By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin Journeys to Heaven and Hell by Bart D. Ehrman, a highly respected New Testament scholar, tells some of the different notions various nations and people had about the afterlife in ancient times. He describes a wide variety of katabases and anabases, but not all. Katabasis means going down, a descent. It is used to describe a journey to the … [Read more...] about Examining Different Notions About the Afterlife
MUSK’S TWITTER HELLSCAPE
A ROADMAP TO REPUBLICAN GRIEVANCE IN 2022
by John L. Micek A new poll provides an eye-opening glimpse into the values and motivations of the modern Republican Party, and the cultural and political forces that will drive the party faithful to the polls on Nov. 8. The latest American Values poll by the Public Religion Research Institute also zooms in on the views of white evangelical Protestants who backed former … [Read more...] about A ROADMAP TO REPUBLICAN GRIEVANCE IN 2022
A new wave of celebrity politicians breaks the rules on acceptable behavior, inspired by Trump
Kari Lake, the GOP candidate for Arizona governor, campaigns at a rally on Oct. 9, 2022. Joshua Lott/The Washington Post via Getty Images Donna M Goldstein, University of Colorado Boulder and Kristen Drybread, University of Colorado Boulder After two former girlfriends accused Herschel Walker, the Georgia Republican Senate nominee and former football … [Read more...] about A new wave of celebrity politicians breaks the rules on acceptable behavior, inspired by Trump
An Election Paradox
When is an election not an election? When one of the candidates refuses to accept the results of the election even before it is held. There are currently a host of Republican candidates for federal, state and local offices who deny that the results of the 2020 presidential election were valid and state that Donald Trump actually won the election. Some of these so-called … [Read more...] about An Election Paradox
Conservative US Supreme Court reconsidering affirmative action, leaving the use of race in college admissions on the brink of extinction
The U.S. Supreme Court in its official portrait on Oct. 7, 2022. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images Travis Knoll, University of North Carolina – Charlotte The U.S. military learned a valuable lesson about race during the Vietnam War: Diversity does not happen without affirmative action. That helps explain why a distinguished group of 35 military … [Read more...] about Conservative US Supreme Court reconsidering affirmative action, leaving the use of race in college admissions on the brink of extinction
FREE HAMMERS
Abortion is not influencing most voters as the midterms approach – economic issues are predominating in new survey
Amy Cox, a Democratic candidate running to be an Ohio state representative, speaks with a potential voter on Oct. 23, 2022. Megan Jelinger/AFP via Getty Images Matthew A Baum, Harvard Kennedy School; Alauna Safarpour, Harvard Kennedy School; Jonathan Schulman, Northwestern University, and Kristin Lunz Trujillo, Harvard Kennedy School Since the Supreme … [Read more...] about Abortion is not influencing most voters as the midterms approach – economic issues are predominating in new survey
How dubious ‘local news’ sites are feeding US misinformation
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - When Elon Musk amplified a conspiracy theory about the hammer attack on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, he joined the growing ranks of Americans routinely sharing misinformation published by dubious websites presenting themselves as local news outlets. The new Twitter owner eventually deleted his tweet linking to the false article by … [Read more...] about How dubious ‘local news’ sites are feeding US misinformation
Should Daylight Saving Time Be Brought To An End?
Should Daylight Saving Time be brought to an end? Why continue Daylight Saving Time? What are the pros and cons? Traditions tend to occur annually, but once American tradition is biannual. The latter is the complaining about Daylight Saving Time. Before dealing with the pros and cons of Daylight Saving Time, let's get some facts out of the way: 1 -- It is Daylight … [Read more...] about Should Daylight Saving Time Be Brought To An End?
Crime and Punishment
All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti https://toons.to/go/daviddonar … [Read more...] about Crime and Punishment
Combatting climate change: UN’s COP27 looks headed for let-down
The next great international effort to prevent climate catastrophe looks headed for let-down at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP27, which opens in Egypt on Sunday. It will be the latest effort to build upon the landmark 2015 Paris accord on climate among 193 countries. UN chief Antonio Guterres is warning that the world is headed towards a dismal … [Read more...] about Combatting climate change: UN’s COP27 looks headed for let-down
Obama tries to rescue Democrats from US midterm losses
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - In the run-up to the high-stakes midterm elections next week, President Joe Biden is out on the stump in many states. But his one-time boss, former president Barack Obama, is also campaigning hard to rescue a faltering Democratic Party. On Friday, the two men spoke at the same time, in two different corners of the United States: Biden in … [Read more...] about Obama tries to rescue Democrats from US midterm losses
Hypocrisy is beneath them – political figures in the Trump era don’t bother concealing their misdeeds
Infowars founder Alex Jones in court during his Sandy Hook defamation damages trial in Waterbury, Conn., Sept. 22, 2022. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool, File Rachel Hadas, Rutgers University - Newark There seems to be no sense of shame or its cousin, guilt, in our time. Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones tormented the parents of … [Read more...] about Hypocrisy is beneath them – political figures in the Trump era don’t bother concealing their misdeeds
American voters are angry – that is a good thing for voter turnout, bad thing for democracy
Thousands of demonstrators gather in Washington, D.C., to support women’s rights on Oct. 8, 2022. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images Steven Webster, Indiana University Regardless of whether they live in a red state or a blue state, identify as Democrats or Republicans, or claim to be ideologically liberal or conservative, Americans have one thing … [Read more...] about American voters are angry – that is a good thing for voter turnout, bad thing for democracy
DESANTIS WHO?
NYT “GOP is poised to win” narrative unsupported by their own data
In an "analysis" that opens with unmitigated opinion, on Thursday the New York Times claimed: A new series of House polls by The New York Times and Siena College across four archetypal swing districts offers fresh evidence that Republicans are poised to retake Congress this fall as the party dominated among voters who care most about the economy. The polling data the … [Read more...] about NYT “GOP is poised to win” narrative unsupported by their own data
VOTER INTIMIDATION, 2022 (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Nice democracy you have there. It’d be a real shame if anything were to happen to it. That seems to be what the MAGA goons stalking ballot drop boxes seem to be saying to voters. Despite lying about voter fraud, using those lies to change laws making it more difficult for minorities to vote, and claiming they’re going to have a red wave on November 8 and retake the House, … [Read more...] about VOTER INTIMIDATION, 2022 (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
The creepy clown emerged from the crass and bawdy circuses of the 19th century
Clowns in American circuses were once considered a form of adult entertainment. ArtMarie/E+ via Getty Images Madeline Steiner, University of South Carolina The scary clown has become a horror staple. Featuring Art the Clown as the main villain, Damien Leone’s new film “Terrifier 2” is so gruesome that there are reports of viewers vomiting and … [Read more...] about The creepy clown emerged from the crass and bawdy circuses of the 19th century
Right-wing election ‘army’ sparks fear for US midterms
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - Influential right-wing campaigners who endorse Donald Trump's false claims of election fraud are mobilizing a vigilante-style "army" of poll watchers for the US midterms, a move analysts say threatens chaos, intimidation and violence. The campaigners, including some who tried to overturn Trump's defeat in the 2020 election such as his former … [Read more...] about Right-wing election ‘army’ sparks fear for US midterms