All entries by this author

Frederick Douglass and Randall Terry

Nov 7th, 2008 11:34 am | By

The other day ‘hanmeng’ said in a comment on ‘God-talk as an unstated norm’ that the bible is Obama’s favourite book and later quoted from a keynote address he gave in 2006. The quotation was worrying – especially this bit –

[W]hat I am suggesting is this – secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering into the public square. Frederick Douglas[s], Abraham Lincoln, Williams Jennings Bryant [Bryan], Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King – indeed, the majority of great reformers in American history – were not only motivated by faith, but repeatedly used religious language to argue for their cause. So to say that men and women should not inject their “personal

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No ordinary moment

Nov 6th, 2008 1:00 pm | By

There are (I suppose this was inevitable) some skeptics now claiming that people are rejoicing at Obama’s election because he’s black – which is true in one way but false in another. The way it’s true is probably obvious enough; the way it’s false is that 1) that’s not the only reason and 2) we would have been rejoicing anyway. Obama’s being black is neither necessary nor sufficient for the rejoicing. Here’s why. Suppose a Sarah Palin who was black – identical to Palin in every other way, but black. A very different, much smaller, and much more delusional crowd would be rejoicing. Suppose an Obama who was white – identical to Obama in every other way, but white. We … Read the rest



Denmark May Boycott Durban II *

Nov 6th, 2008 | Filed by

Unless OIC removes proposal to equate criticism of religion with racism, Denmark will not attend.… Read the rest



Hitchens and Rabbi Wolpe Debate Religion *

Nov 6th, 2008 | Filed by

Is it good for the world?… Read the rest



Alan Wolfe on an End to the Culture War *

Nov 6th, 2008 | Filed by

The culture war was a replay of earlier conflicts between black and white. … Read the rest



John McWhorter Says Skip the Glum Thoughts *

Nov 6th, 2008 | Filed by

‘Our job as serious people is to always contest. We must always Speak Truth to Power.’… Read the rest



New Dimensions for American Democracy

Nov 6th, 2008 | By Paul Kurtz and Tom Flynn

At long last, a protracted and often fierce election campaign is over. America has selected its new president. We congratulate Barack Obama, and we pledge our support for his efforts!

President-elect Obama will face awesome problems left over from the Bush administration. But let us focus on the positive. Obama is the first person of mixed Anglo-African parentage to attain the presidency. Heroically, he represents a significant extension of the scope of American democracy. His election reminds us that the United States really is the universal society on this planet and reconfirms America’s identity as a truly (if not yet perfectly) multiracial, multi-ethnic, multicultural nation. Bravo!

The United States is the first major country founded under the ideals of the … Read the rest



Why It Was Somewhat Emotional *

Nov 5th, 2008 | Filed by

‘It was a day most never imagined that they would live to see.’… Read the rest



International Reaction to Obama *

Nov 5th, 2008 | Filed by

America’s choice of such a skillful straddler of global identities cannot help but transform the nation’s image.… Read the rest



U.S. Airstrike Reported to Hit Afghan Wedding *

Nov 5th, 2008 | Filed by

Afghan officials said the strike killed 40 civilians and wounded 28 others in Kandahar Province. … Read the rest



Prop 8 Passes in California *

Nov 5th, 2008 | Filed by

But Washington state voted to allow doctor-assisted suicide for terminally ill people. … Read the rest



Full Text of Obama’s Grant Park Speech *

Nov 5th, 2008 | Filed by

If this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.… Read the rest



8 p.m. Pacific time

Nov 4th, 2008 10:09 pm | By

Wow.… Read the rest



A Night to Remember *

Nov 4th, 2008 | Filed by

Obama elected.… Read the rest



AI Talks About Somali Stoning on ‘Today’ *

Nov 4th, 2008 | Filed by

Reporter and director of Amnesty International, discuss the influence of Al Shabab.… Read the rest



Gallery Attacked Over ‘Insulting’ Art *

Nov 4th, 2008 | Filed by

Windows at the SaLon Gallery were smashed after abusive phone calls about the images.… Read the rest



Exciting New Dutch Blasphemy Law *

Nov 4th, 2008 | Filed by

Will protect people from ‘indirect insult’ on the basis of religion or ‘conviction’ – so nearly everything could be illegal.… Read the rest



Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow Begged for Mercy *

Nov 4th, 2008 | Filed by

Court authorities claim she ‘wanted Sharia law and the deserved punishment to apply.’ Witnesses say otherwise.… Read the rest



Vatican-Muslim Summit in Rome *

Nov 4th, 2008 | Filed by

Vatican-Atheist summit and Muslim-Atheist summit not scheduled.… Read the rest



The Republican Glossary

Nov 4th, 2008 | By R Joseph Hoffman


Usage

My friends

Energizing the base (1)

Energizing the base (2)

Gaffe

Straight talk

Palling around with terrorists

Health care

Charismatic

Ready to be president

Underestimating Sarah Palin

Joe Six-pack

Joe the plumber

Maverick

Real American Hero

“Tested”

Energy policy

Environment

Elite

Change (real)

Reaching across the aisle

Economic policy

Race card

Real America

Socialist

Bold new vision

Pit bull

Feminist

Socialist

Second Amendment Rights

Surge

Strong on foreign policy

Strong on security

Early voting

Definition

Rabble
Inciting to riot
Wink and wave
Inadvertant Straight talk
scripted comment
Conversation with Mensa members
Tea
Draws breath

Charismatic
Listening to Sarah Palin
One of my friends
Joe Six-pack’s dumber brother
Unbranded range animal
Shot down over Nam
Anger issues
Drill baby drill

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