Continuing with our coverage of the global reaction to the proposed Muslim community center/mosque near Ground Zero in New York, this article by columnist Matthias Gierth of Germany's Rheinischer Merkur calls for cooler heads and eventual approval of the project, in order to prove al-Qaeda's claims about the 'godless West' wrong' - and prevent the terrorist group from using the … [Read more...] about ‘Cordoba House’: Let it Be a Belated Triumph of Tolerance: Rheinischer Merkur, Germany
In Southern Manhattan, I am a Muslim
Cross-posted to The Debate Link Early this year, I declared myself "Seismic Shock" in solidarity with a blogger faced with threats of legal retaliation for daring to expose the links between a prominent pastor and anti-Semitic thugs. The "controversy" over the proposed Southern Manhattan Muslim community center continues to grow, and folks stretch to ever deeper … [Read more...] about In Southern Manhattan, I am a Muslim
Obama’s Muslim Outreach Bears Interesting Fruit
When Barack Obama became president, he promised to try and change the relationship dynamic between Islam and the west. His goal was to build bridges, lessen hostility, create trust, and generally lower the decibel level of conversation between the two cultures. There can be little argument regarding the president's goals. The great struggle in which we are engaged against … [Read more...] about Obama’s Muslim Outreach Bears Interesting Fruit
Black Conservatives Say Sarah Palin’s Tweet Defending Dr. Laura Schlessinger Means She’s Unfit to Lead
Sarah Palin -- the undisputed American politician who has mastered snark and sarcasm into a million-dollar media career and put her in contention for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination -- has often used Facebook and Twitter for blunt, throw-down-the gauntlet comments that spark political firestorms. And now she's facing another: from black conservatives. John Avlon … [Read more...] about Black Conservatives Say Sarah Palin’s Tweet Defending Dr. Laura Schlessinger Means She’s Unfit to Lead
Change Accomplished (Guest Voice)
Change Accomplished by Eugene Robinson Washington Post Writers Group Columnist WASHINGTON -- This is a radical break from journalistic convention, I realize, but today I'd like to give credit where it's due -- specifically, to President Obama. Quiet as it's kept, he's on a genuine winning streak. It's hard to remember that the inauguration was just 19 months ago. … [Read more...] about Change Accomplished (Guest Voice)
Is Ann Coulter “Too Liberal” For Some Conservatives?
For some -- not necessarily a majority -- YES. A roundup HERE. … [Read more...] about Is Ann Coulter “Too Liberal” For Some Conservatives?
Recognizing the Historic Meaning in the Present Moment
Where were you on December 1, 1955, when Rosa Parks refused to give up her front seat on a bus to a white woman in Montgomery, Alabama? Or on February 19, 1942, when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066? … [Read more...] about Recognizing the Historic Meaning in the Present Moment
AP Finally Provides Some Facts About The Fabricated Mosque Controversy
How long have Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and Rudy Giuliani been spewing misinformation and hate about the proposed Islamic community center in New York City? Almost a month for Palin, that I'm aware of. On Thursday, AP issued an advisory -- oh that the rest of the media would follow it or think before using catchy phrases designed specifically to generate a knee-jerk … [Read more...] about AP Finally Provides Some Facts About The Fabricated Mosque Controversy
Believe in Humanity
Carole King, from her 1973 Fantasy album. … [Read more...] about Believe in Humanity
Ground Zero
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reseserved. … [Read more...] about Ground Zero
Religious Freedom (Guest Voice)
Religious Freedom by Martha Randolph Carr Last week President Obama supported the idea of a mosque being built near Ground Zero in New York City where 2,800 innocent people were murdered. The mosque would be built on private land and used as a religious gathering place. There is a lot of hurt feelings and controversy surrounding the site and no wonder. It will sit near … [Read more...] about Religious Freedom (Guest Voice)
Profiles in Cowardice
Glenn Greenwald nails it about Howard Dean's radio interview yesterday, in which he told WABC's David Goodman that Cordoba House, the Islamic community center planned for construction two blocks from Ground Zero, is "a real affront to people who lost their lives" on 9/11: … [Read more...] about Profiles in Cowardice
Calling the Fearful
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Calling the Fearful
‘The Long Goodbye’—The Rest of the Stories
I have been remiss, and I apologize. On Monday, I wrote about a series of five articles being published by the Stars and Stripes on the occasion of the ongoing withdrawal of our combat troops out of Iraq. I highlighted the first set of articles and listed the topics of the remaining four sets of articles, and I said, “Interested readers will find daily updates and links to … [Read more...] about ‘The Long Goodbye’—The Rest of the Stories
No Surprise Here!
Jobless claims were up: New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly climbed to a nine-month high last week, yet another setback to the frail economic recovery. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 500,000 in the week ended August 14, the highest since mid-November, the Labor Department said on … [Read more...] about No Surprise Here!
Got Me Thinking Again About How Men and Women See
My fellow CWRU alumnus and TMV co-blogger Jill Miller Zimon from Cleveland, OH sparked some thoughts way out here in Phoenix, AZ. She’s concerned about alleged gender bias of the Cleveland Plain Dealer – a decrepit rag of a newspaper if there ever was one – with respect to political endorsements being subtly biased against women – somehow, even if unintentional. You should … [Read more...] about Got Me Thinking Again About How Men and Women See
Presidential Theology
Here are a couple of things that have caught my attention this week: President Obama is a Muslim – According to a poll by the Pew Center, nearly 1 out of 5 people (18%) think that the President is a Muslim while 34% think he is a Christian and 48% have not got a clue what faith he may have. It is amazing to me that this is a story coming from a country that has … [Read more...] about Presidential Theology
Newspaper Political Endorsements Reinforce Gender Bias
Anastasia Pantsios, a lifelong journalist, does a great job in Ohio Daily Blog's post, "A Disturbing Pattern" with the subject of how the Cleveland Plain Dealer's primary endorsements for 12 newly-created elected positions read as gender-biased reviews though the motivation seems unintentional. But just because there is no intention does not mean that there is no bias. It … [Read more...] about Newspaper Political Endorsements Reinforce Gender Bias
The Takeover Makeover Of San Diego’s Grand Old Lady
There is a brotherhood of newspaper, radio and television folks in San Diego that are in a twitter (the old definition) over the face of one of the city's oldest institutions. -- Its daily newspaper. The San Diego Union-Tribune under new ownership last year chose this week to launch a Botox version of its former self. Both the print version and its on-line close cousin some … [Read more...] about The Takeover Makeover Of San Diego’s Grand Old Lady
The Mosque, Freedom And The Law: Part II
In Part I, the history of the First Amendment’s prohibition against the establishment of religion or abridging the free exercise thereof was examined. With today’s more literal reading of the First Amendment, incorporating religious tolerance, Part II examines a) what constitutes a church for constitutional and regulatory purposes, b) the RLUIPA and c) the impact of the First … [Read more...] about The Mosque, Freedom And The Law: Part II