The Palestine Solidarity Movement is dedicated to the destruction of the Jewish State by "any means necessary" -- including terrorism and suicide bombing.  Now, Palestine Solidarity, the American student arm of the International Solidarity Movement, has announced that its National Conference will be held at Duke University, Oct. 15, 16, and 17, 2004.

Your take on this?  Does speech freedom end when one advocates harm or death to others?

No. It is easy to defend the right of free speech when you agree with the speaker.  If you have lines, who gets to decide where they are?  John Ashcroft? 

When the Nazis wanted a parade permit in Skokie in the 1970's, the ACLU rose to the defense of free speech.  In my opinion, it was a time for all true supporters of the Bill of Rights, including American Jews, to reaffirm their support of the ACLU.  It has been the ACLU which has consistently taken hard lines against the erosion of the free practice of religion and the separation of church and state. 

The Duke situation is not so simple.  The concept of free speech means that government shall enact no law which limits free speech not that individuals or non-governmental organizations have an obligation to facilitate free speech.  Nevertheless, our universities have traditionally been the bastions of free speech and the free exchange of ideas.  If these bastions are whittled away, it makes it easier for government to narrow the scope of our rights. 

The president may be out of touch with reality, but his fellow conservatives are increasingly concerned about the deteriorating situation. 

Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), noting the White House's recent plan to divert $3.4 billion from reconstruction efforts to emergency security efforts, said: "Now, that does not add up, in my opinion, to a pretty picture, to a picture that shows that we're winning. But it does add up to this: an acknowledgment that we are in deep trouble."

Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) also "expressed exasperation at the administration's rosy prewar assessments that as soon as Hussein was deposed, a euphoric Iraqi population would embrace democracy." He charged, "The nonsense of that is [now] apparent."

And then there's Oprah...

who gave 276 cars to people in the audience of her national television show.  Except that Pontiac donated the cars and Oprah got all the credit and publicity for her "generosity" (kind of like OPM, "other people's money").

What would Maimonides think?  Where would this stunt fit in the Ladder?

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September 16, 2004

It's Rosh Hashanah... Today is the beginning of the Jewish New Year.  Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (September 25) are referred to as the High Holy Days.  The High Holy Days are the most-observed holidays in the Jewish religion, observed by many Jews, even those who do not observe other holidays.  As a result, these several days of the year finds synagogues packed like so many gefilte fish in a jar.

Here comes the Rant part.  Pay-to-Pray...

Most Jewish congregations in the United States (I don't know the practice elsewhere) require tickets for admission to High Holiday services.  These tickets are either purchased as part of a membership in the congregation or separately at prices which would rival a performance of the Three Tenors.  Many congregations also sell pews -  "pay more and sit closer to God."  While it is true that many congregations would not turn away someone who groveled and pleaded indigency and that, in some communities, there have been organized efforts to make a small number of complimentary tickets (in the back rows, I suspect) available to non-members, these practices are the exception rather than the rule.

I know of no other major religions which practice pay-to-pray.  True, other religions raise money through tithing, passing the plate, bingo, and TV evangelists.  But, in no other cases of which I am aware, is payment a condition of admission to a religious service.  Even as a non-Christian, if I wanted to attend a Christmas or Easter service in any church, I would be welcomed without a credit report and, if I arrived early enough, I could sit right up front with the pious folks.

As an orthodox agnostic, I have no trouble finding hypocrisy in any organized religion.  Pay-to-pray is an example which this Jew-by-birth finds particularly troublesome.

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September 15, 2004

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September 14, 2004

PACKERS  24	PANTHERS 14

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September 13, 2004

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September 12, 2004

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Bush and the assault weapons...

The federal ban on the sale of assault weapons will expire tomorrow night.  A poll by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania that said two-thirds of the public and one-third of NRA members support an extension of the assault weapons ban.  Law enforcement organizations also broadly support the ban.

Bush understands the numbers and is trying to play this one in the middle so as not to alienate any conservatives or moderates who might vote for his reelection.  He has said he will sign an extension but refuses to push the Republicans who control the House (the extension has passed the Senate) to allow the bill to come up for a vote.  This way, Bush can disclaim responsibility for the avalanche of sales of assault weapons which will begin on Tuesday and yet the puppets of the NRA in the House will not be held accountable to the electorate for opposing the ban.

The answer?  We need to wrest control of the House from the likes of Tom DeLay (and elect a president who will work politically to keep the assault weapons out of our society).

The Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles finally played their season opener last night after it was postponed because of Hurricane Frances.  This is the first time these two rivals have played a game as members of the same conference.  

The result was the same.  For the sixth straight time, the Hurricanes have beaten the Seminoles.  Chris Rix, the Seminole quarterback being touted by ESPN's Kirk Herbstreet as the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy this year, became the first college quarterback to start and lose to one team five times.

And the beat goes on.

Bring on Ivan!

Conan O'Brien:  "Dick Cheney said that if John Kerry wins, there will be another attack. Then Cheney said, if Bush wins, I'll call it off." 

"According to a new book, when President Bush was on National Guard duty he would sometimes sneak off to smoke marijuana and snort cocaine. When he heard this, President Bush said, 'That's ridiculous. I never showed up for National Guard duty.'"

No WMD's, but...

Bush's standard stump speech now defends the war in Iraq by asserting that the the United States is safer and better off and the world is safer and better off with Saddam Hussein removed from power.

Yes, but was it worth the cost?  

• 1005 U.S. soldiers dead.

• 7026 U.S. soldiers wounded.

• $200 billion.

• Loss of international esteem.

After a two day hiatus while we temporarily relocated to premises with AC while Frances ravaged parts of Florida, the Rant will resume its regular irregular schedule.  Our loss of power and even the loss of the Rant are insignificant compared to the losses being suffered by so many people in the middle of Florida.  

Elsewhere, and with an even greater import than Frances, we are under two months until the presidential election.  Kerry has not been helped by the month during which he had to refrain from advertising in order to have spending parity with Bush during September and October.  There are five factors which will determine the election:

• Iraq - an unusually tranquil two months.

• Economy - significant new signs regarding jobs or the "recovery". 

• Debates - a decisive performance by one of the candidates.

• Osama bin Laden - a "well-timed" capture.

• Turnout.

The last factor - turnout - is the one which those of us who are convinced that this is as important a choice as we have ever made can influence.  The side which does a better job turning our its constituency will win.  I urge you to support those organizations - be it a labor union, the Democratic Party, or Move-On.Org - which are working so hard to get out the vote.

Jay Leno:  "Bush and Kerry both focused on the battleground state of Ohio. See Bush knows no Republican has ever won the White House without winning Ohio. Of course, before Bush, no Republican had ever won the White House without winning the election."

"A Bush administration official said today we're moving closer and closer to capturing Osama bin Laden. Of course we're moving closer, it's almost election day. I'm predicting we'll get him, maybe, November 1st."

"In his speech at the Republican convention, President Bush said that America should create an ownership society. For example, if you're homeless, buy a home. Don't have a job? Buy a company, give yourself a job. These are simple solutions."

In a 2001 speech, Miller called Kerry "one of this nation's authentic heroes, one of this party's best-known and greatest leaders – and a good friend." He said, "John Kerry has fought against government waste and worked hard to bring some accountability to Washington…He fought for balanced budgets before it was considered politically correct for Democrats to do so. John has worked to strengthen our military, reform public education, boost the economy and protect the environment."

Jay Leno:  "President Bush now says the problems we're having in Iraq are because we won the war too quickly. He says the war was 'a catastrophic success.' He's also calling the economy a 'disastrous achievement.'"

David Letterman:  "The Republican Convention goes on all week, and of course, the highlight will be toward the end of the week. George Bush will show up for one day, you know, just like he did in the National Guard."

Conan O'Brien:  "Many people in Britain are upset because last night at the convention Giuliani compared President Bush to Winston Churchill. Not only that, President Bush is upset because he has no idea who Winston Churchill is." 

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September 1, 2004

Changing Tack, Bush Says Terror War Winnable

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Reuters) - President Bush said on Tuesday the war on terror could be won by America and explained away an earlier comment that it could not be won by blaming his lack of articulation.

As he prepared to address the Republican Party convention in New York on Thursday, Bush found himself forced to adjust his message in a central issue for his re-election campaign. 

Bush's drive to convince Americans that they should not change presidents in the middle of a war was not helped by his interview on Monday with NBC's "Today" show, when he was asked if the war on terrorism would ever be won.  "I don't think you can win it," he replied.