# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=768 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 769 --- ## [Let's define "Anti-American."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-define-anti-american/370565)
**Author:** [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2006, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-define-anti-american/370565 "2006-09-06T02:59:01Z")
Apologies if this has been done before. “Anti-American” is a term that is thrown around a lot. Off the top of my (left-leaning) head, I hear it used most frequently as a right-wing all-purpose counter-attack against cri… --- ## [Lieberman may bolt from the Dems](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lieberman-may-bolt-from-the-dems/363323)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 138\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lieberman-may-bolt-from-the-dems/363323 "2006-09-06T02:27:58Z")
Joe Lieberman has announced he may run as an independent if Ned Lamont beats him in the Connecticut primary. Mainly on account of policy differences over the Iraq war. I guess that would make a beneficial difference in… --- ## [Who do you think Jack The Ripper could be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-jack-the-ripper-could-be/371272)
**Author:** [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2006, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-jack-the-ripper-could-be/371272 "2006-09-06T00:49:01Z")
Was he a Doctor? Was he royalty? Just a crazed psychotic nobody? What’s your theory? I personally think he was a Doctor of some sort, maybe passed around as a child, an orphan so to speak. Maybe he was abused quite a b… --- ## [Vatican Excommunicates Abortion Providers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vatican-excommunicates-abortion-providers/371217)
**Author:** [@Victorian\_Squid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victorian_Squid)\ **Replies:** 108\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vatican-excommunicates-abortion-providers/371217 "2006-09-05T21:47:11Z")
From the article, Possibly one of the most disgusting things I have ever read, and worthy of being Pitted, frankly. Who was saying the anti-abortion movement was about respect for life, and not just about punishing wom… --- ## [Back to the future: NASA and the new orbiter](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-the-future-nasa-and-the-new-orbiter/370973)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-the-future-nasa-and-the-new-orbiter/370973 "2006-09-05T19:51:03Z")
I was reading this article discussing NASA and its up coming announcement of which contractor will build the ‘new’ generation of orbital and lunar rockets. I think a replacement for the aging (and disappointing) space … --- ## [Does Iran have a right to nuclear weapons?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-iran-have-a-right-to-nuclear-weapons/369832)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 255\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2006, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-iran-have-a-right-to-nuclear-weapons/369832 "2006-09-05T19:40:38Z")
Does Iran (or North Korea) have a right to develop nuclear weapons? Both countries have good reason to feel threatened by a country with a huge nuclear arsenal and has used nuclear weapons in war before. --- ## [wtc - wtf: Part II (long)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-wtf-part-ii-long/371015)
**Author:** [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-wtf-part-ii-long/371015 "2006-09-05T19:14:38Z")
Disclaimer This is a long post, but since I’ve recently been mocked by fellow dopers for grammatical errors I’ve made in other posts, I would like to start out by announcing that English is not my first language, and al… --- ## [Advertising=Racism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-racism/371500)
**Author:** [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advertising-racism/371500 "2006-09-05T17:01:10Z")
I am taking a class this semester called “Current Strategies in Media Programming”, which is essentially about what is programmed, how the determination is made to program something, and why certain seemingly unpopular t… --- ## [New tb strain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tb-strain/371297)
**Author:** [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2006, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-tb-strain/371297 "2006-09-05T10:22:12Z")
Fears of 'extreme' TB strain | Science | The Guardian is that it.Is this the one that wipes out mankind. --- ## [Going to hell in a hand basket](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-hell-in-a-hand-basket/371054)
**Author:** [@coberst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coberst)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-hell-in-a-hand-basket/371054 "2006-09-04T20:02:58Z")
Going to hell in a hand basket In the world of natural science existence is that which is measurable. If it cannot be measured it does not exist–except as that which must be exorcised–in any important way in the world … --- ## [Can the swastika be redeemed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-swastika-be-redeemed/369674)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2006, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-swastika-be-redeemed/369674 "2006-09-04T18:07:24Z")
Actually a movement that’s been around for awhile, but I only just became aware of it. Apparently a lot of people, traditional hindus as well as others, are protesting laws that automatically consider the swastika to be … --- ## [The Case Against God](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-against-god/370850)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-against-god/370850 "2006-09-04T15:26:50Z")
Seems to be the season for all the atheists and agnostics coming out of the woodwork to vex all you God-fearin’ folks, so here I go: We hold the entity known as God to be responsible, directly or indirectly, for the d… --- ## [Are Women Better Mothers of Infants Than Men?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-women-better-mothers-of-infants-than-men/371325)
**Author:** [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-women-better-mothers-of-infants-than-men/371325 "2006-09-04T14:59:30Z")
I’m not asking for a comparison of men and women as parents. My question is whether women are usually inherently better at raising infants and toddlers (from birth to about age 3) than men are. Or are women usually res… --- ## [Democracy and Chinese political activism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democracy-and-chinese-political-activism/370989)
**Author:** [@b5d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/b5d)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democracy-and-chinese-political-activism/370989 "2006-09-03T15:38:20Z")
I was nextblogging, actually, when I came across this site, the China Desk Weblog. According to the site, the author, Bevin Chu, He describes himself as a “market anarchist,” which translates to a permissive attitude … --- ## [Thoughts on Extraterrestrial Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-extraterrestrial-life/370482)
**Author:** [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2006, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-extraterrestrial-life/370482 "2006-09-02T20:59:56Z")
I have placed this is IMHO because that is mostly what I would like to see. I am not an astro-physist or archeologist, just an amateur of both. I also am a huge fan of the space program in all of it’s forms. I say thi… --- ## [Do Republicans support a stronger UN?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-republicans-support-a-stronger-un/369827)
**Author:** [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-republicans-support-a-stronger-un/369827 "2006-09-02T18:43:49Z")
The United Nations comes under a lot of criticism from Republicans for being weak and ineffectual, and I agree entirely. But back in the 90’s, they abhorred the UN because they felt it was a powerful threat to US soverei… --- ## [Is there more proof of Jesus than Evolution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-more-proof-of-jesus-than-evolution/369054)
**Author:** [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Replies:** 184\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-more-proof-of-jesus-than-evolution/369054 "2006-09-02T16:22:48Z")
I’m talking proof, not theory. Is there more proof of a man named Jesus (claiming to be the messiah) and living and dying over 2000 years ago than there is proof of evolution? I understand some will say mostly all scie… --- ## [Bush says we're fighting "Islamic fascists"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-were-fighting-islamic-fascists/368179)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 102\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2006, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-says-were-fighting-islamic-fascists/368179 "2006-09-02T11:37:55Z")
Not for the first time either, IIRC. “Islamo-fascist” and variants have entered common parlance via talk radio and blogs. But do you think the terms are accurate? I could see “Islamic extremists/absolutists/terroris… --- ## [Objective morals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/objective-morals/370774)
**Author:** [@yelimS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yelimS)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2006, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/objective-morals/370774 "2006-09-02T09:06:35Z")
\[QUOTE=Shodan\] Again, that is begging the question. Why is “liking it” The Good? Why does preference carry any moral weight? And a feeling (of being happy, or feeling anything else) is pretty much the definition of “… --- ## [Materialism, idealism, free will and god.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/materialism-idealism-free-will-and-god/369864)
**Author:** [@badchad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badchad)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2006, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/materialism-idealism-free-will-and-god/369864 "2006-09-02T08:29:35Z")
\[QUOTE=I Tichy\] First off, I’m not interested in defending the specifics of Judeo-Christian belief to anyone. I’m interested in the philosophical notion of God (all-perfect, necessary being), and the partly philosophica… --- ## [Do Away With The U.S. Senate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-away-with-the-u-s-senate/370595)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-away-with-the-u-s-senate/370595 "2006-09-02T04:08:03Z")
Has the time finally come to do away with the U.S. Senate? The U.S. Senate is based on the antiquated notion that all states should have an equal say. This was originally planned so big states wouldn’t have more of a say… --- ## [Propping Up New Democracies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propping-up-new-democracies/371101)
**Author:** [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2006, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propping-up-new-democracies/371101 "2006-09-02T00:35:56Z")
I’m putting this here rather than in GQ, because I don’t think there’s a clear-cut answer. As I understand it, the U.S. plan in Iraq and Afghanistan, as stated by our government, is: Oust the oppressive, unfriendly an… --- ## [Predestination and Islam](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predestination-and-islam/370185)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2006, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predestination-and-islam/370185 "2006-09-01T21:57:07Z")
Predestination is, more or less, the belief that an all powerful God has either decided all future events in advance, or knows what they will be, & that no act by an individual can change the future. Does this view infl… --- ## [A Christian Confession](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-christian-confession/371048)
**Author:** [@pragmatic55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pragmatic55)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2006, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-christian-confession/371048 "2006-09-01T17:05:09Z")
This is a particular Christian confession taken from another writing. Hopefully it inspires more longtime happiness than anxiety but all thoughts are welcome. --- ## [God's busy -we need to look after ourselves.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gods-busy-we-need-to-look-after-ourselves/371030)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gods-busy-we-need-to-look-after-ourselves/371030 "2006-09-01T15:27:07Z")
Assuming the premise that there is a superhuman God, the notion, that God is everywhere, doing \*everything \* in a practically infinite universe is simply silly. We need to acknowledge that God is busy with “God stuff”, … --- ## [Jesus as myth: how strong is this argument?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-as-myth-how-strong-is-this-argument/370637)
**Author:** [@FrantzJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrantzJ)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2006, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-as-myth-how-strong-is-this-argument/370637 "2006-09-01T15:21:42Z")
I realize that it is entirely impossible to completely disprove the existence of an ancient individual, but I would like to know, out of curiosity, how strong is the argument that Jesus was never a real human being? Is … --- ## [Let's define "Pro-Terrorist / Pro-Enemy."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-define-pro-terrorist-pro-enemy/370566)
**Author:** [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-define-pro-terrorist-pro-enemy/370566 "2006-09-01T14:21:22Z")
In another thread, I read a poster call another poster’s movie pitch as “pro-terrorist.” Though I agreed that it was clearly anti-Bush, I didn’t see any hint of advocating terrorism. But while the pitch didn’t advocate … --- ## [Lincoln loses the 1864 election. Could he have still won the Civil War?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lincoln-loses-the-1864-election-could-he-have-still-won-the-civil-war/371045)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2006, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lincoln-loses-the-1864-election-could-he-have-still-won-the-civil-war/371045 "2006-09-01T14:15:43Z")
In the summer of 1864, with his political prospects looking very gloomy, President Abraham Lincoln wrote a note and had his Cabinet members sign along the margin, without showing them the text: “This morning, as for som… --- ## [Homaidan Al Turki](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homaidan-al-turki/371053)
**Author:** [@EverLearner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EverLearner)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2006, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homaidan-al-turki/371053 "2006-09-01T09:38:22Z")
Man Gets 27 Years in Colo. Slavery Case What wrong did he do? --- ## [would Direct democracy be the right way to ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-direct-democracy-be-the-right-way-to/370841)
**Author:** [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2006, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-direct-democracy-be-the-right-way-to/370841 "2006-09-01T05:43:09Z")
Like they have in Switzerland Wikipedia Would this be the right way to go for nations in North-America and Europe so that people have more influence on the decisions made - full power over the law ? What would the ne… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=767) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=769)