Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Politics McWherter and Haslam on the Mosque Again
Posted by Jeff Woods on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 at 9:39 PM
Politics / Racism A Report From Monday Night's Candlelight Vigil at the Murfreesboro Mosque Site
Posted by Jack Silverman on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 at 2:33 PM
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- (Photo by Jude Ferrara)
- Supporters and opponents of a proposed Islamic center clashed at a vigil in Murfreesboro Monday night.
Politics Haslam and McWherter Make Weird Comments on Muslim Fire
Posted by Jeff Woods on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 at 2:02 PM
- Huh? Haslam demands that Muslims obey the law.
We're proud of McWherter. Forced to say something, he took a courageous stand against crime:
“Regardless of political or religious beliefs this hateful act of intolerance is not acceptable in Murfreesboro or anywhere else in the country. Furthermore, those individuals responsible for this cowardly act should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Haslam's statement, on the other hand, is mystifying. According to his campaign flack, David Smith:
“The mayor’s faith is very important to him, and he respects the right of others to practice their faith, so long as they are respectful of the communities in which they live and the laws of the land.”
Sorry, what? So somebody sets a fire on Muslim property, and Haslam demands that Muslims obey the law. Does he think they started the fire themselves? Dammit, they sure did cause a lot of trouble. All those fire engine sirens were so noisy.
Media Esteemed Commentator Defends Pith in the Wind
Posted by Jeff Woods on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 at 12:14 PM
What I think the Governor should do is take a step back and look at how this Chancellor selection process has come down: with qualifications changed to no longer required a doctoral degree; to make a key qualification to be hired detailed knowledge of the state's new higher education law (which John Morgan helped write): and finally, the extremely large pay raise the Board of Regents offered John Morgan to take the job (more than double what he made as Deputy Governor, although he has now declined it).Based on that process, reporters asking questions seems legitimate to me. And if the Governor finds that "offensive", he better get his asbestos underwear ready because when Republican state lawmakers convene their hearings into the matter, sometime in September, they'll likely to be asking even more pointed questions in the media or even making specific charges about how this matter was handled by the Board of Regents itself.
Politics How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? Zach Pack Still Hates Haslam
Posted by Jeff Woods on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 at 11:16 AM
Sandra Molina: Just saw an ad on the morning news for the upcoming gubernatorial debate. If it turns out anything like the LAST one I saw, we'll see "what's his face" fold like a lawn chair...again. Okay, so maybe I'm still a little bitter, I confess.
Timothy Butler: I was told there was a write in Campaign can i help?
Gail Forsythe: I hope you will see this defeat as what it is — the RINO with the deep pockets won because the conservative vote was split. You have GREAT things ahead of you and I will help you any way I can in the future. I'm the retired teacher from the Nashville Republican Women.
Annette Sapp: I plan to write in as well. God led me to Zach and has not led me in a different direction. We need to organize a write in.
Jenci Eble Spradlin: Me too! Have you SEEN that new Haslam commercial? He is a Republican like Ned and Phil! Imagine that!!
Phillips Mildred Shute Park: A Review
Posted by Betsy Phillips on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 at 9:40 AM
- Note the beer bottle in the bottom of the photo. That was just one of many.
Location: At the end of Fain Street, back behind the projects on Lafayette
Size of Park: Very small
Crowds: Just two moms walking their kids to church
Approximate Age of Patrons: Mom and kid age
Topics of Conversation: "Hurry up."
Stray Dogs Seen: None
Types of Vehicles in Parking Lots: N/A
Perceived Safety: Very low
Number of Gunshots Heard: None
Dog Friendliness: Eh, a dog could poop here, but not much more
Number of pitbulls sighted: None
Accessibility: Fine
Incorporation of Local History: Please, they don't even have a sign identifying the park
Recommended Patrons: As I saw it today? No one.
Media Support the Laurie Cardoza-Moore Islamic Center Fund: Giving Well Is the Best Revenge
Posted by Charles Maldonado on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 at 5:25 AM
Or the "Middle Tennesseans Tired of Being Represented By Shitty Rednecks in the National Media Defense Fund." Those are the working names for an idea I had this morning. I've been watching the Daily Show clip featuring local opportunistic bigot anti-mosque activist Laurie Cardoza-Moore pretty steadily for three or four days now, trying to find some kind of weakness. Obviously her disgusting ignorance isn't doing the trick. Let's be honest, where hate inflammation is concerned, that's really more of a strength.
Then it occurred to me. The Cardoza-Moores of the world, and the wackos and media whores who succeed them, are like lichens or tumors. Or perhaps the proper analogy is some kind of tick. She survives as long as she can hate-suck the teat of Islamic resentment in Middle Tennessee. She won't go away unless the Muslims who have every right to live and worship here go away.
So let's do them both a favor and support her parasitic career by supporting its host: the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro.
Please send checks to the New Project Fund, 862 Middle Tennessee Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN 37129. You can download the donation form here. Please, please be sure to mark your donation on behalf of any of the following: Laurie Cardoza-Moore, Stan and Laurie Cardoza-Moore, Laurie Cardoza-Moore and Proclaiming Justice to the Nations.
Bonus: If you want to inform Cardoza-Moore that you've donated, you can email her at lauriecm@pjtn.org.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Law and Order After Mosque Site Arson, Bredesen Calls for Religious Tolerance
Posted by Jeff Woods on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 4:21 PM
Q: On the mosque controversy in Murfreesboro, what do you think about the fact that these people appear to be targeted by arsonists?
Bredesen: I'm not aware of the details of what went on down there, and obviously it's still being investigated and I don't have any business being in there. But this is a contentious time and there are a lot of strong feelings running. I guess I would ask everybody to remember that this is a country whose deepest origins are in religious freedom—it was founded by people who escaped to it to practice their religions—and to ask people to please have great respect for anyone's religious preferences and their rights to practice those in the United States. I think it goes right to the heart of what this country is all about.
Media Today's Lead Tennessean Story: Our Kids Aren't Christian Enough!
Posted by Jack Silverman on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 3:05 PM
- Stay tuned for tomorrow's lead Tennessean story: "Satan gaining foothold in Middle Tennessee"
I realize Bob Smietana's hard-hitting story is of interest to Tennessean readers, the overwhelming majority of whom are Christians. And if it had been in the LOCAL & BUSINESS or LIFE section, or even page 2A, I'd have no issue with it. But making this the lead story on the front page? How is this news? Or important news? Unless, of course, you consider the younger generation's tendency to not accept the literal interpretation of Christian doctrine to be a threat to the very fabric of our society. Which apparently, The Tennessean does. "The kids are thinking for themselves! Horrors!"
Somehow it never dawned on me that The Tennessean was a Christian publication. And surely, some of you are snickering, "Well, it's about time, Jack!" And rightfully so. Because this is the MOST IMPORTANT STORY OF THE DAY, apparently.
That's not to say I didn't find portions of the article entertaining, particularly this segment, in which Kenda Creasy Dean, professor of youth, church and culture at Princeton Theological Seminary, discusses the risk of making them too Christian:
Dean believes there are risks involved in trying to change what youth groups teach. One is that kids will begin to act like Jesus — which can make their parents uncomfortable.I'm sure Dean's assertion has some validity, but therein lies the ultimate irony — which I'll assume needs no explanation."Most parents don't want their kids to end up too much like Jesus," she said.
