Free Republic

What Are the Real Origins of Easter? Millions assume that Easter, one of the world's major religious holidays, is found in the Bible. But is it? Have you ever looked into Easter's origins and customs and compared them with the Bible? by Jerold Aust Easter is one of the most popular religious celebrations in the world. But is it biblical? The word Easter appears only once in the King James Version of the Bible (and not at all in most others). In the one place it does appear, the King James translators mistranslated the Greek word for Passover as...

SARAJEVO, April 1 (Reuters) - Official symbols adopted by Bosnia's main ethnic groups are to be abolished following a ruling by the former Yugoslav republic's top court. The symbols introduced after the 1992-95 Bosnian war in the country's two semi-autonomous regions were discriminatory because each ethnic group should enjoy equality in all areas of the country, according to a decision by the Constitutional Court published late on Friday. The ruling means the Muslim-Croat federation and the Serb Republic must change their laws on their coat of arms, flag and anthem in the next six months. Serbs have a coat of...

Feb. 13, 2006 — The familiar double-lobed heart symbol seen on Valentine's Day cards and candy was inspired by the shape of human female buttocks as seen from the rear, according to a professor of psychology who studied the origin, history and symbolism of the Feb.14 holiday. Galdino Pranzarone of Roanoke College in Salem, Va., told Discovery News that he analyzed "essential literary and speculative evidence from mythology and secondary sources," which led to his theory. He believes one rather obvious bit of evidence is that the heart symbol does not directly duplicate the heart human organ. "The twin lobes...

Happy Valentines Day - I heard our national symbol The American Bald Eagle is to be soaring again. Is this a great omen?

HONOLULU - Everyone thought the humuhumunukunukuapuaa was Hawaii's state fish. As it turns out, the brightly colored fish with the excessively long name has been dethroned. The news shook the world of Rep. Blake Oshiro, who found out the designation was no longer official from Joel Itomura, a 6-year-old fish-loving son of a friend and constituent. "I was really surprised," said Oshiro, who has drawn up a bill that would make humuhumunukunukuapuaa _ also known as the rectangular triggerfish or "humuhumu" for short _ the official state fish for the islands. The stubby-nosed, brightly striped and slightly aggressive little fish...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x215134 If you really want to get MAD; check out the Communist hammer and sickle this jerk replaced our fifty stars with on the American flag. If somebody knows how to cut and paste it here that would be great because I don't know how.

Michigan - At the Prime Table Restaurant in Niles, folks are looking to debate an interesting issue. There are elections vastly approaching, state budgets to balance, and high gas prices to consider. One might figure Michigan lawmakers have plenty of serious issues to keep them busy. On the contrary, much surprise ensues as to which hot topic is taking flight in the state capitol. On the table When some patrons at the Michigan restaurant heard what could be on the table for state lawmakers in 2006, they said it's for the birds. Dawn Belcher of Knox, Indiana says, "I just...

The Christmas tree has become a symbol of the spirit of Christmas in many countries and many, if not all, our homes. What led Christians to adopt this custom? The first mention in history of fir trees used in Christmas celebrations was in 12th century Germany. A fir tree was used in mystery plays as the so-called "paradise" tree. These dramas were held outside during the Advent and Christmas seasons and the fir tree symbolized the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. The evergreen fir tree is a sign of hope throughout the winter season--hope in the promise...

The state Democratic Party is catching heat for posting an item on its Web site that parodies the popular Christian fish symbol commonly seen on the back of cars. The item — a magnetic version of the fish, emblazoned with flames and the word "Hypocrite" alongside a cross — appeared last week on the Democrats' Web site. It was displayed along with other political-message magnets, bumper stickers and buttons that the party sells. State Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt said he first found out about the hypocrite fish posting on Friday when someone from KIRO radio called to ask him...

On Thursday, the 192 signatories of the Geneva Conventions decided to adopt a new international symbol - the Red Crystal - alongside the Red Cross and the Red Crescent. Now it seems, for the first time, Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA) can join the 182 members of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The vote "reflects Israel's improved international standing … This is yet another achievement for Israel's diplomacy," gushed Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. MDA itself worked hard to achieve this result, which paves the way for Israel to join international rescue missions. The new Red...

The official website of Washington State Democrats sold magnetic car stickers of the Christian fish symbol and cross emblazoned with the word "hypocrite" on a background of hellish flames. The item was removed about mid-day yesterday after a weblog took note, calling it an example of Democrat Party hostility toward religious believers, especially Christians.

This was the image of the car magnet for sale on the OFFICIAL Washington State Democrat Party website. The image has been taken down since Dori called Party Chairman Paul Berendt and asked him to explain why it was being sold. Dori is streaming live at kiro710.com. Click on the KIRO link to see his latest post.

Swastikas for Campus ConservativesBy Jason AntebiFrontPageMagazine.com | December 9, 2005 Occidental College in Los Angeles may epitomize what’s wrong in higher education. Professors cancel class to encourage their students to attend a protest against the “Bush Regime,” campus leaders are forced into mandatory “diversity/sensitivity training,” and some far-Left students seem to believe that a liberal arts education consists of little more than painting a portrait of Bill Clinton. Tuition money – in excess of $40,000 per pupil – is wasted on courses such as "The Unbearable Whiteness of Barbie" and “Stupidity,” a mandatory course for some freshmen, which compares incidents...

I have been following the recent saga in the Red Cross with growing disgust. For those of you who are not familiar with the issues at hand, Israel's official relief agency, Magen David Adom (MDA; Red Star of David), has traditionally been rejected membership as an official member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Society because of its refusal to adopt either a cross or a crescent as its official symbol. When Israel suggested allowing the additional symbol of the Red Magen David in 1949, the organization rejected the request for the reason that they "don't want to...

192 Geneva representatives voted to approve Israel’s new “Red Crystal” symbol which will now officially join the Red Crescent and Red Cross as authorized International Red Cross symbols. After close to 60 years of refusal, the international body has voted to include Israel, despite last-minute efforts to thwart the move by Syria.

A group of top Muslim clerics have demanded that Orthodox Christian symbols be removed from the Russian coat of arms and have complained about the Russian authorities and power-wielding structures allegedly refusing to abide by the principle of secularity, the Interfax news agency reported.

Representatives from 192 countries are due in Geneva on Monday for a conference to decide whether to adopt a new emblem for the Red Cross movement. The two-day meeting is the result of tightrope diplomacy by Switzerland to resolve the long-standing issue of a third humanitarian symbol. Approval of the so-called "red crystal" by the signatory states moved a step closer last week when the Israeli and Palestinian emergency services signed a groundbreaking cooperation agreement. The accord, brokered by the Swiss foreign ministry, cleared the way for a deal on a new emblem in addition to the red cross and...

Representatives from 192 countries are due in Geneva on Monday for a conference to decide whether to adopt a new emblem for the Red Cross movement. The two-day meeting is the result of tightrope diplomacy by Switzerland to resolve the long-standing issue of a third humanitarian symbol. The Red Cross, the Red Crescent and the new Red Crystal (Keystone)Approval of the so-called "red crystal" by the signatory states moved a step closer last week when the Israeli and Palestinian emergency services signed a groundbreaking cooperation agreement. The accord, brokered by the Swiss foreign ministry, cleared the way for a deal...

So, Jews, the goyim will win after all? By Stan Goodenough November 28th, 2005 According to the newspapers here in Israel, Jews are rejoicing because the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies (IFRCRC) has finally agreed to open its doors to the Red Shield (or Star) of David, the Israeli organization that offers equivalent services to the Red Cross and Red Crescent. Ok, so there’s a small catch: The Israelis cannot actually use their Red Star of David in this new arrangement, but must agree to a new symbol, a Red Crystal, inside which, for...

Three Jewish Democrats in Congress asked colleagues to sign a letter thanking Condoleezza Rice for helping advance Magen David Adom’s cause at the International Red Cross. The U.S. secretary of state has been instrumental in opening discussions to create the red diamond, a third, neutral symbol that non-Christian and non-Muslim nations can use in addition to the Red Cross and Red Crescent. “Your personal engagement on this issue has been extremely important and is most appreciated,” says the letter circulated by Reps. Eliot Engel and Gary Ackerman of New York and Henry Waxman of California. “We are well aware that...