Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Rumsfeld Again

It's not news, but Rumsfeld's blunt answers still make me chuckle. Here he is taking questions after addressing the Council on Foreign Relations:

QUESTIONER: You’ve been getting a lot of criticism in respect of the Defense Department budget proposals for wanting to give too much money to big defense contractors for huge contracts and not allocating sufficient funds for our armed forces. Would you like to defend your position?

RUMSFELD: Well, John, if you’re reading that, you ought to change your reading material.

QUESTIONER: New York Times, The Washington Post.

RUMSFELD: I repeat myself.

(Via Tim Blair)

Friday, February 24, 2006

Stand Up For Denmark

Freedom Zone is staging a Stand Up For Denmark blogburst to coincide with Christopher Hitchens' pro-Denmark rally scheduled for this afternoon.


Those of us who cannot be there can e-mail our support to the Danish Embassy at wasamb@um.dk

Thursday, February 23, 2006

The Imams Can't Be Happy About This

Turkey fields its first ever Olympic figure skater:

Related: Hugh Hewitt has more on Deeyah, the Muslim pop singer that has attracted death threats.

The More Things Change, Pt 2

I recently blogged about the Nazi version of Iran's cartoon contest. Now Tim Blair has the Nazi version of cartoonophobia. It seems a certain David Low used to pen Hitler cartoons:

Low's regular depictions of the Fuhrer caused enormous diplomatic problems for the British Government, but they were to prove remarkably prophetic. Throughout the decade he portrayed the German dictator as a ludicrous, vain, pompous fool with unbridled ambition.
...

It wasn't only Hitler complaining about Low. In 1938 Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain singled out Low while appealing to newspapers to temper their critical commentary of Germany. Chamberlain said: "Such criticism might do a great deal to embitter relations when we on our side are trying to improve them. German Nazis have been particularly annoyed by criticisms in the British press, and especially by cartoons. The bitter cartoons of Low of the Evening Standard have been a frequent source of complaint."

Perhaps if that horrible cartoonist could have been reigned in, Neville could have worked it all out with Hitler. Alas, according to Low:

"...the Foreign Secretary asked me to modify my criticism, as I say, in order that a better chance could be had for making friendly relations... The Foreign Secretary explained to me that I was a factor that was going against peace.' `Do I understand you to say that you would find it easier to promote peace if my cartoons did not irritate the Nazi leaders personally?' `Yes,' he replied. `...I said, "Well, I'm sorry." Of course he was the Foreign Secretary what else could I say? So I said, "Very well, I don't want to be responsible for a world war. But, I said "It's my duty as a journalist to report matters faithfully and in my own medium I have to speak the truth. And I think this man is awful. But I'll slow down a bit." So I did."

Meanwhile Hitler within a month invaded Austria.

I suspect our cartoon curbing will be just as successful.

How Could I Have Grown Up In Chicago...

and never learned that O'Hare International Airport was named after Congressional Medal of Honor winner Edward "Butch" O'Hare. Chris Lynch has the story of how "he almost single handedly saved the USS Lexington from being destroyed by Japanese bombers".

Some Perspective

From the Calgary Sun:



Via LGF Comments

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

I Hope This Goes Well

Christopher Hitchens plans a pro-Denmark rally outside the Danish Embassy in Washington D.C.:

Update, Feb. 22: Thank you all who've written. Please be outside the Embassy of Denmark, 3200 Whitehaven Street (off Massachusetts Avenue) between noon and 1 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 24. Quietness and calm are the necessities, plus cheerful conversation. Danish flags are good, or posters reading "Stand By Denmark" and any variation on this theme (such as "Buy Carlsberg/ Havarti/ Lego") The response has been astonishing and I know that the Danes are appreciative. But they are an embassy and thus do not of course endorse or comment on any demonstration. Let us hope, however, to set a precedent for other cities and countries. Please pass on this message to friends and colleagues.

Via (The Corner)

Monday, February 20, 2006

Liberal Guilt?

Is liberal guilt is pursuing me, even now that I am, nominally, a Republican? How is that possible?

And I wasn't even all that liberal in my youth. I never had much respect for public schools. I never wanted to send my (then hypothetical) children to them. Kansas City (where we currently reside) is a tax-dollar sucking monstrosity with high crime and terrible schools. Johnson County (Kansas) is, well, also tax-dollar sucking, but for that money you get a better place to raise kids by pretty much any measure you could think of.

So why am I embarrassed to tell people I'm moving to the land of the cul-de-sac and home of the soccer mom? I couldn't even bring myself to tell Mia's teachers that we are leaving their crappy school district for greener pastures. I should be proud of the fact that we're (just barely)successful enough to be able to move over there. Yet, I feel like I'm trying to be somebody.

It's a mystery that could take years of psychotherapy to unravel.

Update: related thoughts from Johnathan Pearce:

And let's face it, most of us, particularly those with children, live in suburbs or are moving there. It is a conceit, I reckon, of people who have no children, and who do not need the space, to take potshots at those who have decided to leave the supposedly hip inner city. It remains a mystery to me why the desire of people to live in a bit of space and comfort drives certain intellectuals nuts. Maybe it is the garden gnomes.

Ah yes, the hip inner city. I must confess, I wanted to move to a cooler part of town, but, like a boring mommy, I had to consider the schools. And we needed an office. And a guest room. And a deck. And a two-car garage. I guess I'm just having trouble integrating "suburban soccer mom" into my identity.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Atypical

We recently got the results of all the testing the school did on Mia to determine her kindergarten placement. So I've been obsessing more about that and less about the VP's misadventures.

The results were what I expected: inconclusive. Tests indicate she's not autistic, but observers note several autistic behaviors so she might be. Well, thanks for clearing that up.

Her academic tests were also uneven. She blew away some of them, others... not so much. She has taught herself to read. Could be genius, could be Asperger's.

She's doing well enough that she doesn't qualify for much assistance and probably none after Kindergarten. That just doesn't make up for the stress of a big public school. Stress could bring out more autistic behaviors, if that's her problem. So, I'm still going to put her in Montessori (if possible. I just sent in an application today).

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Unclear On The Concept

This is typical thinking from the anti-cartooners:
This cartoon depicts an image as either racist/anti-Semitic/etc. or as freedom of expression. What they invariably fail to grasp is that it is not an either/or proposition. An image can be racist/anti-Semitic/etc. and be freedom of expression. That's rather the point, in fact. If everyone loves what you're drawing then you don't need Constitutional protection, do you?

That some (or even most) people call an image racist/anti-Semitic/etc. is just part of the process. If I use words (my freedom of speech) to denounce your drawing, I haven't impinged on your freedom of speech. If I use, or threaten to use, violence to suppress your drawing, then I have impinged on your freedom of speech.

Let's illustrate with another cartoon:


Really. This is so Poly/Sci 101 that I can hardly we're discussing it.


Technorati tag:

Get Your Cartoons Here

Just in case you didn't already know, a gallery of cartoons about The Cartoons, updated daily, is here.

Great Moments in the History of Academic Freedom

From Minnesota:

Still, she stands by her decision to display the cartoons, and she questions the directive to keep them out of public view. "I don't think it's [a college's] job to make people comfortable," said Murdock, saying there is rather a duty to challenge students, even if at times it offends people.


Silly, naive little women. Still it's nice to know there are still a few academics out there who feel that way. (Via LGF comments)

Friday, February 10, 2006

Here Comes Kindergarten

I've really struggled with where to place Mia for kindergarten. I visited a Montessori school awhile back and fell in love with it. I think the multi-age classrooms would be great for her because of her very uneven development thus far. They go up to the 6th grade, so she could do her own thing for 7 years. I really like that they don't give grades. I would like Mia to pursue her interests without worrying about her GPA.

The only problem is they don't have a half-day kindergarten. I really wanted that, but apparently, it's hopelessly old-fashioned. Very few places seem to offer it.

I arranged to take Mia there today, so she could meet the director and look around. All the way there she whined "I don't want to go to the new school." Well, I promised her Burger King if she didn't cry while we were in there. She was a little shy at first, but by the time we had seen all the classrooms and were on our way out the door, she said to the director "This is a very nice school you have here." I asked her if she wanted to go to that school and she said "Yes." You'd have to know Mia (middle name: NO) to see how amazing that is.

What About The Other Half?

According to this report, "Police said half of the 200 people who live in the Hilltop Apartments are wanted on city warrants". Half? How horrible that must be for the 50% who aren't criminals.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Don't Mention The War

The World Cup is being held in Nuremberg this year. Unlike the English, Germans don't find Nazis amusing:

GERMAN cops will use sweeping powers to collar England fans doing Basil Fawlty-style Hitler impressions at the World Cup.

Yobs will be instantly banged up for TWO WEEKS if they goose-step like John Cleese in his most famous Fawlty Towers scene

Yobs beware. The German sense of humor is no laughing matter. (via The Corner)

Update: This post reminded me of the first time I saw 'Allo 'Allo. I was studying in London. My roommate invited me to visit some of her cousins near Aldershot. We were talking, but the TV was on. I couldn't really hear it over the conversation, but I did notice that there were Nazis and a laugh track. Can you do that? Well, yes, if you're British.

It's Not Easy To Explain "Continuous Loop" To A 4 year-old

So I a followed a link from Malkin to see the Dancing Mohammeds. Then I foolishly went on to see the Dancing Hampsters. 20 minutes later I finally pried Mia away from the computer. "No really, honey. They will never finish. They'll just dance forever. Or until mommy throws the computer out the window, whichever comes first."

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Media Relations Advice For Christians

Frank J. has some advice for Christians wishing to improve the way they are portrayed by the media:

Christians don't even have a word for "fatwa"! Know why? Jesus.

Jesus is all peace and love, and, whatever the merits of that message, that won't frighten the media away from making fun of you. As we've seen, believable threats of violence and death tend to make people more sensitive about your feelings. Too many Christians, though, won't murder an infidel or a blasphemer because it's not "what Jesus would have wanted." Well, as long you're hiding behind that excuse, who is going to be afraid of us?

Irony Alert

The student newspaper at Cardiff University was reportedly the first paper in the UK to print The Cartoons. Results: The editor and 3 journalists have been suspended, 8,000 copies of the paper were recalled and pulped, and an apology was issued.

The paper's name: Gair Rhydd, or "Free Word."

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

The More Things Change....

News of Iran's Holocaust cartoon contest reminded me of a little piece of Nazi trivia I picked up in college. Here's a blurb from the Feb. 13, 1939 edition of Time:

Until last week a favorite entertainer of Berlin's cafe society was twinkly-eyed Werner Finck, one of the daring, politically sophisticated German comedians who get their laughs at the expense of the Nazis.

Comedian Finck would suddenly interrupt his patter, shoot his arm up in a burlesque Nazi salute—and then adjust a picture. Deftly, but unmistakably, he would caricature the well-known posturing of top-rank Nazis. Sometimes when he walked off the stage he mimicked gimpy Dr. Joseph Goebbels. For these offenses he has often been in the Nazi doghouse, once in a concentration camp. Last week the Nazi bigwigs finally caught on, and Propaganda Minister Goebbels expelled Actor Finck, a fellow vaudeville actor and a comedy team, "The Three Rulands," from the Reich's Culture Chamber as "desecrators of things that are holy" to the Nazis. Thus kaput was written to their German careers.

To prove he has a sense of humor, Minister Goebbels' newssheet, Der Angriff, thereupon began a joke contest. First prize: $40.

Somewhere, there is a reproduction of the winning joke, a cartoon, as it happens. Needless to say, it was so lame that it served only to confirm the Nazi's humor deficit.

Iran should be more successful than the Nazi's, since the Mullah's aren't trying to prove they're funny. They're just trying to be a pain in our collective behind.

American Muslims Show 'Em How It's Done

According to the New York Times, the Philadelphia Iquirer has become the first major American paper to publish one of "The Cartoons." Did American Muslims riot? Did they fire-bomb? Did they issue death threats. No. They made their displeasure know in the American way:

About two dozen demonstrators, holding signs reading "No to Hate" and "Peaceful Protest for Religious Tolerance," dispersed after about an hour.

What Bothers Me About "The War On Boys"

Cathy Young:

Helen Smith, a psychologist and blogger who has championed the cause of boys in school, cautions that, while recognizing differences, we should not lapse into stereotyping: In general, boys may be more physically active and girls may be more verbal, but a lot of children will not fit those patterns. Some of the fashionable talk about boys getting in trouble due to their more rebellious and individualistic ways has an alarming tendency to paint girls as dull, diligent sheep.

This is always in my head as I read these stories. Sure. Little girls just love to be chained to their desks all day. No. There's nothing demeaning about grading girls on how pretty their notebooks look. These are bad practices for boys and for girls.

And then there's this:

"The system is designed to the disadvantage of males," Anglin, 17, told The Boston Globe. "From the elementary level, they establish a philosophy that if you sit down, follow orders, and listen to what they say, you'll do well and get good grades. Men naturally rebel against this."


Ummm, this system dates at least from 19th century Europe. More probably it originated in the Middle Ages with church schools. No matter how you look at it, the system was designed before girls went to school with boys (or at all). There is a strong argument to be made that the system is bad, but to say that the system is "designed to the disadvantage of males" is ridiculous.

Of course, school choice would go along way towards alleviating these problems. Most parents wouldn't send their boys (or girls) to a school that graded academic work by the amount of glitter stuck to it.

Monday, February 06, 2006

Merkel: Iran As Bad As Nazis

From The Times:

“Looking back to German history in the early 1930s when National Socialism was on the rise, there were many outside Germany who said, ‘It’s only rhetoric — don’t get excited’,” Merkel told an international security conference in Munich.

“There were times when people could have reacted differently and, in my view, Germany is obliged to do something at the early stages,” she added. “We want to, we must prevent Iran from developing its nuclear programme.”

Merkel issued a blunt warning to Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be “wiped off the map”.

“Iran has blatantly crossed the red line,” she said. “I say it as a German chancellor. A president who questions Israel’s right to exist, a president who denies the Holocaust cannot expect to receive any tolerance from Germany.”

Well, yes. But I never thought I'd hear a European say it. Not a popularly elected European, at least. (via Islamophobic)

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Bush Spied, Terrorists Died

That's Laer's entry in Bookworm's pithy conservative slogan contest. Check it out.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Republicans In Disarry Over Presidential Pick

LauraW pokes fun at the MSM's Bush obsession:

Buddy: "Was Chimpy McSmirkhitler picking his nose WITH GLEE because of the imminent Great Depression his tax cuts have brought upon the nation? We owe it to our readers to explore this possibility as thoroughly as the President explored his nostril..."

Laura: I don't think that would have been far from the truth...and then of course the inevitable Scientific Research about People Who Pick Their Noses

Buddy: "People who pick their noses are a lot like Hitler, study finds"

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Mohammed in Pictures

Illustrations of Mohammed are popping up everywhere. Here's a Wikimedia page. Here's a Danish newspaper article which, besides printing a picture itself, links to Zombie's gallery of Mohammed images. Magazines in Germany, Iceland, and France have also printed the Danish cartoons.

(links via LGF commentors and No Pasaran)

Update: Only a matter of time until Cox and Forkum offered their take.