Fox News reports that Imam Talgat Tadzhuddin who heads the Central Spiritual Association of Muslims of Russia has called for a change to the Russian coat of arms. In a newspaper interview, the Imam suggested that one of the heads of the Russian double-headed eagle be topped with an Islamic crescent moon, while the other continue to be topped with a Russian Orthodox cross. The Imam notes that approximately 18% of the population of Russia is Muslim.
To read the full story, click here.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
USCIRF Identifies World’s Worst Religious Freedom Violators
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom released its annual report yesterday. For the first time, the report lists Egypt as a major violator of religious freedoms.
The report can be accessed at the link below.
Vietnam Arrests Pastor of Banned Mennonite Church
Officials in Vietnam have arrested a pastor of a banned Mennonite church on the charge of sowing dissent between the people and the government.
The story can be viewed at the following link:
Catholic Religious Order Files for Chapter 11
AP news reports that a second Catholic religious order in the United States has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The AP new story can be viewed at the following link:
Friday, July 24, 2009
Church of England Offers Combined Wedding and Baptism of Children Service
Realizing that one of every five couples who marries in the church already have children, the Church of England is introducing what is being referred to as a "two-in-one" marriage and baptism ceremony in which a couple who already has children can marry, and have those children baptized into the Church of England at the same time.
These services are being touted as "Family-friendly weddings", and are seen as an attempt to make the church more relevant for the 21st century.
The joint ceremony will cost approximately 300 pounds ($500), which is about what the two ceremonies would cost seperately. Cost saving to the families would come in not having to plan multiple celebrations.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Spanish-surnamed Yankee Doodle Dandy not a legitimate American?
Ruben Navarrette Jr., member of the San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board and national syndicated columnist, wrote an insightful commentary for CNN entitled, "I'm a Spanish-surnamed Yankee Doodle Dandy."
Navarrette states that he was born in the U.S., as were his parents, 3 of his grandparents, and a "handful" of his great-grandparents.
Because Navarrette identifies himself as a Mexican-American, he has received comments such as, "Why don't you try being a real American" from his readers.
He notes that he has friends who, although they do not use hyphens, call themselves Irish, Jewish, Italian, or German.
Navarrette is very articulate in describing that he is an American because of what he believes, including loving freedom and democracy, and believing that with sacred rights come equally sacred responsibilities to self, family, community and country.
This compelling article was met, however, with some rather disturbing comments posted to the story by readers (which are unfortunately no longer available online). The comments immediately bypassed his description of being American, or anything else he said, and immediately went after the issue of illegal-immigration.
This was a very clear example of how in the minds of some there can be no discussion of Hispanic in the U.S. without it being connected to a discussion of illegal-immigration. It actually seemed that for those posting the comments, that although some of Mr. Navarrette's family has been in the U.S. for 4 generations, and Navarrette himself has a clear understanding of what it means to be an American, he is not not legitimate, simply because he identifies himself as a Mexican-American.
To read the CNN commentary, click here.
Navarrette states that he was born in the U.S., as were his parents, 3 of his grandparents, and a "handful" of his great-grandparents.
Because Navarrette identifies himself as a Mexican-American, he has received comments such as, "Why don't you try being a real American" from his readers.
He notes that he has friends who, although they do not use hyphens, call themselves Irish, Jewish, Italian, or German.
Navarrette is very articulate in describing that he is an American because of what he believes, including loving freedom and democracy, and believing that with sacred rights come equally sacred responsibilities to self, family, community and country.
This compelling article was met, however, with some rather disturbing comments posted to the story by readers (which are unfortunately no longer available online). The comments immediately bypassed his description of being American, or anything else he said, and immediately went after the issue of illegal-immigration.
This was a very clear example of how in the minds of some there can be no discussion of Hispanic in the U.S. without it being connected to a discussion of illegal-immigration. It actually seemed that for those posting the comments, that although some of Mr. Navarrette's family has been in the U.S. for 4 generations, and Navarrette himself has a clear understanding of what it means to be an American, he is not not legitimate, simply because he identifies himself as a Mexican-American.
To read the CNN commentary, click here.
Are America's Best Days Behind Us Or In Our Future?
A recent Rasmussen Reports poll found that 44% of likely voters felt that the nation's best days were in the past, while 38% felt that America's best days were yet to come.
The more startling difference comes when looking at the difference of opinion among Democrats and Republicans.
Among Democrats 54% believe that the nation's best days are yet to come.
Among Republicans 61% believe that America's best days are in the past.
One is left to wonder how much the rhetoric of conservative pundits and talk show commentators may be affecting Republican opinions on this question.
To read the Rasmussen Reports story, click here.
The more startling difference comes when looking at the difference of opinion among Democrats and Republicans.
Among Democrats 54% believe that the nation's best days are yet to come.
Among Republicans 61% believe that America's best days are in the past.
One is left to wonder how much the rhetoric of conservative pundits and talk show commentators may be affecting Republican opinions on this question.
To read the Rasmussen Reports story, click here.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Political "Affairs"
After Nevada Senator John Ensign (R) admitted to having an affair with a staffer, Rasmussen Reports reported that 37% of Americans believe that most members of Congress have extramarital affairs.
Last week, after Governor Mark Sanford's (R-SC) admission of an extramarital affair, a Rasmussen Reports survey found that only 24% of Americans feel that most members of Congress DO NOT have affairs. Thirty-eight percent (38%) said that they were not sure.
When asked whether a politician who has an affair should resign or be forced out of office, the results were as follows:
For the Republicans, these recent stories have brought about yet another difficulty. The Republican party has for some time labeled itself as the party of traditional and family values. The Party has specifically made an issue of this as it has fought for traditional marriage and against same-sex marriage.
These revelations that significant Party players are, by traditional standards, immoral, place the Republican Party in a position to be mocked and accused of being hypocritical.
One recent example would be the political cartoon drawn by Daryl Cagle for MSNBC.com in which he depicts a casually dressed donkey wearing a t-shirt which reads "I'm with Holier-than-thou Hypocrite Christian Adulterer" on an arrow which points to an elephant in a business suite with his pants down.
It is not coincidental that the mocking of the Republican Party is accompanied in this case by mocking the Christian religion as well.
To read the Rasmussen Reports article, click here.
To see the Daryl Cagle political cartoon, click here, and proceed to cartoon #10.
Last week, after Governor Mark Sanford's (R-SC) admission of an extramarital affair, a Rasmussen Reports survey found that only 24% of Americans feel that most members of Congress DO NOT have affairs. Thirty-eight percent (38%) said that they were not sure.
When asked whether a politician who has an affair should resign or be forced out of office, the results were as follows:
- 47% of Republicans said yes
- 39% of Democrats said yes, and only
- 35% of unaffiliated's said yes.
For the Republicans, these recent stories have brought about yet another difficulty. The Republican party has for some time labeled itself as the party of traditional and family values. The Party has specifically made an issue of this as it has fought for traditional marriage and against same-sex marriage.
These revelations that significant Party players are, by traditional standards, immoral, place the Republican Party in a position to be mocked and accused of being hypocritical.
One recent example would be the political cartoon drawn by Daryl Cagle for MSNBC.com in which he depicts a casually dressed donkey wearing a t-shirt which reads "I'm with Holier-than-thou Hypocrite Christian Adulterer" on an arrow which points to an elephant in a business suite with his pants down.
It is not coincidental that the mocking of the Republican Party is accompanied in this case by mocking the Christian religion as well.
To read the Rasmussen Reports article, click here.
To see the Daryl Cagle political cartoon, click here, and proceed to cartoon #10.
Monday, June 29, 2009
White House Support of Gays and Lesbians
Today, for the first time ever, the White House held a reception to commemorate the Stonewall riots, an event that is frequently cited as the beginning of the Gay rights movement in the United States.
Today's reception, in combination with other events, shows clear Presidential support for Gays and Lesbians. This support is coming not only in the form of rhetoric or pageantry, but through a very significant appointment in the area of education.
Kevin Jennings, the founder of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network has been appointed Assistant Deputy Secretary of Education.
Read more about these events and their implication in our latest TwoMinuteBriefing, available by clicking here, or by visiting www.TwoMinuteBriefing.com.
Today's reception, in combination with other events, shows clear Presidential support for Gays and Lesbians. This support is coming not only in the form of rhetoric or pageantry, but through a very significant appointment in the area of education.
Kevin Jennings, the founder of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network has been appointed Assistant Deputy Secretary of Education.
Read more about these events and their implication in our latest TwoMinuteBriefing, available by clicking here, or by visiting www.TwoMinuteBriefing.com.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Not Freedom, but Lack of Standards
The end of the year mosaic at the Black Pine Circle school included a communist hammer and sickle, the wording "capitalism will fail", and a marijuana leaf, all painted by students.
The school, which prides itself in providing an K - 8th grade environment "maximally free of all the'isms'" prevalent in the world around them, is in Berkeley California, and charges $17,000 for its 10 month term.
Some have stated concern that 13 year old's would express such sentiments. We see it differently.
We feel that it is hardly surprising that some children of this age would choose to express what others might consider to be shocking or rebellious wording or symbols. We do not think that this is the issue.
We would suggest that the issue is that in its effort to provide "freedom" for students to think what they will and express whatever they wish, what this school has developed is not freedom, but rather a lack of standards.
Although possible, it is rather unlikely that the child who painted the marijuana leaf had participated in a reasoned discussion regarding the pros and cons of recreational drug use or medical marijuana use. More likely than not it was just a childish statement of being "cool".
Similarly, the children who painted the hammer and sickle with its attached anti-capitalistic slogan probably have not studied either political philosophy or economic theory to a degree where a legitimate opinion could be formed.
Assuming that the school curriculum did not encourage the students toward communism or drug use, its administrative policy can still be said to have failed the children in allowing them, in this their parting comment to the community and younger children at the school, to paint these symbols into their class mural.
They have taught the children that there are no standards other than what they set for themselves.
This is a very dangerous precedent to establish in such a young mind. This is not how communities are built or sustained. This is not the way to foster future good citizens.
To read the Fox News story, click here.
- TMB thanks DF for alerting us to this story.
The school, which prides itself in providing an K - 8th grade environment "maximally free of all the'isms'" prevalent in the world around them, is in Berkeley California, and charges $17,000 for its 10 month term.
Some have stated concern that 13 year old's would express such sentiments. We see it differently.
We feel that it is hardly surprising that some children of this age would choose to express what others might consider to be shocking or rebellious wording or symbols. We do not think that this is the issue.
We would suggest that the issue is that in its effort to provide "freedom" for students to think what they will and express whatever they wish, what this school has developed is not freedom, but rather a lack of standards.
Although possible, it is rather unlikely that the child who painted the marijuana leaf had participated in a reasoned discussion regarding the pros and cons of recreational drug use or medical marijuana use. More likely than not it was just a childish statement of being "cool".
Similarly, the children who painted the hammer and sickle with its attached anti-capitalistic slogan probably have not studied either political philosophy or economic theory to a degree where a legitimate opinion could be formed.
Assuming that the school curriculum did not encourage the students toward communism or drug use, its administrative policy can still be said to have failed the children in allowing them, in this their parting comment to the community and younger children at the school, to paint these symbols into their class mural.
They have taught the children that there are no standards other than what they set for themselves.
This is a very dangerous precedent to establish in such a young mind. This is not how communities are built or sustained. This is not the way to foster future good citizens.
To read the Fox News story, click here.
- TMB thanks DF for alerting us to this story.
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