# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=791 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 792 --- ## [Moussaoui, Guilty or Not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moussaoui-guilty-or-not/356501)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moussaoui-guilty-or-not/356501 "2006-05-17T03:19:48Z")
Does it matter? OK, Moussaoui is a head job. He confessed to being assigned to fly an airplane into the White House. There is not a bit of evidence that this is true. He claimed to know the 9-11 hijackers. He now says t… --- ## [The "Bible Code" -Is It Real?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bible-code-is-it-real/356624)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bible-code-is-it-real/356624 "2006-05-16T22:26:24Z")
I saw the show last night about the so-called Bible codes. The claim is that iff you arrange the (Hebrew texts) of the books of the OT in square blocks, then a computer search will reveal words in vertical, horizontal, a… --- ## [Obvious evidence for an old earth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-evidence-for-an-old-earth/356183)
**Author:** [@mrrealtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrrealtime)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2006, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-evidence-for-an-old-earth/356183 "2006-05-16T21:16:06Z")
I think its pretty obvious that the earth and the universe we find ourselves in today is much older than the 5,000-10,000 or so years proported by some people The question is, what is some simple, glaring piece of easil… --- ## [Sistani removes Fatwa on Gays](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sistani-removes-fatwa-on-gays/356911)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2006, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sistani-removes-fatwa-on-gays/356911 "2006-05-16T18:07:43Z")
Moral victory for gays in Iraq, who’ve suffered horrendous violence from the hands of bigoted and backward ass militamen, such as the Sadr and Badr brigades. It seems Sistani was put in action when a group called LGBT pl… --- ## [Fred Phelps is only the tip of the religion iceberg!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-only-the-tip-of-the-religion-iceberg/355990)
**Author:** [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Replies:** 176\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2006, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-only-the-tip-of-the-religion-iceberg/355990 "2006-05-16T14:22:23Z")
Good old Valteron has taken on the reputation of local anti-Catholic bigot, it would seem. So just to make it clear, I am actually an equal-opportunity bigot. I have been on other sites in which I pointed out the revolti… --- ## [Ashkenazy Jews, Intelligence, Evolution](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashkenazy-jews-intelligence-evolution/356587)
**Author:** [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2006, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashkenazy-jews-intelligence-evolution/356587 "2006-05-16T05:47:29Z")
There was a thread about this last year, but i feel it didn’t really go anywhere and i would like to start another. Primarily i would like to discuss my theories on the mechanisms involved in creating the evolutionary pr… --- ## [Praise to a corporation (for now)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praise-to-a-corporation-for-now/356543)
**Author:** [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2006, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praise-to-a-corporation-for-now/356543 "2006-05-16T01:21:50Z")
According to this article from the NY Times (note: requires registration), Qwest turned down requests to hand over records: Good on Qwest and Mr. Nacchio! If someone wants to pit the remaining companies who happily tur… --- ## [If our current batch of pundits had been alive in 45](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-our-current-batch-of-pundits-had-been-alive-in-45/356795)
**Author:** [@Jeffr062](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeffr062)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-our-current-batch-of-pundits-had-been-alive-in-45/356795 "2006-05-15T23:01:37Z")
VDH, lamenting “our present intelligentsia and punditocracy” has written an interesting “what if” column. Like my title says, what If our current batch of pundits had been alive in 45? Would they have written columns l… --- ## [Study recommends no flu vaccine for the elderly](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/study-recommends-no-flu-vaccine-for-the-elderly/356499)
**Author:** [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/study-recommends-no-flu-vaccine-for-the-elderly/356499 "2006-05-15T21:52:43Z")
(For some reason I can’t get the hyperlinks icon to work. Anyway, here’s the link: ) I agree. I know it sounds cold-blooded. But frankly it makes sense to me for society to give priority in such an emergency to prote… --- ## [Opening the borders: What would happen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-borders-what-would-happen/356048)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-borders-what-would-happen/356048 "2006-05-15T15:26:18Z")
Seeing all the talk about “illegal immigration” and the rather… passionate views it inspires in people, it seems only appropriate to ask the corrollary to the “Immigration Question”: What if every country in the world si… --- ## [Is Freedom Of The Net In Danger? Net Neutrality.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-freedom-of-the-net-in-danger-net-neutrality/354285)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2006, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-freedom-of-the-net-in-danger-net-neutrality/354285 "2006-05-15T10:30:18Z")
Apparently, Congress is being urged by Big Telecom to hand control, & possibly censorship, of the Web over to them. Is this a serious threat? Could this actually pass? Free Speech/Tech Savy Dopers, please provide in… --- ## [Wherein SentientMeat tries to convince other-wise that physicalism is reasonable](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-sentientmeat-tries-to-convince-other-wise-that-physicalism-is-reasonable/353273)
**Author:** [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2006, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-sentientmeat-tries-to-convince-other-wise-that-physicalism-is-reasonable/353273 "2006-05-15T09:41:09Z")
This thread is really for one poster, friend other-wise, who is currently making a “last ditch effort to embrace physicalism” but still finding it “as unreasonable as the alternatives” (solipsism, panpsychism, pantheism e… --- ## [The Canadian Dollar is up. When do I get my cheap stuff?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-dollar-is-up-when-do-i-get-my-cheap-stuff/356612)
**Author:** [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2006, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-dollar-is-up-when-do-i-get-my-cheap-stuff/356612 "2006-05-15T07:21:18Z")
If you don’t pay attention to currency markets, you probably wouldn’t be aware that the Canadian dollar has been on a bit of a tear against the US dollar of late reaching 91 cents earlier this week. It’s just about highe… --- ## [Is it unethical/illegal to burn Blockbuster dvds?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-illegal-to-burn-blockbuster-dvds/351116)
**Author:** [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Replies:** 212\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2006, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-illegal-to-burn-blockbuster-dvds/351116 "2006-05-15T04:06:41Z")
It’s my understanding that the legality of copying movies ambigious at best, but is it unethical to do so? Does it matter if you own the movies, or if you rent them? --- ## [Shots fired between Iraqi battalions; more indicators of a brewing civil war ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-between-iraqi-battalions-more-indicators-of-a-brewing-civil-war/356773)
**Author:** [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2006, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shots-fired-between-iraqi-battalions-more-indicators-of-a-brewing-civil-war/356773 "2006-05-15T03:27:09Z")
This isn’t good. That’s bad enough, but consider the implications of this : If I wanted to create the conditions for a civil war, that’s what I’d do. Heavily armed and ethnically/religiously seperate ? Is there anyon… --- ## [Why I oppose the death penalty](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-oppose-the-death-penalty/355782)
**Author:** [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2006, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-oppose-the-death-penalty/355782 "2006-05-15T03:17:20Z")
Earl Washington Jr came within 9 days of being executed for a crime he didn’t commit. He was pardoned in 2000. And he spent 9 years in prison. A jury has just ruled that Washington was the victim of a cop who falsified … --- ## [Harvard Researchgroup: Too Much Zionist Influence on the US-Goverment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harvard-researchgroup-too-much-zionist-influence-on-the-us-goverment/356536)
**Author:** [@Minotaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minotaurus)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harvard-researchgroup-too-much-zionist-influence-on-the-us-goverment/356536 "2006-05-14T19:47:49Z")
An important new research paper by two distinguished professors, entitled “The Israel Lobby And U.S. Foreign Policy,” was just published by Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. \[1\] The paper’s three… --- ## [Is pedophilia "natrual" or is it a sickness?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pedophilia-natrual-or-is-it-a-sickness/356018)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2006, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pedophilia-natrual-or-is-it-a-sickness/356018 "2006-05-14T19:01:47Z")
Or better still, are pedophiles just mean evil people? If we’re going to accept homosexuality is natural, should we also accept pedophiles impulses as natural too? Also, shouldn’t falling to one’s own impulses, especia… --- ## [What if the Greeks had won the Battle of Alalia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-greeks-had-won-the-battle-of-alalia/356516)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-greeks-had-won-the-battle-of-alalia/356516 "2006-05-14T17:49:36Z")
Some time between 540 and 535 BC, the Phocaean Greeks of Massillia (modern Marseilles) fought a naval battle with an Etruscan-Carthaginian alliance. Battle of Alalia - Wikipedia The Greeks lost, the Carthaginians retai… --- ## [If the Feds won't do it, we will: localities take steps to curb illegal immigration](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-feds-wont-do-it-we-will-localities-take-steps-to-curb-illegal-immigration/355838)
**Author:** [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Replies:** 148\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2006, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-feds-wont-do-it-we-will-localities-take-steps-to-curb-illegal-immigration/355838 "2006-05-14T01:27:53Z")
I came across three articles talking about how state and local groups are passing legislation to take a stand against illegal aliens. These are the first successful attempts I’ve see that run counter to municipalities de… --- ## [White Americans less healthy than British counterparts: your thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-americans-less-healthy-than-british-counterparts-your-thoughts/356152)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-americans-less-healthy-than-british-counterparts-your-thoughts/356152 "2006-05-13T23:24:08Z")
(Sorry; tried to find link to decent article, couldn’t. Anyone?) Apparently Caucasian Americans are significantly less healthy than a genetically similar group, the British. This despite the fact that the British are no… --- ## [No Child Left Behind starting to cause massive school upheavals - Good thing or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-child-left-behind-starting-to-cause-massive-school-upheavals-good-thing-or-not/356155)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2006, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-child-left-behind-starting-to-cause-massive-school-upheavals-good-thing-or-not/356155 "2006-05-13T22:55:09Z")
Per the linked story NCLB chickens are coming home to roost and are starting to cause some schools to be completely disassembled and then reassembled from the ground up. Is this a useful thing for underperforming schools… --- ## [Why didn't evolution make us happier](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-evolution-make-us-happier/342768)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-evolution-make-us-happier/342768 "2006-05-13T21:00:56Z")
Happiness (happiness meaning contentment, feeling positive, well being, feeling good and at place, etc.) is tied into almost every positive character trait. It boosts the immune system, problem solving, motivation & soci… --- ## [Logistics of Partitioning Iraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logistics-of-partitioning-iraq/355688)
**Author:** [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2006, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logistics-of-partitioning-iraq/355688 "2006-05-13T19:10:51Z")
There’s been much talk of late re: the partitioning of Iraq, into three ethnic zones. Question is: How difficult would this be, and how humanely could it be done? Although the hypothesized partitioning would be done alo… --- ## [Evolutionary benefit of racism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolutionary-benefit-of-racism/355129)
**Author:** [@jawdirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jawdirk)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolutionary-benefit-of-racism/355129 "2006-05-13T18:32:08Z")
I just saw this article on a free science news site: Nice guys do finish first in lizards’ evolutionary race, says MSU professor So here’s the thing. The behavior that they are describing as “nice guy” behavior, the … --- ## [Attention Dems - They WANT Hillary as our Candidate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dems-they-want-hillary-as-our-candidate/356066)
**Author:** [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Replies:** 128\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2006, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-dems-they-want-hillary-as-our-candidate/356066 "2006-05-13T14:55:33Z")
Could there be clearer proof than Rupert Murdoch helping her? http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/0-0&fp=4460936cece635c6&ei=1KtgRIuAEbTIHKqcoIkG&url=http%3A//www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/09/politics/main16006… --- ## [Was trashing France a good idea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-trashing-france-a-good-idea/355726)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 130\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2006, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-trashing-france-a-good-idea/355726 "2006-05-12T21:32:59Z")
It seems that the scathing hatred which many American conservatives felt for the French, in the wake of France not supporting a U.N. resolution for war against Iraq three years, has started to die down. At the least, I … --- ## [Standing with Minimum Wage Earners Act of 2006 - Good? Bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standing-with-minimum-wage-earners-act-of-2006-good-bad/356291)
**Author:** [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2006, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standing-with-minimum-wage-earners-act-of-2006-good-bad/356291 "2006-05-12T19:17:33Z")
Sen. Hillary Clinton just introduced the Standing with Minimum Wage Earners Act of 2006, which would tie percentage increases of the federal minimum wage to Congressional pay raises. The immediate effect would be to rai… --- ## [the end of the dollar hegemony and Iran](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-dollar-hegemony-and-iran/356413)
**Author:** [@Minotaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minotaurus)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-dollar-hegemony-and-iran/356413 "2006-05-12T16:43:56Z")
i’ve just read (and heard) this speach by the republican congressman Dr. Ron Paul about the dollar hegemony Iran planes to create an oil bourse where oil sales will be priced Euros, not dollars this year. Will an attack… --- ## [Bush still appending "signing statements" to new laws saying he won't obey them](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-still-appending-signing-statements-to-new-laws-saying-he-wont-obey-them/355264)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2006, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-still-appending-signing-statements-to-new-laws-saying-he-wont-obey-them/355264 "2006-05-12T13:39:35Z")
In a thread in January, we discussed the Bush Admin’s use of “presidential signing statements” added when Bush signs new legislation, stating how the Admin interprets the law and what language it does or does not intend … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=790) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=792)