August 8, 2012

Saudi women at Games a sham

By Jocelyne Cesari
CNN
August 1, 2012

For the first time, Saudi Arabia sent two women to the Olympics -- Wojdan Shaherkani and Sarah Attar, who will compete in judo and track and field. But their participation is far from a groundbreaking step for Saudi women.

It was touch and go whether one of the Saudi women, Shaherkani, would even participate this year when the president of the International Federation of Judo said women wearing headscarves would not be allowed to compete for fear of choking and injury. The issue has been resolved and she will participate in a form of headgear that complies with Saudi's strict Islamic dress codes for women.

But if Shaherkani had withdrawn, it would not have been a setback for Saudi women because her inclusion was not a sign of advancement. The presence of Saudi women is the result of several months of pressure by the International Olympics Committee on Saudi Arabia to include women competitors or face being banned from participation.

The situation for female athletes in Saudi Arabia is bleak. Saudi women in general are denied the right to practice sports. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that prevents girls from taking part in sports in government schools. Physical education is allowed only in private schools. Women are not allowed to play in official sports clubs or even watch matches in stadiums. Girls' football, volleyball and basketball games in private schools and colleges are held secretly.

More: http://us.cnn.com/2012/08/01/opinion/cesari-saudi-women-sports/index.html?iref=obinsite

August 7, 2012

Protesters warn Turkey over Lebanese hostages in Syria

Source: The Daily Star

August 7, 2012

RABIEH: Speaking on behalf of the families of 11 Lebanese pilgrims held in Syria, a sheikh warned Turkey Tuesday that its nationals in Lebanon could face the same fate as the Lebanese hostages.

“If the issue of kidnapped Lebanese is not resolved, the Turks will become our guests just like the Lebanese hostages,” Sheikh Abbas Zogheib said sarcastically during the protest outside the Turkish Embassy in Rabieh, north of Beirut.

The Syrian rebel captors of the Lebanese men have repeatedly insisted that the pilgrims are their "guests," as opposed to hostages.

Zogheib, tasked by the Higher Islamic Shiite Council with following up on the Lebanese hostages’ case, did not set an ultimatum by which time progress would have to be made.

Read more: http://m.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Aug-07/183728-more-police-at-qatari-embassy-in-lebanon-in-anticipation-of-protest.ashx

August 7, 2012

It's a bird. It's a plane.

It's a...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1086655

August 7, 2012

Calling Nasty Gash

Come in Nasty Gash.

Are you going to turn into a hostile alien now that humans have hidden one of your posts?

August 7, 2012

Why on Earth was this post hidden?

I hope they don't turn hostile because of this and fuck this planet up.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1135&pid=3307

August 6, 2012

Fire destroys Missouri mosque in second blaze at the Islamic center in 5 weeks; no injuries

Source: The Washington Post

By Associated Press
August 6, 2012

JOPLIN, Mo. — Investigators say it will take a few days to determine if the fire that destroyed a southwest Missouri mosque was arson.

Michael Kaste, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Kansas City office, said Monday that the agency is taking the investigation into the fire at the Islamic Society of Joplin very seriously. He says the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms together have about 30 investigators working to determine the cause.

No injuries were reported.

Jasper County officials say patrols at the mosque had been stepped up since a July 4 fire at the mosque was determined to be arson. The FBI has released a video of a man appearing to set the July 4 fire and is offering a $15,000 reward in that case.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/fire-destroys-missouri-mosque-in-second-blaze-at-the-islamic-center-in-5-weeks/2012/08/06/ab59c38e-dfe0-11e1-8d48-2b1243f34c85_story.html

August 6, 2012

Do you ever wonder what it's like to be a Freeper?

We've all seen quote after vile and hateful quote from the members of Free Republic. It's encouraged. With each post they try to outdo each other. It's that website's reason for being: "Christians" who hate.

Yes we fight and sometimes get very angry when we do. But there's a deep well of caring on Democratic Underground. It's encouraged and appreciated by everyone. It's this website's reason for being. The quickest way to get banned is to express hatred.

So I wonder what it's like to be a Freeper. To be consumed with hate. Day after day; year after year. Swimming in a pool of hatred.

I'm so glad I'm not a Freeper.

August 6, 2012

Syrian blogger: 'I live or die here'

By Ashley Fantz
CNN
August 5, 2012

In a concrete block apartment building in a working-class Syrian suburb, a young man who calls himself "Big Al" spends his days listening to Nine Inch Nails on his smartphone. He watches back-to-back episodes of "The Simpsons" on his laptop while he shovels a pan of brownies into his mouth. He loves to cook. It's the only thing keeping him going.

"I'm a big guy, and I like to cook and bake," he says. "Since I've been jobless for more than a year, and there are no activities to do, I get busy baking. In fact, I made more pizzas and cookies this year than I did in the past three years."

When the electricity is on, there he'll be, in a tiny kitchen in his parents' apartment, stirring and sifting and tasting. He'll hear gunfire popping in the distance; sometimes the boom of a shell landing shakes the apartment. He is scared. Of course he is scared. Fear settles on everything. His eyelids are heavy. But what else can he do but keep on living?

It's scorching hot in Syria, but Al always keeps the windows open a little. Pressure from explosions around his Homs neighborhood can cause glass to break. This is one of the lessons he's learned from war.

More: http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/04/world/syria-blogger/index.html?c=world

August 6, 2012

Sikh temple GUNman had a 9/11 tattoo.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/05/us/wisconsin-temple-shooting/index.html

-snip-

"We were the victims of mistaken identity, and a few Sikhs were gunned down during that time," Singh said. A Sikh man was killed in Phoenix in apparent retaliation for the attacks that had been carried out by the Islamic terrorist group al Qaeda, and Singh said the entire Sikh community "will be kind of scared" following Sunday's killings.

The attack occurred about 10:30 a.m. (11:30 a.m. ET), when temple members were reading scriptures and cooking food in preparation for the main Sunday service and community lunch, said Kanwardeep Singh Kaleka, a member of the congregation and the nephew of its president.

Kaleka was not at the temple at the time of the shooting, but helped police interview witnesses in the aftermath. He said members described the attacker as a bald, white man, dressed in a white T-shirt and black pants and with a 9/11 tattoo on one arm -- which "implies to me that there's some level of hate crime there."

He said the gunman started shooting in the parking lot, "then entered into the temple and proceeded to open fire."

August 5, 2012

Watch The Deforestation Of The Amazon Rainforest