Amazing Grace

I don't usually write a review or recommendation of a movie or book on my blog, but I'm making an exception for the film Amazing Grace. I saw this movie on Friday and loved it.

The film is about William Wilberforce and the movement to abolish the slave trade in the British empire. It is well acted and very moving. The horrors of the slave trade are discussed more than they are actually show, which is think is a flaw of the film, so it has a rating of PG and is suitable for pre-teen children.

The movie's official website has a link to the Amazing Change Campaign. Slavery is alive and well in much of today's world. Go visit the website and learn how you can continue the work of people like William Wilberforce.

Why I Respect Joe Lieberman

Courtesy of NRO here is the text of the speech that Joe Lieberman delivered on the Senate floor. If ever there was a democrat that I would vote for in a presidential race, Joe Lieberman is it.

Sadly, his speech will largely fall on deaf ears. What we are witnessing in Congress is a monumental failure of will. Most in Congress lack the will to fight or to out-rightly quit, and the will to do anything but complain. What happened to the resolution and the unity after 9/11?

I believe we have a moral responsibility to finish what we started in Iraq. We also owe it to our soldiers to do what is reasonable and necessary to win. If we cannot find the fortitude to do that we should not be asking our soldiers to still be in harms way.

Update on Nazanin

Iran is not going to execute Nazanin Fatehi after all. She has been exonerated from the bogus murder charge, but her act of self-defense against attempted rape was ruled to be too "excessive." She has to pay the family of the dead man for his death.

Nazanin still sits in prison while her lawyers appeal the ruling that she pay "blood money." An effort is currently underway to raise the bail money needed to secure her release. For more information go here.

Nazanin is alive today due to international pressure, yet I have heard no out cry among America's main stream media or feminist organizations? Why the silence? Why can I read about this from NRO but not the New York Times? According to the helpnazanin.com website, some main stream media outlets reported on the story, but I've not seen the sort of outrage that you'd think this story should have provoked. I guess the only human rights abuse stories that merit front page coverage are those that involve American soldiers.

Death Watch

According to the latest news, the execution of Saddam Hussein will take place with in the hour. In typical cable news fashion, several commentators are discussing "the issue." Most seem to agree that he was given his day in court and that his crimes warrant death. The fact that anyone would question whether or not the death penalty is the right course action baffles me.

An elected Iraqi government will execute a man who brutally oppressed his country men for decades in an orderly and dispassionate manner. This is justice.

UPDATE

As of 9:10 CT, 6:10 Baghdad time, Al-Arabiya is reporting that Saddam Hussein was executed 10 mins ago.

Why am I not surprised?

I knew it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. President Ford, who was a Republican, has passed away. Therefore, it must be time for some extremist ideology to begin making outrageous claims about him.

Enter Cindy Sheehan. Apparently in her world Ford is responsible for the war in Iraq because he pardoned Nixon. That pardon is responsible for every President since then thinking he is above the law. Here is the full text of her latest break from reality.

This statement is about as logical as saying "Birds fly, and I flew in a plane; therefore, I am a bird." I wish I could run around making stupid comments all the day long and still be covered by the media like I was the next Martin Luther King Jr.

There was a time when I felt sorry for Cindy Sheehan. She seemed blinded by her grief. I'd imagine that if anything would turn me into a peace activist, losing my child in war would. Then she started making a host of fanatical statements, camping out in Crawford and visiting people like Hugo Chavez. I have no pity left for her. She is a disgrace to her son's memory.


Hat tip: Wizbang

Merry Christmas!

I know I am a day late, but I wanted to wish the few people who read this blog a Merry Christmas. I was away from a computer all Christmas day and did not get to post any Holiday greetings.

Personally, December 26 is my least favorite day of the year. All the excitement is over. Oh well, time to make those New Year's Resolutions. Maybe I will manage to keep one in 2007, LOL.

Michael Yon/HFM Update

According to the New York Post, HFM (Hachette Filipacchi Media) is canceling Shock Magazine. The details of the story are here. I imagine HFM is regretting the day it used Michael Yon's photograph with out permission. It's unfortunate that HFM still plans on keeping Shock on line, but the fact that Shock magazine will no longer be on any shelves makes me smile.

Many people participated in Michael Yon's campaign against HFM, its distributors, and the businesses that refused to pull Shock magazine off their shelves. It's great to see that the efforts paid off and that individuals can get involved and make a difference.

I hope this sends a message to all the magazine and papers who have violated the copy rights of photographers because most of them will not fight a legal battle over a picture that is worth a few hundred dollars at the most. You can't step on the little guys forever.

Hat tip : Pajamas Media