http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20081219/twl-watergate-informer-deep-throat-dies-41f21e0.html Poor fella, RIP for such a Historical person to do so much. Coral Blooms with the advancement of Global warming, warming the waters. http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/...omments/coral_blooms_as_warming_fears_wither/ http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24820742-7583,00.html
http://news.aol.com/article/atheists-file-lawsuit-over-inauguration/291040 It's a shame that there is not way this will be won.
That's quite a stretch. I'm an atheist, but all of this incessant whining over trivial bullshit is unnecessary imo.
Alright, seriously if you want to get your hands Dirty on the clauses of the constitution, Fine. But know that the Constitution itself had many Christian Fundamentals within itself, Though it denies the Government to Favor an establishment of Religion. You aren't even Required to swear on the bible, Such to the answer for Will, You could swear on the Quran if you were muslim. But as in court, you don't need to touch or hold any religious text. However, you must declare that you don't. And no, Just because you are Religious Believers of God Doesn't make you anymore Righteous than I am. Compare How many people have been killed in the name of god vs Non-believers of God. (Atheists, Buddhists, ect) let's not have that Talk.
Will raises a good point (seems for once we aren't on directly opposite sides of everything ). It isn't really trivial. The President of the most powerful country in the world asking for help from his imaginary friend is worrisome. I have a hard time trusting people with nuclear codes when there is an electrical fire going on in their heads. If the president had to say "and Allah help us" half of America would lose it's collective shit and call for impeachment. If he said "and Zeus help us" they would think he was nuts. If he even said "Yahweh help us" half the Christians would probably not even realize he was talking about their bloody God and have a fit. If he said "The Flying Spaghetti Monster help us" he would be treated like he was mocking religion. But if he pledges to the Christian God, it is fine (or even moreso- necessary!) despite the evidence for all these Gods being equal (and 0). The public square should be areligious, as mixing politics and faith are never a good thing. And if a president said "as it happens, I have no invisible means of support" he would be cast out of office instantly (assuming he ever got there).
I still think it's an entirely ridiculous thing to file a lawsuit over. It'd be like the British suing to have "God Save the Queen" changed to "Particular deity of your choice (or if you don't believe in one, that's okay too) Save the Queen".
I do think it is a shame that Britain was founded on the idea with the Queen being the head of the church and the state. But it is how their country works, whereas in America the Church and State are supposed to be separate.
I wasn't commenting on the particular histories of the Church and State in those countries, only using that as an example of how ridiculous the lawsuit is. I'll use a different example then: should we file a lawsuit over the phrase "oh my God" because it supposedly offends people? And @ Chris.
It's not trivial in the debate over the separation of church and state as a whole; but a lawsuit -- seriously? How fitting that the first proper debate on here in '09 is a religious one.
I dont get why people are demonstrating against Israel. They're bombing Hezbollah and Hamas targets. There was a demonstration in Amsterdam, and some of them wore flags of Hamas or Hezbollah.
Daniel: My point is that in America the the church and state are separated by law, so it is a violation of the law to mix the to, and if you attempt to the law can be brought into play. Saying "oh my God" or saying "God save the queen" is not violating any laws as it is not illegal to mix church and state in Britain, nor is it illegal to mention God. Timothy: The fact that the lawsuit has no chance of being won, yet it is undeniably on the side of the constitution and the law shows the threat church and state are under, which isn't trivial. It also shoes a lot of people in power, as well as the majority of the country believe something insane or at least don't see it as troublesome.
I thought this was funny.... New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has withdrawn his nomination to be President-elect Barack Obama's commerce secretary amid a grand jury investigation. I think Obama bit off more than he can chew when he declared that his Administration will be very clean. Kind of shows his inexperience in thinking it is even possible. Obama may not Bush but cronyism is cronyism.
I am not sure how this is Obama's fault...a guy was shown to have a degree of possible corruption, so he backed he resigned from Obama's cabinet. It isn't like Obama picked him knowing he was corrupt, or kept him in with that knowledge.
It's definitely not more biased than any other American or Israeli media. One more thing concerning Israel. They've been acting stupid for years. Arab people will erase them from the face of the Earth for all time the moment USA gets weaker or stops supporting them.
I'm getting really sick of all the Palestine v Israel stuff and I really wish that was genuinely the case with the two countries and their allies. Neither side seems much better than the other to me.