The Hall of Fire

I felt it even though I was over 100 miles away from the epicenter. I was on the computer going over a few slides with my mentor and I look at him and I say: Either this is an earthquake or I'm really sleepy! He looks at me and goes: nah its the table-its rickety. I got a kick when I found out that ...

I have to ask, SW, how does one rationally hope for the moderation of people who deliriously cheer as a 'national hero' a man whose principal claim to fame is smashing a four-year-old girl's skull with a rifle butt? Ah but the question is: do they believe that he murdered the child in cold blood? H...

Soli I've read all these accusations and read the responses to them and I've also kept a close eye on what CAIR states in their press releases and while I may not agree with everything they argue for I firmly do not believe that they are, or affiliated to, extremist groups. You can read CAIR's state...

Jny I must say that was some of the most eloquent posts I've read about the current situation going on in the Middle East and especially Lebanon. Another thing I'd like to point out is that the moment that a an actual Palestinian state becomes likely I honestly believe that support for radical group...

I see your point and I understand it completely but even Iran can be persuaded to change its stances. Wise diplomacy is the key to fixing these messy issues I firmly believe that.

Wow I just saw the movie and I have to say it is definitely one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. Heath Ledger's acting was amazing and honestly reminded me of the great Sir Anthony Hopkin's performance of Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs. I would recommend everyone watch it (exc...

I agree that now after Israel has left Lebanon they have latched unto the Palestinian cause as an excuse for their continued existence but I do think that they can with time change their tactics and become a political group instead of an armed militia but only if the circumstances force them to do t...

EDIT: You've put yourself in the unenviable position of echoing a Hamas front group, Vor: I will not get into this argument right now but I just have to say that I completely and utterly disagree with your statement that CAIR is a 'Hamas front group'. This isn't the thread for this debate but I jus...

Violence is always better and quicker. Vis-a-vis Hezbollah, it is. There is no negotiating position Israel can take, because there is nothing Hezbollah wants except Israel's complete destruction. As Churchill said, "It's easy to get the lion to lie down with the lamb- as long as you put in a n...

Wow I'm delighted in the way this thread has evolved :D Its always so refreshing to see so many insightful opinions and such an interesting topic too! Honestly before I voice my own opinion I need to reread the Lord of the Rings again (which I sadly have not done in 2 years now) for I vaguely rememb...

Hey everyone :) I know I haven't been posting very often on this board these days but actually I do come here quite often. It just is the case that most of the time I feel that I really don't have much to contribute and end up not really posting. Don't worry I already know that you guys will jump up...

Hey everyone :) I know I haven't been posting very often on this board these days but actually I do come here quite often. It just is the case that most of the time I feel that I really don't have much to contribute and end up not really posting. Don't worry I already know that you guys will jump up...

Ah yes of course how could this possible be a Tolkien forum without this question? ;) I remember being asked this question even by my friends who had never even read the books but had simply read the movie-to them it seemed like an obvious solution (that said they were mystified on why Gandalf didn'...

In my opinion both issues are pretty much irrelevant and unimportant. Both action were not done by the presidential candidates or their close assistants and both times the actions were condemned. it is a little different to exclude a woman whose choice of clothing reflects not just her race and reli...

Nice topic! 1. What religion/spirituality and denomination are you? Muslim/Sunni 2. Does that denomination have female religious (non-lay) leaders (priests, rabbis, ministers, etc)? I think there are a few. Its rather different in Islam (I'm talking specifically about sunni islam) where there is not...

I'm confused on what they are angry at. Is this guy calling for a ban on marriages between cousins? And what in the world does this have to do with Islam? Islam allows first cousin marriages but I mean speaking out against them isn't synonymous with speaking out against Islam! This is more of a cult...

It's always fruitless to harp on the past. Agreed. I have seen both sides of the spectrum argue about who was right 50 years ago. This isn't about 50 years ago though its about what's going on right now. Israel is not going to go away. Everyone in the region is going to have to learn to accept that...

I thought that, in addition to the reasons given above for supporting Israel, a compelling reason was that it is the only democratic country in the mid-east. Well the problem with that is that quite frankly the US doesn't want the rest of the Middle East to become democratic. They might say they do...

After a 300 year hiatus occasioned by the Western primacy the fourteen-century Jihad is resuming its course. Do you seriously believe that solicitr? Do you seriously think that you can reapply what happened centuries ago to modern day today? What is your argument? That Muslims in the past tried to ...

And is Hagee all that wrong about Islam? Can we really afford to contain it like we did Communism? Or is that an extended suicide pact? I read this statement and thought at first it implied that we should -- am I misunderstanding something? -- try to do something more drastic to Islam than "co...