Right On from Andrew Sullivan's Blog

An Iranian Dissident's Credo
07 Jun 2006 05:11 pm
Akbar Ganji was jailed by the mullahs in Tehran for six years for his political beliefs, and demonstrated his commitment by hunger strikes. What are those beliefs? Here is a new translation of a speech he once gave. It's really a statement of classical liberalism, what Neil Tennant called "dear old, dreary liberal rights." By "liberal" I do not mean the infantilization of people under a cloying and growing welfare state. I mean the liberalism of the founding fathers, of John Locke, of the American Constitution. And part of that liberalism, according to Ganji, is as follows:
Liberals always accept religion in the private sphere. They protested the unity of the institutions of religion and government and still do. They are not anti-religion. Freedom of religion is a basic principle of liberalism. Contrary to orthodox Marxists who completely reject religion, even from the private sphere of individuals (since they considered it the opium of the masses), liberals believe that everyone must have the right to set up his life according to his religious beliefs. But the civic code must not be based on any particular religious teachings. It should guarantee the freedom of religion in the personal life and morality. Incidentally, a law based on the teachings of a particular religion is unable to guarantee the freedom of all religions.
Sometimes it takes a man living in an actual theocracy to remind us to be on guard against it, even with the blessing of the First Amendment. It gives me great hope to realize that for years, in some vile Iranian jail, someone knew his John Locke. Even while too many Americans have found it so easy to forget him.

Read this...

and look at the beautiful pictures.
something to think about. If we were to drill in ANWR, it would only provide enough oil to power the US for 90 days - yep, only 90 days! is it worth the destruction of pristine habitat for hundreds of species, to power us up for such a short time?

Take a Tour

of the Arctic Wildlife Refuge

Oak Trees

like a hunched-back old lady walking with a cane

like wicked old wizards whispering ancient spells

guarding the golden liquid that comes from these vines

I Love Oak Trees

they dot the landscape and remind me of so many different things...
like a skinny teenager with an afro
like an army of soldiers approaching your fort (where you ride great single-track in their shade)

Words to Inspire

"The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it
must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value."

- Theodore Roosevelt

Stop Global Warming!

Please join me in this virtual march on Washington - or just sign up so I can have more peeps after my name - check it out!

http://www.savebiogems.org/arctic/

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