Category: Current Affairs

Well, this is encouraging.

After the awful Abu Ghraib fiasco there has been a worry in some quarters that a similar scandal might erupt concerning the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. (Remember all the hullabaloo over the Taliban and al-Qa’eda prisoners being taken there–gasp!–in shackles? Murderers and terrorists in shackles? The horror!) The scandal, if it were to happen, also might emerge in the press suspiciously close to this year’s presidential election. An “October surprise,” as it were.

Well, the folks at Gitmo apparently decided to get out ahead of that possibility and invited a group of AP reporters in to tour the facility.

The story is a relief. Nothing horrifically scandalous emerged from their visit. In fact, it was quite reassurring.

That’s not to say that those would might want to see a scandal couldn’t concoct one–nor is it to say that there may be things about conditions at Guantanamo Bay that haven’t yet come to light–but taking the story for what it is, it’s a relief. Unless something changes, the U.S. won’t have to endure an Abu Ghraib-like scandal coming from that facility.

Well, this is encouraging.

After the awful Abu Ghraib fiasco there has been a worry in some quarters that a similar scandal might erupt concerning the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. (Remember all the hullabaloo over the Taliban and al-Qa’eda prisoners being taken there–gasp!–in shackles? Murderers and terrorists in shackles? The horror!) The scandal, if it were to happen, also might emerge in the press suspiciously close to this year’s presidential election. An “October surprise,” as it were.

Well, the folks at Gitmo apparently decided to get out ahead of that possibility and invited a group of AP reporters in to tour the facility.

The story is a relief. Nothing horrifically scandalous emerged from their visit. In fact, it was quite reassurring.

That’s not to say that those would might want to see a scandal couldn’t concoct one–nor is it to say that there may be things about conditions at Guantanamo Bay that haven’t yet come to light–but taking the story for what it is, it’s a relief. Unless something changes, the U.S. won’t have to endure an Abu Ghraib-like scandal coming from that facility.

Democrat believes life begins at conceptionslaves are human beings

By JONATHAN FINER

Washington Post

DYERSVILLE, Iowa – As Sen. John Kerry campaigned across Iowa on Sunday with Gov. Tom Vilsack, widely reported to be on Kerry’s vice presidential short list, both men dodged repeated questions about whether their joint appearance might be a preview of the Democratic ticket.

But even as he tried to avoid making news Sunday, Kerry broke new ground in an interview that ran in the Dubuque, Iowa, daily, the Telegraph Herald. A Catholic who supports abortionslave-holders’ rights and has taken heat recently from some in the church hierarchy for his stance, Kerry told the paper: "I oppose abortionslavery, personally. I don’t like abortionslavery. I believe life does begin at conceptionslaves are human beings."

Spokesman Stephanie Cutter said that although Kerry has often said abortionslavery should be "safe, legal and rare," and that his religion shapes that view, she could not recall him ever publicly discussing when life beginswhether slaves are human beings.

"I can’t take my Catholic belief, my article of faith, and legislate it on a Protestant or a Jew or an atheist," he continued in the interview. "We have separation of church and state in the United States of America." The comments came on the final day of a three-state Midwest swing, during which Kerry has repeatedly sought to dispel stereotypes that could play negatively among voters in the Heartland.

President Bush’s campaign said these instances are further evidence of what it says is Kerry’s propensity for misleading flip-flops.

"John Kerry’s ridiculous claim to hold conservative values and his willingness to change his beliefs to fit his audience betrays a startling lack of conviction on important issues like abortionslavery that will make it difficult for voters to give him their trust," said Steve Schmidt, a Bush campaign spokesman.

On Sunday morning, the day the candidate’s abortionslavery comments appeared in the local paper, Kerry sat in a church pew near Vilsack, also a Catholic who supports abortionslave-holders’ rights, and his wife, Christie, one of Kerry’s earliest backers in Iowa.

Afterward several parishioners asked him about his position on abortionslavery and his vote against a recent bill that would have banned the late-term procedure opponents call "partial birth" abortionreturn of fugitive slaves to their masters, according to a reporter for the Telegraph Herald who sat behind Kerry’s pew.

Kerry took communion during Mass, which a few Catholic bishops have publicly said he should not do because of his abortionslavery views.

"I wish he was against abortionslavery, but I don’t think that’ll get settled," said Helen Willenberg, 83, a Catholic who met Kerry later in the day. "But I still hope he wins."

[Source]

In honor of the nation’s two-hundred and twenty-eighth birthday, the ultra-cool Thomas Sowell devotes a pair of columns to a couple of interesting subjects.

In part one, he poses the question: “What has made American society one to which people are fleeing from other societies around the world”? No matter how much America-bashing one hears overseas or right here on our own shores from Americans who think it’s hip to wallow in self-criticism (y’hear that, Michael Moore?).

In part two, Sowell picks up on the latter folks and asks the question: “Ever wonder why some people hate America so?” The answer, he concludes, involves the following:

If one word rings out, and echoes around the world, when America is mentioned, that word is Freedom. But what does freedom mean?

It means that hundreds of millions of ordinary human beings live their lives as they see fit — regardless of what their betters think. That is fine, unless you see yourself as one of their betters, as so many intellectuals do.

Fascinating stuff.

Majorly worth reading.

For some time experts have been warning that there are unacceptibly large security holes in Microsoft’s web browser, Internet Explorer (MSIE). I myself have been aware of these warnings for years and am not using MSIE, significantly because of these reasons.

After reading the reports, I suggest that you consider ditching it as well.

If you’re looking for an alternative, you might check out the current iteration of the Mozilla browser (the core of Netscape) at www.mozilla.org. It has lots of cool extensions that enhance its functionality.

You also might check out the Opera browser.

This is a really positive sign.

For too long the African-American community has been victimized by its leaders, who have encouraged a culture of victimization among African-Americans, basically, to ensure their own positions of authority.

These leaders have betrayed the ideals of independence and self-reliance that where hallmarks of the Civil Rights movement and have instead fostered a cycle of dependency on societal handouts and outward-directed rage.

African-American intellectuals such as Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams have been pointing this out for a long time, but their analysis has fallen on deaf ears. But for the last few months Bill Cosby has been pointing it out.

This of itself–that a voice of unquestioned popular credentials within the African-American community would champion the need to take responsibility for the problems within the community–is itself a sign of great hope.

What is even greater is the fact that Jesse Jackson, one of the very leaders who has exploited African-Americans for his own benefit, is endorsing Cosby in the effort.

Read the story.

California Republican Representative Bill Thomas has thwarted an attempt to remove the political gag order on churches.

According to Bob Novak, Thomas is part of the secular Republican faction that despises the Christian element in the party and this move signals a coming “civil war” within the Republican party between the Christians (who have given the party the majorities it has needed to achieve parity with the Democrats) and the secularists.

READ IT.

California Republican Representative Bill Thomas has thwarted an attempt to remove the political gag order on churches.

According to Bob Novak, Thomas is part of the secular Republican faction that despises the Christian element in the party and this move signals a coming “civil war” within the Republican party between the Christians (who have given the party the majorities it has needed to achieve parity with the Democrats) and the secularists.

READ IT.

The book of Proverbs says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Pr. 15:1). Our canine friends may not be able to answer in human terms, but the demeanor of a friendly, playful dog recently turned away a whole carful of wrath. According to a Reuters story, a Canadian dog made friends with a man about to go on a killing spree, melted his heart, and saved human lives. Excerpts:

A Canadian man, driving a car packed with weapons and ammunition, was intent on killing as many people as possible in a Toronto neighborhood but gave up the plan at the last minute when he encountered a friendly dog, police said on Thursday.

The middle-aged man, who police said was mentally disturbed, had planned to carry out the shooting spree on Wednesday to ensure he would be put in jail permanently, Toronto police said.

He had set himself up in an east-end park to load his weapons and then planned to drive around shooting. He later told police that a dog then approached and started playing with him.

The encounter melted the man’s heart, and he then went in search of police to give himself up, police said.

Police found 6,000 rounds of ammunition, two rifles, a shotgun, a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver and an air rifle in the man’s car, along with a machete and a hunting knife. The car also contained a throwing knife, a camouflage mask and netting.

Three cheers for the dog!

Hip-hip-hooray!
Hip-hip-hooray!
Hip-hip-hooray!

The Wanderer has an enormous amount of information on the continuing AMC vs. AMU crisis in its current edition, with online version of the articles available here.

The centerpiece of the material is a major article by Paul Likoudis.

Also included is an article by Likoudis on Ave Maria officials’ denials of charges of deceit.

And a timeline offering AMU’s point of view.

And a lengthy FAQ offering AMU’s point of view.

And an alternative plan by AMC faculty to save the college.

Meanwhile, Dr. Edward Peters responds to charges made against him by AMU officials.

And the Naples Daily News announces the cancellation of AMU plans to build a gigantic glass church which had previously been the subject of much criticism.

Meanwhile, the Ave Maria Parents’ site offers a letter written over a year ago by Dr. Janet Smith criticizing Ave Maria leadership.

And the parents reprint an open letter to Fr. Fessio and Nick Healy, calling for their resignations from the AMC board of trustees due to conflict of interest and signed by members of the AMC faculty and staff.

Current reports (not yet documentable online) indicate that AMC president Ron Muller has given a letter to the board of trustees calling for Fessio and Healy’s resignations and that an emergency board of trustees meeting has been called for today.

May I recommend prayer for the board meeting and for all involved in this crisis?

DEVELOPING HARD.