as Alexa finally stops the infernal racket of (TRIGGER WARNING!) Lady Gaga, I realized the lesson I might take from this. I am capable of being just as intolerant of free speech as anyone else. Having said that, my man card is still safe as I refuse to be a pansy. Besides, I only went to technical school, not actual college.

There are thousands of people out there protesting and saying horrible things about this election and our President Elect, Donald Trump. And as anyone with access to a TV can see, these events are turning violent in some cases. And while violence should be dealt with (even violence from law enforcement to counter the violence), free speech should be allowed to flourish, no matter how many trigger words, or how silly and wrong it may be. I remember about 20 years ago when the KKK had a permit to setup on the steps of the Colorado state capitol on Martin Luther King Day.  I remember the disgust at the idea (after all, the KKK is truly repugnant). I remember thinking that it would be awesome if the counter protesters ran over them. But the police did their best to protect them...as it should be. The 1st Amendment does not protect the hearer. It protects the speaker (no matter how vile). And we need to remember that the next time we see Westboro Baptist or the latest herd of Brother Jed inspired "Pelagian Monsters" come through town or to the campuses.

On a lighter note...hopefully, Alexa and I will get on better with my new speech and music guidelines.

Me: "Alexa. Don't ever play Lady Gaga in this house again."
Alexa: "OK. Recording your preferences."

For the record...I never got Alexa to find and play the Daily Briefing by Al Mohler. Brother Al? Are you reading this? You need to get this remedied. I don't know if I can take another "trigger word" about Lady Gaga again. I don't have a college campus safe zone within 20 miles and my wife and 3 year old laughed me...

A Rebuke to Christians about the Election

Friend and brother, Colton
Price, heralding the Gospel
in Old Town, Fort Collins

So with Tuesday night's numbers finally in we welcome a new president.  In the time leading up to President Trump's historic victory I have watched well meaning Christians despair and exult in this election. I have seen men that I admire berating through sarcastic sniping, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ for being grateful at Trump's victory. And I have seen other brothers in Christ actually question the salvation of fellow brothers and sisters because they voted for a third party. All the time I am watching this I am sitting there staring at my Facebook feed and feeling shame that the Body of Christ would do this to each other in full view of the unbelieving public.

Regardless of how I voted, I have known one thing supreme in all elections of Presidents and placements of kings (or any other leaders). God is sovereign. Let me say that again for all of you wailing on either side of this issue...GOD IS SOVEREIGN.

Daniel 2:21 could not be any clearer in this regard. As he addressed the great earthly king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Daniel stated quite clearly, "And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding." And if you do not see a parallel between Trump, Hillary or even Obama and Nebuchadnezzar, you need to look closer. And remember that each of these people rose to their positions in politics ONLY at God's direction. And after finally acknowledging that this statement in Scripture is absolute truth, you need to embrace it and trust Him who has now placed our president and moved the voters to do as they did.

Trump has become our new President. Jesus is still King! Long lives Our Great King!

So what has really changed since the election? Absolutely nothing. Zilch. Nada. Bupkiss. Niet. Nichego.  The Church still has a mission that in our country is being woefully neglected in favor of pragmatic and un-Godly philosophy. The lost still need to hear the Gospel. The lost still out number the saved. The Gospel is still the only cure to what ails us. And finally, the power of the Holy Spirit still indwells the Body of Christ so that She can proclaim this powerful, beautiful and terrifying declaration to a CONQUERED world.

Yes, we have a new president. Yes, he is a worldly man. Yes, he has a colorful history (to put it mildly). And yes, many Christians voted for and against him. But the election is over. The job for the Elect is still on going. Stop fighting and beating each other up. Stop attacking your brother and sister over this extraneous garbage and get about the work of your King. Stop making this an issue over whether you can be a brother or sister to a fellow Christian. That is the Lord's choice, not yours. You didn't get to choose your brothers or sisters in your earthly life. You certainly do not get to choose them for Heaven. So be grateful to your Great Father in Heaven that He gave you the brothers and sisters He has and trust in His wisdom on those choices. I assure you, His wisdom is infinitely greater than yours.

Finally, get off the keyboard, out of the pew and out in the war. Remember the words of that great and God-used preacher, Charles Spurgeon: "Brethren, do something; do something, do something! While societies and unions make constitutions, let us win souls. I pray you, be men of action all of you. Get to work and quit yourselves like men. Old Suvarov's idea of war is mine: `Forward and strike! No theory! Attack! Form a column! Charge bayonets! Plunge into the center of the enemy! Our one aim is to win souls; and this we are not to talk about, but do in the power of God!'"

Or better yet, the command of our Great God and King, Jesus Christ: "And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark:16:15-17)