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Now we know

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All those who said that complaints about Mark Steyn, Ezra Levant and company were not about Islam but rather about showing respect and practicing “responsible” journalism? They were wrong.

It is so about Islam. If you’re a Muslim, and you want to write, for instance, that:

  • Homosexuals and lesbians should be “exterminated in this life”
  • “men are superior to women and better than them”. In general, “men have a more complete intellect and memory than women”

…well, then you’re cool. That’s just normal. No reason for complaint, here. But dare reprint cartoons showing The Prophet in an unflattering way (or any way at all), and you’ll be dragged through no end of costly legal battles.

Clearer than clear, thanks.

“Do high heels empower or constrain?”

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toohigh

That’s the weighty question discussed in this article.

My answer would be both: I’d be lying if I said I never wore high heels because they meant I’d be looking down on an opponent. I’m not saying I’m proud of it, but with my heels, I’ve towered over many an old-school, pro-abortion feminist. Feels good.

Less empowering, however, is not being able to walk. Yup, height is power, and power has a downside.

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Brigitte can’t help it: I see the picture and I think, “yep, that would do nicely for self-defence” (imagine a spinning back kick with one of those)… Walking, not so much.

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Yellow belt Andrea replies: We practiced our spinning back kicks at karate last night. Would be much more challenging in high heels, to be sure. I’m not going to try.

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Tanya’s cold medication adds: According to the old episodes of The Smurfs, high heels and blond hair are empowering. Brown hair and flats got Smurfette nowhere, but the alternative got 99 male smurfs showering her with gifts. (I’ve been watching too much Teletoon Retro.)

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Andrea is quite sure that “according to The Smurfs” is something we don’t hear often enough in debate. Picture it: you’re discussing, oh say, the attempt to create a coalition government. Preface your opinion with “according to the Smurfs”–and really, who is going to challenge you? You win the day, all because of a single phrase.

Gay penguins have rights, too

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Bigoted penguins alert!

peng

A pair of gay penguins thrown out of their zoo colony for repeatedly stealing eggs have been given some of their own to look after following a protest by animal rights groups.

Last month the birds were segregated after they were caught  placing stones at the feet of parents before waddling away with their eggs.

But angry visitors to Polar Land in Harbin, northern China, complained it wasn’t fair to stop the couple from becoming surrogate fathers and urged zoo bosses to give them a chance.

In response, zookeepers gave the pair two eggs laid by an inexperienced first-time mother.

‘We decided to give them two eggs from another couple whose hatching ability had been poor and they’ve turned out to be the best parents in the whole zoo,’ said one of the keepers.

‘It’s very encouraging and if this works out well we will try to arrange for them to become real parents themselves with artificial insemination.’

Ah, progress.

Woah–talk about mission creep

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I stumbled upon this post, which pokes fun at those who would like to see Margaret Sanger removed from the Women of our Time display in the National Portrait Gallery down in Washington DC.

Fine. But there I learned that Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, had this to say about abortion (from Wikipedia): 

Sanger notes that her 1916 opposition to abortion was based on the taking of life: “To each group we explained what contraception was; that abortion was the wrong way—no matter how early it was performed it was taking life; that contraception was the better way, the safer way—it took a little time, a little trouble, but was well worth while in the long run, because life had not yet begun.” (emphasis mine)

Someone should really should let Planned Parenthood know. They need to change their mission and stop taking life, alternatively, they could get a new founding mentor.

If people want to make suggestions, I’ll write the letter.

Such tolerance

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Arsonists attack Palin church.

Alaska governor Sarah Palin said an arson attack on her home church could have been linked to “undeserved negative attention” from her failed Republican vice-presidential campaign.

Damage to the Wasilla Bible Church was estimated at one million dollars (£670,000), authorities said on Saturday.

No-one was injured in Friday night’s fire, which happened while a handful of people, including two children, were inside, said Fire Chief James Steele.

He said the blaze was being investigated as an arson but did not know of any recent threats to the church. Authorities did not know whether Mrs Palin’s connection to the church was relevant to the fire, Mr Steele said.

While people, including children, were inside. A nice touch, that.

Since we all agree with ourselves…

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A remarkably narrow-minded and short-sighted editorial in the Ottawa Citizen on that Unicef report mentioned here yesterday. I especially take issue with this bit:

The time for ideological debates are long past. Most parents of young children are in the workforce and they need and deserve high quality, accessible daycare. UNICEF has usefully reminded us that such a system does not currently exist in Canada.

The time for ideological debates rarely goes away. On most subjects there is usually room to disagree and argue on an ongoing basis. I would think child care is very much among those. And the fact that “most parents of young children are in the workforce” is not a reason to stop wondering whether that’s a good thing. Quite the contrary.

First make hot chocolate. Then conquer the world

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I have a new computer and a new router. I am told I must program the router, and that this will be easy–that my computer will “see” it and all will be well. I’ve been putting this off. I expect the worst. The system will crash and–horror–I’ll lose my connection to the Mighty Internet. Today’s the day–here we go. Fare thee well, faithful readers, this may be the last you hear of me for the whole weekend.

First I make hot chocolate, then I conquer the world.

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Andrea updates 20 minutes later: It worked! And there’s a lesson for everyone in this. If I could impress just one thing on today’s youth it would be this: By maintaining very low expectations, you almost always exceed them.

Unclear on the concept

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A review of 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days:

In Romania, under the Ceausescu regime, abortion was banned, and within 20 years some half a million women had died from having botched illegal abortions. This severe thriller from writer-director Christian Mungiu focuses on Gabita (Laura Vasiliu), a pregnant college student, and her friend Otilia (Anamaria Marinca), who finds a man who’ll do the job: a quietly thuggish fellow who calls himself Mr. Bebe (Vlad Ivanov). Remorseless long takes build the suspense as the young women secure a hotel room and, when Bebe explains how they’ll have to pay, question whether it’s worth the price. Strap yourself in for this minimalist, splendidly acted horror film — and count your blessings that you live in a country where choosing an abortion doesn’t mean losing a life.

So right. We live in a country where choosing an abortion means choosing a choice. It’s way better.

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