From Right 2 Left

• Moving to the new website.

  THIS BLOG IS MOVING! It has officially moved to the new Press Citizen website and is also available via the Des Moines Register website.
  
  The new address is:
  http://beta.press-citiz...
  The new RSS feed is:
  http://sitelife.press...
  
  The address at the Des Moines Register is:
  http://www.desmoinesreg...

  GO [...]

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  Posted: May 06, 2008, 10:09pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Chamberlain or Churchill?

  I often try to identify litmus tests that will reliably indicate when a person will put ideology (particularly more fanatical ones) ahead of good analysis. My litmus test for libertarians is, should the rebel states or the Union have won the Civil War? Overly doctiraire libertarians often favor the South, [...]
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  Posted: May 02, 2008, 6:54pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Yom HaShoah

  It is Yom HaShoah. I am reading names in front of Hillel today for 30 minutes at 7AM. I will be one of many reading names for 24 hours straight in front of Hillel. We will be just one group of many reading names throughout the world, principally in the [...]
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  Posted: May 01, 2008, 11:44pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Barack Obama's dilemma.

  I cannot imagine being faced with Barack Obama's dilemma. On one hand, Jeremiah Wright is his pastor. On the other, Jeremiah Wright has shown a very public face while saying things that are deeply offensive to mainstream America generally and white Christian America in particular. As an outspoken Jew, I [...]
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  Posted: April 29, 2008, 2:08am EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• The Sean Bell case is difficult to imagine.

  The Sean Bell case is difficult to imagine. Five police officers fired 50 rounds at Bell and his friends as they were riding in his Nissan Altima. The officer who fired first, Gescard F. Isnora fired 11 shots. Officer Michael Oliver, fired 31 shots - reloading once. Officer Isnora was [...]
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  Posted: April 26, 2008, 11:59pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Did David Goodner commit a hate crime?

  Did David Goodner commit a hate crime? There is a good argument to be made that he did. He has already been charged with third degree theft for taking the sign of an anti-abortion protester, which was subsequently damaged or destroyed. Moreover, the "free speech for me but not for [...]
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  Posted: April 22, 2008, 9:49pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Criticising Israel is anti-Semitic?

  Where has the myth that Zionists, like me, equate criticising Israel with anti-Semitism?
  
  To be clear, the vast majority of anti-Semites criticise Israel. Criticism of Israel can be anti-Semitic because it is a politically correct outlet for politically incorrect hatred. It is like how complaints about black crime [...]
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  Posted: April 21, 2008, 11:06pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Rabbi Lerner's similar thoughts on Obama.

  I guess I should not be surprised that Rabbi Michael Lerner, founder of the far-left Jewish group, Tikkun, might have thoughts not dissimilar to those I suggested yesterday. Despite his leftism, I agree with him in many ways on issues of identity politics. Unlike him, I am no opponent of [...]
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  Posted: April 16, 2008, 5:59pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• John Deeth's Barack Obama vs. Larry the Cable Guy

  John Deeth's 'Barack Obama vs. Larry the Cable Guy' highlights why the left gets so much wrong and provides an opportunity to illuminate how most of us not on the left make similar mistakes.
  
  Deeth's blog post, in discussing Obama’s God and guns comment, laments the double standards we [...]
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  Posted: April 16, 2008, 1:13am EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• From a military commission defense attorney.

  Tom Fleener worked, in part, in Camp X-Ray at Gitmo. Camp X-Ray is, largely, a series of kennels holding detainees. It has been expanded and included Camp Delta for adults and Camp Iguana for juveniles. The juveniles are no longer held there. Three other camps, Camp 5, Camp 6, and [...]
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  Posted: April 12, 2008, 4:32pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Campbell's experience as a detainee's lawyer.

  Terrorism and war-related civil liberties are the topics of the sessions that I am attending at the ACLU conference. The first session is on Afghan Captives, Gitmo detainees, and the Rule of Law. Angela Campbell (from Dickey & Campbell in Des Moines) and Major Tom Fleener (a former JAG officer [...]
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  Posted: April 12, 2008, 3:16pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Live blogging the ACLU state conference

  I am at the ACLU of Iowa civil liberties conference today at the IMU. To his credit, Dave Loebsack is here. He was directly involved in the state organization in the past, but his physical attendance is reassuring. Harkin is giving a video message right now - less impressive and [...]
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  Posted: April 12, 2008, 2:06pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Arabs breaking barriers in Israel.

  I am always proud when Israeli Arabs advance in Israeli society. It is not terribly different than the pride I feel when historically underrepresented minorities climb the ladder in the US. It is a sign of progress when members of such groups demonstrate their ability to break historic barriers.
  [...]
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  Posted: April 10, 2008, 1:00am EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Good protesters ... really.

  I don't often complement protesters. But the folks who show up for the vigil every Friday afternoon on the corner of the Pentacrest at Washington and Clinton are decent people.
  
  I spoke with several of them Tuesday evening. While I can say that I am often concerned about the [...]
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  Posted: April 09, 2008, 12:09am EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Reflections on Heston.

  Charlton Heston was a great hero in life and on the screen. The parts he played were among the most epic in the movies of his day. He campaigned for JFK and marched with MLK. His support of the civil rights movement was just as unpopular then as was his [...]
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  Posted: April 06, 2008, 2:38pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Further reflections on censorship ...

  I know a Jew who lives in Denmark who cannot wear a Star of David around her neck because she fears the violence that may result. I know Jews in Venezuela who are less than free in criticizing their government's policies - who have experienced searches of their community center. [...]
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  Posted: April 06, 2008, 12:10am EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• What is censorship?

  What is censorship? I am curious to know your views. Personally, I don't consider something censorship without violence or the threat of violence - whether state-sponsored or private. [...]
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  Posted: March 31, 2008, 10:48pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Qiestions

  I always try to ask a few questions when someone gives a philosophical answer about the legitimacy of resistance militias. Here are a few:
  
  Was the Confederate Army legitimate? Was the US engaging in an illegitimate war in the Civil War?
  
  Are the Minuteman forces that patrol the [...]
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  Posted: March 30, 2008, 8:42am EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Paul Meyer is a Jew-hater.

  Borderline Holocaust-denial and outright Jew-hatred defines Paul Meyer's writings. To be clear, I do not take these allegations lightly. There are many people who criticize Israel in this town. A handful of them, in my view cross a line that I would consider dangerous. I do not call them Jew-haters. [...]
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  Posted: March 28, 2008, 1:25am EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Haters to protest Sueppel funeral

  Westboro Baptist Church (aka GodHatesFags.com) has announced their intention to protest the Sueppels' funeral. I saw them protest the play, 'The Laramie Project' at Cornell College a few years ago. My recommendation is to not counter-protest or do anything against them at the time of the funeral or protest. Their [...]
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  Posted: March 25, 2008, 6:59pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Staying informed when bad things happen.

  Breaking news is often released by the City of Iowa City in its Police & Fire Media Releases. Although the Hawk Alert and other security alerts in the city, appropriately, "broke" this morning's news, details were sorely lacking until the city issued its Media Release on the Sueppels' deaths.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: March 24, 2008, 5:56pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Will Paul Meyer ever stop?

  Paul Meyer (Klaatu) is now parroting trash about "monied Jews" and Jewish supremacism promoted by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Disgusting. I am disturbed that someone in liberal Iowa City would be unashamed about spreading such vile hatred in a forum as public as this one, here at MyP-C. [...]
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  Posted: March 24, 2008, 12:12am EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Our irony.

  There is much irony in the status of American Jews. We are arguably better off than any sizable population of Jews anywhere in the world throughout history. American Jews are nonetheless justifiably defensive. We are defensive because we need not look far to see the fragility of our privilege.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: March 24, 2008, 11:42pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Shams Ghoneim is a mensch

  Shams Ghoneim is a good person. She is sensitive to Jewish concerns in ways that many are not.
  
  During debate on the Johnson County Democratic Platform last weekend, one plank echoed the charge that Jews are not loyal Americans. The plank was shrouded in coded language, likely to mislead [...]
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  Posted: March 22, 2008, 7:46am EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Paul Meyer

  Paul Meyer (aka Klaatu) can add a Klansman to the list of haters he admires. He has already written extensively about the various Jew-haters he respects. But, who would suspect that he would call a former Exalted Cyclops of the Klan "an honorable man." That is how he referred to [...]
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  Posted: March 21, 2008, 10:17pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• The Gaza prison camp.

  Nonie Darwish was raised in Gaza and her father was a Fedayeen Jihadi militant who was assassinated by Israel.  She places blame for Gaza's prison-like conditions squarely on Arab states.  She writes in the Huffington Post, " Arabs claim they love the Palestinian people, but they seem more interested in [...]
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  Posted: March 18, 2008, 8:54pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• The hate machine.

  This is a cartoon that recently ran in the Arab press. With hateful incitement like this, is it any wonder there is no peace?
  
  Israeli soldiers raise the Nazi flag over the dead bodies of the Palestinians in 'Gaza' the cartoon mimics the famous photo of [...]
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  Posted: March 18, 2008, 5:07pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Still at the Democratic County Convention

  The Democratic County Convention is still going. The delegate split has happened and Obama leads Johnson County heavily while Edwards (yes, he still counts here), just barely leads Clinton. The undecideds went with Edwards to form sort of an undecided block.
  
  I'll stick around for the platform and see [...]
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  Posted: March 15, 2008, 3:34pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Democratic County Convention

  I'll be staffing the Iowa City Jewish Federation table at the Democratic County Convention this weekend. It should be fun and offer a lot of opportunity for some good discussion. While the table will focus heavily on foreign policy issues, it will not be exclusively devoted to Israel. If you [...]
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  Posted: March 12, 2008, 5:33pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• How would you handle a terrorist?

  What is the ethical way to treat a terrorist, and when innocents are killed in stopping terrorists, who is responsible? I have a set of hypotheticals that I use to address the question.
  
  The basic situation is this: A man is shooting into a crowd. He is using another [...]
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  Posted: March 11, 2008, 6:59pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Paul Meyer is morally depraved.

  Paul Meyer, aka Klaatu, is morally depraved. He cannot recognize evil. In his latest post, he offers only apologetics for the recent murder of 8 people, almost all schoolchildren, by a Palestinian Arab terrorist. Instead, he simply points to a rare Jewish terrorist. That depraved individual murdered nearly 30 Arabs [...]
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  Posted: March 11, 2008, 12:19am EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Karl Rove is a tool. Protesters are major tools.

  I just checked out the protest of Karl Rove here at the IMU at the University of Iowa. I went to document any anti-Semitic signs or messages. To their credit, the UI Antiwar Committee appears to have suppressed such messages. Last year, they were not so effective. At a major [...]
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  Posted: March 09, 2008, 8:03pm EDT
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• The vicious barbarians of Hamas.

  My friend, Adam, is safe.  The reason why that is newsworthy is that he is pursuing his rabbinical studies in Jerusalem right now.
  
  When I saw the news of the terror attack on a yeshiva (a Jewish religious school) in Jerusalem today, I was immediately concerned for my friend.  Fortunately, just [...]
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  Posted: March 06, 2008, 6:09pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Deace gives Christians a bad name.

  I listen to both NPR and 1040 WHO. NPR is generally to my left and WHO is generally to my right. On my way home, I usually listen to NPR. But, occasionally, I turn to WHO. When I do, Steve Deace is commonly on the air. Such was the case [...]
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  Posted: March 05, 2008, 9:27pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Nuclear Weapons, Hiroshima, Iran and the NPT

  Let me suggest first, that there is little point in discussing the historical use of the bomb. It's applicability today is mostly insignificant. I tend to agree with the pro-nuclear side on the historical use of nuclear weapons in Japan during WWII. But, I tend to agree with most disarmament [...]
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  Posted: March 05, 2008, 5:44pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Where are moderate voices?

  I was recently asked where the moderate voices are on the Israeli-Arab conflict in light of the recent violence in Gaza. Here (more or less) was my reply: I would suggest that moderate voices start by acknowledging the suffering of people on the other side. Some on the far left [...]
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  Posted: March 04, 2008, 6:27pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Where we should ban smoking first.

  If Iowa is going to prohibit smoking anywhere, it should be in public spaces, not on private property. Both hospitals in Iowa City prohibit smoking on their premises - inside and out. This just pushes the problem out slightly. It does nothing for those walking on the sidewalks to either [...]
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  Posted: March 02, 2008, 12:35am EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Kosovo - America fighting for an Islamic people.

  Fouad Ajami continually forces me to reconsider my world view. His piece on Kosovo is no different.
  
  Every time I read one of Ajami's writings, I am immediately struck by two things. First, he is undoubtedly a supporter of liberal values and a believer in the justice of expanding [...]
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  Posted: February 29, 2008, 5:42am EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Welcome to the nut house.

  I would never want to insult people with mental disabilities or illness. But, Paul Meyer (aka Klaatu here at MyP-C) has now, with his latest post, joined the ranks of schizophrenics that fantasize 9/11 was a massive government conspiracy. The only thing missing from his delusional rant was an allegation [...]
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  Posted: February 28, 2008, 5:46pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Judge Turner to preside in Patrick's murder case.

  Judge Mitch Turner has been assigned to preside over Patrick's murder case. He should be a good judge.
  
  You may remember the case where Daniel Corbett killed Michael Kearney by smashing his head into a concrete wall near Kum and Go on December 31, 2003. The criminal charges [...]
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  Posted: February 27, 2008, 8:48pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Immigrants are more likely to obey the law.

  Immigrants are far less likely then American-born citizens to be incarcerated criminals. That is the bottom line of a recent report from the Public Policy Institute of California.
  
  Here, in my view is the most important fact towards dispelling myths about immigrant criminality:
  
  "Among men ages 18-40 – [...]
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  Posted: February 26, 2008, 8:24pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Obama - Still Solid on Israel

  A year ago, I wrote a post titled 'Obama - Solid on Israel.' Little has changed. Barack Obama is still solid.
  
  Of course, any reasonable person can be questioned on their support of Israel. Most of the criticism of Obama on this issue is the same kind of political [...]
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  Posted: February 25, 2008, 6:37pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• The Arab world changing course ...

  The Arab world is awakening to the danger of Islamist hatred. The Arab press is beginning to openly rebuke Hamas for its dangerous course. The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assembled a range of condemnations from the Arab press. They are worth reading. Here is an excerpt:
  
  "In [...]
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  Posted: February 21, 2008, 6:43pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• What does Brother's know?

  Curtis Fry's attorney, Peter Persaud, subpoenaed only two Iowa City bars in the case of Patrick McEwen's murder. One-Eyed Jakes was one of those bars and it has been very forthcoming about its involvement in Curtis Fry's behavior on the night he murdered Patrick. Namely, One-Eyed Jakes removed Fry from [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2008, 6:15pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Nazis or Islamists?

  Is there a Nazi army operating today? Take a look at this picture:
  
  
  
  Are these guys Nazis?
  
  Nope.
  
  If you guessed that they are Islamists honoring their fallen leader, you are right.
  
  Here is the caption from the AP via Yahoo: Hizbollah [...]
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  Posted: February 18, 2008, 6:04pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Should the Press-Citizen have standards?

  Should the Press-Citizen have any standards regarding who gets space on its MyP-C blogs or on its opinion page? I suspect the operating policy basically answers the question with "no." When people like Wilhelmine Bennett and Paul Meyer get the prominent platform that they do, it seems hard [...]
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  Posted: February 16, 2008, 10:37pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Rachel Attacked.

  My friend, Rachel Graber, was broadly attacked in today's Press-Citizen. I'll have more to come, but for now, I just want to note that she did not deserve this. Her defense of Israel was mild. The guest Op/Ed by Jim Walters was enough over the top. Piling on by anti-Semites [...]
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  Posted: February 16, 2008, 7:45pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Defending the "indefensible."

  The criticism of neoconservatives, particularly here in Iowa City, often borders on the ridiculous. I do not make this claim as a neoconservative, but I, like most people, do have views which overlap with those of neoconservatives. While it is difficult to say where that area of overlap is (neoconservativism [...]
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  Posted: February 14, 2008, 9:59pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Standing in solidarity.

  In solidarity with Kurt Westergaard, I am reproducing in this post the Muhammad cartoon that he created for Jyllands-Posten. Danish intelligence services arrested three on Tuesday on the charge that they conspired to murder Westergaard in retaliation for his "provocation."
  
  I know people who have left Europe, for [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2008, 10:09pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Barbarians at the security barrier.

  War inevitably leads to the regrettable harm to innocents. Civilized combatants go to great lengths to avoid such harm. They target only other combatants and restrain their strikes when innocents are in clear danger. War may be a necessary evil, but humane nations do their best to restrain that evil.
  [...]
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  Posted: February 13, 2008, 5:57pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Hamas causes Gaza suffering.

  Hamas is responsible for Gaza and the despair of the people who live there. Last Thursday evening, Hamas confiscated between 10 and 14 trucks carrying humanitarian aid from Jordan for delivery to the Palestine Red Crescent Society. Some of that aid may be diverted to building terror infrastructure. Sugar can [...]
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  Posted: February 12, 2008, 6:12pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Eulogy for Patrick McEwen.

  We are here today to memorialize the passing of our friend, Patrick McEwen. As a man without the benefit of close relatives, he became attached to the members of this congregation and to his home health aides, whom he spoke of almost as though they were his daughters. He was [...]
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  Posted: February 12, 2008, 11:35pm EST
  by Lindsay Eaves-Johnson

• Thank you Janet Lyness.

  Patrick's funeral was attended by enough people to fill Agudas Achim's small sanctuary. Among the people there was Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness. Although our principal reason for being there was to mourn Patrick's death and remember his life, Janet's presence was an important symbol of the responsibility we have [...]
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  Posted: February 11, 2008, 5:58pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Another thought about Patrick

  When Patrick needed help walking, he would give you his hand. It was impossible not to be struck by how soft and gentle they were. When I hear about the 'defensive wounds' on his hands, it is difficult not to think of how his hands felt and how poorly suited [...]
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  Posted: February 10, 2008, 4:47pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Taking care of Patrick.

  Patrick was unable to receive the normal and full respect that a person typically receives in death under Jewish custom. His autopsy and the holding of his body as evidence, while critically important in light of his murder, made the full observance of Jewish custom impossible.
  
  Even so, a [...]
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  Posted: February 10, 2008, 2:56pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Patrick McEwen was more than an old man

  I fear that the tenor of many responses to the news of the beating death of my 75-year-old friend, Patrick McEwen, have been biased towards regret for the younger life ruined than the elderly life lost. Many may think that because a person is advanced in years that their passing [...]
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  Posted: February 09, 2008, 10:26am EST
  by Lindsay Eaves-Johnson

• Patrick McEwen, zt''l

  Patrick McEwen will be missed tonight at Agudas Achim's Kabbalat Shabbat services. He was a regular part of the Friday night minyan. He almost never missed a service. He was an adorable older gentleman. He always had the most creative ideas to share and the cutest stories to tell. My [...]
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  Posted: February 08, 2008, 4:29pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• We should be tolerant towards Good Friday mass.

  We should congratulate the Vatican on the changes it made to its Latin Good Friday service. The principal arguments against the changes are that it does not go far enough and still expresses a preference for Jews to accept Jesus as Christ.
  
  This criticism overlooks the important changes to [...]
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  Posted: February 07, 2008, 5:51pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Self-hating Jews, anti-Semites, and Israel's criti

  If criticizing Israel makes one a self-hating Jew, then I don't know a Jew who is not self-hating. Criticizing Israel alone makes one neither a self-hating Jew nor an anti-Semite. Moreover, 'self-hating Jew' is usually an inaccurate term even when it does apply - I never use it except in [...]
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  Posted: February 05, 2008, 8:40pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Terror resumes ...

  The security barrier in Israel has been an effective tool to stop suicide bombings. Sadly, it is not a perfect defense.
  
  Today, in Dimona, two suicide bombers tried to kill as many Jews as possible. Fortunately, they were not very effective. The first bomber killed one woman. The second [...]
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  Posted: February 04, 2008, 6:19pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Outpost of American values

  If you missed it, I had a Guest Opinion in Saturday's P-C. Here it is:
  
  Blaming Israel for U.S. woes in the Middle East is not new. Many look at Israel's success, compare it to Arab countries' despair and hastily conclude that Israel's prosperity was ill-gotten.
  
  In his [...]
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  Posted: February 03, 2008, 8:46pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Goodbye ...

  I posted this just so I would not have to see Paul Meyer staring back at me when I went to the Press-Citizen's website. Two other bloggers have posted since his last post, and this should be the one to bump it off ... at least until he posts again. [...]
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  Posted: February 02, 2008, 6:36pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• More replies to Donald Baxter

  Donald Baxter is a reasonable person. I say this even though he criticizes Israel. In other words, criticizing Israel does not make you a Jew hater - not even close.
  
  However, you don't need to be a Jew hater for me to disagree with you. Donald laments in the [...]
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  Posted: February 01, 2008, 6:11pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Greg Johnson Remembering Michael Balch

  Greg Johnson's post on "Remembering Michael Balch" is beautiful to read. Here is the part that connected most with me:
  
  "Even if something I was saying were contrary to his views or positions, he would listen and really give it consideration. If we were to have labels, his might [...]
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  Posted: January 31, 2008, 6:52pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• More thoughts on Michael's passing.

  Michael Balch was laid to rest today, Tuesday. He was a ????, a righteous person.
  
  Michael's death and funeral were the first I have experienced as a faithful and autonomous adult. Not since I was a little boy, unaware of the significance of life and death, have I participated [...]
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  Posted: January 29, 2008, 8:11pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Paul Meyer, Klaatu, Jew-hater

  Klaatu (Paul Meyer) has shown his Jew-hating stripes clearly in his most recent post here at MyP-C. He recommends and links to a blog written by a Joachim Martillo with choice lies and Jew-hating quotes like these:
  
  "For Muslims (as for Christians) all humans are potentially members of [...]
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  Posted: January 29, 2008, 12:23am EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Michael Balch, zt''l

  Michael Balch was one of my mentors. He encouraged me whether I needed it or not and he helped me to be a stronger person. The world is a smaller place without him in it. My world certainly is.
  
  Most people probably know Michael as the professor in the [...]
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  Posted: January 28, 2008, 7:04pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Kenya becoming Rwanda

  The lack of international response to the horrors taking place in Kenya is unacceptable. For the last month, ethnic cleansing has been taking place to varying degrees in varying places and at the hands of various groups. It has not shown signs of subsiding.
  
  The New York Times explains [...]
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  Posted: January 26, 2008, 7:32pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Who are the bigots?

  Some people believe Jewish ideas of "chosenness" is a form of Jewish supremacy. Such people are small-minded bigots. Surprisingly, such views can even be read on a blog on this site. These people talk about Jewish "tribalism" as if Jews preferred to be an insular minority among the rest of [...]
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  Posted: January 26, 2008, 1:31pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Amazing.

  This might be the most amazing video I have ever seen. The video shows dolphins playing with bubble rings. It shows a level of inquisitiveness that is difficult to imagine possible for any non-human animal. Incredible! Here it is (scroll down if necessary):
  [...]
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  Posted: January 26, 2008, 12:38am EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Hamas controls Gaza and bears responsibility.

  Hamas controls the borders of Gaza. The last week clearly illustrated this fact. In fact, Hamas has overwhelming control of Gaza in most important respects. It is responsible for the well being of Gaza's Arabs and no one else. Palestinians suffer tremendously ... and it is Hamas' fault.
  
  First, [...]
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  Posted: January 26, 2008, 11:22pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Can you express hate in class evaluations?

  If a UI student wrote some offensive remarks in a class evaluation about his teacher, what would happen? Would the UI try to track down the offender, hire a forensic handwriting examiner to verify the offender's identity, put a formal reprimand in his student recod and put him through sensitivity [...]
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  Posted: January 24, 2008, 6:46pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• State officials push for more dumb laws.

  The proposed tracking system for statewide purchases of pseudoephedrine illustrates the ridiculousness of America's war on drugs. Pseudoephedrine is a key ingredient in the production of methamphetamine, and in the view of most moms, the best over-the-counter medicine for controlling cold and allergy symptoms.
  
  I have no doubt that [...]
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  Posted: January 23, 2008, 6:39pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Palestinian snipers attack journalists in Israel.

  This video shows Palestinian Arab snipers firing from Gaza on a news crew in Israel. The crew was filming a place where an Israeli agricultural worker was shot by Palestinian Arab snipers recently. It is this kind of attacks from Gaza that is causing the suffering of Palestinian Arabs there. [...]
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  Posted: January 22, 2008, 9:16pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• All protest is not equal.

  There is a hierarchy of protest that leads to arrest. Legal protest is entirely outside this hierarchy, as it is the same as any other exercise of free speech. This hierarchy deals specifically with protest that leads to arrest. However, the hierarchy also does not deal with straight-forward criminal acts. [...]
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  Posted: January 22, 2008, 6:58am EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Israel and MLK.

  The US is not the only nation that marks a day for Martin Luther King Jr. Israel does too. Israel celebrates this important figure of American civil rights because, according to the Israeli consulate blog, "Israel chooses to embrace the legacy of Dr. King for it exemplifies values of [...]
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  Posted: January 20, 2008, 9:37pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Iowa Supreme Court takes first step to strengtheni

  The Iowa Supreme Court provided the first sliver of recognition of gay adoption. It was the right decision.
  
  Jamie and Heather Schott took joint responsibility for Jamie's natural son Caleb when Caleb's father's parental rights were terminated. Heather adopted Caleb. In April 2004 Jamie gave birth to Tori via [...]
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  Posted: January 19, 2008, 7:50pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Another reason Obama is rising above.

  Obama is capable of recognizing the momentous presidency of Ronald Reagan and his opponents go nuts. Beyond my previous piece on 'The libertarian case for Obama' this kerfuffle pushes me further towards believing that Obama is prepared to lead the entire country.
  
  While I have some reservations about [...]
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  Posted: January 19, 2008, 12:07am EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• How-to and how-not-to "solve" underage drinking

  Underage drinking is a problem in Iowa City. It is a problem principally because it is illegal for many fully emancipated adults here to engage in what, but for a few years time, would be a legal activity.
  
  On one hand, tougher enforcement is an approach that Iowa City [...]
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  Posted: January 19, 2008, 11:57pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Huckabee the theocrat.

  People complain foolishly about the Bush Administration being a theocracy. It isn't. But, a Huckabee administration would take it several steps closer.
  
  According to Hucabee, "“But I believe it’s a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God. [...]
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  Posted: January 18, 2008, 10:17pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Sick people and death counts.

  Sick people crudely compare death counts in the Israeli-Arab conflict and conclude the Israelis have it easy. The truth is grossly different. Israelis in many places live with a daily rain of rockets and mortars. These places are not military bases or command centers. They are towns, villages and neighborhoods.
  [...]
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  Posted: January 17, 2008, 6:48pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Racists

  Huckabee is either a spineless panderer, a closet racist, or an idiot. Now he is weighing in on the side of "states rights" over the Confederate flag's presence at South Carolina's state capitol grounds. Only a sick and repugnant person could defend a flag that represents such hatred towards blacks. [...]
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  Posted: January 17, 2008, 5:57pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• In defense of marriage.

  Marriage must be defended. It is under attack from extremists. At a time when cohabitation without commitment and divorce are at all time highs, this is not the time to weaken traditional values related to marriage.
  
  Marriage is a civil commitment, but it is also a spiritual commitment between [...]
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  Posted: January 16, 2008, 10:01pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• I hate pirates or why I am not an anarchist.

  I used to consider myself an anarcho-capitalist. An anarcho-capitalist is an ideologically pure libertarian who basically recognizes the state's monopoly on violence can only be maintained through taxes (which is a form of theft). Consequently, he rejects the state altogether. Instead, he supports only an pacifist anarchic society that protects [...]
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  Posted: January 15, 2008, 7:39pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Barstool Economics

  When people complain about Bush's "tax cuts for the rich" and suggest that they be repealed, they often speak without knowing that those cuts actually made the tax brackets more progressive. Rich people actually pay a larger share of the burden after those cuts.
  
  (As an aside, it [...]
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  Posted: January 15, 2008, 5:48pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• My crazy good wife.

  So, my wife has been running a minimum of 4 miles a day - every day - for the last couple months. Neither snow nor freezing temperatures have stopped her. This past weekend, the Press-Citizen ran an article about her and her motivation, a little girl named Rian.
  [...]
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  Posted: January 14, 2008, 7:33pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• The libertarian case for Obama.

  If I had read this before the caucuses, I would have had a hard time voting for anyone but Obama.
  
  A couple select quotes:
  
  "Goolsbee [Obama's economic advisor] and Obama's understanding of the free market as a useful means of promoting social justice, rather than an obstacle [...]
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  Posted: January 10, 2008, 6:03pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• If Obama were once considered a Muslim ...

  I don't believe Barack Obama was ever a Muslim in any meaningful sense. But, to the extent he could have been considered a Muslim, it is decidedly a point in his favor.
  
  In a piece on Monday, Danel Pipes made a strong argument for Obama having previously [...]
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  Posted: January 08, 2008, 8:59pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Ron Paul on Israel.

  Enemies of Israel pretend that Ron Paul is on their side. He is not. People I know quizzed him in Iowa. He was clear that while US aid to Israel should end, the much larger amount of aid to the historic enemies of Israel would end as well. Indeed, Paul [...]
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  Posted: January 08, 2008, 8:50pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Norman Finkelstein is an enemy of Israel

  Norman Finkelstein has been cited by some of the other bloggers here at MyP-C. Eschewing any mystery about his agenda, Finkelstein met with Hexbollah terrorists on Monday. Hezbollah is illegally occupying Southern Lebanon in violation of various UN resolutions. It is the only militia that has not given up [...]
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  Posted: January 08, 2008, 8:40pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Steve Deace, Religious Bigot.

  Steve Deace, the 1040 WHO commentator, should be donning a "Religious Bigot" t-shirt soon. A few weeks ago, he said that someone should send him a shirt that says, "Religious Bigot" on it because that is what it means today to be a believing Christian.
  
  Back in 2004, [...]
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  Posted: January 07, 2008, 11:35pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Christianism and anti-Christian Bigotry - reply to

  Christianism and anti-Christian Bigotry - a reply to Dutchman.
  
  I am hard on what I call "Christianists." In the same way that Muslims are reasonably skeptical of the term "Islamists," Christians are rightly skeptical of my use of the parallel term. In fact, most of us who use such [...]
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  Posted: January 05, 2008, 6:35pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Christianists win Iowa :(

  God willing, Huckabee has reached the zenith of his political career tonight. As with Pat Robertson in the 1988 Republican Iowa caucuses, the clearest winner of the night is the Christianist movement. Hopefully, as it was for Pat Robertson in 1988, this is the last such major victory for Huckabee.
  [...]
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  Posted: January 03, 2008, 9:51pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• My caucus plan.

  So, here is the plan. I am going to the Democratic caucus. To quote my wife, "it is more fun." But, to be honest, I am just not that motivated to vote for any candidate. Also, I think I can have a greater impact at the Democratic caucus because of [...]
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  Posted: January 02, 2008, 8:08pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• In praise of negative ads.

  I wish there were more negative campaign ads on TV. Seriously. The resumes of presidential candidates and their cheap talk on policy is readily available. What I need to know most is not wo to vote for, but rather, who not to vote for. In the end, it is not [...]
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  Posted: December 31, 2007, 11:26pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Benazir Bhutto, zt''l

  The death of Benazir Bhutto is a tragedy. It certainly is a victory for the extremist jihadi Islamists. Early reports indicate that Mustafa Abu Yazid will make or has made a statement claiming credit on behalf of Al Qaeda. Elections will certainly be deferred and a indefinite resumption of martial [...]
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  Posted: December 27, 2007, 7:05pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Merry Christmas!

  On this Christmas Eve, I want to say to all those who celebrate it, Merry Christmas! May your holiday be a delight and I wish you and your families well. While I do not celebrate Christmas, I know what a special day it is for many of you. I may [...]
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  Posted: December 24, 2007, 6:05pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Huckabee's most dangerous critic.

  Peggy Noonan knows faith and politics. She is a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, was an adviser to President Reagan, and regularly writes on issues of faith and politics. A collection of her columns after 9/11 is appropriately titled, "A Heart, a Cross and a Flag: America Today."
  
  [...]
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  Posted: December 23, 2007, 11:25pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Reply to Dutchman.

  Dutchman comments, "Quite frankly..what is your problem? Are you threatened that someone that actually lives by his faith might be someone that people can unite around?"
  
  His question is fair. I normally do not attack people like I have attacked Huckabee. I haven't even attacked any of the local [...]
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  Posted: December 20, 2007, 10:03pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson

• Keep track of your dog.

  There is a new product available for keeping track of your pet. A GPS transmitter collar is now available for $200. That, and a $10 monthly fee will give you peace of mind if your dog has a knack for getting out or climbing fences. The system, operated by Zoombak, [...]
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  Posted: December 20, 2007, 9:48pm EST
  by James Eaves-Johnson