Time magazine reports: “I recognize power of culture,” Romney said, hailing Israel’s strides in its 64 years as a nation. He allowed that a person would “have a hard time suggesting natural resources and land account for it all.” Start with the numbers, which were more than a bit off: The World Bank puts Israel’s gross domestic product at closer to $31,000 per capita, while residents of the West Bank and Gaza struggle to get by on just $1,500. The bigger problem, however, is the parallel: Mexico is not occupied by the United States, nor Ecuador by Chile. But since 1967, … Continue reading Romney’s Comments on Palestinian Economy Stir Controversy

FromThe New York Times: Democrats moved to make same-sex marriage a part of their party platform, placing language that would declare a right for gay men and lesbians to marry on track for approval by the party’s leadership. Party officials met over the weekend in Minneapolis and approved the first step in the platform-amending process. In two weeks, the entire platform committee will vote on the matter at a meeting scheduled in Detroit. Then, if approved as expected, it would move on to convention delegates in Charlotte, N.C., for final approval in September. According to Democrats who were briefed on … Continue reading Democrats Move to Include Gay Marriage in Party Platform

From the Executive Summary: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. Article 18, Universal Declaration of Human Rights To think, believe, or doubt. To speak or pray; to gather or stand apart. Such are the movements of the mind and heart, infinitives that take us beyond the finite. Freedom of religion, like all freedoms of thought and expression, are inherent. … Continue reading International Religious Freedom Report for 2011

From AG News: Dr. George O. Wood heard Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel loud and clear when he said that, “Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago values.” The General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God now has a rapid-fire series of questions for Emanuel and any other mayor who may be tempted to follow in his footsteps. “Are you saying that the Catholics are also unwelcome in Chicago because they don’t have Chicago values? That evangelicals aren’t welcome? That Muslims aren’t welcome? That Orthodox Jewish people are not welcome? “That other persons who have religious beliefs that marriage is between a man … Continue reading Wood speaks out on Chick-fil-A controversy

A worrisome story from the Star Tribune: LAKOTA, N.D. – The use of unmanned aerial drones, whose deadly accuracy helped revolutionize modern warfare high above the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, is now spreading intrigue and worry across the plains of North Dakota. Amid 3,000 acres of corn and soybeans and miles from the closest town, a Predator drone led to the arrests of farmer Rodney Brossart and five members of his family last year after a dispute over a neighbor’s six lost cows on his property escalated into a 16-hour standoff with police. It is one of the first … Continue reading Spies in the sky signal new age of surveillance