British woman fired  for REFUSING to wear blackface makeup

Damned if you do, damned if you don't

"An actress, who claimed she was axed from a production of South Pacific after refusing to 'black up,' has been thrown out of her amateur operatic group.

Ros Broad, from South Petherton, Somerset, was horrified when cast members were ordered to coat their faces in ‘mahogany brown’ make-up for the Yeovil Amateur Operatic Society (YAOS) show.

She and three other actors refused to don the face paint and were axed from the production she claims. Following a meeting on Monday, Mrs Broad has also had her 20-year membership with the group revoked.  It is thought the other members who refused to wear the face paint are still members of the society.

Now YAOS could be referred to the Equality and Human Rights Commission by a race relations charity after singing teacher Mrs Broad was left ‘humiliated’ by the ordeal.

Somerset Racial Equality Council’s David Onamade said he would be looking for answers from YAOS and could take the matter to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.  'I think the group is ill-advised and this amounts to victimisation,' he said.

Source

Australian man "shamed" for celebrating  death of a cop

Judging by the Liam Stacey case, he would be in jail in Britain.  Though maybe not.  The cop who was killed was white, so he doesn't matter

He openly celebrated the shooting death of a police officer, announcing he "could not ask for a better start" to his weekend.
But the mother of Ben Dignam - who was yesterday named and shamed for his Facebook posts revelling in the death of Tamworth officer Senior Constable David Rixon - said he is "not a bad kid".

Close to tears, Liz Dignam said her son was a good guy whose comments were made because of a few bad experiences with police in the past.

Radio host Ray Hadley, who exposed Mr Dignam's behaviour, described his comments as "vile and abhorrent".

Mrs Dignam said the comments made by her son were inappropriate and disrespectful, and he was sincerely sorry.

Source

British doctor fired after emailing prayer to colleagues

We read:

"A British doctor claims he was fired after emailing a prayer to his coworkers to "motivate" the department.  Dr David Drew, a Christian, emailed a prayer by St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, to colleagues at Walsall Manor Hospital, in western England, the Derby Telegraph reported overnight.

The 64-year-old, who is claiming unfair dismissal, first became the subject of an internal investigation after he raised concerns about the conduct of his colleagues on the hospital's pediatric ward, a hearing was told.

Dr Drew told an employment tribunal in Birmingham of two occasions when children were sexually assaulted on the ward and one when a child died after a consultant let him go home.

He complained about the consultant who oversaw the fatality case and was stripped of his role as clinical director. When he later complained about a nurse he described as "very rude," an investigation was carried out into his conduct.

Dr Drew was then dismissed after failing to accept one of the recommendations of the probe, which was that he "refrain from using religious references in his professional communications, verbal or written."

Source

The unending torrent of Leftist hate

I thought it might be interesting to show you the hate prominent conservative women like Michelle Malkin get on a daily basis. As you read these tweets, keep in mind that all of them came from a single 24 hour period (And believe it or not, I only included about half of the anti-Malkin tweets).

Also note that these are just from Michelle’s @michellemalkin Twitter Feed: They don’t include a Twitter search of “Michelle Malkin”, Facebook, email, or anything written on blogs or said on TV.

So, what you’re seeing here, is just a teeny tiny sliver of the hate Malkin has aimed at her by the left on a day-in, day-out basis.

RT @Cliff_Po_UDTV: @michellemalkin needs to die for wat she said about trayvon

@michellemalkin you're just mad cuz the 7 black dudes who ran train on you last weekend didn't call back. #slut #Justice4Trayvon

I like how I've called out shitbag congress members and nobody says anything. I call @michellemalkin an evil bitch and I get hate tweets.

@michellemalkin You ever dream of giving @JonahNRO's hairy ass a rimjob? Hmm, Michelle, my sweet Filipina sex lemur? #tcot

Daily Reminder: @michellemalkin hates you.

@emokidsloveme @michellemalkin hates anything with dark skin and is liberal

“@DAbitty: RT @emokidsloveme: Daily Reminder: @michellemalkin hates you. // ALL of us!”// And the feeling is mutual.

 @michellemalkin I don't hate Michelle... I greatly pity her! Hate makes one ugly, and that's sad.

How embarrassing for @twitter: The @KillZimmerman account is STILL active after 4 full days. Story at Twitchy: is.gd/lPJni3

@michellemalkin How embarrassing for you that you spend all of your time being consumed by hate.

#sorosmonkeys at MMFA/TP smear Twitchy, Drudge, #TeamBreitbart, then try to have it both ways - is.gd/2BT8Oi

@michellemalkin Go f@ck yourself!!

.@michellemalkin cried like a little baby over what liberals were saying when Breitbart died ... yet she's doing the same w/Trayvon Martin.

@KathrynJScags @michellemalkin michelle malkin eats batshit off cave walls.

@michellemalkin oh, dear, you're so out of your weight class.

@eddel80 @michellemalkin It is people like you that ruin this country. Get you head out of the government bokks. And your ass.

@michellemalkin is either going to block me like a cowardly little whimp, or answer to why she's the greatest hypocrite EVER

@michellemalkin you're a fucking whore For big business and the rich, wake up sister, don't forget where we came from

@eddel80 @michellemalkin I was not talking to you Ms. Malkin. The idiot that was calling you a bigot.

@jetz52469 @michellemalkin you're a bigot, aren't you?

Last reminder of the day: Stop #waronconservativewomen -Donate to @RebeccaforReal 's fight against prog recall in Wisc: is.gd/Y4SZ9g

@michellemalkin narcissist and hypocrite.

“@DAbitty: RT @emokidsloveme: Daily Reminder: @michellemalkin hates you. // ALL of us!”// And the feeling is mutual.

How did @michellemalkin's brain development go so nightmarishly wrong? #tcot

How embarrassing for @twitter: The @KillZimmerman account is STILL active after 4 full days. Story at Twitchy: is.gd/lPJni3

@michellemalkin just makes my skin crawl! I swear I have no personal grudge against her just her views on life are so simple #silverspoon ??

A new era of "civil unrest" has begun: Trayvon protesters loot Walgreen's - twitchy.com/2012/03/27/tra…

@michellemalkin I heard a rumor that your cousing Marizela met up with George Zimmerman - what can you tell us about that?

@michellemalkin I think you suffer from self-hatred. I literally feel sorry for you. SMH

Is anyone or anything more thoroughly repulsive and thoroughly COMICAL than @michellemalkin ? Honestly I cringe at her every idiocy.

@michellemalkin is human refuse. One of the best examples of lining one's pockets selling outright lies and hate @MsGrumpy

Is anyone or anything more thoroughly repulsive and thoroughly COMICAL than @michellemalkin ? Honestly I cringe at her every idiocy.

More here

No wonder they are always pouncing on all sorts of trivialities uttered by conservatives and calling them "hate speech".  It's their only hope of deflecting attention from whom the real haters are.

The Zimmerman hysteria



The biggest outpouring of hate speech today is in America.  It surpasses even what is coming out of Muslim lands.  And it comes of course from the Left and from black race hustlers.  It  is aimed at George Zimmerman,  a tubby Hispanic do-gooder.

All the evidence shows that George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin only after Martin had knocked him down and then continued attacking him.  Zimmerman fired to save his life.

All the media depictions of Martin show an innocent little kid  -- but those photos were taken long ago.  The photo above is a recent one of Martin.  The Left-run media are running a deliberate attempt at deception  by photograph. 

And how many reports mention that Martin was in fact 6'3" tall?  Some kid!  Martin was in fact  an aggressive young black buck walking in a gated community where the presence of a black would be unusual and could reasonably be expected to cause apprehension.    Zimmerman is 5'9" and not in good shape so he would be a snack for Martin.

Much more detail at GUN WATCH,  with more to come.  See also the comments by Thomas Sowell on today's DISSECTING LEFTISM

Jail for speech in Britain

We read:

"A UK college student was jailed after posting offensive comments on Twitter following the collapse of Bolton soccer star Fabrice Muamba.

Liam Stacey, 21, was sentenced to 56 days in prison after he admitted a racially aggravated public order offence at Swansea Magistrates' Court.

The biology student, from Pontypridd, South Wales, made the offensive tweet after EPL player Muamba collapsed and stopped breathing on the field late in the first half of Bolton's televised FA Cup quarter-final clash with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on March 17.

He wrote, "LOL. F*** Muamba. He's dead!!! #haha."

When other Twitter users reacted angrily to the tweet, Stacey went on to post further abusive messages, including racist posts directed to black users.

Source

More Leftist hate speech

We read:

"Speaking at a rally today, Pennsylvania State Representative Babette Josephs suggested that pro-life women are not in fact women, but 'men with breasts'. Apparently women cannot be truly women unless they support unfettered abortion.

This is sad on so many levels. To start, how is it that showing a woman an ultrasound prior to her having an abortion taking away her 'choice'? It provides her with more information, allowing her to make an informed choice. What is so scary about that? What is it that the folks who so vehemently call themselves pro-choice don't want her to see? Pro-life advocates are often smeared as withholding information or distorting facts in order to impose their morality on women. But what could be a better source of indisputable facts than showing a woman what is happening inside her own body?

There apparently isn't room for questions like these at Democratic rallies.

Source

New civility: Twitter explodes with Cheney hate following heart transplant

I fully expected someone to make the obvious crack that they didn't know he had a heart but it was much worse than that

While Dick Cheney was recovering from his heart transplant in the intensive care unit of Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Va. Saturday, Twitter exploded with hate and ill wishes for the former vice president.

“Whoever donated their heart to dick cheney: fuck you,” tweeted @yokelesy.

“Cheney’s black soul keeps rotting out his heart. Fuck that bitch,” @SolidGlo waxed poetic.

“Why in the contumacious fuck are we wasting a perfectly good heart on dick cheney?” tweeted @mr_senor_pete

Another offered a different if similar perspective, expressing happiness for Cheney’s transplant — so that Cheney could one day meet his demise in a fire.

“I’m glad Cheney survived his heart transplant because I’ve always wanted him to die in a horrible fire,” @Jedimasterbator tweeted.

Source

Stupid Leftist atheists

They fail to realize that the vast majority of Americans don't share their rage and hate. And foul language is a big turnoff too. What do they think they will achieve by their obnoxious behaviour? What they WILL achieve is to turn most people away from them and their cause.

But it's all a good recommendation for free speech. That freedom has enabled us all to see the darkness in their dismal hearts

Australia is a very irreligious country but most Australians would regard foul-mouthed attacks on Catholics as ignorant and repulsive. The singer below therefore represents neither Australians in particular nor religious skeptics generally

The Reason Rally, held in the shadow of the Washington Monument this weekend, has been heralded as historic for many reasons. But the “largest gathering of the secular movement in world history” might have just hit the record books again: for dropping the most f-bombs through loudspeakers on the National Mall.

This historic achievement was reached through the joint efforts of a couple speakers headlining the Rally. However, the golden participation award certainly goes to songwriter Tim Minchin. Minchin was a paid performer who spoke and sang onstage for more than 20 minutes. The Australian entertainer, not exactly known for his civility, dropped more that 75 f-bombs in that interval. Minchin’s performance was in the middle of the National Mall and in front of some estimated 10,000 people.

Performing in front of The Washington Monument and flanked by the Smithsonian Museum of American History, the Smithsonian Castle and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Minchin’s near-80 f-bombs echoed through to countless children and families simply touring the nation’s capital on a Saturday afternoon.

The major offense came from Minchin’s performance of the ‘Pope Song’ which includes lyrics about Catholics:

So f–k the motherf–ker ,
And f–k you, motherf–ker
If you’re still a motherf–king papist.

And includes lyrics about the pope:

As that motherf–king, power-hungry
Self-aggrandized bigot
In the stupid f–king hat.

The performance was met with crowd exuberance and participation. Minchin received a standing ovation after the set.

Source

Hitler not incorrect in a Muslim country

The ADL FINALLY criticizes some Muslims. I hope they didn't get a hernia doing it.

A Turkish shampoo commercial featuring Adolf Hitler has drawn outrage from Jewish groups worldwide and calls for it to be withdrawn immediately.

"It's totally unacceptable to make use of Hitler, the most striking example of cruelty and savagery," the Turkish Jewish Community said, blasting the 12-second ad that has been airing since last week.

The commercial for Biomen, a men's shampoo, shows a gesticulating Hitler delivering an enthusiastic speech, urging male customers to buy the product that is "a 100 per cent male shampoo."

"If you are not wearing a woman's dress, you should not use her shampoo either," he says.

Jewish organisations in Turkey have asked the advertising agency to pull the commercial.

On an international level, the United States-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which fights anti-semitism, said it was "repulsed."

Source

Mein Kampf sells like hotcakes in Turkish and Arabic translations, though it is doubtful if any of the buyers know the first thing about the prewar European issues Hitler talks about in his book. It's just his mass-murder of Jews that gives Muslims erections.

A strange comment but was it really offensive?

We read:

"Actor Robert De Niro has apologised for a quip he made at a Democratic fundraiser that the US might not be ready for "a white first lady". The Raging Bull star was introducing the First Lady, Michelle Obama, at an event in New York.

"My remarks, although spoken with satirical jest, were not meant to offend or embarrass anyone - especially the first lady," he said.

Republican candidate Newt Gingrich called the remarks "inexcusable".

During his introduction at Monday's fundraiser, De Niro, 68, alluded to Mr Gingrich's wife, Callista. "Callista Gingrich, Karen Santorum, Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady? Too soon, right?" he told the audience.

Mr Gingrich deemed the remark "divisive", and called on President Obama to apologise on the actor's behalf. "On behalf of my wife and on behalf of Karen Santorum and on behalf of Ann Romney, I think that Robert De Niro's wrong," Mr Gingrich said. "I think the country is ready for a new first lady and he doesn't have to describe it in racial terms."

Michelle Obama's press secretary said the joke was "inappropriate."

However, Ann Romney - wife of Republican candidate Mitt Romney - told Piers Morgan, on CNN, that she took the remark for what it was - "a joke". "In politics the fastest way to get in trouble is make a joke. So I think Robert De Niro just learned that."

Source

Any mention of race is said to be "racist" these days so maybe that was the problem.

The wisdom of Christ bears good fruit

We read:

"Turning the other cheek is a Biblical teaching that can be difficult to live out in practice. That being said, it seems at least one group of Christians is able to embrace the tenet with grace and humility. A church in Athens, Texas, decided to help an atheist in need by raising money for his groceries and other essentials.

The individual who received the aid, Patrick Greene, had recently threatened to sue over the presence of a nativity scene on public property. He abandoned the lawsuit, the Friendly Atheist blog reports, when he found out that he was suffering from a serious eye condition that could lead to blindness.

Despite the rift between Greene and the Christians supporting the scene, Jessica Crye, an Athens woman, rallied believers to assist Greene in paying for groceries and other needs following his retirement as a result of the illness. “I knew of his lawsuit and threats and thought how sad it was for him"

Now retired, Greene replied that he needed some funds for groceries and other expenses to carry him and his wife, Karen, while they got squared away with the start-up of Social Security income and pay their taxes.

A check was sent. Greene said he and his wife debated whether the check might be for $10 or maybe $50 or even $60. To their astonishment that any Christian would ignore the fact that they are atheist and help, the check was for $400.

“Why not turn this into something else? This is a great opportunity to turn the other cheek and show God’s love,” Crye said.

Her pastor, Rev. Erick Graham of Sand Springs Church, said that giving Greene the $400 dollars was a no-brainer. “We didn’t have to think about it or pray about (it). We saw the need, he said. “We don’t discriminate on who we help, whether they are Christians or non-Christians, church members or not. We just help those with a need.”

The man and his wife were so moved by the gesture that they actually purchased an electrical star for the nativity scene and had it shipped to Henderson County.

“I saw the nativity scene on a video on YouTube. There’s no star on top of it. Shouldn’t there be one?,” Greene pondered. “I just hope that the Christians that weren‘t a part of this contribution to us don’t mind that an atheist bought them a star.”

Source

Wisconsin High School Targeted by ‘Union Leaders’ Over Pro-Walker Chant‏

Firing back at Leftism is not free speech, apparently

"Wisconsin High School students may want to think twice before expressing their political opinions when union members are present. Apparently the school, whose students shouted pro-Walker slogans while visiting the Wisconsin State Capitol and drowned out union protesters, is now receiving threats from the very unions that some of their students shouted down.

Liberal activists called the school to complain, and conservative talk radio hosts have spent days discussing the students’ actions. Charlie Sykes of WTMJ-AM in Milwaukee wrote in an online blog post that the students “decided to fight back against the anti-Walker sentiment they were witnessing during an impromptu visit.”

Source

Super-sensitive Britain



"Tosser" in British slang is a masturbator or a worthless person. So the sign is a pun designed to get attention

The message upon entering the village proudly declares: 'Stamfordham welcomes you, not litter'. But it appears the rather modest sign, planted in a bed of daffodils, is not having the desired effect.

In recent weeks, one resident has become increasingly frustrated at having to pick up a deluge of rubbish outside her home, including condoms and pornographic videos.

So when Jo Riddell decided to take a more obviously proactive approach, she could be forgiven for thinking she would have the backing of her fellow villagers.

Instead, the 49-year-old has found herself at the centre of a storm after her bright-yellow signs bearing the slogan 'Don't be a tosser - take your rubbish home' were branded 'offensive and garish'.

She put up the placards after claiming to have collected 27 bags of rubbish along the roadside on her land in the Cheeseburn Grange Hall Estate, near Stamfordham, Northumberland in recent weeks. Most were thrown from passing cars.

Source

Must not criticize dead footballers?

Australia: Speaking ill of the dead may be in poor taste but it may also be true. Footballers are not fragile little petals so any idea that they are saints is risible.

Jason Akermanis has been sacked by the radio station that aired nasty comments he made about the late Jim Stynes this morning. Sunshine Coast's Mix 92.7 breakfast show confirmed Akermanis' casual position as a footy expert on the show had ended, effective immediately.

Earlier, in an explosive radio interview with the Queensland radio station, the three-time premiership player and Brownlow Medalist said the public outpouring of sympathy and grief at the passing of Stynes, who lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday, was "overkill".

Akermanis is unlikely to be among mourners after telling breakfast hosts Mark Darin and Caroline Hutchinson that Stynes "was a nasty man in his day. He had a nice turn of phrase and he made sure you knew how he felt".

"What amazes me is yes, he was a legend of the game and did a great job and wonderful things with kids, but you know there are a bunch of people who have done just as much who don't get any recognition. I just think it's a bit out of kilter," he said.

"He got a state funeral - do all football players get a state funeral? There's something about it all that just made me feel uncomfortable. Jim's good but is he that good?".

"When I knew him he was competitive and nasty and brutal. He wanted to win and would do anything to do it," he said.."

Source

TX: 'One State Under God' license plate controversial

We read:

"A license plate that declares Texas "One State Under God" went on sale this week, despite an outcry from critics who say government tags shouldn't be endorsing religion.

The license plate, which was narrowly approved in December by the governing board at the state's Department of Motor Vehicles, also features the words and image of the Crosses at Calvary, the site where the Crucifixion of Jesus is said to have occurred. Each plate costs $55, with some proceeds going to a group that works with underprivileged children.

“I think you want to be very careful when you give government the authority to favor a particular religion in an official way such as this,” Dan Quinn, communications director for the Texas Freedom Network, told FoxNews.com.

The group had previously blasted the plate as “disrespectful,” saying in a December press release on its website that "It's become pretty clear that our governor [Rick Perry] is dismissive of religious beliefs other than his own, and now his governmental appointees have voted to send a message that Texas is unwelcoming to the religious faiths of some of its citizens.”

But the plate's designers note that purchasing the plate is voluntary and that it supports a good cause.

Anyone can propose a specialty license plate design, according to Texas Department of Motor Vehicles public information officer Adam Shaivitz.

Source

Criticism of the holy Obama must be stopped wherever possible

We read:

"The Marine Corps on Wednesday notified a sergeant who has been openly critical of President Barack Obama that he is violating Pentagon policy barring troops from political activities and that he faces dismissal.

Camp Pendleton Marine Sgt. Gary Stein started a Facebook page called Armed Forces Tea Party to encourage fellow service members to exercise their free speech rights. He declared a few weeks ago that he would not follow the unlawful orders of the commander in chief. Stein also criticized Defense Secretary Leon Panetta for his comments on Syria.

Stein, a nine-year member of the Corps, said he did nothing wrong and planned to fight the charges. He had applied to extend his service, which was set to expire in a few months.

"I'm completely shocked that this is happening," he said. "I've done nothing wrong. I've only stated what our oath states that I will defend the constitution and that I will not follow unlawful orders. If that's a crime, what is America coming to?"

According to Pentagon directives, military personnel in uniform cannot sponsor a political club; participate in any TV or radio program or group discussion that advocates for or against a political party, candidate or cause; or speak at any event promoting a political movement. Commissioned officers also may not use contemptuous words against senior officials, including the defense secretary or the president.

Stein was first cautioned by his superiors at Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego, in 2010, after he launched his Facebook page and criticized Obama's health care overhaul. Stein volunteered to take down the page while he reviewed the rules at the request of his superiors.

He said he determined he was not in violation and relaunched the page. Last week, he said his superiors told him he could not use social media sites on government computers after he posted the message stating he would not follow unlawful orders of the president.

Stein said he respects the office of the president, but he does not agree with Obama's policies. He said he is within his rights to speak up.

The Marine Corps said Stein is allowed to express his personal opinions as long as they do not give the impression he is speaking in his official capacity as a Marine.

Spokesman Maj. Michael Armistead said earlier this month that the Corps was taking a closer look to determine whether Stein had crossed that line.

Source

No free speech for racially derogatory utterances in England

We read:

"A law student’s future lay in ruins yesterday after he admitted sending racist messages on Twitter to former England footballer Stan Collymore. Joshua Cryer, 21, was arrested after the Liverpool striker turned radio pundit contacted police in January.

Cryer, the son of a company director, initially denied sending the messages on the social networking site, claiming his account had been hacked into. But he later admitted sending grossly offensive messages and yesterday was given a two-year community order.

The final-year student at Newcastle University’s acclaimed Law School was also told to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.

The judge said he expected Cryer ‘to have put his education to better use’. One message from the student, who captains the law school’s football side Barca-Law-Na, read: ‘Has anyone ever called you Stan ****ymore.’

A second, also sent from user @joshuacryer1, said: ‘Has anyone ever referred to you as semi pro as in a semi pro ****.’

Source

With a criminal conviction, he would appear to have no future as a lawyer

Police can "terminate" your 1st Amendment rights?

No freedom of the press?

"While covering a story about the shooting death of a young Little Village girl, two Chicago journalists were taken into police custody.

The incident began after a Chicago police officer barred the news media from the public sidewalk in front of Mt. Sinai Hospital. Other officers also arrived. Then, police detained a reporter from WGN and a photographer from NBC5.

"Your First Amendment rights can be terminated if you're creating a scene or whatever," a police officer was heard telling the journalists.

Both journalists were released a few minutes later. No charges were filed.

Source

Seems a clear case of unlawful intimidation, even if it was shortlived. The cop would seem to need legal advice.

Hate speech to say that the media encourage homosexuality?

The Left are keen to blame Christians and conservatives when homosexuals die but it is hate speech if you fire the arrow back at them.

What the pastor actually said seems fairly balanced to me: Suicide is an individual decision but the suicidal person may have ended up in that position because constant media glorification of homosexuality led him to adopt that lifestyle

Bill Keller, the controversial St. Petersburg, Florida based ‘Live Prayer’ host, has stirred controversy and claims of hate speech after releasing a statement in which he blamed CNN host Anderson Cooper, MNSBC commentator Rachel Maddow, and comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres for Tyler Clementi’s suicide.

Tyler Clementi is the 18-year-old Rutgers University student who leaped to his death on September 22, 2010 after learning his roommate, Dharun Ravi, streamed a sexual encounter he had with another male online.

Bill Keller stated, “Sadly we deal with the loved ones of those who commit suicide every day. Suicide is a desperate and selfish act that is ultimately the sole responsibility of the person who made the choice to end their life. Everyone who commits suicide has reasons that led them to make such a horrible decision. The fact is, suicide is exponentially higher amongst those who choose the homosexual lifestyle, and while those in the media want to blame people like myself who take a Biblical stand on this issue, the fact is, they are the ones most responsible!"

Bill Keller’s release begins by pointing blame at those in the media who have publicly come out as gay or lesbian. The announcement states, “Bill Keller, the world's leading Internet Evangelist and the founder of LivePrayer.com, with over 2.4 million subscribers worldwide reading the daily devotional he has written every morning for 12 years on the issues of the day from a Biblical worldview, says Anderson Cooper, Rachel Maddow, Ellen DeGeneres, the media, and gutless pastors are guilty for the death of Rutgers student Tyler Clementi, not Dharun Ravi!”

Bill Keller then went on to attack the theory that people are born gay.

Bill Keller continued to state in his release, “It is the homosexual community and media who promote this lifestyle to society, forcing it to validate legally and ethically this choice of sexual behavior and relationships to our children as normal, even desirable behavior!

Bill Keller proudly announced that his ministry has led thousands to turn away from homosexuality. “Over the past 20 years, Liveprayer has helped thousands of men and women make the choice to turn from the sin of homosexuality.”

Source

SCOTUS chases Christian groups off campus

Interesting to see if Christians are also now barred from posting notices and handing out flyers on campus. Such a ban would be such a flagrant breach of the 1st Amendment that no court would approve the ban, I would hope.

The Supreme Court has turned down an appeal from Christian groups that challenged a discrimination policy at California state universities.

The justices on Monday are leaving in place a federal appeals court ruling that found that the policy doesn’t violate the Constitution. The policy says officially recognized campus groups can’t discriminate based on religion or sexual orientation.

A Christian fraternity and a sorority at San Diego State University sued in 2005, arguing that the policy violates their religious freedom. The groups are restricted to Christian members.

CSU denies official recognition and funding to student organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin and sexual orientation.

The Christian groups at San Diego State argued that the policy itself was discriminatory for two reasons: The ban on gender-based admissions doesn’t apply to sororities and fraternities, and secular organizations are allowed to make viewpoint-based distinctions – an immigrants’-rights group, for example, can exclude opponents of immigrants’ rights and still receive funding.

“The university did not tell the Democratic club it must be led by a Republican, or the vegetarian club it must be led by a meat-eater, but it did tell Christian groups that they must allow themselves to be led by atheists,” David Cortman of the Alliance Defense Fund, a lawyer for the religious groups, said Monday.

Source

It's all about queers again, of course. Every rule must be broken and every principle set aside to promote their especially protected status

Call to fire Ed Schultz

The Media Research Center's letter to Chairman of MSNBC’s Parent Company. It's basically a response to all the Leftist calls for Rush to be fired. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Dear Mr. Roberts,

As the chairman of Comcast, you have a responsibility to your shareholders and the public to produce programs which follow a basic standard of civility.

Unfortunately, MSNBC anchor Ed Schultz regularly doles out hate-filled, venomous rhetoric which has reached a boiling point. MSNBC should not give Mr. Schultz a platform to spew such hate.

Therefore, I am calling on you as the Chairman of MSNBC’s parent company, Comcast, to demand Ed Schultz’s termination.

As I am sure you know, in recent weeks there has been an uproar over an inappropriate comment Rush Limbaugh made about Georgetown University Law Student Sandra Fluke. Rush apologized profusely for his unfortunate mistake, but that has hardly appeased the talking heads at MSNBC who continue to attack Rush. One of the most notable among them is Ed Schultz.

These attacks are enormously hypocritical given his history of vile rhetoric directed at conservatives and women. In fact, there’s nothing Limbaugh has said throughout his entire career that begins to approximate the vitriol that has come from Schultz. And this network, using him as the talking head, is condemning Limbaugh? It is hypocrisy and journalistic dishonesty of the highest order.

Source

It's a commercial decision. MSNBC is low-rating so it is possible that Schultz helps keep it low. He is certainly obnoxious.

British student arrested for 'racially offensive' Tweet after black footballer's collapse

There's a lot of forbidden speech in Britain:

A student was in police custody last night after allegedly making sick comments about Fabrice Muamba, the Premier League footballer left fighting for his life after collapsing during a game.

Liam Stacey, 21, is accused of making offensive remarks on Twitter about the Bolton Wanderers player, who last night remained in a critical condition on a life support machine after suffering a cardiac arrest.

The Swansea University student is alleged to have tweeted: ‘LOL [Laugh out loud]. **** Muamba. He’s dead!!! #haha.’

When other users objected, he is said to have launched a volley of vile racist and sexist abuse, which is too offensive to print.

Later, the biology undergraduate, originally from Pontypridd, South Wales, posted tweets saying the remarks were not his and insisting he was not a racist.

He claimed his account had been hacked and he hadn’t had access to his phone at the time the remarks were made. However, he was arrested by South Wales police officers in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Source

Celebrating illness in someone is unpleasant but it is precisely unpleasant speech that needs protection if free speech is to prevail. But authoritarian Britain believes in regulated speech, not free speech

Canadian police arrest critic of homosexuality

We read:

"A longtime anti-gay crusader is at it again, distributing hundreds of graphic flyers over the weekend, this time in northwest Calgary.

Bill Whatcott, who once ran for mayor of Edmonton and has argued in the Supreme Court of Canada for his right to distribute his flyers, said he has printed 5,000 flyers and is dropping them off at Calgary and Edmonton homes.

He said he started giving them out around the University of Calgary on Sunday and in other random neighbourhoods before he was briefly detained on Monday and released without charges.

The flyer has graphic photos of sexually transmitted infections and makes anti-homosexual statements. Its purported intent is to criticize changes to the provincial Education Act that some proponents of home-schooling fear could limit what they teach their children about homosexuality.

Whatcott said he is intent on handing out all 5,000 flyers. “I stand by what I did and don’t think the police should be shutting me up,” said Whatcott from Edmonton.

He was detained and told by police the arrest was preventive because there was a high likelihood of him being assaulted for passing out the flyers. He was released without charges and given an unrelated fine.

Calgary police Const. Brian Denison, who investigates hate crimes, said the material was “very graphic.” It was presented to the Crown but was deemed not to be hate speech because it does not promote hatred or violence.

Source

See today's POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH for details of the law he was protesting about

BBC says blasphemy is OK

As long as it is not directed against Islam

A vicar who complained about 'blasphemous' comments made by Jeremy Clarkson has been told by the BBC that 'offensive language is just a part of everyday life'.

The Rev Graeme Anderson said he was 'surprised and upset' after the Top Gear presenter shouted 'Jesus wept' and 'God Almighty' during a show on March 4.

Mr Anderson, of St Mary's church, in Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, said: 'I thought Top Gear was great before this.

'But I found Jeremy Clarkson's comments very offensive and I think many Christians would.

'Sometimes the Church and Christians are belittled and cheapened, and sometimes we deserve it, to be honest. But this is different.

'I also drew attention to double standards between the way the BBC deals with Christianity and Islam. I'm delighted the BBC treats Islam with such respect. 'I just wish they would treat Christianity with some.'

Source

Maher hate speech embarrassess Southern Democrats

We read:

"Alabama Democrats are scrambling. This Saturday night they have a fundraising event that, at least at one time, featured Bill Maher. Democrats could come to hear Bill Maher spew his brand of comedy for the low, low price of only $100.00 per donor. Now, this has them in a good, old fashioned, southern conundrum. Bill Maher has a reputation for unapologetic misogyny.

He has called women, public and private citizens, even children names that would make Sandra Fluke blush. But on Super “Deep South” Tuesday, as Alabamians were enjoying their historic opportunity to engage in the National spotlight of the Presidential Primaries, Bill Maher called it “Toothless Tuesday.” Thus establishing himself as not only misogynistic, but also anti-southerner. This does not bode well with wealthy Dixiecrats who usually attend Party related fundraising events, such as the one Maher was to grace Saturday evening.

This left Democrats scratching their heads, scrambling to say the event was off, then on, then scrubbed of Maher but still taking place, then to pointing fingers at Republicans saying that they made the whole event up.

Source

Insulting stereotypes of the South are not good politics

The end of the handyman: Now it's handyperson

Britain:

The politically correct would have us live in a world of ‘letter carriers’, ‘chairs’ and ‘coffee without milk’. But who would they bring in to do odd bits and pieces around the house? Jobcentre staff provided the answer yesterday – a handyperson.

The title was revealed after a property firm tried to advertise for an apprentice handyman. A woman Jobcentre worker suggested that the word was sexist and so would prevent young women from taking part in the selection process.

The advice, however, shocked executives at London maintenance company aspect.co.uk, who have refused to fall into line. Bosses at the company said they were keen to do their bit to help tackle youth unemployment by taking on a trainee.

The firm asked a number of Jobcentres in London if they would be willing to give out flyers to advertise the opportunity to the young unemployed. However, it ran up against what it calls ‘ludicrous political correctness’. Directors were astonished to receive a response suggesting its flyers should be changed to replace the word ‘handyman’ with a more inclusive term.

Will Davies, managing director of aspect.co.uk, said: ‘At this time of mass youth unemployment, it’s hardly the time for political correctness. We welcome female and male entrants. But the name is Handyman.’

The Department for Work and Pensions, which is responsible for Jobcentre Plus outlets, yesterday insisted the word ‘handyman’ had not been banned and blamed a ‘local misunderstanding’ for the problem.

Source

Government agents can now Tell You To Shut Up

We read:

"Last week, President Obama signed into law the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011. This law permits Secret Service agents to designate any place they wish as a place where free speech, association and petition of the government are prohibited. And it permits the Secret Service to make these determinations based on the content of speech.

Thus, federal agents whose work is to protect public officials and their friends may prohibit the speech and the gatherings of folks who disagree with those officials or permit the speech and the gatherings of those who would praise them, even though the First Amendment condemns content-based speech discrimination by the government. The new law also provides that anyone who gathers in a "restricted" area may be prosecuted. And because the statute does not require the government to prove intent, a person accidentally in a restricted area can be charged and prosecuted, as well.

Permitting people to express publicly their opinions to the president only at a time and in a place and manner such that he cannot hear them violates the First Amendment because it guarantees the right to useful speech; and unheard political speech is politically useless. The same may be said of the rights to associate and to petition. If peaceful public assembly and public expression of political demands on the government can be restricted to places where government officials cannot be confronted, then those rights, too, have been neutered.

Political speech is in the highest category of protected speech. This is not about drowning out the president in the Oval Office. This is about letting him know what we think of his work when he leaves the White House. This is speech intended to influence the political process.

This abominable legislation enjoyed overwhelming support from both political parties in Congress because the establishment loves power, fears dissent and hates inconvenience, and it doesn't give a damn about the Constitution. It passed the Senate by unanimous consent, and only three members of the House voted against it. And the president signed it in secret. It is more typical of contemporary China than America. It is more George III than George Washington.

Source

I think I have posted on this before but I also think it needs as much publicity as possible. The above is an excerpt from an article by Judge Andrew Napolitano, who is a pretty smart cookie in legal matters -- so what we read above should be pretty reliable.

Obama Should Return Hate Speech Comic's Million

We read:

"Misogyny and hate-mongering are not things President Obama wants his re-election campaign tainted by. There's no avoiding getting his Super-PAC to return sleaze merchant Bill Maher's million dollars.

Just when you thought there couldn't be any worse double standards, a sewer-mouthed "comedian" gives a million smackers to help re-elect President Obama, yet the major media and leading Democrats think it's fine.

The same Democrats and media organizations blew a socket when Rush Limbaugh used "slut" to describe a feminist activist who wants taxpayers to finance her efforts at avoiding pregnancy. But consider how Bill Maher has treated Sarah Palin.

Not only has he called her the c-word in his act, and another four-letter obscenity with the same meaning; he compared Palin to a "pimp" and called her family — which includes a son with Down Syndrome — "inbred."

Maher also lumped former presidential candidate Michele Bachmann and Palin together using an obscene four-letter acronym little known outside pornographic chat rooms.

This is the president who last year called for civility in politics. Let it begin with his calling on his supporters to return the tainted booty of this foul-mouthed hatemonger.

Source

Racist & ‘Discriminatory’: UN Consulting Group Wants Dante‘s ’Inferno’ Out of the Classroom‏

We read:

"Gherush92, a human rights organization that consults for UN bodies on racism and discrimination, is calling for Dante’s “Divine Comedy” to be removed from schools and acknowledged as racist, homophobic, Islamophobic, and anti-Semitic.

According to Valentina Sereni, the group’s president, the 14th-century work is “offensive and discriminatory” and has no place in the classroom.

For those who have never read Dante’s epic, it follows a fictional version of the author through hell, purgatory, and heaven in three distinct works, the “Inferno,“ ”Purgatorio,“ and ”Paradiso.”

It represents Islam as a heresy and Mohammed as a schismatic and refers to Jews as greedy, scheming moneylenders and traitors, Miss Sereni told the Adnkronos news agency.

Homosexuals are [also] damned by the work as being ‘against nature’ and condemned to an eternal rain of fire in Hell.

Though it is true that Dante condemned Mohammed and homosexuals to the Inferno, Sereni and The Telegraph fail to note that the author placed prominent Christians right next to them.

Many “clergymen, popes, and cardinals” were condemned to the circle of greed, where they had to joust with one another for all eternity using great weights which they pushed with their chests. Similarly, Pope Anastasius II was damned to the circle of heresy, where he is trapped in a flaming tomb, and the soles Pope Nicholas III’s feet will always be tickled with fire while his head is trapped inside a large rock.

This leads one to ask, why isn’t the organization offended by the eternal torture of Christians?

Source

Nike apologises over 'insensitive' Black and Tan sneakers

We read:

"Nike, the sportswear company, has apologised after issuing a St Patrick's Day-themed training shoe which raised memories of a British paramilitary unit notorious for terrorising Irish Roman Catholics in the 1920s.

The $US90 limited edition "black and tan" sneakers were put on sale in the United States in time for this weekend's St Patrick's Day celebrations, a popular and often alcohol-filled holiday for millions of Irish Americans.

Officially named the SB Dunk Low, Nike said that it had nicknamed the "beer-themed" shoe the Black and Tan because its colours were reminiscent of a pint of Guinness mixed with Harp pale ale. Irish Americans protested that the name evoked memories of the Royal Irish Constabulary Reserve Force, known as the Black and Tans for their makeshift uniforms, which carried out a brutal oppression of Roman Catholics between 1920 and 1921.

One critic said that naming the trainer Black and Tan was so "insensitive" it was comparable to calling it al-Qaeda.

Advertisements for the trainer read: "'Tis the season for Irish beer and why not celebrate with Nike. The Black and Tan sneaker takes inspiration for the fine balancing act of a Stout [Guinness] on top a pale ale [Harp] in a pint glass."

The Black and Tans were First World War veterans recruited by the Royal Irish Constabulary as temporary constables and deployed in Ireland to help suppress the IRA uprising which led to the formation of the Irish Republic.

They became infamous for their brutal treatment of civilians including women and children, burning and sacking towns and villages in revenge for IRA assassinations.

Source

Black and tan is to my knowledge the normal name for a drink made up 50/50 of beer and stout. Nike were a bit unlucky for that to be suddenly found offensive.

Town embroiled in political correctness row over whether 'Jew Pond' is offensive name

Is this antisemitic? What's wrong with something being named after Jews?

"For some residents in Mont Vernon, New Hampshire, 'Jew Pond' is just a harmless part of the local vernacular. Yet others fear the name for the local, manmade body of water harks back to a time of prejudice and could be deemed offensive.

Now the town is holding a meeting on Tuesday night to vote on the future of the pond's name, which appears on one map from 1968 but no signs. If townspeople vote in favour, they will ask the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to officially change the name.

The pond, which has been given other names over the years such as Carleton Pond and Spring Pond, first appeared on a map in the 1920s.

It is believed that the pond was originally built as an irrigation source for The Grand hotel that wrote in its brochures: 'Applications from Hebrews not desired.' They called it Spring Pond, but later it became known as Jew Pond when two Jewish businessmen from Boston bought the hotel.

Source

GA Business Owner Reportedly Threatened With Fines & Jail Time for… Flying American Flag‏

Some petty official throwing her weight around, by the looks of it

"An Albany, Georgia, business owner probably thought he was merely exercising his rights and exemplifying his patriotism by flying an American flag outside of his business. But when he received a ticket and was threatened with jail time, what started as a simple display of pride for one’s country has now become a legal conundrum.

Apparently Tom Gieryic’s flag, which had been outside of his automotive repair shop for more than three decades, was in violation of the city’s sign ordinance. An enforcement officer apparently told Gieryic that his flag wasn’t up to code.

Gieryic claims that the officer said he could face a $1,000 per day fine and up to 60 days in jail if he refused to comply. But rather than buckling under the pressure and purported threats, he says he stood firm and kept the flag where it was. He decided to take the issue up with city officials and the ticket was subsequently reduced to a warning. Still, officials would like the flag moved by one foot (??).

Gieryic is angry over the government‘s involvement in issues he believes shouldn’t concern officials. He claims that he‘s an American and that he should have every right to fly the nation’s flag wherever he wants, so long as there is no safety issues associated with doing so.

“That flag represents my dad to me that’s no longer with us, it represents our freedom, everything good about our county,” he also said.

Source

Must not speak ill of Iran??

They sure speak plenty of ill about us

Two men accused of being disruptive on a plane were arrested at Heathrow Airport, police said today.

The pair, who are believed to be Israeli, were passengers on a British Airways flight from Las Vegas to London, flying into Terminal 5. The men, aged 28 and 33, were alleged to be making repeated comments about Iran.

A source told Sky News the men had been 'repeatedly disruptive during the flight and had made inappropriate and potentially threatening comments regarding Iran and the possible route of the aircraft.'

Source

It's possible for a Muslim to be in the wrong in Britain?

I think it's only happened since a Conservative government got in

A teenager has today been charged with making 'racist' comments on Facebook about the deaths of six British soldiers in Afghanistan.

Azhar Ahmed, 19, allegedly posted the comments on his profile page and has been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence, according to West Yorkshire Police.

A police spokesman said Ahmed, from Ravensthorpe, West Yorkshire, was commenting on the level of attention British soldiers who died in a bomb blast last week received compared to Afghan civilians who have died in the war.

Source

Must not mention where most Hispanics come from

We read:

"Robert Cluck, the mayor of Arlington, TX, might have accidentally stuck his boot in his mouth recently when, in idle conversation with a local council member, he referred to that member’s constituents as “a bunch of Mexicans.” The Huffington Post
caught this bizarre story:

The Texas mayor approached city council member Robert Rivera outside his office on Feb. 7 in the presence of other city staff to question whether Rivera planned on attending an evening city council meeting, according to FOX 4 Local News.[...]

Cluck questioned whether Rivera — the only Hispanic council member — would be skipping the council meeting, to which Rivera explained that he would be attending the “Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Meeting” instead.

The mayor allegedly responded by saying, “Oh, a bunch of Mexicans.”

At this point, according to the complaint, [David Crow, the president of Arlington Professional Firefighters] said, “I don’t think you can say that.”

Interestingly, even though Rivera was the person the remark was addressed to, he did not file the complaint. Nor is it known who did

Source

Hate speech going both ways?

Leftists have accused Kirk Cameron of hate speech for his Biblical view of homosexuality but they have done plenty of hating back. They are the only ones actually doing any hating as far as I can see. Saying that homosexuality is wrong does not mean you hate homosexuals. In Romans chapter 1 Paul makes clear that they are in the hands of God.

It will be a sad day when people can no longer express Biblical beliefs.

Kirk Cameron said he is a victim of ‘hate speech’ after he called homosexuality ‘unnatural’, ‘detrimental’ and ‘destructive’ during an interview with Piers Morgan on CNN.

Cameron, an evangelical Christian, came under fire from gay rights campaigners for the controversial comments he made on Friday.

When asked by Morgan if he thinks homosexuality is a sin, the 41-year-old star said: 'I think that it’s unnatural. I think that it’s detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilisation.'

Cameron also spoke out against gay marriage, adding: 'I believe that marriage was defined by God. Marriage is almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve. 'One man, one woman for life 'til death do you part. So I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage. And I don’t think anyone else should either. So do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don’t.'

But the former Growing Pains star has fought back against the backlash he has been subjected to and defended his controversial viewpoints.

'I spoke as honestly as I could, but some people believe my responses were not loving toward those in the gay community. That is not true. I can assuredly say that it’s my life’s mission to love all people,' he told ABC News in a statement.

'I should be able to express moral views on social issues, especially those that have been the underpinning of Western civilization for 2,000 years — without being slandered, accused of hate speech, and told from those who preach ‘tolerance’ that I need to either bend my beliefs to their moral standards or be silent when I’m in the public square.

Source

NY: Orgasms of righteousness all round at Fordham U

If past experience is any guide the graffiti were put there by Leftists or minorities

Students at Fordham University rallied against intolerance Thursday night after racist and derogatory graffiti was discovered on campus earlier this month. Chanting "We are the students," the group marched to Fordham Plaza to discuss a petition that's already received more than 15,000 signatures.

Saying that the administration isn't doing all it can to prevent bias incidents, students are asking for apologies from the university and revisions to the school's hate crimes response protocol.

Graduate student Zellnor Myrie said the rally was held "so that the university can be proactive in pursuing" offenders. "And so these institutional changes are something that we believe can be done and can be done rather swiftly," he said.

"I think students are fed up," added student Libby Gatti. "We're ready to see some changes, we're starting to realize our own power and our voice."

In addition to investigating the incidents and notifying the police, the university says it has held meetings and community events to address bias.

Source

So-called comic pays a price for his foul language

We read:

"Following Greta van Susteren’s call for a boycott of the annual Radio & TV Correspondents’ Dinner for inviting comedian Louis C.K. — who Van Susteren dubbed a “pig,” and who has been known to call Sarah Palin a c–t — C.K. has reportedly backed out of the dinner, saying he “just didn’t want to do it anymore.”

FreeRepublic’s Kristin Taylor thinks this Van Susteren post was probably involved

Taylor also said C.K. should never have been invited in the first place, and attributed the invitation to the liberal bias of the Washington media. “It’s because he said those things about Sarah Palin that the D.C. media thought it was OK,” he argued. “If he had said those things about Michelle Obama, no way in hell he would’ve been invited.”

Source

This is how disliked speech SHOULD be dealt with -- by more speech, not censorship

Mark Cuban under fire over homosexual reference

Mark Cuban is owner of the Dallas Mavericks (NBA)

As Simmons and Cuban began to talk, what was intended as jocular back-and-forth felt a little more adversarial than it seemed like it should. The vibe felt off.

And then, as Carly Carioli of the Boston Phoenix wrote in a blog post accompanying an excellent feature story on the conference, "the atmosphere turned even weirder."

... Cuban began telling the story of how he'd almost fired a Mavs employee for encouraging Dallas fans to do the wave. Cuban hates the wave. "I'd rather have 60 minutes of Kiss Cam," he said, to laughs. Simmons has long been on record as being a fan of the Kiss Cam [...] and piped up in favor of it. "I like the Kiss Cam," Simmons said.

"That's because you and your boyfriend are always on it," Cuban spat.

Source

Bill Simmons is not known to be homosexual or bisexual but the reaction to the accusation so far appears to be to delete it from the record. Cuban, however, is repentant

Astros will don retro jerseys after MLB backs down on gun hostility

We read:

"The Houston Astros' plan to pay tribute to their roots by wearing throwback uniforms with a smoking Colt .45 across the chest is back on, after Major League Baseball dropped its objections.

Nobody batted an eye in 1962 when the Astros’ forebears, the Houston Colt .45s, first took the field. But with views toward guns changing over the decades, Major League Baseball balked at the team’s plan to mark its fiftieth season by donning the retro jerseys.

League officials first said the gun that won the west had no business on the uniforms, but then said it was up to the team.
Owner Jim Crane said Friday the guns will be on the replicas of original Colt .45s jerseys during the April 10 and April 20 games at Minute Maid Park.

"We made this decision for a number of reasons," said Crane. "We listened to our fans, who were almost unanimously in favor of wearing the original jersey. We wanted to honor all of our past uniforms during this special 50th anniversary season, and we felt it was important to be true to the tradition of the franchise."

Source

Apple's politically correct word processor

We read:

"Apple offers its own word-processing program called Pages that you can have for $20.00. Trusting in the quality of all things Apple, I bought it, and congratulated myself on my thrift.

Pages has traits that are not immediately apparent, however. While it’s a sturdy little word processor, its true personality is not revealed until you use the proofreader — or Proofreadress, as I now think of her. Yes, she’s female all right. Seems to have been designed and programmed by the women’s-studies department of the Cupertino community college.

In a column about Rick Santorum, I had used the word “spokesman.” The proofreader flagged it: “Gender specific expression. Consider replacing with ‘speaker,’ ‘representative,’ or ‘advocate.’” Hmm. How would that work? The sentence read, “A spokesman said ‘there is little daylight between Ryan and Gingrich on Medicare.’” None of the suggested words would accurately convey who was talking. Every one would have changed the meaning and confused the reader.

Pages just hates gender-specific expressions and is constantly on guard for them. In a column titled “Assad’s Useful Idiots” I had written that Vogue magazine “apparently immune to shame, ran a fawning profile of the dictator’s wife.” Proofreadress was on it. “Gender specific expression. A gender neutral word like ‘spouse’ may be appropriate.” Really, Proofreadress? Spouse is a legal word, good for real-estate transactions and rhyming in Les Miserables’s “Master of the House.” But as a substitute for wife, it’s ungainly and odd. Wife is a perfectly good word — in fact, it’s a perfectly good status, one that I’m glad to enjoy.

Proofreadress was also unhappy about the next paragraph of that column, when I quoted Vogue to the effect that Asma Al-Assad was “glamorous, young, and very chic — the freshest and most magnetic of first ladies.” Uh-oh. “Gender specific expression. Consider replacing with ‘women,’ ‘people,’ or ‘individuals.’” It was a quote, of course, and therefore untouchable. But imagine writing “the freshest and most magnetic of first individuals.”

More here

EU racist?

An attempt to appeal to the young backfires. Computer-game-type characters seen as "ethnic"

"The European Commission has withdrawn a video promoting EU enlargement after it was accused of being racist. The film shows three men from ethnic minorities using martial arts skills apparently preparing to fight a woman. When she multiplies herself to form a circle around the men, they drop their weapons and her yellow clothes turn into the 12 stars of the EU."

Source

Video here (Some advertising first). It's pretty dumb.

Rejecting atheism is bigotry?

We read:

"As The Blaze reported last week, members of the organization American Atheists are taking their quest to target non-believers to new heights.

Billboards written in Hebrew and Arabic are popping up in an effort to find and empower non-believing Muslims and Jews. But as this effort rolls out, it seems one Brooklyn, New York, neighborhood is fighting against the atheist groups’ messaging.

The billboard, which reads, “You know it’s a myth…and you have a choice,” was prevented from appearing in the Orthodox Jewish community at the last minute when the landlord at the site — Kenny Stier — refused to display it. Stier was quoted as saying that he didn’t want to get involved in the religious debate between atheists and Jews after he made his decision not to allow the sign.

American Atheists President Dave Silverman is extremely frustrated with the decision to prevent his organization from displaying the billboard and has stated his belief that rabbis pressured Stier not to allow the sign. In an interview with the Christian Post, Silverman said that the action is rooted in “religious bigotry.”

After invoking the claim that the Jewish population in the Brooklyn neighborhood is discriminating against atheists, Silverman continued. “Atheists have every right to advertise as we see fit, just like everyone else,” he said. ”I wonder how the Jews would react if they were told where they could advertise and what they could say, because some people might be ‘offended’ at their position.”

Source

A "right" to advertise? I can't find that in the Constitution.

Racist to be proud of one's country?

We read:

"In what is being described as an incident of racism, a school district in Texas has filed a complaint after some rival high school students chanted “U-S-A! U-S-A!” to celebrate a basketball victory. And some of the students involved have now been punished and forced to apologize.

Student supporters at Alamo Heights High School started the celebratory chant after their team clinched a regional championship against San Antonio Edison High School on Saturday.

Edison High School is predominantly Hispanic, and officials at the San Antonio Independent School District took the chant as a racial insult from supporters of the largely white Alamo Heights team.

According to the News-Express, the chant lasted only about five seconds before Alamo Heights head coach Andrew Brewer quickly silenced the students. Nevertheless, SAISD athletic director Gil Garza on Tuesday filed a complaint with the University Interscholastic League, which oversees extracurricular activities in Texas public schools.

Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo — a nationally syndicated radio host based in San Antonio and frequent fill-in for Glenn Beck — on Wednesday blasted the local media coverage of the controversy, saying reporters demonized the “U-S-A!” chant, rather than presenting the story as students misusing it as a taunt.

Source

Taunting the opposing team is very common in sport but woe betide you if the opponents are in a "protected" class

Man vs. City: FL Man Fighting Local Gov’t Over Right to Post Critical Signs‏

One man's war on bureaucracy:

"Auto mechanic Wayne Weatherbee has been waging a one-man protest against the city of Clermont for years. According to a local Florida station, WFTV, the dispute began after “Weatherbee [agreed] to move his business across the street, so the city could expand its police headquarters.

Now Weatherbee says the city has denied his request for an occupational license at his new shop.” To be fair, Weatherbee refused to apply for some of the “special permissions” he needs in order to run an automotive shop in the central business district, on principle.

But the current issue began later when, in protest, Weatherbee began erecting signs critical of the city on his property. He immediately began receiving charges of $75 a day, but rather than capitulate, new signs went up. Messages included, “27 Years in the Automotive Business and this Town is Trying to Turn Me into a Sign Painter,“ and ”ACLU Where Are You.”

According to the ACLU, which did step in and file a suit on Weatherbee’s behalf: "This series of actions crossed the line and unacceptably infringed on Weatherbee’s right to free expression…city officials have unconstitutionally targeted Weatherbee, attempting to suppress his free speech…"

The result? A federal judge ruled in Weatherbee’s favor in 2010, ordering that he be recompensed $62,000. But the signs are still causing problems, and the city is “bracing for a rematch.” How so? It went ahead and passed a new ordinance against signs:

The city may soon try to impose fines of up to $250 a day for signs that city officials contend violate Clermont’s new sign ordinance, which was approved by the City Council after the loss in federal court.

“Bring it on, brother,” said Weatherbee, thick engine grease under his fingernails.

Source

British families face having their internet cut off after laws to curb 'piracy' are upheld in court

This seems to be much more narrowly drafted than the obnoxious SOPA and PIPA laws that nearly made it through Congress and arguably shows how copyright holders can be protected without handing the government too much power

Families who illegally download movies, music or books will appear on a blacklist and might – in future - have their internet services cut off. The tough new regime, which is included in the Digital Economy Act, was upheld by the Court of Appeal today after judges threw out a legal challenge.

Major movie, music or publishing company will be able to require an internet service provider to blacklist customers who illegally download or upload copyright material.

Initially, this means they will be sent letters highlighting that they have been identified as pirates and requiring them to provide details of all the material involved. The measure is designed to act as a warning shot and encourage those involved to stop illegal downloads.

However, the Act includes a provision that could, in future, see the guilty punished by having their internet service cut off.

People who feel they have been unfairly identified as computer pirates will have to pay £20 to mount an appeal.

There are concerns that innocent families could branded as pirates if their wi-fi system is hijacked for illegal downloads by a stranger. Mr O’Connor said: ‘As it implements the Act, Ofcom must require a high standard of evidence from copyright owners to prevent innocent consumers being placed on a copyright infringement list.

The Digital Economy Act includes provisions that could, in future, be used to punish families through either a temporary suspension of their internet connection, or by slowing it down. This penalty regime cannot be introduced until at least one year after the new warning letters and blacklist scheme has been in operation.

There would have to be a review by Ofcom, including public consultation, followed by secondary legislation that would have to be passed by Parliament.

Source

Traditional "Sleeping Mexican" mural draws TX protest



The image presumably draws on the Latin tradition of a siesta during the afternoon

A proposed mural of a sleeping, sombrero-topped Mexican man has created a cultural minefield in South Texas, where supporters say it's a tribute to a classic image and opponents say it's offensive.

The image of a man sleeping with his back against a wall, knees against his chest and hat covering his face, has been floated as part of a proposed mural honoring San Antonio's first drive-in theater.

"Latinos are not asleep. We are on the march," said Gabriel Velasquez, a former member of the city's arts advisory board who was removed after pointing out the images earlier this week. "We must be portrayed as awake and active and leaders, not as being asleep at noon every day."

The effort in one of the state's largest cities, which is more than 60 percent Hispanic, demonstrates a growing clash in the United States between efforts to preserve and record history and the fight against honoring racist imagery.

In San Antonio, the issue has degenerated into allegations of racism and cultural insensitivity over the images, which appeared on the wall of the theater when it was built in 1947.

The so-called "Sleeping Mexican" image was created for 1940s era travel brochures and billboards, to promote a then-sparsely populated southwestern United States which included ethnic groups and cultures that were foreign and exotic to many Americans.

It was a common sight on advertisements and roadside souvenir stands through the sixties until changing sensitivities in the 1970s raised awareness of its unflattering portrayal of Mexicans as being lazy.

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Lawsuit: University Ordered Christian Club to Allow Non-Christian Leaders

Some private universities have got away with this nonsense but UNC is a public university and therefore subject to the 1st Amendment. They are going to have to back down

"The University of North Carolina-Greensboro has ordered a Christian club to allow non-Christians as leaders and members, according to a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday. “The university has given itself the authority to determine whether a group is religious or not,” said Jeremy Tedesco, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund.

Tedesco filed suit on behalf of “Make Up Your Own Mind,” a Christian club that was denied an exemption from the university’s nondiscrimination policy.

UNC-Greensboro’s nondiscrimination policy includes an exemption for student organizations that select their members based on a shared set of beliefs.

Tedesco said “Make Up Your Own Mind” has a clear religious mission and purpose and requires its members and leaders to agree with its statement of faith and beliefs about the value of innocent human life.

“Saying that a Christian club isn’t religious is flatly absurd, especially when the university has granted its belief-based exception to numerous other clubs,” he said. “The First Amendment forbids the government from determining what is and what is not ‘religious,’ yet the university is doing exactly this by telling a Christian group that it is not religious.”

However, the university contends that the club is not affiliated with a church – and therefore doesn’t meet their criteria for exemption.

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Gun phobia in baseball

We read:

"The Houston Astros‘ plan to commemorate their franchise’s 50th anniversary this year hit a roadblock when Major League Baseball officials decided players could not wear special “throwback” uniforms featuring the team’s original name — the Colt .45s — with their original logo, a pistol.

Players instead will be wearing versions of the original uniform but with the gun image removed.

That‘s a call that didn’t sit well with one Astros fan, who fired off a complaint to the MLB, accusing the organization of letting “misplaced political correctness destroy one of the greatest uniforms in baseball history.” According to Astros Daily, the team’s authentication manager Mike Acosta sent back the following reply:

"During our discussion with Major League Baseball, it was expressed to us that we could wear the uniform as long as the pistol was removed. We realize this changes the original design, but we still want to honor the Colt .45s. We are also under an obligation to follow Major League Baseball’s requests."

The Astros were known as the Colt .45s from 1962 through 1964, when the name changed over the licensing dispute. The Colts uniforms are among several retro jerseys players will wear during home games on special “Flashback Fridays.”

It‘s not like we’re subjected to 1,437 images of guns each day — from No. 1 selling video games to primetime television. Nope, it’s the pistol on the chests of what will likely be a 100-loss team — for all of two early season games! — that will send the wrong message to children. In a state where it’s legal to carry a concealed firearm, no less. Yup, got it. Makes sense.

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NCAA: Don't bring Fighting Sioux name to playoffs

The race-obsessed NCAA are forcing their bigotries down the neck of the UND still

"University of North Dakota teams risk forfeiting any post-season games if their athletes, cheerleaders or band wear or display the school's Fighting Sioux nickname and American Indian head logo, an NCAA official said Wednesday.

Bernard Franklin, an NCAA executive vice president, said in a letter to university provost Paul LeBel that the university "must forfeit competition" if "it has not adhered to this requirement" in any post-season games that UND teams have been invited to play in.

Brian Faison, the university's athletic director, said the letter should help convince skeptics of the reality of NCAA sanctions.
""We knew going in that this was a possibility, but it's in black and white now," Faison said. "It's very clear what will happen."
The nickname and logo, and the NCAA's attitudes toward them, have been the focus of an intense political and legal debate in North Dakota.

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Victory for Google as top British judge rules it can't be held responsible for defamatory blog posts

We read:

"A High Court judge has likened Google to a graffiti strewn wall in a landmark judgement which says it cannot be held responsible for libellous or offensive content.

Mr Justice Eady said the internet giant was not bound by laws governing publishers, giving the company widespread immunity from English defamation laws.

In the judgement, which will have huge implications for freedom of speech in this country, he said: ‘It is no doubt often true that the owner of a wall which has been festooned, overnight, with defamatory graffiti could acquire scaffolding and have it all deleted with whitewash.’

But he added: ‘That is not necessarily to say, however, that the unfortunate owner must, unless and until this has been accomplished, be classified as a publisher’.

The ruling came at the end of a long running defamation suit taken by a former Conservative Party hopeful and law student Payam Tamiz.

His case against Google Inc over reactions to a blog labelling him, without justification, as a drug dealer and a thief, is now dead in the water.

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This is a welcome victory in an age where people try to blame anyone except the guilty party for some harm that may have befallen them. The libelled guy should have gone after the ones who wrote the comments. That is difficult but it can be done.

When Scientists Are Censors

We read:

"Evolutionary biologists were horrified by the news that a scholarly press was going to publish a work in favor of intelligent design. But a spokesman for the publishing house confirmed to Inside Higher Ed Wednesday that the book’s publication is on hold as it is subjected to further peer review.

Earlier this week, the Panda’s Thumb, a blog about evolutionary theory, posted an item about a forthcoming book from Springer called Biological Information: New Perspectives. The blog-poster and other commenters said the book was a compilation of articles by creationists and intelligent-design proponents and Springer had no business publishing such “creationist pseudoscience.”

Of all the scientific fields, evolutionary biology has become fiefdom where academic freedom is dead and detractors are thrown out and publicly lambasted. And they protect their mandatory orthodoxy with vigor. It’s no wonder so many people refuse to buy into it.

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As an atheist I obviously don't believe in creation. But I have also looked closely at evolutionary theory and find many holes in it. There are both logical and factual holes in it.

The logical hole is that "fittest" is not explained independently of "survival", so "survival of the fittest" is a circular and hence meaningless statement.

The factual hole is that all observed mutations seem to be destructive yet we are told that we are the product of an amazing cascade of beneficial mutations. How come even a minor version of such a cascade has never been observed in any organism?

There may be some truth in the theory of evolution but as it stands it is not a theory that makes sense or fits the facts. And when a true scientist finds that no theory fits the facts he says simply: "I don't know" -- which is what I say. I don't know how we all got here and I can face that with perfect calm. There is an infinity of things that we don't know and I don't need to make up things in a pretence that I know more than I do.

So you can see why evolutionists are so incredibly defensive about their theory. They know its holes but fear those holes becoming generally known. If they had more confidence in their theory they would greet challenges to it with amusement and patient explanation -- not censorship.

But what is going on of course is religious. The theory is used in an effort to discredit religion. But if the evolutionists were intellectually capable atheists, they would study Carnap. He has a far better argument against religion than putting up a theory that is full of holes. But analytical philosophy does require some brains so many atheists might not be up to reading Carnap.

Belief in evolution is nearly as religious as belief in creation. Those who proclaim it as an unquestionable truth are modern-day Torquemadas (a leader of the Spanish Inquisition)

Irish-Americans' fury over 'arrogant and disrespectful' novelty St Patrick's Day T-shirts at Urban Outfitters

We read:

"It is rarely disputed that the Irish enjoy a drop or two of Guinness on St Patrick's Day.

The country, known for its jovial pubs and fondness for celebration, is used to being associated with merriment - but when it comes to being labelled as 'drunken', some see it as a derogatory step too far.

Urban Outfitters have offended a swathe of Irish-Americans who have not taken a range of St Patrick's Day T-shirts, mostly featuring jokes about drunkenness, lightly.

The bright green statement tees have a range of loud slogans and images printed in their fronts. 'Kiss Me, I'm drunk, or Irish, or whatever', reads one, costing $24. A $20 cap depicts a man vomiting and is accompanied by the statement 'Irish Yoga: Downward facing upchuck.'

A second tee, $24, is glaringly unsubtle: 'I'm a F****** Leprechaun' it says, the obscenity's 'U' replaced by a four-leaf clover.

The largest Irish-American organisation in the U.S., the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, is far from pleased with the garments, reports My Fox NY.

Seamus Boyle wrote: 'There are those few who use this day as an excuse to over celebrate but that does not give you or anyone else the right to defame and debase a whole race of people by selling the garbage that you display in your stores.'

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I have got plenty of Irish blood in me so you will never hear an ill word about the Irish from me and nor do I tell Irish jokes. But for a long time the Irish were tolerant of jokes at their expense -- which is in my view a credit to them. Amid the increasing "sensitivity" which characterizes our age, however, it seems that even the Irish have now joined the ranks of the "offended".

Must not criticize Obama

We read:

"A Democratic lawmaker is speaking out against an inflammatory ad in the Clarendon Metro station that tells President Obama to “go to hell.”

The lighted ad, located near the end of one of platforms, promotes a DVD documentary called “Sick and Sicker: When the Government Becomes Your Doctor,” which sharply criticizes President Obama’s health care reform law and compares it to publicly-funded health care in Canada.

“Barack Obama wants politicians and bureaucrats to control America’s entire medical system,” the ad reads. “Go to hell Barack.”

The Democratic blog Blue Virginia first reported the ad this morning. It’s been in place at the Clarendon Metro station since at least last week, based on a search of Twitter posts.

Now, local Virginia congressman Jim Moran (D) is calling for the “offensive advertisement” to be taken down.

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Interesting that Moran is also an antisemite. Apparently you can criticize Jews but not Obama.

Must not joke about Obama's parentage

We read:

"A federal judge in Montana who used official court email to circulate a racist joke about President Barack Obama has acknowledged the indiscretion and initiated a misconduct complaint against himself, court officials said on Thursday.

The scandal prompted government ethics watchdog group Common Cause and the Montana Human Rights Network to call on Thursday for the resignation of the Billings-based judge, Richard Cebull, the chief judge for the U.S. judicial district in Montana.

The email in question came to public light when it was published on Wednesday by the Great Falls Tribune, which received a copy forwarded to the newspaper by someone else in the chain of the email's distribution.

The subject line of the two-paragraph email, sent from Cebull's courthouse email account on February 20 to various friends and acquaintances, according to the newspaper, reads: "A MOM'S MEMORY."

The text starts out saying, "Normally I don't send or forward a lot of these, but even by my standards, it was a bit touching. I want all of my friends to feel what I felt when I read this. Hope it touches your heart like it did mine."

The joke that followed included a lewd reference to Obama's biracial parentage.

Under the U.S. Constitution, federal judges are appointed for life and can be removed only through congressional impeachment, a process that has rarely resulted in a judge's dismissal.

He has publicly admitted sending the email. He told the Great Falls Tribune in an interview published on Wednesday, "I apologize to anybody who is offended by it, and I can obviously understand why people would be offended."

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It was a rather good joke:

"A little boy said to his mother; 'Mommy, how come I'm black and you're white?'"

"His mother replied, 'Don't even go there Barack! From what I can remember about that party, you're lucky you don't bark!'"

Anchor punished for an IMPLIED insult towards female racing-car driver

You can be as vile as the English language allows in talking about Christians but you dare not even hint at criticism of a protected class -- such as women -- unless the protected one is also Christian, of course

"San Diego sportscaster Ross Shimabuku has been suspended for a week without pay for remarks made about Danica Patrick before her Sprint Cup Series debut in the Daytona 500.

After playing a clip in which Patrick talks about the adjectives she's been described with throughout her racing (and advertising) career, Shimabuku said, "I've got a few words. It's starts with a 'b' and it's not beautiful."

Shimabuku subsequently apologized for the remarks on Tuesday.

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