Sneakeasy's Joint

Running for Water

As regular readers know I walk... a lot. ;-D

I've discovered an interest in hiking, locally, to go with my interest in Bicycling, and have posted a couple of stories about hikes I went on.

I received an e-mail the other day from the folks in charge of publicity for the folks behind a very worthy cause:

Hi Kiril,

My name is Cara Mattleman and I am an associate account executive at GolinHarris. I have been reading sneakeasysjoint.com and I know of your interest in hiking, cycling and writing. I thought you and your readers might find it interesting to learn how 20 international runners are doing similar activities this summer in an effort to solve one of the world’s most pressing issues: the global water crisis.

On August 1, 20 international athletes will arrive in San Francisco as part of the 2007 Blue Planet Run.

This international athletic event, made possible by The Dow Chemical Company, is raising funds to deliver safe drinking water to 1.1 billion people who are currently without access. Dow’s commitment to this event is part of its 2015 sustainability goals, an ambitious program to improve people’s lives.

Since the run began from the United Nations in New York City on June 1st, the Blue Planet team has traveled relay-style 24 hours a day from the US to Europe and Asia, reaching as far as China.

Feel free to visit www.blueplanetrun.org for complete details on the 2007 Blue Planet Run and the global water crisis, as well as the run route, runners’ blog and videos. Best,

Cara Mattleman

www.golinharris.com

The things PR people will do to get their clients story out, I tell you. ;-D

With a daily audience in just double digits, and few of those regular, few posts on hiking, none on running, and all my current cycling stuff found on another Blog entirely, one would think I'd be the last Blogger to contact in an effort to spread the word. ;-D

The place doesn't even have many of the links it used to, in its sidebar, these days.

However, because she was apparently impressed enough with what she DID find to contact me, I checked out the links she gave me.

The message of the Blue Planet Run includes the following:

We run like water. We run FOR water.

We run to bring news to every person in every town we pass through—urgent news of a crisis that affects one in five of all of us on this earth.

We run to remember the sons and daughters, the mothers and fathers, the 6,000 human beings who die every day because they lack safe drinking water.

We run because time - and water, essential to our existence - is running out for all of us.

We run to tell a story that begins with suffering but ends with hope.

We run to include you in the story. You are the solution. Commitment is our only obstacle.

We run to tell a story that ends like this: twenty years from now we will have joined together to bring water – to bring life – to 200 million people around the world.

I found it all very interesting, especially the Blog, and all the photos, and videos.

If you have the time, and are interested, check them out.

Socialism with a South American Face Shows True Self

Socialism with a South American Face censors the Voice of Opposition, the Voice of Reason, Freedom, Democracy, and Capitalism.

On May 28th, the government of Venezuela shut down that nation's most popular TV station by not renewing RCTV's broadcast license. Two days before the shutdown, the government seized RCTV's property on the pretext that it was needed for the new channel that would replace RCTV. Immediately upon shutting down RCTV, the government began to threaten the broadcast license of Globovision, an all-news channel critical of the government.

The country is going to hell in a handbasket, and all this idiot can think to do is silence his critics.

So what happens?

His critics take to the streets in the thousands, EVERY DAY, to tell him to stick it where the sun don't shine.

The station finds other ways, thanks to modern tecnology, including Blogs, and YouTube, and the FREE RCTV website, to get the news out, not just within the country, but around the world, and while the end of Socialism in Venezuela may not come sooner, it WILL come to pass.

Socialism doesn't work, people, get it through your thick heads BEFORE America makes a serious mistake in 2008.

Great Britain to become 51st State of the US of A?

Is he serious, or just having a funny at the expense of those who will flip out at just the thought of such a notion?

Read this thought provoking call for action, and judge for yourself. ;-D

The Future of Germany is in Doubt

You think I'm being alarmist?

The Right-wing German Radicals, and Radical Muslims, are on the loose in that country, plain, and simple, just as Radical Muslims are on the loose throughout Europe.

Right-wing adolescents, and young Muslims, are displaying levels of anti-Semitism that were long considered unthinkable in Germany. At many German schools, the word "Jew" is becoming an insult again. German politicians don't seem to know how to respond.

Let me repeat that last sentence...

GERMAN POLITICIANS DON'T SEEM TO KNOW HOW TO RESOND.

The reporters for Der Spiegel are just getting warmed up, and you owe it to yourself to read the whole, very disturbing, story.

ANTI-SEMITISM AT GERMAN SCHOOLS : Insults Against Jews on the Rise.

Come on, people, open your eyes, and look around.

A Tip of the Hat to Fellow Stumbler Mrs. A.

More Proof that Europe is Doomed?

Europe is being overrun by Islamic Radicalism, the native birth rates in all countries are below replacement levels,  almost everyone loves Socialism, and I could go on, and on....

So what are they doing?

"European traffic planners are dreaming of streets free of rules and directives. They want drivers and pedestrians to interact in a free and humane way, as brethren -- by means of friendly gestures, nods of the head and eye contact, without the harassment of prohibitions, restrictions and warning signs."

Yes, Europe definitely is going to hell in a handbasket.

***UPDATE - 11/23***

A friend, with experience traveling in Europe, had this to say:

BUWAHAHAHAHAHA!

I seen plenty of them friendly gestures whilst driving in Milan, Rome, Frankfurt and Paris. *G*

Hee, hee! ;-D

***END UPDATE***

Sneakeasy Referenced in Wikipedia!

Over the last couple of weeks I've noticed visitors coming from a link at Wikipedia, but since they were not staying long I didn't explore further.

Silly me! I should have took a look. ;-D

I've just discovered that a piece of mine has been linked to in a piece on Wikipedia!

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia written collaboratively by its readers.

Looking into just WHEN a reference to my blog appeared gives insight into the evolution of a Wikipedia Entry.

The original entry, created on 4/7/06, by someone called Fightingdaman, is about the Washington DC Anarchist , and artist, Mike Flugennock, and can be deemed to be favorable of his work.

On June 6th a little balance began to creep in. ;-D

On June 13th another addition was made, but on the 20th some deletions were made with the explanatory note "Removed lengthy insert featuring fabrication, slander, and no links or sources".

Someone didn't like their hero shown for what he is. ;-D

On June 26th Balance returned with some additions, and an explanatory note of their own: "More factual information on Mr. Flugennock's political beliefs." ;-D

This time the info that was deleted was returned with links attatched as references, including one to me, and to another blog, that of columnist Bridget Johnson, GOP Vixen. ;-D

I do not know who did this, but I AM extremely flattered, and honored that I was chosen as a worthy source.

There followed versions on July 5th, and July 12th ( With slight changes by someone named Truedeadhead ).

On July 18th the Balancing continued with an explanatory note by Truthseeker 1231: "Updated info on Flugennock's recent support of Palestinian suicide bombers."

The next day, the 19th, the creator of the original article fought back explaining: "Clean up hardocre POV skewing."

This clean-up included removing all but 3 of the negative references, including mine, and trying to defend the artist.

Somebody is pissed. ;-D

Why should this person feel so compelled to defend this Moonbat?

If the artist feels his views, and, um, creative expressions, are being mis-understood let him speak for himself.

On July 20th Balance was again restored by Nosuchthingasansfsanarchist with this explanation: "Put back in citations-removed opinionated rants from local friend of Mike Flugennock."

COMPARE the 2 versions side by side. ;-D

No entry is final on this site, it seems, andthe only way to get a true picture of the subject under discussion is to checkout all the previous editions of the piece but, when such changes run to the dozens, or more, who has the time?

The portion of the entry that references my article, and seems to be  upsetting to supporters of the artist:

Much of his art is extremely provactive, sometimes to the point that it would be deemed offensive and anti-semitic by many. [1] [2] Flugennock has expressed solidarity with suicide bombers who target civilians in Iraq. [3] He has supported the murder of Jewish civilians in Israel. [4] He has stated that efforts to ease the dire conditions in Darfur are "for the benefit of imperial expansion" of the United States. [5] On his website [6] and and his posts on DC Indymedia [7] , he rails against "ADL/AIPAC/New York liberal types". Flugennock was one of only six Americans to submit an entry in the Iranian Holocaust cartoon contest, a competition organized by those who support the Iranian president's position on Holocaust denial. [8] [9].

Very Cool!

The other links, and their comments, are well worth your time as they expose the Far Left for what they are to all the world.

Actually his own website damns him as well.

Technorati Tags: Wikipedia, Mike Flugennock, Anarchist, Anti-Semitism, Ant-America, Anti-Israel

New Delhi Busy Banning Blogs in India

Censorship of a small number of Blogs, including American Conservative sites with small traffic numbers, by the Indian Government has consequences that are affecting thousands of Indian Bloggers ability to accress their own blogs to post.

Lots of protests, and Blogger organizing, has ensued. ;-D

India's burgeoning blogging community is up in arms against a government directive that they say has led to the blocking of their web logs.

The country's 153 internet service providers (ISP) have blocked 17 websites since last week on federal government orders.

Some of these sites belong to Google's Blogspot, a leading international web log hosting service.

Indian bloggers say that the decision is an attack on freedom of speech.

A number of them have started filing petitions under the country's new landmark freedom of information law which gives citizens the right to access information held by the government.

Bloggers say the ban has meant that people do not even have access to blogs like the one set up to help the relatives of the victims of the recent train bombings in Mumbai (Bombay) .

The government is not saying why it has banned each of the sites in its latest notification.

This has incensed bloggers in India, which has about 40,000 blog sites, even more.

Read the full piece by the BBC.

Your Blog or Your Freedom

And, eventually, maybe even your Life.

Hey all you people who are running around at protests yelling, or blogging, how Bush is a Nazi, and a Terrorist, and calling for his Impeachment.... Isn't wonderful to be living a country where you have the FREEDOM to express yourself without fear? If life here is so damn bad why not move to China? I am quite sure they would welcome you, and your opinionated, dissenting, ways, with open arms.

***UPDATE 3/22***

A comment received this morning:

The great tragedy of a lot of this is the frequent use of American Technology to put these guys away...

One Journalist is still languishing incommunicado in a jail in my city because Yahoo! ratted him out, gave up his emails about the Tian' massacre, to Chinese authorites, when they had no legal obligation to do it...

Sad...

I constantly walk the line here....I wait for THE knock one day...

Lonnie B. Hodge, MFA, Ph.D.

"A professor who is one exam short of a course"
OneManBandwidth: An American Professor in China

***END UPDATE***

A Tip of the Hat to Instapundit, and to Richard, of The Peking Duck.

Technorati Tags: Blog, Freedom, Protesters, Bush, China, Terrorist, Nazi

Iranian Holocaust Contest gets 700 Cartoons

Is that disgusting or what?

200 Artists from around the world entered, including a few Americans.

These cartoons are designed to mock Israel and the Holocaust, in response to the 12 Danish cartoons.

So what now?

Will Iranians, and other Muslims so inclined, be seen marching in the streets waving signs that say "700 to 12", and chanting "We beat the Great Satan!"?

Most of the contestants are Iranian, but at least six Americans have submitted cartoons, including Mike Flugennock, whose entry asks: "What has Ariel Sharon learned from the Holocaust?" The answer: "Humiliation, tyranny, brutality and murder."

This guy had the nerve to say HIS cartoon was not Anti-Semitic.

The Iranian newspaper Hamshahri, one of the nation's top five, conceived the contest as a response to the Danish paper Jyllands-Posten's solicitation of cartoons depicting Islam's prophet Muhammad, which evoked a violent reaction around the Muslim world.

In February, Farid Mortazavi, Hamshahri's graphics editor said the paper intended to turn the tables on the assertion offensive material can be published in the name of free speech.

"The Western papers printed these sacrilegious cartoons on the pretext of freedom of expression, so let's see if they mean what they say and also print these Holocaust cartoons," he said.

Offering a $12,000 first prize, Hamshahri has received about 700 cartoons from 200 artists from 35 countries, the Scotsman reported. The best 12 artists will be rewarded, the same number of cartoons that appeared in the Danish newspaper.

The WorldNet Daily story also tells of an Israeli response to this, the logic of which is hilarious:

"We'll show the world we can do the best, sharpest, most offensive Jew hating cartoons ever published!" said Sandy "No Iranian will beat us on our home turf!"

Ooookaaay. ;-D

The question now is this: How will the Media in the West react?

Will the Networks, Newspapers, and Magazines, which showed, or printed the Danish Muhammad Cartoons publish some of the most offensive of these as well?

Will the Networks, Newspapers, and Magazines, which DID NOT show, or print, the Danish Cartoons also decide to not show any of these as well?

How will these fine folks explain their decisions to their readers, and viewers?

Technorati Tags: Iranian, Danish, Muhammad, Holocaust, Israel, Israeli, Cartoons, Networks, Newspapers, Magazines, Muslims, Jew

Macedonians cheer Slobo death AND Tomb Discovery

As regular readers know my Father was Macedonian: Born there in 1923, fought in WW 2 in the Bulgarian Air Force, fought in the Underground against Tito, fled Yugoslavia in 1946, and came to America in 1952.

Until his death, and through years in Mental Institutions, he hoped for change in his native land.

What happened after Tito died, except maybe for the birth of the Macedonian Republic, would have horrified him.

The man mostly responsible was caught, and put on trial, but a strange twist in the story was announced this morning:

Former Serb dictators Slobodan Milosevic’s long-running trial is finally over– without a conviction. Milosevic was found dead in his jail cell in the UN detention center at The Hague, Netherlands. The first reports said he died of natural casues– his health was terrible and failing. In fact his long-running trial often stopped because of his poor health. Milosevic had been on trail since February 2002.

I'm going to be brutally honest here:

So Slobo is dead. Big Whoop!

All across the land of my ancestors, people, including my own cousins, will no doubt hoist a few brews in celebration ( and not a little regret that his victims were cheated of the "Justice" of a guilty verdict in a trial ), but at least in the Republic of Macedonia, and among Macedonians in Bulgaria, and especially Northern Greece, there is a bigger story that has had them riveted to their TV sets for  days now....

Greek archaeologists said on March 5th they had stumbled upon the largest underground tomb in Macedonian antiquity in the ancient city of Peeyou in northern Greece, birthplace of Kiril the Blahgur.

The eighteen-chamber tomb stuffed full of painted sculpture dates to the late, to middle, 2nd century BC and offers researchers their 1st glimpse into the life of a certain class of nobles around, and after, the time of the death of the man legend calls "The Ancient Blahgur".

It is my hope that, after reading my report of this evolving story,  readers will not let THIS news get lost among all the space that will be wasted on Slobo the Dictator.

Sometimes Archaeologists make a discovery that is not only of great importance, but puts a smile on the face of those of us in this too often pre-occupied modern world.

Read more on the death of Slobo, if you must, here , here, and here ( Michelle has a nice round-up of others thoughts ) [ It IS worth it to check these out ].

A Tip of the Hat to Instapundit for the heads up.

Technorati Tags: Macedonia, Macedonian, Slobodan, Milosevic, Yugoslavia, Serb, Dictator

Speaking up for a Century of Enlightenment

Salman Rushdie, and a few other Intellectuals, have proclaimed a MANIFESTO AGAINST THE NEW ISLAMIC TOTALITARIANISM....

The piece is a powerful statement of belief, and purpose, that needs the widest audience possible, and the support of Freedom, and Democracy, Loving people everywhere, even if, like me, you don't agree with all it may say....

Dealing with Iranian MAdman may be Impossible

From Jay, of Stop the ACLU:

For anyone who thinks diplomacy will work with Iran, this is the mindset we are dealing with…

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: The affront to the honor of the Prophet of Islam it is in fact an affront to the worship of God, and to the seeking of truth and justice, and an affront to all the prophets of God. Obviously, all those who harm the honor of the prophet of Islam…

Crowd: Death to Denmark.
Death to Denmark.
Death to Denmark.
Death to Denmark.

[…]

Ahmadinejad: As the representative of the great Iranian people, I call upon all free people of the world – Christians and Jews – to rise together with the Muslims and not to let a handful of shameless Zionists, who have been defeated in Palestine, to harm the sanctity of the prophets.

I call upon them not to let a few weak governments - which owe their rise to power to the support of the Zionists - support them in this ugly manner.

As I have said before, as far as several aggressive European governments are concerned, and as far as the Great Satan [the U.S.] is concerned, it is permissible to harm the honor of the divine prophets, but it is a crime to ask questions about the myth of the Holocaust, and about how the false regime occupying Palestine came into being.

More here: Iran Continues to Rattle their Saber.

Global Voices

In the wake of censorship issues on the Internet centoring around Google, and friends, I thought I'd recommend a fascinating website called Global Voices Online:

A growing number of bloggers around the world are emerging as “bridge bloggers:” people who are talking about their country or region to a global audience. Global Voices is your guide to the most interesting conversations, information, and ideas appearing around the world on various forms of participatory media such as blogs, podcasts, photo sharing sites, and videoblogs.

Our global team of regional blogger-editors is working to find, aggregate and track these conversations. Each day they link to 5-10 of the most interesting blog posts from their regions in the “daily roundups” section. A larger group of contributing bloggers is posting daily features in the left-hand Weblog section, shedding light on what blogging communities in their countries have been talking about recently.

In my opinion it is not as important that I agree with what any of the Bloggers of the rest of the world have to say, only that it is interesting, informative, and opinionated, and that there are ways for the rest of us to discover them.

The Global Voices Online Website.

Tolerance and the Conflict Between Islam and Free Speech

Radical Islam, and some would say Islam itself, teaches its adherents that it is the believers religious obligation to enter Western countries and put an end to our most cherished rights, and much of our daily lifestyle.

As a new article delves into, for many Muslims, Tolerance is a one way street:

YOU MUST tolerate us, and our beliefs, and practices, in your midst.

WE DON'T have to reciprocate because that would profane the land of Muhammad, and the Religion of the Prophet.

Tigerhawk begins his piece this way:

How can we tolerate the intolerant? What do we do when tolerance is assymetrical?

Since the end of the Cold War, "tolerance" has become the ultimate Western virtue. This has been easy for us, because it has, until very recently, been possible -- even recommended -- to ignore intolerant people. We could not tolerate the intolerance of Nazis or Commies, but the Nazis are long gone, and the Commies that remain outside of Cuba and North Korea are CINOs and in any case not eager to extend a worldwide revolution. The Christian Right and the anti-religion Left are each fairly intolerant of the other, but neither are violent and both groups prefer their own company, anyway.

Resurgent Islam is changing this dynamic.

The article goes on to posit 4 options for how America, and the West, can respond to this growing threat, and invites readers to come up with more, if they can, in the Comments.

I'm down wit Option 4. ;-D

We can believe that freedom of speech is important for people everywhere, and oppose oppressive regimes everywhere, including on the Arabian peninsula, for their intolerance of people who believe and speak inconsistently with the powers that be.

If America doesn't stand up for its values, and the best form of Government ever devised, no-one else will, and we will end up going the way Europe, and Britain seem to headed.

As Scott, one of the 1st to comment, wrote:

So much of what we beleive as a country rests on this principle - free speech and freedom of the press depend on one another. Without one you diminish the other, without both we're operating in the dark, making moving forward as a country difficult and engaging with the Muslim world in a meaningful way impossible.

Read: Realigning tolerance: Our options in the collision between free speech and Islam.

As is written in the 2nd piece I recommend you read, at Sisu:

"The lesson from the Cold War is: If you give in to totalitarian impulses once, new demands follow."

Read: Let Thine Eye Look Like a Friend on Denmark. ( The Great Dr. Seuss, and his Cartoons of the 40's, are very relevant to todays conflict! )

A Tip of the Hat to Instapundit.

Michelle Malkin Has a Round-up on Danish Cartoon Fracas

Michelle has found numerous stories of interest including one about the Muslim Cleric putting a price on the heads of the creators of the Muhammad Cartoons.

Kill the Cartoonists.

Wonkster Round-up of reaction to NY Press Resignations

Word spread about the New York Press Staff Resignation Story, and The Wonkster Column of the Gotham Gazette had a nice little round-up of reactions from a few Blogs, and websites, including yours truly ( A check of my Stats just now uncovered this piece ), and showcases the most controversial of the Danish Muhammad Cartoons.

So.... Helllooo Nu Yawk! How's the Weather? ;-D

The Gazette Website is published by an almost 60 year old NY Advocacy Group called the Citizens Union Foundation.

Defending the Right to Offend

I just read a powerful essay in response to Muslim criticism of the Muhammad Cartoons, by a "Dissident of Islamism" named Ayaan Hirsi Ali, in Berlin.

He writes:

The issue is not about race, colour or heritage. It is a conflict of ideas, which transcend borders and races....

I used to hold the view that Muhammad was perfect -- the only source of, and indeed, the criterion between good and bad. In 1989 when Khomeini called for Salman Rushdie to be killed for insulting Muhammad, I thought he was right. Now I don’t.

I think that the prophet was wrong to have placed himself and his ideas above critical thought.

I think that the prophet Muhammad was wrong to have subordinated women to men.

I think that the prophet Muhammad was wrong to have decreed that gays be murdered.

I think that the prophet Muhammad was wrong to have said that apostates must be killed.

He was wrong in saying that adulterers should be flogged and stoned, and the hands of thieves should be cut off.

He was wrong in saying that those who die in the cause of Allah will be rewarded with paradise.

He was wrong in claiming that a proper society could be built only on his ideas.

The prophet did and said good things. He encouraged charity to others. But I wish to defend the position that he was also disrespectful and insensitive to those who disagreed with him.

I think it is right to make critical drawings and films of Muhammad. It is necessary to write books on him in order to educate ordinary citizens on Muhammad.

There's more.

Taking to task those afraid to publish Muhammad Cartoons

In response to the Staff Walk Out at the New York Press  the General Manager made the same excuse as everyone else:

New York Press takes our responsibility to our community as a “Free Press” very seriously. We came to the same conclusion as many other responsible newspapers and media outlets that have chosen to not run the Danish cartoons. We felt the images were not critical for the editorial content to have merit, would not hinder our readers from making an informed opinion and only served to further fan the flame of a volatile situation.

Jim Treacher calls such excuses "a huge motherfucking crock of camel shit".

Come on, Jim...

Tell us what you REALLY think. ;-D

A Tip of the Hat to Instapundit.

Now they are angry over Valentine's Day

I agree with Michelle Malkin.

This is insane!

Allah reveals new Commandments but will Muslims heed them?

And out of Egypt there came a Messenger...

A Blogger presenting a new Law for a troubled land in a new Age of Mankind.

The question is... If a Blogger posts something important, and noboby reads it... nevermind, you answer that, my head hurts. ;-D

From The Big Pharoah:

A voice came out of the fire telling me “The Big Pharaoh, I am Allah, I chose you to carry a message to my beloved Muslims. I know they are not happy with how they are looked upon internationally and especially in the Western world. I know they are trying to find ways in order to remedy that and this is why I will give you 10 commandments to post on your blog. I just hope they listen to me”

2 of the 10:

#5. Thou shall riot and protest when Muslims kill other Muslims (for more info, contact the Shia families of Iraq and Darfur Sudanese)

#6. Thou shall try to riot and protest when Muslims kill non-Muslims. If that’s not possible, at least try to do commandment 5.

As readers know I, and many others in America, and elsewhere have been reporting, and opinionating, on the Danish Cartoons, or Muhammad Cartoons, as some are calling them.

However, it is the Bloggers on the ground in the Middle East who are Muslim and have the most to win, or lose, by expressing their opinions on this subject, who are making good, and important points.

Read the other 8 Commandments, and the interesting collection of responses, here.

A Tip of the Hat to Instapundit.

Cartoon Jihadists Silencing Free Speech

Cartoon Jihadists.....

Nice term Michelle. ;-D

Here's a definition I found leading off a powerful editorial in a Canadian College Newspaper ( Read about the trouble the paper is through the link below at Michelle's place:

Free·dom (n.)

1. The power to write, speak or act freely.
2. The state of being free.

Michelle has done a great service by bringing to everyone's attention the Worldwide War on the Free Press in the wake of the uproar over the Danish Cartoons.

The most important story among the bunch is a toss up, but one that stands out is this one:

At the Jyllands-Posten, Flemming Rose, the culture editor who commissioned the Muhammad cartoons, has been put on indefinite leave.

Michelle has compiled exerpts, and links, for stories concerning 8 countries, the European Union, and the United Nations.

Read them.

Why the Danish Cartoons were made and what they portray

So why were these cartoons drawn in the 1st place, and what do they depict?

( CLICK ON EACH TO ENLARGE THEM, for the full image: Human Events DOES NOT show them in their original arraingement, however. )

The BBC has an interesting article on the subject.

The issue arose after Danish writer Kare Bluitgen complained he was unable to find an illustrator for his children's book about the Prophet, because no one wanted to break an Islamic tenet banning the portrayal of his image.

Jyllands-Posten asked cartoonists to "draw the Prophet as they saw him", as an assertion of free speech and to reject pressure by Muslims groups to respect their sensitivities.

A Childrens book, European artistic, and journalistic, self-censorship, Freedom of Speech, and religious sensitivity.

The paper chose as its central image a visual joke about the Prophet among other turban-wearing figures in a police line-up and the witness saying: "I don't know which one he is".

It is presumably an ironic appeal for calm over the issue, the suggestion being that, if a Danish illustrator were to portray the Prophet, it is not known what he looks like and therefore a harmless gesture.

The humour comes from the fact that the line-up also includes people like Jesus Christ, the far-right Danish politician Pia Kjaersgaard and Mr Bluitgen himself.

Why is that funny to me?

Because, if we in the Western, Christian, World want to be honest about it, WE truly don't know what JESUS looks like either.

Much less what his actual day to day life, and activity was like, other than what the New Testament ( The writing of which didn't begin until decades after Christ passed from the scene ) claims.

Unlike those rampaging in the streets these days, though, you don't see us destroying property, and lives, over the issue. ( You would think these often very poor, and uneducated, people would spend more time trying to improve their lives, or doing something, even rioting in the streets, to change the governments that oppress them, wouldn't you? )

We have become more civilized than our ancestors of centuries past where display, depictions, ( Book, and Film )and discussion, of images of Jesus are concerned.

We will surround a Cinema, wave placards, and try to save your movie-going soul by yelling Bible Verses at you ( The Last Temptation of Christ: I was one of the "Sinners on the way to Hell" in the line, for 2 consectutive late night viewings, in Los Angeles ), but we won't beat the shit out you, or threaten your life, or the lives of your family, and won't grab torches and burn the building down to keep you from seeing the film.

Or a bookstore to keep you from buying a book, or an art gallery, or Museum to keep you from seeing Black, or Hispanic, Jesuses. ;-D

Clearly there are those in the Middle East who wish to harm

With regards to the Danish Cartoons ( The newspaper apparently did it to raise a debate on self-censorship among Danish cartoonists. ), and the Islamist protests, and violence, Iraqi Blogger Alaa, The Mesopotamian, speaks his mind, and in so doing brings Clarity to the situation unfolding around the world.

I don't doubt that he speaks for many in the troubled Middle East:

I consider it offensive to show disrespect to Islamic religious symbols or any religious symbols of any kind, for that matter. However there is more to this than meets the eye. It seems to me quite suspicious that this storm is created at this particular time. To start with this is certainly not the first time that insults and affronts of this nature appear on print in western media in many countries and places. Such things do not deserve any kind of reaction other rather the contempt they deserve. Yet there are those who seem to seize upon such opportunities for motives that have nothing to do with the apparent religious sensitivities. Clearly there are those who wish to harm relations between the West in General and the Moslem World and more particularly we should not forget the contribution of Denmark to the allied effort in Iraq. Yes friends, I who consider my self a fervent Moslem, tell you that this is an artificial storm stirred by the same kind of people who are beheading, kidnapping and blowing up market places and day workers in Iraqi cities etc. Those in the West who give such people the ammunition and pretexts to launch such pitiful shows and stir up the emotions of gullible simple people, are their allies and facilitators.

As one of the many ( 65 and counting ) Commentors says to Alaa:

If only all Muslims were as sensible as you, so many problems of the world would resolve themselves.
Will Islam undergo a reformation, or will we have to live amidst these fanatics forever?

A very relevant question.

I don't believe that Western Cartoonists are fascilitating anything, and neither are  American Bloggers, and their Image making capabilities, and humourous responses, to the Anti-Americanism, and Anti-Westernism, of many in the Middle East, and to the Contest publicized by Iran.

Pierre Legrand, of The Pink Flamingo Bar and Grill, feels the same way and says it quite eloquently in a piece he calls "Why I disagree with The Mesopotamian."

Through their silence the Islamic Leadership is showing support for those who choose to use terror to spread their religion. When will major Muslim Leaders speak out against the destruction done in the name of Islam?

These Islamofascists, the Terrorists, and all who hate Western Civilization need no excuse to practice their nefarious campaigns.

Sitting on our hands in silence, and otherwise appeasing these morons, won't change a thing.

Not only do we have The War Against Terror ( T.W.A.T. for short! ) to fight, and win, but, with Lunatics in charge in Iran, there is a real possibility of a wider war in the Middle East.

Read all of Alaa's piece, and the comments ( A most fascinating variety of responses from all around the world ) here: Cartoons.

A Tip of the Hat to Instapundit.

NY Press Editorial Staff quits over Danish Cartoons

WOW!

The editorial staff of the alternative weekly New York Press walked out today, en masse, after the paper's publishers backed down from printing the Danish cartoons that have become the center of a global free-speech fight

Talk about principle, courage, and guts, on behalf of Free Speech!

The Editor-In-Chief explains what happened yesterday, on behalf of his comrades:

New York Press, like so many other publications, has suborned its own professed principles. For all the talk of freedom of speech, only the New York Sun locally and two other papers nationally have mustered the minimal courage needed to print simple and not especially offensive editorial cartoons that have been used as a pretext for great and greatly menacing violence directed against journalists, cartoonists, humanitarian aid workers, diplomats and others who represent the basic values and obligations of Western civilization. Having been ordered at the 11th hour to pull the now-infamous Danish cartoons from an issue dedicated to them, the editorial group -- consisting of myself, managing editor Tim Marchman, arts editor Jonathan Leaf and one-man city hall bureau Azi Paybarah, chose instead to resign our positions.

Read the whole statement at the New York Observer's The Politicker, which broke the story.

A Tip of the Hat to Andrew Sullivan.

Iranian Manhattan Project could lead to Middle East War

Many of us remember how Israel reacted the last time it felt threatened by the actions of one of its neighbor countries in the Middle East.

An important, MUST READ article, at The Officer's Club, describes a scenario that could very well happen before the year is out, or even by the Summer, if something is not done diplomatically to get the Iranians to backdown, and end their programs.

I agree with Charlie Munn that the likelihood of that happening is slim.

Iran returns fire in Cartoon War

A Iranian Government fronted newspaper in Iran has decided to wave the middle finger at the world over the Danish Cartoons;

“It will be an international cartoon contest about the Holocaust,” said Farid Mortazavi, the graphics editor for Hamshahri newspaper - which is published by Teheran’s conservative municipality.
He said the plan was to turn the tables on the assertion that newspapers can print offensive material in the name of freedom of expression.

“The Western papers printed these sacrilegious cartoons on the pretext of freedom of expression, so let’s see if they mean what they say and also print these Holocaust cartoons,” he said.

Michelle Malkin has this to say:

Yes, thank you–another opportunity to show how the civilized world–unlike the contest organizers and participants–do not react by waving swords and placards endorsing decapitation and annihilation.

Her story has link to other related material.

US entries in the contest are nearly ready, or ready, for submission from Confederate Yankee, and Debbie Schlussel.

I agree with Debbie when she says:

We'd call this a "clash of civilizations," because that would assume that there are TWO civilizations. The cartoon contest is hardly the first hint that there are not.

A Tip of the Hat to Jay, of Stop the ACLU.

I'm sorry, but there is NO EXCUSE for the violence, death, and bloodshed.

Outrage is expected, of course, but this has gone far beyond the ordinary, as anyone, and everyone, with a grievance against the West, America, and Israel, or just feels oppressed by their desperate lives and is looking for any excuse to go on a rampage, are letting themselves be led down this destructive path.

Brits not to be outdone by Danes

In the wake of the Cartoon Flap started by the Danes an official in Britain has got caught sharing a cartoon, that could be considered offensive to Muslims, in an e-mail.

Seems the Brits don't want to be outdone by the Danes when it comes to cartoons offensive to Muslims. ;-D

The cartoon in question, though, seems just as insulting to Camels if you ask me.

Don't Camels get more MPG on a full tank than the cars this one is pictured with? ;-D

Mudville Gazette on Iran Cartoon Flap

Wow!

Talk about comprehensive, intellegent, analysis, and linkage to relevant material!

Greyhawk does a steller job on all counts.

This is a must read on the Iran Catoon Flap.

Coping in Copenhagen.

Christopher Hitchens on the Iran Cartoon Flap

Recently the Government in Iran, its Religious String-Pullers, and more than a few ordinary citizens of that Middle Eastern "Paradise" got their collective panties in a bunch over a series of cartoons published in Denmark's Jyllands-Posten.

Protests, and violence ensued.

In a masterful essay, responding to the whole mess, columnist, and author, Christopher Hitchens says much that needs to said, and needs to be read by the widest audience possible.

New worries about Avian Flu

I'll be honest with ya.

I ain't given Avian Flu much thought this year.

A new story making the rounds should give us all pause, however, and remind us that ignoring a potential threat such as this could lead to problems down the road.

From Riehl World View: Has Human to Human Transfer begun?

A Tip of the Hat to Instapundit.

Melting Pot superior to Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

Some in France actually are coming to grips with the simple truth that the French Model for Immigration Policy is a failure, and that America has the right idea:

The Melting Pot  IS superior to "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity".

With every night of violent rioting that scars France's rundown suburbs, more and more French say their distinctive model of integration, based on the revolutionary ideal of equality for all, has failed.

But try telling that to Chirac, and his Conservative cronies.

Why?

Because "that would mean accepting the approach France considers superior is no better than integration policies abroad."

The past of French Colonialism comes back to haunt

It's been a while since I've mentioned world events, other than The War Against Terror, around here, but the events in France the last 2 weeks are a frightening reminder to us all that there is more going on than what revolves specifically around the United States and its immediate interests.

So what happened in France?

What is it about the French and their distaste for those they once ruled, yet allow to immigrate into their country, then do nothing to encourage their assimilation, and prosperity once they come?

What will happen next?

Why is the Government not sending in Troops to stop this before it truly gets out of hand?

Will the Socialists accept some responsibility for this mess?

What will the Government do to improve things after this is over?

Is improvement, or even reconciliation, possible?

I don't pretend to know, or to understand all that has led to this mess, but I found an interesting article at Tech Central Station that delves into some of this, and it caught my attention because it discusses a part that can possibly be played by, of all nations, the remnants of my Fathers old country of Yugoslavia.

Stephen Schwartz has witnessed alot in the life of late 20th century France, going back to is youthful days as a Commie, and what he has to say is worth reading, and thinking about.

Pooped Pope Passes Pearlies

May he rest in peace...

This has been an absolutely amazing week.

The pomp, and circumstance, the public outpourings of grief, and respect, and as I write, the Official Funeral of Pope John Paul 2 is still minutes away.

I'm not Catholic, and not even the most religious person around, but this Pope was the only Pope I've ever known anything about, or paid any attention to.

I was in College when he was elevated to his position, The Cold War was raging, Reagan was not yet President, Communism was alive and well, and the The Berlin Wall had yet to come down.

A lot has happened in the intervening years, and this man had a voice in all of it.

The Spirit of Lebanon

There is a lot happening in the Middle East these days, and not just in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Now there is Lebanon, and events that have led to government upheaval, and the backing down of Syria from its oppressive influence on that nation for years.

An organization called Spirit of America is getting involved to give people there a chance to continue the changes, and to Blog about it as well.

The Pussy and Middle East Politics

I love cats.

My Pussy is my friend, and boon companion, and woe to anyone who mistreats him, or any other "widdle pitty" ( picking on Tweety  WAS a mistake, though, by ol' Sylvester, and so he go what he deserved ).

Now comes an interesting couple of reports by Asparagirl, of the blog The Protocols of the Yuppies of Zion.

The 1st piece, last month, begins this way:

While browsing the web today, I randomly came across two stories interesting not only for their shared subject matter (both concern cats in trouble), their dates (both blog entries were posted last week), and their section of the world (both bloggers live in the Middle East), but for the crucial and telling ways in which the stories differ.

One story ends with the writer suggesting that  "Maybe, when national leaders sit down to negotiate, there should be at least one cat in the room."

The 2nd writer tells of a cat rescue, and an encounter with humans quite different than the 1st.

Was Alex The Great Queer?

Being a proud Maceyugoserbulgarigreekadonian-American I am always interested in News stories about the land of my Father ( Macedonia, in the old Yugoslavia ).

And with the coming of Alexander, Olliver Stones epic telling of the life of the greatest Macedonian to ever live, there will be a lot of  new stories out there.

The thing about the Greeks is that while the modern-age Greeks like to lay claim to ol' Alex as one of their own they refuse to recognize Macedonian as a nationality and culture.

Yes, Sir, Arafat is Dead

Good riddance!

A total Terrorist, and only half hearted, at best, Statesman, who never deserved the accolades he was showered with, he did more harm to the Palestinian cause than anyone else ever did.

He socked away money in private accounts that could have, and should have, been used on behalf of the Palestinians.

In the last 15 years, while he publically denounced terrorism, sometimes strongly, sometimes not, he was either unable, or unwilling, privately, to put an end to it once and for all.

All the BS statements by many world leaders in the coming days, diplomatically praising him, only mask what they think of him privately.

One hopes that with his death real, substantive, progress can be made in  relations between Israel, and the Palestinians, and the rest of the Middle East.

But I doubt it.

Homeland of Father Gets US Recognition

Almost 16 years after my Father died an historic event has occurred that would have given him something to cheer about in his difficult existence.

ATHENS, Greece (Reuters) -- The United States has recognized the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia as "Macedonia," the name strongly disputed by Greece for the past 13 years, a senior Macedonian government official said.

Anyone who is interested can visit my Genealogy Archives, and my Creative Writing Archives, to learn about the saga of my Father, Giorgio Kundurdziev.

In Short: He was born in a small town in Macedonia in 1923, and came to the US in 1951. He died a mental patient in 1988.

He hated Tito, and Macedonia becoming a Republic would have pleased him no end.

Now, for its help in Iraq, the country is getting recognized in such a way that should have occurred years ago.

2 years after Macedonia gained Independence from Yugoslavia UN Genral Assembly Resolution 47/225 (1993)28 admitted Macedonia to UN membership subject to the acceptance of the 2 points:

(1) Macedonia was to be referred to by the provisional name ‘the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’ for all purposes within the United Nations, and (2) it was to negotiate with Greece over its name.

    

Hope in a Hell Hole

Crime, Disease, famine, poverty, politics, war, and more are part of the African Continent, south of rich Arab Nations, and their own problems, within, and with Israel.

The Social, Economic, Religious and Political problems are legion. Have been for years.

The West, and the world in general, has always been selective in how it approaches cleaning this mess up.

We know that.

No need to harp on it 24 hours a day.

Let's instead spend just a moment looking at a positive, and celebrating its small, but growing, potential to instigate change in the long run.

Letter from America, RIP

Alistair Cooke, and his weekly reports were something I listened to religiously for years, when I had a Short wave radio, and I was recently suprised to learn he was still alive and still doing his show.

Now he is retiring, at age 95, and all I can say is...

Enjoy your retirement Mr. Cooke. You deserve it.

Mad Macedonians

Wandering around National Review's online January 2004 archives, this evening, I found 2 articles of interest regarding life in the homeland of my Father, Macedonia.

The articles are by Kerri Houston, and make for fascinating reading.

Slice of Hong Kong Life

An interesting blog, called SIMON'S WORLD, by an Aussie living in Hong Kong, has a story that comments on newspaper reading, and the sleep habits of HK kiddies.

Stupor

And here I thought only American kids stayed up until all all hours of the night. :-)

The Mess in Haiti

"As we are asked to trust the Democrats with foreign policy, another of Clinton/Gore's failures is roiling offshore in Haiti....

Amid a growing scandal the Chirac Government ponders and Kofi Annan dissembles....

Pondering, monitoring for two weeks, concern, maybe, perhaps. Woulda, shoulda, coulda. These are the people Kerry would consult before defending our interests? If Al Gore was in the White House is there any doubt that we would still be pondering and monitoring Afghanistan and Iraq."

FESTE with quotes, and links to various stories, makes the case that we are experiencing Deja Vu All Over Again in Haiti.

A must read.

Indian Blogger on Conflict With Pakistan

Thoughts on the India vs Pakistan Fracas by an Indian Blogger posting from South Korea.

" I have always believed, as most Indians would, that Kashmir is our own territory and we should under no circumstances give even an iota of land in Kashmir to Pakistan. Am I being objective in this thinking? Will every Pakistani also beleive that he should never forsake the claim for Kashmir?"

Wandering around the BLOGGERVERSE tonight I stumbled upon Crawls and Thoughts wherein the author has been writing about various and sundry things including his current sojourn in South Korea.

A most recent post explored the authors feelings about the current situation between India & Pakistan, and I found it to be a most interesting piece.

If the author is any indication, then many ordinary Indians have been struggling to organize their thoughts about the whole situation.