Friday Forums

What is Deism?

D. Tree — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:11:29 EST

Clearly there are some posters on this blog in need of information (that is, information provided from sources other than Glenn Beck).

So, perhaps we should start posting little facts to keep the more combative members of this site informed. That way we can help them to either make better arguments, or perhaps we'll even persuade them to our side. Think its impossible? Well, one must remember even the most belligerent trolls come here for a reason: they must be confused or insecure about their own beliefs and they must be curious about ours.

So let this be the first installment of a series of posts sharing information that will hopefully educate us all.

Claim: most of the Founding Fathers were "Deists."
Fact: True
Question: but what exactly is Deism anyway?

The implications of Isaac Newton's physical theories of mechanics, which treated the universe as if it were a machine (hence the term "mechanics") built by a creating god yet running on its own principles independent of the interference of the creating god (though Newton never denied that God couldn't interefere, just that he didn't), encompassed much more than physical change and movement. Soon other areas of experience came to be regarded as mechanistic and independent of divine interference: social structures, economics, politics, and so forth. Each of these areas could be understood and manipulated solely through rational methods, since they operated through consistent and orderly laws and principles

The philosophes of mid-eighteenth century France developed this mechanistic view of the universe into a radically revised version of Christianity they called deism. Drawing on Newton's description of the universe as a great clock built by the Creator and then set in motion, the deists among the philosophes argued that everything—physical motion, human physiology, politics, society, economics—had its own set of rational principles established by God which could be understood by human beings solely by means of their reason. This meant that the workings of the human and physical worlds could be understood without having to bring religion, mysticism, or divinity into the explanation. The Deists were not atheists; they simply asserted that everything that concerned the physical and human universes could be comprehended independently of religious concerns or explanations.

LINK

People who don't really understand what Deism is like to use it as a way to claim the Founders saw America as a decidedly Christian nation, and that there should be no separation between church and state.

The fact is quite the opposite.

The Founders, inspired by the Philosophes of the Enlightement, believed that religion and laws should absolutely be separate. They also believed religion was a bad influence on societies and was the cause for much war and suffering. They believed in the power of rational thought, laws, and government, to improve the quality of life through scientific progress, rational behavior, and improved social structures (a.k.a. what conservatives lamely call "entitlement programs").

So I hope that clears it up for anyone who is curious or confused about the Founders intentions, and about what Deism means.

Before I go, I'll leave you all with one more definition of Deism

Deism: Deism is a term coined in the philosophe movement and applies to two related ideas: a) religion should be reasonable and should result in the highest moral behavior of its adherents; b) the knowledge of the natural world and the human world has nothing to do whatsoever with religion and should be approached completely free from religious ideas or convictions.

Best wishes to my fellow patriotic Democrats, and thanks for all that you do to make the world a better place.

Best,
D. Tree

Will Someone Please Shut Cheney Up, He Gives Me A Headache

Mr Bill — Thu, 21 May 2009 20:03:53 EDT

The Big question is why doesn’t anyone have the guts to tell Dick Cheney to shut up?

I can’t believe he is still getting away with claiming that the Bush administration and Republicans kept us safe for 8 years.

Excuse me Mr. X-Vice President September 11, 2001 was on your watch, 2,974 victims of terrorism dead on American soil on your watch Mr. Cheney.

To use a term which is actually an understatement “what hutsba” I guess in Dick Cheney’s mind they didn’t take office until September 12, 2001, well here’s a new flash Dick yours and the Republicans tenure from 2001 to yes even present.

September 11, 2001 – 2,974 dead – Terrorism

March 2003 to present – 4,299 dead Americans – Iraq War

March 2003 to present – 31,156 wounded Americans – Iraq War

The as yet unknown cost of the Bush administration’s failure to finish the job in Afghanistan which has allowed the Taliban to regroup, reorganize and recruit to greater numbers than before the Afghan war.

Persons like Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh talk big they talk brave and they talk as if they are on the front lines of defending America.

The truth is they are only brave precisely because someone else is doing the fighting and dying for America both Cheney and Limbaugh had an opportunity to defend America to show they were actually men and not the cowards we now know them to be.

In Cheney’s case a record five that’s right count them FIVE deferments from service at a time when his country truly needed him.

A New Tea Party (Friday Forums)

D. Tree — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:41:57 EDT

"No Taxation Without Representation!" patriots yelled, as they dumped valuable imported tea into the harbor to protest paying taxes to an elitist government that ceased to represent them.

In my mind, the idea of a New Tea Party has resonance today: we are once again at a point in our history where the divide between rich and poor has grown, and our government no longer represents us.

Our taxes are supposed to earn us a seat at the table. Our taxes are also the lifeblood of our economy, in that they sustain the infrastructure we use to make money. Our roads, our schools, our military, our colleges, our communities themselves are the means we use to earn wealth and achieve the American Dream.

The justification for Fair Taxes for rich and poor alike is simple: the more you use the resources of our country to earn your wealth, the more you pay to use those resources: things like roads, staff, buildings, ports, etc...

Republican talking heads say Fair Taxes somehow hurt our economy and run against free markets, but isn't it a simple law of economics that you can't get something for nothing? Would you buy a membership to a country club, and not expect to have some of it go toward maintaining the pool you use?

At this period in time, The American Dream is an impossibility for most of us. A small cabal of the wealthiest people in this country have effectively purchased our government right out from under us. The economic foundation of our unique American Promise is eroding. We are rapidly becoming colonists in a land we no longer own, and under a government that no longer represents us.

So when someone tells you Democrats are going to raise your taxes, you can always tell them this: It's time for the rest to pay their Fair Share.

If they don't, we have a proud tradition in this country of throwing off tyranny. We've done it before and we'll do it again. This time, it will be a Tea Party for the new Millennium, as we re-evaluate our citizen status and our role in a global community: not as colonists, but as full participants.

Best,
D. Tree

Friday 8/8 Forum Topic and Update

D. Tree — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:27:51 EDT

Dear Partybuilders,

First off, my apologies for not being able to publish a digest edition of last weekend's Forum on Corruption an Education Reform.

There were some great posts and if you click here, you can see the whole discussion. (Many thanks to Laura Schneider for her prolific contribution last weekend, and also a big thanks to Vidya for joining, and to BobBl for his post on no child left behind).

Update:
Due to popular demand, Friday Forums now begin in the morning on Friday, and run through the weekend, so if anyone wants to contribute posts to the group we now have three days to do it!

Friday, August 8th Forum Topics:
Due to requests from PB members and in honor of the recent GOP attacks regarding Democrat's handling of taxes and the economy, the proposed topic for this Friday & Weekend Forums is:

Taxes and the Economy

I've already seen some great posts on the subject in the last couple of days, so if you have posted on this topic already please consider joining the Friday Forums group and reposting them to the group beginning tomorrow!

Otherwise, if you have ideas, talking points, or anything else on your mind about Taxes and the Economy, please consider posting blogs about it to the Friday Forums group!

Topics Nominated for the next Friday (August 15) Forum:

* The Real John McCain
* Immigration Reform
* DNC Nomination rules/calendar
* Healthcare
* The Party Platform
* Terrorism/National Security
* Censorship/Freedom of Speech

Please vote for the following topics and add your nominations in the comments section.

Thanks for everything that you do,
D. Tree

P.S. remember, we can't archive your post in the group unless you join.

P.P.S. - If you this is the first you've heard of the Friday Forum's group, you can check out previous "digest editions" of the discussions Here and Here.

Problems in Illinois with NCLB mandated standardized testing

BobBl — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:28:55 EDT

Friends:

By now, everyone is surely aware that the NCLB Education act "mandates" annual standardized, "high-stakes" tests be developed and administered in all our States to nominally increase "accountability" in public education.

I want to raise another question. What agency has responsibility for oversight of the "testing companies" that are building and administering the States' standardized tests?

The obvious answer is that the USDOE has "statutory responsibility" for oversight and final "approval" of the State's testing systems.

But recent developments in Illinois seemingly call the "efficacy" of the DFederal Department of Education's oversight system into question.

Here's the link to a story in today's Chicago Tribune that started me examining the issue and related facts:

Errors may snarl state testing Officials hire auditor, worry state test scores may show failure of system (By Stephanie Banchero - Chicago Tribune reporter August 2, 2008)

(Click Link for Story)

Here are some links to the "official correspondence" between the US Department of Education and the Illinois State Board of Education about the "review and approval" of the Illinois Statewide Assessment and Accountability system.

(June 23, 2006)
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/nclbfinalassess/il.html

(September 8, 2006)
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/nclbfinalassess/il2.html

(June 29, 2007)
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/nclbfinalassess/il3.html

(January 4, 2008)
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/nclbfinalassess/il4.html

The apparent problems with "validity and reliability" of the ISAT were resolved; according to USDOE's standards for oversight of state assessment systems.

These are the facts; as reported by the Chicago Tribune today and from the US Department of Education's "official correspondence" with the Illinois State Board of Education.

Does anyone besides me see a discrepancy here? Could it be either the Illinois statewide assessment system is flawed, or the Federal oversight of that system is flawed.... OR BOTH?

I'm very temped to offer my "interpretation" of what this might mean and the situation's underlying causes. But I'll hold off on that and monitor the posting to see if anyone besides me thinks this subject is worth talking about.

If appropriate, I'll conntribute my views to subsequent discussions.

BobBl

This is a great article.

Vidya — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:10:12 EDT

America - Death By Terminal
Madness And Stupidity

By Karl Schwarz

7-17-8

Friday Forums Topics (8/1/08): Corruption & Education Reform

D. Tree — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:39:43 EDT

Dear Partybuilders and members of the Friday Forums group:

After publishing the digest edition of last weekend's discussion forum and calling for topic nominations, I think if would be useful to continue to do 2 topics and to keep the discussion forum open all weekend, in order to get as much participation as possible.

Topics for this Friday (and weekend) Forum are:

* Education Reform
* Corruption/Ethics Reform

If you have ideas on these topics, and if you want to post about them, please consider joining the Friday Forums PB group here so we can include your contribution in the weekly digest edition! (remember, we can't include your post unless you join the group).

For those who haven't yet heard of the Friday Forums group and might be wondering what it is: We are a group of PB members interested in fostering in-depth discussion on issues important to Democrats. The Group is moderated so when you click on the group blog, the posts are all on-topic and organized.

We believe that by using the tools provided in the Partybuilder system, we can have deeper and more productive discussions on these important topics. So far we have hosted very good discussions on Sexism, Racism, and The Environment.

The group is moderated by PB members from both Hillary and Obama camps in order to ensure fair representation of all contributers.

Every Friday, we suggest topics for the group to post on and discuss through the weekend. At the end of each weekend, a "Digest Edition" is published (you can click here and here to see the previous 2 digests).

Thanks to everyone contributing energy toward a Democratic victory in 2008, and for your contributions both in the Friday Forums group and elsewhere in Partybuilder.

In Unity,
D. Tree

(moderators of the Friday Forums group are: Mr. Bill, Laura Schneider, Blueberry, D. Tree, Someonewhocares)

Friday Forums Digest Edition 7-31-08

D. Tree — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:03:48 EDT

First off, a big thank you to all who participated in last Friday's discussion, and a special thanks to everyone who has joined the Friday Forums group and contributed posts!

In this Edition of the Friday Forums Digest:
1) Digest Edition of Friday 7/25 Blog Posts
2) Bonus Digest Edition of Anne K's "Issue Discussion" group posts
3) Why Join the Friday Forums partybuilder group?
4) Forum Topic suggestions for Friday, August 1 Forum + Call for next forum topics
---------------------------------

1) Forum on the Environment + "Farewell Mike Link, and Partybuilder Suggestion Box:

Someonewhocares
Weather making

pcmoore28
Going Nuclear - A Green makes the Case

Staten Island Democrat
Green energy on a local level

D. Tree
Greens as the New Liberal Majority?

Mr. Bill
Texas Oil Tycoon Urges US to Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil
Off Shore Wind Farm Locations Found Via Satellite
NBC News reports on electric car conversion shop

Laura Schneider
Climate Change Dominates International Water Conference
New Process Converts Poultry Litter into Bio-oil
Melting Russian Permafrost Could Accelerate Global Warming
How global warming may destroy the Earth sooner than we think
The Energy Crisis -- changes we can make at the local level
Solar Taxi and other interesting ideas
The answer may be transit systems by rail and bus
Leave Your Carbon Footprint at the Door

Blueberry
Let Them Eat Cake. No, wait...let them eat ethanol!
Biofuels....savior or curse?

Jan CO
Solar Thermal Plants
partybuilder Ideas
Hemp Great for the Environment
Hemp The Bio-fuel #2
Hemp The Bio-fuel - Not just Marijuana
Hemp The Bio-fuel - Did you Know
Hemp The Bio-fuel #1

2) *Bonus Discussions from Anne K's "Issue Discussion" partybuilder group!*

Illinoismel
Wind farms Mr. Bill?

Anne K
WILDCARD night
3rd Party
Nipple Nazis
Thought for the day
Constitutionally Protected Freedom of Speech

Click "Read More" to vote on topics for tomorrow's discussion, and to see why you should join the Friday Forums group!

Friday Forum - Solar Thermal Plants

Jan CO — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:19:37 EDT

By MATTHEW L. WALD Published: March 6, 2008

BOULDER CITY, Nev. — At first, as he adjusted pumps and checked temperatures, Aaron Boucher looked like any technician in the control room of an electrical plant. Then he rushed to the window and scanned the sky, to check his fuel supply.

Mr. Boucher was battling clouds, timing the operations of his power plant to get the most out of patchy sunshine. It is a skill that may soon be in greater demand, for the world appears to be on the verge of a boom in a little-known but promising type of solar power.

It is not the kind that features shiny panels bolted to the roofs of houses. This type involves covering acres of desert with mirrors that focus intense sunlight on a fluid, heating it enough to make steam. The steam turns a turbine and generates electricity.

The technology is not new, but it is suddenly in high demand. As prices rise for fossil fuels and worries grow about their contribution to global warming, solar thermal plants are being viewed as a renewable power source with huge potential.

After a decade of no activity, two prototype solar thermal plants were recently opened in the United States, with a capacity that could power several big hotels, neon included, on the Las Vegas Strip, about 20 miles north of here. Another 10 power plants are in advanced planning in California, Arizona and Nevada.

On sunny afternoons, those 10 plants would produce as much electricity as three nuclear reactors, but they can be built in as little as two years, compared with a decade or longer for a nuclear plant. Some of the new plants will feature systems that allow them to store heat and generate electricity for hours after sunset.

Greens as the New Liberal Majority? (Friday Forums)

D. Tree — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:38:24 EDT

For this Forum topic on the Environment, I would like to share something of a personal belief - a little "speculative politics."

If all indications are to be taken seriously, there is a strong likelihood that our climate is on the verge of a change that could be catastrophic to us.

As ocean levels rise and local climates change, we should prepare ourselves for mass population displacements, health crisis, and civil unrest around the world.

The danger is very real. The effects possibly as catastrophic as a WMD attack. Our civilization may well be threatened. In order to survive these changes, I believe a new global plurality will emerge. If ever there was a time for the Green movement to become a viable political force we may be about to witness it.

"How," Do you ask?

It began more than 40 years ago when the conservative movement coalesced around a long-term strategy to dominate our country's political system. In the 90's in Congress, and on to Bush/Cheney in the White House in 2000, they finally achieved their goal.

But what did they do with their power? The abused it. They forgot the fundamental tenet of our government system: checks and balances.

No democracy can survive without a healthy opposition party. The GOP took their dominance over our system and used it for greed, and incompetently made a mess of our economy in the process. Not to mention the thousands of brave soldiers killed. And yes, even the attack on 9/11 lies at your feet George Bush and Dick Cheney. You had a warning and chose not to act.

GOP strategists say they have a "brand" problem. Well, they're right: the country has just about had it with the governing practices of the Republican Party.

By all predictions, the party who wins this election in 2008 will win by a landslide, and as disaffected republicans, independents and re-inspired liberals coalesce around a new majority, Democrats will come to a similar fork in the road: how will we share our power?

I for one, have had it with the GOP. If the Democratic Party can house as complex and diverse (and divergent) group of people as it appears to be doing, then we will have our new coalition. After a time we will become the de facto status quo.

But we will need to foster an opposition party, and personally I'd rather it was another party beside sthe GOP.

If the Greens were to fill that vacuum of power, then by definition the Democratic Party will become the new conservative party. The very definition of "conservatism" would change, the "brand" of the GOP relegated to the radical fringes with as much power as any third party.

Stranger things have happened, and who knows - we don't know what catastrophic climate change will do to us - but if we don't start taking the threat as seriously as we do the threat of terrorism, there may be no chance of us at all.

Peace,
D. Tree

Friday Forum - partybuilder Ideas

Jan CO — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:49:39 EDT

We already know the DNC site is undergoing some major changes along with new people coming in and others moving on. I think it’s safe to say there are already major changes proposed for the partybuilder blog site wether that is to shut it down or to add moderators and rules. The rumors have been going around as to which, either way I think we’ll all see soon enough once the convention is over.

However, in case it is not set in stone here is my wish list and the wishes of many others when this came up months ago, if partybuilder stays:

Moderators – 24/7

Rules, Etiquette and Help and How To - You agree to TOS when you create your blog (didn’t we?) so make that the first page you see when you enter partybuilders. Have simple etiquette, the Rules of the blog, and what happens if you break them, including links. Make that a clickable page meaning you have to click it to close it and not by pass it. Also, make that the Home or Opening Page with a link to it on every page inside partybuilder. That would be especially helpful to new people or those that forget.

Delete control

Ignore control

Improved Search features

Skip to whatever page number

Blog Poll and personal blog polls

Folders/Bins for all the various topics – such as

General - Health & Education - Environment & Energy - Economic Policy Foreign Policy / Security - Economy - Environment -Military - Etc

In addition, have those on the left of the site since there is nothing else over there.

Oh and fix the various options options in html editor.

Please and thank you : )

Texas Oil Tycoon Urges US to Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil

Mr Bill — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:27:28 EDT

Texas Oil Tycoon Urges US to Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill
22 July 2008
Tate report - Download (MP3)
Tate report - Listen (MP3)
M Arcega Pickens report / Broadband - Download (WM)
M Arcega Pickens report / Broadband - Watch (WM)

Longtime Texas oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens is calling on the U.S. government to take steps to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil. He is promoting an energy plan that features wind and natural gas - a proposal he discussed with lawmakers at a congressional hearing Tuesday. VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

T. Boone Pickens testifies before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill, 22 July 22, 2008

T. Boone Pickens is a man with a mission.

"I only have one enemy, and that's foreign oil," he said. "That's what I want to get rid of. My plan will reduce our dependency on foreign oil by 38 percent."

Pickens told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that the United States imports nearly 70 percent of its oil today, up from 24 percent in 1970. He said many of the countries supplying the oil are not friendly to the United States.

Pickens warned of negative consequences in 10 years if the United States does not take any action.

"If we continue to drift like we're drifting, you're going to be importing 80 percent of your oil, and I promise you, it will be over $300 a barrel," he said.

http://voanews.com/english/2008-07-22-voa60.cfm

Off Shore Wind Farm Locations Found Via Satellite

Mr Bill — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:19:24 EDT

Off Shore Wind Farm Locations Found Via Satellite

By Matt Ford | Published: July 13, 2008 - 09:22AM CT

With oil and energy prices skyrocketing, more people around the world are starting to look at green and renewable energy sources. Wind power, which was found to be a true green alternative to fossil fuels, has gotten a recent boost thanks to a bet by oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens. His company, Mesa Power, is planning a $2 billion investment in what will be the world's largest wind farm ever built, set to be located in west Texas. According to Pickens, if the US were to take advantage of what he calls the wind corridor that runs from western Texas to the Canadian border, the country could have 20 percent of its energy supplied by wind power.

Image credit: NASA/JPL

20 percent is not bad, but where else could large scale wind farms be built? A Publication in the current issue of Geophysical Research Letters by a team of scientists from NASA's JPL uses satellite data to measure the surface stresses over the oceans. Recent technological advances have made floating wind farms possible, but the key is putting them in the right locations. The article examined eight years of data from the QuikSCAT data to determine the energy distribution over the world's ocean. The research identified three causes of regional variations in the power carried by the winds: "land mass deflection of the surface flow, the gap wind channeled by land topography, and surface stress variation produced by atmospheric buoyancy driven by ocean front."

http://arstechnica.com/journals/science.ars/2008/07/13/off-shore-wind-farm-locations-found-via-satellite

ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT OR WHAT???

MsTawiah — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:00:41 EDT

(updated) Friday Forums Group: July 25, 2008

D. Tree — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:23:10 EDT

in case anyone missed it, reposting and updating as requested)

**UPDATE (now with topic suggestions added)** due to PB being down, maybe we can extend discussion on these topics through the weekend. A digest version of posts published to the group will go out on Monday.

you can join the Friday Forums partybuilder group here.

---

For anyone interested in participating in the Friday, July 25th partybuilder Friday Forum group:

The suggested topic for this Friday's Forum is the Environment as the main topic, but with an additional topic added.

We'd like to propose "Farewell Mike Link, and Partybuilder Suggestion Box" as the 2nd topic.

If you haven't heard yet, Mike Link is saying that Tuesday was his last day at the DNC.

Please join in the discussion on the Environment, and also consider posting something about Mike Link and/or suggestions for the new Partybuilder admins (whoever they will be). I know we all have good suggestions for ways to improve PB (like, for example making our inboxes multi-page instead of our friends list?)

Thanks for everyone's participation in what promises to be another good forum.

Best,
D. tree

P.S. - Proposed topics for the next (Friday, August 1st) Forum include:

* Taxes
* The Real John McCain
* The Economy
* Immigration Reform
* DNC Nomination rules/calendar
* Education Reform
* Healthcare
* Corruption/Ethics Reform
* The Party Platform
* Terrorism/National Security

...if there are any others people want to suggest, or if you want to lobby for one or more of the suggested topics, please comment or join the group.

Friday Forums Group Update: July 25, 2008

D. Tree — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:44:17 EDT

For anyone interested in participating in the Friday, July 25th Forum:

The suggested topic for this Friday's Forum is the Environment as the main topic, but with an additional topic added.

We'd like to propose "Farewell Mike Link, and Partybuilder Suggestion Box" as the 2nd topic.

If you haven't heard yet, Mike Link is saying that Tuesday was his last day at the DNC.

Please join in the discussion on the Environment, and also consider posting something about Mike Link and/or suggestions for the new Partybuilder admins (whoever they will be). I know we all have good suggestions for ways to improve PB (like, for example making our inboxes multi-page instead of our friends list?)

Thanks for everyone's participation in what promises to be another good forum.

Best,
D. tree

P.S. - Proposed topics for the next (Friday, August 1st) Forum include:

* Taxes
* The Real John McCain
* Immigration Reform
* DNC Nomination rules/calendar
* The Party Platform
* Terrorism/National Security

...if there are any others people want to suggest, or if you want to lobby for one or more of the suggested topics, please comment or join the group.

Friday 18th Forum on Gender Discrimination: Digest Edition

D. Tree — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:39:06 EDT

As many of you might already know, the Friday Forums partybuilder group is set up to catalog and archive discussions about issues important to us.

Last Friday, there was a great amount of discussion on the topic of gender discrimination, both within the group and also independently and in other groups.

While we had out ups and downs, in all it was a truly successful Friday Forum.

As promised, the Friday Forums group is compiling all on-topic posts published to the group, in an effort to promote a means of in-depth discussion and a source of future reference.

There were some great posts by people who participated in the forum but did not publish to the group. Please consider joining the Friday Forum partybuilder group and publishing your posts to the group so they can be included in the archive.

Click Read More for the digest edition of last weeks forum, and to add your two cents about what topic should be debated next!

(Forum on Sexism) "The Bravest Woman in the World"

D. Tree — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:23:38 EDT

In my previous post ruminating on the connection between sexism and terrorism, a couple of comments very correctly pointed out the importance of women's education in this equation.

Those comments reminded me of a news story I read a few years back. The story of Mukhtaran Mai, an honor rape victim from Afghanistan: She successfully sued the perpetrators, and used the money to open a school for girls! She is such a hero.

She is also known as the "Bravest Woman in the World"

From her Girls International Award:

Defying social stigma and the culture of shame surrounding rape victims in Pakistan, she not only spoke out about the assault, but in a valiant move, took the perpetrators to court and won. She then used the money she received from her court case to open a school for girls in Meerwala and enrolled in the school herself. This school is the first girlsâ�� school ever to exist in her village and the closest one for miles. The school has 5 classrooms, 5 teachers and nearly 200 students - all female. According to Mukhtar Mai, helping other girls and women gives her a reason to live and her school is indeed a testament to her courage.

Want to really make progress in ending the long term terrorist threat? This simple action will do more to transform the middle east than any army could accomplish in a lifetime.

Friday Forums: Women, what are we doing to each other?

Blueberry — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:56:58 EDT

I Love History Three Women Ran For President In 1972 I will Start With My Favorite

Mr Bill — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:41:41 EDT

Shirley Chisholm

I do not have pictures of these two sorry

Linda Jenness

Evelyn Reed