---Quote--- When a high school senior told her principal that students were taunting her for being a lesbian, he told her homosexuality is wrong, outed her to her parents and ordered her to stay away from children. He suspended some of her friends who expressed their outrage by wearing gay pride T-shirts and buttons at Ponce de Leon High School, according to court records. And he asked dozens of students whether they were gay or associated with gay students. The American Civil Liberties Union successfully sued the district on behalf of a girl who protested against Principal David Davis, and a federal judge reprimanded Davis for conducting a "witch hunt" against gays......And despite all that, many in this conservative Panhandle community still wonder what, exactly, Davis did wrong. "We are a small, rural district in the Bible Belt with strong Christian beliefs and feel like homosexuality is wrong," said Steve Griffin, Holmes County's school superintendent, who keeps a Bible on his desk and framed Scriptures on his office walls....."I don't think we are that different from a lot of districts, at least in the Panhandle, that have beliefs that maybe are different from societal changes," Griffin said. The Panhandle is a region of northern Florida. Gay rights activists said that's no excuse for what Davis did......"Davis embarked on what can only be characterised as a 'witch hunt' to identify students who were homosexual and their supporters, further adding fuel to the fire," US District Judge Richard Smoak recounted in his ruling........*"I emphasize that Davis's personal and religious views about homosexuality are not issues in this case. Indeed, Davis's opinions and views are consistent with the beliefs of many in Holmes County*, in Florida, and in the country," Smoak wrote in an opinion released last month. "*Where Davis went wrong was when he endeavoured to silence the opinions of his dissenters."* ---End Quote--- So which do you think it is? Is it about "Davis's personal and religious views about homosexuality ", or is it about "when he endeavoured to silence the opinions of his dissenters."

---Quote--- A natural right is the concept of a universal right inherent in the nature of living beings, one that is not contingent upon laws or beliefs. The theory of natural law, a law whose content is set in a state of nature and therefore has validity everywhere, derives from the theory of natural rights. Thus the natural rights were the rights present primarily in a state of natural anarchy. During the Enlightenment, natural law theory opposed the divine right of kings theory, and became the basis of classical republicanism which was explaining hypothetical reasons of establishing a positive law and a government. The concept of a natural right can be contrasted with the concept of a legal right: A natural right is one that is said to exist even when it is not enforced by the government or society, while a legal right is one created by the government or society for the benefit of its members. The question of which rights are natural and which are legal is an important one in philosophy and politics. Critics of the concept of natural rights argue that all human rights are legal rights, while proponents of the concept of natural rights say that documents like the American Declaration of Independence, and social contracts like the Constitution of the United States, demonstrate the usefulness of recognizing natural rights. The idea of human rights descended from that of natural rights; some recognize no difference between the two and regard both as labels for the same thing, while others choose to keep the terms separate to eliminate association with some features traditionally associated with natural rights.[1] Natural rights, in particular, are the rights of the individual, considered beyond the authority of any government or international body to dismiss. The idea that animals have natural rights is one that has gained the interest of philosophers and legal scholars in the 20th century.[2] ---End Quote--- Natural right - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_rights) Can anyone prove any rights that are not granted by governments, beliefs (philosophy), or religions? - Also John Lock defined natural rights as life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness was added by Thomas Jefferson. Life: How much freedom of life do I have? If I killed 6 million people of a certain ethnicity; would I still have this freedom? Am I allowed Self-defense? Liberty: Liberty from what exactly? Governments? Property: Under all circumstances? If I stole something would I have to return it? Do I have to pay taxes? Pursuit of Happiness: How far? Can I infringe on any other natural right? All of these are self-contradictory and idealistic to the max. It is impossible to have these rights unabridged and not infringe on anothers' rights. - Who do these rules apply to the individual or a government? Say, I kill someone am I violating this right or is it only bad when a government does this? - Who grants these rights? God? But He is unproved (unprovable) etc. Or is it Nature? But Nature is inherently random. - I see no reason to believe that anyone possess rights from the mere fact that they exist. I see no reason to belief that natural/human rights are mere subjective beliefs.

---Quote--- Russia's invasion of Georgia comes 40 years after another Kremlin act of aggression against a small, nearby, and independent-minded country. Czechoslovakia was the victim in that earlier instance. A communist country and a vassal state of the Soviet empire, Czechoslovakia's party leadership had initiated a reform process, dubbed the Prague Spring, that sought to infuse state socialism with elements of civil liberties and the market. It was the first attempt to "reform" communism from inside party ranks. The party leader, Alexander Dubcek, and his allies intended to move carefully — as communists they recognized the dangers in a reform movement that the party was unable to manage ... Democracy's response to Georgia will depend on America. In 1968, America was mired in multiple crises that make today's problems pale in comparison: Vietnam, assassinations, race riots, campus takeovers. The invasion of Czechoslovakia coincided with the Democratic Convention, notable for clashes between anti-war demonstrators and the police. Under these circumstances, Americans hardly noticed events in central Europe; the candidate of the anti-war forces, Eugene McCarthy, flatly refused to condemn the invasion. America's response to Georgia has been seemingly clear and strong. But just as Lyndon Johnson ignored unmistakable signs of planned Soviet intervention, so the Bush administration failed utterly to take Moscow to task for its many pre-invasion provocations. The challenge will be to sustain a bipartisan policy that is anchored on the defense of a beleaguered ally with democratic aspirations and, beyond that, forthright support for Russia's democratic neighbors. Unfortunately, by failing to act with resolution earlier, the administration approaches this struggle from a position of distinct weakness. If the Prague Spring represents a dark moment for the West, it stands as an experiment in freedom that is to the enduring credit of its participants. Its peaceful nature set the tone for the later revolutions that brought freedom to Czechs, Slovaks, and other subjugated European peoples. The crisis in Georgia is a depressing reminder of the fragile nature of those achievements in the face of an emboldened and antidemocratic adversary. ---End Quote--- Echoes of the Prague Spring - August 20, 2008 - The New York Sun (http://www.nysun.com/opinion/echoes-of-the-prague-spring/84226/) Anyone who talks about Iraq doesn't understand that Russia does not need any "bad example" to act is way it act the invasion to Georgia is a regular and expected thing from such country.

I read a post where Captain Chaos submitted a verse from Galatians which seems to indicate Jesus wants to throw the law of the old testament away. This to me seems ridiculous. “For truly, I say to you, *till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven;* but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:18-19 RSV) * "It is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass away than for the smallest part of the letter of the law to become invalid." * (Luke 16:17 NAB) *"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. * I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest part or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place." (Matthew 5:17 NAB) So, there's two ways this can end. Either I am wrong, and someone shows me a passage where Jesus says "forget all that", therefore demonstrating once again the many contradictions of the bible. Another way is that I am right, and christians can stop saying how the OT has to be ignored.

For those that dont know, currently there is a humpback calf trapped in a harbour in sydney. The media has picked up on this and ran with it. It's either been abandoned by it's mother or it's mother is dead. Harsh reality, but this is nature, and yes it's cruel sometimes. There is a national outcry that nothing is being done to save this creature, ignoring the fact there are zero facilities to house this massive creature and there is nothing in place to bring. People are trying to give the animal milk straight out of the carton This is one thing i've never understood about people. Why is it that people that will blissfully carry on while millions are starving everyday, yet when one cute animal is abandoned (like thousands of people dont abandon their dogs every month) in a quite natural process, there's an national outcry and anger about the government not doing anything? Do what? Change nature??

how is babby formed how girl get pragnent

Will humans one day in the distant future just lose the desire to procreate? I feel like some of the most intelligent people I know are slowly fading away from the idea of having kids. When I was younger the thought of raising a kid excited me but now that I am older (not that much older I'm still only 25 which could be the reason I feel this anyway) I feel like I will never want kids and I have friends that are much older who feel the same way. Or is it probably just that people are wanting to have kids later in life as our life expectancy increases?

---Quote--- How humans dared to know The 21st-century passion for "Enlightenment values" owes a lot to the 18th century. Philosopher A. C. Grayling discusses where those values come from and what they mean today 1: Reason stands against values and morals Shaping a moral and humane world requires more than reason, says Archbishop Rowan Williams 2: No one actually uses reason If we had to think logically about everything we did, we’d never do anything at all, says neuroscientist Chris Frith. Watch a related video 3: I hear "reason", I see lies Science is routinely co-opted by governments and corporations to subvert people’s ability to make their own decisions, say sociologist David Miller and linguist Noam Chomsky. Watch a related video and hear the full interview (28MB MP3). 4: Reason excludes creativity and intuition Reason is lost without art, says Turner prizewinner Keith Tyson. Watch a related video. 5: Whose reason is it anyway? Real people don’t live their lives according to cold rationality, says bioethicist Tom Shakespeare. Watch a related video. 6: Reason destroys itself Even in formal mathematics, reason breaks its own rules, says mathematician Roger Penrose. Watch a related video. 7: Reason is just another faith Unconditional reliance on a single authority is never sensible, says philosopher Mary Midgley. ---End Quote--- Seven reasons why people hate reason - opinion - 14 July 2008 - New Scientist (http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/dn14312-seven-reasons-why-people-hate-reason.html?DCMP=NLC-nletter&nsref=dn14312) Is reason just as unsatisfactory a framework for thinking as theism and superstition? Check out some the linked articles on the source page and let's discuss/debate.

It's hard to open a topic that you are not very familiar with. This is kind of awkward for me since I still consider myself too young to be engaged in this kind of discussion. However, I believe there is nothing wrong with this and it's a pretty healthy subject. Will it really be possible to feel in-love without being in-lust? Love and Lust are two very opposite things; they stand by themselves. I've read a very good article from Calvary website showing the direct differences between the two. Love is a sacred thing while Lust is an absolute sin. How can Love stand without Lust? Is it really important to satisfy your Lust before opening yourself up for Love? Do you believe they complement each other in a way? VERSUS: Love vs Lust (http://worldofversus.blogspot.com/2008/08/love-vs-lust.html)

BBC NEWS | Europe | Many dead in Madrid plane crash (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7572643.stm) ---Quote--- There are conflicting accounts about the number of deaths, with some reports suggesting most of the passengers on the plane may be dead. Mr Moleno said he had seen as many as 20 people walking away from the wreckage. ---End Quote--- The plane had 164 passengers and 9 crew The left engine caught fire or exploded on take off

I have stated before that a VP pick really is to get votes, but should also be competent. Palin would get votes and is more than competent (it could even lead to the first female US president). If McCain picked her, he would definitely get many of Clinton's women backers, a long with many other women. But take a look at the 1st term governor. She is impressive. (1) She has been a successful state legislator, city councilman and mayor. In fact she over-saw the fastest growing community in the state - Wasilla. If fact she was elected president of the Alaska Conference of Mayors. (2) She believes its a priority to reduce greenhouse gases. But she is not ignoring the gas crisis. With rising gas prices she supports more drilling. adn.com | environment : State aims to reduce emissions (http://dwb.adn.com/news/environment/story/8786824p-8688242c.html) (3) Although she is against gay marriage (something important to the Republican base, but not to me personally), she vetoed a bill that barred the state from granting benefits to gay state employees and their partners. In effect, her *veto granted State of Alaska benefits to same-sex couples* http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2006/12/29/6 (4) She showed fiscal conservatism: She used her veto power to make the second-largest cuts of the construction budget in state history. The US$237 million in cuts represented over 300 local projects, and reduced the construction budget to nearly US$1.6 billion. In an era where the government spends too much money on wasteful projects its refreshing to see someone who cuts that fat. Trust me she must of gotten a huge amount of crap from the special interests for this. http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/070807/hom_20070708005.shtml (5) She has a high approval rating. 84% approve and only 5% oppose. In an era of poor approval ratings, her approval ratings is awesome! LOL, what is the Democratic Congress approval rating down to - last I heard 16%! KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | Stevens may have work cut out in reelection (http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=6926946) (6) $5 billion budget surplus for AK! Yes yes oil prices have helped AK, but even with that the surplus is amazing! Never under-estimate governments apply to squander surpluses and profits. She has shown an ability to balance the budget, cut spending in opposition to special interests and has a history of cutting taxes! Rift over budget surplus widens: Alaska News | adn.com (http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/325207.html) (7) Knows education is important. Let's face it the better educated a country is, the better off the country is. She knows that spending money in education is a SMART thing to do. Rift over budget surplus widens: Alaska News | adn.com (http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/325207.html) (8) For a 42 yr old, she is HOT! (9) Has a son in the military and serving overseas. So that makes 2 people on the ticket with children in the armed forces (don't forget McCain has a son serving in the marines!) I hope it happens, because I would be more than excited to vote for Palin for President after McCain. See the article it could happen! Is mysterious website tipping off McCain's VP? (http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=72717)

McCain takes 5-point lead over Obama - Decision '08 - MSNBC.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26308429) ---Quote--- WASHINGTON - In a sharp turnaround, Republican John McCain has opened a 5-point lead on Democrat Barack Obama in the U.S. presidential race and is seen as a stronger manager of the economy, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday. McCain leads Obama among likely U.S. voters by 46 percent to 41 percent, wiping out Obama's solid 7-point advantage in July and taking his first lead in the monthly Reuters/Zogby poll. The reversal follows a month of attacks by McCain, who has questioned Obama's experience, criticized his opposition to most new offshore oil drilling and mocked his overseas trip. McCain now has a 9-point edge, 49 percent to 40 percent, over Obama on the critical question of who would be the best manager of the economy -- an issue nearly half of voters said was their top concern in the November 4 presidential election. Obama's support among Democrats fell 9 percentage points this month to 74 percent, while McCain has the backing of 81 percent of There were no wild swings, there isn't one group that is radically different than last month or even two months ago. *It was just a steady decline for Obama across the board," Zogby said.* Obama's support among voters between the ages of 18 and 29, which had been one of his strengths, slipped 12 percentage points to 52 percent. McCain, who will turn 72 next week, was winning 40 percent of younger voters. ---End Quote--- How long before the liberals start playing the race card? Being down 7 pts and picking up 5 = 12 point swing. This is a GIANTIC swing. What is the cause? People overwelming view McCain as better on the economy is one reasons in the poll. McCain has the foreign policy experience!

Does the thought of the universe being infinite and ever expanding screw with your head to the point of a brain aneurysm? Can you really imagine something without boarders? Do you reach a point where you just hit a big black curtain? Whats on the other side of that curtain? Or maybe there is no "end" and it is just one big cycle? If it is a cycle, what is on the outside of that cycle? Why cant I get out of this stinking three dimensional sense of reality... Ouch..headache

As fast as light? Faster? Imagine a shadow puppet. Darkness has a speed that is directly related to how fast you wiggle your fingers. Imagine a bigger shadow puppet using a screen that's a bit bigger, like the moon and some sort of giant laser projector that would probably melt my hands, but continue with the thought experiment anyway. I'll wear gloves for this shadow puppet session. If I flicked my fingers would it be possible to make a wave of darkness travel faster than the speed of light?

"This statement is false" Do you believe that? If so, would it not make it true? If so, would the fact that it was true then make it false? If so, would it not make it true? I am bored and language is screwy.