# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=763 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 764 --- ## [Conflict between US Military & their oath vs. new terror laws](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflict-between-us-military-their-oath-vs-new-terror-laws/375002)
**Author:** [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflict-between-us-military-their-oath-vs-new-terror-laws/375002 "2006-10-02T21:54:38Z")
I’ve been following with great interest the discussion (mostly in the Pit) regarding the new terror law which passed last week. (Full text of the bill in .pdf form here.) However, elsewhere I have seen the following di… --- ## [Should we (the US) reconsider universal college education?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-the-us-reconsider-universal-college-education/374847)
**Author:** [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2006, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-the-us-reconsider-universal-college-education/374847 "2006-10-02T18:49:53Z")
I’m an engineer. Through my job, I volunteer one day a month at a local middle school: I give talks showing applications of the math topics the teachers are covering. (Part of my motivation is that when I was in junior… --- ## [Are you worried about the internets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-the-internets/375009)
**Author:** [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2006, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-worried-about-the-internets/375009 "2006-10-02T17:48:26Z")
Sen. kennedy gave a speech last week discussing the establishment attack at the internet.Bill Moyers echoed the sentiments today. Moyers has a 3 part program on PBS starting Wed. The 3rd part deals with saving the intern… --- ## [Quebec sovereignty movement - Any chance Quebec will achieve sovereignty?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quebec-sovereignty-movement-any-chance-quebec-will-achieve-sovereignty/373400)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2006, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quebec-sovereignty-movement-any-chance-quebec-will-achieve-sovereignty/373400 "2006-10-02T13:55:57Z")
I was reading the wiki article and this issue still seems to be simmering in Canadian politics. Is there any chance this will come to pass and Quebec will be sovereign? Are the demands for sovereignty reasonable or jus… --- ## [Hamburg court: Forum operators are liable for comments](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamburg-court-forum-operators-are-liable-for-comments/374869)
**Author:** [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2006, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamburg-court-forum-operators-are-liable-for-comments/374869 "2006-10-01T21:01:17Z")
I am sorry if this has been discussed before. I checked and couldn’t find a thread. Also this is not exactly recent news, but I found it while searching for something else. If find the decission astoundingly stupid, but… --- ## [Once more: “How dare you say we’re violent? Death to you!”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-more-how-dare-you-say-we-re-violent-death-to-you/374819)
**Author:** [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-more-how-dare-you-say-we-re-violent-death-to-you/374819 "2006-10-01T19:13:21Z")
Story here (and elsewhere. Is there a solution other than giving in? --- ## [Japanese lack of contrition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-lack-of-contrition/373213)
**Author:** [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-lack-of-contrition/373213 "2006-10-01T16:20:39Z")
I am constantly baffled by the Japanese lack of contrition for their war atrocities compared to the German contrition for their role in the war. The Prime Minister still goes to pay homage at ememorials to Japanese war … --- ## [How do you feel about "Safe Haven" laws?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-safe-haven-laws/374434)
**Author:** [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-safe-haven-laws/374434 "2006-10-01T15:45:49Z")
The laws that allow you to drop off a newborn child w/ at a hospital or firehouse within 72 hours of their birth w/out getting in trouble? Here is a story --- ## [Will we ever see a reversal in the obesity trend?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-see-a-reversal-in-the-obesity-trend/374409)
**Author:** [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2006, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-see-a-reversal-in-the-obesity-trend/374409 "2006-10-01T04:31:54Z")
Every now and then I see an article online about having to increase the size of toilets, x-ray machines, etc to accomodate the increasing obese population. I feel that our decade, and possibly our century, is in an upwar… --- ## [Do regular people today enjoy a better life than the great rulers of the past?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-regular-people-today-enjoy-a-better-life-than-the-great-rulers-of-the-past/372822)
**Author:** [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2006, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-regular-people-today-enjoy-a-better-life-than-the-great-rulers-of-the-past/372822 "2006-09-30T22:33:19Z")
Let’s compare an average American middle-class person with a great sultan or pharoah. Food: Pharoahs got the best chefs, top ingredients, and rare delicacies. But 2000 years ago, fresh grapes were a luxury item. Adva… --- ## [Parents that push their kids to perfection](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-that-push-their-kids-to-perfection/373819)
**Author:** [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2006, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-that-push-their-kids-to-perfection/373819 "2006-09-30T20:04:51Z")
At my work I see a wide range of kids. Our business is popular with families that have overachieving kids. From an academic standpoint, they don’t really need tutoring. Frankly, so long as they continue to challenge them… --- ## [Medical Center sued for closing on Jewish Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-center-sued-for-closing-on-jewish-sabbath/374559)
**Author:** [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2006, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-center-sued-for-closing-on-jewish-sabbath/374559 "2006-09-30T17:33:30Z")
From this article, this one and this one. The essence of the story is that the local NAACP chapter of Spring Valley, NY has sued (or filed a complaint) against the Ben Gilman Medical and Dental Clinic, alleging “unlawfu… --- ## [Are there commerical/industrial possibilities (other than tourism) in space travel?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-commerical-industrial-possibilities-other-than-tourism-in-space-travel/371227)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2006, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-commerical-industrial-possibilities-other-than-tourism-in-space-travel/371227 "2006-09-30T14:46:31Z")
Inspired about this thread about the proposed new Orion spacecraft – part of a whole new family of spaceships for different purposes in NASA’s Project Constellation. I’ve argued before that the human race needs to colon… --- ## [Do Christians believe that non-Christians are going to hell?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-christians-believe-that-non-christians-are-going-to-hell/373065)
**Author:** [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Replies:** 242\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2006, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-christians-believe-that-non-christians-are-going-to-hell/373065 "2006-09-30T12:44:40Z")
A while back I was reading an evolution thread (which I can’t find to save my life…it was only a couple of months ago) and this subject came up. Someone said that Christians believe that non-Christians (and often even Ch… --- ## [Why the reverance for the Founding Fathers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-reverance-for-the-founding-fathers/373786)
**Author:** [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2006, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-reverance-for-the-founding-fathers/373786 "2006-09-30T00:34:29Z")
I try and follow U.S. politics, and I pick up some of it on these boards, and something that strikes me about the whole area is that the Founding Fathers are brought up a lot, usually in the context of the Constitution. … --- ## [Iraqis Say "Bugger Off!"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraqis-say-bugger-off/374380)
**Author:** [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2006, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraqis-say-bugger-off/374380 "2006-09-29T22:33:40Z")
http://pipa.org/ (quotes from ThinkProgress abstract of poll, link is to original source) If an referendum were held tomorrow (if such were possible tomorrow, Iraqis would dip their finger in purple ink and flip us of… --- ## [ClearPlay DVD players now available in WalMart](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearplay-dvd-players-now-available-in-walmart/373947)
**Author:** [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearplay-dvd-players-now-available-in-walmart/373947 "2006-09-29T17:50:22Z")
About a year ago I posted a thread on SDMB about the way some companies are using the potential of DVD players to unilaterally censor Hollywood movies. There was a court case involved, I don’t know how it came out, but y… --- ## [OT Irrelevant to Christains?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ot-irrelevant-to-christains/373289)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ot-irrelevant-to-christains/373289 "2006-09-29T16:26:09Z")
My question: it is my impression that the NT supersedes to OT. As Paul worte, Jesus is the fulfillment of the law, and Christians are no longer bound by the Mosaic law. So, given the break with Judaism, is the OT really… --- ## [Gang Violence=Domestic Terrorism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-violence-domestic-terrorism/374448)
**Author:** [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-violence-domestic-terrorism/374448 "2006-09-29T04:39:12Z")
Let me begin by saying that I’m not some Tighty Righty law-and-order type. I firmly believe in the preservation of civil liberties, due process, the whole Constitutional argument, etc. None of this changes the fact that… --- ## [Are Politicians Ever Liars?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-politicians-ever-liars/373398)
**Author:** [@sctrojan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sctrojan)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-politicians-ever-liars/373398 "2006-09-29T03:52:11Z")
George Allen says that he created the word “macaca” out of whole cloth. What do you imagine the odds are against his “divining” a name for a person of color that is, among some, a derogative characterization of a person… --- ## [Do Christians feel that athiests are amoral or unprincipled?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-christians-feel-that-athiests-are-amoral-or-unprincipled/372629)
**Author:** [@Beaucarnea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beaucarnea)\ **Replies:** 352\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2006, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-christians-feel-that-athiests-are-amoral-or-unprincipled/372629 "2006-09-29T01:24:44Z")
If yes, why do you feel this way? --- ## [Does the existance of an omniscient being prove that free will is non-existant?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-existance-of-an-omniscient-being-prove-that-free-will-is-non-existant/373806)
**Author:** [@Interest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interest)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-existance-of-an-omniscient-being-prove-that-free-will-is-non-existant/373806 "2006-09-28T22:42:37Z")
I have read the following arguement as proof that if God can see the future, free will does not exist. An infallible, omniscient, being exists. \[Assumption\] This being has foreknowledge that event ‘A’ will occur. \[Defi… --- ## [How far should public schools go for special ed students?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-should-public-schools-go-for-special-ed-students/373863)
**Author:** [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-should-public-schools-go-for-special-ed-students/373863 "2006-09-28T16:42:58Z")
Who Pays for Special Ed? excerpt: I am extremely sympathic towards parents with special needs children, especially those with children who are as profoundly handicapped as the child in the article. I can’t even begin… --- ## [Blair's legacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blairs-legacy/374189)
**Author:** [@aegypt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aegypt)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blairs-legacy/374189 "2006-09-28T15:49:22Z")
This is a simple question. Tony Blair is currently on his way out of British politics. How will he be remembered in the future, and what will be his effect on the country’s politics after he’s gone (other than a period o… --- ## [Coach Wins 56-0, faced suspension](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coach-wins-56-0-faced-suspension/373760)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2006, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coach-wins-56-0-faced-suspension/373760 "2006-09-28T13:03:23Z")
Bridgeport, Connecticut, Central High School’s football team won their season opener against Bassick, 56-0. The first quarter ended 35-0. By the second quarter, Bridgeport coach Dave Cadelina was sitting his starters on … --- ## [Atheists have more faith](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-have-more-faith/373406)
**Author:** [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Replies:** 130\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2006, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-have-more-faith/373406 "2006-09-28T11:30:20Z")
First, let us agree on the definition of “faith”, at least for the purpose of this thread. Faith is the belief in things not seen. The three Abrahamic faiths, Islam, Judaism and Christianity, all rely on faith for much… --- ## [Why are people against Voter Ids?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-against-voter-ids/373514)
**Author:** [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2006, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-against-voter-ids/373514 "2006-09-27T23:10:43Z")
I’m putting this in GD, not because I have a side in this discussion, but because I simply don’t see a valid argument against voter IDs and would like to hear some. If the IDs are free and reasonably easy to get, what i… --- ## [Has the war in Iraq increased the threat of terrorism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-war-in-iraq-increased-the-threat-of-terrorism/374068)
**Author:** [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-war-in-iraq-increased-the-threat-of-terrorism/374068 "2006-09-27T22:49:52Z")
I heard on the ride in that 16 government intelligence services agree that the war in Iraq has increased terrorism. We are creating another generation of terrorists by occupying Iraq. I remember this idea being pooh-po… --- ## [How Do I Surrender \[to Islam and/or Islamist terrorists\]?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-surrender-to-islam-and-or-islamist-terrorists/370884)
**Author:** [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Replies:** 161\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2006, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-surrender-to-islam-and-or-islamist-terrorists/370884 "2006-09-26T23:49:39Z")
OK, I’m done; I surrender. I don’t want anything from Muslims: I don’t want to convert you, I don’t want to kill you, and I don’t want to prevent you from making women wear silly clothes. As long as you don’t want to cha… --- ## [Wanting the "right" candidate for the "wrong" reason](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanting-the-right-candidate-for-the-wrong-reason/374069)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2006, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanting-the-right-candidate-for-the-wrong-reason/374069 "2006-09-26T23:08:54Z")
Ohio’s gubernatorial race pits white Democrat Ted Strickland versus black Republican Ken Blackwell. I have huge issues with Ken Blackwell, from the Tom Noe dipshittery to the Dominionist taint to the stumping with Rod P… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=762) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=764)