The Median Sib

Reuters has the news that the State Department has issued a statement concerning the Danish cartoons of Mohammad.

Washington on Friday condemned caricatures in European newspapers of the Prophet Mohammad, siding with Muslims who are outraged that the publications put press freedom over respect for religion.

By inserting itself into a dispute that has become a lightning rod for anti-European sentiment across the Muslim world, the United States could help its own battered image among Muslims.”

These cartoons are indeed offensive to the belief of Muslims,” State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said in answer to a question. “We all fully recognize and respect freedom of the press and expression but it must be coupled with press responsibility. Inciting religious or ethnic hatreds in thismanner is not acceptable.”

“We call for tolerance and respect for all communities for their religious beliefs and practices,” he added.

It seems to me that IF the United States is going to officially insert itself into this controversy, it would side with freedom of the press.

And WHY were the cartoons written or drawn to begin with? If the Muslims did not use their religion as an excuse to kill, terrorize, burn, and destroy, there would be no material for such cartoons. Even Muslim “clerics” don’t preach brotherhood and peace. They encourage and incite people to rabid violence and hatred. I hear some people talking about how peace-loving and gentle the “true” Muslims are. But I don’t hear or read of Muslims condemning all the atrocities that terrorists are doing in the name of Mohammad. By their silence, they condone it. From all I see, read or hear, Islam is, in reality, a religion of fear, hatred, violence and injustice.

I think it’s time that the Muslim world start showing a little press responsibility and respect for religion.

Captain’s Quarters asks: Would the State Department have apologized to Nazis in 1938 for depictions of Hitler as a lunatic?
Michelle Malkin has a suggestion for the Islamic protestors.
Blue Star Chronicles says there’s a storm coming.
Dr. Sanity talks about how to deal with terrorists from the perspective of how to deal with a psychiatric emergency.
My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy write about democracy in a cartoon, and she is conducting a “buy Danish” campaign.
The Anchoress says we fight for the right to disdain you.
Atlas Shrugs wonders why Muslims are only now being outraged over cartoons that were published in September.
California Conservative says it’s all about politics.
Right Wing Nation posts about the cartoons, too.
The Business of America is Business gives a great lesson on the effects of boycotts.

Open Trackback Weekend - Linked to: The Conservative Cat, Stuck on Stupid, Jo’s Cafe, Linkfest Haven, Third World County, The Real Ugly American, A Tic in the Mind’s Eye.

Link to: http://themediansib.blogspot.com/2006/02/cacophony-of-cartoons-crazies-and.html

Trackback to: http://haloscan.com/tb/mcarol49/113901967305010988

This morning, I listened to Paul Harvey News and Comment on the radio as I drove to work. The last item he mentioned was of great concern to me. Seems there is a woman in Florida who is celebrating her 108th birthday today.

What, you may ask, is her secret to a long and healthy life?

And the answer is that she eats a dish of ice cream every single night before she goes to bed!

Okay, I guess if it’s FOR MY HEALTH, I’ll go ahead and do it. Oh, the things we do to maintain our health.

Another teacher mentioned today that there was an article in the newspaper I should read. When I said I didn’t get the newspaper, she told me I could check online - that it would probably be on the newspaper’s website. I went to the newspaper’s website - something I’ve probably only done a couple of times before. I never got around to looking for the article because as soon as the site came up on the screen, I noticed that they had a button to click for local stories. One of the stories was about a string of nearby home burglaries. Nearby burglaries concern me. So I clicked that link instead.

It seems that an alert police officer noticed a car being driven erratically and heading away from a home that had been burglarized. He stopped the car, questioned the young driver and found some of the stolen jewelry inside. The guy had burglarized five nearby homes - stealing jewelry, bottles of wine and DVDs. He was charged with five counts of aggravated burglary and, as of yesterday afternoon, has not made bail.

I felt sick when I read the next part of the article because it listed the full name and address of the “man” who had committed the crimes. It was an 18-year old former student of mine. A boy I’ve known since he was in kindergarten when his older sister was in my class. A couple years later, when he reached second grade, he also was in my class. Smart - a handful - and the apple of his mother’s eye. He was one of those students that made a lasting impression - a student and family I will always remember.

My heart is now broken for him and his family. I can only imagine what might have led to his actions. His mother and older sister must be light years beyond devastated and humilated. And I wonder how he is feeling…an 18-year old in an adult jail?

What do you do when someone you know has been arrested? It’s a small community - everyone knows. Do you send a card to him or his mom? Do you call or visit? Do you write an email? If so, what do you say? Is there ettiquette for handling something like this.

I wrote several months ago about how I have each child I work with keep a journal. After the children write their entries, I always write a response to each one. It has been going very well. Kids have even ASKED to write in their journals lately, and they’re always eager to read my replies.

Yesterday one small group of children came into my room and sat at the table with me. One of them, Billy (name is changed, of course), sat across from me. He propped his face on his hands, elbows on the table, eyes half closed.

“What’s up, Billy?” I asked.

“I’m tired,” he replied.

“Why don’t you write about it in your journal?” I suggested.
He did. I loved the result! Notice he has a thermometer to gauge his mood (measured from 100 at the top to -100 at the bottom). The petals on the flower are another indication of his feelings. When the thermometer is in the bottom numbers, the petals fall off the flower and pile up at the bottom.

Take a couple minutes to study the journal entry. I think it’s wonderfully expressive. By the way, he was smiling by the time he left my classroom, and when he came in today, I asked how he was feeling.

His reply: “About 60.”

Thirteen Questions for Thursday

Terrell at Alone on a Limb had these thirteen questions last week. So I’m tackling them this week.

1. What is your earliest memory? Having to leave my beloved scooter (favorite toy) behind when we moved from Kentucky to Georgia because there was no room for it in the moving van. I believe I was around 4 years old at the time.
2. What was your longest hike? Probably the 8 miles that I hiked along the tundra in Alaska’s Denali Park this past summer.
3. When were you most alone? Immediately after my second divorce. I felt like such a failure - and didn’t want to be around anyone.
4. Describe a carefree moment of your life: Dancing with a guy I dated for awhile who was a wonderful dancer — whirling around the dance floor was so much fun!
5. What has been your most daring moment? Snowtubing a few years ago — taking off on a run, jumping onto the tube on my stomach and flying down the hill - almost dizzy speeds it seemed - then up the hill on the lift and soaring down on the tube - again and again. Such fun for this middle-aged lady!
6. Describe what you admire about someone you consider a personal hero/heroine: I admire President Bush because he has held firm to his beliefs amid incredible pressure from the democrats and the press.
7. What is your most interesting/outstanding talent? I love to dance and am fairly good at it - although I rarely do it anymore.
8. You have won a free seven day airfare to the destination of your choice. Where and why? I’d go to Italy because I love Italian history and culture - cuisine, too.
9. Climb aboard my time/space machine. You get one turn and must return after the equivalent of a week’s visit. Where, when, and why? I would go 25 years into the future to see what lies ahead for my children and grandchildren. I worry about what they may face. Maybe the trip will reassure me, or maybe it will terrify me. On second thought, though, it would probably be best NOT to know the future. So I’ll change my mind and say I’d like to go back to when my mother and father were young - see what their lives were like.
10. You have been appointed executor of my $10,000,000 charitable bequest. How will you use it? I’d keep a million for myself, give my two children a million each, a million to each of my six siblings, and a million to my mother. Whew! Spent THAT ten million fast!
11. What is your proudest accomplishment? It sounds cheesy, but my two children. They’re wonderful young adults. I’m incredibly proud of them and the great relationship I have with them and their respective spouses.
12. What question/assignment would you add to this meme? I’d add “What do you want to accomplish in the next year?
13. Write a seven line poem (diamante) about a person, place, or thing this meme has brought to mind. Use this form:

Waltz

Graceful Movement

Swinging, Smiling, Whirling

Keeping Time Making Memories

Circling, Rising, Falling

Happy Fun

Dance

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

1. Wendy

2. KDubs

3. Joan

4. Terrell

5. Jane

6. better safe than sorry

7. LadyBug

8. Barbara

9. Stacie

10. Chickadee

11. Nicole

12. Thirdee

13. D

14. Karen

15. Uisce

16. Melissa

17. Norma

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I admit that I love watching “The Biggest Loser” on NBC. Right now the final showdown between two families is on TV. The results will be revealed in a few minutes. I just think it is an inspiring show. I watch these people who stick with their diet and exercise for MONTHS and are successful. The change that losing weight and exercising makes in both their appearance and their attitude is just phenomenal. Sometimes one can hardly believe that the before and after photos are of the same person. I mean, really — Matt before “the ranch” and Matt after the competition ISN’T the same person. Just incredible!

They had open auditions for the show a few weeks ago in Nashville. It would be a good thing to do, but I could never wear those skimpy weight-in outfits and be weighed on national TV. Every bulge and ounce of fat emphasized and out there for the world to see. I could handle having Bob as my trainer . . . but Jillian……Jillian scares the crap out of me!

I am saddened that two ABC employees (a news anchor and a camera operator) were injured by an IED this week. I am saddened even further after reading Code Red: Women for the Troops’ post referring to the news. If importance is measured by the amount of media coverage, then our soldiers are being seriously short-changed.

Other bloggers post on the topic:
The Dread Pundit Bluto has some quotes from the troops and choice words about Christiane Amanpour.
Prairie Pundit checks in, too.
Real Republic asks WHO is fighting the war anyhow?
Blonde Sagacity talks about a “conspiracy theory” related to this story.
The Astute Blogger suggests that maybe it’s time to redeploy all reporters.

Joan, over at Daddy’s Roses, has a new meme up: Questions for Jesus. What are the first five things you want to ask Jesus when you get to heaven. Joan provides some very thoughtful responses. I kinda took a different road - a lighter look at the meme.

Here are my questions for Jesus:

(1) Heaven! Wow! How did I get here?
(2) OK, since this is heaven, I must be skinny! So where are the scales? I want to see for myself. No, on second thought, just throw the scales away. I don’t need ‘em now. I never want to see them again. Just show me to the mall. I want to get some size 2 clothes immediately. Maybe a mirror?
(3) Where’s the chocolate room? If this is heaven, there must be lots of chocolate somewhere.
(4) Could you show me to the computer room? I need to blog about this!
(5) Oh yes - is there a “heaven blogroll” I can join? That’s sure to increase my links.

So, all you THE MEDIAN SIB readers, what would be YOUR five questions for Jesus?

If you’re interested in reading the best of the past week’s posts on education, head on over to Diane Weir on Education where this week’s Carnival of Education, Week 52 is ready for your reading pleasure. And yes, faithful readers, I have a post on there this week.