Unless OIC removes proposal to equate criticism of religion with racism, Denmark will not attend.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Hitchens and Rabbi Wolpe Debate Religion 
Nov 6th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Is it good for the world?… Read the rest
Alan Wolfe on an End to the Culture War
Nov 6th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
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 Ophelia Benson
‘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 FlynnAt 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 Ophelia Benson
‘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 Ophelia Benson
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 Ophelia Benson
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 Ophelia Benson
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 Ophelia Benson
If this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.… Read the rest
AI Talks About Somali Stoning on ‘Today’
Nov 4th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
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 Ophelia Benson
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 Ophelia Benson
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 Ophelia Benson
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 Ophelia Benson
Vatican-Atheist summit and Muslim-Atheist summit not scheduled.… Read the rest
The Republican Glossary
Nov 4th, 2008 | By R Joseph Hoffman
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Usage My friends |
Definition
Rabble |
Inflammatory
Nov 4th, 2008 10:38 am | By Ophelia BensonThe Independent, or at least Arifa Akbar in The Independent, reports on attacks on a London art gallery but also, four words in, cites ‘inflammatory images.’ The art gallery was attacked but it had been quite naughty.
A gallery showing inflammatory images of veiled Muslims, including a bare-breasted woman partially clad in a burqa, is under police surveillance after being attacked earlier this week.
But the images are not ‘inflammatory’ unless people decide they are. It is open to people not to see them as inflammatory.
I don’t want to push that thought too hard. I don’t want to claim that it’s universally applicable – I don’t want to claim that nothing is genuinely malicious and aggressive unless … Read the rest
New Humanist’s Bad Faith Awards
Nov 3rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ann Coulter, Sarah Palin; more to come.… Read the rest
