# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=726 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 727 --- ## [Honda's new Formula 1 car](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hondas-new-formula-1-car/393981)
**Author:** [@Secret\_Volcano\_Lair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Secret_Volcano_Lair)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2007, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hondas-new-formula-1-car/393981 "2007-03-13T13:23:59Z")
http://www.hondaracingf1.com/en/ Is an extremely inefficeint, high-performance race car an appropriate place to be promoting “green” technology? I’m not really sure what to think (other than that the car is pretty damn… --- ## [Former Iranian Deputy Defense Minister Ali Reza Askari -- defects to U.S.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-iranian-deputy-defense-minister-ali-reza-askari-defects-to-u-s/395335)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2007, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-iranian-deputy-defense-minister-ali-reza-askari-defects-to-u-s/395335 "2007-03-13T12:42:22Z")
He disappeared in Istanbul 2/7/07. Some news outlets are reporting he defected to the U.S. What would make an Iranian leader defect to the U.S.? Sincere change of heart? $weet offer? Fear of rivals? --- ## [Christian salvation theology; why so complicated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-salvation-theology-why-so-complicated/393720)
**Author:** [@Diletante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diletante)\ **Replies:** 165\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2007, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-salvation-theology-why-so-complicated/393720 "2007-03-13T03:49:33Z")
For the purposes of this discussion, let’s assume that the church is mostly right. As a matter of historical fact, Jesus died as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, and through Him we can have salvation if we accept hi… --- ## [Can religion/Bible be taught objectively in public schools?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-religion-bible-be-taught-objectively-in-public-schools/395156)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 114\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2007, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-religion-bible-be-taught-objectively-in-public-schools/395156 "2007-03-13T03:32:43Z")
A new book by religion professor Stephen Prothero has been getting enough major coverage in media ( (USA Today / Newsweek /other ) to make it to the double-digits bestseller even though it hasn’t been released yet. His … --- ## [Is Sean Hannity a bad Catholic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sean-hannity-a-bad-catholic/395453)
**Author:** [@Andrew\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andrew_Bird)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2007, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sean-hannity-a-bad-catholic/395453 "2007-03-13T02:57:49Z")
Hear is a video on Hannity and Priest that says Hannity is a Heretic: http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?030907/030907\_hc\_sean&Hannity\_Colmes&Judgment%20Day%20for%20Sean&acc&US&-1&News&372&&&exp And some comme… --- ## [Immigrants are far less likely to commit crimes than native-born Americans](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immigrants-are-far-less-likely-to-commit-crimes-than-native-born-americans/395050)
**Author:** [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2007, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immigrants-are-far-less-likely-to-commit-crimes-than-native-born-americans/395050 "2007-03-13T02:45:40Z")
It’s easy for the pro- and anti-immigration camps to sling anecdotes at each other of the criminal behavior, or lack thereof, of immigrants to the U.S. - but anecdote-slinging accomplishes little in the way of either sid… --- ## [Nailing "Every intelligence agency in the world believed..."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nailing-every-intelligence-agency-in-the-world-believed/394146)
**Author:** [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2007, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nailing-every-intelligence-agency-in-the-world-believed/394146 "2007-03-13T01:26:09Z")
Tedious I know, but honour bound. From Karen Kwiatkowski via Juan Cole --- ## [How Did the Ancient Romans Regards Britain?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-ancient-romans-regards-britain/395305)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-ancient-romans-regards-britain/395305 "2007-03-12T18:15:28Z")
How did the Romans regard Brittania, ca. AD 200-300? Was it considered a desirable place to live? If you were a general, was it a good place to be posted? I read that by the 2nd century, Roman Britain was pretty well set… --- ## [Catholic Natural Law](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-natural-law/395406)
**Author:** [@Andrew\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andrew_Bird)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2007, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-natural-law/395406 "2007-03-12T02:59:46Z")
Is Catholic Natural Law (or just any natural law) based on anything other than just what people want it to be? --- ## [Port Chester, New York and Voting Rights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-chester-new-york-and-voting-rights/395520)
**Author:** [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-chester-new-york-and-voting-rights/395520 "2007-03-12T00:28:40Z")
New York town defies U.S. on Hispanic voting rights – a background story on the legal and political donnybrook. I’m not in the habit of defending cities on the receiving end of voter discrimination lawsuits, but this se… --- ## [International conference in Baghdad begins tomorrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-conference-in-baghdad-begins-tomorrow/395286)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-conference-in-baghdad-begins-tomorrow/395286 "2007-03-11T20:06:38Z")
PM al-Maliki has invited representative of all governments in the region (and the U.S.) to meet and try to hash things out. Story here. The U.S. has declared itself open to one-on-one sidebar talks with Syria and Iran … --- ## [How important is our local businesses from a Economic Standpoint?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-our-local-businesses-from-a-economic-standpoint/395437)
**Author:** [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-our-local-businesses-from-a-economic-standpoint/395437 "2007-03-11T19:47:10Z")
I consider myself a capitalist, not in that I know loads about economics and business practices, but that I love the benefits of said capitalism, and my perception is that while it isn’t that fair in some regards (the ex… --- ## [Followup to old menarche thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/followup-to-old-menarche-thread/394736)
**Author:** [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2007, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/followup-to-old-menarche-thread/394736 "2007-03-11T09:18:56Z")
Several years ago, I started a thread asking for input on the possible reasons for the fact that the average age of menarche (the onset of mensis) had dropped steadily in the last century, to the point that a daughter o… --- ## [Britain's economy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-economy/395359)
**Author:** [@tirial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tirial)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2007, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britains-economy/395359 "2007-03-11T03:22:52Z")
Following on from the hijack in the Thread on Thatchers legacy, which appears to have turned into a discussion on economics, and Labour policy. \[QUOTE=Struan\] One of your cites directly refutes this! I hestitate to que… --- ## [FitzGerald might not have indicted Cheney, but Henry Waxman . . .](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitzgerald-might-not-have-indicted-cheney-but-henry-waxman/395428)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitzgerald-might-not-have-indicted-cheney-but-henry-waxman/395428 "2007-03-10T23:52:05Z")
. . . is having Valerie Plame testify before his House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 3/16/07. He has also asked FitzGerald to appear. John Nichols of The Nation writes on the story here. Will Cheney hi… --- ## [Resolved: MS should ditch MDI (document window within an application window)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-ms-should-ditch-mdi-document-window-within-an-application-window/395360)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-ms-should-ditch-mdi-document-window-within-an-application-window/395360 "2007-03-10T18:15:42Z")
NotePad doesn’t do it. Internet Explorer doesn’t do it. I believe MS Word, in its current incarnation on the PC, doesn’t do it. Each document from the above-mentioned programs is its own stand-alone window. You can p… --- ## [Flag burning - with a twist.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-burning-with-a-twist/395152)
**Author:** [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2007, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-burning-with-a-twist/395152 "2007-03-10T16:49:01Z")
I think it was well established in numerous debates on these boards that flag burning was a constitutional right. Certainly that was the Supreme Court’s opinion, and most posters here agreed with that. Pity nobody told… --- ## [America funding Mexican drug cartels - Lou Dobbs and Bill O'Reilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-funding-mexican-drug-cartels-lou-dobbs-and-bill-oreilly/395283)
**Author:** [@Andrew\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andrew_Bird)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2007, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-funding-mexican-drug-cartels-lou-dobbs-and-bill-oreilly/395283 "2007-03-10T02:38:51Z")
Why is it that people like Lou Dobbs and Bill O’Reilly who constantly complain about the actions of Mexican drug cartels (bringing drugs across the border, shooting at border agents) never mention the fact that the vast … --- ## [Ted Koppel: GWAT is "Our Children's Children's War"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-koppel-gwat-is-our-childrens-childrens-war/395289)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2007, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-koppel-gwat-is-our-childrens-childrens-war/395289 "2007-03-10T00:05:51Z")
I saw Ted Koppel on The Colbert Report last night, plugging his documentary that will be aired Sunday at 9 p.m. on the Discovery Channel. He made two key points about the “Global War Against Terror,” which apparently fo… --- ## [James Cameron v. Christians - Why the pro-Christian bias by the media?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-cameron-v-christians-why-the-pro-christian-bias-by-the-media/395268)
**Author:** [@Andrew\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andrew_Bird)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2007, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-cameron-v-christians-why-the-pro-christian-bias-by-the-media/395268 "2007-03-09T23:34:37Z")
Why is there a Christian bias in the public debate on the new James Cameron film on Jesus? Much of the media expects Cameron (and others associated with the film and book) to present evidence for their postion. But none… --- ## [Co\_Generation in the Home: Does It make Energy Sense?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co_generation-in-the-home-does-it-make-energy-sense/395244)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2007, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co_generation-in-the-home-does-it-make-energy-sense/395244 "2007-03-09T22:55:58Z")
Does this make sense from an energy conservation point of view? As I see it, the Honda system works like this: natural gas from the gas main runs an IC engine ( a modified Automobile engine) the engine runs an alterna… --- ## ["Freedom" Co-opted](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-co-opted/395186)
**Author:** [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-co-opted/395186 "2007-03-09T19:17:57Z")
Does it seem to anyone but me that right-of-center republicans have begun using, and subtly attempting to shift the definition of the word ‘freedom’ to mean something other than, well, freedom? It seems to me that cons… --- ## [Why did prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald persist ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-prosecutor-patrick-j-fitzgerald-persist/395029)
**Author:** [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-prosecutor-patrick-j-fitzgerald-persist/395029 "2007-03-09T18:59:31Z")
Prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald was tasked with finding out who outed CIA Agent Valerie Plame. Somewhere along the line (and I think, very soon into the investigation) he found that Richard Armitage was the out-er, but… --- ## [So, Was Cleaning Up Sulphate Emissions The WRONG Thing To Do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-was-cleaning-up-sulphate-emissions-the-wrong-thing-to-do/395196)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-was-cleaning-up-sulphate-emissions-the-wrong-thing-to-do/395196 "2007-03-09T17:30:41Z")
Some experts on global warming say that sulphates in the upper atmosphere block the sun and cause the earth to cool…so was cleaning up these emissions the wrong thing to do? Suppose we were to stop scrubbing cola powred … --- ## [Are there any culturally controversial teachings in the New Testament?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-culturally-controversial-teachings-in-the-new-testament/394481)
**Author:** [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2007, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-culturally-controversial-teachings-in-the-new-testament/394481 "2007-03-09T17:20:53Z")
When folks bring up seemingly kooky and confusing parts of the Bible to show how silly it is, they usually are quoting things from the Old Testament. Are there many such parts in the New Testament that read as contradic… --- ## [The role of the U.S. military and moral nation building](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-role-of-the-u-s-military-and-moral-nation-building/394323)
**Author:** [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-role-of-the-u-s-military-and-moral-nation-building/394323 "2007-03-09T15:13:24Z")
The United States has a long and, to its own citizens anyway, secret history of interfering with other countries for its own benefit, particularly for economic and idealogical reasons. What was done in our name in Latin … --- ## [Equal efforts = unequal salaries... Wtf?!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equal-efforts-unequal-salaries-wtf/394863)
**Author:** [@indierock82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indierock82)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2007, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equal-efforts-unequal-salaries-wtf/394863 "2007-03-09T13:46:49Z")
Was going to post this in GQ but figured that it might start a debate so I thought I might spare the moderator his/her time. Was looking at salary statistics in the papers today and was shocked to see how much less mone… --- ## [Inconvenient For Gore](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inconvenient-for-gore/393953)
**Author:** [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Replies:** 242\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2007, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inconvenient-for-gore/393953 "2007-03-09T06:59:04Z")
According to CNN, Gore’s energy bill for his home last year was $30,000. Twenty times the national average. (No link yet.) Is he a hypocrite? Does this undercut the effect of his movie? --- ## [Fraudulent televangelists](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraudulent-televangelists/394933)
**Author:** [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2007, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraudulent-televangelists/394933 "2007-03-09T04:52:15Z")
Do fraudulent televangelists believe in god and in Jesus? --- ## [Proposed Sex Offender License Plates in Ohio](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-sex-offender-license-plates-in-ohio/394924)
**Author:** [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2007, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-sex-offender-license-plates-in-ohio/394924 "2007-03-08T22:52:59Z")
So it seems that there’s a bill in Ohio’s legislature currently that would require convicted sex offenders to put special green license plates on their cars so that the general public would be more aware of who they are.… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=725) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=727)