Shout Out Patriots Podcast with Martin Mawyer
0:00 Olympic Ban on ‘Sign of the Cross’ Backfires Spectacularly
4:12 Taxpayer-Funded Bodega Sparks Outrage by Banning White Patrons
6:35 Bill Passes Bill to Defend Free Speech on Campus, But Why Was It Necessary?
9:03 Non-Citizen Sworn in as Police Officer: A Dangerous Erosion of American Citizenship
Olympic Ban on ‘Sign of the Cross’ Backfires Spectacularly
Welcome, Patriots, to another episode of Shout Out Patriots! I’m your host, Martin Mawyer, president of the Christian Action Network. As always, I want to thank all of you who are tuning in today—it’s you, the faithful and the fearless, who keep this show alive and kicking.
Today, I’m diving headfirst into a story causing quite a stir worldwide.
The International Judo Federation slapped a five-month suspension on Serbian judo champion Nemanja Majdov for making the sign of the Cross during the Olympics. Still, there’s one thing they’ll never be able to do: erase his devotion to his faith.
They may try to silence his expression, but God has a funny way of using these moments to amplify His message. You see, by punishing Mr. Majdov, they’ve actually given him a bigger stage—a platform to display his gratitude to Christ that has now reached more people than ever.
It’s almost hilarious, isn’t it?
They’ve inadvertently broadcast the very thing the Judo Federation wanted to hide from the world. It’s like they’ve become the promoters of his faith, all while trying to shut it down.
It reminds me of that powerful verse from Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
So, here’s the story: 28-year-old Nemanja Majdov recently found himself in hot water after making the sign of the Cross, a significant symbol of the Christian faith, following his match in this year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
The International Judo Federation has decided that such a display of faith was worthy of a five-month suspension. They’ve branded it as a violation of their so-called “religious codes” or, as they say, an effort to ensure everyone feels “respected and accepted.”
But let’s be honest, how does an athlete thanking God for his abilities threaten anyone else’s beliefs? It doesn’t. It’s simply a sign of humility, a declaration that their success is not theirs alone.
Majdov took to Instagram to respond and didn’t mince words. He declared, “The Lord has given me everything… and He is number one for me, and I am proud of that.”
Now that, my friends, is what real conviction looks like. He didn’t back down or issue some watered-down apology—no, he stood firm in his faith, and that’s something we all should admire and draw inspiration from.
It’s ironic, isn’t it? The very act of suppressing Nemanja Majdov’s faith has inadvertently amplified it, making the International Judo Federation unwitting promoters of his message.
And let’s not forget, this is the same Olympics that had no problem poking fun—some might even say blaspheming—Christ during their opening ceremony. It’s almost comical.
They’ll put on a controversial, so-called ‘artistic’ rendition of the Last Supper for the world to see, but the moment a Christian athlete like Nemanja Majdov makes a simple sign of the Cross, suddenly, it’s a step too far.
It just goes to show you that this isn’t about ‘respect’ or ‘acceptance.’ It’s about silencing expressions of faith they disagree with.
These Olympic Games, which claim to celebrate global unity and diversity, are doing everything they can to stamp out expressions of faith that don’t fit their narrative.
And yet, when Mr. Majdov made that sign of the Cross, it was seen by millions. God’s message spread further and louder than it ever would have without the International Judo Federation’s attempt to censor it. This is a powerful reminder that faith is resilient and can overcome any obstacle.
And so, here we are. The Olympics may try to silence expressions of faith, but they can’t silence the truth. They can’t deny what’s been written in our hearts. Faith can move mountains. And no federation, no organization, and no international committee will ever be able to strip us of our belief in God’s power and His plan.
Taxpayer-Funded Bodega Sparks Outrage by Banning White Patrons
I’m not sure which part is more outrageous in this next segment: the fact that a taxpayer-funded bodega in Minneapolis, designed to serve poor and hungry residents, is turning away white people or that when these white individuals dare to complain about the blatant discrimination, they’re immediately labeled as ‘Karens’ and accused of promoting ‘political violence.’
Here’s the situation:
Using a Minnesota State grant, Mykela ‘Keiko’ Jackson opened the ‘Food Trap Project Bodega’ to help low-income residents. But within months, this pantry displayed a sign declaring that the resources were for ‘Black & Indigenous Folx’ only.
When a local chaplain, Howard Dotson, tried to access the pantry, and was promptly turned away. His response? He filed a complaint, citing clear discrimination. And Jackson’s response? She claimed Dotson’s complaint was an act of ‘political violence,’ even going as far as calling him a ‘Karen’ in a social media post.
It’s almost predictable.
When progressives can’t defend their actions with logic or facts, they resort to name-calling and exaggeration. But this isn’t just petty discrimination—it’s a direct violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
And if this pantry ever finds itself in a courtroom, name-calling and hysterical fear-mongering won’t win any points with the judge. The actions of Ms. Jackson, the black operator of this pantry, reflect poorly on her cause and send an ugly message that white people are somehow undesirable customers or inherently privileged.
It’s almost as if there’s a desire to paint a picture that black-operated businesses should be off-limits to white patrons, reinforcing the very racial divides we’ve been trying to dismantle for decades.
So let’s get this straight:
If Ms. Jackson thinks that labeling white people who object to her discrimination as ‘Karens’ or agents of ‘political violence’ is going to shield her from accountability, she’s in for a rude awakening. Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about one bodega’s discriminatory policies—it’s about holding everyone to the same standards of equality and justice, regardless of race.
And as much as Ms. Jackson may want to rewrite the rules, the law isn’t on her side.
House Passes Bill to Defend Free Speech on Campus, But Why Was It Necessary?
My next segment has some good news for free speech advocates. Still, honestly, it’s a bit sad that universities even need to be ‘spanked’ over a Constitutional right already embedded in our founding document.
You’d think by now that higher education institutions would understand the First Amendment, but here we are, watching Congress drag them to the ‘woodshed’ with the passage of The End Woke Higher Education Act.
On September 19, the U.S. House of Representatives passed this two-bill package, which includes the Accreditation for College Excellence Act and the Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act.
Both bills aim to ensure that colleges and universities adhere to principles of free speech without being bullied into adopting specific political ideologies or diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements to receive funding or accreditation.
These bills, in essence, demand that public colleges treat all student organizations with fairness and equality, eliminating the use of bureaucratic excuses to suppress speech they disagree with.
But here’s the kicker:
This bill also ensures that all outdoor areas on public college campuses are public forums, meaning there will be no more ridiculous ‘free speech zones’ designed to quarantine the exchange of ideas.
And for those whose free speech rights are violated, the bill provides a means of fighting back.
Now, before we start celebrating, let’s remember that this measure only narrowly passed the House, 213-201, and still faces a deeply divided Senate.
President Biden has already denounced the bill, claiming it would ‘limit the ability of colleges and universities to admit a diverse student body’—a curious argument given that many students already feel they can’t express themselves on campus without fear of harassment or violence.
It seems that progressives excel at getting Congress to pass laws reaffirming rights that are already clearly laid out in the Constitution.
It’s almost childish: Forcing us to revisit and reassert what’s already been established for over 230 years. But as much as I’m thrilled that universities are getting this wake-up call, it’s a bit disheartening to think that, in 2024, we still have to remind them what the First Amendment is all about.
Non-Citizen Sworn in as Police Officer: A Dangerous Erosion of American Citizenship
In this final segment of Shout Out Patriots, we’re facing a troubling question:
What does it mean to be an American citizen, and what benefits come with that status?
It’s shocking that the city of Minneapolis has just sworn in our country’s first non-U.S. citizen as a police officer—someone who will now have the authority to enforce laws on actual American citizens despite not being one herself.
The officer’s name is Lesly Vera. She is a Somali, hijab-wearing Muslim who has lived in the U.S. since she was four years old, which means she’s had ample time to pursue legal citizenship.
But instead of taking that step, she dared to pursue a career that enforces laws on true Americans—laws she’s not fully committed to. This is a blatant example of the erosion of what it means to be a citizen in this country.
It raises several troubling questions. How can we have non-citizens—who haven’t pledged loyalty or commitment to our nation’s values—enforcing laws they aren’t fully beholden to? What’s next? The right to vote? The right to serve on juries?
And speaking of juries, what does this mean for the constitutional right to be judged by a jury of one’s peers? How can we call someone a ‘peer’ who isn’t even a citizen of this country?
This development opens a Pandora’s box of questions about the rights and privileges we afford to those who choose not to take the final step of becoming an American.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has brushed off concerns about this decision as ‘ridiculous.’ Still, I’d argue there’s nothing ridiculous about questioning the wisdom of allowing a non-citizen to wield law enforcement powers over U.S. citizens.
Objecting to a person who hasn’t taken an oath to this nation, who hasn’t fully committed to being a part of this American experiment, can’t simply be brushed off as ‘ridiculous.’ No, the word Police Chief O’Hara should be using is ‘preposterous’—because that’s precisely what this is.
The notion that a non-citizen can wear a badge, carry a gun, and read American citizens their Miranda rights is beyond absurd; it’s preposterous.
It defies the very principles of citizenship, loyalty, and commitment that this country was founded upon.
And it’s not just Minnesota. States like California, Colorado, and Illinois are also considering allowing non-citizens to serve as police officers. Is this the direction we want to go?
Allowing non-citizens to enforce our laws is a slippery slope that undermines the very foundation of what it means to be an American. It devalues the reward of citizenship—the privileges, responsibilities, and yes, the loyalty that comes with it.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: This isn’t about diversity or inclusion. It’s about stripping away the unique benefits and responsibilities that come with being a U.S. citizen. And if we’re not careful, we’ll find ourselves in a country where the lines between citizen and non-citizen are so blurred that the very concept of American citizenship loses all meaning.
And that wraps up this episode of Shout Out Patriots. We’ve covered some hard-hitting topics today, but there’s one clear thread running through every segment: the gradual erosion of what it means to be an American and the values that have held this country together for centuries.
But here’s the good news: The fight isn’t over. We’ve seen Congress take a stand with the End Woke Higher Education Act, and people like Chaplain Dotson challenge the injustices in their communities. It proves that when we speak up and refuse to back down, we can still make a difference.
So, to all our listeners out there, thank you for standing with us. Thank you for being patriots. And remember, the battle for our nation’s soul isn’t fought once—it’s fought daily. Until next time, stay strong, stay vocal, and never, ever let anyone silence your voice.
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