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Archive for October, 2008

CCEPA debate, Part 2

October 31st, 2008 | 2 Comments

More from last night’s debate on free speech and human rights, sponsored by Canadian Centre for Ethics in Public Affairs (CCEPA). After opening statements (posted here), moderator Kevin Kindred asked questions of panelists. Questions were posed to particular panelists who responded first, and then other panelists could also respond. In the event, Mr Kindred asked [...]

CCEPA debate photos

October 31st, 2008 | 2 Comments

These photos were taken before the action got underway at last night’s debate on human rights and free speech. Above left: Dan Leger; right: Mark Mercer. Above left: Kevin Kindred; centre: Krista Daley; right: Pearl Eliades. Some guy in the audience took a turn standing at the podium. The event was held at St Mary’s [...]

Opening statements in CCEPA debate

October 31st, 2008 | 5 Comments

As promised , I took copious notes last night at the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Public Affairs (CCEPA) debate on human rights and free speech.  Rather than pronounce my verdict on the evening, I’ve decided initially to share my notes online so everyone can draw their own conclusions. This post will cover only the [...]

Free Jonathan Elendu

October 31st, 2008 | 2 Comments

An international blogburst is happening today to call attention to the injustice visited upon blogger Jonathan Elendu (at right) by Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS). Mr Elendu was detained as he arrived on a flight from the United States on Saturday, 18 October, and held incommunicado for eleven days in apparent contravention of constitutional and [...]

Reformation Day Hymn

October 31st, 2008 | 1 Comment

On this day in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Church. In honour of that important event, here is Luther’s inspiring hymn Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott played on a church organ. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRF63KmUJJE[/youtube] My favourite translation is Thomas Carlyle’s of 1831, “A Safe Stronghold Our God Is [...]

Election humour in time for Halloween

October 30th, 2008 | 1 Comment

Halloween is tomorrow and the US election is Tuesday, so this movie clip fits right in. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWpU8sX10_4[/youtube] The clip is from the 1940 Bob Hope comedy, The Ghost Breakers h/t: What’s Wrong With The World

Debate tonight in Halifax: “Human Rights and Free Speech”

October 30th, 2008 | 2 Comments

Tonight is scheduled the first of two public discussions in Halifax on the now-obvious conflict between civil liberties and “human rights” commissions. This evening’s event, “Human Rights and Free Speech: Have Commissions or the Media Gone Too Far?”, is sponsored by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Public Affairs (CCEPA) and will be held at [...]

The two most hated people in America?

October 30th, 2008 | 2 Comments

They do seem to be hated by our moral and intellectual superiors: Obama Democrats and MSM journalists. Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is joined by Joe Wurzelbacher, also known as ‘Joe the Plumber’, as she speaks at a rally at Bowling Green University in Bowling Green, Ohio on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008.

Australia to get compulsory internet censorship

October 29th, 2008 | 3 Comments

Is another Western democracy about to sacrifice freedoms of speech and the press to government nannies? THE Federal Government is planning to make internet censorship compulsory for all Australians and could ban controversial websites on euthanasia or anorexia. Australia’s level of net censorship will put it in the same league as countries including China, Cuba, [...]

Bob Dylan: “Thank God”

October 29th, 2008 | 2 Comments

Dylan sang “Thank God”, the gospel song made famous by Hank Williams, Sr., for a 1986 anti-drug campaign sponsored by The Lubavitcher’s Chabad Telethon. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZgsvKBU-tc[/youtube] There’s a road that’s straight and narrow That the saints have travelled on Paved with all the tribulations Of the martyrs that have gone If you’re grateful for their victories [...]

Unitarians proclaim Halloween official church holiday

October 29th, 2008 | Comments Off

According to Tominthebox News Network, the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA) has proclaimed Halloween a church holiday. UUA affirms the dignity of every person, and they have decided that should include demons, zombies, and Satan worshippers. Because of this philosophy, the UUA has decided to embrace Halloween in the hopes of attracting those from [...]

Obama loses—and it’s all my fault

October 28th, 2008 | 5 Comments

I’m happy to have been of service to our neighbour to the south. (I know the video comes from a loony left outfit, but I appreciate good humour from any source.)

Shocking “honour” killing of Pakistani teenager by in-laws

October 28th, 2008 | 1 Comment

A horrific story of an “honour” killing in Pakistan has emerged. Seventeen-year-old Tasleem Solangi was murdered last March in a shockingly brutal and cruel fashion. On March 7, 2008, Tasleem was killed with shocking ferocity: first, dogs were released on her, biting her legs repeatedly, until she fell to the ground. The dogs continued to [...]

Fatwa allows wives to hit husbands in self-defence

October 28th, 2008 | 1 Comment

Saudi Arabian officials have accepted a fatwa that originated in Turkey giving women permission to strike husbands in self-defence. Sheikh Mohsen al Obeikan, an adviser to the Saudi Ministry of Justice and a member of the Saudi Shura Council agreed with some Islamic scholars in Turkey and Egypt in this regard. “This [issue] is acknowledged [...]

Financial crisis has flattened emerging markets

October 28th, 2008 | 1 Comment

The financial crisis began in the United States, but the effects on markets in developing countries have been far more devastating than in the US. Asia Times columnist Spengler says that the long-term fallout will be terrible to behold and, if Obama is elected, America will just stand back and watch events unfold. The financial [...]