Here my column in Sunday’s Washington Post on the increasing prosecutions in the West for insulting religion. The rise of international blasphemy prosecutions (and the proposal of the international criminalization of blasphemy) has sacrificed free speech in the name of free exercise.
Continue reading “International Blasphemy: The Free World Bars Free Speech”
Faith organizations and individuals have increasingly been sued over their exclusion or discrimination against homosexuals based on their religious beliefs. As the federal and state governments enforce anti-discrimination policies, they are turning against religious organizations which exclude members based on what they view as immoral practices.
Continue reading “Faith Groups Facing Liability Over Discriminatory Faith-Based Policies”
Michelle Obama’s garden must go or she needs to add some good American chemicals. That appears to be the view of chemical and agricultural companies who view her organic garden as a threat to the nation’s agricultural industry. Lobbyists and corporate officials have been peering over the fence in worry and disgust as the First Lady plants a dangerous seed in the minds of Americans.
Continue reading “Michele, Michele, How Does Your Garden Grow?”
British police are facing many question over the death of Ian Tomlinson, 47, who died of a fatal heart attack during the April 1st protests. While police insisted that they had no contact with police after witnesses accused them of attacking him without provocation, new pictures and the video below have emerged that seem to contradict their claims and showing police hitting Tomlinson from behind with a baton. The case should focus the English people on the abusive law to make it a crime to film police. Absent these films, this case would have been buried by the Metropolitan Police Service.
Britain’s leading counterterrorism, Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick of the Metropolitan Police Department, has resigned after being photographed holding a classified document in the open that revealed details of an anti-terror operation.
Continue reading “Latest Weapon in The War On Terror: Manila Envelopes”
Texas State Rep. Betty Brown (R) finally hit on the problem that she has with Asian people: they are just a bit too . . . well . . . Asian — at least in terms of their names. Brown has caused a firestorm in suggesting that Asian-Americans change their names so that “Americans” can pronounce them.
Now, here is an interesting free speech case. Kelley Coffman-Lee is a vegan who wanted to proclaim her love for bean curd with a license plate “ILVTOFU” for her Suzuki SL-7. The DMV read the plate as an proclamation of a more sexual than culinary proclamation.
Continue reading “Vegan License Plate Barred by Colorado DMV As Offensive”
Former Sen. Ted Stevens (R., Alaska) and his allies are continuing their implausible campaign to rehabilitate the disgraced Senator and portray the Justice Department’s gross negligence as a vindication of the ethically challenged Stevens. Alaskan legislators in the House passed a resolution demanding not only an apology from the federal government but a lawsuit to recoup his fees and costs in defending himself.
Continue reading “Alaska Legislators Demand Apology to Stevens And Federal Lawsuit”
A respected literature journal, Ibdaa (or Creativity) has been banned by an Egyptian court for publishing blasphemous poem by poet Helmi Salem that compared God to a villager who feeds ducks and milks cows. It is only the latest crackdown on poets who have used the Koran or references to God in artistic ways.
Continue reading “Egyptian Court Bans Literature Journal For Publishing Blasphemous Poem”
In a remarkable order, U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the Justice Department lawyers who mishandled the prosecution of former Sen. Ted Stevens (R., Alaska). The order reflects a degree of dissatisfaction and distrust over the Justice Department’s own internal investigation.
There is a great deal of chatter on the Internet today about an anchor who appears in blackface in the coverage of President Obama’s trip to Turkey. The rough translation from the appearance is “Welcome, Mr. Obama. You took our hearts with your hospitality. We appreciate your kindness. We will do whatever America asks of us, as friends. Now, we ask the same of you.”
Continue reading “Lost in Translation: Turkish Anchor Appears in Blackface on Air in Coverage of President Obama”
Vermont’s legislature voted Tuesday to override the veto of Governor Jim Douglas (R) and become the fourth state to recognize gay marriage. This follows Iowa only last week, which achieved the same result through a vote of its Supreme Court. On the same day, the District of Columbia voted to recognize such marriages in other states.
Continue reading “Vermont Becomes Fourth State To Recognize Gay Marriage”
In yet another break with its campaign promise to fight to restore civil liberties and privacy, the Obama Administration has made a breathtaking claim of state secrets to block a public interest organization from suing the government for illegal surveillance. There is not a scintilla of difference in the legal position of President Obama and the position of President Bush in trying to quash any effort to challenge unlawful surveillance by the government. It appears the “yes we can” means “yes we can do most anything that we want” when it comes to unlawful programs. I discussed this story on this segment of MSNBC Countdown.
The congressman that George Bush nicknamed “Congressman Kickass” and one of his favorite members has been arrested . . . again. Former Rep. John Sweeney was charged with driving while intoxicated for the second time in 17 months.
Continue reading ““Congressman Kickass” Arrested . . . Again”
NASA has captured a picture of what appears to be the hand of God reaching across space. Notably, the picture was taken as former Sen. Ted Stevens (R., Alaska) is about to appear in federal court to declare victory after the Justice Department drops its case against him.