Tag: freedom
The progressive “climate of hate:” An illustrated primer, 2000-2010
Want to tone down the rhetoric? Maybe the left should look at itself: The progressive “climate of hate:” An illustrated primer, 2000-2010.
The Tucson shootings
Here are two links that I think are worth reading in connection with the aftermath of yesterday’s tragic shootings in Tucson:
Two sicknesses on display in Arizona.
Disgusting partisanship on display after shooting.
Above all, these murders are horrible and a terrible tragedy. For anyone from either party to try to make political gain from them is beyond despicable.
I should also note that, unlike most Islamic terrorists attacks where either no one in the Muslim community protests while many Muslim leaders express joy or agreement with the violence, I can find no one who is happy about yesterday’s murders. The general response from across the American political spectrum is horror and agony. Such things are wrong and should not happen. It is this distinction that separates Western culture from modern Islam. Until the Islamic community finally stands up to its medieval bullies, I will continue to consider it a threat to civilization and freedom.
Thousands of Egyptian Muslims act as “human shields”
More please, especially in places like Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan! Thousands of Egyptian Muslims show up in Coptic Christian churches to act as “human shields.”
Speech codes for the year of 2010 and for January 2011
Freedom of speech alert! Fire’s speech codes for the year of 2010 and for January 2011. For the yearly “award,” get these rules::
UMass Amherst’s policy on “Rallies” has special regulations applicable to what it calls “controversial rallies”—and it leaves “controversial” wholly undefined, giving the administration unfettered discretion to invoke the policy when it sees fit. If a rally is deemed controversial, it may only take place between noon and 1 p.m. on the Student Union steps, and must be registered at least five days in advance. That’s just one hour a day on one tiny area of a campus of more than 27,000 students! Worse yet, the policy also requires that when holding a controversial rally, “The sponsoring RSO [Registered Student Organization] must designate at least 6 members to act as a security team.” In other words, student groups wishing to publicly express a controversial opinion on campus must give at least five days notice, may only do it on one small area of campus for one hour a day, and must be willing to put themselves in harm’s way by acting as their own security in order to do so.
TSA: Living on Borrowed Time?
TSA: Living on borrowed time? Key quote:
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year. At TSA headquarters alone, there are 3,526 staff whose average salary tops $106,000. And while the TSA has gotten very good at groping airline passengers and undressing them with full body scans, the organization has yet to prevent a single terrorist attack. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation released last spring revealed that at least 17 known terrorists have been able to pass through TSA security totally unhindered. [emphasis mine]
Egypt Muslims to act as “human shields” at Coptic Christmas Eve mass
Here’s some good news: Egyptian Muslims have volunteered to act as “human shields” at the upcoming Coptic Christmas Eve mass.
NPR Boss Who Fired Juan Williams Resigns
Progress? The NPR manager who fired Juan Williams has resigned. In addition, NPR’s CEO has been denied her 2010 bonus because of “concern over her role in the termination process.” And what does Juan Williams think of this?
“It’s good news for NPR if they can get someone who is the keeper of the flame of liberal orthodoxy out of NPR. . . , She had an executioner’s knife for anybody who didn’t abide by her way of thinking. . . . And I think she represented a very ingrown, incestuous culture in that institution that’s not open to not only different ways of thinking, but angry at the fact that I would even talk or be on Fox.”
The 10 Most Underreported Stories for 2010
A Clear Danger to Free Speech
A clear danger to free speech.
Note that though I agree entirely with this New York Times op-ed, it is almost humorous how this partisan liberal newspaper only notices these threats to freedom when Republicans are in power.
Republican healthcare repeal bill available online
Progress! The Republican bill to repeal ObamaCare is now online [pdf]. It’s only two pages long, and is bluntly titled “Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act.”
New edition of Mark Twain to remove racial slurs
I doubt Mark Twain would approve: The publisher of a new edition of Twain’s classics is going to rewrite the book to remove the racial slurs.
Sickening. Rather than face facts, our modern intellectual culture seems to want to run from them.
Denying the Jihad Against Christians
Father Christmas banned at children’s center after Muslim family complained
Islamic tolerance: Father Christmas banned at children’s center after Muslim family complained.
“Ninety Years Ago Today: The First Religious Broadcast Message”
Ninety years ago today: The first religious broadcast. It is interesting to note that at the time, not only did no one protest or was offended by such a broadcast, the technicians who set up the broadcast were not of the same religious denominations as the broadcasting church.
TSA scanners in use
Want to know what airports are using the new backscatter body scanners, and thus avoid them? TSA Status has the answer.
“The right of the people to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated,”
A Charlottesville man was arrested for protesting airport security searches. Key quote, written on his chest and abdomen:
“Amendment 4: The right of the people to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated.”
I wonder if liberal Washington Post blogger Ezra Klein needs someone to explain what this quote means.
The joy of stats
An evening pause: As we approach the end of the this first decade of the 21st century, let’s take a look back at the progress of the past two hundred years, illustrated by the progress of a single graph and animated in a way you’ve never seen before.
“Nuts!”
Christmas in Bethlehem: the cross banished from souvenirs
Islamic tolerance: The cross is banned in Bethlehem for Christmas.