Yemen Child Brides and Cleric in Islamic Countries

Child brides have long been married off to older men in Yemen. At this point it is rare and illegal in most countries or at least a practice that is not socially acceptable but Yemen...well. Why one would want to marry an 8 year old girl is beyond the comprehension of a healthy adult mind but clearly there is something wrong here.

Just recently their parliament decided to introduce a law increasing the marriage age to 17 but certain Clerics have condemned the law. This is the problem with Islamic countries.

In Western countries there are so many hoops to jump that it is the intelligent that make it into the clergy (with the exception of the Catholic Church considering the child abuse) but in Islamic countries it is the idiots! When their parents realize these kids are not good at the traditional subjects such as math or science they decide to send them to religious schools led by other idiots who couldn't make it in school. Now sure they didn't start as idiots but continuous education by idiots who came before cannot help. So we have a line of idiots preaching to susceptible soon to be idiots. And you end up with kids who blow themselves up, think child abuse is acceptable or teach others the same.

Let me make this clear; education is the key, proper education! You want to help these countries - BUILD A GODDAMN SCHOOL!

Read a harrowing story of a child bride: http://www.aina.org/news/20080418041413.htm

On the BBC Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8583585.stm

Note: not all clerics are idiots - clearly some did it because they were intelligent and wanted to move the religion in the right direction.

Healthcare Reform and Republicans

And do I need to say more?
Dow 10,888.83 Up 102.94 (0.95%)
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Everyone except the Republicans seem to be happy - the grand ol' party (odd name considering that the Democratic party is older but i digress). I like the republicans and I'm split on most issues 50-50 between republicans and democrats but this time Its hard to make a point for the republicans.

The government will take over 1/6th of the economy: Not true! There is no public option for healthcare and stocks of almost all healthcare insurers actually rose. This is how you create wealth ladies and gentlemen.

The federal debt will blow up: Not true - this actually would reduce the debt by $143 Billion through 2019. Figure from the Congressional Budget Office - new taxes and fees and cost savings from medicare. This is an estimate but CBO tends be right quite often.

Doctors will quit: I don't think so and neither does anyone with half a brain. It takes forever to become a doctor and really American doctors are some of th best paid in the world. They aren't going anywhere but yes they may see profit/patient decline.

Business will go under!: The cost of training new employees tends be high...very high. Providing health insurance to your employees will reduce turnover, reduce training costs, reduce absenteeism cost and finally will produce a happier and healtheir workforce. Yes its not measurable but i gaurentee you its for the better. Furthermore companies tend to pass this cost onto their employees and maybe the insurance exchanges will make it easier for their employees to find insurance.

One step closer to socialized healthcare: Maybe OR maybe its an alternative to socialized healthcare - but do not expect for-profit healthcare to dissapear in the near future.

Israel and simple demographics

This conflict has stretched back so many years that to even begin to try and solve it is ludacris but really we don't want them killing each other. I will be the first to say that Israeli needs to exist; its not like the Palestinians don't know that but my question is how long can you keep the young Arabs under control? The Jewish population in Israel declines every year; year after year. I suspect it will not be too long that Israel can't even man it's army and that will be a sad day. Its a cumulative effect really the more you mistreat them the more hate you breed.

Keep in mind the population trends - a day will come when Arabs outnumber the Jews in Israel and a day when they have twice as many young men and women - maybe make peace before that happens?

Oh keep in mind the neighbhours! and also International law.

Mr. Netanyahu i'd be a tad more careful - don't incite another intifada, it may cause the death of thousands of Palestinians but it also ensures another generation of children who do not want to become doctors or engineers but rather martyrs.

Iran nuclear programme 'solely civilian' - Turkish PM

There was a time when Turkey was one of the closest allies of the United States in the region and look how far its fallen. Turkey and the US have a remarkable history of relations and it is one that should be taken in history classes but that is not at issue here. Not too long ago US congress voted to accept the "Armenian Genocide" - now its validity is again not the question and really should be up to historians.
Early in the Iraq war 11 Special Forces Turkish soldiers were also detained by the US adding to the embarrassment of Turkey. And just recently the Israeli media had a good time at Turkey's expense.
Turkey has also been trying to enter the EU - as a member of NATO we are willing to take its military assitance when needed but refuse it economic ties?
How long did we expect the country to continue to suffer such embarassement? How long long did we expect them to keep their own right wing at bay? As Turkey retreats into the warm comfort of its fimiliar mid-east neightbhours maybe its time the rest of the world make a few ovetures to show how much we care that it came so far out on a limb only to find itself alone.

Side note: The Armenians were massacred by the Young Turk movement - these happen to be the same people that entered the war on Germany's side; clearly morals were lacking. With the dissolution of the empire into anarchy they were able to gain control and commit such atrocities only later to be overthrown by the sectarian government whose legacy you see now.

From BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8570842.stm