Written by It can be found throughout Scripture – the idea that the abuse of animals is an abuse of God’s creation. Now Dr. Richard Land and other religious teachers are becoming allies in the fight to end the exploitation of animals used in blood sports.
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Indonesian Punk Head Shaving Decried at L.A. Demonstration
Demonstrators were gathering outside the Indonesian Consulate in L.A. today to decry authorities treatment of punk rockers in the island nation last week.
A concert in Banda Aceh was raided and 65 fans were arrested and brought to a police camp for “reeducation.” Perhaps most notoriously, however, the peacock hair of the punk rockers was shaved by authorities.
VIVAnews – The Governor of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Irwandi Yusuf, backs up measures taken up by the police in Aceh following arrest of dozens of young men and women of so-called punks in the province. The governor claimed the action has no relation with the implementation of Islamic law in Aceh.
“People often relate this with the Sharia law in Aceh. In fact, it has nothing to do with it,” Irwandi said today, Dec 20.
Police, said Irwandi, only wanted the punkers to attend school, work and go home to their parents.
“It’s true that they have their rights. But, the government must also think about their future,” said Irwandi, who is running for the second term of Aceh Governor’s office.
Regarding the method, Irwandi said, that it is up to police standards. For instance, to join the police, students need to be shaved, soaked in water, and other disciplinary acts.
“To be more precise about it, ask the Police Chief,” Irwandi said.
Irwandi said that the measure was not against Human Rights.
“Who will think about their rights in the future? They cannot live like this forever, sleeping on sidewalks,” said Irwandi. “All I’m asking is that for them to live a normal life even if they have to sleep in parks.”
“If they make mistakes, they should be offered help. Even if they violate the law by falsifying documents and using illegal drugs, although not all of them use drugs, but they still need to be corrected by the police,” said Irwandi. “About the head shaving and being immersed in pool, well, that’s the police’s method.”
Dozens of young men and women have been detained for being “punk” and disturbing the peace in Aceh, Indonesia’s most devoutly Muslim province. They are being held in a remedial school, where they are undergoing “re-education”.
The 64 punks, many of whom are from as far away as Bali or Jakarta, were picked up on Saturday night during a local concert.
Radio host says world’s end actually coming in Oct
OAKLAND, Calif. – As crestfallen followers of a California preacher who foresaw the world’s end strained to find meaning in their lives, Harold Camping revised his apocalyptic prophecy Monday, saying he was off by five months because the Earth actually will be obliterated on Oct. 21.
Camping, who predicted that 200 million Christians would be taken to heaven Saturday before global cataclysm struck the planet, said he felt so terrible when his doomsday message did not come true that he left home and took refuge in a motel with his wife. His independent ministry, Family Radio International, spent millions — some of it from donations made by followers — on more than 5,000 billboards and 20 RVs plastered with the Judgment Day message.
Follower Jeff Hopkins also spent a good deal of his own retirement savings on gas money to power his car so people would see its ominous lighted sign showcasing Camping’s May 21 warning. As the appointed day drew nearer, Hopkins started making the 100-mile round trip from Long Island to New York City twice a day, spending at least $15 on gas each trip.
“I’ve been mocked and scoffed and cursed at and I’ve been through a lot with this lighted sign on top of my car,” said Hopkins, 52, a former television producer who lives in Great River, NY. “I was doing what I’ve been instructed to do through the Bible, but now I’ve been stymied. It’s like getting slapped in the face.”
Illinois Senate approves bill to restrict Westboro Baptist protests
The Illinois Senate passed legislation on Monday aimed at restricting members of the Westboro Baptist Church from protesting at funerals.
The infamous Westboro Baptist Church pickets the funerals of military families with offensive signs such as “Thank God for Dead Soldiers” and “God Hates America.” The church believes that God is punishing the United States because of America’s acceptance of homosexuality.
The State-Journal Register reported that the legislation would require anyone picketing a funeral to be at least 300 feet away, adding an extra 100 feet to current Illinois law.
The House version of the bill would have required protesters to remain at least 1,000 feet away.
Koran-Burning Pastor ignites tension in Muslim Capital of the United States
Dearborn, Michigan is home to the largest Muslim population and the largest mosque on the continent. It’s why Pastor Terry Jones said he came there to protest “Radical Islam.” While his planned protest never happened, many people gathered to protest against what they call his ignorance.
Homeland Security boss sees threat from U.S. Muslims
WASHINGTON – The chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee said Sunday he saw a security threat from organized al-Qaida efforts to radicalize American Muslims.
“The overwhelming majority of Muslims are outstanding Americans, but at this stage in our history there is an effort to radicalize efforts within the Muslim community,” Representative Peter King said on CNN’s “State of the Union“ program.
The New York Republican, who plans to address the matter in a congressional hearing on Thursday, cited recent foiled U.S. security threats from individuals trained by al-Qaida, including Afghan national Najibullah Zazi, who pleaded guilty in 2010 to plotting to bomb New York’s subway system.
“We’re talking about al-Qaida,” King said. “We’re talking about the affiliates of al-Qaida who have been radicalizing, and there’s been self-radicalization going on within the Muslim community, within a very small minority, but it’s there. And that’s where the threat is coming from at this time.”
Anti-Muslim US preacher Terry Jones could be banned from UK
The American preacher who planned a mass burning of the Qur’an on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks could be banned from entering Britain under incitement and national security laws.
Terry Jones, a pentecostal preacher, is to address the far-right group, the English Defence League (EDL), about “the evils of Islam” at a rally in Luton in February.
Theresa May, the home secretary, is under intense pressure to ban Jones and said she was “actively looking” at the case. She said Jones had “been on her radar for a few months” and, as home secretary, she could ban his entry if he was a threat to national security.
A statement on Jones’s website said: “During the protest, Dr Terry Jones will speak against the evils and destructiveness of Islam in support of the continued fight against the Islamification of England and Europe.” The EDL said it was “proud to announce” that Jones would be attending its “biggest demonstration to date”.
Hate Church Plans To Protest At Elizabeth Edwards Funeral
December 11, 2010 CNN
Interview: Agnostic Loses Custody Of Kids
Cenk Uygur (host of The Young Turks) on MSNBC Live speaks with Craig Scarberry about losing custody of his kids because he is agnostic.
Supreme Court to rule on Md. funeral protest case
In March 2006, the family of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder came to St. John’s Catholic Church in Carroll County to mourn their son, a Marine killed in Iraq.
Seven members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church also came to the funeral.
But instead of offering condolences, the church members were there to promote their church’s anti-homosexuality, anti-Catholic crusade.
Instead of bringing flowers, the church members carried signs that read, “Thank God for Dead Soldiers” and “Semper Fi Fags” — messages that no relevance to Cpl. Snyder’s life.
Dozens of motorcycles from the Patriot Guard Riders flanked the cortege in an effort to insulate the family from the protesters.
Westminster resident Dorris Lockard, whose home abuts St. John’s, said she is still stunned that anyone could picket such a solemn, sad occasion.
“A funeral is between you and the Lord,” the 77-year-old said.
Or is it?
A Claim of Pro-Islam Bias in Textbooks
HOUSTON — Some conservative members of the Texas Board of Education assert that the history books used in this state have a pro-Islamic bias, and they are upset about it.
Never shy about wading into the culture wars, they are planning to vote Friday for a resolution that would send a blunt message to textbook publishers: Do not present a pro-Islamic, anti-Christian version of history if you want to sell books in one of the nation’s largest markets.
“The purpose of this resolution is to ensure there is balanced treatment of divergent groups,” Gail Lowe, the chairwoman of the board, said. “In the past, the textbooks have had some bias against Christianity.”
Australian lawyer smokes pages of Bible and Koran, asking ‘Which is best?’
In a 12-minute clip entitled “Bible or Koran – which burns best?” Mr Stewart, who works for the Queensland University of Technology, holds up the two religious texts before ripping them apart and lighting the rolled up pages.
At one stage he inhales deeply from one of the roll-ups before blowing out the smoke and commenting: “Holy”.
The video, which has since been deleted, was posted on the video-sharing site over the weekend, coinciding with the ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
Man burns Quran at Ground Zero on 9/11 as mosque protests rock NY
Anti-Islam sentiment has been running high in the U.S. on that anniversary of the September 11 attacks. In New York, a man set fire to pages of the Koran just feet away from Ground Zero. Two pastors in the State of Tennessee are also said to have set light to copies of the Muslim holy book. Tension has also flared in New York over plans to build a mosque and Islamic Community Centre just blocks from the site of the World Trade Centre. Around a thousand people gathered near Ground Zero to support the construction, while several hundred demonstrators opposed to it, rallied nearby.
