Here's one of those

modern 'big questions'...

Does Contemporary Neuroscience Support or Challenge the Reality of Free Will?

Great header graphic for this article. I made that decision freely, of my own free will...

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On this date

in 1930,

Gandhi began the

Salt March,
or
Satyagraha
(though that term means much more than this one instance of peaceful resistance or rebellion).

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Progress?

Progress and Rat Poison in Morocco

It may seem so for some people, but it really alway depends on where you are in the culture. What may seem to be progress and freedom to some is anything but for others.

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An interesting article

from a right-wing perspectice...

A Hidden History of Evil

"Why doesn’t anyone care about the unread Soviet archives?"

While I, too, am appalled to read about the uncaring response by the Russian Premier to killings, deaths and tragedies, anyone who doesn't think that politicians in the West have had similar attitudes (and made similar comments) to similar sorts of events because of their ideology is either trying to fool themselves or others, or both. I find that just a little disingenuous...

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I'm very happy

that the U.S. is standing up for human rights and against repression...

China lashes out at US resolution on Falungong

...despite the fact that China owns a huge chunk of the American debt...

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Uh-huh. Sure. Whatever.

Will the Government Take Over the Internet?

Now the e-e-e-e-v-i-l Obama is going to steal your internet. O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-h-h-h-h-h-h-!

(Sometimes I can't believe some of these writers are Catholic!)

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I'm of two minds on this

China condemns 'groundless' US criticism of web control

"China has denounced US criticism of its internet controls, saying it could harm ties between the two countries."

While I object to China's restrictions on the internet in general, just as I object to their restrictions on freedom of speech and other freedoms, I'm not sure that 'freedom of internet' is a human right, and I'll always object to the U.S. sticking its nose into another country's affairs. If China was the size of Grenada they would have invaded already. It's always about their own interests anyway...

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While this might be overblown

it does speak to some freedom and safety concerns for the public, some of which may be in conflict with each other...

The Neighborhood Pornucopia

While I certainly don't condone this behaviour I do find one thing interesting. In the discussion within this article there is what seems to be a common belief that anyone doing this, and becoming aroused while doing it, are an immediate threat to the safety of those around them. It's an odd thought...

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An inspired work of art


Free Speech Personified: Norman Rockwell's inspiring and enduring painting

I've always liked this painting. Not because I'm a staunch defender of the U.S. Constitution but because of the strength and dignity of the main subject of the painting. I'm a big fan of realism, and though I tend toward realism that isn't sentimental (and some of Norman Rockwell's art could certainly be called that) this particular work evokes the exact emotion that I believe it is supposed to, not just the abstract idea of 'freedom of speech' but the courage and strength that are, of necessity, attached to that freedom...

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Nobody is safe

on the Intertubes...

Worldwide battle rages for control of the internet

Governments and organizations all over want to know what you're doing when you use it and they want to control it when you're on the 'tubes...

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Amen!


Pope Says Freedom Is Realized in Service

"Human beings are truly free when we live in the truth of our dependency on God's love, count on him to provide all things, and serve others, says Benedict XVI."

'Nuff said.

'Cept for one short note

November 9th is the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Everyone should remember this date in 1989.

Berlin Wall - Wikipedia

Berlin Wall Online

On this date

in 1909, the first edition of the Little Red Song Book was published.

"Arise, you prisoners of starvation!"

Don't bother travelling

to the U.S. anytime soon.


U.S. border agents given power to seize travellers' laptops, cellphones

This allows them to confiscate your cellphone or laptop and examine every bit of data on it without even any suspicion that you might be involved in illegal activity. They just have to feel like taking it. More personal freedoms down the drain. There's no such thing as democracy or freedom in the U.S. anymore...

Do you remember the old days in Canada?

Back when there used to be freedom of speech?

Alberta Pastor Fined $7000 and Ordered to Publicly Apologize and Remain Silent on Homosexuality

I'm not saying I agree with his opinions, but, if society doesn't let him express them, as long as he's not calling for violence against anyone, then there's a good chance that society will not let you express yours either. It's a slippery slope. Who decides what is ok to say and what isn't? It's very scary...

An interesting article

on SCARY freedom...

Freedom is Scary

"You know the drill: The Church is a prison that shackles the hearts and minds of people who yearn for the freedom to think and act as they please."

(I can hear Riche Havens' Woodstock performance throughout the article, in the background. I'm old...)

See what happens when you give people a bit of freedom?

Vietnamese Catholics protest stealing of church property

That's why Communist countries are so fond of the use of force to control the citizens. Darn humans, always complaining. Don't they know the State knows better (this doesn't just apply to Communism, btw).

Democracy and Pakistan

are hardly able to be used in the same sentence these days...

Benazir Bhutto's death a 'body blow for democracy' says bishop

Not the first group to make this realization

"Finally they realized that this was their biggest enemy, and they took it down." - Aung Zaw, editor of an exile magazine, on the military dictatorship of Myanmar (Burma), which shut down the Internet there to block images and information about the suppression of protests

- From the Globe & Mail, Saturday, October 6, 2007

Dark, evil things don't like the light of day.