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A right-leaning disgruntled Republican comments on the news of the day and any other thing he damn-well pleases.
In light of the recent wave of violence against Americans and Europeans across the Muslim world, many in America and the West are tempted to paint all Muslims with the same brush. It is easy to jump to the conclusion that all Muslim think the punishment for blasphemy of the prophet Mohamed should be death.
We should keep in mind that those engaged in violence are a very small minority of those engaging in protest and those engaging in protest are a very small minority of the population of their country.
Renowned Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan has written an article in which he cites verses from the Koran and argues that Prophet
Muhammad and his followers are required to adopt a peaceful approach
toward cases of blasphemy.
The following are excepts:
"The Koran Mentions... Words Of Abuse Used By
Prophets' Contemporaries But Nowhere Does The Koran Prescribe The
Punishment Of Lashes, Or Death, Or Any Such Deterrent Punishment"
"This clearly shows that 'abuse of the Prophet' is not a subject of punishment, but is rather a subject of dawah [preaching].
That is, one who is guilty of abusing the Prophet should not have
corporal punishment meted out to him: he should rather be given sound
arguments in order that his mind may be addressed. In other words,
peaceful persuasion should be used to reform the person concerned,
rather than attempting to kill him."
"Another important aspect of this matter is that at no point in the
Koran is it stated that anyone who uses abusive language about the
Prophet should be stopped from doing so, and in case he continues to do
so he should be awarded severe punishment. On the contrary, the Koran
commands the believer not to use abusive language directed against
opponents: 'But do not revile those [beings] whom they invoke instead
of God, lest they, in their hostility, revile God and out of ignorance.'
(6:108)"
I hope that sane voices like this are being heard in the Muslim world and I hope that in the west we are aware that there are reasonable and sane Muslims. If one gets their news from the anti-Muslim activist in America, one would not know that reasonable and sane Muslims exist. For a link about the article go here or to read the article in full go here.
DOTS For Dolts
by Bruce Wood
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Bruce Wood |
Parton Ends Plans For Nashville Water Park
Singer Dolly Parton
has announced her plans end her partnership with Gaylord Opryland Hotel
and will no longer be building an amusement park in Nashville. more
Back in April, the Metro Council approved a 60% tax break for the water and snow park
Gaylord and Dollywood were to have received a tax break for 12 years.
From:
Reposted from Linda Napier
FREE EVENT! (LUNCH AND BEVERAGES AVAILABLE AT YOUR EXPENSE)
Yvonne is the powerhouse behind the 9-12 Project from the beginning!
This is a chance to talk to her as she is visiting Nashville and wants to meet all of our incredible members!
SEE YOU ALL THERE!
ABOUT YVONNE
Yvonne Donnelly is the Chair of The 9/12 Project. She took on the
responsibility early on to coordinate volunteers and groups across the
nation and provide them a way to connect with one another. Little did
she know that a little over one year latter she would continue to
develop a movement through this venue. With the amount of emails coming
in to the original site it was apparent that she needed help. With
help from fellow volunteer Mike Opelka, Yvonne answered emails by the
hundreds to ensure that people got involved locally. Through those
emails other individuals emerged as leaders. You will see listed the
names of our Advisory Board members. These individuals are now acting
in a capacity of directing, developing and consulting through their
experience and great talent
Disclaimer:
From time to time A Disgruntled Republican may post announcements of
interest to the conservative, libertarian, or greater community. Such
announcements are posted as a public service to spread awareness and do not
necessarily constitute an endorsement.
Wall Street Journal
An obscure Christie administration regional planning document called the State Strategic Plan has fueled opposition among a faction of the state's staunchest conservatives who said the proposal usurps property rights.
.....
Some called it part of "Agenda 21,"
a nonbinding U.N. resolution from 1992 that encourages conservation and
strategic planning. The resolution has become a flash point for
tea-party groups across the country, and the Republican Party added language against Agenda 21 to its convention platform....(Christie Fends Off Right)
My Comment: I have not provided recent updates but the Anti-Agenda 21, John Birch Society led campaign continues. All across America, at city council meetings and at meetings of county governing bodies and at planning commissions, people are denouncing codes and planning and zoning and wide shady sidewalks and bike lanes and small apartments and traffic roundabouts and mass transit and numerous other things as part of a vast conspiracy to take away our property rights and enslave us. The nuttiest of the nutty content all of these things they don't like are part of a vast conspiracy to kill 97% of the world's population by poisoning them with aspartame and fluoride. (To read more on this strange topic follow this link.)
Protester outside of Romney rally explains how Obama gives all
minorities free phones and that is why they should vote for him.
Cleveland Ohio, September 26, 2012.
The new September 27, 2012 Farmers Market Commission meeting agenda is now available. You can find the agenda at the link:
Farmers Market Commission Agenda
There are several agencies that need to be watched like a hawk. The Farmers Market is one of them. This department has been terribly mismanaged, lost lots of money, and yet got a budget increase last Metro Budget.
If you are a citizen of Nashville concerned about waste and corruption, please consider adopting an agency to watch. With a shrinking daily newspaper and fewer reporters to keep and eye on government, there is a greater need for citizen watch dogs than ever before.
While citizens need to keep tabs on all of government, these are the agencies that I think need very close scrutiny:
MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Drums, trumpets, and diplomas. The school known for its musical prowess is now known for its academic success.Follow the link and watch the video. You will not see a single white face among the students. This excellent school that is changing lives would not be legal in Nashville under the proposed diversity plan. Many in Nashville would rather condemn Black children to a life of poverty, ignorance and probably prison rather than let them get educated in a school that was less than 50% white.
The Soulsville Charter School, which opened in 2005, held its first ever graduation Thursday night. More than fifty students walked across the stage and each one is headed to college. (link)
Sep 25, 2012, The Tennessean
The Metro Nashville school board will take the first step toward creating an official diversity plan tonight by considering a proposal drafted by Director of Schools Jesse Register and consultant Leonard Stevens.(link)
There was an End the Fed rally in Nashville today. I was not there, but from the video it looks like about 16 people took part. I know some of these people from Liberty on the Rocks and other political activity. There is Daniel Lewis, who is a candidate for State House District 52, and Scotty, and several others who I recognize but don't know their name.
I am not in the Libertarian camp but I am fellow traveler and sympathizer on occasion. Regarding ending the fed, I am not quite there. I think a nation needs to be able to have monetary policy as well as fiscal policy. Anyway, unless one bans fractional-reserve banking one can still have inflation no matter the nature of the currency. Fractional-reserve banking is a natural occurrence that would exist in the absence of government. Most growth in the money supply is due to fractional reserve banking and a result of private sector decision making; not government action. Would Libertarians want to ban this free market practice?
To really understand what goes on in the Metro Council, one needs to know what goes on in committee. It is in committee that the hard work of the Council is done. Here is a joint meeting of the Budget and Finance Committee and the Rules Committee, where the controversy over the electronic poll books are exploded. This hearing takes place on Monday prior to the Tuesday night September 18th council meeting. This meeting is an hour long.
I about fell out of my chair this morning when I read Gail Kerr's Tennessean article, It's way past time for change at Nashville General. I have read Gail Kerr for many years and she usually follow the liberal line of the Tennessean denouncing any government economizing as an attack on the poor, or at least that is my impression. I would bet that if someone searched the archives they could find Gail Kerr extolling the virtues of General. Anyway, her comments are welcome, if a little late.
As long as I have been paying attention, Nashville General has been a massive drain on the budget of Metro and a hospital no one wanted to go to. When it merged with Meharry twenty years ago, that was going to solve the financial woes of the hospital, but of course it didn't. As Gail points out, poor people no longer have to go to the charity hospital, they can use Tenncare and go to the hospital of their choice. It is past time to close General hospital. Shut er' down.
For an understanding of the financial drain that is General hospital and the reason their is a lack of political will to do anything about it, read Gail Kerr's article.
Gail Kerr: It's way past time for change at Nashville General
Nashville General Hospital had 229 licensed patient beds when it merged with Meharry Medical College in 1994. An average of 85 of them were filled most days. Not good.
Today? It’s worse. General has 150 licensed beds and an average daily patient census of only 46. It is time to have the tough conversation everyone’s avoided for decades: Should Nashville be in the hospital business? (link)
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This is Great!
If you are a liberal and do not agree with the economic message or apolitical and just don't care, watch it for the humor. The cartoon depictions of Regan, Obama, Clinton, Palin, Nixon, and the Bushes is priceless. The personality quirks and wit and mannerisms of the various personalities is really captured. .
Metro, not state, hurts students
The Tennessean, Letters.
It is Rep. Jones’ comrades on the Metro board who have acted foolishly
by choosing to break the law and, as they knew it would, deprive
Nashville children of millions in state dollars. Blaming the state
instead is rather like blaming the principal for spanking a student who
clogged up toilets. Both the student and the board knew they would be
punished.(link)
The Tennessee Charter School Incubator and the Tennessee Charter Schools Association have partnered to produce a new informational video, "Tennessee Public Charter Schools: Get the Facts."
The video features many prominent community and educational leaders, including Mayor Karl Dean, Tennessee Speaker of the House Beth Harwell, State Representative John DeBerry, Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman and Achievement School District Superintendent Chris Barbic, in addition to testimony from parents of children who attend public charter schools in Tennessee.
For more information on Tennessee charter schools, visit www.tncharterschools.org and www.charterexcellence.org.
The Fraser Institute issues a well-regarded ranking of countries by
economic freedom.
The U.S. ranking is sinking rapidly:
Before 2000: #1
2000: #2
2005: #8
2010: #19
2012: #18
We're sandwiched in between Qatar and Kuwait, both Muslim countries, with Qatar an absolute monarchy and Kuwait a theocracy. What a disgrace! (To read more, follow this link)
Never-before-used state triggers law allows public schools to be converted into charters
Sep 19, 2012, The Tennessean
Dissatisfied parents and elected officials from West Nashville are exploring a never-before-utilized state law that would allow a public school to be converted into a parent-controlled charter school.
Under the so-called trigger law, if 60 percent of the parents or teachers at a public school sign a petition, the school board then votes on whether to approve converting the school into a charter. (link)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 6 million Americans — significantly more than first estimated— will face a tax penalty under President Barack Obama's health overhaul for not getting insurance, congressional analysts said Wednesday. Most would be in the middle class.
The new estimate amounts to an inconvenient fact for the administration, a reminder of what critics see as broken promises.
The numbers from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office are 50 percent higher than a previous projection by the same office in 2010,... (link)
Nashville is on hook for millions even if Predators don't play
www.tennessean.com
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Nashville schools to lose $3.4M over rejection of Great Hearts
Sep 18, 2012, The Tennessean
The money is being withheld “as a consequence of the district’s
refusal to follow state law,” the release said. The department is
punishing the Metro school board because of the board’s refusal to
approve the controversial Great Hearts Academies charter school even
after directed to do so by the State Board of Education.(link)
Comment: This should surprise no one. The State Board of Ed said there would be consequences for failure to follow the directive to approve the Charter school and there are.
Some have tried to argue that Republicans complain about federal mandates and interference but accept State mandates and interference. There is a big difference. All of Metro's authority derives from the State. Metro is a not sovereign; states are. The constitution limits the power of the Federal government and leaves all powers not enumerated to the states or the people. There is nothing in the State constitution establishing a similar relationship between cities and the state.
The five who voted to not approve Great Hearts should be impeached. Unfortunately, they can not be impeached darning the first 180 days in office.
You can get your own copy of the Metro council meeting agenda at this link:Metro Council Agenda. From the agenda you can link to the analysis.
Council meetings can be really,
really boring if you don't know what the Council is voting on. With an
agenda and analysis, they are just really boring.
I read the analysis and agenda for you so you don't have to. Below are
the things that I think are worth being aware of that are on this
agenda.
There are a lot of resolutions that simply accept grants in this agenda.
There are eight resolutions that propose amendments to the Metropolitan Charter for consideration on the November 6, 2012 ballot. All but two are innocuous housekeeping things. Below are the worth being aware of: