atheism

What's happening as the manufactured controversy over the "Ground Zero Mosque" continues, Frank Schaeffer notes, is nothing less than a new form of antisemitism--one directed this time at Muslims and people of Arab descent. Schaeffer, a former member of the religious right, notes that if comments like the ones being made at the Muslim community were being made about American Jews, there would be outrage, but Islamophobia is socially acceptable now. Schaeffer, author of Crazy for God and Patience with God, joins guest host John Fugelsang via Skype to discuss the conservative arguments against the Cordoba House, and just what is and is not "sacred." Democrats are backing down over freedom of religion, Social Security privatization, and pretty much anything else we can think of these days in the name of winning midterm elections. Funny, we thought we were voting for people who believed in something. Allison Kilkenny and Jamie Kilstein of Citizen Radio join guest host John Fugelsang to dissect the flip-flops, backtracking, and all-around spinelessness of all too many Democrats, and more of the ridiculousness from this week's news. Finally, John has a few thoughts about a media issue coming up--the endless discussion of John Lennon's murder and his killer.

What happened to rational thought, reasonable argument, disputes that didn't end in name-calling and learning from those who disagree with us? We ask Susan Jacoby and Frank Schaeffer to talk about the problems with our politics, our discourse, our religious disputes and why "moderates" don't get off the hook for this. When he took office, Barack Obama promised to close the prison at Guantanamo within the year. This week, the anniversary of that promise brought a fresh round of protests at the capitol rotunda, since Guantanamo is still open. To mark another year of its existence, we thought we'd share some voices from those who've been inside with an ACLU video. From the Rainforest Action Network, a s video on the destructive processes of harvesting palm oil, which makes it into many of the products and onto your breakfast table. Tricia Wang and Alex Pasternack talk about the issues that come with China/Google spat. Jill Filipovic weighs in on a recent decision by the New York State Bar Association to have an all-male panel of lawyers offer advice to women. Nuclear energy is back on the table, and Laura asks Democrats to clarify what "security" spending is, anyway.