August 14, 2010 · Filed under Hot Topics · Tagged 2001 attacks, 2012, 9-11, 911, about.com, afghanistan, ambassador, america, armageddon, ask.com, blog, blogging, border patrol, BOS, Catholic church, CNBC, cnn, contoversy, coven, election, election year, elements, end of the world, facebook, free movies online, freedom of religion, google, ground zero, guide, hallowed ground, headlines, holy war, home-based business, how to, hussien, illegal, immigrant, immigration, indonesia, international, international news, iraq, islam, Islamic holy day, Islamic terrorist, jetliner, law and ordinances, linkin, local coven, local law, make money now, make money on the internet, make money on the net, mexico, mexico boarder, Michael Bloomberg, mosque, mosque near ground zero, mosque plan, muslim, myspace, national, news, Newt Gingrich, Obama, oil spill, Opinion research poll, pagan, penthouse, Peter King, playboy, plinky, plinky.com, porn, Press secretary, Ramadan, religion, Robert Gibbs, ruin your life, Sarah Palin, sept. 11, September 11, spanish, spell, spiritual, spirituality, state, State dining room, synagogues, terrorism, Top news stories, travel, twin tower, united states borders, USA, vacation, war, war on iraq, Wiccan, witch, withcraft, work-from-home, write, writing, yahoo
WASHINGTON — After skirting the controversy for weeks, President Barack Hussein Obama is weighing in forcefully on the mosque near ground zero, saying a nation built on religious freedom, simply, must allow it.
“As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country,” Obama told an intently listening crowd gathered at the White House Friday evening to observe the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
“That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances,” he said. “This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable.”
The White House had not previously taken a stand on the mosque, which would be part of a $100 million Islamic community center two blocks from where nearly 3,000 people perished when hijacked jetliners slammed into the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001. Press secretary Robert Gibbs had insisted it was a local matter.
It was already much more than that, sparking debate around the country as top Republicans including Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich announced their opposition. So did the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group.
Obama elevated it to a presidential issue Friday without equivocation.
While insisting that the place where the twin towers once stood was indeed “hallowed ground,” Obama said that the proper way to honor it was to apply American values.
Harkening back to earlier times when the building of synagogues or Catholic churches also met with opposition, Obama said: “Time and again, the American people have demonstrated that we can work through these issues, and stay true to our core values and emerge stronger for it. So it must be and will be today.”
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent who has been a strong supporter of the mosque, welcomed Obama’s words as a “clarion defense of the freedom of religion.”
But some Republicans were quick to pounce. “President Obama is wrong,” said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. “It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of ground zero.” Entering the highly charged election-year debate, Obama surely knew that his words would not only make headlines in the U.S. but be heard by Muslims worldwide. The president has made it a point to reach out to the global Muslim community, and the over 100 guests at Friday’s dinner in the State Dining Room included ambassadors and officials from numerous nations where Islam is observed, including Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.
While his pronouncement concerning the mosque might find favor in the Muslim world, Obama’s stance runs counter to the opinions of the majority of Americans, according to polls. A CNN/Opinion Research poll released this week found that nearly 70 percent of Americans opposed the mosque plan while just 29 percent approved. A number of Democratic politicians have shied away from the controversy.
Opponents, including some Sept. 11 victims’ relatives, see the prospect of a mosque so near the destroyed trade center as an insult to the memory of those killed by Islamic terrorists in the 2001 attacks.
I located this story on FoxNews.com. The original link to this article is here.
~E
July 8, 2010 · Filed under Hot Topics, Uncategorized · Tagged advertise, advertising, art, article, artist, astrology, blog, election, freelance, horoscope, music, news, Obama, pagan, penthouse, playboy, politics, porn, write, writing
The Year of the Tiger (The end of one thing and the beginning of something new)
Feb. 14, 2010, marks the Chinese Year of the Metal Tiger. Swift, assured and fast, this year will bring dramatic changes all over the world. People will be motivated by honor, seeking distinction on behalf of home, family and country. Righting injustices will also be a theme, as Tigers are powerful enough to make bullies quiver in their boots. Dignity will be the watchword in 2010. People who pander to the lowest common denominator will be cast aside in favor of those who conduct themselves with grace.
According to Chinese Astrology, Tiger years are turbulent, and bring about a number of decisive elections that throw old, outmoded politicians out of power in favor of new candidates. Bold initiatives will take root in 2010, since the Metal Tiger is ready to take calculated risks. Countries that lag behind their competitors will work hard to catch up, and those at the forefront of science, technology and art will do everything in their power to stay on the cutting edge.
Tempers run high in Tiger years, and 2010 will prove no exception. Employers will make heavier demands on their staff, requiring everyone to move with swift precision. Fear of bankruptcy will put even the most easygoing bosses on edge. Similarly, intimate relationships could be affected by this year’s volatile energy. Short, angry quarrels will erupt over trivial matters like picking the movie or leaving the toilet seat up. On the plus side, your sex life will experience a jolt of passion that proves positively blissful. One thing is certain: the Year of the Tiger is never boring!
Famous for their powers of protection, Tigers afford an added measure of security. The Chinese calendar sees 2010 as an excellent year to invest in a burglar alarm, install floodlights that operate on motion sensors and learn self-defense techniques. Arming yourself against danger can keep it at bay. You might also want to learn first aid techniques and outdoor survival skills, especially if you work outdoors or in a job that involves lots of physical labor.
Cool and calculating, Chinese zodiac Tigers like to plan for the future. Therefore, it would be wise to craft a long-term plan in 2010. This could involve going back to school, starting a family, buying a home or all of the above! The important thing is to develop a sensible time-line by which to meet your goals. If you have something concrete to work toward, you’ll make good use of your time this year.
At some point this year, most people will be given an opportunity to leave a secure position behind for the sake of something glamorous, adventurous and exciting. Tiger years often involve big gambles. 2010 will be a wonderful time for anyone seeking a radical life change. For those who prefer to maintain the status quo, this will be a challenging year, as you may be forced to leave a comfortable arrangement and enter into a period of uncertainty. If you look at the shifts ahead as opportunities, rather than burdens, you’ll make the most of the Year of the Metal Tiger.
~E
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