Snapped Shot

Just checking in to wish all of you a happy new years! Isn't it awesome to know that Saddam didn't make it to see 2007?

What's everyone up to? We're over visiting friends right now!

If I don't make it back online before then, I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!

Don't worry yourselves, it's only a mere "gunbattle". If the Israeli Defence Forces were part of it, I'm sure the editorial boards would've inserted far more weeping and gnashing of teeth into the storyline. As it is, this is a mere "event," barely worth a mention.

(It also should be noted that the only people taking the "truce" between Hamas and Fatah seriously either work for the State Department, or for the press. Which speaks quite a bit to the utter lack of intelligence found in both groups!)



It's nice to know that Palestinians use their citizens as shields even amongst themselves... I really do feel sorry for the girl in the picture above, other than for the fact that Palestinian society has put themselves in this situation, by breeding nothing but hatred and violence for the past 3 decades.

To lighten things up, I've got more pictures of this wonderfully-executed cease-fire following the break, so brace yourselves for a healthy dose of fun!

Update: Agence France-Presse wins the Most Ironic Caption contest, with this doozy: A civilian has died overnight in Gaza in clashes between Hamas and a powerful local clan, but otherwise a truce aimed at halting violence between rival Palestinian factions held for a third day.

"Other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?"

Truly the depth of mental acumen. Of course, if this civilian were killed by Israelis, we would have had a massive funeral already, covered by all of the wire services, and we would've been treated to repeated mentions of the civilian's name, age, and any other touching details that the press can conjure up. But, since the victim was killed by a Protected Oppressed People, we're denied such insight. I guess there's no journalistic style book entry for fratricide, huh? Continue reading »

And people wonder where all of the violence in the Palestinian Territories comes from...


Update: Yoni raises a good point which I missed: This child is shooting a gun in the street of a major city. Accompanied by adults who undoubtedly do the same.

All of you Leftists out there, make note: Your Hamas and Fatah heroes don't believe in gun control, and they obviously have no problem with endangering their children. Just sayin'!

Update: The Cross has been "restored" 7 days a week, per Gene's latest move. I commend the school for at least making an effort to resolve the issue, instead of ducking behind PC weenieness.

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The Washington Times has reported today that College of William & Mary president Gene Nichol has chosen to restore the Wren Chapel cross to its rightful place.

For 1/7th of the week.

Cross to return to Wren Chapel
The great cross debate at the College of William & Mary is resolved -- sort of.
President Gene Nichol announced yesterday that the 2-foot-high, century-old bronze cross removed from Wren Chapel in October will be returned to the chapel on Sundays.
He hoped to appease some of the more than 7,000 people who signed an online petition to return the cross.
The Liberty Counsel, a legal advocacy group with ties to Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, even threatened a lawsuit.
Mr. Nichol originally ordered the cross removed to help non-Christians feel more welcome in Wren Chapel. The chapel is in the Wren Building, which is used for secular meetings, including schoolwide events.
Mr. Nichol said he doubts his solution will please everyone.

Gene, considering that your resolution to this problem was... well... not exactly complete, I am delighted to tell you that I am pleased. 1/7th of the way.

I definitely appreciate you giving we meager Christians our symbol in the Chapel for our Holy days. But by doing so, you still miss the point!

The Wren Chapel is an historic monument, privately restored by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation to appear exactly as it would have in the Commonwealth's Colonial days. By removing a religious symbol which has been present in the Chapel for the entire period of its existence, save for perhaps a few years of occupation during the Revolutionary and Civil wars, you have altered its appearance, thus violating the terms and conditions under which John D. Rockefeller, Jr. established the Williamsburg project!

I'll tell you what, Gene: If we're going to meet half-way, let's do so in a more reasonable manner:

How about leaving the Cross in the Chapel all the time, in its proper historic place. (which would be respectful to the sacrifices made by the very men who built the College!) If non-Christian groups wish to use the Chapel for their own services, let it be their responsibility to request the removal of the Cross temporarily. They would still be free to use the Chapel, without altering the permanent appearance of the Chapel, or otherwise insulting the religion which single-handedly built the College.

In other words, quit trying to re-shape history to fit your distorted view of the world, Gene. More than anything else, doing that will make everyone unhappy with you.

Merry Christmas, Gene. I hope that the significance of this Season will not continue to be lost on you.

Previously: Once a P.C. weenie, always a P.C. weenie, College of William & Dhimmitude?, Michelle Malkin: Let's play "Hide the Cross", Gates of Vienna: More on the Wren Chapel Cross, Wren Cross - Gene Nichol's to the Board of Visitors.

Related: Save the Wren Cross, The Wren Chapel Cross Controversy.

I have nothing to add to this mess above and beyond what Ace The Brilliant has said. Other than to strongly disagree with Joseph Rago's assertion that you, the reader, are an imbecile. (Really, Joseph! Is namecalling really what the formerly-esteemed Wall Street Journal has sunk to?)

I won't argue his characterization of me being a fool, though. Many thanks to Ace again for the strongest defence of the Blogosphere I've read so far!

The Al-Quds Brigades thinks it's "all that," if you'll pardon my use of the street colloquialism that's so common today. How else can you explain their latest press release, issued after they fired yet another rocket into Israeli civilian areas (well, it appears they succeeded in hitting a desert, anyway)--despite there supposedly being a cease-fire between the Palestinians and the Israeli army:

Al-Quds Brigades, Islamic Jihad’s armed wing [ed.: Isn't that something like saying, "The U.S. Army's armed wing?"], says launchings response to IDF’s killing of its members; ‘We promise to strike the enemy twice as hard for the breach (of the ceasefire). We will increase the horror in the hearts of the Jews and their cowardly army,’ group says in statement...

To the distinguished gentlemen inhuman animals at Al-Quds: Brave, civilized armies fight on the field of battle. They fight amongst themselves, soldier to soldier, doing their best to protect the civilians who are under their protection.

What do you animals do? Fire at unarmed civilians. Use your citizens as mobile terrorist-shields. Hide in the houses and alleyways in your neighborhoods.

I'm thinking that the IDF is the more honourable of the two entities, for some strange reason. Oh yeah, and that Al-Quds is a bunch of uncivilized cowards! Keep up the great work, brave soldiers of the IDF. If the uncouth martyrs of the Al-Quds Brigades have to stoop to issuing press releases recounting their bravery, you're obviously doing something to make them unsure of their manhood.

After all, as they say--Those that "got it," don't need to "shout it."

Or something like that.