Free Republic

LANCASTER, Pa. -- The School District of Lancaster is defending a plan that groups students according to their race. In December, McCaskey East High School placed its junior class in different homerooms based on race and gender. Each class is led by a home room teacher of the same race and gender who serves as a role model.

(IsraelNN.com) Israel's government has agreed, in writing, to hand over 6,250 square kilometers of land – the equivalent of its entire biblical and strategic heartland - to an Arab terror state. So reports Dr. Guy Bechor, a leading expert on Arab affairs, who also supplies some of the details of the negotiations. Bechor reports, based on "leaks from the Palestinian side," that Israel has, in the past few days, presented Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas at least one draft of an "agreement of principles." The agreement calls for a state named Palestine to be established alongside Israel, and have a...

Turkey's 'creeping Islamisation' divides nation By Gethin Chamberlain in Alanya, Sunday Telegraph Last Updated: 1:17am BST 15/07/2007 It could have been a scene from any beach in Turkey: a cluster of young women reclining on sun-loungers, soaking up the midday rays, thumbing through novels and smoking cigarettes, while fellow holidaymakers splashed in the sea. Women in bikinis and hasema swimsuits mix on the beach at Alanya Yet there was not an inch of bare flesh on them; these sun worshippers were clad from head to toe in headscarves and cover-all swimsuits. A couple of girls strolled past, their skimpy bikinis...

BISBEE — A campaign by the Minutemen to build border fences on private land is facing growing criticism from other anti-illegal-immigration groups, as well from some of its original membership. The critics complain that the organization formally known as the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps has been raising large amounts of money for a costly Israeli-style barrier but has been building only inexpensive range fencing. And they direct their disapproval squarely at Minuteman founder and president, Chris Simcox. For his part, Simcox calls the criticism unfounded and petty, and insists his group will soon begin to construct the two-layered, Gaza Strip-model...

New Venezuela flag divides nation By Greg Morsbach BBC News, Caracas A giant new Venezuelan flag flies over Fort Tiuna in Caracas Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chavez has officially unveiled the country's controversial new flag. Parliament last week approved changes to the 200-year-old design including the addition of an eighth star to honour the province of Guayana. A white horse on the national coat of arms which appears on the flag now faces left instead of right. The opposition has condemned the new flag as illegitimate saying there was no proper consultation. Venezuelans have two flags - one of totalitarianism,...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 - The idea of a United States independent of Middle East oil is a touchstone of Senator John Kerry's campaign and a huge crowd pleaser, but has divided and exasperated many of his most experienced energy advisers. Some advisers say they worry that Mr. Kerry's focus on freeing the United States from reliance on oil from the Persian Gulf, the linchpin of the energy plan he released on Thursday, is unrealistic and misleading and that hammering away at it would erode Mr. Kerry's credibility with business, the news media and other countries. The advisers, who include independent...

Friday, 2 August, 2002, 12:50 GMT 13:50 UK Iraq arms offer divides powersEarly reactions to Iraq's offer of talks over the possible resumption of arms inspections suggest the big powers on the UN Security Council will be divided over the issue. The UK gave the invitation a cool response, but Russia welcomed the move as an "important step" and France expressed its support. The US and the United Nations have yet to respond. Iraq is suspected of rebuilding its weapons programme In a letter to the UN, Iraqi Foreign Minister, Naji Sabri, invited the chief inspector, Hans Blix, for what...