# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=836 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 837 --- ## [What (if anything) is wrong with France?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-is-wrong-with-france/331171)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-is-wrong-with-france/331171 "2005-11-16T03:57:16Z")
Usually when I start a thread I have some idea of my position on the subject I’m asking. In this case I really don’t have any idea. I’ve been following the riots in France of course as I’m sure most have, and I have so… --- ## [What's up with the US education system?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-us-education-system/330563)
**Author:** [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-us-education-system/330563 "2005-11-16T03:14:59Z")
Okay, so I just heard a whole bunch of American students on another forum I go to complaining about the essay portion of their SAT, which appears to require them (and I admit I don’t know much about the SAT) to write 5 p… --- ## [Republicans lose both Governors races.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-lose-both-governors-races/330157)
**Author:** [@lonesome\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lonesome_loser)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2005, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-lose-both-governors-races/330157 "2005-11-16T01:35:55Z")
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051109/ap\_on\_el\_ge/elections\_rdp;\_ylt=Aka0XhrcjR.4FMlMlv.PwEis0NUE;\_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ-- Does this portend trouble in the mid terms for the republicans? In Va. Bush appeared in r… --- ## [San Francisco has banned handguns](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-has-banned-handguns/330254)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 179\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2005, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-has-banned-handguns/330254 "2005-11-16T01:21:44Z")
Just heard on the news that voters in San Francisco has passed a law that prohibits any resident of San Francisco from owning a handgun. How does that work? Will San Francisco pay people the fair market value of their … --- ## [How can a Christian believe in ghosts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-christian-believe-in-ghosts/331131)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-christian-believe-in-ghosts/331131 "2005-11-15T20:14:14Z")
My understanding of the bible is this: When a person dies; His or her soul lies in rest untill judgment day arrives. So if you’re a Christian, how could you believe that someone’s soul is wondering about a decrepid old … --- ## [God, death and dinosaurs - is my theology right here?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-death-and-dinosaurs-is-my-theology-right-here/330995)
**Author:** [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-death-and-dinosaurs-is-my-theology-right-here/330995 "2005-11-15T16:37:13Z")
I’ve been invited to a meeting this Friday at my local church to discuss “Science and the Bible”. The main speaker is a professor of geophysics at University of Cambridge who is also christian - he’s head of a movement … --- ## [Sajida Mubarak al-Rishawi and an alternate reality…](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sajida-mubarak-al-rishawi-and-an-alternate-reality/331170)
**Author:** [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sajida-mubarak-al-rishawi-and-an-alternate-reality/331170 "2005-11-15T16:27:56Z")
\[warning thread may contain witnessing\] Since the capture of Sajida Mubarak al-Rishawi, I’ve been thinking a lot about the transition from this world to the next. None of us know what happens after we die, but most of … --- ## [Pit Bull Attack (again) How Do We Deal With These?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attack-again-how-do-we-deal-with-these/329972)
**Author:** [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Replies:** 125\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-bull-attack-again-how-do-we-deal-with-these/329972 "2005-11-15T15:23:16Z")
We had a horrible pit bull attack in my neighborhood over the weekend. Two children were critically and seriously wounded, the owner’s thumb was bitten off, and a couple other people were chewed up by three pit bulls tha… --- ## [Alito and the nuclear option: Is he an "extremist"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alito-and-the-nuclear-option-is-he-an-extremist/328778)
**Author:** [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Replies:** 115\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alito-and-the-nuclear-option-is-he-an-extremist/328778 "2005-11-15T02:18:19Z")
The other Alito thread is where people are weighing in as to whether or not they support his nomination. I want this thread to focus on a much narrower question. As we all remember, the so-called Gang of 14 decided to … --- ## [Party Trumps Race for Steele Foes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/party-trumps-race-for-steele-foes/329141)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/party-trumps-race-for-steele-foes/329141 "2005-11-15T02:13:53Z")
Any predictions whether we will see this on ABCBSNBC tonite? What if it were whites throwing watermelons at Al Sharpton? --- ## [What would reverse the trend of increased legalized gambling?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-reverse-the-trend-of-increased-legalized-gambling/330596)
**Author:** [@ProTem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProTem)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-reverse-the-trend-of-increased-legalized-gambling/330596 "2005-11-14T23:30:43Z")
Remember when gambling was unpopular and illegal everywhere? Then somebody decided it was “free money” that could be used “to fund schools and Indian services”. In practice, of course, the schools have less money than … --- ## [Universal Translator program: Implications on spoke languages](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-translator-program-implications-on-spoke-languages/330917)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-translator-program-implications-on-spoke-languages/330917 "2005-11-14T19:21:09Z")
Was watching an interesting show on Discovery this weekend. In the show they were demonstrating a new technology toy…basically a (very cool) touch pad computer with software that allowed a person to speak in their nativ… --- ## [Why do you believe in God ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-believe-in-god/330743)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-believe-in-god/330743 "2005-11-14T18:19:58Z")
Is it because you were raised to believe? Is it because you believe in the bible as the word of God ? Is it because you had a personal experience or epiphany ? Is it because the existence of the universe and life is … --- ## [Which answer from the IRS is Irwin Schiff looking for??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-answer-from-the-irs-is-irwin-schiff-looking-for/330464)
**Author:** [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-answer-from-the-irs-is-irwin-schiff-looking-for/330464 "2005-11-14T15:16:13Z")
I was going to put this in GQ, but I thought better of it. Seems there may not be a single correct answer to the OP. From here. Based on other threads regarding such topics it always seems like an open and shut case.… --- ## [Affirmative action extended](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affirmative-action-extended/330901)
**Author:** [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2005, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affirmative-action-extended/330901 "2005-11-14T14:56:21Z")
I have been opposed to affirmative action for some time, regarding it as little more than reverse discrimination. However, a recent argument was proposed to me: affirmative action cannot be defended in terms of equitabi… --- ## [Iran Contra-Revisited](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-contra-revisited/330655)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-contra-revisited/330655 "2005-11-13T23:20:32Z")
The Iran Contra scandal was a plan in which the United States government sold arms to Iran and in exchange US hostages would be released. Proceeds from these arms sales were then used to covertly fund the Contra resista… --- ## [California Special Election 2005](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-special-election-2005/327555)
**Author:** [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Replies:** 121\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-special-election-2005/327555 "2005-11-13T20:06:43Z")
Since later this week I’ll begin an extended vacation, I completed and mailed my absentee ballot for the upcoming California Special Election this morning. And being in a chatty mood, I’m going to spill the beans and re… --- ## [Will ending "birthright citizenship" help to control America's borders?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-ending-birthright-citizenship-help-to-control-americas-borders/329564)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 148\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2005, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-ending-birthright-citizenship-help-to-control-americas-borders/329564 "2005-11-13T12:16:39Z")
Per the link below does ending birthright citizenship make sense as a border control measure? If this is part of a consitutional amendment how are you going to bypass this with a statute? GOP mulls ending birthright ci… --- ## [Does "pan-Arabism" have any future?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pan-arabism-have-any-future/329541)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2005, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pan-arabism-have-any-future/329541 "2005-11-13T09:48:10Z")
The ideology of nationalism emerged in Europe in the early 19th Century. Its general, or international, principle can be stated as follows: Every definable ethnocultural nation should have its own state, with a single g… --- ## [Is it true- are most terrorists not brainwashed and from broken homes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-are-most-terrorists-not-brainwashed-and-from-broken-homes/330677)
**Author:** [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-are-most-terrorists-not-brainwashed-and-from-broken-homes/330677 "2005-11-13T01:23:48Z")
In a previous thread of mine, here, I heard that in actuality, most terrorists are not what we think of as the social outcast/brainwashed at a young age/from a broken home types, that most actually are mid to upper class… --- ## [Christianity will solve community and societal problems](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christianity-will-solve-community-and-societal-problems/329810)
**Author:** [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2005, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christianity-will-solve-community-and-societal-problems/329810 "2005-11-13T01:22:32Z")
What prompted this: I live in a low socio-economic area which used to be all state housing, but a lot of the houses were sold off (mine included). However a large number of state housing remains. It is also a Tongan en… --- ## [Has the conservative movement run out of steam?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-conservative-movement-run-out-of-steam/330281)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-conservative-movement-run-out-of-steam/330281 "2005-11-13T00:53:57Z")
I’m a registered Republican, but I always vote the man and I have voted on both sides of the Presidency over the last few decades. I have to admit I am pretty disenchanted with the Bush Administration on several differen… --- ## [Will we ever find a ‘solution’ to sleep?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-find-a-solution-to-sleep/330359)
**Author:** [@FlippyFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlippyFly)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2005, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-find-a-solution-to-sleep/330359 "2005-11-13T00:00:11Z")
Will we ever find a ‘solution’ to sleep? Is it technically possible that we may someday not have to sleep anymore? Will science ever find a mechanical, pharmaceutical, or genetic way to alter our biology into a 24/7 ma… --- ## [Is suicide a fundimental right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-suicide-a-fundimental-right/330650)
**Author:** [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-suicide-a-fundimental-right/330650 "2005-11-12T23:11:34Z")
If you live in California, especially if you read The San Francisco Chronicle you know about the on-going debate over putting up a barrier on the Golden Gate Bridge to prevent people from jumping to their deaths. What b… --- ## [Raped at the pump again - when will it end? What can we do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raped-at-the-pump-again-when-will-it-end-what-can-we-do/318697)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 247\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2005, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raped-at-the-pump-again-when-will-it-end-what-can-we-do/318697 "2005-11-12T15:29:08Z")
I’m fucking sick of this shit. I suspect you are too. I’m not here to complain though - I’d go to the pit if all I wanted to do was rant. I want a discussion. Unfortunately for me, I don’t know anything about the econo… --- ## [Will Blair leave sooner rather than later?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-blair-leave-sooner-rather-than-later/330371)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-blair-leave-sooner-rather-than-later/330371 "2005-11-12T14:21:59Z")
Tony Blair suffered his first defeat of his premiership when the Commons rejected his plan to change increase the amount of time suspected terrorists can be held without charge. 49 Labour backbenchers rebelled. Whi… --- ## [Kalamazoo Promise - free college tuition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kalamazoo-promise-free-college-tuition/330702)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kalamazoo-promise-free-college-tuition/330702 "2005-11-12T13:51:10Z")
Wealthy benefactors have funded a program that will give scholarships to grads of the Kalamazoo Public Schools. They must have attended for all 4 years and would receive 100% if they attended since Kindergarten. There … --- ## [The Jesus Star](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jesus-star/329460)
**Author:** [@DavidWaite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidWaite)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2005, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jesus-star/329460 "2005-11-12T12:13:08Z")
The subtitle says these boards are about fighting ignorance and to me that means religion so here goes one doozy: King Herod is an actual historical figure who lived about 73 BC - 4 BC. His death occurred at the beginni… --- ## [Aid and Comfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aid-and-comfort/330561)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2005, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aid-and-comfort/330561 "2005-11-12T07:30:21Z")
Jordan blames the terrorists; the senior senator from Massachusetts blames the war. Kennedy would be happy for us to come crawling home with our tail between our legs if it means bringing down his political enemies. We… --- ## [The Jonestown Massacre: Was There a Cover Up?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jonestown-massacre-was-there-a-cover-up/330361)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jonestown-massacre-was-there-a-cover-up/330361 "2005-11-12T05:43:38Z")
I don’t usually go in for conspiracy theories, but this one has always intrigued me. So much doesn’t add up: -Why did initial reports refer to 408 dead bodies when there were in fact more than 900? -How do you get 900… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=835) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=837)