News of the Day and Open Thread

by Miri

I wanted to share some news with you, not least because we need a new open thread. Here’s some of the news that caught my eye today (other than Wikileaks, which has its own thread):

The ever progressive Swiss, once again, lead the way: “Swiss voters approved on Sunday a plan to AUTOMATICALLY DEPORT foreigners who commit serious crimes or BENEFIT FRAUD,” according Reuters [emphasis added]. http://www.rttnews.com/Content/MarketSensitiveNews.aspx?Id=1491820&SM=1

Note that this was the result of a VOTER initiative, passed against the will of the government, which now must write a law to conform with the WILL of the SWISS PEOPLE. A Swiss Tea Party? Reuters also informs us that the “right wing” Swiss People’s Party put forth this initiative, as well as a previous one that banned minarets on mosques in Switzerland.

In another sign of the common sense of the Swiss people, the story explains that “Swiss laws do NOT grant automatic citizenship to children of immigrants born in the European country.” Even LEGAL immigrants? How sensible of them!

In another story, Lauren Green of Fox News writes, “At first glance, the billboard above a New Jersey highway appears to be celebrating the Christmas season, with the iconic images of the Nativity: the manger, the three wise men and the Star of Bethlehem. But this holiday offering is from American Atheists, and it also features the words: ‘You know it’s a myth. This season, celebrate reason.’”

I won’t insult Christians by copying the billboard image here, but go to Lauren’s story to see it for yourself: http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/11/26/tis-the-season-for-atheist-ads/

Now imagine a billboard showing Mohammed. Oh, wait. That won’t work. Images of Mohammed or even images of teddy bears labeled as Mohammed are enough to start bedlam. So, instead, imagine a billboard showing any of these: Buddha, Rama, Abraham, Zoroaster, Bahá’u’lláh, or Nyasaye. (I won’t make you look it up; that’s the Luo name for the Supreme Being). What the heck?  Imagine one with an image of the prophet otherwise known as bleep.  Then imagine under the image, the words, “You know it’s a myth.” 

Would that billboard be allowed to go up? Would it be called a hate crime? How would the lamestream media react? Would they say it’s a racist/anti-Semitic/Islamophobic/etc. attack against religion or a group of innocent people? You better believe it.

Yet once again, the atheists amongst us (aka secular humanists, aka progressives–in their minds, the “reasonable” ones) believe that they simply MUST attack Christians during their most Holy Season. If they believe nothing else, they believe they MUST attack Christianity.  Why?  If that were a billboard calling Islam a myth, would it ever see the light of day?

There’s a trial this week in South Dakota for a murder that took place in 1975! At long last, John Graham will be tried for the murder of Annie Mae Aquash, killed because the activist group AIM thought she was a government informer. The movie THUNDERHEART was loosely (and I mean loosely) based upon this incident. What I’d like to know is: What the heck took 35 years for her alleged killer to be brought to justice? Btw, another person has already been convicted and yet another pleaded guilty to kidnapping Ms. Aquash. Let me guess that somebody’s hoping for a presidential pardon.  Maybe to be released just in time to partake of the billions that the lameduck Congress is going to hand over to Native Americans.  Surely they’ll get a “time served” sentence.  May Ms. Aquash rest in peace.

Finally, thanks to Obamanomics, the AP enlightens us, the 12-Days-of-Christmas gifts (you know, the partridge and the golden rings) will cost 10.8% more this year than last, almost $100,000, mostly on account of the high price of gold.  I was just pulling your leg, though.  AP didn’t tie the increase to Barry.  Of course not! 

So there’s some of the other news of the day.  Anything to add?  OPEN THREAD!