Jun 29, 2003 | Dollars & Crosses
From Friday's Sun:A senate subcommittee yesterday examined the growing influence of Wahhabism, the radical, Saudi-sponsored stream of Islam, in a sign that Congress intends to take the issue more seriously....
Senator Schumer, a Democrat of New York and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said that the pact between the House of Saud and the Wahhabi clerics that glues Saudi Arabia together as a nation is "nothing short of a deal with the devil."
"Wahhabism is an extremist, exclusionary form of Islam that not only denigrates other faiths but also marginalizes peaceful followers of Islam like the Shia and moderate Sunnis," Mr. Schumer said. "The Saudis give the Wahhabis protection and support in exchange for the Wahhabis promising not to undermine the Saudi royal family. The Wahhabis get to preach the hate and extremism that form the core tenets of Wahhabism without consequence."
Jun 28, 2003 | Dollars & Crosses
Some people claim that those who support affirmative action are "well-intentioned," but are morally wrong, since affirmative action is racist. Politically, the best way to help any individual achieve wealth is freedom--race is inconsequential. Yet, this is precisely what affirmative action undermines, as it is little more than a wealth redistribution system to grant out rewards to those who do not merit them. Whatever the intentions of those who knowingly support affirmative action, they have no claim on being called good.
Here is what our favorite political cartoonists Cox and Forkum have to say on the matter:
Don't forget to buy their book!
Jun 27, 2003 | Dollars & Crosses
From the NY Sun:The story of Sarah Saga, an American citizen holed up with her two children in the American Consulate at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has a ring that is all too familiar. Ms. Saga, kidnapped in 1985 at the age of 6 by her Saudi father when she was on a visit to Saudi Arabia, faces a choice: Go home to America without her son and daughter or leave the consulate to face beating or even death at the hands of her father or the husband to whom she was married off. [NY Sun, "Sarah's Saga", June 25, 2003]
Jun 27, 2003 | Dollars & Crosses
Writes Yaron Brook Executive Director of the Ayn Rand Institute:A new poll from the Washington Post reveals that a majority of Americans want to use military force against Iran to stop its nuclear program. I agree. The U.S. government should do everything to encourage and actively assist the pro-freedom fighters in Iran to launch a revolution to expel every terrorist-supporting official from their government. But if those freedom fighters are unable to do this, the United States must use its military power to destroy Iran's nuclear weapons program. The threat from a nuclear-armed, insanely hate-driven Iranian theocracy is too horrific to contemplate.
Jun 27, 2003 | Dollars & Crosses
Who would have guessed that the Taliban run New York? From the NY Sun:In the early evening of Friday, March 14, 2003, two inspectors from the city's Department of Consumer Affairs entered Swing 46, a small restaurant featuring live bands on Manhattan''s Restaurant Row. They immediately spotted the illegal activity they had been sent to snuff out: dancing. After witnessing this "unlicensed activity," the inspectors ordered everyone to leave at 7:00 p.m. and padlocked the doors. Knowing this would cost the restaurant both a $5,000 fine and its crucial weekend receipts, one inspector shrugged and said, "We told you before to stop dancing." Yesterday, the Department of Consumer Affairs held a hearing to consider whether it will continue making such busts, which are carried out under New York's cabaret laws. In 1960, the city had some 12,000 bars and restaurants that allowed dancing; today, there are fewer than 300, at least in part because of the indiscriminate enforcement of laws passed in the 1920s to suppress jazz. ["Clubbing the Economy"]
Hat Tip: Paul Blair.
Jun 27, 2003 | Dollars & Crosses
From Cox and Forkum:
Comments Allen Forkum:
Fox News reports: Bush: We 'Will Not Tolerate' Nukes in Iran. Excerpt: As for recent demonstrations by students against the Islamic government, Bush offered protesters a warm embrace. "I appreciate those courageous souls who speak out for freedom in Iran. They need to know America stands squarely by their side," [Bush] said. Violent clashes that began last week against clerical rule in Iran have for the most part died down in the last few days. [June 19, 2003]
