Saturday, May 10, 2014

Honor Killing in the NY Times


Phyllis Chesler   "To the Editor:

"According to "In Spite of the Law, Afghan 'Honor Killings' of Women Continue" (news article, May 4), neither Sharia law nor Western law has any power over tribal law, which drives the honor killing of women. This is partly true since tribal law also drives religion-based and caste-related honor killings of women — and men — in India.

"But tribal tradition is also viewed as "religious" by both Muslims and Hindus, and while the Indian government has condemned and passed increasingly strong legislation against honor killings, the same cannot be said of the Afghan government.

"No Afghan mullahs cry out against this practice of human sacrifice. Such indigenous practices were not caused by the West or by foreign invasions. One wonders what it will take to end these murderous, misogynist customs.

George Will Demolishes Arguments for Common Core in Under Two Minutes


 
"Conservative pundit George Will delivered a fierce attack on Common Core last night, characterizing the educational standards as a way for progressives to further promote their political views.

“ 'This is a thin end of an enormous wedge of federal power that will be wielded for the constant progressive purpose of concentrating power in Washington so that it can impose continental solutions to problems nationwide,” Will said on Fox News’ “Special Report.”

"He also warned Americans that the federal standards posed a significant threat to local autonomy.


“ 'The advocates of the Common Core say, if you like local control of your schools, you can keep it, period. If you like your local curriculum you can keep it, period, and people don’t believe them for very good reasons,” Will remarked."

Friday, May 9, 2014

The New Fascism Rolls On

Now it’s twin brothers with a home-decorating show who can’t hold heterodox political views.

 
"HGTV’s mind was allegedly changed by a post on the blog Right Wing Watch, where the duo was described as being “anti-gay” and “anti-choice.” That post, David Benham told Erin Burnett yesterday, “was too much for them to bear — they had to make a business decision.” How sad. Certainly, the Benhams hold some heterodox views. They are not merely opposed to abortion and gay marriage, but critical of divorce, adultery, Islam, pornography, “perversion,” the “demonic ideologies” that have crept into the nation’s “universities and . . . public school systems,” and the general culture of “activist” homosexuality, which, David contends, is inextricably tied up with a wider “agenda that is attacking the nation.” But so bloody what? They were tapped to host a home-improvement show, not rewrite the Constitution."
Future students of language will wonder at the period in our history in which it was said with a straight face that diversity required uniformity, tolerance necessitated intolerance, and liberalism called for dogma...

Hashtag diplomacy; the decline of America in the world

: Hillary Clinton’s State Dept. Blocked Terrorist Designation for Boko Haram    ... "Having imposed the premise that the Islamists’ version of Islam should not trouble us in the slightest, Mrs. Clinton and the Left posit that what really animates Islamists against the West are aspects of American policy—which, conveniently, just happen to be the same aspects of American policy opposed by the Left. If only we’d change these policies—less emphasis on American security and interests, more distance from Israel — we’d alter the perception that America is “at war with Islam.” This will make Muslims like us better, promoting peace and stability." ...

Michelle Obama will give the White House's weekly radio address to demand justice for Boko Haram kidnap victims
Symbolism: Mrs. Obama will vent her outrage at the Nigerian kidnappings during the president's radio address on Saturday
 
... "The resulting international furor has brought out everything from threats of military incursions to new Twitter hashtags.
 
"In a photo seen around the world, the first lady posed Thursday with a hand-written sign reading #BringBackOurGirls.

" 'Our prayers are with the missing Nigerian girls and their families,' she wrote in a message that accompanied the picture.
Political Cartoons by Gary Varvel
 Rush Limbaugh: Are We Really This Powerless?   " 'The State Department under Hillary Clinton fought hard against placing the al Qaeda-linked militant group Boko Haram on its official list of foreign terrorist organizations for two years. And now, lawmakers and former US officials are saying that the decision may have hampered the American government’s ability to confront the Nigerian group that shocked the world by abducting hundreds of innocent girls.' "
 
More Rush: Your Host Takes Heat for Saying the President of the United States Should Have More Power Than a Twitter Hashtag   "So the plan is to pretend that terrorists and Islamists are unconnected. You downsize in importance and in reality the terror threat. You appease Islamists with the left's version of reaching out in a peaceful way to show that we intend no harm. That's how you are convinced not to put Boko Haram on the terror list, and then you could pretend that the jihadists are not really that important."
Political Cartoons by Gary McCoy

Harry in Wonderland

Brothers Yanked By HGTV Respond: “If Our Faith Costs Us A TV Show, Then So Be It”

benhamsDeadline Hollywood   "As they were swamped with media requests for interviews, David and Jason Benham issued a statement today about HGTV‘s decision not to move forward with their new show, Flip It Forward in the wake of a report issued by People For the American Way about the brothers, and their father:" ...


The first and last thought on our minds as we begin and end each day is; have we shined Christ’s light today? Our faith is the fundamental calling in our lives, and the centerpiece of who we are. As Christians we are called to love our fellow man. Anyone who suggests that we hate homosexuals or people of other faiths is either misinformed or lying.
Over the last decade, we’ve sold thousands of homes with the guiding principle of producing value and breathing life into each family that has crossed our path, and we do not, nor will we ever discriminate against people who do not share our views.
We were saddened to hear HGTV’s decision. With all of the grotesque things that can be seen and heard on television today you would think there would be room for two twin brothers who are faithful to our families, committed to biblical principles, and dedicated professionals. If our faith costs us a television show then so be it.

Tolerance, Marriage and the Nature of Human Sexuality


The American Culture  "For some mysterious reason in the early part of the 21st Century what one thinks about marriage can be controversial. What every human culture believed marriage to be until just yesterday, i.e. a relationship between a man and a woman solemnified by church, state and tradition because they can have children, is now seen by our cultural elites as equal to bigotry, or at the least a benighted form of ignorance. Either believe that marriage should be redefined to make gender irrelevant, or be prepared for cultural repudiation."
...
"I’m glad I waited until today to post this piece because this morning I saw an interesting link at Real Clear Politics, “The Case for Anti-Gay Discrimination” by William Saletan at the reliably liberal Slate that proves my point: tolerance has no chance in our culture against perceived bigotry." ...

Krauthammer on Benghazi: How to do the hearings right

Charles Krauthammer "The Democrats are portraying the not-yet-even-constituted House Select Committee on Benghazi as nothing but a partisan exercise. They are even considering boycotting the hearings to delegitimize them.
"Fine. Although this would give the Obama-protective media a further reason to ignore Benghazi, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is whether the committee produces new, important facts. If it does, it will be impossible to ignore." ...
...

... "But the country deserves the truth. They’ll get it if the GOP can keep the proceedings clean, factual and dispassionate. No speeches. No grandstanding. Gowdy has got to be a tough disciplinarian — especially toward his own side of the aisle."

A photo Bill Clinton would rather not remember

Trove

 
... "Most days then are very good ones for Bill Clinton. Today might be an exception though — since Monica Lewinsky his one-time mistress and the person who sparked impeachment proceedings against Clinton has finally told her side of the story in a piece for Vanity Fair. “I am determined to have a different ending to my story" Lewinsky told Vanity Fair. "I’ve decided finally to stick my head above the parapet so that I can take back my narrative and give a purpose to my past.' ”
...
 
"Just don't take seriously any analyses that purport to weigh the political significance of Lewinsky’s emergence and how it may affect Hillary Rodham Clinton’s decision on pursuing a 2016 presidential run. Everything in the world of politics these days — Clinton’s speaking schedule the pregnancy of her daughter Chelsea tidal shifts unusual solar activity — is measured against the prospects of a Clinton candidacy and what it may or may not portend."
Political Cartoons by Henry Payne

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Boko Haram Terror: Kerry Blames Poverty and Not Religion

CNS News  "Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday underlined the issue of poverty as a recruitment tool for extremist groups like Boko Haram, although analysts and Nigerian officials have for months been reporting that the organization is forcibly conscripting civilians, including children, into its ranks." ...
 

California School Asks 8th Graders To Debate Whether the Holocaust Happened

How ironic that many of these same liberals who think the Holocaust was a lie equate us climate change skeptics with being as evil as Holocaust deniers

"On the eve of the memorial Day of the Israel Defense Forces, we are the survivors from Holocaust to Revival - that's the story of our country. Watch a short film and salute the glory of Israel" (partially edited for typos)


Tablet Magazine    "The assignment materials cited Holocaust deniers, and represent a gross failure of judgment—and historical awareness"

 

"After decades spent in the sewers of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial, I don’t horrify easily. But yesterday I learned that a school district in Rialto, California, assigned 2,000 8th-grade students to write an essay on whether or not they believe the Holocaust was “an actual event in history, or merely a political scheme.”

"Put simply, this is the greatest victory for Holocaust denial in well over a decade, if not more.

"The language of the assignment is worth reading in full:" ... Full article..

Hat tip to Nan Thompson in Michigan for sending us this link;  Next Generation to Holocaust & Heroism-

Two Excellent New Picture Books Help Kids Learn About the Holocaust    ... "Last week, my colleague Stephanie Butnick wrote about how Israel is launching a new Holocaust education curriculum that starts in kindergarten. (And it reportedly tells teachers to avoid those black-and-white archival images.)" ...
 
General Eisenhower Warned Us.

It is a matter of history that when the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, General Dwight Eisenhower..., found the victims of the death camps he ordered all possible photographs to be taken, and for the German people from surrounding villages to be ushered through the camps and even made to bury the dead.

He did this because he said in words to this effect:

'Get it all on record now - get the films - get the witnesses - because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened'

The UK debated whether to remove The Holocaust from its school curriculum because it 'offends' the Muslim population which claims it never occurred. It is not removed as yet.. However, this is a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how easily each country is giving into it.

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the, six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians, and 1,900 Catholic priests Who were 'murdered, raped, burned, starved, beaten, experimented on and humiliated' while many in the world looked the other way!

Now, more than ever, with Iran , among others, claiming the Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets. ...

Hillary's State Department Refused to Brand Boko Haram as Terrorists. Why didn't Obama override her?

The Daily Beast
 
"The State Department under Hillary Clinton fought hard against placing the al Qaeda-linked militant group Boko Haram on its official list of foreign terrorist organizations for two years. And now, lawmakers and former U.S. officials are saying that the decision may have hampered the American government’s ability to confront the Nigerian group that shocked the world by abducting hundreds of innocent girls."