It never ceases to amaze me when people from the GW Bush administration offer their thoughts about current political events, completely oblivious to the irony of their words today with their role getting us into the Iraq War. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and most members of the Cheney Family seem to do this on a regular basis…
From the archives (2006)
Category: politics
Climate change fry-up
(click image for Washington Post animation)
Time for an atheist justice on the Supreme Court
I’ve mentioned this here before that I’m a firm believer in the Separation of Church and State. Not because of my religious beliefs or non-beliefs but because I think Separation of Church and State is the best way to ensure that all Americans have the freedom to worship (or not) without intimidation or threats.
I think the Court is missing the point about allowing prayer in government institutions when using the “coercion” argument. The issue isn’t whether or not the actual prayer praises or denigrates a particular faith- it’s whether there should be any prayers at all before a public town council meeting. How about a moment of silence? One could recite the Lord’s Prayer, offer praise to Allah, or just mentally go over your grocery list. I myself would welcome a moment of silence before having to listen to politicians start blabbering.
Supreme Court pushes Church & State closer together
Just a few minutes ago the Supreme Court ruled that the town of Greece didn’t violate the Constitution by opening their council meetings with a Christian prayer. More on this later but here’s a related cartoon from 2001:
World Press Freedom Day 2014
Today is World Press Freedom Day. When I do cartoons about the media I tend to concentrate on the American one and it’s usually to criticize (see previous post). However, there are many journalists throughout the world who are willing to put their lives in danger on a regular basis because they believe in what they do. A free press is indispensable for a free society; it must be protected.
The White House Correspondents Dinner
The annual inappropriate schmoozefest, also known as the White House Correspondents dinner takes place this Saturday. The whole idea of journalists yucking it up with politicians at fancy Washington events only confirms what most Americans think- that the Media is elitist and not interested in holding government leaders accountable. Rem Rieder from the American Journalism Review has criticized this event for years; here’s his piece from 2012.
Here’s a link to Stephen Colbert’s 2006 speech which ruffled the Washington Media’s feathers.