Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 145

Ban Russia from the Olympics?

An arbitration court confirmed that Russia’s track and field team, which was caught in a major doping and cover-up scandal, can be banned from the Olympics.  The ruling also opened the door to banning the entire Russian delegation, if the International Olympics Committee so decides. Do you think Russia should be banned from the competition? [Read More...]

“I AM YOUR VOICE”

Donald Trump gave a stemwinder of a speech in accepting the Republican presidential nomination.  Promising to make us safe, add millions of jobs, defeat terrorism, fix our economy, solve poverty, and relieve all of our grievances, Trump said “I alone can fix it.”  He repeated, “I am the law and order candidate.”  “I am going to [Read More...]

What Mary Magdalene looked like?

  Brazilian scientists have been using digital technology on the skulls of saints, so as to reconstruct their faces.  They used their technique on a relatively well-attested relic of Mary Magdalene.  This is what she may have looked like. Details of the reconstructions after the jump.  Go here for the Mary Magdalene project.       [Read More...]

Japan flirts with World War II ideology again

Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party has just won a 2/3 majority in both of its houses of legislature, enabling it to amend its Constitution, which had been imposed by the United States after World War II.  The party wants to change the Constitution because it enshrines “the Western European theory of natural human rights,” including the freedom [Read More...]

Ted Cruz speaks at convention, but refuses to endorse Trump

Ted Cruz, who came in second to Donald Trump, was given a speaking slot at the convention, in the name of party unity.  Cruz gave a speech, but he did not endorse Trump.   Cruz told his listeners to “vote your conscience.”  The crowd booed him loudly.  Another convention stage-managing fail.  And a major fail [Read More...]

The nun who faced down Billy the Kid

Sister Blandina Segale was a nun who served in the wild West.  Her exploits in frontier New Mexico are legion, including when she faced down Billy the Kid.  Twice.  She also battled the cruel treatment of Indians, worked with prisoners, tended the sick, and fought the sexual trafficking of women. Now she is being considered for [Read More...]

Fox News is coming apart

Roger Ailes, who runs Fox News, is set to be fired by Rupert Murdoch, owner of the network, over charges that he sexually harassed TV journalist Gretchen Carlson.  Megyn Kelly has also said that Ailes harassed her, though other Fox News employees are defending their boss.  In fact, three of the network’s biggest stars–Bill O’Reilly, [Read More...]

Trump is now the Republican nominee

The roll call of states has been concluded, and Donald Trump is now officially the Republican presidential nominee.  Discuss. From Republican National Convention: With Trump formally nominated, attention turns back to Clinton – The Washington Post: Donald Trump was formally nominated for the presidency by Republican delegates here on Tuesday night, a landmark moment in American [Read More...]

Mrs. Trump lifts from Mrs. Obama’s speech

In her speech before the Republican National Convention, Melania Trump lifted, without attribution, passages from Michelle Obama’s speech to the Democratic National Convention in 2008! Compare what was said after the jump.  (I don’t blame Mrs. Trump.  I blame whoever wrote her speech.  This is another yet blot on Trump’s campaign staff.) Michelle Obama’s 2008 [Read More...]

Which denominations oppose abortion and which ones don’t

<a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://adclick.g.doubleclick.net/pcs... src=&quot;https://s0.2mdn.net/ads/richmedia/stu... width=&quot;300&quot; height=&quot;250&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /></a><img width=&quot;0px&quot; height=&quot;0px&quot; style=&quot;visibility:hidden&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; src=&quot;&quot; />​ The Pew Research Center has put out a study of what position various religious bodies take on abortion.  We learn that the churches that take the strongest pro-life stance are the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Roman Catholic, Southern Baptist, Assemblies of God, [Read More...]