We Don't Need No Stinking Islam 101

MayorBob.

Posted to Etcetera on Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 09:05:49 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

One of the jobs of a school administrator is to try to keep the peace in school. If episodes occur where tempers flare and violence erupts, many administrators will see these as "teaching moments." But, this is the 21st century and some claim we suffer from Islamophobia. Thus, any teaching moment involving exposing kids to the facts about Islam is likely to not deliver the intended message. Such is the case at Friendswood Middle School near Houston, where an administrator thought an act of violence could be used as a teaching moment. Unfortunately for the administrator involved, the lesson learned was very painful as it involved her losing her job.

(109 comments, 692 words in story) Full Story

Who Gets To Decide Where You Go In The End?

port1080.

Posted to Religion on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 07:16:57 AM EST (promoted by 1fastdog). RSS.

On Saturday, October 13th, Jeanea Irvin was shot to death on the streets of Chester, PA. Although the violent murder was (sadly) in itself not all that exceptional, what came after has developed into a religious controversy. Irvin's husband, Timothy A. Boyer, is Muslim, and wished to bury his wife in an Islamic ceremony. Irvin's parents, who are Christian, wished for a Christian service.

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Tempest In A Penguin's Teapot & Other Tales Too Ticklish To Tell

port1080.

Posted to Religion on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 01:43:30 PM EST (promoted by 1fastdog). RSS.

The Washington Post and a number of other major and minor newspapers are refusing to run two Opus comic strips (a Sunday strip by Berkeley Breathed, who came to prominence as illustrator of the critically acclaimed Bloom County comic strip in the 1980s) which poke fun at fundamentalist Islam, shallow religious fanatics, and gender stereotypes.

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The Other Other Front In The War On/Of Terror

rEvolution inAction.

Posted to Politics on Sat Feb 17, 2007 at 09:55:24 AM EST (promoted by 1fastdog). RSS.

Somalia has been without a government since its civil war began in 1991. It was the scene of the events of the movie Black Hawk Down and in 2006 was taken over by the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). Since 2004, the recognized government of Somalia has been the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), but the real power has been the feuding warlords who control their own territory and make their own law as they see fit. Like in Afghanistan in the mid-'90s, Islam offered the people security from what was basically rule by banditry, but the TFG with the help of Ethiopian troops (and support of US aircraft) was able to drive the rebels and the ICU out of the capital and restore [dis]order.

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The Debate Within Islam: Radical Rhetoric -Vs- Moderate Messages

pO157.

Posted to Religion on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 06:37:57 PM EST (promoted by 1fastdog). RSS.

"We are the Muslims, We drink the blood of the enemy, and we can face them anywhere. That is Islam and that is jihad," according to comments by Omar Brooks (who also goes by Abu Izzadeen) in front of a large gathering of moderate Muslims and concerned members of the public in October.

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No Dogs! No Drinks! Or, No Service!

pO157.

Posted to Business on Sun Jan 14, 2007 at 10:39:52 AM EST (promoted by 1fastdog). RSS.

The Metropolitan Airport Commission, in charge of Minneapolis-St. Paul International, is currently embroiled in a sticky situation with its taxi drivers. Recently, some drivers servicing the airport have begun refusing passengers who have alcohol among their baggage, or are traveling with dogs.

(11 comments, 382 words in story) Full Story

No Burqas in the Netherlands

shane.

Posted to Politics on Sun Nov 26, 2006 at 01:33:01 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

Following up on the gay kiss and topless girls video the Netherlands government is now trying to ban burqas in public places.  The right-of-center government feels that wearing face coverings in public is a bit of a security concern.  The traditionally permissive Dutch government said that "it plans to draw up legislation that will ban wearing burqas and other Muslim face veils in public".  This security move has been announced by the immigration minister who has previously won the big brother award.

Update - the Christian Democrats rode this issue, among others, to a mixed victory in the Dutch elections held on November 22nd.

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Our Advertising, Not Our Prices, Is Insane!

MayorBob.

Posted to Media on Thu Oct 05, 2006 at 04:34:49 PM EST. RSS.

The now defunct New York area electonics superstore Crazy Eddie used to feature a spokesperson whose tagline was "our prices are insane!"  Although much beloved by listeners at the time, the advertising caught criticism from groups who believed mental illness was no laughing matter.  One would think that it would be a long time before someone came up with an ad campaign as automatically tasteless as Crazy Eddie.  But that time has come and allow me to introduce you to a surefire nominee for inclusion at any future advertising Hall of Shame -- Dennis Mitsubishi of Columbus, Ohio and it's dead on arrival "Jihad on the US automotive market" campaign.

(15 comments, 591 words in story) Full Story