Free Republic

A new bill in Mauritania making slavery punishable by up to 10 years in prison is inadequate, says a lobbying group. Anti-Slavery International welcomed the Mauritanian government's initiative but said the proposed law was too weak. Slavery has existed for centuries in Mauritania. A presidential decree abolished it in 1981, but no criminal laws were passed to enforce the ban. This meant slavery continues as before and a huge effort is still needed to eradicate the practice, the group says. "Unfortunately the proposed bill only defines an element of the practice in Mauritania," spokeswoman Romana Kacchioli told the BBC Network...

Can anyone briefly describe the differences between American conservatives? I have many friends here in Europe who want to know and the most logical step would seem to be to establish different regions. I’ve chosen the South (including the bible belt), the East coast and the West coast cultural influences. Therefore…… 1. South: God, guns and gays. 2. East Coast: British and Jewish influenced. 3. West Coast: Intellectual, libertarian and progressive. Thanks!

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -- Three Singaporean Muslim women, all married to the same man, were sentenced to jail for persuading some of his under-age daughters to have sex with him, court documents showed on Thursday. The man, who has 10 wives and 64 children, was sentenced to 32 years in prison and 24 strokes of the cane in April 2006 after he was found guilty of raping five of his under-age daughters. The case has shocked many Singaporeans, both for the crimes committed and the unusual living arrangements depicted in the court papers. One of the wives was sentenced to nine...

The objective would be to set the record straight in an international forum and for nations to correct injustices that are STILL AFFECTING (in REALITY, not the shake-down Jesse/Al folks) the lives of many people. In reality, isn’t Africa, the Middle East and many parts of Asia regions where slavery still exist today. Not only does it still exist, but it has existed for 1000s of years and social hierarchy ensures its legacy still affects the majority of the citizenry. It seems Moses and Western Civilization were the only well-known entities to take direct action to end slavery. Some interesting...

While elements of the left in the US and Europe are calling on Western democracies to abandon Afghanistan and Iraq to Taleban and Al-Qaeda, and surrender to the Khomeinists in Iran, new alliances are emerging against the jihadists in the region. What is interesting is that in much of the Middle East, most notably Afghanistan and Iraq, the left is part of these new alliances. In Iraq, the two Communist parties, along with the Social Democrats and other center-left groups, supported the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, and continue to play a significant role in shaping the new pluralist system. In...

Please click the link posted below. There seems to be no problem with a culture remembering their history in a way that might be deemed offensive (the severed heads of Muslims) to others. Furthermore, there doesn’t seem to be any problems with this flag in Spain and Europe. However, one would have to say it seems a bit strong and direct when compared to the confederate flag and issues surrounding its display.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Investor Warren Buffett may hold the title as America's top donor, but his well-heeled competitors helped make 2006 a record year for charitable giving, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported on Friday. ADVERTISEMENT A record 21 Americans each gave at least $100 million to charitable causes last year, in what amounted to a banner year for universities, medical centers, arts groups and other organizations that depend on charitable giving, the publication reported. Buffett's $36.1 billion check to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation dwarfed other donations as the Berkshire Hathaway CEO began to give away his sizable fortune....

The UK has been accused of failing its children, as it comes bottom of a league table for child well-being across 21 industrialised countries. Unicef looked at 40 indicators from the years 2000-2003 including poverty, peer and family relationships, and health. One of the report's authors told the BBC that under-investment and a "dog eat dog" attitude in society were to blame for Britain's poor performance. The government says its policies have helped to improve child welfare. Unicef - the United Nations children's organisation - says the report, titled Child Poverty in Perspective: An Overview of Child Well-being in Rich...

The European Union development commissioner, Louis Michel, is in Mali for talks to set up the EU's first job centre for African migrants. The idea is to match potential migrants with job offers in sectors like agriculture, building or cleaning. France and Spain have already pledged to advertise seasonal vacancies there. It's part of the EU strategy to deal with the increasing flow of migrants from Africa, with other centres planned for Senegal and Mauritania. Deadly journey Mr Michel is holding talks on the centres with Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure Mali the capital, Bamako. Last year, 31,000 Africans made...

Nation lags far behind virtually all wealthy countries in work-life balance. NEW YORK - The United States lags far behind virtually all wealthy countries with regard to family-oriented workplace policies such as maternity leave, paid sick days and support for breast-feeding, a new study by Harvard and McGill University researchers says. The new data comes as politicians and lobbyists wrangle over whether to scale back the existing federal law providing unpaid family leaves or to push new legislation allowing paid leaves. The study, officially being issued Thursday, says workplace policies for families in the United States are weaker than those...

My son is two months and one week old and I’ve had to make my first major decision (well, I give input and my wife makes the decision). The best advice from the Internet along with our observations suggest the following…….. “Your child will cry for basic necessities such as to eat, problems with gas, excreting feces (taking a dump), and being too hot or too cold during the first two months. From two months onward, your child will cry as his brain develops due to the human world he has entered. When deciding to pick him up or let...

Q. "Nobody was ever born of one’s own free will, therefore everybody must have the same right to life." A. Yes/Relative Yes. A baby born to Bill Gates has the right to live just as a baby born to an isolated tribe in Brazil. Q. "Bill Gates´ intelligence (precondition for being him a millionaire) was not created by himself, but was given to him by genetic and/or environmental influences during his childhood?" A. Yes, I tend to agree. A conservative response would be to say that he has benefited due to his ancestors, who are 5,000 years more advanced (based...

What do Western women want in a modern man from Western Culture? 1. A wealthy man? Yes/No, he wants to control me! 2. An instinctual man? No, he’s too primitive! 3. An intellectual man? No, he’s too soft! 4. A Christian man? No, he doesn’t excite me! 5. A cultured man? No, he’s bisexual or gay! 6. A man with a nice body? No, he’s too narcissistic! Okay, the title and more........

JEDDAH, 24 December 2006 — Nearly one in four marriages in the Kingdom ends in divorce, according to a Justice Ministry report published yesterday. For 105,066 marriage contracts registered last year, 24,000 divorce cases were recorded by the ministry, Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper said, quoting the ministry report. The statistics come amid intense debate over the surge in divorce rates in the country. The High Court in Jeddah said earlier this year that divorce rates in the city had risen by 60 percent over the last two years against 39 percent in the capital Riyadh and 18 percent in the Eastern...

CNN) -- Twelve-year-old Beatrice returns from the fields with small animals she's caught for dinner. Her mother, Elizabeth, prepares the meat and cooks it on a grill made of three stones supporting a wood fire. It's just enough food, she says, to feed her starving family of six. Tonight, they dine on rats. "Look what we've been reduced to eating?" she said. "How can my children eat rats in a country that used to export food? This is a tragedy."......

Republicans are very independent people who work very hard (eating for infants) in achieving objectives. This process of working very hard promotes growth (same for infants) for the US economy, especially when taxes are low (the infant can sleep). Since the US government is comprised of many people (the infant’s body), the people who don’t follow the same conservative philosophy (good parents for both) cannot grow as the US grows, and they therefore need pats on the back and patronage and always have a need to let of steam (gas). As a result of working hard, the US economy predictable...

Some 10,000 US researchers have signed a statement protesting about political interference in the scientific process. The statement, which includes the backing of 52 Nobel Laureates, demands a restoration of scientific integrity in government policy. According to the American Union of Concerned Scientists, data is being misrepresented for political reasons. It claims scientists working for federal agencies have been asked to change data to fit policy initiatives. The Union has released an "A to Z" guide that it says documents dozens of recent allegations involving censorship and political interference in federal science, covering issues ranging from global warming to sex...

As a poor boy who became educated and semi-successful due to conservative values, I’m wondering what should I do to raise a 5 year old daughter and a 2 week old son. Human observation would tell me to open up a savings account for them, work hard and try to balance earning income while being a good husband and father figure. “Poor” values lead me to think that sex will never be the same and I should balance “Human Observation” with “Poor Values”. “Modern” values seem to be “Poor Values”. “Conservative” values seem to require that I have a responsibility...

Good evening, my fellow Americans. First, I should like to express my gratitude to the radio and television networks for the opportunities they have given me over the years to bring reports and messages to our nation. My special thanks go to them for the opportunity of addressing you this evening. Three days from now, after a half century in the service of our country, I shall lay down the responsibilities of office as, in traditional and solemn ceremony, the authority of the Presidency is vested in my successor. This evening I come to you with a message of leave-taking...

Being the best as a liberal comes from the "mind" in representing other people's interest. Sometimes it's good and sometimes it's bad. Being truly conservative comes from the "heart" in "trying to bring out the best in everyone in society". Sometimes it's good and sometimes it's bad. Being "soulful" is neither liberal or conservative, it's following a beat from an unknown drummer. Sometimes it's good and sometimes it's bad.