Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Blue Books
You'll need one or two blue books for the final exam. You can buy them from the bookstore.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Potential test question
An interesting interview
Watch the Russia "Today Interview"A potential test question.
Pay particular attention to the idea of cultural relativism.
"Islam is more ideology than religion" (compared to totalitarianism ideology)
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Liveleak
Death threats:
Following threats to our staff of a very serious nature, and some ill informed reports from certain corners of the British media that could directly lead to the harm of some of our staff, Liveleak.com has been left with no other choice but to remove Fitna from our servers.
This is a sad day for freedom of speech on the net but we have to place the safety and well being of our staff above all else. We would like to thank the thousands of people, from all backgrounds and religions, who gave us their support. They realised LiveLeak.com is a vehicle for many opinions and not just for the support of one.
Perhaps there is still hope that this situation may produce a discussion that could benefit and educate all of us as to how we can accept one anothers culture.
We stood for what we believe in, the ability to be heard, but in the end the price was too high.
final posts on the subject
1)
But since Mr. Wilders does not advocate violence against Muslims, just how could he be a threat to public security? The answer, of course, is that his movie and visit would inflame radical Muslims, of whom there are now hundreds of thousands in Britain, and they might launch riots and other attacks. In other words, Britain is essentially granting a free-speech veto to Muslim extremists -- a strategy that Britons old enough to remember the 1930s should instantly recognize as appeasement.
But since Mr. Wilders does not advocate violence against Muslims, just how could he be a threat to public security? The answer, of course, is that his movie and visit would inflame radical Muslims, of whom there are now hundreds of thousands in Britain, and they might launch riots and other attacks. In other words, Britain is essentially granting a free-speech veto to Muslim extremists -- a strategy that Britons old enough to remember the 1930s should instantly recognize as appeasement.
2.
Geert Wilders: Provocateur or Truth Teller
By Harry Antonides
In a hard-hitting speech in the Dutch Parliament on March 20 Wilders castigated his colleagues for ignoring the presence of Muslims in Holland who promote an extremist version of Islam. He cited a number of verses from the Koran, which refer to Jews as pigs and monkeys and to non-Muslims as enemies that are bound for hell and must be subjugated or destroyed.
He pointed out that such verses violate Dutch law and should therefore be declared illegal. He said that Islam is not only a religion but also a political ideology that seeks to replace political pluralism with a one-party state. Wilders said: “ Islam is an ideology without any respect for others; not for Christians, not for Jews, not for non-believers and not for apostates. Islam aims to dominate, subject, kill and wage war.”
In a hard-hitting speech in the Dutch Parliament on March 20 Wilders castigated his colleagues for ignoring the presence of Muslims in Holland who promote an extremist version of Islam. He cited a number of verses from the Koran, which refer to Jews as pigs and monkeys and to non-Muslims as enemies that are bound for hell and must be subjugated or destroyed.
He pointed out that such verses violate Dutch law and should therefore be declared illegal. He said that Islam is not only a religion but also a political ideology that seeks to replace political pluralism with a one-party state. Wilders said: “ Islam is an ideology without any respect for others; not for Christians, not for Jews, not for non-believers and not for apostates. Islam aims to dominate, subject, kill and wage war.”
The leading Egyptian Sunni cleric Sheikh Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi (who has sanctioned jihad against American forces in Iraq and suicide bombings against Israeli citizen) has demanded that the Dutch government take action against Wilders and that protecting Wilders “will negatively affect Egyptian-Dutch relations.”The Grand Mufti of Syria has warned the European Parliament that the film may result in “violence and bloodshed” for which “Wilders will be responsible.” The U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has condemned the film, calling it “offensively anti-Islamic.”
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Free speech argument
interesting comments
It boggles the mind to imagine it: a lawmaker in a Western country being brought up on what amounts to criminal blasphemy charges.
comments are interesting here
The Dutch Prime Minister and its judiciary reject free speech, which is not surprising; the Netherlands may be the first European country to allow Shari'a law to compete with national courts.
I'm looking for counter arguments to the above. Please feel free to post a comment if you find an interesting article that runs counter to those here...
interesting comments
It boggles the mind to imagine it: a lawmaker in a Western country being brought up on what amounts to criminal blasphemy charges.
comments are interesting here
The Dutch Prime Minister and its judiciary reject free speech, which is not surprising; the Netherlands may be the first European country to allow Shari'a law to compete with national courts.
I'm looking for counter arguments to the above. Please feel free to post a comment if you find an interesting article that runs counter to those here...
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Date confusion
I'm sorry. I screwed up the dates for Rob's visit. It was entirely my fault. We'll see Rob next week. Again, my bad. I'm sorry.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
three things
1. Try not to be late on Friday
2. If you have a question for Rob, but you are shy and don't want to ask, you can give me the question and I'll ask him
3. I did not answer Erin's question today (sorry). The second mistake with the application of Nietzsche we heard is that Nietzsche despises the Master's cruelty.
2. If you have a question for Rob, but you are shy and don't want to ask, you can give me the question and I'll ask him
3. I did not answer Erin's question today (sorry). The second mistake with the application of Nietzsche we heard is that Nietzsche despises the Master's cruelty.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Thesis Due
The thesis is due Monday, Feb. 16th.
Please remember that if you don't submit your thesis by this date then your paper will be reduced by one full letter grade.
Please remember that if you don't submit your thesis by this date then your paper will be reduced by one full letter grade.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Rob Kremer
I've invited Rob Kremer to come in and speak to us.
He's accepted! We're extremely lucky. He's incredibly smart and knowledgeable. He's also one of the most well known conservatives in the State of Oregon. He has a radio show on 750AM, writes for Brainstorm NW, heads several educational organizations, and is very involved in State politics.
We'll speak about preparing questions for Rob in class tomorrow.
He's accepted! We're extremely lucky. He's incredibly smart and knowledgeable. He's also one of the most well known conservatives in the State of Oregon. He has a radio show on 750AM, writes for Brainstorm NW, heads several educational organizations, and is very involved in State politics.
We'll speak about preparing questions for Rob in class tomorrow.
optional
I just watched this
I found it very interesting. Piggybacks off of what we've been discussing. If you're not into this sort of thing, you may find it to be boring.
I found it very interesting. Piggybacks off of what we've been discussing. If you're not into this sort of thing, you may find it to be boring.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Reinhold Niebuhr
“[Niebuhr] is one of my favorite philosophers. I take away [from his works] the compelling idea that there’s serious evil in the world, and hardship and pain. And we should be humble and modest in our belief we can eliminate those things. But we shouldn’t use that as an excuse for cynicism and inaction. I take away . . . the sense we have to make these efforts knowing they are hard.”—President Barack Obama
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Goat detained over armed robbery
http://tinyurl.com/cdporj
Please read this and consider it in the context of our discussion on Friday. (Think: rationality, Western thinking, the ability of an individual to pass a judgment, the importance of making better judgments, and reason and rationality).
Please read this and consider it in the context of our discussion on Friday. (Think: rationality, Western thinking, the ability of an individual to pass a judgment, the importance of making better judgments, and reason and rationality).
Monday, January 19, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Torture?
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/01/15/guantanamo.torture/
"Crawford, who studied interrogation and other military records, said al-Qahtani was forced to stand naked in front of a female agent, threatened with a military dog named Zeus, "forced to wear a woman's bra and had a thong placed on his head" during questioning, and "was told that his mother and sister were whores," the newspaper reported."
torture??
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
I wanted to note this today too
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/18/AR2008091802265.html?hpid=topnews
Friday, Jan 16th
I finally managed to convince one of my best friends to come to class and give a "guest conversation". The topic will be what we're covering now--the biological basis of our cognitions.
I'll see everyone on Friday, and I'll try to get to the questions that I could not answer today (Wednesday).
I'll see everyone on Friday, and I'll try to get to the questions that I could not answer today (Wednesday).
Monday, January 12, 2009
Room Change 1/26
Jan 26th, from 9 until 10:05am, we will be meeting in room 304 DLC for a video conference.
Please mark this down on your calendars and remember to bring your questions about Islamic extremism.
Please mark this down on your calendars and remember to bring your questions about Islamic extremism.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Reminder
Read the Pinker article for our next class:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/magazine/13Psychology-t.html
We'll also be watching his TED talks.
Also, start thinking of questions for our terrorism expert. It looks like we'll be able to get a video feed!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/magazine/13Psychology-t.html
We'll also be watching his TED talks.
Also, start thinking of questions for our terrorism expert. It looks like we'll be able to get a video feed!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
important read
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/02/hitchens200902?printable=true¤tPage=all
Saturday, January 3, 2009
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