12/7/05 notes...more signs of the times.
...President Bush's Santa joke... "The lighting of the National Christmas tree is one of the great traditions in our nation's capital. Each year, we gather here to celebrate the season of hope and joy – and to remember the story of one humble life that lifted the sights of humanity. Santa, thanks for coming. Glad you made it."...in remarks at the lighting of the national Christmas tree in Washington. Just seems a little puzzling this particular Christmas season. No offense intended, I'm sure, but then at the 12/6 White House press briefing, Press Secretary McClellan, when asked if the President would apologize to Christians for the remark, said the White House didn't see any problem with the remarks. "The president meant exactly what he said."
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...Egyptian police beat women voters in a precinct in Zagazig on the final day of Egypt's legislative elections. Police blocked the women's access to a polling station in the city of Zagaig, a neighborhood where the minority party Muslim Brotherhood were expected to win. According to the article, the Muslim Brotherhood wants to install Islamic law in Egypt.
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...Was it a sin in the first place? Another take on the case of Michelle McCusker, the pre-kindergarten teacher who was fired from her job at the Catholic school where she worked. The ACLU has filed a complaint on Miss McCusker's behalf, claiming discrimination against a pregnant woman in the workplace. As the author of this article points out, the situation has "sparked a debate over the constitutional rights of a pregnant woman versus the rights of a religious institution to observe and enforce moral standards in the workplace." But, as the author points out, it apparently has not sparked a debate about sin.
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...Some Jewish leaders met recently in Manhattan regarding concerns that the religious right are trying to Christianize America. The meeting was called by Anti-Defamation League president Abraham Foxman due to his concerns about Christian groups trying to impose their religious beliefs on the nation. "There's a tone deafness in [the evangelical] community about religious freedom," said Marc Stern, who is the assistant executive director of the American Jewish Congress. "There seems to be among them a lack of awareness as to how they're crowding out others."
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...Ford pulls advertising from publications targeted to homosexuals. Ford called their move a business decision, and not a response to a boycott by the American Family Association. See the full article for comments from the combatants on both sides. Here's one from each side: "
"We are deeply dismayed by reports in the media and otherwise that the Ford Motor Co. has entered into a confidential agreement with the extremist American Family Association that requires Ford to stop advertising in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media," reads a statement signed by 17 groups.
"If there is an agreement with AFA, we expect Ford to disavow it. We expect Ford to publicly reaffirm its historic support for our community. And, we expect Ford to meet with LGBT representatives this week to resolve these concerns."
And from the other side:
"They've heard our concerns; they are acting on our concerns," Mr. Wildmon said. "We are ending the boycott of Ford. While we still have a few differences with Ford, we feel that our concerns are being addressed in good faith and will continue to be addressed in the future.
"The dealers were very helpful in bridging a gap and opening a line of communication between AFA and Ford. The dealers are basically our kind of people who share many of our concerns." Mr. Donald Wildman, head of the AFA.
...And here's a link to another article on this same subject.