February 14, 2006

Pappy Boyington

The University of Washington, in response to a proposal to erect a monument for decorated WWII Marine pilot Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, decided that they didn't need "any more monuments to rich white men" and that they weren't too keen on the idea of putting up a monument that, you know, dealt with like, war and killing and stuff. Minutes of the meeting here: (http://senate.asuw.org/secretary/minutes/senate/12/02-07-2006.pdf))


(h/t Ace O' Spades).

Well, as it turns out the student senate (contact information here: http://www.asuw.org/directory.php) is having another senate meeting tonight, 2/14 at 5pm.

If you feel moved, drop them a line.

If you're alumni, feel free to tell them to go to hell.

Double that if you're a vet.

Just for reference, they wanted to have work started (not necessarily completed) by Jan 11, 2008 - the 20th anniversary of his death. Read through the minutes, fascinating stuff.

UPDATE:

This is the current response from the student council president, who I am sure, is getting deluged right now. I have to give the guy credit - it's a mature response in what must be a trying situation. He doesn't dodge or spin, he's taking responsibility - I think there are a number of DC denizens who would do well to heed his example.

The blog news and the draft minutes that were posted are inaccurate. First, Ashley Miller's statements were highlighting, as a point of information, that the majority of our statues are white males, which was an issue previously addressed last year, this is not in any way meant to go against Colonel Boyington. It was noted by the sponsor, Andrew Everett, about Boyington's heritage later. Jill Edwards made here statements as an individual, and it should not be assumed she speaks for all students. Karl Smith wanted to honor his service as a whole (he risked his life, endured 20 months in a POW Camp) in an effort to bring more support from a number of students who do not morally agree with war. These statements are in public discourse that has been and will always be at the University of Washington to educate on the questions and issues of our society.

I would also like to remind you that as ASUW President I cosponsored this bill to create a memorial, it failed by one vote, and a good majority of those who voted against it wanted more inclusion of other alumni who were combat veterans who earned the Medal of Honor. This week a new resolution to that effect is being drafted and introduced. In the meantime the ASUW supports veterans in other ways, currently we are supporting state legislation that will hopefully pass and guarantee veterans tuition waivers. In the end, the buck stops here, I would appreciate further comments to be made to me. Please do not participate or condone the hate-filled comments and phone calls made toward individuals in our student government. It has been appalling to see what is being said to people. I too am nauseated.

Thank you for you statements.
Sincerely,
Lee Dunbar

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February 06, 2006

European Islamists Counter Danes With Cartoons Depicting Hitler, Holocaust

Welcome World Net Daily and Glenn Beck readers! Please feel free to leave comments and look around while you're here.

A European Islamic organization called the Arab European League has countered the recent cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed with cartoons of their own, questioning the Holocaust and showing Anne Frank in bed with Hitler. This statement explains their rationale:

After the lectures that Arabs and Muslims received from Europeans on Freedom of Speech and on Tolerance. And after that many European newspapers republished the Danish cartoons on the Prophet Mohammed. AEL decided to enter the cartoon business and to use our right to artistic expression.

Just like the newspapers in Europe claim that they only want to defend the freedom of speech and do not desire to stigmatise Muslims,we also do stress that our cartoons are not meant as an offence to anybody and ought not to be taken as a statement against any group, community or historical fact.

If it is the time to break Taboos and cross all the red lines, we certainly do not want to stay behind.

While I'm reproducing one of the cartoons below in the spirit of fairplay, I certainly don't endorse the message. more...

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February 04, 2006

Is This The Face Of Islam?

Jordanian editors arrested over Danish cartoon

From BBC News:

Two Jordanian newspaper editors who published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad have been arrested.
Jihad Momani and Hisham Khalidi are accused of insulting religion under Jordan's press and publications law.
Here's what Momani wrote to accompany the cartoon:
"Muslims of the world be reasonable.

What brings more prejudice against Islam, these caricatures or pictures of a hostage-taker slashing the throat of his victim in front of the cameras or a suicide bomber who blows himself up during a wedding ceremony in Amman?"

Or a so-called moderate Islamic government that arrests editors for printing cartoons.

Also posted at The Dread Pundit Bluto and Vince Aut Morire.

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Muhammad Cartoon Rage Via Email (Updated)

Although we have an email privacy policy (at Hyscience - where originally posted) that assures readers that their emails are never published, we have a long-standing tradition that the policy DOES NOT APPLY TO DEATH THREATS. The majority of death threats that we get are to us personally, and some of those have been posted in the past.

However, today we received an email from Belani Bulasin in Turkey, that applies to all of us "blasphemous Westerners." His English is better than what we've seen from most jihadist emails in the past, so one would assume that he is bright and educated.

While he's certainly entitled to his opinion of whether or not the images of Muhammad should or should not have been posted, making death threats to individuals or a civilization, or to any persons of any group of any size in between, is inappropriate and unacceptable behavior in today's world.

This applies to everyone, even those who by choice or happenstance live in a stoneage culture, and follow a violent and intolerant religion that worships someone they view as a prophet, but who is viewed by much of the world as the wellspring of terrorism.

Since Belani's message applies to the entire Western civilization, and is indicative of the intolerant, violent, hateful, and murderous religion that he follows, radical Islam, a belief that follows jihad and seeks world domination, and submission to Islam by non-radical Muslims and non-Muslims alike, we feel it very appropriate to post his email here:

Hyscience Message from Belani Bulasin

karasahan@e-kolay.net to admin
Feb 3 (12 hours ago)

From: Belani Bulasin (85.99.40.104)
Email: karasahan@e-kolay.net

I'd like to let you know a Turkish saying reads as "a dog which was destined to be dead soon, urinates on a wall of a mosque! You blasphemous Westerners all are very like that dog in the saying!

Belani Bulasin
Istanbul/TURKEY

Readers are encouraged to voice their opinion on this matter, and to offer Belani their input and advice as to what they think about his threat, what therapy he and his fellow followers of the wellspring of world wide Islamic terrorism and Islamofascism might consider, and what you think of people that have a sand dune, stoneage, intolerant, mindset such as his.

Readers are also encouraged to be very polite. Remember, Belani needs therapy, not more abuse. He was probably abused as a child, or perhaps that dog at the mosque just happens to have "special meaning" for him. We want to let him know that we consider him our friend, albeit a bit misguided.

Update: I missed this one earlier, this one from an annonymous sender:

Anonymous Sender to admin Feb 3

I had a dream last night after looking at your blog.
Severe tragedy will kill or crush you this year.
I think it will be your son killed in Iraq.
Or maybe something worst.
You will be amazed at my prediction.
This i promise you.
Keep up your attacks on muslims.

Nice man!

Originally posted at Hyscience

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January 09, 2006

Spam, Spam, Beautiful Spam!

You know, the one really cool thing about fatwas is that if a prominent religious leader issued one against spammers they'd mess their pants, which would be just plain joyous to contemplate. Sometimes all this whiggish tolerance for individual deviance is just too tedious to be tolerated.

I'm just sayin'...

(Cross-posted to Demosophia)

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January 04, 2006

Indian Director To Glorify Suicide Bombers

Indian moviemaker Mahesh Bhatt plans to film "Suicide Bomber", starring his own son as a confused young man running away from an unsuccessful attempt in the 7/7 attacks.

From Reuters:

"Muslims are demonized by the western nations especially after the so-called war on terror. The gulf between Muslims and the rest of the world is widening," Bhatt said.

"The film will be an attempt to clarify Islam is not demonic and to delve into the mind of a young suicide bomber to try to find out what drives him to reject life for a violent death."

This is not a big mystery. What drives suicide bombers is indoctrination into the cult of violence espoused by radical Islam. Oh yeah, also personal greed and lust (72 virgins, anyone?).

Bhatt doesn't explain how western media are "demonizing" Islam while maintaining a stout embargo on images from the 9/11 attacks.

Bhatt should research the cult of Kali, which murdered thousands of innocent victims before being exterminated by the British in the nineteenth century. If Bhatt and other so-called moderate Muslims don't wake up, and stop seeking excuses for the barbarians sheltering within their own religion, history could repeat itself.

Also posted at The Dread Pundit Bluto.

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December 05, 2005

Atheists Protest Memorial Crosses

(Salt Lake City) American Atheists Inc. has filed suit in U.S. District Court to remove highway crosses placed to memorialize Utah Highway Patrol troopers who have died in the line of duty. The crosses stand about 12 feet high and display the trooper's name and the Utah Highway Patrol emblem (example). They are placed near the location where the troopers were slain.

Specifically targeted by the lawsuit are Col. Scott Duncan, superintendent of the UHP; John Njord, executive director of the Utah Department of Transportation; D'Arcy Dixon Pignanelli, executive director of the Department of Administrative Services; and F. Keith Stepan, state facilities director.

The plaintiffs are Stephen Clark, Michael Rivers, Richard Andrews and American Atheists Inc.

From the Salt Lake Tribune:

Rivers said the purpose of the suit is to eliminate religious symbols used by government agencies and placed on government land. American Atheists claim to have a membership of 30 million people. They are not opposed to memorials, just the crosses.

"We feel the department of transportation, by allowing the Utah Highway Patrol Association to pick a religious symbol is unfair. We think it should be totally secular with no religious theme," Rivers said. "[The cross] is a Christian religious symbol. People will look at those and automatically assume that religion is a part of it."

Supporters of the memorials stated that the families of the fallen would be devastated and the legacies of the slain troopers would be tarnished if the crosses were removed. According to Sgt. Todd Royce, past president of the Utah Highway Patrol Association, the crosses are no different from those at other government memorial sites, such as Arlington National Cemetery.

American Atheists Inc. is asking for $1 in damages and the removal of all crosses on government property. I believe a blind person can see what the atheists are aiming for. Logically, it's the removal of all crosses at veterans' cemeteries throughout the nation. American Atheists also wants the court to rule that it's unconstitutional to display the highway patrol insignia on a cross.

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

Posted by: Mike Pechar at 03:48 AM | Comments (23) | Add Comment
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