A Muslim broadcaster in New York state has been charged with beheading his estranged wife (the two were going through a divorce). Ironically, the two founded a television station devoted to countering negative Islamic stereotypes.
Naturally, we should not rush to judgment, and we should hope that “Mo” Hassan gets a fair trial. Still, it’s doubly frightening to think that the kind of intolerant brutality and thin-skinned machismo that is rotting the Islamic world from the inside is now on American soil.
Since 2001, the US and Pakistan have been, ostensibly, allies in the struggle against Islamic extremists. The reconstructed government of neighboring Afghanistan is also, again ostensibly, our ally. So how is it that the Pakistanis are allowing the Taliban in the northwest part of their country to impose Islamic law (or, at least, their narrow interpretation of it)? If anyone thinks this will a) placate the Taliban and/or b) be in any way compatible with republican democracy, well, I have a couple of towers in lower Manhattan I’d like to sell you.
Hmmm. Now even mainstream churches are jumping on the Darwin Day bandwagon. Evolution Weekend 2009 is coordinated by something called The Clergy Letter Project, which encourages congregations, “through sermons, discussion groups, meaningful conversations and seminars, [to] show that religion and science are not adversaries.” Well, we’ll set aside whether or not that last part is true, but it’s at least heartening to see churches and synagogues participating in this event.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Unless, of course, you live in India. Who’d have thought the peace-loving Hindus would take to cracking the skulls of those foolish enough to observe that most decadent of Western holidays (after Christmas, of course)? Something called the Sri Ram Sena (a hardline Hindu faction) has been threatening (and sometimes carryout out) violence against shops, restaurants, pubs, and especially young women, who observe Valentine’s Day. To call these people busybodies is to make light of the damage they do. They are, in fact, little different from the Taliban and the Saudi morality police who would rather beat and kill those who don’t do as they say.
Wow, what a turn-out for last night’s Darwin Day 2009! I counted at least 40 (and perhaps as many as 60) people at Decatur’s Thinking Man Tavern. Getting a proper head-count was a little tough, since we could only pull so many tables together, after which people got scattered around to different parts of the room. (It’s hard to tell Darwinists from anti-Darwinists unless the latter are actively thumping their Bibles!)
…at the Thinking Man Tavern in Decatur, tonight (Thursday, February 12th) at 7:30. We’ll raise a toast to Charles Darwin on his 200th birthday. Dr. Catherine Carter, professor of Biology at Georgia Perimeter College, will join us for more or less informal discussion about Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, which she’s been teaching for twenty years. Thinking Man Tavern is located at 537 W. Howard Ave, Decatur, GA 30030. (And let’s not forget that the Great Emancipator, Abraham Lincoln, turns 200 today as well. Apparently 1809 was a good year for movers and shakers.)
Here are a few photos from last weekend’s very first Atlanta SkeptiCamp! I thought it was all very cool: volunteers gave presentations on a mindbending number of topics, including 10 questions every skeptic will hear; an investigation into a popular historical “ghost” story; the scientific method; the Detox Myth; applied kinesiology; the fact of evolution; tips on creating a good website; defining “organic” foods (and other weasly terms like “dolphin safe,” “no antibiotics,” “cage-free,” etc.); skeptical parenting; a DNA primer; a neurology primer, and an exploration of theatre superstitions. And, of course, the live joint appearance by Derek and Swoopy of Skepticality and me and David from American Freethought.
Happy 200th Birthday, Charles Darwin! To celebrate, we interview Ken Miller (a.k.a. Dr. Kenneth R. Miller), Professor of Biology at Brown University and co-author (with Joseph S. Levine) of Prentice-Hall’s Biology, one of the most-used and most-respected high school textbooks in the world. Ken strikes a thoughtful balance between his Roman Catholicism and a deep appreciation of the reality of evolution. He was a key witness for the plaintiffs in the 2005 Kitzmiller-v-Dover trial, which overturned an attempt by intelligent design creationists to infiltrate the local high school biology curriculum. Ken is also the author of two science memoirs: Finding Darwin’s God and Only a Theory. For more about Ken and his work visit MillerandLevine.com.
Actor James Whitmore died yesterday at the age of 87. He starred in a $#!+ load of movies and TV shows (including The Twilight Zone and the original Planet of the Apes), but is perhaps best known to younger audiences for his heartbreaking portrayal of elderly parolee Brooks in the 1994 feature film The Shawshank Redemption. Freethinkers remember him fondly for participating in the First Freedom First Campaign, a series of commercials supporting separation of church and state. (He appeared smoking a pipe; ironic given that it was lung cancer that finally killed him.)
We interview Phil Plait, 
Happy Valentine’s Day! Unless, of course, you live in India. Who’d have thought the peace-loving Hindus would take to cracking the skulls of those foolish enough to observe that most decadent of Western holidays (after Christmas, of course)? Something called the 
…at the Thinking Man Tavern in Decatur, tonight (Thursday, February 12th) at 7:30. We’ll raise a toast to Charles Darwin on his 200th birthday. Dr. Catherine Carter, professor of Biology at Georgia Perimeter College, will join us for more or less informal discussion about Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, which she’s been teaching for twenty years. 
Happy 200th Birthday, Charles Darwin! To celebrate, we interview Ken Miller (a.k.a. Dr. Kenneth R. Miller), Professor of Biology at Brown University and co-author (with Joseph S. Levine) of Prentice-Hall’s
With allies like these, who needs enemies?
Monday, February 16th, 2009Since 2001, the US and Pakistan have been, ostensibly, allies in the struggle against Islamic extremists. The reconstructed government of neighboring Afghanistan is also, again ostensibly, our ally. So how is it that the Pakistanis are allowing the Taliban in the northwest part of their country to impose Islamic law (or, at least, their narrow interpretation of it)? If anyone thinks this will a) placate the Taliban and/or b) be in any way compatible with republican democracy, well, I have a couple of towers in lower Manhattan I’d like to sell you.
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Tags: afghanistan, islamic law, koran, pakistan, sharia, taliban
Posted in civil rights, commentary, islam, news, religion, religious rights | 1 Comment »