All entries by this author

UN Move to Criminalize ‘Defamation’ of Religion *

Nov 21st, 2008 | Filed by

The resolution’s drafters hope to circumvent national constitutional protections for freedom of speech.… Read the rest



Vatican Steps Up its Homophobia *

Nov 21st, 2008 | Filed by

The fundamentalists in the Vatican have often chosen to protect paedophile priests, while hounding gay clergy.… Read the rest



‘Imagine No Religion’ Billboard Taken Down *

Nov 21st, 2008 | Filed by

‘I understand people have freedom of speech, but this is taking it too far. It’s very jarring.’… Read the rest



Australia: Imams Not Big on Women’s Rights *

Nov 21st, 2008 | Filed by

Some imams are condoning rape within marriage, domestic violence, polygamy, exploitation of women.… Read the rest



Al Qaeda Calls Obama a ‘House Slave’ *

Nov 21st, 2008 | Filed by

Considers itself to be speaking for ‘the weak and oppressed.’ Such as girls who want to go to school?… Read the rest



Johann does a bit of lèsing the majesté

Nov 20th, 2008 12:44 pm | By

Johann don’t want no activist King Chuck, for very good and compelling reasons.

Charles says the “responsibility and authority of his position” – and the “wisdom” it entails – requires him to “speak out” and “pressure” our elected representatives. A bevy of fawning pundits have responded by crying – yes!…Charles’s position stems from one thing and one thing only: he emerged from Elizabeth Windsor’s womb 60 years ago. That’s it. He has no “responsibility.” He has no legitimate “authority.” He has no more right to “speak for the nation and to the nation” – and pocket £7m a year for the bother – than you, me, or the next person you see at the bus stop.

Well exactly, and … Read the rest



‘Justice’

Nov 20th, 2008 12:19 pm | By

‘This is Islamic justice, British style’.

The woman in black wanted an Islamic divorce. She told the religious judge that her husband hit her, cursed her and wanted her dead. But her husband was opposed, and the Islamic scholar adjudicating the case seemed determined to keep the couple together. So, sensing defeat, she brought our her secret weapon: her father. In walked a bearded man in long robes who described his son-in-law as a hot-tempered man who had duped his daughter, evaded the police and humiliated his family. The judge promptly reversed himself and recommended divorce. This is Islamic justice, British style.

Well obviously ‘justice’ is the wrong word there. Obviously that word should be in scare-quotes, or followed … Read the rest



Bishops Discuss How to Control Voters *

Nov 20th, 2008 | Filed by

Annual meeting of Catholic bishops discussed whether they gave sufficient ‘guidance’ to Catholic voters. … Read the rest



Johann Hari on Charles Windsor as President *

Nov 20th, 2008 | Filed by

If not for his birth, CW’s ‘wise’ arguments would be gathering dust in the reject bin at newspapers’ letters pages. … Read the rest



Sharia Courts Flourishing in UK *

Nov 20th, 2008 | Filed by

Nice for men, foul for women.… Read the rest



Borders Stands Up for Free Speech *

Nov 20th, 2008 | Filed by

Borders will launch the Patrick Jones book that Waterstones disavowed on orders from ‘Christian Voice.’… Read the rest



From Meritocracy to Celebritocracy *

Nov 20th, 2008 | Filed by

The celebrity class may help to persuade people that Britain is a fairer place than it really is.… Read the rest



‘Overparenting’ *

Nov 20th, 2008 | Filed by

Does it produce pampered ninnies or selfish, authoritarian robots? Or both? Or neither?… Read the rest



Sweden’s New ‘Halal-TV’ is Controversial *

Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by

Fun new show hosted by three women in hijab; secular and liberal Muslims not represented.… Read the rest



Religious Hegemony in Ulster *

Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by

Exclusivist Christian ideology reflects the narrow authoritarian religious and political culture of N Ireland.… Read the rest



Bush Admin Rushes Through a New Rule *

Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by

Sweeping protections for health care providers who oppose procedures on religious grounds.… Read the rest



‘International Socialism’ Hails the Taliban *

Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by

‘For too long most of the left in Pakistan has identified the jihadis and the Taliban as the main enemy.’… Read the rest



The Terror of Palin *

Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by

Concerned Women for America released a statement saying: ‘Take that, feminists.’… Read the rest



Women Still Wait for Justice in Algeria *

Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by

From forcing women to veil, to rapes and assassinations, fundamentalists imposed their rule.… Read the rest



Run out and buy a Denali

Nov 18th, 2008 3:10 pm | By

Congress is having fits trying to figure out what to do about the big 3 US carmakers. Let them sink? Give them billions and billions and billions of dollars? Retool them to make buses and repair bridges? No that last one isn’t a real proposal, at least not that I know of. Barbara Mikulski’s is real though.

Mikulski did not call for the $25 billion worth of federally guaranteed loans that Reid is seeking. Instead, she offered her own proposal costing $8 billion: tax breaks for those buying cars between now and the end of next year.

That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard in – a day or two anyway. What a good idea! Give people tax breaks to encourage … Read the rest