https://www.conservapedia.com/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Boreas 2026-11-12T01:16:06Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.35.14 https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Debate:_Should_Christians_be_more_forthright_in_stating_that_Allah_is_not_the_same_being_as_the_Judeo-Christian_God%3F&diff=780591 2010-05-22T20:55:26Z

<p>Boreas: added sig</p> <hr /> <div>Muslims regularly state that Allah is the same being as the Judeo-Christian God. This is at least partly to make proselytizing easier. How should Christians deal with these claims?--&lt;font face = &quot;Verdana&quot;&gt;[[User:Boreas|Boreas]]&lt;sup&gt; [[User_Talk:Boreas|'''talk''']]&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/font&gt; 16:55, 22 May 2010 (EDT)</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Debate:_Should_Christians_be_more_forthright_in_stating_that_Allah_is_not_the_same_being_as_the_Judeo-Christian_God%3F&diff=780582 2010-05-22T20:50:23Z

<p>Boreas: Created page with 'Muslims regularly state that Allah is the same being as the Judeo-Christian God. This is at least partly to make proselytizing easier. How should Christians deal with these claim…'</p> <hr /> <div>Muslims regularly state that Allah is the same being as the Judeo-Christian God. This is at least partly to make proselytizing easier. How should Christians deal with these claims?</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Conservapedia:Debate_Topics&diff=780578 2010-05-22T20:47:10Z

<p>Boreas: /* Religious debates */</p> <hr /> <div>'''Debate topic suggestions, organized so that it's not necessary to delete them.'''<br /> <br /> (Note: If some topic is miscategorized, it can be cut and pasted without affecting the relevant links.)<br /> <br /> ==Philosophical Debates==<br /> # [[Debate:Can Conservapedia become the next Wikipedia, is this good or bad]]<br /> # [[Debate:If there is no objective truth, then is the claim &quot;there is no objective truth&quot; also not an objective truth?]]<br /> # [[Conservapedia:Does History Matter?|Does History Matter?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is a first cause of a process necessary, always possible, or sometimes impossible?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Can Objectivism develop beyond Ayn Rand's original formulation?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Can any man live without some code of morality?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does the universe include everything, or does something outside the universe exist?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Why is there something rather than nothing?]]<br /> # [[Conservapedia:Stem Cells| Embryonic Stem Cells: Why or why not?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Why Reason?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should pharmacists be forced to fill legal prescriptions they personally object to on moral grounds?]]<br /> # [[Debate:What is the real love?]]<br /> # [[Debate:who created God?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Why have conservatives let themselves get a bad name?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Is it possible for God to be timeless?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Is it possible for man to live a moral life without religion?]]<br /> # [[Debate: How do conservatives view the Open Source movement and software?]]<br /> # [[Debate: At what point does &quot;Human&quot; life begin?]]<br /> <br /> ==Religious debates==<br /> # [[Debate:Does God punish sinners for eternity?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Should certain books be banned from libraries?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Is communism founded on Christian doctrine?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should the first story of creation be read allegorically or literally?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is Scientology a false religion?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Why do Moses, Ezra, Jesus, and Paul all disagree on divorce?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Did Jesus ever claim to be God?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Grave errors/inconsistencies in the Bible make literal translation worthless.]]<br /> # [[Debate:Was Jesus born in the right time and place?]]<br /> # [[Debate:What does Christianity say about homosexuality?]]<br /> # [[Debate:If God does not exist, can anything be morally wrong?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Did God create evil?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Which Christian denomination is the most true to the central teachings of Christianity?]] <br /> # [[Debate:If Jesus were alive to day, where on the political spectrum would he fall?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should Religion Play a Large Role in Modern Societies?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does the Bible (Old and the New Testament) have the infallible words of God?]] <br /> # [[Debate:AntiSemitism]] <br /> # [[Debate:Does Intelligent Design deny the Existence of God?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Could God create a rock so heavy that he himself could not lift it?]]<br /> # [[Debate:What is the relationship between religion and the human tendency to kill each other?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Natural Disaster versus Act of God]]<br /> # [[Debate:What is the Sabbath day?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is it possible to be a conservative and not a religious person or even an atheist?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Why do we still perform Baptisms?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does the Resurrection negate Gods Sacrifice of his only son?]]<br /> # [[Debate:If most Muslims learned their religion from their parents, just like us Christians, they will probably be hard to convert. So what can we do to save their souls?]]<br /> # [[Debate:If_most_Christians_learned_their_religion_from_their_parents%2C_just_like_us_Muslims%2C_they_will_probably_be_hard_to_convert._So_what_can_we_do_to_save_their_souls%3F|Debate:If most Christians learned their religion from their parents, just like us Muslims, they will probably be hard to convert. So what can we do to save their souls?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does mainstream Islam endorse violence?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is religion morally wrong?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does the Bible display poor ethics and morals?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Why the Bible|Debate:What makes the Bible a reliable source of knowledge besides tradition?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Why should we be afraid of God?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Do conservative Christians have an unquestioning faith which is comparable to that of the Party in the book 1984?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Antisemitism]]<br /> # [[Debate:Are Christianity and the Bible superior to other religions and scriptures?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is &quot;Coercive Interrogation&quot; consistent with Christian Values?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should all access to Conservapedia be banned on Sundays?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Mary Magdalene - First Witness to the Resurrection - Significance?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Was Christ a fundamentalist?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Atheism vs. Deism]]<br /> # [[Debate:Atheism vs. Pastafarianism]]<br /> # [[Debate:Are Young Earth Creationists detracting others from the Faith?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is there 1 God or are there many gods?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Can you be a true Christian and believe in evolution?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should gay marriage be allowed?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is atheism a religion?]]<br /> # [[Debate: If not naturalism, how do we decide which supernatural explanation is correct?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Are Catholics Christians?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Do Atheist believe they have a soul?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Were Judas' actions necessary and foreordained?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Is it possible to voluntarily convert one's religion?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Can Christianity exist without Apostles and Prophets?]]<br /> # [[Debate: What do you think about the violence in the Bible?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Could Christian denominations exist without the Catholic Church?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Which version of the Bible should be used as the authoritative reference on Conservapedia?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Should Christians celebrate Christmas?]]<br /> #[[Debate:Either God is indecisive or the world's major religions have ALL got it wrong]]<br /> #[[Debate:Creationist]]<br /> #[[Debate:Did Joan of Arc truly hear voices?]]<br /> #[[Debate:Do ALL suicides go to hell?]]<br /> #[[Debate:Epicurus' Trilemma]]<br /> #[[Debate: Why does God care if we worship Him or not? Is it His ego?]]<br /> #[[Debate: Can God explain all of the conspiracy theories and all other phenonmena?]]<br /> #[[Debate: Should Christians be more forthright in stating that Allah is not the same being as the Judeo-Christian God?]]<br /> <br /> ==Historical debates==<br /> # [[Debate:Was Benjamin Franklin a deist?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Was the European colonization of the Americas good for the native people?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Was President George H. W. Bush wrong to leave Saddam in power in 1991?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Which was worse? the Civil War and it's effects or slavery?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Why are most actors turned politicians Republicans?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Did the Founding Fathers intend to apply their personal faith to the nation &quot;As an institution&quot;?]]<br /> <br /> ==Political debates==<br /> # [[Debate:Does Abstinence Only Education help or hurt us?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is homosexuality responsible for totalitarianism?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Did the Founders have a religious motive?]]<br /> # [[Debate: To what extent should we have obscenity laws]]<br /> # [[Debate: Is communism founded on Christian doctrine?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Why do we still have an embargo on Cuba?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Has Britain Declined?]] <br /> # [[Debate:Is illegal immigration control the answer to illegal immigration?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Has Britain become the 51st State of the US?]]<br /> # [[Debate:You think these Phd's are nuts?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does the European Union pose a threat to the United States?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Which is true; progressive Liberal or regressive liberal]]<br /> # [[Debate:Define torture]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should the United States have entered World War I?]] <br /> # [[Debate:Should the United States have entered World War II?]] <br /> # [[Debate:Should the United States have eliminated communism in North Korea|Debate:Should the United States have eliminated communism in North Korea as General Douglas MacArthur wanted?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Was the United States right to drop atomic bombs so quickly on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Was it wrong for him to allow the attack in order to wake up the American public and motivate Americans to fight and win the war?|Debate:If President Roosevelt had known about the Pearl Harbor attack in advance, would it have been wrong for him to allow the attack in order to wake up the American public and motivate Americans to fight and win the war?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is gun-control the answer to crimes involving guns?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Was world war inevitable?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does &quot;free trade&quot; increase wealth rather than simply redistribute it?]] <br /> # [[Debate:Is it even possible to install democracy in a Muslim country?]] <br /> # [[Debate:Is democracy even possible in Iraq?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should we have given the Panama Canal back to Panama?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should the United States leave the United Nations?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Crusades... Good or Bad?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Was American soldier Michael New right to refuse to fight wearing part of a United Nations uniform?]] See [[Michael New]]<br /> # [[Debate:Which is a more powerful ideology, Islam or communism?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should the United States intervene in small countries to defeat communism there?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should public displays of the 10 Commandments be allowed under the constitution?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Which has the best philosophy of education: the public school system, private schools, or the home school movement?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should We Support Democrats For Life.org?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Women in the Military?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should students learn a foreign language?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Why does the right side of the political spectrum tend to be more religous?|Debate:Why does the right side of the political spectrum tend to be more religious?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should there be a consistent standard on human rights applied to left and right?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should American companies be allowed to send their own troops into a war which America is participating in?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Giuliani's lack of social conservative viewpoints should not stop you from voting for him.]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is President Bush good for America?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is the Iraq War a success?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does single sex schooling promotes homesexuality?|Debate:Does Single sex schooling promote homosexuality?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does the media really have a liberal bias?]]<br /> # [[Debate:What kind of leader will Democrats make if they run from debates on Fox?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Are the Democrats capable of fighting terrorism?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Can a rogue nation be thought of as a sovereign nation?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Has Russia reinstalled stealth communism?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Do we all know what Democrat Presidential candidates stand for yet?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Define Civil War]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should gun sales to terror suspects be allowed?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is Darwinism liberal or is it conservative?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Why did God place most of the world's oil in politically unstable places?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Restoring the USA image in the world, just a fancy phrase that means zilch?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Placing the blame on how America got polarized]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is most government criticism really patriotic?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is environmentalism mostly about preserving natural resources?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is the conservative stance on illegal immigration going to loose the Hispanic vote for the GOP in the 08' election?]] <br /> # [[Debate:Third Party Debate]]<br /> # [[Debate:Who kills more innocent people: religious believers or atheists?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Preferred Democrat for the White House?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does Republican equal conservative? Does Democrat equal liberal?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Obama's preacher.]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should the United States begin Colonizing Space?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should the federal government have the power to define marriage?]]<br /> # [[Debate:The Declaration of Independence or Interdependence?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should the U.S.A. abide by a withdrawal timetable if the Iraqi Parliament votes for one?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should U.S. troops be subject to Iraqi law if that allows our continued presence there?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should government restrictions on smoking be tightened or rolled back?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is Sarah Palin an asset or a liability to John McCain's candidacy?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is a candidate's military record relevant anymore?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should politicians be allowed to misspeak?]]<br /> # [[Debate: What is sufficient proof that Obama is a Muslim?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is Obama a Muslim?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Was McCain's threat to pull out of the debates a political stunt?]]<br /> # [[Debate:If Obama Was Conservative]]<br /> # [[Debate:What level of Gun Control is appropriate?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is the Bush administration's Conscience Rule a step forward or backward for U.S. Healthcare?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Why do political views appear to be correlated with others?]]<br /> #[[Debate:What should be America's policy toward Islam]]?<br /> #[[Debate:Is the American Occupation of the Hawaiian Islands justified?]]<br /> #[[Debate:Was the American involvement in the Vietnam War justified?]]<br /> #[[Debate:Was the North right to prevent Southern secession in the US Civil War?]]<br /> #[[Debate:Is the 2009 Stimulus Plan the right approach, and if not what would be?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is Obama being unfairly criticized, or is too much being expected of our new president?]]<br /> # [[Is it possible to be conservative and know there is no possibility of there ever being a &quot;God&quot; and/or higher being?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is Obama an Atheist?]]<br /> # [[Would anybody consider President Barry Soetoro a Muslim?]]<br /> <br /> ==Economic debates==<br /> # [[Debate: Can there be price controls without shortages?]]<br /> # [[Debate: Counterfeiting: A Moral Hazard]]<br /> #[[Debate:Should Americans be required to buy health insurance?]]<br /> # [[Is our freedom to consume what we want whenever we want worth the cost (i.e. environmental, social, economic, etc.)?]]<br /> <br /> ==Scientific debates==<br /> # [[Debate:Does Darwinian natural selection suggest that bigotry is a necessary self-defense mechanism?]] <br /> # [[Debate:Is Darwinian natural selection compatible with Marxism?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is the theory of macroevolution true?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is Giving Birth the Bible Way Better?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should Creationism/Intelligent design be taught as a scientific alternative to evolution in public schools?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is global warming evident, and if so, is this the fault of man, and how must man stop it?]]<br /> # [[Debate:If the universe is young and it takes light millions of years to reach us from far off stars, how can we see them?]]<br /> # [[Debate:God, Earth and Global Warming]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is the evidence in favor of evolution convincing?|Is the evidence in favor of evolution convincing?]]<br /> # [[Debate:If the Bible didn't contain a creation story, would anyone even consider the idea of a young earth?|Debate:If the Bible didn't contain a creation story, would anyone even consider the idea of a young earth?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is Relativity in direct conflict with the Genesis account?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Who feels that scientific related articles should only reference published research papers instead of websites when dealing with research instead of application?]]<br /> # [[Debate:If it could be unambiguously demonstrated that man is NOT the most evolved animal, then would this support or refute ther idea of Creation by God?|Debate:If it could be unambiguously demonstrated that man is NOT the most evolved animal]]<br /> # [[Debate:Why are God's works always questioned?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Are there any elements of choice, when it comes to carrying out homosexual acts?|Debate:Are there any elements of choice]]<br /> # [[Debate:Listing the Earth's most pressing needs in urgent order of fixing]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is homosexuality a mental illness?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Can the science of evolution be separated from the philosophy of it?]]<br /> <br /> ==Debates about Conservapedia==<br /> # [[Debate:Is Conservapedia representing a conservative POV or a Young Earth Creationist POV?]]<br /> # [[Debate:The liberal quotient of Conservapedia; what is it? Does it matter?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does bias impair Wikipedia's reliability?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should the term list entries be included in Conservapedia's entry count?]]<br /> # [[Debate:How should Conservapedia work to avoid having a conservative bias?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Can Conservapedia Succeed?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is Conservapedia fair and balanced?]]<br /> # [[Debate:How can we protect Conservapedia by distinguishing real conservative encyclopedia articles from satires written by liberals?]]<br /> # [[Debate:What exactly is Conservapedia?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Was the media attention needed?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Which is true; progressive Liberal or regressive liberal]]<br /> # [[Debate:Where do you personally look for facts and information on topics &quot;When did Brahms live&quot; or &quot;Why did Monet paint grainstacks?&quot;]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is it okay for Conservapedia to have biased articles?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Who deletes entire discussion items from here? And why?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is the use of copyrighted photographs without permission stealing?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Are there too many debates on Conservapedia?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is it tasteless for Conservapedia to critique the Virginia Tech poem on the Main Page?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Has anyone ever been been banned for pointing out that many of the other entries on this site are in need of citation and evidence to back up statements?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does an encyclopedia define complex subjects, or insert more bias into them?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Do sysops block editing on pages when it seems their opponents are making strong points?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is Conservapedia a 'Trustworthy Encyclopedia'?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does altering the record of debate in a wiki 'Encyclopedia' render the entire thing a farce?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Democrats next move, link more stories of heartache like those from Kansas to Gulf Coast.]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is Conservapedia blinkered?|Is Conservapedia blinkered?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does Conservapedia censor opponents the way Expelled says ID advocates are censored?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is the Conservapedia Logo in violation of US Flag Code?]]<br /> # [[Debate:The 90/10 rule exists soley to squash debate, and should be eliminated]]<br /> # [[Debate:What will Conservapedia be like if Barack Obama wins the election?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Which is more important, economic or social conservatism?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should the Conservapedia logo be changed?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Can/May/Should online wiki encyclopedias copy from each other?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is it time to propagate Conservapedia in other languages/countries?]]<br /> <br /> ==Funny, maybe?==<br /> <br /> # [[Debate:Are cats just useless Dogs]]<br /> # [[Debate:Was the shooting at Virginia Tech somehow President Bush's fault?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Are video games getting better or worse as graphics, sound, and gameplay complexity improve?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Favorite old time radio show]]<br /> <br /> ==Other==<br /> # [[Debate:Are alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine gateway drugs?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is Rap music torture?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Should marijuana be legalized?]]<br /> # [[Debate:What are the lessons that we should take away from the Milgram Experiment]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does the Theory of Evolution promote atheism?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Mall Shootings]]<br /> # [[Debate:Creationist]]<br /> # [[Debate:Is the Theory of Evolution a conspiricy?]]<br /> # [[Debate:How should we view the fact leading scientists do not believe in god?]]<br /> # [[Debate:Does modern music negatively influence children]]<br /> # [[Debate:Propaganda in childrens' television]]<br /> # [[Debate:What Is Music?]]<br /> #[[Debate:Why are there so few homosexual athletes]]<br /> #[[Debate:Relationship between Socialism and athletic performance]]<br /> <br /> [[Category:Conservapedia]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Nick_Clegg&diff=777784 2010-05-12T19:05:26Z

<p>Boreas: Updated current role. Article needs a re-write.</p> <hr /> <div>'''Nick Clegg''' (b. January 7, 1967) is the leader of the British [[Liberal Democrats]] and current [[Deputy Prime Minister]] and [[Lord President of the Council]]. <br /> Clegg is an [[atheist]].<br /> <br /> == Early Life ==<br /> <br /> Nick Clegg was born '''Nicholas William Peter Clegg''' in Buckinghamshire. His father was half-English, half-Russian. His mother was Dutch. He speaks English, Dutch, French, German and Spanish. His wife is Roman Catholic. Aged sixteen, Clegg was arrested in Germany and charged with arson. He and his friends destroyed a priceless collection of rare [[cactus|cacti]] while he was drunk.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1193693/Id-drunk-I-irresponsible-Criminal-Nick-Clegg-regrets.html Daily Mail - Nick Clegg on his regrets]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Politics ==<br /> <br /> Clegg describes himself as [[liberal#Liberalism in Europe today|liberal]] and is in favour of handing over further powers from British soverignty to the [[European Union]]. The European Union is far more liberal than mainstream British politics, but they can legislate over Britain.&lt;ref&gt;http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7003100.stm&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://www.libdems.org.uk&lt;/ref&gt;. He is in favour of significantly higher taxes for the rich, including a mansion tax - a fixed annual levy on all houses worth more than two million pounds. As a self-described liberal atheist, he could have more power in the next Parliament than the Prime Minister. He would be able to call the shots, because without him the Prime Minister would lose his majority and have to stand down.<br /> <br /> He is unlikely to become Prime Minister, as the Liberal Democrats are not in a place to win an overall majority. However, in the case of a 'Hung Parliament', he would be very powerful. He could effectively select the Prime Minister, because if he supported [[Gordon Brown]] or [[David Cameron]], then they would have an overall majority and become the Prime Minister. This is dangerous because Clegg is an [[atheist]].&lt;ref&gt;http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/2007/12/nick_clegg_i_dont_believe_in_g.html&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8265242.stm&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == References ==<br /> <br /> &lt;references/&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Category:Biographies]]<br /> [[Category: British Politics]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Valerie_Plame&diff=554532 2008-11-11T18:06:18Z

<p>Boreas: Spelling</p> <hr /> <div>'''Valeria Plame''' is a former [[CIA]] employee married to [[Joseph Wilson]] and the center of the [[Valerie Plame Affair]]. <br /> In July 2003, her connection to the CIA was revealed by political columnist [[Robert Novak]] in his column.<br /> <br /> Opponents of President's Bush [[invasion of Iraq]], particularly Democrats, accused the White House of &quot;outing&quot; Plame in retaliation for her husband's statement undercutting Bush's invasion rationale.<br /> Much of the controversy of the affair centered on disputes over what her precise relationship was to the CIA, and whether any laws were broken when Novak and Armitage revealed the fact of her employment. Perhaps the key issue was whether anyone in the Bush administration deliberately revealed it as a way of retaliating against (or discrediting) Wilson. <br /> <br /> Bush opponents have regularly taken the position that all these matters are beyond dispute and that Karl Rove, someone else close to the president, or the president himself is guilty - either of a crime or at least of a severe lapse of ethics. <br /> <br /> Others have taken the contrary position, asserting that her CIA status either remains unclear or that she was never covered by the Identities Act; that no one who revealed her identity broke any law by doing so; that there was no political motivation on the part of administration insiders (or supporters) to harm Plame or Wilson.<br /> <br /> ==Accusations of administration wrong-doing==<br /> <br /> At the time of the Novak column, Valerie Plame was a &quot;covert CIA employee for whom the CIA was taking affirmative measures to conceal her intelligence relationship to the United States.&quot; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.salon.com/news/primary_sources/2007/05/30/plame/ Unclassified Summary of Valerie Wilsons CIA Employment And Cover History]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> Then-Attorney General [[John Ashcroft]] was the head the initial investigation. Justice Department and FBI officials requested a special prosecutor be named over concerns of the veracity of interviews with Karl Rove. Attorney General Ashcroft, having connections to Karl Rove, [[recused]] himself from the case and Acting Attorney General [[James Comey]] appointed special prosecutor [[Patrick Fitzgerald]] to investigate the leak. <br /> <br /> Robert Novak wrote:<br /> *Armitage ... says he was mute because of special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's request<br /> *Zealous foes of [[George W. Bush]] ... cannot fit Armitage into the left-wing fantasy of a well-crafted White House conspiracy to destroy Joe and Valerie Wilson. The news that he, and not [[Karl Rove]], was the leaker was devastating for the left. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/13/AR2006091301572.html]<br /> <br /> ==Rebuttal of accusations==<br /> <br /> According to Robert Novak, Plame was not covered by the [[Intelligence Identities Protection Act]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/RobertDNovak/2008/06/02/mcclellan_on_plame]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==See also==<br /> *[[Intelligence Identities Protection Act]]<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Category:Political People]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Conservapedia_talk:Lenski_dialog&diff=483884 2008-06-29T17:34:31Z

<p>Boreas: /* Whence Lenski? */</p> <hr /> <div>[http://www.conservapedia.com/Conservapedia_talk:Lenski_dialog/archive1 Archive 1]<br /> <br /> The discussion below concerns the letters and response set forth at [[Conservapedia:Lenski dialog]].<br /> <br /> == Reply to comments in archive ==<br /> <br /> : The comments above by defenders of withholding data have been unsatisfactory, to say the least. <br /> <br /> : [[Lenski]] says in his published paper: &quot;Z.D.B. and R.E.L. [Lenski] analyzed data&quot;[http://myxo.css.msu.edu/lenski/pdf/2008,%20PNAS,%20Blount%20et%20al.pdf]<br /> <br /> : So where are all the data [[Lenski]] said he analyzed?--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 00:27, 25 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ::As clearly stated in Professor [[Lenski]]'s second response:<br /> <br /> ::: ''&quot;Finally, let me now turn to our data. As I said before, the relevant methods and data about the evolution of the citrate-using bacteria are in our paper. In three places in our paper, we did say 'data not shown', which is common in scientific papers owing to limitations in page length, especially for secondary or minor points. None of the places where we made such references concern the existence of the citrate-using bacteria; they concern only certain secondary properties of those bacteria. We will gladly post those additional data on my website.&quot; ''<br /> <br /> ::If the additional data is not on his website by now, I'm sure it will be soon. --[[User:DinsdaleP|DinsdaleP]] 07:45, 25 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ::: If &quot;the relevant ... data ... are in our paper,&quot; as set forth in the above quote of Lenski, then he would not have much data. So don't pretend the data is too voluminous to turn over. The paper is only 8 pages long!<br /> <br /> ::: In fact, the graphs in the paper suggest to a reader that there is underlying data having greater resolution than a graph can provide, and yet those data have not been disclosed for public scrutiny.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 19:24, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::: The resolution of the graphs are more than sufficient to communicate the results. If the figures didn't provide sufficient clarity for their purpose the authors would have also provided tables. For example, in figure 1 it's clear the culture shifted its growth pattern. In figure 2, one can see that the Cit+ cultures reach a higher density in the media, as indicated by the higher ODs. To a microbiologist, those results indicate that the Cit+ cells can utilize more of the nutrients in the media (in this case, citrate). --[[User:Argon|Argon]] 21:08, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::: I'd like to chime in here and give some professional perspective. I am a molecular biologist -- if I asked him to, Prof. Lenski would send me a sample from his bacterial stocks (I have a -80 freezer and know how to work with E. coli). Let's assume for a minute that, like you, I strongly suspected the results of the paper (I do not, but that doesn't matter for this exercise). If this were the case, two of the routes I could take would be to re-analyze Prof. Lenski's data or replicate his experiments. In some cases, data and their analysis are complex, and re-analysis can yield different results than those the original author reached. This is the case for a large-scale association study, for example -- there are tons of data to analyze, and their analysis is not straightforward. In Prof. Lenski's case, however, the data are extremely simple, consisting primarily of 1) OD readings to measure fitness, and 2) colony counts. <br /> <br /> :::: OD readings, or optical density readings, are obtained by pipetting a sample of cultured bacteria into a cuvette, sticking that cuvette into a machine, and writing down the number that pops up on a screen. Somewhere in a grad student's notebook (or in his/her computer) is a list of these numbers, and their average and range were presented in the PNAS paper at each generation in Figure 1 (similar data are presented in Figure 2 and Figure 5). So, in other words, the data you see in the paper *are all of the data* save for a second grade computation...which was probably performed by Excel. If you don't believe the data in the paper, then what do you expect to gain from seeing these &quot;raw&quot; data? There is so little to gain that I seriously doubt that PNAS would take such a request seriously.<br /> <br /> :::: The meat of the paper, in Table 1, is a presentation of colony counts. These are obtained by another grad student picking up a bacterial culture plate, counting the number of colonies on it, and moving on to the next plate. Again, the raw data are what you see in the paper. What exactly are you expecting here, photographic images of all of the tens of thousands of plates they examined? That is just not done. Why would we go to that level of self-surveillance to please a small, vocal minority of people claiming fraud? The public's interest is not served by spending inordinate amounts of effort and money on this level of surveillance. If the science is correct, his experiment will be replicated. <br /> <br /> :::: In sum, as others have tried to explain, there really isn't any more complex data for you to reasonably request. A slightly expanded list of numbers from what's in the paper won't get you anything if you already don't believe the data. And the scientific culture doesn't even come close to expecting photographic evidence of bacterial plates. Your best bet, if you really don't believe the results, is to get an outsider to try and replicate and/or confirm some portion of his results. The easy route would be to ask for a cit+ strain and its ancestor and see if they are indeed cit- and cit+. You could even sequence them to check if the cit+ strain is indeed an ancestor of the cit- strain, but while this would be a perfectly normal approach in a molecular biology lab with impressive resources, the entire concept of evolution is anathema to you, so I can't think of a reasonable criterion you would use to determine ancestry. If you wanted to go the hard route, you could obtain the ancestral strain and grow and measure them for years as Prof. Lenski's lab did.<br /> <br /> :::: I hope this has been somewhat instructive for you in explaining why a request for &quot;further data&quot; will not bear fruit beyond the small amount of data that Prof. Lenski says he will make available. And why it is not reasonable to expect further data. I am more than happy to respond to questions or requests for clarification if you would like. -- [[User:Princetonian|Princetonian]] 23:50, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ::::: For starters, most of the opposition to releasing the data has been the false claim that the data are too voluminous to release. You are making the opposite claim, one which is more consistent with Lenski's paper: there is very little important data beyond what is in the 8-page paper. But that doesn't withstand scrutiny either.<br /> <br /> ::::: The &quot;meat&quot; of the paper is this, and at a minimum the data should be released for it (pp. 2-3 from paper):<br /> <br /> :::::: Evolution of Cit Function in Population Ara-3. The LTEE populations are transferred daily into fresh medium, and the turbidity of each is checked visually at that time. [DATA ON THESE OBSERVATIONS?] Owing to the low concentration of glucose in DM25 medium [DATA?], the cultures are only slightly turbid when transferred. Occasional contaminants that grow on citrate have been seen over the 20 years of this experiment. [DATA?] These contaminated cultures reach much higher turbidity owing to the high concentration of citrate in the medium, which allows the contaminants to reach high density. (When contamination occurs, the affected population is restarted from the latest frozen sample.) [DATA FOR WHEN THAT OCCURRED?] After 33,127 generations, one population, designated Ara-3, displayed significantly elevated turbidity that continued to rise for several days (Fig. 1).[HIGHER RESOLUTION DATA UNDERLYING FIGURE?] A number [DATA?] of Cit clones were isolated from the population and checked for phenotypic markers characteristic of the ancestral E. coli strain used to start the LTEE: all [DATA?] were Ara, T5-sensitive, and T6-resistant, as expected (2) [DATA ABOUT THESE AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS?]. DNA sequencing also showed [DATA?] that Cit clones have the same mutations in the pykF and nadR genes as do clones from earlier generations of the Ara-3 population, and each of these mutations distinguishes this population from all [DATA?] of the others (30). Therefore, the Cit variant arose within the LTEE and is not a contaminant [THIS CONCLUSION NEEDS TO BE CHECKED BY INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE ACTUAL DATA, WHICH I DOUBT OCCURRED IN THE BRIEF PEER REVIEW OF THIS PAPER]<br /> <br /> ::::: Note, by the way, how the opponents of data disclosure seem to have no idea about what data Lenski actually has, which raises further questions about the merits of the conclusion.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 09:15, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> <br /> :::::: I know some people here have claimed that the data are too voluminous to release...I didn't know what they were talking about, which is one reason I chimed in. Anyway, here are point by point responses to each of these cases. &lt;i&gt;Turbidity checking&lt;/i&gt;: these data are either in a grad student's notebook somewhere, or were not recorded. I wouldn't at all be surprised if they weren't recorded due to the nature of the data (it's just a visual check of turbidity, and wouldn't be reported in a paper). &lt;i&gt;Low concentration of glucose in DM25&lt;/i&gt;: this is a factual statement about DM25 media, not an observation. &lt;i&gt;Contaminants&lt;/i&gt;: Same comment as the turbidity checking. Either there's a one-liner in a notebook somewhere (&quot;Flask 25 contaminated, re-grew from stock&quot;) or nothing at all, since it's tangential to the experiment. &lt;i&gt;Figure 1&lt;/i&gt;: As I already mentioned, the data in Figure 1 are actually comprehensive -- three data points went into each plotted point. They report the range (which give you a max and a min) and they also show you the average, which allows you to impute the third data point. &lt;i&gt;Number of Cit clones, and the following comments except the last&lt;/i&gt;: these data are probably recorded in a lab notebook somewhere, since they're rather not tangential to the experiment. In addition, I'm sure they have a frozen stock of each cit+ bacterial clone that they checked, so this is something that could be easily independently verified. &lt;i&gt;Cit+ is not a contaminant&lt;/i&gt;: no this would not be a part of the peer review...peer reviewers are not out to find fraud in general. Especially in the inaugural paper of somebody just nominated into the national academy. And the data underlying contamination checking are also extremely simple -- you plate the bacteria on an Ara+ plate and check sensitivity by eye, for example -- so there is no need to verify methodology as long as you trust the source.<br /> <br /> :::::: You're basically asking for the lab notebooks of all of the grad students involved in the experiment over the 20 years. The data in these notebooks is going to be, in general, very simple (e.g., the statement &quot;colony grew on Ara-, is a contaminant&quot;) since as I mentioned, there is no photographic evidence of this. Additionally, while biotech companies generally have document retention policies as required by law, no such policies exist at the academic level (although specific institutions may have them). A very few labs are run like well-oiled machines -- lab notebooks are kept up-to-date and thorough, and every observation is recorded. This is the ideal, but almost no labs actually achieve it, since most labs are working at 125% speed in an effort to get experiments finished and published.<br /> <br /> :::::: If you're really interested in monitoring the quotidien details of these experiments, that falls outside of the scope of what PNAS and professional standards would require Lenski to release, I believe. You're not asking to re-analyze data so much as to oversee the entire experiment for fraud. This would require giving you all of Lenski's graduate students' lab notebooks for an indefinite period of time, which would be quite disruptive, and as I said probably wouldn't even yield the level of data you seem to want. In this case your best bet is to contact MSU and ask for a comprehensive review of Lenski's lab and his notes for this experiment. But without any evidence to point to said fraud, they will certainly deny your request for oversight. Your expectations here just aren't in line with professional standards in the field in the absence of any evidence of fraud. -- [[User:Princetonian|Princetonian]] 10:49, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ::::::: You've confirmed that the strident claims by Lenski defenders here that the data are too voluminous to release were nonsense. We'll see how many of them now admit they were wrong. Let's not hold our breaths!<br /> <br /> ::::::: But your opposite approach above, which essentially suggests there are no data that can be released, doesn't withstand scrutiny either. Figure 1 is plainly a low-resolution representation of underlying data that must exist. The greater resolution should be released. Similarly, there should be data underlying the essential assertion that a particular sample was not contaminated, while others had been. For example, the paper asserts that &quot;[a] number of Cit clones were isolated.&quot; How many were isolated? If those data exist, then it should be released along with the other data. If those data do not exist, then that is even more telling.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 11:34, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> <br /> :::::Regarding the questions highlighted by [[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] to which [[User:Princetonian|Princetonian]] also responded: Many of the techniques questioned are standard procedures that a trained microbiologist would understand. Let's take this apart by question:<br /> :::::'''''...the turbidity of each is checked visually at that time. [DATA ON THESE OBSERVATIONS?]'''''<br /> :::::This is qualitative observation. Every microbiologist does this when they pull their cultures out of the incubator. The evaluation an experimenter asks: Can you see through the test tube or not? Is the culture denser or lighter than the last time you looked? The reported observations are the data.<br /> <br /> :::::: Show us the data. Are you suggesting that no record was kept of these observations??? I hope that's not what you mean. But say so if that is your view.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 22:22, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::::I described how the observation was performed. How the observations are recorded is up to the lab or technician culturing the cells.--[[User:Argon|Argon]] 10:19, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::::'''''...Owing to the low concentration of glucose in DM25 medium [DATA?]'''''<br /> :::::A reference to the description of the media is provided in the paper and is included on Lenksi's web pages. I linked to that page recently in another comment. It is general knowledge among microbiologists that nutrient limited cultures will reach a peak density that depends on the concentration of the limiting nutrient.<br /> <br /> :::::: Again, show us the data. What was the concentration of glucose and, more importantly, did it ever change?--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 22:22, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::::Consider rereading the paper and pull out references provided. It's there.--[[User:Argon|Argon]] 10:19, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::::'''''...Occasional contaminants that grow on citrate have been seen over the 20 years of this experiment. [DATA?]''''' <br /> :::::Observation. Either they saw contaminated cultures or not.<br /> <br /> :::::: No kidding. The point, obviously, is to disclose the data of what they saw. How many is &quot;occasional&quot;? Show us the records supporting that claim, so we can assess the frequency of contamination compared to alleged evolution. At a minimum, it appears that contamination was significantly more frequent than the alleged evolution.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 22:22, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::::Contamination is a problem every microbiology lab understands and encounters. What matters and what is particularly relevant to this experiment is the means of detecting and controlling for it. They outline the steps for detecting contaminating and restarting the experiment from uncontaminated stocks in their papers and web pages.--[[User:Argon|Argon]] 10:19, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::::'''''...(When contamination occurs, the affected population is restarted from the latest frozen sample.) [DATA FOR WHEN THAT OCCURRED?]'''''<br /> :::::Not relevant for the results. It's just the researchers describing how they restarted the experiment whenever they suspected a contamination. It does not alter the experimental outcome.<br /> <br /> :::::: It is relevant, at a minimum for reasons stated in my above response. Also, did the restarting ever result in repeats of the observed contamination?--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 22:22, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::::They controlled for contamination. If their previous stock was contaminated they would likely return to ones before that last stock. Clearly, they would not want to work with contaminated stocks as it would damage the experiment.--[[User:Argon|Argon]] 10:19, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::::'''''...one population, designated Ara-3, displayed significantly elevated turbidity that continued to rise for several days (Fig. 1).[HIGHER RESOLUTION DATA UNDERLYING FIGURE?]'''''<br /> :::::Higher resolution is not really necessary. The graph provides a ''qualitative'' visualization that starkly reveals that the cultures underwent a change that allowed them to grow to a significantly higher density than previously. They report in the text the actual generation were the change occurred and that seems to line up with the transition in the figure (take out a ruler, if necessary). Their subsequent experiments bracketed the strains from points before, during and after the obvious population transition.<br /> <br /> :::::: Your answer here is absurd. Higher resolution in science is always helpful. The precise rate of change among the population would reveal much about what was really occurring. The data must exist to generate the graph. Disclose it rather than obscuring it with a low-resolution graph.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 22:22, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::::If one reads the paper, one finds that weakly Cit+ clones arise earlier than the visible transition. Reading the paper one would see that they analyze the emergence times: ''Cit+ clones could be readily isolated from the frozen sample of population Ara-3 taken at generation 33,000. To estimate the time of origin of the Cit+ trait, we screened 1,280 clones randomly chosen from generations 30,000, 30,500, 31,000, 31,500, 32,000, 32,500, and 33,000 for the capacity to produce a positive reaction on Christensen’s citrate agar, which provides a sensitive means to detect even weakly citrate-using cells.'' As for the visible transition: ''After ~33,127 generations, one population, designated Ara-3, displayed significantly elevated turbidity that continued to rise for several days''. Note also that they performed 'replay' experiments (which took up the rest of the paper) to specifically analyze the frequency and times when Cit+ strains could be generated. The last half of the paper contains the work that provides information about the possible nature of the mutations and addresses your question.--[[User:Argon|Argon]] 10:19, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::::'''''...clones were isolated from the population and checked for phenotypic markers characteristic of the ancestral E. coli strain used to start the LTEE: all [DATA?] were Ara, T5-sensitive, and T6-resistant, as expected (2) [DATA ABOUT THESE AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS'''''<br /> :::::Derived from observation. The phenotypic markers are described elsewhere and the means of testing them are well known by professional microbiologists. The origin of the strain and its markers can be determined by following the references provided. The strain is also referenced on Lenski's pages here: https://myxo.css.msu.edu/ecoli/strainsource.html Other information about how they tested markers can also be found starting from here (provided by Lenski): https://myxo.css.msu.edu/ecoli/<br /> <br /> :::::: Disclose the data so that independent reviewers can assess how reliable the claims are here. The methodology may be &quot;well known&quot; but only disclosure of the data will demonstrate whether the methodology was applied in a flawless manner.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 22:22, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::::Those are all based on visual observation. Reporting the observation *is* reporting data. Lenksi's group provides information how they performed the tests so that any professional microbiologist would be able to follow the work. The way for someone to test the methodology is to repeat the tests on the strains themselves. Recall that Lenski did say that the strains would be made available to labs. So, for anyone interested in seeing for themselves that &quot;the methodology was applied in a flawless manner&quot;, I suggest they go find a friendly microbiologist to request and perform the tests for them.--[[User:Argon|Argon]] 10:19, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::::'''''...DNA sequencing also showed [DATA?] that Cit clones have the same mutations in the pykF and nadR genes as do clones from earlier generations'''''<br /> :::::Report of observation. They sequenced the specified genes and found no difference in base-by-base comparisons. There is no need in this paper to print all sequences side by side as they're the same. The words, &quot;no difference&quot; transmits the same information in less space as showing all the identical sequences side-by-side with the original, previously released sequence. See also the next lines.<br /> <br /> :::::: No one suggested that the DNA be published &quot;in this paper,&quot; but rather that the data be made publicly available for independent review and verification.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 22:22, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::::Again, the sequences are available. If someone wants to confirm that the sequencing was done correctly they can request the strains from Lenski and repeat the sequencing. They protocols are published.--[[User:Argon|Argon]] 10:19, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::::'''''...each of these mutations distinguishes this population from all [DATA?] of the others (30).'''''<br /> :::::See reference (30) from Lenksi's paper. It describes how the genes in those populations were originally sequenced. The ancestral sequences were uploaded into GeneBank, a publically accessible sequence repository, and the identifying mutations were presented in the supplemental table published on the PNAS web site along with the original paper.<br /> <br /> :::::: That's spelled &quot;publicly&quot;, not &quot;publically&quot;, and again disclosure of the data concerning the mutations is necessary to verify the claims made.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 22:22, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::::If someone wants to confirm that the sequencing was done correctly they can request the strains from Lenski and repeat the sequencing. They protocols are published and Lenski has stated he would make the strains available.--[[User:Argon|Argon]] 10:19, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::::'''''...Therefore, the Cit variant arose within the LTEE and is not a contaminant [THIS CONCLUSION NEEDS TO BE CHECKED BY INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE ACTUAL DATA, WHICH I DOUBT OCCURRED IN THE BRIEF PEER REVIEW OF THIS PAPER]'''''<br /> :::::The authors reported the actual data in a manner that is readily understood and accepted by microbiologists. The data and analysis is not terribly complex or confusing for someone familiar with the field (and quite a few who aren't expert microbiologists). Andy, I've seen little requested that isn't standard practice &amp; generally understood among microbiologists or not already available if one follows the references provided in the paper.<br /> <br /> :::::: You're right that the &quot;data and analysis&quot; are &quot;not terribly complex.&quot; Which is why the odd withholding the data merely serves to heighten skepticism towards the claims made.<br /> :::::::YMMV. I've encountered no one on the web or elsewhere and trained in microbiology who thinks the data is being 'oddly' withheld. Most of us manage to locate the references and other sources provided.<br /> <br /> :::::: The bottom line is that some think that Lenski's claims must be accepted on faith rather than independent verification of the data. That is not science.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 22:22, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::::Just a word about reading the professional, scientific literature: Scientific papers are by the nature of their medium, mostly brief, to the point and highly condensed. Rather than repeat all the background information that others in the field may already know and encouraged to limit the length by journals with page limits, authors provide references to other papers that contain the previously published information. They also use terms that are well-defined within their profession to shorten the text further. One wouldn't expect a layman with no experience in biology to easily digest the paper. To point is not to obfuscate but to simmer the paper down to essentials that others in the field can readily understand. With some effort to become familiar with the underlying &amp; established techniques &amp; science, determined, non-experts can eventually pick up this information. I'd respectfully suggest to anyone *seriously* interested in the paper but not comfortable with the technical details, that they may want to find a knowledgeable biologist willing to explain. At least they should read the entire paper and the additional papers referenced within. Consider asking DI's research institute or Behe for help with understanding the techniques behind the work.--[[User:Argon|Argon]] 20:11, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::::: Your sermon is misplaced. Taxpayers paid for Lenski's study, and any real scientist should reject the inexplicable withholding the data underlying its conclusions.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 22:22, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::::YMMV but in my view, it's like going to a librarian and demanding they provide something made from paper. My opinion is that if someone: doesn't know what one wants, doesn't appear to understand the report, demands to see 'the data' without appearing to know what they're asking for in the first place or how to process the information, I'm not sure how any experimental scientist would comply with that request. Furthermore, I'd find it odd that the requests persist despite the fact that the paper was indeed published in compliance with establish profession standards and the strains were made available (in compliance with journal and university research policy). Again, if someone thinks the work was done incorrectly they can get a lab to request the strains and try to repeat many of the observations. That is why the materials and methods sections exist in papers: To allow others to repeat and confirm the work.--[[User:Argon|Argon]] 10:19, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> <br /> Unfortunately, there are essentially no real scientists left. Peer review is almost never done with the amount of scrutiny Aschlafly discusses. Reviewers, even for journals with long submission-to-publication times, do not request the original data. When original data are requested, it is by researchers who want to continue the work and write publications of their own on the subject. There just aren't incentives to do thorough reviews.<br /> <br /> Aschlafly, I think you're right that review should have been more stringent. I think you're wrong, however, to conclude that an exception was made here. Its true that review time was very short in this case. The total number of man-hours devoted to '''any''' review, however, is seldom more than 40.<br /> <br /> What does &quot;real scientists&quot; mean? If it means practicing academics today, it's sadly wrong. Most [[professor values|professors]] are self-centered, and would see true peer review as impinging on their personal freedom. &quot;Who has time,&quot; they think, &quot;to transcribe lab notebooks? I've got more papers to publish!&quot; I bet the majority would even resist your request to Lenski. This liberal attitude towards truth is what leads to claptrap like [[Particle/wave duality theory]] and [[COBE|the theory of cosmic microwave background radiation]]. [[User:Drochld|Drochld]] 09:19, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> : With respect to your comments on peer review, note that there were merely 14 days between the time the Lenski manuscript was sent for review and the time it was confirmed for publication. I doubt even 10 good hours of real peer review were devoted to the Lenski manuscript, let alone the 40 you mention. The 14 days included administrative and communication delays, and business and weekend days. It looks like a &quot;rubber stamp&quot; process to me for evaluating this Lenski manuscript, in contrast to other papers published by the same journal. It seems possible to me that there was no meaningful peer review at all for the Lenski manuscript, and it may be worth making inquiries of the Journal on this point alone.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 09:44, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ::The paper is straightforward and the data clear. Lenski's work is well known within the microbiology community and therefore much of the preceding information is already generally understood (i.e. reviewers don't need to dig through all the references). I can see it sailing through review.--[[User:Argon|Argon]] 10:19, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ::: In other words, you seem to be saying the latest paper was not given a thorough, independent peer review. I agree with that analysis. In fact, it probably &quot;sailed through&quot; without any meaningful peer review at all, despite published journal procedures claiming to require meaningful peer review.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 11:08, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> == More replies to archived comments ==<br /> <br /> :&quot;''Why do you say that it does not support evolution?''&quot; ([[Conservapedia talk:Lenski dialog/archive1#Questions for Aschlafly , not Bugler]] (Asked by JPohl of me):<br /> See my post (now in the archive) dated 23:05, 16 June 2008 (search for that text).<br /> <br /> :&quot;''The current living species of coelacanth are not the same as the ones in fossils''&quot; ([[Conservapedia talk:Lenski dialog/archive1#E. coli in our bowels]]) (in a question by Wandering to me)<br /> :&quot;''Modern coelacanths are anything but unchanged. For example, they're roughly three times as large as their ancient predecessors. Of the two known living species, neither are in the same genus as ancient coelacanths. Your statement is ''blatantly'' false''&quot; (Same section) (by Rspeed in a response to Jimxchue)<br /> How do we know that they are not the same species or genus? &quot;Species&quot; is defined in terms of interfertility, something that cannot be determined for fossils. And size doesn't mean much. Great Danes and Chihuahuas are in the same ''sub''-species, but the ratio of size difference is greater than 1:3.<br /> <br /> [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 23:14, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :Hi Philip, I read your post and I don't think it addresses anything other than semantics. The bacteria was standard E Coli, and then after tens of thousands of generations, it started to metabolise citrate, which normally ''distinguishes'' E Coli from other species. That's very clearly the process of changing inherited traits over generations - ie, evolution.[[User:JPohl|JPohl]] 08:45, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :: I can't help wondering if you skimmed it too quickly and didn't pick which bit I was referring to here. I'll explain it in a different way:<br /> ::* According to evolution, there must be millions of information-generating mutations to go from microbes to man.<br /> ::* According to creation, mutations do ''not'' produce new genetic information, although ''very rarely'', you might by chance get the odd one.<br /> ::Lenski has allegedly found ''one'' information-generating mutation. So which of those two competing predictions does this evidence match the best?<br /> :: I also pointed out two weeks ago on Andy's talk page the following:<br /> {{QuoteBox|It took 31,500 generations before the bacteria acquired a single new ability (even assuming they actually do have some new genetic information). 31,500 generations for humans is around 600,000 to 900,000 years (depending on the average time between generations). Yet humans have supposedly evolved ''hundreds'' if not ''thousands'' of new abilities from their supposed primate forbears in a time span only three to five times that long. So this research can be seen as evidence (not absolute proof, of course) that evolution simply does not occur fast enough for us humans to have evolved, which is therefore ''evidence'' that evolution can't explain our existence.}}<br /> :: [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 09:37, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::There are some flaws in that logic though:<br /> :::*Simple cells likely first appeared 4 billion years ago. Given how many existed simultaneously (an entire planet at some times v. a few petri dishes) and that simpler living beings have shorter lifespans, going from &quot;microbes to man&quot; (or something as genetically complex as man) is really a matter of time.<br /> :::*31,500 generations is not a minimum number of generations for a rare, complex trait to manifest. That just happened to be the case here. Dumb luck could have had significant mutations develop at any earlier (or later) point.<br /> :::*What definition of &quot;ability&quot; are you using here? All of the bacteria also evolved larger cells - would you count that as an &quot;ability&quot;? According to Lenski's work, &quot;enough bacterial cells had lived and died that all simple mutations must already have occurred several times over&quot;<br /> :::*Bacteria are asexual. Animals and plants reproduce through sex, which causes significantly more genetic variation.[[User:JPohl|JPohl]] 12:18, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::: No, going from microbe to man is ''not'' a matter of time. If you are travelling south from Sydney, how long will it take you to reach Brisbane? Answer: It's not a question of how long, because you are going in the wrong direction. The same applies here: you can't go from microbes to man when mutations destroy information rather than create it. See also [http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/431/ here].<br /> :::: Yes, perhaps 31,500 generations just ''happened'' to be the case here. As you say, it ''might'' occur sooner, and it ''might'' take longer. But my argument was based on the ''evidence'' of this example, not on what speculation ''might'' allow for. The ''evidence'' is not ''proof'', but the ''evidence'' in this case is ''against'' evolution.<br /> :::: I'm talking about the ability claimed by the research, to metabolise citrate, that apparently requires new genetic information. Being bigger presumably does not require that, else they would have trumpeted that as well.<br /> :::: Genetic variation through sexual reproduction is a variation ''within'' the existing genetic information; sexual reproduction does not create ''new'' genetic information.<br /> :::: [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 23:31, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::::Philip,<br /> :::::With due respect, I see a fairly serious problem with the position you're taking. One of the central arguments against evolution is that mutations ''cannot'' produce new information. Now you're arguing that:<br /> <br /> :::::''&quot;According to creation, mutations do ''not'' produce new genetic information, although ''very rarely'', you might by chance get the odd one.&quot;'' <br /> <br /> :::::The problem is that, if it can &quot;very rarely&quot; happen &quot;by chance,&quot; then the premise that mutations do not produce new genetic information is simply false. Instead, we're faced with a debate over ''how frequently'' mutations produce new genetic information. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 10:41, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> Philip, I see your point about how the creation of new information through mutation does not necessarily contradict creationism at all. However, it hardly seems like evidence ''for'' it; and extrapolating as you did (trying to claim the timeframe for these bacteria applies equally to the supposed evolution of humans) honestly seems like mostly speculation... Which I admit is often overused by evolutionists as well, but it still isn't a good basis for deciding which theory the evidence favors. [[User:Feebasfactor|Feebasfactor]] 11:27, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> : BenP, it's possible to have both a rule and exceptions to that rule. For all practical purposes, mutations don't create new information. However, that doesn't rule out that, once in a blue moon (actually, far less often), you might actually get ''something'' simple that is new. And yes, I guess that there is then a debate about how frequently mutations produce new genetic information, which is sort of what I've been discussing here, in pointing out that ''in this case'' it took 31,500 generations, and even that assumes that this ''did'' happen, which I think is a long way from being accepted. But the question is not ''really'' how long it takes, but whether or not the extremely rare one is going to be swamped by all the deleterious ones. And especially with more complex creatures, it is easily going to get swamped, especially in creatures with sexual reproduction. That is, even if, once in 30,000 generations, there was the odd information-gaining mutation, then what's the chances that that mutation will get passed on to the next generation? Especially given that this won't be the only mutation being selected for (or against).<br /> : Feebasfactor, why is not not evidence ''for'' creation? If that's the prediction that it best fits, then it ''is'' evidence for it! You're right about the timeframe not applying to humans. Because humans reproduce sexually, and therefore the next generation will not necessarily inherit the mutation, and because natural selection favours ''individuals'', not ''mutations'', then a less-fit ''individual'' will be selected ''against'' even with the odd &quot;good&quot; mutation. So really, it will occur a lot ''slower'' for humans than for bacteria.<br /> : For more information on this, see [http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/4473 this] brief description of &quot;Haldane's Dilemma&quot;.<br /> : [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 11:27, 29 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ==Lead author won't answer simple, basic questions==<br /> <br /> IMO the paper has no credibility because the lead author of the paper, Zachary Blount, has refused to give straight consistent answers to the following simple, basic questions about the experiment: <br /> <br /> (1) -- whether evolution of citrate-eating (Cit+) E. coli bacteria was a goal of the experiment (I noted that a &quot;goal&quot; does not have to be a sure result), and <br /> <br /> (2) -- whether the purpose or one of the purposes of the glucose-cycling (giving insufficient glucose supplies in order to cause alternating glucose feeding and glucose starvation) was to favor the evolution of citrate-eating E. coli bacteria. <br /> <br /> Blount's refusal to properly answer these questions is discussed in the following article on my blog -- <br /> <br /> [http://im-from-missouri.blogspot.com/2008/06/co-author-of-e-coli-paper-dodges.html Co-author of E. coli paper dodges questions]<br /> <br /> More details concerning Blount's refusal to properly answer these questions are in the comment thread under the following post on Carl Zimmer's &quot;The Loom&quot; blog (note particularly my most recent comments in that thread) -- <br /> [http://scienceblogs.com/loom/2008/06/02/a_new_step_in_evolution.php A new step in evolution] <br /> <br /> Also, I think Andy Schlafly is wrong to request all of the raw data, because (1) copying all of the raw data to send to him would be a huge job and (2) the raw data might not even be in a form that could be readily understood by someone who did not participate in the research. IMO the citrate-eating bacteria are the best evidence supporting the paper (such as it is).[[User:LarryFarma|LarryFarma]] 18:59, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> : a reading of the blog reveals that Zachary Blount did indeed address the questions that the above poster named and did so clearly. Please read more carefully next time and don't post falsehoods[[User:DeanWinter|DeanWinter]] 19:10, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :: LarryFarma raises an excellent question about whether a goal of Lenski and Blount's project was to generate citrate-eating E. Coli bacteria. (I did not find the answer in the paper.) Did the researchers figure out, after many years of fruitless attempts, how best to promote the percentage of citrate-eating E. Coli bacteria in a population? The details of the data might shed light on how that goal was achieved, if in fact that was the goal. They should turn over the data for public scrutiny so that questions can be resolved.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 19:33, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> ::: Blount's comments on &quot;LarryFarma's&quot; blog make it clear that the evolution of citric eaters was not a goal, but not completely unexpected. The paper, though it was pretty technical for me, seems to indicate that as well. [[User:AndyMann|AndyMann]] 20:15, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::: If you're serious, then please provide some quotes and links to back up your statements. Also contribute to entries rather than violating the [[90/10 rule]].--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 20:32, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :Reply to Aschlafly's comment of 19:33, 26 June 2008 (EDT) --<br /> :''&quot;LarryFarma raises an excellent question about whether a goal of Lenski and Blount's project was to generate citrate-eating E. Coli bacteria. ('''I did not find the answer in the paper.''')&quot;'' (emphasis added) I asked Zachary Blount to clarify his statements about whether evolution of Cit+ (citrate-eating) E. coli bacteria was a goal of the experiment. He answered by asking me to go on a wild goose chase by reading the whole paper, which has 8 pages of fine print -- this is called &quot;bibliography bluffing.&quot; And when people balk at going on these wild goose chases, they are accused of not wanting to learn.<br /> <br /> :''&quot;Did the researchers figure out, after many years of fruitless attempts, how best to promote the percentage of citrate-eating E. Coli bacteria in a population?&quot;'' As I said, I asked Blount whether favoring Cit+ evolution was the purpose or one of the purposes of the glucose-cycling (giving the bacteria insufficient supplies of glucose so as to create alternating glucose feeding and glucose starvation), and he did not answer. <br /> <br /> :''&quot;They should turn over the data for public scrutiny so that questions can be resolved.&quot;'' I disagree with you here, for the reasons stated at the end of my first comment in this talk page.[[User:LarryFarma|LarryFarma]] 05:25, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :: Thanks for your insightful comments and continued efforts to obtain the truth.<br /> <br /> :: It has been conceded, finally, by Lenski defenders that the data are not too voluminous to turn over. The underlying data for Figure 1 in the paper for the population expansion during the alleged evolution of the Cit-plus phenotype, for example, could shed light on whether contamination played a role. There is no legitimate reason to withhold the greater resolution from the public, which funded the study.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 09:15, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ::::People need to stop asking to &quot;turn over the data for public scrutiny&quot; before they've fully read and comprehended the papers and information released to date. E. Coli don't live off of citrate - it's a characteristic of the species - so there was no &quot;goal to promote the percentage that could do it&quot;. The fact that a certain population were able to after after thousands of generations of reproduction in a controlled, monitored setting was the key observation, and Lenski's team is still investigating the specifics of when and how that characteristic was enabled. It reflects poorly on an online encyclopedia that the leadership is still questioning whether sufficient data to understand the experiment has been released. The most relevant data from the experiment is the actual bacteria itself, and Lenski has publicly offered to share samples of them with any scientist qualified to handle them, who follows the proper, professional protocols. The Consevapedia community has yet to see a specific, professional response to Professor Lenski's second letter other than a flippant remark about attitude and a continued insistence that data has not been revealed when it clearly has. <br /> <br /> ::::I'll probably earn another 90/10 block for this, but when you continue to question Lenski's work while admitting that you've only skimmed the related paper, you accomplish nothing but setting a poor example of intellectual honesty for the students who use CP as a trustworthy resource. With all respect, I would ask that instead, you retain the services of a qualified scientist who can engage in a proper review of Lenski's work, whose could then post an ongoing journal of the review process and its findings here on CP. ''That'' would be an appropriate lesson for the students in the proper application of scientific scrutiny to findings that some find questionable. Godspeed. --[[User:DinsdaleP|DinsdaleP]] 20:20, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ::::The development of citrate metabolizers wasn't the main intent (see Lenski's early papers) and it's actually tangential in the overall context of the long-term experiment. Zachary Blount describes the purpose of citrate in the media in his responses at Carl Zimmer's blog, The Loom. http://scienceblogs.com/loom/2008/06/02/a_new_step_in_evolution.php (see replies #115 &amp; #270). Citrate was not added to be a carbon nutrient in the media but as a non-metabolizable chelator (the three carboxyl groups of citrate can bind certain cations in solution). The recipe for the medium was taken from other microbiologists who developed the recipe as a general culture medium back in 1949. Lenski's description of the DM25 media is here: https://myxo.css.msu.edu/ecoli/dm25liquid.html. Glucose was the intended carbon source. If you read the Lenski article cited by Blount (Phenotypic and genomic evolution during a 20,000-generation experiment with the bacterium Escherichia coli. -- available here: https://www.msu.edu/~lenski/, you'll see the setup and reasons for performing the experiments (An earlier article at generation 2000 is here: http://myxo.css.msu.edu/lenski/pdf/1991,%20AmNat,%20Lenski%20et%20al.pdf). Basically, Lenksi wanted to see how mutations arise and move through populations over time. Even if the media and growth conditions remain pretty consistent over time, the populations continuously shift and change. That is because for a bacterium in the experiment the 'environment' is not just made up of the flask and media but also the *other cells in the flask* with which it must compete. This results in a continuously shifting competitive environment as mutations arise in lineages. Citrate utilization was just one of the many interesting variations acquired over the course of the experiment. Read his other papers for more details and a fuller understanding of the open-ended experiment's scope.--[[User:Argon|Argon]] 21:16, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ::::: I looked at the blog and found it to be remarkably uninformative. I saw nothing about Blount and Lenski's purpose, nothing that persuasively ruled out non-evolutionary reasons for the citrate-eating bacteria, and nothing to justify the withholding of the data to reveal greater resolution than provided by the figures in the paper.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 23:00, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ::::::Blogging has limits, which is why I also provided references to Lenski's other papers, including some of those Blount mentioned would be worth reading.--[[User:Argon|Argon]] 20:37, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ::::With regard to 'competent scientists' consider that Behe, in his discussions on this topic has not argued about the 'mechanics' and data presented in Lenski's paper. In his review that can be found on the amazon.com website, he calls Lenksi's work 'fascinating' (and means it in a good way).--[[User:Argon|Argon]] 21:29, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> That was strange -- for several hours I was not able to post here, but now I can. Here is my response to Argon's comment of 21:16, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> Argon said, &quot;The development of citrate metabolizers wasn't the main intent&quot; <br /> <br /> I didn't ask if Cit+ (citrate-eating E. coli bacteria) evolution was the &quot;main intent&quot; of the experiment -- I only asked if Cit+ evolution was one of the original &quot;goals.&quot; There is a misunderstanding about what the word &quot;goal&quot; means -- a goal does not have to be a sure result. In searches for the Lost Dutchman Mine and the ivory-billed woodpecker, finding them are &quot;goals.&quot; A &quot;goal&quot; can be one of many goals, a secondary goal, a longshot goal, or whatever. And &quot;intent&quot; is not part of the definition of &quot;goal&quot; -- &quot;intent&quot; generally means what one plans to do, but one cannot plan to achieve an uncertain result. BTW, the term &quot;citrate metabolizers&quot; is misleading because the bacteria already had the ability to metabolize citrate but did not have the ability to pass it through the cell walls. <br /> <br /> Zachary Blount's following statement in comment #115 under the [http://scienceblogs.com/loom/2008/06/02/a_new_step_in_evolution.php New step in evolution] post on Zimmer's blog indicates that Cit+ evolution was one of the original goals of the experiment:<br /> <br /> ''&quot;When Dr. Lenski started, he figured the citrate would provide an opportunity that the populations might or might not figure out a way to exploit, thereby presenting a potential point of divergence between the populations (this is my understanding - I will need to check with him to make certain I understand this properly).&quot;'' <br /> <br /> Blount then essentially contradicted his above statement by saying that &quot;the intent of the experiment was never to evolve a Cit+ E. coli variant&quot; (comment #115) and that Cit+ evolution was &quot;not a goal&quot; (comment #122).<br /> <br /> Also, the following factors suggest that Cit+ evolution was an original goal of the experiment:<br /> <br /> (1) Cit+ evolution had been observed once before. Blount reported in comment #115 under the [http://scienceblogs.com/loom/2008/06/02/a_new_step_in_evolution.php New step in evolution] post on Zimmer's blog, ''&quot;there has been only one report of a spontaneous Cit+ mutant of E. coli in the past century (Hall, B. 1982. Chromosomal mutation for citrate utilization by Escherichia coli K-12. Journal of Bacteriology, 151: 269 � 273.)&quot;). '' <br /> <br /> (2) I and others assumed that a purpose of the glucose-cycling (giving the bacteria an insufficient glucose supply so as to create alternating glucose feeding and glucose starvation) was to favor Cit+ evolution. I asked Blount if this was in fact a purpose of the glucose-cycling and he did not answer. I asked what the purpose of the glucose-cycling was if favoring Cit+ evolution was not the purpose, and he did not answer. <br /> <br /> Was there a research proposal for this whole experiment that started in 1988, and if so, what does that proposal say, if anything, about my questions? [[User:LarryFarma|LarryFarma]] 10:24, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :I may be missing something here, but why is the supposed &quot;goal&quot; of the experiment important? It's the important thing the result?--[[User:British_cons|British_cons]] [[User_talk:British_cons|(talk)]] 11:29, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ::British_cons''':''' Suppose a committee is considering this research for an award or a prize and asks the researchers the same questions I asked''':''' (1) Was Cit+ evolution a goal of the experiment? and (2) was favoring Cit+ evolution a purpose of the glucose-cycling? Are the researchers going to answer, “No, it was not a goal — it was just an unforeseen accident. We don’t deserve any credit for it.”<br /> <br /> ::Also, IMO knowing the goals of the experiment and the purposes of the experimental methodologies are important parts of understanding the experiment. Also, the candor of the researchers is in question here -- as shown above, I did not get straight consistent answers to simple, basic questions.[[User:LarryFarma|LarryFarma]] 12:27, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::There are two possibilities. It was the goal. It was not the goal. The result is that they have produced Cit+. If it was the goal then they have demonstrated what they set out to demonstrate. Well done. If it was not the goal then serendipity has favored them. It is no means unusual in science for unexpected results to further the cause of science. Nobody would reject or question them because they were unexpected. Indeed they are even more welcome if they're unexpected because something new has been learned. So again - well done. I don't see the problem.--[[User:British_cons|British_cons]] [[User_talk:British_cons|(talk)]] 12:45, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ::::British_cons''':''' As I said, suppose that a committee is considering this research for an award -- wouldn't this research be much less deserving of an award if Cit+ evolution were just an unforeseen accident? Also, the candor of the researchers is in question here -- as I showed above, I did not get straight consistent answers to simple, basic questions. As I noted above, Cit+ evolution had been observed before, so it seems that repeating it was a likely goal of the experiment. Also, I asked about the purpose(s) of the glucose-cycling and I got no answer to that question. Knowing the goals of the research and the purposes of the experimental methodologies are important parts of understanding the research.[[User:LarryFarma|LarryFarma]] 14:07, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ::::Thudden''':''' ''As I said, suppose that a committee is considering this research for an award -- wouldn't this research be much less deserving of an award if Cit+ evolution were just an unforeseen accident?'' This betrays a unequivocal lack of understanding of scientific process and acclaim. Hundreds of world-altering scientific discoveries have been serendipitous: Pauling and Penicillin, Galvani and neuroelectricity, Nagano's discovery of interferon, Becquerel and Röntgen's discovery of radioactivity and X-rays respectively. If you stumble on something marvellous by accident, you receive identical academic acclaim, perhaps only with added envy.<br /> ::''&quot;If you stumble on something marvellous by accident, you receive identical academic acclaim,&quot;'' I disagree -- IMO things discovered by intelligent searching are more highly regarded. [[User:LarryFarma|LarryFarma]] 06:17, 29 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> ::''Thudden: Your disagreement would be more convincing if it was backed up by evidence, or engaged with the contrary evidence provided.<br /> (unindent) Rather than dispute this with you YET AGAIN, can we wait until you respond to criticisms of your position on other websites first? You keep repeating this &quot;no straight answers&quot; argument, and people keep pointing out your error, and you've yet to see this argument through to the end anywhere. Conservapedia is already struggling to maintain its current signal-to-noise ratio, please stop forum-shopping here. [[User:Aziraphale|Aziraphale]] 14:17, 27 June 2008 (EDT) ''&lt;-knows where all the good sales are...''<br /> <br /> :: Aziraphale said, ''&quot;Rather than dispute this with you YET AGAIN, can we wait until you respond to criticisms of your position on other websites first? &quot;'' I have already spent a helluva lot of time responding to those criticisms on Carl Zimmer's blog and my own blog! (see links in my first comment on this talk page) But I have been kicked off of Carl Zimmer's blog, and my own blog gets only about 50 visits per day. In contrast, this talk page is getting thousands of visits per day, so it is obviously a much better forum for publicizing my views.<br /> <br /> ::''&quot;You keep repeating this 'no straight answers' argument, and people keep pointing out your error.&quot;'' And I keep pointing out the errors in arguments that attempt to point out my alleged error.[[User:LarryFarma|LarryFarma]] 16:18, 27 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> :::Ok, fair enough. Enjoy your time here. :) [[User:Aziraphale|Aziraphale]] 18:05, 27 June 2008 (EDT) ''&lt;-o/~know when to hold 'em... o/~''<br /> <br /> ::::''&quot;Enjoy your time here.&quot;'' I intend to. I never before had such a good opportunity to publicize my views. [[User:LarryFarma|LarryFarma]] 02:21, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::It has been brought to my attention that there may be a problem with your question. You wish to know about the &quot;goal&quot; of the experiment. Is that a reasonable way to ask a question of a scientific experiment? Shouldn't the question be &quot;What hypothesis was being tested?&quot;?--[[User:British_cons|British_cons]] [[User_talk:British_cons|(talk)]] 10:03, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> ::::::How could a random event, Cit+ evolution, be a &quot;hypothesis&quot;? Even Zachary Blount used the term &quot;goal.&quot; What is wrong with saying that an experiment has a &quot;goal&quot; (or &quot;goals&quot;)? [[User:LarryFarma|LarryFarma]] 15:53, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::::Because according to the [[Scientific method]] the objective of an experiment is to test an hypothesis. Remember that things are not proved in science - only disproved. The objective of an experiment is never to &quot;prove&quot; anything - only to test an hypothesis. If the hypothesis is confirmed then it is strengthened, if it not confirmed it is weakened or discarded. Consequently the fundamental question to ask of an experiment is, &quot;What hypothesis was being tested?&quot; --[[User:British_cons|British_cons]] [[User_talk:British_cons|(talk)]] 16:07, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> ::::::::How would you describe Cit+ evolution as a hypothesis, even assuming that Cit+ evolution had not been observed before (Cit+ evolution was observed prior to Lenski's experiment) ?[[User:LarryFarma|LarryFarma]] 21:54, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::::::I'm afraid that's for you to figure out. As I've said, the only sensible way for you to ask the question you want answered is to form it as a question about the hypothesis. How you manage that is down to you. :-)--[[User:British_cons|British_cons]] [[User_talk:British_cons|(talk)]] 02:27, 29 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> ::::::::''&quot;I'm afraid that's for you to figure out.&quot;'' It's your idea that it must be stated as a hypothesis, so showing how it can be stated as a hypothesis is your responsibility. Anyway, Lenski could not hypothesize about whether Cit+ evolution could occur, because it had been observed prior to the start of his experiment. All he could do was consider Cit+ evolution to be a &quot;goal&quot; of his experiment. [[User:LarryFarma|LarryFarma]] 05:43, 29 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::::::I'm sorry, I thought you were asking for help. Anyway, the article on [[Scientific method]] ''on this wiki'' states that the reason for an experiment is to test an hypothesis - so it's not my opinion but what this Wiki states. I suppose you could edit the article so this it reflects your view of how science works. --[[User:British_cons|British_cons]] [[User_talk:British_cons|(talk)]] 06:24, 29 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::::::Reading Lenski's recent paper for comprehension reveals that the hypothesis being tested is that development of the Cit+ strain is a historically contingent process (that is, arising by multiple steps separated over time). The null hypothesis (not supported by the results of the experiments) is that the Cit+ strain arises by a single, exceptionally rare event.--[[User:Brossa|Brossa]] 10:52, 29 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> ::::: ''&quot;Reading Lenski's recent paper for comprehension reveals that the hypothesis being tested is that development of the Cit+ strain is a historically contingent process (that is, arising by multiple steps separated over time).&quot;''<br /> :::::I was aware that one of the original goals of the experiment was to test for historical contingency -- that was the reason for freezing the populations at each 500th generation. My questions were about other things: (1) was Cit+ evolution an original goal of the experiment (remember that this whole experiment started in 1988, long before the study in the present paper), (2) was favoring Cit+ evolution a purpose or one of the purposes of the glucose-cycling (giving the bacteria insufficient glucose supplies so as to cause alternating glucose feeding and starvation), and (3) what were other purposes -- if any -- of the glucose-cycling. Zachary Blount did not give a straight answer to the first question and gave no answers at all to the latter two questions. [[User:LarryFarma|LarryFarma]] 13:12, 29 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::::''&quot;I'm sorry, I thought you were asking for help.&quot;'' You call that &quot;help&quot;? All you did was clutter up this talk page with your irrelevant &quot;hypothesis&quot; idea. With friends like you, who needs enemies? [[User:LarryFarma|LarryFarma]] 10:34, 29 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> ::::::::When did I call it help? I said that I thought you were asking for it. In any event Brossa seems to have clarified the situation.--[[User:British_cons|British_cons]] [[User_talk:British_cons|(talk)]] 11:38, 29 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::::''&quot;When did I call it help? I said that I thought you were asking for it.&quot;''<br /> :::::::And you thought -- or seemed to think -- that you were giving it. I am beginning to suspect that you are just a troll.<br /> :::::::''&quot;In any event Brossa seems to have clarified the situation.&quot;''<br /> :::::::No, he has not clarified the situation -- see my above response to him. [[User:LarryFarma|LarryFarma]] 13:29, 29 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> == removal of content from this page removes context of Lenski's second reply ==<br /> I'm sure it's an oversight but Lenski, in his second letter, made several direct references to the discussion that has been removed from this page. Some of his comments thus appear inappropriately to lack context. I'm sure you did not intend to remove significant parts of this debate, especially when the result seems so one-sided.[[User:AndyMann|AndyMann]] 20:09, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> : Yes, it was an oversight. It was archived, but the archive was not linked to on this page. It has since been linked. [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 22:53, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> ==Archive Link?==<br /> <br /> Can a link be provided to the archive for this page? Thanks. --[[User:DinsdaleP|DinsdaleP]] 20:48, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> Oops. Did my edits delete the earlier sections? If so, I'm sorry. Could someone restore the original? --[[User:Argon|Argon]]<br /> :No, your edits were not a problem. It was the edits of those individuals who decided to use this talk page as an attack forum. [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 21:02, 26 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> == Whence Lenski? ==<br /> <br /> Lenski's article was published in the PNAS, which is from the National Academy of Sciences. Just [http://www.google.com/search?q=%22national+academy+of+sciences%22+god Google their name and &quot;god&quot;] and see why they care so much about &quot;proving&quot; evolution: 93% are atheists! Maybe PNAS isn't a professional organization at all, but a fraternity designed to influence American public policy away from Christian principles. [http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/news/file002.html] [http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs/3506.asp] {{unsigned|Drochld}}<br /> <br /> :I'm a little confused about the terminology of the survey. According to the 1998 figures, 7% had &quot;personal belief&quot;, 72% had &quot;personal disbelief&quot;, and 21% had &quot;doubt (presumably equivalent to atheism) or agnosticism&quot;. I know what atheism and agnosticism are, but what does personal disbelief mean in this case? It sounds like agnosticism, but agnosticism is in a separate category. So what is it? Anyone know?--[[User:Frey|Frey]] 13:31, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> ::If they're not believers, and they're not agnostics/doubters, then they're atheists. Atheism = disbelief. [[User:Bugler|Bugler]] 14:10, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::I find it doubtful that are more atheists than agnostics. Atheists are 100% certain that God doesn't exist. A good scientist is not 100% certain of anything. I think a survey with more clearly defined choices is called for.--[[User:Frey|Frey]] 23:34, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> ::::Actually it is not true to say, ''Atheists are 100% certain that God doesn't exist'' as Conservapedia's article says; [[Weak Atheism]]. Many more scientifically-minded atheists would follow this point of view for the very reasons you state - ''A good scientist is not 100% certain of anything.''--[[User:British_cons|British_cons]] [[User_talk:British_cons|(talk)]] 12:37, 29 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> :::::I think the distinction to be made here is between personal belief and what can be proven. It is possible to put forward a definition of God that cannot be tested and is therefore neither provable nor falsifiable, however that wouldn't mean an individual couldn't have a personal belief (or disbelief) in God. If I can be forgiven a pop culture reference, I can't prove I don't live in [[The Matrix]] but I have a personal belief that I don't.--&lt;font face = &quot;Verdana&quot;&gt;[[User:Boreas|Boreas]]&lt;sup&gt; [[User_Talk:Boreas|'''talk''']]&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/font&gt; 13:34, 29 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> I'm guessing that 100% of creationist are theists...so? Does this invalidate THEM in any way? No, it does not. I don't see how this line of discussion is pertinent or constructive in any way. --[[User:RobinGoodfellow|RobinGoodfellow]] 14:58, 28 June 2008 (EDT)<br /> <br /> I assume that Bugler's ignoring of Gnostics such as myself was not an attempt to polarise the community into more easily distinguishable sects. {{unsigned|Scholl}}</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Neo-Paganism&diff=342118 2007-11-24T20:06:41Z

<p>Boreas: Formatting links</p> <hr /> <div>'''Neo-Paganism''' is a collective term for [[religion]]s such as [[Druidry]] and [[Asatru]] which attempt to recreate the pre-Christian religions of [[Europe]]. It can also refer to [[Wicca]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://altreligion.about.com/od/neopaga1/NeoPaganism_Druidry_and_Pagan_Recons.htm]&lt;/ref&gt; Neo-paganism is prohibited by the Bible.<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> <br /> &lt;div class=&quot;references-small&quot;&gt;&lt;references/&gt;&lt;/div&gt;<br /> <br /> ==External links==<br /> *[http://www.asatru.org/ Asatru site] <br /> *[http://www.druidry.org/ Druidry Site] <br /> *[http://www.hellenismos.co.uk/ Hellenismos Site] <br /> *[http://www.witchway.net/ Wiccan Site]<br /> *[http://www.carm.org/wicca.htm Christian site about Wicca]<br /> <br /> [[Category:Religion]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Neo-Paganism&diff=342115 2007-11-24T20:05:33Z

<p>Boreas: Replaced deleted links</p> <hr /> <div>'''Neo-Paganism''' is a collective term for [[religion]]s such as [[Druidry]] and [[Asatru]] which attempt to recreate the pre-Christian religions of [[Europe]]. It can also refer to [[Wicca]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://altreligion.about.com/od/neopaga1/NeoPaganism_Druidry_and_Pagan_Recons.htm]&lt;/ref&gt; Neo-paganism is prohibited by the Bible.<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> <br /> &lt;div class=&quot;references-small&quot;&gt;&lt;references/&gt;&lt;/div&gt;<br /> <br /> ==External links==<br /> *[http://www.asatru.org/] Asatru site <br /> *[http://www.druidry.org/] Druidry Site <br /> *[http://www.hellenismos.co.uk/] [[Hellenismos]] Site <br /> *[http://www.witchway.net/] Wiccan Site<br /> *[http://www.carm.org/wicca.htm Christian site about Wicca]<br /> <br /> [[Category:Religion]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Mr._Smith_Goes_to_Washington&diff=342027 2007-11-24T18:54:08Z

<p>Boreas: Removed non-existant category and added ref</p> <hr /> <div>'''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington''' is a 1939 movie directed by [[Frank Capra]] and starring [[James Stewart]] &amp; [[Jean Arthur]].<br /> <br /> It tells the story a down-to-earth, idealistic young man [[Jefferson Smith]] who is appointed to the [[United States Senate|Senate]] by the governor of his state.<br /> <br /> The themes of the film are high ideals, patriotism, having the courage to fight for what's right and the little guy making good against impossible odds. Themes which are common in Capra's other films such as [[Meet John Doe]] and the perennial Christmas favorite [[It's a Wonderful Life]]<br /> <br /> It is currently #100 in the IMDb top 250 list.&lt;ref&gt;http://imdb.com/chart/top?tt0031679 IMDb Top 250&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> {{reflist}}<br /> <br /> ==External Links==<br /> <br /> [http://imdb.com/title/tt0031679/ IMDb]<br /> [[category:movies]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Ireland&diff=327795 2007-11-04T16:21:31Z

<p>Boreas: /* Religion */ Updated stats with info from 2006 census</p> <hr /> <div>{{Country<br /> |name =''Éire''<br /> |map =Ireland.jpg<br /> |flag =Flag of Ireland.png<br /> |arms =Ireland arms.png<br /> |capital =Dublin<br /> |capital-raw =<br /> |government =Republic and Parliamentary Democracy<br /> |government-raw =<br /> |language =Irish and English<br /> |king =<br /> |queen =<br /> |monarch-raw =<br /> |president =Mary McAleese<br /> |president-raw =<br /> |chancellor =<br /> |chancellor-raw =<br /> |pm =<br /> |pm-raw =<br /> |area =27,133 sq mi<br /> |pop =4,239,848 (2007)<br /> |pop-basis =<br /> |gdp =<br /> |gdp-year =$177.2 billion (2006)<br /> |gdp-pc =$43,600 (2006)<br /> |currency =euro<br /> |idd =<br /> |tld =<br /> }}<br /> <br /> '''Ireland''' is an [[island]] off the north-western coast of [[Europe]]. Since 1922 it has been divided into two separate entities:<br /> * The '''[[Republic of Ireland]]''' (Irish: ''Éire'') is an independent state which consists of twenty-six traditional counties in the provinces of Munster, Leinster, Connacht, and three of the nine counties of Ulster. According to the last census the Republic of Ireland has a population of 4,234,925&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/environment/copy_of_census/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> *'''[[Northern Ireland]]''' a [[constituent country]] of the [[United Kingdom]] which comprises six counties of the province of Ulster. Northern Ireland has a population of 1,685,267 (2002 est.)&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nicensus2001.gov.uk/nica/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Demography&amp;mainArea=&amp;mainLevel=]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==People==<br /> The Irish people are mainly of Celtic origin, with the country's only significant sized minority having descended from the Anglo-Normans. English is the common language, but Irish (Gaelic) is also an official language and is taught in schools. <br /> <br /> Anglo-Irish writers such as Swift, Sheridan, Goldsmith, Burke, Wilde, Joyce, Yeats, Shaw, and Beckett have made a major contribution to world literature over the past 300 years. <br /> <br /> ===Religion===<br /> The Republic of Ireland is predominantly Roman Catholic in religion (86.8%). Atheists and the Non-religious account for 4.4% of the population &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/Final%20Principal%20Demographic%20Results%202006.pdf ]&lt;/ref&gt;while membership of the Church of Ireland runs at about 3%, with most of the rest of the population belonging to other Protestant/Christian denominations. Southern Protestantism had been in decline since independence due to the ''ne temere'' decree(children in mixed Catholic/Protestant marriages had to be raised Catholic) &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.catholic-forum.com/saintS/ncd05730.htm]&lt;/ref&gt; and emigration. However, it has experienced a revival of late due to immigrants and some converts from Catholicism. There is a small Jewish community in Ireland. The Muslim community has grown recently due to immigration. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.cso.ie/statistics/popnclassbyreligionandsex2002.htm]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The Republic has maintained a nominally Catholic ethos since independence. Abortion remains controversially illegal (although information on obtaining abortions in other jurisdictions is a constitutional entitlement, and many thousands of women travel to the UK for treatment&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.crisispregnancy.ie/pub/statistical_report_2005.pdf]&lt;/ref&gt; ). However, in line with a more general liberalization of Irish society since the early nineties, restrictions on the availability of contraception have been removed; the right to divorce has been enshrined in the constitution; homosexuality has been decriminalized and the rights of gay people have been enshrined in 'Equal Status' legislation. <br /> <br /> Northern Ireland has a Protestant majority (53%), the main denominations being Presbyterian and Church of Ireland (Anglican/Episcopal). Roughly 44% of the population are Roman Catholic, with most of the remainder professing no religion. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nicensus2001.gov.uk/nica/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Cultural&amp;mainArea=&amp;mainLevel=]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Government and Political Conditions==<br /> Ireland is a sovereign, independent, democratic state with a parliamentary system of government. The president, who serves as head of state in a largely ceremonial role, is elected for a 7-year term and can be re-elected only once. The current president is Mary McAleese, who is serving her second term after having succeeded President Mary Robinson - the first instance worldwide where one woman has followed another as an elected head of state. In carrying out certain constitutional powers and functions, the president is aided by the Council of State, an advisory body. On the Taoiseach's (prime minister's) advice, the president also dissolves the Oireachtas (Parliament). <br /> <br /> The prime minister (''Taoiseach'', pronounced &quot;TEE-shuck&quot;) is elected by the Dail (lower house of Parliament) as the leader of the political party, or coalition of parties, which wins the most seats in the national elections, held approximately every 5 years (unless called earlier). Executive power is vested in a cabinet whose ministers are nominated by the Taoiseach and approved by the Dail. <br /> <br /> The bicameral ''Oireachtas'' (Parliament) consists of the ''Seanad Eireann'' (Senate) and the ''Dail Eireann'' (House of Representatives). The Seanad is composed of 60 members--11 nominated by the prime minister, 6 elected by the national universities, and 43 elected from panels of candidates established on a vocational basis. The Seanad has the power to delay legislative proposals and is allowed 90 days to consider and amend bills sent to it by the Dail, which wields greater power in Parliament. The Dail has 166 members popularly elected to a maximum term of 5 years under a complex system of proportional representation. A member of the Dail is known as a Teachta Dala, or TD. <br /> <br /> Judges are appointed by the president on nomination by the government and can be removed from office only for misbehavior or incapacity and then only by resolution of both houses of Parliament. The ultimate court of appeal is the Supreme Court, consisting of the chief justice and five other justices. The Supreme Court also can decide upon the constitutionality of legislative acts if the president asks for an opinion. <br /> <br /> Local government is by elected county councils and--in the cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Waterford--by county borough corporations. County councils/corporations in turn select city mayors. In practice, however, authority remains with the central government. <br /> <br /> Irish politics remain dominated by the two political parties that grew out of Ireland's bitter 1922-23 civil war. Fianna Fail was formed by those who opposed the 1921 treaty that partitioned the island. Although treaty opponents lost the civil war, Fianna Fail soon became Ireland's largest political party. Fine Gael, representative of the pro-treaty forces, remains the country's second-largest party. The Progressive Democrats, Labour, Sinn Fein, and the Greens are the other significant parties. <br /> <br /> The May 2007 national elections brought the Fianna Fail party and its leader Bertie Ahern back to power in a coalition government for an unprecedented third five-year term. Coalition members joining Fianna Fail were the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats. In recent months the Mahon Tribunal has been investigating allegations of corruption against the PM when he was Minister of Finance in the early 1990s. However, the PM has not suffered politically -- the coalition remains intact and in September 2007, he survived a vote of no confidence on the issue. Ahern appointed Finance Minister Brian Cowen Deputy Prime Minister (Tanaiste, pronounced &quot;TAW-nish-tuh&quot;). The Foreign Minister is Dermot Ahern (no relation to the Taoiseach). <br /> <br /> Local and European elections took place in June 2004 and saw gains for opposition parties. The election also featured a referendum on citizenship. Until that time, Ireland had granted citizenship on the basis of birth on Irish soil. Concerns about security and social welfare abuse prompted the government to seek to bring citizenship laws in line with the more restrictive policies prevalent in the rest of Europe, and the 2004 referendum measure passed by a wide majority. Now, persons with non-Irish parents can acquire Irish citizenship at birth only if at least one parent has been resident in Ireland for three years preceding the birth.<br /> <br /> ===Political Parties===<br /> * '''Fianna Fáil''': (Pronounced Fee-Na Fall which is Irish for 'Soldiers of Destiny'). Ireland's main political party, they do not class themselves as either left or right wing but rather as pragmatic centrists and republicans (In the sense of opposing the notion of formal classes in society, in particular the monarchy. Typically republicans in Ireland seek to unite Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland into a single Republic separate from the United Kingdom.). The party was founded as a splinter from Official Sinn Féin by Eamon de Valera. Traditionally the party of small farmers and the urban working class community, and generally conservative on social issues. Currently the largest party in the ruling coalition. Led by Bertie Ahern, current [[Taoiseach]]([[Prime Minister]]) of the Republic of Ireland. Fianna Fáil generally opposes any action that would be seen to erode Ireland's neutrality and independence in foreign policy, including joining NATO.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fiannafail.ie/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> * '''Fine Gael''': (Pronounced Finna Gale, Irish for 'Family of the Irish'). Ireland's second largest party. Fine Gael is traditionally socially and fiscally conservative. Under the leadership of [[Garret FitzGerald]] in the 1980's, the party embraced [[social democracy]]. Today the party likes to characterize itself as a party of the &quot;progressive centre&quot;. Led by [[Enda Kenny]]. Many of the parties elected members would like to see Ireland join NATO and at least one has called for Ireland to rejoin the [[British Commonwealth]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.finegael.com/index.cfm]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> * '''Labour Party''': A social democratic left-wing party, similar to the British Labour Party under [[Tony Blair]]. [[Pat Rabitte]] is the leader of the Labour Party.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.labour.ie/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> * '''Progressive Democrats''':It is very right wing on economic issues, favoring low-taxation, pro-business policies, but are very liberal on social issues. [[Mary Harney]] is the current interim leader after the previous leader lost his seat in the last Genreal Election.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.progressivedemocrats.ie/index-main.php]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> * '''Green Party''': A left-wing party in favor of environmental protection, renewable energy and a stronger system of social security. Led by Trevor Sargent.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.greenparty.ie/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> * '''Sinn Féin''': (Pronounced Shin Fane, Irish for 'Ourselves') Claims to be a remnant of Ireland's oldest political party, it is closely connected with the Provisional IRA, a terrorist movement that sought a United Irish Republic. They have recently embraced a more democratic approach. They are a party of left-wing socialist economics which espouses liberal social issues such as gay marriage. They organize in all 32 counties of Ireland. Led by Gerry Adams. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.sinnfein.ie/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> * '''Socialist Party''': A left-wing Trotskyite party. They oppose capitalism and seek a United Socialist Ireland. Led by Joe Higgins. &lt;ref&gt; [http://www.socialistparty.net/] &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ===Northern Ireland=== <br /> Consolidating the peace process in Northern Ireland and encouraging the full implementation of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement (GFA) and the 2006 St. Andrews Agreement remain U.S. priorities in Ireland. <br /> <br /> The conflict in Northern Ireland stems from a history of British rule, historical animosity between Catholics and Protestants, and the various armed and political attempts to unite Northern Ireland with the rest of the island. &quot;Nationalist&quot; and &quot;Republican&quot; groups seek a united Ireland, while &quot;Unionists&quot; and &quot;Loyalists&quot; want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom. After decades of violence by both Republican and Loyalist paramilitaries, most notably the Irish Republican Army (IRA), the British and Irish governments negotiated an IRA ceasefire in 1994, which was followed by the landmark U.S.-brokered Good Friday Agreement (GFA) in 1998. <br /> <br /> The GFA established a power-sharing legislative assembly to serve as the autonomous local government of Northern Ireland. The 108-member Northern Ireland Assembly is led by a first minister and deputy first minister, one from each of the two communities, and a 10-minister executive. The GFA also provided for changes in both the British and Irish constitutions. Ireland ceded territorial claim to Northern Ireland, and the U.K. agreed that Northern Ireland could become part of Ireland if a majority (North and South) so voted in the future. Finally, the GFA provided the blueprint for &quot;normalization,&quot; to include the eventual removal of British forces, devolution of police and justice functions, and guarantees of human rights and equal opportunity for all individuals. The agreement was approved in a 1998 referendum by 71% of Northern Ireland voters and 95% of Irish voters. <br /> <br /> The major political parties in Northern Ireland are:<br /> * '''Democratic Unionist Party'''(DUP): Currently the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland. The DUP is a right-wing, ultra-conservative, hardline unionist party currently led by its founder, the Reverend Ian RK Paisley. The party has strong links with Rev. Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.dup.org.uk/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> * '''Sinn Féin''' Currently the largest nationalist party in Northern Ireland, they sit in the Irish parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly, but refuse to take their seats in the British Parliament in Westminster.<br /> * '''Ulster Unionist Party'''(UUP): A moderate right-wing party, which had strong links with the British Conservative Party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate David Trimble is a former leader. Currently in decline, with voters turning to the DUP. Currently led by Sir Reg Empey. &lt;ref&gt; [http://www.uup.org/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> * '''Social Democratic and Labour Party'''(SDLP): A left-wing nationalist party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate John Hume is a former leader. The SDLP were the largest nationalist party until recently, when they were overtaken by Sinn Féin. Unlike SF, the SDLP have always advocated a non-violent and constitutional approach to achieving a United Ireland. Current leader is Mark Durkan. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.sdlp.ie/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> * '''Alliance Party''': The Alliance party identifies as neither unionist or nationalist and thus receives support from both communities. The current leader is David Ford. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.allianceparty.org/]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> In October 2002, the British Government suspended (for the fourth time) the Assembly, following a breakdown in trust between Unionists and Republicans. The British and Irish Governments began discussions with the parties to try to resolve longstanding unresolved differences between the communities, and to secure a commitment from Sinn Fein that Republicans would divest themselves of all paramilitary activities and capabilities. Efforts to restore the political process in time to stage new elections to the Assembly in May 2003 broke down when the two governments concluded they did not have sufficient assurances from the Republicans. However, the governments proceeded to publish a joint declaration, mapping out the timetable to full implementation of the GFA. The governments also created an International Monitoring Commission to serve as a forum to hear complaints of alleged breaches of GFA commitments by the political parties and/or by British authorities. The four-member commission includes a representative from the United States. <br /> <br /> Beginning in 2005, there were significant steps to reinvigorate the peace process. In July 2005, the IRA unilaterally announced that it would end its &quot;armed struggle&quot; and rely upon solely peaceful and democratic means to achieve its political objectives. The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) confirmed in September 2005 that the IRA had effectively put its weapons &quot;beyond use.&quot; A series of reports by the International Monitoring Commission also noted significant progress by the IRA in its move away from criminality. Following upon this momentum, the British and Irish Governments in April 2006 launched a new negotiation process that envisioned the restoration of the Assembly and the selection of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister by year's end. <br /> <br /> This process led to a summit at St. Andrews, Scotland, in October 2006, brokered by Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, which achieved agreement between Sinn Fein and the DUP on the process for restoring power to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Elections for the Assembly took place on March 7, 2007, which led to the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly on May 8, 2007. DUP leader Ian Paisley was elected First Minister, while Sinn Fein leader Martin McGuinness became Deputy First Minister. Two breakthroughs enabled this historic agreement to proceed: Sinn Fein's decision at an extraordinary Ard Fheis (&quot;AR-desh,&quot; party conference) on January 28 to endorse policing and justice; and the DUP's decision to contest the March 7 election, signaling that the party would agree to share power with Sinn Fein in a restored Assembly. In the meantime, both the British and Irish Governments have offered significant new financial packages for the new Assembly. <br /> <br /> The Special Envoy for the Northern Ireland Peace Process is Paula Dobriansky, who coordinates with the U.S. Missions in London, Belfast and Dublin to reinforce the views of the British and Irish Governments that the newly restored Northern Ireland Assembly must govern effectively in order to achieve economic growth and community reconciliation in Northern Ireland. <br /> <br /> The United States also continues to provide funding ($13.5 million in 2007) for projects administered under the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), created in 1986 to generate economic opportunity and cross-community engagement in the border areas, both North and South. Since the IFI's establishment, the U.S. Government has contributed over $482 million, roughly half of total IFI funding. <br /> <br /> ===Principal Government Officials=== <br /> *President--Mary McAleese <br /> *Taoiseach (Prime Minister)--Bertie Ahern <br /> *Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Finance--Brian Cowen<br /> *Ambassador to the United States--Michael Collins<br /> <br /> ===Foreign Relations===<br /> Ireland is a member of numerous international organizations, including the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the European Union. Ireland has been an important contributor to numerous international peacekeeping missions, such as in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Liberia (UNIMIL), and the Balkans (KFOR and EUFOR). Ireland's overseas development assistance focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa and stands at 5 percent of GDP.<br /> <br /> ==Economy==<br /> Ireland boasts a vibrant, globalized economy, with GDP per capita second only to Luxembourg's in the EU. The &quot;Celtic Tiger&quot; period of the mid to late 1990s saw several years of double-digit GDP growth, driven by a progressive industrial policy that boosted large-scale foreign direct investment and exports. GDP growth dipped during the immediate post-9/11 global economic slowdown, but has averaged roughly 5 percent yearly since 2004, the best performance for this period among the original EU 15 Member States. Since 2004, the Irish economy has generated roughly 90,000 new jobs annually, attracting over 200,000 foreign workers, mostly from the new EU Member states, in an unprecedented immigration influx. The construction sector has accounted for approximately one-quarter of these jobs, and economists caution that any slowdown in Ireland's vibrant housing market would have ramifications for continued GDP growth. <br /> <br /> Economic and trade ties are an important facet of overall U.S.-Irish relations. In 2005, U.S. exports to Ireland were valued at $9 billion, while Irish exports to the U.S. totaled $28 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The range of U.S. exports includes electrical components and equipment, computers and peripherals, drugs and pharmaceuticals, and livestock feed. Irish exports to the United States represent approximately 20% of all Irish exports, and have roughly the same value as Irish exports to the UK (inclusive of Northern Ireland). Exports to the United States include alcoholic beverages, chemicals and related products, electronic data processing equipment, electrical machinery, textiles and clothing, and glassware. According to Ireland's Central Statistical Office, Irish exports to the United States from January to September 2006 rose by 7% compared to the same period in 2005, while Irish imports from the United States from January to September 2006 fell by 14% compared to the same period in 2005. <br /> <br /> U.S. investment has been particularly important to the growth and modernization of Irish industry over the past 25 years, providing new technology, export capabilities, and employment opportunities. As of year-end 2006, the stock of U.S. foreign direct investment in Ireland stood at $84 billion, more than double the U.S. total for China and India combined ($31.2 billion). Currently, there are approximately 620 U.S. subsidiaries in Ireland, employing roughly 100,000 people and spanning activities from manufacturing of high-tech electronics, computer products, medical supplies, and pharmaceuticals to retailing, banking, finance, and other services. In more recent years, Ireland has also become an important research and development (R&amp;D) center for U.S. firms in Europe. <br /> <br /> Many U.S. businesses find Ireland an attractive location to manufacture for the EU market, since it is inside the EU customs area and uses the euro. In 2005, U.S. firms accounted for 61% of Ireland's total exports of euro 89 billion. Other reasons for Ireland's attractiveness include: a 12.5 percent corporate tax rate for domestic and foreign firms; the quality and flexibility of the English-speaking work force; cooperative labor relations; political stability; pro-business government policies; a transparent judicial system; strong intellectual property protection; and, the pulling power of existing companies operating successfully (a &quot;clustering&quot; effect). Factors that negatively affect Ireland's ability to attract investment include: increasing labor and energy costs (especially when compared to low-cost countries in Eastern Europe and Asia), skilled labor shortages, inadequate infrastructure (such as in the transportation and internet/broadband sectors), and price levels that are ranked among the highest in Europe.<br /> <br /> ==History==<br /> The earliest inhabitants--people of a mid-Stone Age culture--arrived about 6000 BC. About 4,000 years later, tribes from southern Europe arrived and established a high Neolithic culture, leaving behind gold ornaments and huge stone monuments. The Bronze Age people, who arrived during the next 1,000 years, produced elaborate gold and bronze ornaments and weapons. <br /> <br /> The Iron Age arrived abruptly in the fourth century BC with the invasion of the Celts, a tall, energetic people who had spread across Europe and Great Britain in the preceding centuries. The Celts, or Gaels, and their more numerous predecessors divided into five kingdoms in which, despite constant strife, a rich culture flourished. <br /> <br /> The coming of Christianity from across the Irish Sea brought major changes and civilizing influences. Tradition maintains that St. Patrick arrived on the island in AD 432 and, in the years that followed, worked to convert the Irish to Christianity. <br /> <br /> The pagan druid tradition collapsed before the spread of the new faith, and Irish scholars excelled in the study of Latin learning and Christian theology in the monasteries that flourished. Missionaries went forth from Ireland to England and the continent, spreading news of the flowering of learning, and scholars from other nations came to Irish monasteries. The excellence and isolation of these monasteries helped preserve Latin and Greek learning during the Dark Ages. The arts of manuscript illumination, metalworking, and sculpture flourished and produced such treasures as the Book of Kells, ornate jewelry, and the many carved stone crosses that dot the island. <br /> <br /> Two hundred years of Viking invasion and settlement was later followed by a Norman conquest in the 12th century. The Norman conquest resulted in the assimilation of the Norman settlers into Irish society. The English however, long desiring to control Ireland, were unable to bring the entire island under their control until the 17th century, after the defeat of the Irish in the Nine Years War. King James I of England (King James VI of Scotland) decided to plant Ulster, in the North of Ireland, with English and Scottish Protestant settlers, in an attempt to prevent future rebellions.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.hoganstand.com/general/Identity/stories/ulster.htm]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 1690, the Catholic King James II and his Irish allies were defeated by the Protestant William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne. This defeat ushered in an era of Protestant dominance in Ireland. A series of regulations limiting the status of the Catholic majority were passed between 1691 and 1760, known as the Penal Laws. These laws also discriminated against Presbyterians and other dissenting Protestants, who along with Catholics were forced to pay tithes to the Anglican Church.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.risingroadtours.com/a7_penallaws.htm]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://prorev.com/irish.htm]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> In 1800 the Irish Parliament passed the Act of Union with Great Britain, and Ireland was an official part of the United Kingdom until 1921. Religious freedom, outlawed in the 18th century, was restored in 1829, but this victory for the Irish Catholic majority was overshadowed by a severe economic depression and the great famine from 1846-48 when the potato crop failed. Millions died, and the millions that emigrated spawned the first mass wave of Irish emigration to the United States. A decade later, in 1858, the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB--also known as the Fenians) was founded as a secret society dedicated to armed rebellion against the British. An aboveground political counterpart, the Home Rule Movement, was created in 1874, advocating constitutional change for independence. <br /> <br /> Galvanized by the leadership of Charles Stewart Parnell, the party was able to force British governments after 1885 to introduce several home rule bills. The turn of the century witnessed a surge of interest in Irish nationalism, including the founding of Sinn Fein (&quot;Ourselves Alone&quot;) as an open political movement. <br /> <br /> Nationalism was and is a potent populist force in Irish politics. A home rule bill passed in 1914, but its implementation was suspended until war in Europe ended. Believing the mantra: &quot;England's problem is Ireland's opportunity,&quot; and tapping into a mood of Gaelic revivalism, Padraic Pearse and James Connolly led the unsuccessful Easter Rising of 1916. Pearse and the other 1916 leaders declared an independent Irish republic, but a lack of popular support doomed the rebellion, which lasted a week and destroyed large portions of Dublin. The decision by the British military government to execute the leaders of the rebellion, coupled with the British Government's threat of conscripting the Irish to fight in the Great War, alienated public opinion and produced massive support for Sinn Fein in the 1918 general election. Under the leadership of Eamon de Valera, the elected Sinn Fein deputies constituted themselves as the first Dail. Tensions only increased: British attempts to smash Sinn Fein ignited the Anglo-Irish War of 1919-1921. <br /> <br /> The end of the war brought the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921, which established the Irish Free State of 26 counties within the British Commonwealth and recognized the partition of the island into Ireland and Northern Ireland, though supposedly as a temporary measure. The six predominantly Protestant counties of northeast Ulster--Northern Ireland--remained a part of the United Kingdom with limited self-government. A significant Irish minority repudiated the treaty settlement because of the continuance of subordinate ties to the British monarch and the partition of the island. This opposition led to further hostilities--a civil war (1922-23), which was won by the pro-treaty forces. <br /> <br /> In 1932, Eamon de Valera, the political leader of the forces initially opposed to the treaty, became Prime Minister, and a new Irish constitution was enacted in 1937. The last British military bases were soon withdrawn, and the ports were returned to Irish control. Ireland was neutral in World War II. The government formally declared Ireland a republic in 1948; however, it does not normally use the term &quot;Republic of Ireland,&quot; which tacitly acknowledges the partition, but refers to the country simply as &quot;Ireland.&quot; <br /> <br /> ====Premiers of the Republic of Ireland====<br /> President of the Executive Council<br /> <br /> * '''William Thomas Cosgrave''' (Cummann na nGaedheal): 1922-1932.<br /> * '''Éamon de Valera''' (Fianna Fáil): 1932-1937<br /> <br /> An Taoiseach<br /> * '''Éamon de Valera''' (Fianna Fáil): 1937-1948, 1951-1954, 1957-1959.<br /> * '''John A.Costello''' (Fine Gael): 1948-1951, 1954-1957.<br /> * '''Seán Lemass''' (Fianna Fáil): 1959-1966.<br /> * '''Jack Lynch''' (Fianna Fáil): 1966-1973.<br /> * '''Liam Cosgrave''' (Fine Gael): 1973-1977.<br /> * '''Jack Lynch''' (Fianna Fáil): 1977-1979.<br /> * '''Charles Haughey''' (Fianna Fáil): 1979-1981, March 1982 - December 82 and March 1987 - February 1992.<br /> * '''Garret FitzGerald''' (Fine Gael): 30 June 1981- 9 March 1982 and 14 December 1982 - 10 March 1987.<br /> * '''Albert Reynolds''' (Fianna Fáil): February 1992-1994.<br /> * '''John Bruton''' (Fine Gael): 1994-1997.<br /> * '''Bertie Ahern''' (Fianna Fáil): 1997-Present. &lt;ref&gt; [http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/index.asp?locID=349&amp;docID=-1] &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ====Premiers of Northern Ireland====<br /> Prime Minster of Northern Ireland (1921-1972)<br /> *''Government of Ireland Act''<br /> * '''Sir James Craig''' (UUP): 1921-1940<br /> * '''John Miller Andrews''' (UUP): 1940-1943<br /> * '''Sir Basil Brooke''' (UUP): 1943-1963<br /> * '''Terence O'Neill''' (UUP): 1963-1969<br /> * '''Brian Faulkner''' (UUP): 1969-1972 <br /> *''Post abolished in 1972.''<br /> <br /> Chief Executive of Northern Ireland (1973–1974)<br /> *''Sunningdale Agreement''<br /> * '''Brian Faulkner''' (UUP) 1973–1974 <br /> *''Post abolished in 1972.''<br /> <br /> First Minister of Northern Ireland (1998-present)<br /> *''Belfast Agreement''<br /> * '''David Trimble''' (UUP) 1998-July 2001, November 2001-October 2002<br /> * '''Sir Reg Empey''' (UUP) (Acting): July 2001-October 2001<br /> * ''Executive abolished''<br /> *''St Andrews Agreement''<br /> * '''Rev Dr Ian Paisley''' (DUP) 2007-present<br /> &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/United_Kingdom.html#Northern]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references/&gt;<br /> <br /> {{License|license = This work is in the [[public domain]] in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.| source = [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3180.htm]}}<br /> <br /> [[Category:Ireland| ]]<br /> [[Category:United Kingdom]]<br /> [[Category:Islands]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Ireland&diff=55916 2007-03-22T01:08:12Z

<p>Boreas: </p> <hr /> <div>[[Image:Ireland.gif|right]]<br /> <br /> '''Ireland''' is an [[island]] off the northwestern coast of [[Europe]]. It is divided between the Republic of Ireland, which consists of twenty-six counties and the traditional provinces of Munster, Leinster, Connacht, and three of the nine counties of Ulster, and the six counties of Northern Ireland, which comprise the remainder of the province of Ulster and are part of the [[United Kingdom]]. According to the last census the Republic of Ireland has a population of 4,234,925&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/environment/copy_of_census/]&lt;/ref&gt; Northern Ireland has a population of 1,685,267 (2002 est.)&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nicensus2001.gov.uk/nica/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Demography&amp;mainArea=&amp;mainLevel=]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The primary language is English, however, the official language of the Republic is ''Gaeilge'', or ''Irish''. In the Irish language the official name of Ireland (which appears on all coins, stamps, and government documents) is ''Éire''. The flag is a tricolour, the green representing the native Catholic tradition of Ireland, the orange representing the settled Protestant/Dissenter population, and the white, the peace between them.<br /> <br /> == History ==<br /> <br /> Historically, Ireland's culture has been distinct from other regional cultures, as it was the one of the only [[Celtic]] territories never conquered by the [[Roman Empire]]. <br /> Ireland suffered from regular Viking incursions from the late 8th century until 1014, when High King Brian Boru defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf. <br /> <br /> In the 12th century, the Pope granted Ireland to the English crown as a papal fief. The English however, were unable to bring the entire island under their control until the 17th century, after the defeat of the Irish in the Nine Years War. King James I of England (King James VI of Scotland) decided to plant Ulster, in the North of Ireland with English and Scottish Protestant settlers, in an attempt to prevent future rebellions.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.hoganstand.com/general/Identity/stories/ulster.htm]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 1690, the Catholic King James II and his Irish allies were defeated by the Protestant William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne. This defeat ushered in an era of Protestant dominance in Ireland. A series of regulations limiting the status of the Catholic majority were passed between 1691 and 1760, known as the Penal Laws. These laws also discriminated against Presbyterians and other dissenting Protestants, who along with Catholics were forced to pay tithes to the Anglican Church.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.risingroadtours.com/a7_penallaws.htm]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://prorev.com/irish.htm]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 1798, a combined Protestant and Catholic Republican rebellion was defeated. This led to the Act of Union being passed in 1801, under which Ireland became a part of the United Kingdom. The Irish economy declined rapidly and the Great Famine ''An Gorta Mór'' broke out in 1845. The famine killed roughly one million, or one eighth of the entire population. It led to mass emigration to the United States, Canada and to Britain.<br /> <br /> Pro-nationalist sentiment continued to rise and the Irish tried to secure their own parliament. Opposition to this arose in the predominantly Protestant and Unionist province of Ulster which allied with the British Conservative Party in an attempt to block &quot;Home Rule&quot;. The outbreak of war in 1914 delayed the enaction of Home Rule and led to growing agitation amonst Irish Nationalists. The Easter Rising of 1916 was put down by the British, but their heavy-handed approach increased opposition to their rule. A war of independence broke out in 1919, the Irish using guerrilla tactics to undermine British rule in the country. The war with the British ended in 1921 with the British retaining control of six counties in the province of [[Ulster]]. The territory independent of the British became the [[Irish Free State]], while the territory controlled by the British became [[Northern Ireland]]. Later, in 1937, the Free State adopted a new constitution, or ''Bunreacht'' (now the oldest written Constitution in Europe) changing its name to [[Éire]] and removing all references to the Free State's position within the British Commonwealth. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107648.html]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> The Irish Free State finally left the Commonwealth and declared itself a Republic in 1949.<br /> <br /> == Politics ==<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Republic of Ireland====<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The Republic of Ireland uses [[Proportional Representation]] meaning that there are a large number of political parties. The Republic of Ireland has a bicameral legislature, &quot;the Oireachtas&quot;. It consists of the 166 seat lower house Dáil(parliament) and the 66 seat upper house, the Seanad(Senate), which both sit in Leinster House, Dublin. In recent times the country has been governed mostly by coalitions generally of either Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats or Fine Gael and Labour.<br /> <br /> '''Fianna Fail''': (Pronounced Fee-Na Fall which is Irish for 'Soldiers of Destiny'). Ireland's main political party, they do not class themselves as either left or right wing but are generally considered centrist and traditionally the choice for republicans (in the Irish sense, meaning supporters of a United Ireland) due to its foundation by Eamon de Valera; considered by his supporters to be the greatest of all Irish nationalists. Traditionally the party of Big Business and the farming community, and generally conservative on social issues (though probably not by American standards). Currently the largest party in the ruling coalition. Led by Bertie Ahern, current [[Taoiseach]]([[Prime Minister]]) of the Republic of Ireland.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fiannafail.ie/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Fine Gael''': (Pronounced Finna Gale, Irish for 'Family of the Irish'). Ireland's second largest party. Fine Gael is traditionally socially and fiscally conservative. Under the leadership of [[Garret FitzGerald]] in the 1980's, the party embraced [[social democracy]]. Today the party likes to characterize itself as a party of the &quot;progressive centre&quot;. Led by [[Enda Kenny]]. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.finegael.com/index.cfm]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Labour Party''': A social democratic left-wing party, similar to the Labour Party of the British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]]. [[Pat Rabitte]] is the leader of the Labour Party.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.labour.ie/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Progressive Democrats''': The second party in the ruling coalition, it is very right wing on economic issues, favouring low-taxation, pro-business policies, but are very liberal on social issues. [[Michael McDowell]] is the current leader and [[Tánaiste]](deputy Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.progressivedemocrats.ie/index-main.php]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Green Party''': A left-wing party in favour of environmental protection, renewable energy and a stronger system of social security. Led by Trevor Sargent.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.greenparty.ie/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Sinn Féin''': (Pronounced Shin Fane, Irish for 'Ourselves') Remnant of Ireland's oldest poltical party, it is closely connected with the Provisional IRA, a terrorist/guerrilla movement that sought a United Irish Republic. They have recently embraced a more democratic approach. They are a party of left-wing socialist economics which espouses liberal social issues such as gay marriage. They organise in all 32 counties of Ireland. Led by Gerry Adams. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.sinnfein.ie/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Socialist Party''': A left-wing Trotskyite party. They oppose capitalism and seek a United Socialist Ireland. Led by Joe Higgins.<br /> <br /> ====Northern Ireland====<br /> <br /> The political parties of Northern Ireland are mostly divided on the national question (whether to remain within the UK or become part of a United Ireland), rather than on a left-right basis. They contest elections for the [[British Parliament]](where Northern Ireland is allocated 18 seats) and the 108 seat [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]. <br /> <br /> Westminster elections use the Plurality voting system, whereas the Assembly Elections use the Proportional Representation(PR) system.<br /> <br /> The major parties are:<br /> <br /> '''Democratic Unionist Party'''(DUP): Currently the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland. The DUP is a right-wing, ultra-conservative, hardline unionist party currently led by its founder, the Reverend Ian RK Paisley. The party has strong links with Rev. Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church.<br /> <br /> '''Sinn Féin'''<br /> Currently the largest nationalist party in Northern Ireland, they sit in the Irish parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly, but refuse to take their seats in the British Parliament in Westminster.<br /> <br /> '''Ulster Unionist Party'''(UUP): A right-wing party, which had strong links with the British Conservative Party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate David Trimble is a former leader. Currently in decline, with voters turning to the DUP. Currently led by Sir Reg Empey.<br /> <br /> '''Social Democratic and Labour Party'''(SDLP): A left-wing nationalist party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate John Hume is a former leader. The SDLP were the largest nationalist party until recently, when they were overtaken by Sinn Féin. Unlike SF, the SDLP have always advocated a non-violent and constitutional approach to achieving a United Ireland. Current leader is Mark Durkan.<br /> <br /> '''Alliance Party''': The Alliance party identifies as neither unionist or nationalist and thus receives support from both communities. The current leader is David Ford.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Religion ==<br /> The Republic of Ireland is predominantly Roman Catholic in religion(88%). Membership of the Church of Ireland runs at about 3%, with most of the rest of the population belonging to other Protestant/Christian denominations. There has reportedly been great reilgious persecution of Protestants in such a deeply Roman Catholic country.&lt;includeonly&gt;[[Category:Articles with unsourced statements]]&lt;/includeonly&gt;&lt;small&gt;&lt;sup&gt;[[Conservapedia:Commandments|&amp;#91;Citation Needed&amp;#93;]]&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/small&gt; There is a small Jewish community in Ireland. There was a pogrom in Limerick once.&lt;includeonly&gt;[[Category:Articles with unsourced statements]]&lt;/includeonly&gt;&lt;small&gt;&lt;sup&gt;[[Conservapedia:Commandments|&amp;#91;Citation Needed&amp;#93;]]&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/small&gt; The Muslim community has grown recently due to immigration. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.cso.ie/statistics/popnclassbyreligionandsex2002.htm]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Northern Ireland has a Protestant majority (53%), the main denominations being Presbyterian and Church of Ireland (Anglican/Episcopal). Roughly 44% of the population are Roman Catholic, with most of the remainder professing no religion. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nicensus2001.gov.uk/nica/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Cultural&amp;mainArea=&amp;mainLevel=]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references/&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Countries]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Russian_Civil_War&diff=53104 2007-03-21T01:34:31Z

<p>Boreas: </p> <hr /> <div>The Russian Civil War was a civil war in [[Russia]] from 1918 to 1921. It left the country in economic ruin.<br /> <br /> The war was fought between the [[Bolshevik]] lead [[Red Army]] and the [[Royalist]] [[White Army]]. <br /> <br /> Several other nations intervened in the war on the side of the Whites, including [[France]], the [[UK]], the [[USA]] and [[Poland]]. Despite this assistance, and partly due to internal disunity, the Whites lost the War to the Red Army.</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Atheism&diff=52989 2007-03-21T00:44:34Z

<p>Boreas: Added link</p> <hr /> <div>'''Atheism''' is disbelief in the existence of a [[God|god]] or gods.<br /> <br /> Well-known atheists include [[Stephen Hawking]], [[Stephen Jay Gould]], [[Carl Sagan]], [[Richard Dawkins]], [[Douglas Adams]], [[William Borden]],[[Sam Harris]], [[Jeremey Alliadiaere]], [[Gary Neville]] and [[Ricky Gervais]].<br /> <br /> == Atheist morality ==<br /> <br /> Atheists often base their [[moral code]] upon [[emotion]], [[experience]], empirically derived ethics, or some combination thereof.{{fact}} It is important to note, however, that just as many religions disagree on specific moral points, and there is sharp disagreement within many religions (e.g. denominational disputes within Christianity), atheists differ substantially from each other in the details of their moral beliefs. Thus, it is difficult at best to summarize the beliefs of the &quot;average atheist.&quot;<br /> <br /> Atheists typically hold that no religious text can be our only source of morality although all of them may contain useful ideas or principles. As atheists do not believe in any form of deity, books purported to be based upon the wishes of such deities are inherently suspect. Additionally, many atheists point out that all religious texts contain, and often ascribe to God, extremely immoral acts such as the Israelite expulsion of heathen nations from Canaan (i.e. [[ethnic cleansing]]), the stoning of [http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/gay/long.htm homosexuals] to death, questionable treatment of [http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/gen/19.html#1 women] and the institution of [http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/says_about/slavery.html slavery]. Additionally, atheists often point to a large number of prominent [http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/by_name.html contradictions] present in the bible and other religious texts. The presence of such contradictions challenges claims that these works are the infallible word of God.<br /> <br /> Atheists sometimes subscribe to the secular humanist idea that it is far more desirable to do what is right because you believe that it is right, rather than because you fear divine punishment or desire divine reward. This view is illustrated by celebrated atheist [[Albert Einstein]]:<br /> <br /> :“A man’s ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death”.<br /> <br /> Atheists sometimes condemn religious desires for exclusive reward (and the punishment of others) such as are found in all religious texts. <br /> <br /> == Origins ==<br /> <br /> Many atheists claim that atheism has existed for as long as man and that religion was invented by man.<br /> <br /> A Christian would claim it can be traced back to specific date, as Adam and Eve believed in God so at some point somebody must have stopped believing.<br /> <br /> === Christian View of Origins ===<br /> <br /> It is difficult to trace the origins of atheism as a result of the incomplete historic record. It is known that ancient Greece produced a theory of materialism as early as the 5th century BC. Materialism is a philosophical position that the material is all that exists. Therefore, it automatically excludes immaterial beings. In addition to materialism the Greeks also considered Spiritualism, in which the material world is an illusion and only spirit exists, as well as dualism, in which both the material and the spiritual exist (e.g. Christianity). It is important to note that while many atheists are strict materialists, some are not. As an example, some philosophical systems generally regarded as religions (i.e. Buddhism) lack deities and thus could be regarded as &quot;atheistic faiths,&quot; or forms of non-materialistic atheism. In any case, it is likely impossible to determine the true origins of atheism as it was presumably the default belief of most humans prior to the development of religion.<br /> <br /> The writer of the Book of Psalms knew of atheists and atheism and registered disapproval in Psalm 14: &quot;The Fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.&quot; The book of Psalms precedes the 5th century BC by hundreds of years {{fact}}.<br /> <br /> == Prejudice Against Atheists ==<br /> Research by Penny Edgell, Joseph Gerteis and Douglas Hartman in the American Sociological Review [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asoca/asr/2006/00000071/00000002/art00003 indicates] that most Americans would be more willing to vote for a gay or Muslim presidential candidate than an atheist. The same study indicates that 47.6% of Americans would disapprove of their child marrying an atheist. More recent [http://www.galluppoll.com/content/default.aspx?ci=26611&amp;pg=1 Gallup polls] confirm this finding and indicate that atheists are among the most disliked minorities in the United States. In addition to discrimination in voting practices and marriage, former President George H.W. Bush has previously [http://www.positiveatheism.org/writ/ghwbush.htm stated] that he does not believe atheists should be considered citizens of the United States.<br /> <br /> &lt;b&gt;Penny, Edgell &amp; Hartmann 2006- Table 1 (Percentage of respondents answering affirmatively):&lt;/b&gt;<br /> {| class=&quot;wikitable&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! <br /> ! This Group Does Not At All Agree with My Vision of American Society:<br /> ! I Would Disapprove if My Child Wanted to Marry a Member of This Group:<br /> |-<br /> | Atheist<br /> | 39.6%<br /> | 47.6%<br /> |-<br /> | Muslim<br /> | 26.3%<br /> | 33.5%<br /> |-<br /> | Homosexual<br /> | 22.6%<br /> | NA<br /> |-<br /> |Conservative Christian<br /> | 13.5%<br /> | 6.9%<br /> |-<br /> | Recent Immigrant<br /> | 12.5%<br /> | Not Asked<br /> |-<br /> | Hispanic<br /> | 7.6%<br /> | 18.5%<br /> |-<br /> | Jew<br /> | 7.4%<br /> | 11.8%<br /> |-<br /> | Asian American<br /> | 7.0%<br /> | 18.5%<br /> |-<br /> |African American<br /> | 4.6%<br /> | 27.2%<br /> |-<br /> | White American<br /> | 2.2%<br /> | 2.3%<br /> |}<br /> <br /> However this may not be the case in all nations, in the Great Britain 2001 census, 15.5% of the population identify themselves as having no religious beliefs [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=293 2001 Census]. It is important to note, however, that those who report having no religious beliefs are not necessarily atheists. Instead, to say that one has &quot;no religion&quot; can simply mean that one does not participate in any established religion while, nonetheless, believing in God. Similarly, some atheists consider atheism to be a religion and will not respond that they have &quot;no religion&quot; on surveys. As an example, 14.39% of the respondents to the 2004 General Social Survey in the United States claim to have &quot;no religion.&quot; Of a subsample (197 respondents) of those persons with no religion who answered a second question on the origins of man, 19.80% believe that God created man while an additional 43.15% believe that God created man by guiding evolution over time. Thus, cumulatively 62.95% of those with &quot;no religion&quot; still believe that God was directly responsible for the creation of man in some fashion. These data are available and can be analyzed online [http://sda.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/hsda?harcsda+gss04 GSS Data Online].<br /> <br /> More specific research on atheists conducted in 2006 [http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131 suggests] that the true proportion of Atheists is 4% in the United States and 17% in Great Britain. However, the Christian research organization, the Barna Group, [http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&amp;BarnaUpdateID=160 reports] that 12% of Americans are atheist or agnostic.<br /> <br /> == The Problem of Evil==<br /> <br /> One argument against belief in all-powerful entities ('gods') is the problem of evil. First identified by the philosopher and materialist Epicurus (341-270 BC), this problem points out the difficulty created by the mere existence of evil:<br /> <br /> :Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. <br /> :Is he able, but not willing? then he is malevolent. <br /> :Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? <br /> :Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?<br /> <br /> A number of responses to this logical paradox have been put forth including those which assert human ignorance as the culprit, the concept of free will and the specific writings in some faiths which discuss the co-existence of good and evil (such as the book of Job in the Christian and Jewish faiths).[http://www.iep.utm.edu/e/evil-log.htm] Many atheists, however, do not regard such evasions as convincing solutions to the underlying problem.<br /> <br /> ==External Links==<br /> <br /> *[http://creationwiki.org/Decline_of_atheism Decline of Atheism -CreationWiki]<br /> *[http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf European Commission report on Social values, Science and Technology, includes info on Religious beliefs]<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Category:Religion]]<br /> [[Category:Philosophy]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Ireland&diff=52927 2007-03-21T00:18:06Z

<p>Boreas: Changed format of references</p> <hr /> <div>[[Image:Ireland.gif|right]]<br /> <br /> '''Ireland''' is an [[island]] off the northwestern coast of [[Europe]]. It is divided between the Republic of Ireland, which consists of twenty-six counties and the traditional provinces of Munster, Leinster, Connaught, and three of the nine counties of Ulster, and the six counties of Northern Ireland, which comprise the remainder of the province of Ulster and are part of the [[United Kingdom]]. According to the last census the Republic of Ireland has a population of 4,234,925&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/environment/copy_of_census/]&lt;/ref&gt; Northern Ireland has a population of 1,685,267 (2002 est.)&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nicensus2001.gov.uk/nica/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Demography&amp;mainArea=&amp;mainLevel=]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> The primary language is English, however, the official language of the Republic is ''Gaeilge'', or ''Irish''. In the Irish language the official name of Ireland (which appears on all coins, stamps, and government documents) is ''Éire''. The flag is a tricolour, the green representing the green (Nationialist) tradition of Ireland, the orange representing the Orangemen (Loyalists) of Ulster, and the white, the peace between them.<br /> <br /> == History ==<br /> <br /> Historically, Ireland's culture has been distinct from other regional cultures, as it was the one of the only [[Celtic]] territories never conquered by the [[Roman Empire]]. <br /> Ireland suffered from regular Viking incursions from the late 8th century until 1014, when High King Brian Boru defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf. <br /> <br /> In the 12th century, the Pope granted Ireland to the English crown as a papal fief. The English however, were unable to bring the entire island under their control until the 17th century, after the defeat of the Irish in the Nine Years War. King James I of England (King James VI of Scotland) decided to plant Ulster, in the North of Ireland with English and Scottish Protestant settlers, in an attempt to prevent future rebellions.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.hoganstand.com/general/Identity/stories/ulster.htm]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 1690, the Catholic King James II and his Irish allies were defeated by the Protestant William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne. This defeat ushered in an era of Protestant dominance in Ireland. A series of regulations limiting the status of the Catholic majority were passed between 1691 and 1760, known as the Penal Laws. These laws also discriminated against Presbyterians and other dissenting Protestants, who along with Catholics were forced to pay tithes to the Anglican Church.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.risingroadtours.com/a7_penallaws.htm]&lt;/ref&gt; &lt;ref&gt;[http://prorev.com/irish.htm]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> In 1798, a combined Protestant and Catholic Republican rebellion was defeated. This led to the Act of Union being passed in 1801, under which Ireland became a part of the United Kingdom. The Irish economy declined rapidly and the Great Famine ''An Gorta Mór'' broke out in 1845. The famine killed roughly one million, or one eighth of the entire population. It led to mass emigration to the United States, Canada and to Britain.<br /> <br /> Pro-nationalist sentiment continued to rise and the Irish tried to secure their own parliament. Opposition to this arose in the predominantly Protestant and Unionist province of Ulster which allied with the British Conservative Party in an attempt to block &quot;Home Rule&quot;. The outbreak of war in 1914 delayed the enaction of Home Rule and led to growing agitation amonst Irish Nationalists. The Easter Rising of 1916 was put down by the British, but their heavy-handed approach increased opposition to their rule. A war of independence broke out in 1919, the Irish using guerrilla tactics to undermine British rule in the country. The war with the British ended in 1921 with the British retaining control of six counties in the province of [[Ulster]]. The territory independent of the British became the [[Irish Free State]], while the territory controlled by the British became [[Northern Ireland]]. Later, in 1937, the Free State adopted a new constitution, changing its name to [[Éire]]. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107648.html]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Politics ==<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Republic of Ireland====<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The Republic of Ireland uses [[Proportional Representation]] meaning that there are a large number of political parties. The 166 seat Irish Dáil(parliament) sits in Leinster House, Dublin. In recent times the country has been governed mostly by coalitions generally of either Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats or Fine Gael and Labour.<br /> <br /> '''Fianna Fail''': (Pronounced Fee-Na Fall which is Irish for 'Soldiers of Destiny'). Ireland's main political party, they do not class themselves as either left or right wing but are generally considered centrist and traditionally the choice for republicans due to its foundation by Eamon de Valera; considered by his supporters to be the greatest of all Irish nationalists. Traditionally the party of Big Business and the farming community. Currently the largest party in the ruling coalition. Led by Bertie Ahern, current [[Taoiseach]]([[Prime Minister]]) of the Republic of Ireland.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.fiannafail.ie/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Fine Gael''': (Pronounced Finna Gale, Irish for 'Family of the Irish'). Ireland's second largest party. Fine Gael is traditionally socially and fiscally conservative. Under the leadership of [[Garret FitzGerald]] in the 1980's, the party embraced [[social democracy]]. Today the party likes to characterize itself as a party of the &quot;progressive centre&quot;. Led by [[Enda Kenny]]. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.finegael.com/index.cfm]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Labour Party''': A social democratic left-wing party, similar to the Labour Party of the British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]]. [[Pat Rabitte]] is the leader of the Labour Party.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.labour.ie/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Progressive Democrats''': The second party in the ruling coalition, it is very right wing on economic issues, favouring low-taxation, pro-business policies, but are very liberal on social issues. [[Michael McDowell]] is the current leader and [[Tánaiste]](deputy Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.progressivedemocrats.ie/index-main.php]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Green Party''': A left-wing party in favour of environmental protection, renewable energy and a stronger system of social security. Led by Trevor Sargent.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.greenparty.ie/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Sinn Féin''': (Pronounced Shin Fane, Irish for 'Ourselves') Ireland's oldest poltical party, it is closely connected with the IRA, a terrorist/guerrilla movement that sought a United Irish Republic. They have recently embraced a more democratic approach. They are a left-wing socialist party. They organise in all 32 counties of Ireland. Led by Gerry Adams. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.sinnfein.ie/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Socialist Party''': A left-wing Trotskyite party. They oppose capitalism and seek a United Socialist Ireland. Led by Joe Higgins.<br /> <br /> The 26 counties officially became a Republic in 1949.<br /> <br /> ====Northern Ireland====<br /> <br /> The political parties of Northern Ireland are mostly divided on the national question (whether to remain within the UK or become part of a United Ireland), rather than on a left-right basis. They contest elections for the [[British Parliament]](where Northern Ireland is allocated 18 seats) and the 108 seat [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]. <br /> <br /> Westminster elections use the Plurality voting system, whereas the Assembly Elections use the Proportional Representation(PR) system.<br /> <br /> The major parties are:<br /> <br /> '''Democratic Unionist Party'''(DUP): Currently the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland. The DUP is a right-wing, hardline unionist party currently led by its founder, the Reverend Ian RK Paisley. The party has strong links with Rev. Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church.<br /> <br /> '''Sinn Féin'''<br /> Currently the largest nationalist party in Northern Ireland, they sit in the Irish parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly, but refuse to take their seats in the British Parliament in Westminster.<br /> <br /> '''Ulster Unionist Party'''(UUP): A right-wing party, which had strong links with the British Conservative Party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate David Trimble is a former leader. Currently in decline, with voters turning to the DUP. Currently led by Sir Reg Empey.<br /> <br /> '''Social Democratic and Labour Party'''(SDLP): A left-wing nationalist party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate John Hume is a former leader. The SDLP were the largest nationalist party until recently, when they were overtaken by Sinn Féin. Unlike SF, the SDLP have always advocated a non-violent and constitutional approach to achieving a United Ireland. Current leader is Mark Durkan.<br /> <br /> '''Alliance Party''': The Alliance party identifies as neither unionist or nationalist and thus receives support from both communities. The current leader is David Ford.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Religion ==<br /> The Republic of Ireland is predominantly Roman Catholic in religion(88%). Membership of the Church of Ireland runs at about 3%, with most of the rest of the population belonging to other Protestant/Christian denominations. There is a small Jewish community in Ireland. The Muslim community has grown recently due to immigration. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.cso.ie/statistics/popnclassbyreligionandsex2002.htm]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Northern Ireland has a Protestant majority (53%), the main denominations being Presbyterian and Church of Ireland (Anglican/Episcopal). Roughly 44% of the population are Roman Catholic, with most of the remainder professing no religion. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.nicensus2001.gov.uk/nica/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Cultural&amp;mainArea=&amp;mainLevel=]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references/&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Countries]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Ireland&diff=52899 2007-03-21T00:07:01Z

<p>Boreas: </p> <hr /> <div>[[Image:Ireland.gif|right]]<br /> <br /> '''Ireland''' is an [[island]] off the northwestern coast of [[Europe]]. It is divided between the Republic of Ireland, which consists of twenty-six counties and the traditional provinces of Munster, Leinster, Connaught, and three of the nine counties of Ulster, and the six counties of Northern Ireland, which comprise the remainder of the province of Ulster and are part of the [[United Kingdom]]. According to the last census the Republic of Ireland has a population of 4,234,925[http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/environment/copy_of_census/ (1)] Northern Ireland has a population of 1,685,267 (2002 est.)[http://www.nicensus2001.gov.uk/nica/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Demography&amp;mainArea=&amp;mainLevel= (2)]<br /> <br /> The primary language is English, however, the official language of the Republic is ''Gaeilge'', or ''Irish''. In the Irish language the official name of Ireland (which appears on all coins, stamps, and government documents) is ''Éire''. The flag is a tricolour, the green representing the green (Nationialist) tradition of Ireland, the orange representing the Orangemen (Loyalists) of Ulster, and the white, the peace between them.<br /> <br /> == History ==<br /> <br /> Historically, Ireland's culture has been distinct from other regional cultures, as it was the one of the only [[Celtic]] territories never conquered by the [[Roman Empire]]. <br /> Ireland suffered from regular Viking incursions from the late 8th century until 1014, when High King Brian Boru defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf. <br /> <br /> In the 12th century, the Pope granted Ireland to the English crown as a papal fief. The English however, were unable to bring the entire island under their control until the 17th century, after the defeat of the Irish in the Nine Years War. King James I of England (King James VI of Scotland) decided to plant Ulster, in the North of Ireland with English and Scottish Protestant settlers, in an attempt to prevent future rebellions. [[http://www.hoganstand.com/general/Identity/stories/ulster.htm (3)]]<br /> <br /> In 1690, the Catholic King James II and his Irish allies were defeated by the Protestant William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne. This defeat ushered in an era of Protestant dominance in Ireland. A series of regulations limiting the status of the Catholic majority were passed between 1691 and 1760, known as the Penal Laws. These laws also discriminated against Presbyterians and other dissenting Protestants, who along with Catholics were forced to pay tithes to the Anglican Church.[http://www.risingroadtours.com/a7_penallaws.htm (4)] [http://prorev.com/irish.htm (5)]<br /> <br /> In 1798, a combined Protestant and Catholic Republican rebellion was defeated. This led to the Act of Union being passed in 1801, under which Ireland became a part of the United Kingdom. The Irish economy declined rapidly and the Great Famine ''An Gorta Mór'' broke out in 1845. The famine killed roughly one million, or one eighth of the entire population. It led to mass emigration to the United States, Canada and to Britain.<br /> <br /> Pro-nationalist sentiment continued to rise and the Irish tried to secure their own parliament. Opposition to this arose in the predominantly Protestant and Unionist province of Ulster which allied with the British Conservative Party in an attempt to block &quot;Home Rule&quot;. The outbreak of war in 1914 delayed the enaction of Home Rule and led to growing agitation amonst Irish Nationalists. The Easter Rising of 1916 was put down by the British, but their heavy-handed approach increased opposition to their rule. A war of independence broke out in 1919, the Irish using guerrilla tactics to undermine British rule in the country. The war with the British ended in 1921 with the British retaining control of six counties in the province of [[Ulster]]. The territory independent of the British became the [[Irish Free State]], while the territory controlled by the British became [[Northern Ireland]]. Later, in 1937, the Free State adopted a new constitution, changing its name to [[Éire]]. [http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107648.html (6)]<br /> <br /> == Politics ==<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Republic of Ireland====<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The Republic of Ireland uses [[Proportional Representation]] meaning that there are a large number of political parties. The 166 seat Irish Dáil(parliament) sits in Leinster House, Dublin. In recent times the country has been governed mostly by coalitions generally of either Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats or Fine Gael and Labour.<br /> <br /> '''Fianna Fail''': (Pronounced Fee-Na Fall which is Irish for 'Soldiers of Destiny'). Ireland's main political party, they do not class themselves as either left or right wing but are generally considered centrist and traditionally the choice for republicans due to its foundation by Eamon de Valera; considered by his supporters to be the greatest of all Irish nationalists. Traditionally the party of Big Business and the farming community. Currently the largest party in the ruling coalition. Led by Bertie Ahern, current [[Taoiseach]]([[Prime Minister]]) of the Republic of Ireland. [http://www.fiannafail.ie/ (7)]<br /> <br /> '''Fine Gael''': (Pronounced Finna Gale, Irish for 'Family of the Irish'). Ireland's second largest party. Fine Gael is traditionally socially and fiscally conservative. Under the leadership of [[Garret FitzGerald]] in the 1980's, the party embraced [[social democracy]]. Today the party likes to characterize itself as a party of the &quot;progressive centre&quot;. Led by [[Enda Kenny]]. [http://www.finegael.com/index.cfm (8)]<br /> <br /> '''Labour Party''': A social democratic left-wing party, similar to the Labour Party of the British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]]. [[Pat Rabitte]] is the leader of the Labour Party. [http://www.labour.ie/ (9)]<br /> <br /> '''Progressive Democrats''': The second party in the ruling coalition, it is very right wing on economic issues, favouring low-taxation, pro-business policies, but are very liberal on social issues. [[Michael McDowell]] is the current leader and [[Tánaiste]](deputy Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland. [http://www.progressivedemocrats.ie/index-main.php (10)]<br /> <br /> '''Green Party''': A left-wing party in favour of environmental protection, renewable energy and a stronger system of social security. Led by Trevor Sargent. [http://www.greenparty.ie/ (11)]<br /> <br /> '''Sinn Féin''': (Pronounced Shin Fane, Irish for 'Ourselves') Ireland's oldest poltical party, it is closely connected with the IRA, a terrorist/guerrilla movement that sought a United Irish Republic. They have recently embraced a more democratic approach. They are a left-wing socialist party. They organise in all 32 counties of Ireland. Led by Gerry Adams. [http://www.sinnfein.ie/ (12)]<br /> <br /> '''Socialist Party''': A left-wing Trotskyite party. They oppose capitalism and seek a United Socialist Ireland. Led by Joe Higgins.<br /> <br /> The 26 counties officially became a Republic in 1949.<br /> <br /> ====Northern Ireland====<br /> <br /> The political parties of Northern Ireland are mostly divided on the national question (whether to remain within the UK or become part of a United Ireland), rather than on a left-right basis. They contest elections for the [[British Parliament]](where Northern Ireland is allocated 18 seats) and the 108 seat [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]. <br /> <br /> Westminster elections use the Plurality voting system, whereas the Assembly Elections use the Proportional Representation(PR) system.<br /> <br /> The major parties are:<br /> <br /> '''Democratic Unionist Party'''(DUP): Currently the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland. The DUP is a right-wing, hardline unionist party currently led by its founder, the Reverend Ian RK Paisley. The party has strong links with Rev. Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church.<br /> <br /> '''Sinn Féin'''<br /> Currently the largest nationalist party in Northern Ireland, they sit in the Irish parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly, but refuse to take their seats in the British Parliament in Westminster.<br /> <br /> '''Ulster Unionist Party'''(UUP): A right-wing party, which had strong links with the British Conservative Party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate David Trimble is a former leader. Currently in decline, with voters turning to the DUP. Currently led by Sir Reg Empey.<br /> <br /> '''Social Democratic and Labour Party'''(SDLP): A left-wing nationalist party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate John Hume is a former leader. The SDLP were the largest nationalist party until recently, when they were overtaken by Sinn Féin. Unlike SF, the SDLP have always advocated a non-violent and constitutional approach to achieving a United Ireland. Current leader is Mark Durkan.<br /> <br /> '''Alliance Party''': The Alliance party identifies as neither unionist or nationalist and thus receives support from both communities. The current leader is David Ford.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Religion ==<br /> The Republic of Ireland is predominantly Roman Catholic in religion(88%). Membership of the Church of Ireland runs at about 3%, with most of the rest of the population belonging to other Protestant/Christian denominations. There is a small Jewish community in Ireland. The Muslim community has grown recently due to immigration. [[http://www.cso.ie/statistics/popnclassbyreligionandsex2002.htm (13)]]<br /> <br /> Northern Ireland has a Protestant majority (53%), the main denominations being Presbyterian and Church of Ireland (Anglican/Episcopal). Roughly 44% of the population are Roman Catholic, with most of the remainder professing no religion. [[http://www.nicensus2001.gov.uk/nica/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Cultural&amp;mainArea=&amp;mainLevel= (14)]] <br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references/&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Countries]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Augusto_Pinochet&diff=52886 2007-03-21T00:02:22Z

<p>Boreas: </p> <hr /> <div>General Augusto Pinochet (Ugarte) (1915–2006) was a general and President of [[Chile]] who overthrew the [[Democracy|democratically]] elected government of President Salvador Allende on Sept. 11, 1973. General Pinochet then headed a military government for 16 years (1974-1990) as he fought and defeated communist opponents in Chile. Pinochet, at one time the right hand in the military of [[Salvador Allende]], believed Chile was in danger , and decided to take action. After the coup, Pinochet saw support from America. <br /> <br /> General Pinochet instituted free market reforms in Chile in the 1970s that resulted in lower inflation and an economic boom from 1976 to 1979. He held a plebiscite on his rule and 75% of the people affirmed their support for him.<br /> <br /> A new constitution was adopted in Chile in 1981, which authorized General Pinochet to serve as president for another eight-year term, to be followed by a plebiscite on his presidency.<br /> <br /> Pinochet moved Chile into a market economy, privatizing many inefficient government businesses, and opening the country to foreign investment. The stability that his government gave encouraged foreign investors to come to Chile. He also started one of the first [[private pension accounts]] pension systems in the world, which has been highly successful. <br /> <br /> As promised, President Pinochet held another plebiscite in October 1988 on the issue of whether he should continue as president. He was defeated by a vote of 55-43%, and subsequent free elections were won by the Christian Democrat Patricio Aylwin, who was installed as president on March 11, 1990.<br /> <br /> General Pinochet was a graduate of the School of the Americas at Ft. Benning, GA.<br /> <br /> Pinochet died of a heart attack on December 10, 2006.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/world/americas/10cnd-pinochet-timeline.html?ex=1174449600&amp;en=7b24f9d3e63ff60a&amp;ei=5070 NYTimes&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> == Criticism ==<br /> <br /> <br /> Pinochet was responsible for the death of at least 3,197 of his opponents &lt;ref&gt;http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/pinochet.html&lt;/ref&gt;. In 1998, he was arrested in London pursuant to a warrant issued in Spain for human rights violations during his time as Chilean president. Pinochet was subsequently returned to Chile on grounds of ill health, where he was indicted and charged with kidnapping 19 supporters of Salvador Allende during the 1973 coup in which Pinochet took power. The Chilean Supreme Court suspended the prosecution in July 2002 due to Pinochet's continuing poor health. [1] <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> == References ==<br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Category:Political people|Pinochet, Augusto]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Joseph_McCarthy&diff=48720 2007-03-19T19:23:07Z

<p>Boreas: Vandalism</p> <hr /> <div>''' Joseph Raymond McCarthy''' ([[November 14]], [[1908]] – [[May 2]], [[1957]]) was a [[Republican]] [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] from the state of [[Wisconsin]] between 1947 and 1957. Beginning in 1950, McCarthy became the most visible public figure to stand up against a perceived [[communist]] infiltration of the [[United States]]. He was noted for claiming that there were large numbers of [[Communist Party|Communists]] and [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] spies and sympathizers inside the federal government. Ultimately, his aggressive anticommunist tactics led to his being censured by the [[United States Senate]]. The term &quot;[[McCarthyism]],&quot; coined in 1950 in reference to McCarthy's practices, was soon applied to similar dogmatic pursuits. <br /> <br /> ==Early life==<br /> Born and raised on a Wisconsin farm, McCarthy earned a law degree at [[Marquette University]] in 1935 and was elected as a circuit judge in 1939, the youngest in state history.<br /> <br /> At age 33, McCarthy volunteered for the [[United States Marine Corps]] and served during [[World War II]], although he was still a circuit judge at that time. He maintained his post even while he was away for years. He served mainly as a briefing officer, who was responsible for informing pilots of their mission. (4) McCarthy was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1952, but it was later discovered that he had exaggerated the number of missions he had flown in order to be eligible for this award. It was later revealed that he had exaggerated other aspects of his service as well (1,2).<br /> <br /> While serving in the Pacific he ran in the Republican primary for Senate in 1944, but lost to Alexander Wiley, a longtime independent incumbent. He successfully ran again two years later defeating [[Robert M. La Follette, Jr]].<br /> <br /> ==Tensions of the times==<br /> <br /> In 1947&lt;ref&gt;NSA Archives, National Cyptological Museum, [http://www-personal.umich.edu/~sanders/214/other/handouts/VenonaChrono.html Venona Chronology]; &quot;~September 1: Col. Carter Clarke briefs the FBI's liaison officer Robert J. Lamphere on the break into Soviet diplomatic traffic. September: Carter W. Clarke of G-2 advises S. Wesley Reynolds, FBI, of successes at Arlington Hall on KGB espionage messages.&quot;<br /> &lt;/ref&gt;, it was apparent that no individual in the U.S. Government realized that evidence of massive Soviet espionage within the government was developing on twin tracks. There was an FBI counterintelligence investigation&lt;ref&gt;Moynihan Commission on Government Secrecy, [http://www.fas.org/sgp/library/moynihan/foreword.html Appendix A, 7. The Cold War]; &quot;In November 1945 Elizabeth Bentley informed the FBI of her activities as a Soviet courier, which in turn led to renewed interest in Chambers. In late August or early September 1947, the FBI was informed that the Army Security Agency had begun to break into Soviet espionage messages&quot;. &lt;/ref&gt; which empanelled a grand jury in New York, and the Army Signal Intelligence Service at Arlington Hall reading Soviet cipher decrypts&lt;ref&gt;National Security Agency, Venona Archives, Introductory History of VENONA and Guide to the Translations,[http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps33230/www.nsa.gov/docs/venona/monographs/monograph-1.html The VENONA Breakthroughs]; &quot;An Arlington Hall report on 22 July 1947 showed that the Soviet message traffic contained dozens, probably hundreds, of covernames, many of KGB agents, including ANTENNA and LIBERAL (later identified as Julius Rosenberg). One message mentioned that LIBERAL's wife was named &quot;Ethel.&quot; General Carter W. Clarke, the assistant G-2, called the FBI liaison officer to G-2 and told him that the Army had begun to break into Soviet intelligence service traffic, and that the traffic indicated a massive Soviet espionage effort in the U.S.&lt;/ref&gt; It was a case of one hand not knowing what the other was doing. So when McCarthy later made charges that the Truman administration knowingly protected Soviet agents, on the surface, this appeared to large sectors&lt;ref&gt;National Counterintelligence Center (NACIC), [http://www.nacic.gov/history/CIReaderPlain/Vol3Chap1.pdf Counterintelligence Reader, Vol. 3, Chap. 1, pg.47], &quot;Polls taken at the time revealed that a majority of Americans believed that Communism at home and abroad was a serious threat to US security&quot;.&lt;/ref&gt; of the American public&lt;ref&gt;Margareet Chase Smith, [http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/SmithDeclaration.pdf Declaration of Conscience, pg. 2], 1 June 1950, U.C. Congress, Senate, Congressional Recoird, 81st Congress, 2nd sess., pp. 7894-95. &quot;The Democratic administration has greatly lost the confidence of the American people by its complacency to the threat of communism here at home and the leak of vital secrets to Russia through key officials of the Democtaric administration. There are enough proved cases to make this point without diluting our criticism with unproved charges&quot;; &quot;..there have been enough proved cases, such as the ''Amerasia'' case, the Hiss case, the Coplon case, the Gold case, to cause nationwide distrust and strong suspicion that there may be something to the unproved, sensational accusations&quot;.&lt;/ref&gt; as true.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> *Beginning 24 June 1948 the first major crisis of the [[Cold War]] exposed the rift in the [[Allied Powers|Alliance of World War II]] which had defeated Germany, when Soviet troops blockaded access points to Berlin, sparking the first Berlin Crisis, and lasting a year.<br /> <br /> *On 16 August [[Harry Dexter White]], the first head of the International Monetary Fund, a keystone post war institution, died of a heart attack three days after denying involvement with KGB during [[World War II]] before the [[House Unamerican Activities Committee]] (HUAC). His involvement was later positively determined by the FBI through evidence gathered by the Venona project as a Soviet agent code named &quot;Jurist&quot;.[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/FBI_Memorandum_identifying_Harry_Dexter_White_as_agent_Jurist]<br /> <br /> *In late summer of 1949, on 29 August the Soviet atomic bomb project was revealed when it exploded a replica of [[Fat Man]]; the [[Soviet Union]] had gained nuclear technology by espionage from the United States, which spent $4 billion dollars (about $48 billion in today's dollars) to develop during World War II.<br /> <br /> *Later that fall, on 1 October Maoist forces were victorious after the effective [[subversion (political)|subversion]] of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|President Roosevelt]]’s support for the [[Chinese Nationalist]] government during World War II.<br /> <br /> *On 21 January 1950, [[Alger Hiss]], the General Secretary of the [[United Nations]] Charter meeting, was convicted of perjury for testimony before HUAC regarding espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union. That same month, physicist [[Klaus Fuchs]] confessed in Great Britain to espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union while working on the [[Manhattan Project]] at Los Alamos National Laboratory during the War.<br /> <br /> *On 25 June, the [[Korean War]] began when North Korea invaded South Korea; [[President Truman]] authorized deployment of American troops while the Allied Powers provided little or no assistance. The United States essentially stood alone in a confrontation that had the prospect of nuclear weapons being used — nuclear weapons technology that had been given to the enemy by US citizens, some within the government. Three weeks later, on 17 July, [[Julius Rosenberg]] was arrested on charges of espionage regarding the transfer of technology to the Soviet Union to build the atomic weapon.<br /> <br /> *In May 1951, two members of the [[Cambridge Five]] — [[Donald MacLean]], Second Secretary of the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., and [[Guy Burgess]] — defected to Moscow after it was discovered MacLean transmitted information on the atom bomb from the British Embassy to the Soviet Union during World War II. <br /> <br /> McCarthy sought to characterize President Truman and the Democratic party as soft on or even in league with the Communists. McCarthy's allegations fell flat with Truman who was unaware of [[Venona project]] decrypts which corroborated [[Elizabeth Bentley]]'s debriefing after her defection from the Communists.<br /> <br /> McCarthy made charges of Communist infiltration of the State Department, the administration of [[Harry Truman|President Truman]], [[Voice of America]], and a United States Army research laboratory. In 1953 McCarthy claimed that employees at Voice of America, were engaging in deliberate sabotage, selecting sites for transmitters that would make it easier for the Soviets to jam signals. Attention was also focused on the content of VOA broadcasts, which in Truman’s time had a policy of “balanced presentation” that did not exclude communist writings. VOA overseas libraries were scrutinized, and among the several hundred books that ended up being purged from the libraries at the urging of McCarthy’s staff were works by Dashiell Hammett, Lillian Hellman, [[Jean Paul Sartre]], and Theodore H. White.<br /> <br /> The VOA hearings that resulted often involved closely questioning witnesses, not about the transmitters, but about their past and present political or religious orientations. Director of Religious Programming Roger Lyons was asked if he was or had ever been an unbeliever. Lyons insisted “I am not an atheist. I believe in God.” When he mentioned that he had studied in Switzerland under associates of Carl Jung, McCarthy asked if “this professor” attended a church or a synagogue. &lt;ref&gt;“Time Magazine, March 16, 1953” .&quot;&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Reed Harris, acting chief of the IIA, was repeatedly questioned over three days of testimony about statements he’d made in a book he’d written twenty one years before as a college student at Columbia University. (The offending statement had been the assertion that communists had the right to teach in the public schools.) Harris resigned from his job shortly after appearing before the committee. &lt;ref&gt;”McCarthy Hearings, 1953-54 Vol 1. February 23, 1953&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Dr. Julius Hlavaty, a teacher of Mathematics at Bronx High School and the first Chairman of that prestigious target school’s mathematics department, was called as a witness because of a broadcast he’d made in 1952. After being questioned about his personal beliefs and asked if he were a Communist, Dr. Hlavaty refused to answer, which resulted in his dismissal from the New York School system. &lt;ref&gt;“Time Magazine, March 23, 1953&quot;&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> One potential witness, Voice of America engineer, Raymond Kaplan, was so frightened at being called before McCarthy's committee that he committed suicide after writing a lengthy suicide note, which specifically referenced the issue he was being called to testify about, that being the placement of transmitters. &quot;I guess I am the patsy for any mistakes made,&quot; he wrote. “....You see, once the dogs are set on you everything you have done since the beginning of time is suspect,” he wrote. “I have never done anything that I consider wrong but I can’t take the pressure upon my shoulders any more.” &lt;ref&gt;The life and Times of Joe McCarthy: A Biography, Thomas C. Reeves, pg 485&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> After the VOA investigation, many of its problems were corrected. No evidence of sabotage was found, but hundreds of employees were fired, some overseas libraries were closed, and some foreign language programming discontinued.<br /> <br /> He tried to expose government employees as CPUSA members and security risks. During Senate debate on the Communist Control Act of 1954, [[Senator Hubert Humphrey]] proposed making membership in the CPUSA a [[felony]]. &lt;ref&gt;McAuliff, Mary Sperling (1978). ''Crisis on the Left: Cold War Politics and American Liberals, 1947-1954''. University of Massachusetts Press, 142. ISBN 0-87023-241-X.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Art Preis, [http://www.marxists.org/history/etol/writers/preis/1954/xx/liberals.htm ''A Case of “Midsummer Madness”? Police-State Liberals''], From Fourth International, Vol.15 No.4, Fall 1954, pp.111-114. Transcribed &amp; marked up by Einde O’ Callaghan for the Encyclopaedia of Trotskyism On-Line (ETOL).&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> With the highly publicized Army-McCarthy hearings of 1954, McCarthy's support and popularity began to fade due to his lack of actual evidence and defendant convictions. Later in 1954, a special Senate committee was appointed to study and evaluate McCarthy's methods and actions. The committee exonerated McCarthy on all substantive charges (citation needed). Following the recommendations of this committee, the full Senate voted to censure Senator McCarthy by a vote of 65 to 22 (the votes for censure included all the Democratic senators and about half the Republican senators) for failing to cooperate with the subcommittee that was investigating him, and for insults to the committee that was trying to censure him &lt;ref&gt;Senate Report 104-137 - Resolution For Disciplinary Action. Library of Congress (1995). Retrieved on 2006-10-19.&lt;/ref&gt;, making him one of the few senators ever to be disciplined in this fashion. [http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/60.htm] McCarthy died in Bethesda Naval Hospital on May 2, 1957, at the age of 48. The cause of his death was acute hepatitis from smoking and drinking.<br /> <br /> ==Criticism of McCarthy's methods==<br /> McCarthy has been widely criticized for abusing his legislative investigatory powers to perform quasi-executive and judicial functions. McCarthy's Committee, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) only had jurisdictional authority to investigate United States Government (USG) Departments, Agencies, or contractors doing business with the USG. From the evidence it appears the FBI under Hoover fed McCarthy primarily dead end files of persons and associates to prime suspects in espionage cases in hopes of gaining some leverage or further information to prosecute known suspects without revealing secret Venona evidence.<br /> <br /> ==VENONA files==<br /> In 1995, when the VENONA transcripts were declassified, further detailed information was revealed about Soviet espionage in the United States. It is generally believed that McCarthy had no access to VENONA intelligence, and VENONA corroborates some of the individuals investigated by McCarthy were indeed Soviet agents. VENONA specifically references at least 349 people in the United States&amp;mdash;including citizens, immigrants, and permanent residents&amp;mdash;who cooperated in various ways with Soviet intelligence agencies. 83 persons plead the fifth amendment right against self incrimination in public hearings conducted by McCarthy. An additional 9 persons refused to testify on constitutional grounds in private hearings, and their names were not made public. Of the 83 persons pleading the fifth ammendment, several have been identified by [[NSA]] and [[FBI]] as agents of the Soviet Union in the [[Venona project]] involved in espionage. These are several prominent examples:<br /> <br /> * [[Mary Jane Keeney]], a United Nations employee, and her husband Philip Keeney, who worked in the [[Office of Strategic Services]];<br /> * [[Lauchlin Currie]], a special assistant to President Roosevelt;<br /> * [[Virginius Frank Coe]] &lt;ref&gt;McCarthy Hearings, Testimony of V. Frank Coe, Executive Session, [http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/mccarthy/hearingsvol1.pdf Vol. 1]: 147-50, [http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/mccarthy/hearingsvo43.pdf Vol. 4]: 3403, 3413, 3417-18, 3421, 3428-29<br /> testimony of, [http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/mccarthy/hearingsvol2.pdf Vol. 2]: 1349-72.<br /> &lt;/ref&gt;, Director of Division of Monetary Research, U.S. Treasury; Technical Secretary at the Bretton Woods Conference; International Monetary Fund<br /> * [[William Ludwig Ullman]] &lt;ref&gt;McCarthy Hearings, Testimony of William Ludwig Ullman, Executive Session, [http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/mccarthy/hearingsvol3.pdf Vol. 3]: 2146, 2147, 2152, [http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/mccarthy/hearingsvol4.pdf Vol. 4]: 3403, 3411-14, 3418, 3421, 3426-29, testimony of, Vol. 3: 2345-49.&lt;/ref&gt;, delegate to the United Nations Charter Conference and Bretton Woods Conference;<br /> * [[Nathan Gregory Silvermaster]] &lt;ref&gt;McCarthy Hearings, Testimony of Nathan Gregory Silvermaster, Executive Session, [http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/mccarthy/hearingsvol2.pdf Vol. 2]: 1349, 1361, 1362, [http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/mccarthy/hearingsvol4.pdf Vol. 4]: 3403, 3412-14, 3425-29.&lt;/ref&gt;, Chief Planning Technician, Procurement Division, United States Department of the Treasury and head of the Silvermaster network of spies;<br /> * [[Harold Glasser]], U.S. Treasury Representative to the Allied High Commission in Italy;<br /> * Four staff members of the [[LaFollette Committee|LaFollette Civil Liberties Committee]], a Senate subcommittee on labor rights.<br /> * [[Allan Rosenberg]], Chief of the Economic Institution Staff, [[Foreign Economic Administration]]; Counsel to the National Labor Relations Board;<br /> <br /> Venona transcripts confirm the Senate Civil Liberties Subcommittee, chaired by former Senator Robert LaFollette, Jr., whom McCarthy defeated for election in 1946, had at least four staff members working on behalf of the [[KGB]]. Chief Councel of the Committee [[John Abt]]; [[Charles Kramer]], who served on three other Congressional Committees; Allen Rosenberg, who also served on the National Labor Relations Board, [[Board of Economic Warfare]] (BEW), the [[Foreign Economic Administration]] (FEA) and later argued cases before the United States Supreme Court; and [[Charles Flato]], who served on the BEW and FEA, all were [[CPUSA]] members and associated with the [[Comintern]].<br /> <br /> While the underlying premise of Communists in the government was true, many of McCarthy's targets were not complicit in espionage. Recent scholarship has established of 159 persons investigated between 1950 and 1952, there is substantial evidence nine had assisted Soviet espionage using evidence from Venona or other sources. Of the remainder, while not being directly complicit in espionage, many were considered security risks.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.johnearlhaynes.org/page62.html Senator Joseph McCarthy’s Lists and Venona]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Support from Ann Coulter ==<br /> <br /> Ann Coulter has argued that McCarthy was &quot;a great American patriot. [http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/coulter100903.asp]&quot; <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Notes==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> #Herman, A. (1999). Joseph McCarthy: Reexamining the Life and Legacy of America's Most Hated Senator. Free Press, p 30. ISBN 0-684-83625-4.<br /> #Morgan, T. (Nov./Dec. 2003). Judge Joe: How the youngest judge in Wisconsin's history became the country's most notorious senator. Legal Affairs.<br /> #[http://www.foreignaffairs.org/19960101fareviewessay4179/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/anticommunism-s-two-faces-the-irresponsible-won-out.html ''Anticommunism's Two Faces''], Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., Foreign Affairs, January/February 1996; as review of ''Not Without Honor: The History of American Anticommunism''. Richard Gid Powers. New York: The Free Press, 1995.<br /> # Wicker, Tom. Shooting Star: The Brief Arc of Joe McCarthy. New York: Harcourt, Inc., 2006.<br /> #[http://tucnak.fsv.cuni.cz/~calda/Documents/1950s/Communist_54.html Communist Control Act of 1954] U.S. Statutes at Large, Public Law 637, Chp. 886, p. 775-780. <br /> #[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/%22Operations_of_the_MGB_Residency_at_New_York%2C_1944-45%22 Operations of the MGB Residency at New York, 1944-45]<br /> #Time Magazine<br /> #McCarthy Hearings, 1953-54<br /> #The life and Times of Joe McCarthy: A Biography, Thomas C. Reeves<br /> <br /> ==Copyright Notice==<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; <br /> | [[Image:Info.png|left]] [[Image:ccbyncsa.png|right]] This article has been edited by [[User:frijole frijole]]. The content he added (as seen [http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Joseph_McCarthy&amp;oldid=30137|here]), as well as all contributions by this user, is covered by a '''Creative Commons Attribution, Non-Commercial, Share-Alike US''' license. This has important ramifications for your use or reuse of this material. See the [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ license page] for more information.<br /> |}</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Mr._Smith_Goes_to_Washington&diff=48713 2007-03-19T19:19:34Z

<p>Boreas: New page: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a 1939 film directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart &amp; Jean Arthur. It tells the story a simple, idealistic young man [[Jefferson Sm...</p> <hr /> <div>Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a 1939 film directed by [[Frank Capra]] and starring [[James Stewart]] &amp; [[Jean Arthur]].<br /> <br /> It tells the story a simple, idealistic young man [[Jefferson Smith]] who is appointed to the [[United States Senate|Senate]] by the governor of his state.<br /> <br /> The themes of the film are high ideals, patriotism, having the courage to fight for what's right and the little guy making good against impossible odds. Themes which are common in Capra's other films such as [[Meet John Doe]] and the perennial Christmas favorite [[It's a Wonderful Life]]<br /> <br /> ==External Links==<br /> <br /> [http://imdb.com/title/tt0031679/ IMDb]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Salvador_Allende&diff=48609 2007-03-19T18:41:21Z

<p>Boreas: Tried to remove bias</p> <hr /> <div>Salvador Allende was was born July 26, 1908, in Valparaiso. He was [[President of Chile]] from 1970 until 1973 when his government was overthrown in a [[coup d'etat]] lead by [[Augusto Pinochet]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/kbank/profiles/allende/]&lt;/ref&gt; He followed [[Eduardo Frei Montalva]]. <br /> <br /> Allende was a member of the [[Socialist Party of Chile]].<br /> <br /> During his rule, he instituted a plan called &quot;La vía chilena al socialismo&quot; which lead to widespread disruption of the Chilean economy. The media wrote extensively of his failures. He &quot;nationalized&quot; many industries. [[Augusto Pinochet]], his trusted general, betrayed him in a coup and became the president of Chile. Salvador Allende killed himself during the coup.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/COLDallende.htm spartacus &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Controversy==<br /> Many claim that the U.S. organized the coup against Allende. The CIA has acknowledged their involvement.[http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/americas/09/19/us.cia.chile.ap/]<br /> [http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB8/ch01-01.htm]<br /> &lt;references /&gt;</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Augusto_Pinochet&diff=48525 2007-03-19T18:18:18Z

<p>Boreas: </p> <hr /> <div>Augusto Pinochet was a Chilean [[soldier]] who overthrew the [[Democracy|democratically]] elected government of [[Chile]]. Pinochet, at one time the right hand in the military of [[Salvador Allende]], believed Chile was in danger , and decided to take action. After the coup, Pinochet saw support from America. <br /> <br /> Pinochet was responsible for the death of at least 3,197 of his opponents. &lt;ref&gt;http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/pinochet.html&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> Pinochet moved Chile into a market economy, privatizing many inefficient government businesses, and opening the country to foreign investment. The stability that his government gave encouraged foreign investors to come to Chile. He also started one of the first [[private pension accounts]] pension systems in the world, which has been highly successful. <br /> <br /> Once out of power his enemies tried to bring to trial for human right violations. They never succeeded in doing so.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/world/americas/10cnd-pinochet-timeline.html?ex=1174449600&amp;en=7b24f9d3e63ff60a&amp;ei=5070 NYTimes&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Category:Political people|Pinochet, Augusto]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Augusto_Pinochet&diff=48520 2007-03-19T18:17:59Z

<p>Boreas: Removed opinion and inaccuracies</p> <hr /> <div>Augusto Pinochet was a Chilean [[soldier]] overthrew the [[Democracy|democratically]] elected government of [[Chile]]. Pinochet, at one time the right hand in the military of [[Salvador Allende]], believed Chile was in danger , and decided to take action. After the coup, Pinochet saw support from America. <br /> <br /> Pinochet was responsible for the death of at least 3,197 of his opponents. &lt;ref&gt;http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/pinochet.html&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> Pinochet moved Chile into a market economy, privatizing many inefficient government businesses, and opening the country to foreign investment. The stability that his government gave encouraged foreign investors to come to Chile. He also started one of the first [[private pension accounts]] pension systems in the world, which has been highly successful. <br /> <br /> Once out of power his enemies tried to bring to trial for human right violations. They never succeeded in doing so.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/world/americas/10cnd-pinochet-timeline.html?ex=1174449600&amp;en=7b24f9d3e63ff60a&amp;ei=5070 NYTimes&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Category:Political people|Pinochet, Augusto]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Neo-Paganism&diff=48065 2007-03-19T15:58:30Z

<p>Boreas: New page: Neo-Paganism is a collective term for religions such as Druidry and Asatru which attempt to recreate the pre-Christian religions of Europe. It can also refer to Wicca&lt;r...</p> <hr /> <div>Neo-Paganism is a collective term for [[religion]]s such as [[Druidry]] and [[Asatru]] which attempt to recreate the pre-Christian religions of [[Europe]]. It can also refer to [[Wicca]]&lt;ref&gt;[http://altreligion.about.com/od/neopaga1/NeoPaganism_Druidry_and_Pagan_Recons.htm]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> <br /> &lt;div class=&quot;references-small&quot;&gt;&lt;references/&gt;&lt;/div&gt;<br /> <br /> ==External links==<br /> <br /> *[http://www.asatru.org/] Asatru site<br /> *[http://www.druidry.org/] Druidry Site<br /> *[http://www.hellenismos.co.uk/] [[Hellenismos]] Site<br /> *[http://www.witchway.net/] Wiccan Site<br /> *[http://www.carm.org/wicca.htm] Christian site about Wicca<br /> <br /> [[Category:Religion]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Unitarian_Universalism&diff=48011 2007-03-19T15:42:05Z

<p>Boreas: New page: Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion originally based on Christian and Jewish tradition &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.uua.org/aboutuu/]&lt;/ref&gt; It describes itself as - ...</p> <hr /> <div>Unitarian Universalism is a [[liberal]] [[religion]] originally based on [[Christian]] and [[Judaism|Jewish]] tradition &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.uua.org/aboutuu/]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> It describes itself as - <br /> <br /> &lt;blockquote&gt;<br /> <br /> a religion that keeps an open mind to the religious questions people have struggled with in all times and places. We believe that personal experience, conscience and reason should be the final authorities in religion, and that in the end religious authority lies not in a book or person or institution, but in ourselves. We are a &quot;non-creedal&quot; religion: we do not ask anyone to subscribe to a creed.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.uua.org/aboutuu/]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> <br /> &lt;div class=&quot;references-small&quot;&gt;&lt;references/&gt;&lt;/div&gt;<br /> <br /> ==External links==<br /> <br /> *[http://www.uua.org/] Official US site<br /> *[http://www.icuu.net/] Official International site<br /> <br /> [[Category:Religion]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Sikhism&diff=47986 2007-03-19T15:28:29Z

<p>Boreas: New page: Sikhism was founded in the 16th century in the Punjab district of what is now India and Pakistan. It was founded by Guru Nanak and is based on his teachings, and those of t...</p> <hr /> <div>Sikhism was founded in the 16th century in the [[Punjab]] district of what is now [[India]] and [[Pakistan]]. It was founded by [[Guru Nanak]] and is based on his teachings, and those of the 9 Sikh gurus who followed him.<br /> <br /> Sikhism is a [[monotheistic]] religion and stresses the importance of doing good actions rather than merely carrying out rituals. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/]&lt;/ref&gt; <br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> <br /> &lt;div class=&quot;references-small&quot;&gt;&lt;references/&gt;&lt;/div&gt;<br /> <br /> ==External links==<br /> <br /> *[http://www.sikhs.org/] Official site<br /> *[http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1377927,00.html] Critical press article<br /> <br /> [[Category:Religion]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Tenrikyo&diff=47958 2007-03-19T15:19:46Z

<p>Boreas: </p> <hr /> <div>Tenrikyo is a [[Pantheistic]] Japanese religion. It was founded in the [[19th Century]]. It is perhaps unique amongst [[Religion|religions]] in being founded by a woman, [[Miki Nakayama]]<br /> <br /> An outline of it's teachings can be found at the self described [http://www.tenrikyo.or.jp/en/teaching/5mins.html Tenrikyo Official Homepage]<br /> <br /> [[Category:Religion]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Faith&diff=47956 2007-03-19T15:19:17Z

<p>Boreas: </p> <hr /> <div>The Bahá'í faith was founded by [[Bahá'u'lláh]] in [[Persia]] in 1863. They describe their current status in [[Iran]] as &quot;A Community Under Siege&quot; &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecution]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Bahá'í religion accepts all other faiths as true and valid.<br /> <br /> They believe that [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], [[Zoroaster]], [[Buddha]], [[Jesus]], and [[Muhammad]] were all true prophets sent by [[God]] each one revealing the next stage in the revelation of God. &lt;ref&gt;[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/ataglance/glance.shtml]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> They have a strict policy against [[proselytizing]].<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> <br /> &lt;div class=&quot;references-small&quot;&gt;&lt;references/&gt;&lt;/div&gt;<br /> <br /> ==External links==<br /> <br /> *[http://www.bahai.org/] Official site<br /> <br /> [[Category:Religion]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Spiritism&diff=47955 2007-03-19T15:18:56Z

<p>Boreas: </p> <hr /> <div>Spiritism is a loose collection of related beliefs stemming from the teachings of [[Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail]], a [[19th Century]] [[France|French]] thinker.<br /> <br /> The beliefs of individual Spiritualists vary but in general Spiritualists are [[Monotheism|Monotheists]] and believe that they can speak directly to the spirits of the dead.<br /> <br /> ==External links==<br /> <br /> *[http://www.spiritismonline.net/ Spiritism Online] Positive<br /> *[http://skepdic.com/channeling.html Skeptics' Dictionary] Negative<br /> <br /> [[Category:Religion]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Juche&diff=47952 2007-03-19T15:18:34Z

<p>Boreas: </p> <hr /> <div>Juche is the official state [[religion]] or [[ideology]] of the [[Democratic People's Republic of Korea]], better known as [[North Korea]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/dprk/suryong.htm]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == References ==<br /> &lt;div class=&quot;references-small&quot;&gt;<br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Category:Religion]] [[Category:Politics]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=World_Religions_by_Number_of_Followers&diff=47951 2007-03-19T15:17:56Z

<p>Boreas: </p> <hr /> <div>The following is a list of world [[Religion|Religions]]/theological ideas based on followers&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html Major Religions Ranked by Size]&lt;/ref&gt;:<br /> <br /> #[[Christianity]] 2.1 billion<br /> #[[Islam]] 1.3 billion<br /> #Non-Adherent ([[Secular]]/[[Atheist]]/[[Agnostic]]) 1.1 billion<br /> #[[Hinduism]] 900 million<br /> #Chinese Traditional 394 million<br /> #[[Buddhism]] 376 million <br /> #[[Paganism|Pagan]] 300 million<br /> #African Traditional 100 million<br /> #[[Sikhism]] 23 million<br /> #[[Juche]] 19 million<br /> #[[Spiritism]] 15 million<br /> #[[Judaism]] 14 million<br /> #[[Bahá'í Faith]] 7 million<br /> #[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] 6.5 million<br /> #[[Jainism]] 4.2 million<br /> #[[Shinto]] 4 million<br /> #[[Cao Dai]] 4 million<br /> #[[Zoroastrianism]] 2.6 million<br /> #[[Tenrikyo]] 2 million<br /> #[[Rastafari movement]] 1,000,000<br /> #[[Neo-Paganism]] 1 million<br /> #[[Unitarian Universalism]] 800,000<br /> #[[Scientology]] 500,000<br /> <br /> &lt;references/&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Exterior Links==<br /> <br /> [http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm religious tolerance's estimation]<br /> <br /> [[Category:Religion]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Cao_Dai&diff=47949 2007-03-19T15:16:52Z

<p>Boreas: </p> <hr /> <div>Cao Dai is a [[Vietnam|Vietnamese]] religion, after [[Buddhism]] and [[Roman Catholicism]] it is the most popular religion in Vietnam. It was founded in the city of [[Tay Ninh]] in 1926.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.religioustolerance.org/caodaism.htm]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Caodaism is [[syncretic]] in nature, that is it borrows elements from other religions, including Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Taoism.<br /> <br /> In their own words - <br /> &quot;Cao Dai is a universal faith with the principle that all religions have one same divine origin, which is God, or Allah,<br /> or the Tao, or the Nothingness, one same ethic based on LOVE and JUSTICE, and are just different manifestations of one same TRUTH.&quot;&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.caodai.org/pages/?pageID=1]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> <br /> &lt;div class=&quot;references-small&quot;&gt;&lt;references/&gt;&lt;/div&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Category:Religion]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Rudy_Giuliani&diff=47891 2007-03-19T14:43:30Z

<p>Boreas: Undo revision 47887 by Special:Contributions/Lost Number (User talk:Lost Number)</p> <hr /> <div>'''Rudolph William &quot;Rudy&quot; Giuliani''' (born May 28, 1944 in [[Brooklyn, NY|Brooklyn]], NY) is a former two-term Mayor of New York City, former United States Attorney and Deputy U.S. Attorney General. After the terrorists attacks of 9/11/2001, where he became a ralling point for all citizens in the recovery process, he was widely hailed as &quot;America's Mayor&quot; by the major media and pundits.<br /> <br /> He is currently a candidate for the [[Republican]] nomination for [[President of the United States of America|President of the United States]] in the [[2008 Presidential Election|2008 election]].<br /> <br /> == Early Life ==<br /> <br /> In 1944, Rudolph William Giuliani was born to a working class family in Brooklyn, New York. As the grandson of Italian immigrants, Giuliani learned a strong work ethic and a deep respect for America's ideal of equal opportunity. He attended Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School (Class of '61) in Brooklyn, Manhattan College (Class of '65) in [[The Bronx, NY|The Bronx]] and [[New York University]] Law School in [[Manhattan, NY|Manhattan]], graduating magna cum laude in 1968.<br /> <br /> ==Legal Career==<br /> <br /> Upon graduation, Rudy Giuliani clerked for Judge Lloyd MacMahon, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. In 1970, Giuliani joined the office of the U.S. Attorney. At age 29, he was named Chief of the Narcotics Unit and rose to serve as executive US Attorney. In 1975, Giuliani was recruited to [[Washington, D.C.]], where he was named Associate Deputy Attorney General and chief of staff to the Deputy Attorney General. From 1977 to 1981, Giuliani returned to New York to practice law at Patterson, Belknap, Webb and Tyler. <br /> <br /> In 1981, Giuliani was named Associate Attorney General, by President [[Ronald Reagan]], the third highest position in the Department of Justice. As Associate Attorney General, Giuliani supervised all of the US Attorney Offices' Federal law enforcement agencies, the Bureau of Corrections, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the US Marshals. <br /> <br /> In 1983, Giuliani was appointed US Attorney for the Southern District of New York by President Reagan, where he spearheaded the effort to jail drug dealers, fight organized crime, break the web of corruption in government, and prosecute white-collar criminals. Few US Attorneys in history can match his record of 4,152 convictions with only 25 reversals. <br /> <br /> ==Mayoral Campaigns and Service==<br /> <br /> In 1989, Giuliani entered the race for mayor of New York City as a candidate of the Republican and [[Liberal]] parties, losing by the closest margin in City history. However in 1993, his campaign focusing on quality of life, crime, business and education made him the 107th Mayor of the City of New York. In 1997 he was re-elected by a wide margin, carrying four out of New York City's five boroughs.<br /> <br /> As Mayor, Giuliani focused on restoring accountability to City government and the quality of life for all New Yorkers. Under his leadership, overall crime was down 57%, murder was reduced 65%, and New York City - once infamous around the world for its dangerous streets - has been recognized by the [[F.B.I]]. as the safest large city in America for the past five years. [http://www.time.com/time/poy2001/] [http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/rwg/html/bio.html]<br /> <br /> In 2002 he published ''Leadership'', recounting his terms as mayor.<br /> <br /> ==September 11 Terrorist Attacks==<br /> <br /> On Sept. 10, 2001, Giuliani was known as a crime fighter from his days as a United States attorney and as the mayor who had overseen New York's revival. But at home his approval rating hovered around 50 percent. In any case, he was a lame duck, barred by term limits from seeking re-election, in a city that in any case felt increasingly worn out by eight years of combativeness and racial tension. The year before, after a surprisingly rocky re-election campaign, a diagnosis of prostate cancer had led him to reject a run for the Senate seat eventually won by Hillary Rodham Clinton. And while his supporters talked of a presidential bid, the prospect seemed a long shot for a Republican who supported abortion rights and restrictions on gun sales. <br /> <br /> A week after the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|9/11 attacks]] and has been on almost every short list of Republican contenders ever since. In his talks, Giuliani uses Sept. 11 to make two points. The first is that he has proven himself to be a leader, and having a proven leader in these troubled times, he tells audiences, is more important than whether you agree with everything he stands for. The other is that his handling of the aftermath of the terrorist attacks proved his competencey. [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/us/politics/12topic-giuliani.html?_r=1&amp;oref=slogin]<br /> <br /> ==2008 Presidential Campaign==<br /> <br /> He is running for the Republican nomination for president of the United States in 2008. The National Catholic Register is advising Catholics not to vote for Giuliani in 2008 because he is pro-choice. &lt;ref&gt;[http://ncregister.com/site/article/2017 No Deal Rudy]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> Giuliani is leading in most polling for the 2008 Republican nomination.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/republican_presidential_nomination-192.html&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> == Further Reading ==<br /> <br /> <br /> *About: Grand Illusion: The Untold Story of Rudy Giuliani and 9/11, 2006<br /> *Rudy! An Investigative Biography of Rudolph Giuliani, Wayne Barrett, 2005<br /> *The Prince of the City: Giuliani, New York and the Genius of American Life, by Fred Siegel, 2005<br /> *Rudy Giuliani: Emperor of the City, by Andrew Kirtzman, 2000<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Category:Political people|Giulliani, Rudy]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Algeria&diff=47880 2007-03-19T14:38:14Z

<p>Boreas: Map edit</p> <hr /> <div>[[Image:Algeria.gif|right|Map of Algeria]]<br /> <br /> [[France]] had many small [[colony|colonies]] in [[Africa]], including [[Morocco]] and [[Tunisia]], to which France granted independence in 1956. But France's primary colony was [[Algeria]], a [[Islam|Muslim]] country in [[North Africa]]. Instead of granting it [[independence]], France offered [[citizenship]] to all the Algerians, which partly explains why the Muslim population in France is so high today.<br /> <br /> The Algerians wanted independence despite the presence of thousands of French citizens in the country. In 1945 there was a bloody demonstration for independence, and in 1954 the [[Algerian National Liberation Front]] (FLN) demanded full independence. The French responded by sending troops to suppress the FLN.<br /> <br /> In 1958, [[Charles de Gaulle]] successfully returned to power in France, after having led France during [[World War II]]. He feared an Algerian rebellion, and favored granting independence to it and others. France officially granted Algeria independence in 1962, and [[Ahmed Ben Bella]] became its first [[prime minister]]. In 1965, Ben Bella was deposed (overthrown). A fully Islamic government took control in 1985 due in part to a drop in the price of [[oil]], which caused a crisis in the Algerian [[economy]].<br /> <br /> [[Category:Countries]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Algeria&diff=47876 2007-03-19T14:34:12Z

<p>Boreas: Map</p> <hr /> <div>[[Image:Algeria.gif|thumbnail|right|250px|Map of Algeria]]<br /> <br /> [[France]] had many small [[colony|colonies]] in [[Africa]], including [[Morocco]] and [[Tunisia]], to which France granted independence in 1956. But France's primary colony was [[Algeria]], a [[Islam|Muslim]] country in [[North Africa]]. Instead of granting it [[independence]], France offered [[citizenship]] to all the Algerians, which partly explains why the Muslim population in France is so high today.<br /> <br /> The Algerians wanted independence despite the presence of thousands of French citizens in the country. In 1945 there was a bloody demonstration for independence, and in 1954 the [[Algerian National Liberation Front]] (FLN) demanded full independence. The French responded by sending troops to suppress the FLN.<br /> <br /> In 1958, [[Charles de Gaulle]] successfully returned to power in France, after having led France during [[World War II]]. He feared an Algerian rebellion, and favored granting independence to it and others. France officially granted Algeria independence in 1962, and [[Ahmed Ben Bella]] became its first [[prime minister]]. In 1965, Ben Bella was deposed (overthrown). A fully Islamic government took control in 1985 due in part to a drop in the price of [[oil]], which caused a crisis in the Algerian [[economy]].<br /> <br /> [[Category:Countries]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Afghanistan&diff=47872 2007-03-19T14:30:23Z

<p>Boreas: Map edit</p> <hr /> <div>[[Image:Af-map.gif|thumbnail|right|250px|Map of Afghanistan]]<br /> '''Afghanistan''' is a landlocked country in southern [[Asia]], bordering [[Pakistan]] to the south and east and [[Iran]] to the west. Afghanistan is known in the modern world for the decade-long rule of the [[Islamism|Islamist]] [[Taliban]] government, and the current NATO-led [[War on Terror]] in the country.Most Afghans are [[Sunni]] [[Muslims]]. The current President of Afghanistan is Hamid Karzai. Afghanistan has two Vice Presidents, Ahmad Zia Masood and Abdul Karim Khalili.<br /> &lt;ref&gt;[https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html CIA World Factbook]&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;references/&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Category:Countries]]<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> {{stub}}</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Kim_Beazley&diff=47805 2007-03-19T13:53:21Z

<p>Boreas: typo</p> <hr /> <div>Kim Christian Beazley (born December 13, 1948), son of Kim Edward Beazley, is an [[Australia|Australian]] politician, who was Leader of the [[Australian Labor Party]] from 1996 to 2001 and from 2005 to 2006.<br /> <br /> Beazley was a minister under John Howard from 1984 to 1991 and under Mark Latham from 1991 to 1996. He was Deputy President in 1995-1996. Elected Labor Leader in March 1995, he resigned in November 2001 after losing two federal elections. He was returned unopposed to Party leadership in January 2005 following the resignation of Mark Latham, he was defeated in a party room vote by Kevin Rudd in December 2006 before facing another election.<br /> <br /> Beazley has announced that he will stand down at the next general election to be held in 2007.</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Kim_Beazley&diff=47802 2007-03-19T13:51:15Z

<p>Boreas: Removed obvious nonsense, someone who knows more about the subject should take a look.</p> <hr /> <div>Kim Christian Beazley (born December 13, 1948), son of Kim Edward Beazley, is an [[Australia|Ausralian]] politician, who was Leader of the [[Australian Labor Party]] from 1996 to 2001 and from 2005 to 2006.<br /> <br /> Beazley was a minister under John Howard from 1984 to 1991 and under Mark Latham from 1991 to 1996. He was Deputy President in 1995-1996. Elected Labor Leader in March 1995, he resigned in November 2001 after losing two federal elections. He was returned unopposed to Party leadership in January 2005 following the resignation of Mark Latham, he was defeated in a party room vote by Kevin Rudd in December 2006 before facing another election.<br /> <br /> Beazley has announced that he will stand down at the next general election to be held in 2007.</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=New_Zealand&diff=47779 2007-03-19T13:41:20Z

<p>Boreas: Added map and Maori name</p> <hr /> <div>[[Image:NewZealand.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|Map of New Zealand]]<br /> <br /> '''New Zealand''' or '''Aotearoa''' is a country in the southern [[Pacific Ocean]] comprising two large islands (the North Island and the South Island) and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands. The Realm of New Zealand also includes the Cook Islands and Niue, which are self-governing, but in 'free association'; Tokelau; and the Ross Dependency (New Zealand's Antarctic territorial claim). New Zealand is notable for its geographic isolation, being separated from Australia to the northwest by the Tasman Sea, approximately 2000 kilometers (1250 miles) across. Its closest neighbours to the north are [[New Caledonia]],[[Fiji]], and [[Tonga]].<br /> <br /> New Zealand was first colonised in 1206 by the Japanese empire under the leadership of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. The Japanese first settled in the north Island, naming it Tsuchinomo, or &quot;Island of the southern sea&quot;, named after its geographical location. The capital of Tokyoburi, or new Tokyo, was first built where Auckland currently stands. In 1456 the Russian empire claimed the southern Island of New Zealand and named it Kiervniev, or &quot;Southernmost province&quot;. Their capital Vodkagrad, or Vodka City, is named after its abundance of wild potatoes, and is located where Christchurch now stands. In 1572 the Russians tried to take the northern Island of New Zealand, thus resulting in the Russo-Japanese war&lt;ref&gt;Miller, J. Martin: Thrilling stories of the Russian-Japanese War: A vivid panorama of land and naval battles. c1905&lt;/ref&gt;. After six months of intense fighting the two sides decided to call a truce, with each empire retaining their respective province. <br /> <br /> On the 13th of June 1796 [[Australia]] who were at the time extremely loyal to [[Britain]], and Britain itself, launched two assaults simultaneously on the Russian and Japanese colonies. The assult was a massive millitary victory, with the Australians gaining control of the Tsuchimono and Britain gaining control of Kiervneiv. The two Islands were assimilated into the British empire as one province, New Zealand, with the Islands simply being named the North and South islands respectively. The British renaimed Tokyoburi Aukland and Vodkagrad was renamed Christchurch. The British then evicted the Japanese and Russian colonists and replaced them with British colonists. <br /> <br /> The population is mostly native Māori, with a substantial European minority. Non-Māori Polynesian and Asian people are also significant minorities, especially in urban areas. Māori is the only official language of New Zealand, but English is widely spoken in areas with a large European population. [[Elizabeth II]], as the Queen of New Zealand, is the Head of State and is represented, in her absence, by a non-partisan Governor-General; the Queen 'reigns but does not rule', so she has no real political influence. Political power is held by the democratically-elected Parliament of New Zealand under the leadership of the Prime Minister who is the Head of Government.<br /> <br /> == Government ==<br /> <br /> New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. Under the Royal Titles Act (1953), Queen Elizabeth II is Queen of New Zealand and is represented as head of state by the Governor-General, currently Anand Satyanand.<br /> <br /> New Zealand is the only country in the world in which all the highest offices in the land have been occupied simultaneously by women: Queen [[Elizbeth II]], Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright, Prime Minister Helen Clark, Speaker of the House of Representatives Margaret Wilson and Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias were all in office between March 2005 and August 2006.<br /> <br /> The New Zealand Parliament[http://www.govt.nz/] has only one chamber, the House of Representatives, which usually seats 120 Members of Parliament. Parliamentary general elections are held every three years under a form of proportional representation called Mixed Member Proportional. The 2005 General Election created an 'overhang' of one extra seat, occupied by the Māori Party, due to that party winning more seats in electorates than the number of seats its proportion of the party vote would have given it.<br /> <br /> There is no written constitution: the Constitution Act 1986 is the principal formal statement of New Zealand's constitutional structure. The Governor-General has the power to appoint and dismiss Prime Ministers and to dissolve Parliament. The Governor-General also chairs the Executive Council, which is a formal committee consisting of all ministers of the Crown. Members of the Executive Council are required to be Members of Parliament, and most are also in Cabinet. Cabinet is the most senior policy-making body and is led by the Prime Minister, who is also, by convention, the Parliamentary leader of the governing party or coalition.<br /> <br /> The current Prime Minister is [[Helen Clark]], leader of the Labour Party. Since 17 October 2005 Labour has been in formal coalition with Jim Anderton, the Progressive Party's only MP. In addition to the parties in formal coalition, New Zealand First and United Future provide confidence and supply in return for their leaders being ministers outside cabinet. A further arrangement has been made with the Green Party, which has given a commitment not to vote against the government on confidence and supply. Since early in 2007, Labour has also had the proxy vote of Taito Phillip Field, a former Labour MP. These arrangements assure the government of a majority of seven MPs on confidence.<br /> <br /> The Leader of the Opposition, is National Party leader John Key. The ACT party and the Māori Party are both also in opposition. The Greens, New Zealand First and United Future all vote against the government on some legislation.<br /> <br /> The highest court in New Zealand is the Supreme Court of New Zealand. This was established in 2004 following the passage of the Supreme Court Act 2003, which also abolished the option to appeal to the Privy Council in London. The current Chief Justice is Dame Sian Elias. New Zealand's judiciary also includes the High Court, which deals with serious criminal offences and civil matters, and the Court of Appeal, and subordinate courts.<br /> <br /> == Foreign Policy and Military Relations ==<br /> <br /> New Zealand maintains a strong profile on environmental protection, human rights and free trade, particularly in agriculture.<br /> <br /> New Zealand is a member of the following geo-political organisations: APEC, East Asia Summit, Commonwealth of Nations, OECD and the United Nations. It has signed up to a number of free trade agreements, of which the most important is Closer Economic Relations with Australia.<br /> <br /> For its first hundred years, New Zealand followed the United Kingdom's lead on foreign policy. In declaring war on Germany on 3 September 1939, Prime Minister Michael Savage proclaimed &quot;Where she goes, we go; where she stands, we stand&quot;. Since the war, however, the United States has exerted more influence than the UK.[citation needed]<br /> <br /> New Zealand has traditionally worked closely with Australia, whose foreign policy followed a similar historical trend. In turn, many Pacific Islands such as Western Samoa have looked to New Zealand's lead. The American influence on New Zealand was weakened by the disappointment with the Vietnam War, the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior by France, and by disagreements over environmental and agricultural trade issues and New Zealand's nuclear-free policy.<br /> <br /> New Zealand is a party to the ANZUS security treaty between Australia and New Zealand. While the treaty was once fully mutual between Australia, New Zealand and the United States, this is no longer the case. In February 1985, New Zealand refused nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed ships access to its ports. In 1986, the United States announced that it was suspending its treaty security obligations to New Zealand pending the restoration of port access. The New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987 prohibits the stationing of nuclear weapons on the territory of New Zealand and the entry into New Zealand waters of nuclear armed or propelled ships. This legislation remains a source of contention and the basis for the United States' continued suspension of treaty obligations to New Zealand.<br /> <br /> In addition to the various wars between iwi, and between the British settlers and iwi, New Zealand has fought in the Second Boer War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency (and committed troops, fighters and bombers to the subsequent confrontation with Indonesia), the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the Afghanistan War, and sent a unit of army engineers to help rebuild Iraqi infrastructure for one year during the Iraq War.<br /> <br /> The New Zealand military has three branches: the New Zealand Army, the Royal New Zealand Navy, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. New Zealand considers its own national defence needs to be modest; it dismantled its air combat capability in 2001. New Zealand has contributed forces to recent regional and global peacekeeping missions, including those in Cyprus, Somalia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Sinai, Angola, Cambodia, the Iran/Iraq border, Bougainville and East Timor.<br /> <br /> <br /> == International Rankings (2007) ==<br /> <br /> '''Political and economic rankings'''<br /> <br /> Political freedom ratings[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_in_the_World_2006] - Free; political rights and civil liberties both rated 1 (the highest score available)<br /> <br /> Press freedom&lt;ref&gt;Reporters Without Borders. [http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=19391 Index methodology]&lt;/ref&gt; - 19th freest, at 5.00<br /> <br /> GDP per capita - 27th highest, at I$24,769<br /> Human Development Index - 20th highest, at 0.933<br /> Income Equality - 54th most equal, at 36.2 (Gini Index)<br /> Literacy Rate - Equal first, at 99.9%<br /> Unemployment rate - 94th lowest, at 8.30%<br /> Corruption - 1st equal least corrupt, at 9.6 on index<br /> Economic Freedom - 9th equal freest, at 1.84 on index<br /> <br /> '''Health rankings'''<br /> Fertility rate- 140th most fertile, at 1.79 per woman<br /> <br /> Birth rate - 140th most births, at 13.90 per 1000 people<br /> <br /> Infant mortality - 192nd most deaths, at 5.85 per 1000 live births<br /> <br /> Death rate - 115th highest death rate, at 7.52 per 1000 people<br /> Life Expectancy - 22nd highest, at 78.81 years<br /> <br /> Suicide Rate - 35th highest suicide rate, at 19.8 for males and 4.2 for females per 100,000 people<br /> <br /> HIV/AIDS rate - 149th most cases, at 0.10%<br /> <br /> '''Other rankings'''<br /> CO2 emissions - 42nd highest emissions, at 8.7 tonnes per capita<br /> Electricity Consumption - 48th highest consumption of electricity, at 37,030,000,000 kWh<br /> Broadband Internet access - 22nd highest uptake in OECD, at 11.7%<br /> Beer consumption - 16th highest, at 77.0 litres per capita<br /> Environmental Performance Index - Comprising; Environmental health, air quality, water resources, biodiversity and habitat, productive natural resources, sustainable energy - 1st out of 80 countries, at 88.0/100[14] <br /> <br /> <br /> == External Links ==<br /> * Ministry for Culture and Heritage[http://www.mch.govt.nz/]<br /> * Tourism New Zealand[http://www.newzealand.com/]<br /> * New Zealand travel guide from Wikitravel[http://wikitravel.org/en/New_Zealand]<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;<br /> <br /> [[Category:Countries]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=France&diff=47748 2007-03-19T13:27:16Z

<p>Boreas: Format</p> <hr /> <div>{{stub}}<br /> [[Image:map_of_france.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|Map of France]]<br /> France is a country in Western Europe. <br /> <br /> At its height, the French Empire rivaled the British Empire, with colonies in every corner of the world. It continues to be a strong presence in academia and has been the birthplace of countless renowned scholars. It remains a powerhouse in the [[European Union]], often at odds with the [[United Kingdom]] on issues of EU policy. The capital city is Paris, often called the &quot;City of Lights&quot; due to its renown for a center of learning and philosophy.<br /> <br /> It was a founding member of the European Coal and Steel treaty which led to the EEC and EU. It greatly assisted then-Great Britain's North American colonies both militarily and financially in their effort to gain independence, and established universal legal codes in much of the non-Anglo-Saxon west. It has made a number of philosophical contributions to the world, including Descartes and Sartre, existentialism and post modernism. Its own colonial behavior and the treatment of non-French soldiers has been criticized. Racial distinctions were made between “French soldiers” and “Soldiers of France”. It maintains the vestiges of [[Imperialism]] with the CFA (African France) in much of west and central Africa.It gifted the Statue of Liberty to the USA in celebration of its independence, echoing the French aid given to the colonies during the American Revolutionary War.<br /> <br /> In March of 2003 A.D., France did not participate in the alliance that attacked [[Iraq]], with its ostensible aim to remove the [[Baathist]] regime, suspected of hiding weapons of mass destruction. This prompted backlash and a criticism from some Americans, causing them to question whether France's status as a U.S. ally had been undermined.<br /> ==Gaul==<br /> Back during the time of the [[Roman Republic]], France was a territory called Gaul. It was home to many fierce Saxon tribes. [[Julius Caesar]] personally led the invasion. Eventually the Empire crumbled. <br /> ==Frankland under Clovis==<br /> France is named after the Franks, a Saxon tribe who established Soissons, the capital. A Frank called [[Clovis]] united the Franks and established Frankland<br /> ==Weak monarchs==<br /> Clovis's successors grew to be lazy and weak. <br /> <br /> [[Category:Countries]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Ireland&diff=47740 2007-03-19T13:24:40Z

<p>Boreas: Not sure why but previous format failed</p> <hr /> <div>[[Image:Ireland.gif|right]]<br /> <br /> Ireland is an [[island]] off the northwestern coast of [[Europe]]. It is divided between the Republic of Ireland, which consists of twenty-six counties and Northern Ireland, a part of the [[United Kingdom]]. According to the last census the Republic of Ireland has a population of 4,234,925[http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/environment/copy_of_census/ (1)] Northern Ireland has a population of 1,688,600 (1998 est.)[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108101.html (2)]<br /> <br /> The primary language is English, however, the official language of the Republic is ''Gaeilge'', or ''Irish''. In the Irish language the official name of Ireland (which appears on all coins, stamps, and government documents) is ''Éire''.<br /> <br /> == History ==<br /> <br /> Historically, Ireland's culture has been distinct from other regional cultures, as it was the one of the only [[Celtic]] territories never conquered by the [[Roman Empire]]. <br /> Ireland suffered from regular Viking incursions from the late 8th century until 1014, when High King Brian Boru defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf. <br /> <br /> In the 12th century, the Pope granted Ireland to the English crown as a papal fief. The English however, were unable to bring the entire island under their control until the 17th century, after the defeat of the Irish in the Nine Years War. In 1690, the Catholic King James II and his Irish allies were defeated by the Protestant William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne. This defeat ushered in an era of Protestant dominance in Ireland. A series of regulations limiting the status of the Catholic majority were passed between 1691 and 1760, known as the Penal Laws. These laws also discriminated against Jews, non-Anglican Protestants and Quakers.[http://www.risingroadtours.com/a7_penallaws.htm (3)]<br /> <br /> In 1798, a combined Protestant and Catholic Republican rebellion was defeated. This led to the Act of Union being passed in 1801, under which Ireland became a part of the United Kingdom. The Irish economy declined rapidly and the Great Famine ''An Gorta Mór'' broke out in 1845. The famine killed roughly one million, or one eighth of the entire population. It led to mass emigration to the United States, Canada and to Britain.<br /> <br /> Pro-nationalist sentiment continued to rise and the Irish tried to secure their own parliament. Opposition to this arose in the predominantly Protestant and Unionist province of Ulster which allied with the British Conservative Party in an attempt to block &quot;Home Rule&quot;. The outbreak of war in 1914 delayed the enaction of Home Rule and led to growing agitation amonst Irish Nationalists. The Easter Rising of 1916 was put down by the British, but their heavy-handed approach increased opposition to their rule. A war of independence broke out in 1919, the Irish using guerrilla tactics to undermine British rule in the country. The war with the British ended in 1921 with the British retaining control of six counties in the province of [[Ulster]]. The territory independent of the British became the [[Irish Free State]], while the territory controlled by the British became [[Northern Ireland]]. Later, in 1937, the Free State adopted a new constitution, changing its name to [[Éire]]. [http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107648.html (4)]<br /> <br /> == Politics ==<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Republic of Ireland====<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The Republic of Ireland uses [[Proportional Representation]] meaning that there are a large number of political parties. The 166 seat Irish Dáil(parliament) sits in Leinster House, Dublin. In recent times the country has been governed mostly by coalitions generally of either Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats or Fine Gael and Labour.<br /> <br /> '''Fianna Fail''': (Pronounced Fee-Na Fall which is Irish for 'Soldiers of Destiny'). Ireland's main political party, they do not class themselves as either left or right wing but are generally considered centrist and traditionally the choice for republicans due to its foundation by Eamon de Valera; considered by his supporters to be the greatest of all Irish nationalists. Traditionally the party of Big Business and the farming community. Currently the largest party in the ruling coalition. Led by Bertie Ahern, current [[Taoiseach]]([[Prime Minister]]) of the Republic of Ireland. [http://www.fiannafail.ie/ (5)]<br /> <br /> '''Fine Gael''': (Pronounced Finna Gale, Irish for the 'United Ireland Party'). Ireland's second largest party. Fine Gael is traditionally socially and fiscally conservative. Under the leadership of [[Garret FitzGerald]] in the 1980's, the party embraced [[social democracy]]. Today the party likes to characterize itself as a party of the &quot;progressive centre&quot;. Led by [[Enda Kenny]]. [http://www.finegael.com/index.cfm (6)]<br /> <br /> '''Labour Party''': A social democratic left-wing party, similar to the Labour Party of the British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]]. [[Pat Rabitte]] is the leader of the Labour Party. [http://www.labour.ie/ (7)]<br /> <br /> '''Progressive Democrats''': The second party in the ruling coalition, it is very right wing on economic issues, favouring low-taxation, pro-business policies, but are very liberal on social issues. [[Michael McDowell]] is the current leader and [[Tánaiste]](deputy Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland. [http://www.progressivedemocrats.ie/index-main.php (8)]<br /> <br /> '''Green Party''': A left-wing party in favour of environmental protection, renewable energy and a stronger system of social security. Led by Trevor Sargent. [http://www.greenparty.ie/ (9)]<br /> <br /> '''Sinn Féin''': (Pronounced Shin Fane, Irish for 'Ourselves') Ireland's oldest poltical party, it is closely connected with the IRA, a terrorist/guerrilla movement that sought a United Irish Republic. They have recently embraced a more democratic approach. They are a left-wing socialist party. They organise in all 32 counties of Ireland. Led by Gerry Adams. [http://www.sinnfein.ie/ (10)]<br /> <br /> '''Socialist Party''': A left-wing Trotskyite party. They oppose capitalism and seek a United Socialist Ireland. Led by Joe Higgins.<br /> <br /> The 26 counties officially became a Republic in 1949.<br /> <br /> ====Northern Ireland====<br /> <br /> The political parties of Northern Ireland are mostly divided on the national question (whether to remain within the UK or become part of a United Ireland), rather than on a left-right basis. They contest elections for the [[British Parliament]](where Northern Ireland is allocated 18 seats) and the 108 seat [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]. <br /> <br /> Westminster elections use the Plurality voting system, whereas the Assembly Elections use the Proportional Representation(PR) system.<br /> <br /> The major parties are:<br /> <br /> '''Democratic Unionist Party'''(DUP): Currently the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland. The DUP is a right-wing, hardline unionist party currently led by its founder, the Reverend Ian RK Paisley. The party has strong links with Rev. Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church.<br /> <br /> '''Sinn Féin'''<br /> Currently the largest nationalist party in Northern Ireland, they sit in the Irish parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly, but refuse to take their seats in the British Parliament in Westminster.<br /> <br /> '''Ulster Unionist Party'''(UUP): A right-wing party, which had strong links with the British Conservative Party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate David Trimble is a former leader. Currently in decline, with voters turning to the DUP. Currently led by Sir Reg Empey.<br /> <br /> '''Social Democratic and Labour Party'''(SDLP): A left-wing nationalist party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate John Hume is a former leader. The SDLP were the largest nationalist party until recently, when they were overtaken by Sinn Féin. Unlike SF, the SDLP have always advocated a non-violent and constitutional approach to achieving a United Ireland. Current leader is Mark Durkan.<br /> <br /> '''Alliance Party''': The Alliance party identifies as neither unionist or nationalist and thus receives support from both communities. The current leader is David Ford.<br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Countries]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Ireland&diff=47737 2007-03-19T13:19:05Z

<p>Boreas: Formating</p> <hr /> <div>[[Image:Ireland.gif|thumbnail|right|250px|Map of Ireland]]<br /> <br /> Ireland is an [[island]] off the northwestern coast of [[Europe]]. It is divided between the Republic of Ireland, which consists of twenty-six counties and Northern Ireland, a part of the [[United Kingdom]]. According to the last census the Republic of Ireland has a population of 4,234,925[http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/environment/copy_of_census/ (1)] Northern Ireland has a population of 1,688,600 (1998 est.)[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108101.html (2)]<br /> <br /> The primary language is English, however, the official language of the Republic is ''Gaeilge'', or ''Irish''. In the Irish language the official name of Ireland (which appears on all coins, stamps, and government documents) is ''Éire''.<br /> <br /> == History ==<br /> <br /> Historically, Ireland's culture has been distinct from other regional cultures, as it was the one of the only [[Celtic]] territories never conquered by the [[Roman Empire]]. <br /> Ireland suffered from regular Viking incursions from the late 8th century until 1014, when High King Brian Boru defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf. <br /> <br /> In the 12th century, the Pope granted Ireland to the English crown as a papal fief. The English however, were unable to bring the entire island under their control until the 17th century, after the defeat of the Irish in the Nine Years War. In 1690, the Catholic King James II and his Irish allies were defeated by the Protestant William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne. This defeat ushered in an era of Protestant dominance in Ireland. A series of regulations limiting the status of the Catholic majority were passed between 1691 and 1760, known as the Penal Laws. These laws also discriminated against Jews, non-Anglican Protestants and Quakers.[http://www.risingroadtours.com/a7_penallaws.htm (3)]<br /> <br /> In 1798, a combined Protestant and Catholic Republican rebellion was defeated. This led to the Act of Union being passed in 1801, under which Ireland became a part of the United Kingdom. The Irish economy declined rapidly and the Great Famine ''An Gorta Mór'' broke out in 1845. The famine killed roughly one million, or one eighth of the entire population. It led to mass emigration to the United States, Canada and to Britain.<br /> <br /> Pro-nationalist sentiment continued to rise and the Irish tried to secure their own parliament. Opposition to this arose in the predominantly Protestant and Unionist province of Ulster which allied with the British Conservative Party in an attempt to block &quot;Home Rule&quot;. The outbreak of war in 1914 delayed the enaction of Home Rule and led to growing agitation amonst Irish Nationalists. The Easter Rising of 1916 was put down by the British, but their heavy-handed approach increased opposition to their rule. A war of independence broke out in 1919, the Irish using guerrilla tactics to undermine British rule in the country. The war with the British ended in 1921 with the British retaining control of six counties in the province of [[Ulster]]. The territory independent of the British became the [[Irish Free State]], while the territory controlled by the British became [[Northern Ireland]]. Later, in 1937, the Free State adopted a new constitution, changing its name to [[Éire]]. [http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107648.html (4)]<br /> <br /> == Politics ==<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Republic of Ireland====<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The Republic of Ireland uses [[Proportional Representation]] meaning that there are a large number of political parties. The 166 seat Irish Dáil(parliament) sits in Leinster House, Dublin. In recent times the country has been governed mostly by coalitions generally of either Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats or Fine Gael and Labour.<br /> <br /> '''Fianna Fail''': (Pronounced Fee-Na Fall which is Irish for 'Soldiers of Destiny'). Ireland's main political party, they do not class themselves as either left or right wing but are generally considered centrist and traditionally the choice for republicans due to its foundation by Eamon de Valera; considered by his supporters to be the greatest of all Irish nationalists. Traditionally the party of Big Business and the farming community. Currently the largest party in the ruling coalition. Led by Bertie Ahern, current [[Taoiseach]]([[Prime Minister]]) of the Republic of Ireland. [http://www.fiannafail.ie/ (5)]<br /> <br /> '''Fine Gael''': (Pronounced Finna Gale, Irish for the 'United Ireland Party'). Ireland's second largest party. Fine Gael is traditionally socially and fiscally conservative. Under the leadership of [[Garret FitzGerald]] in the 1980's, the party embraced [[social democracy]]. Today the party likes to characterize itself as a party of the &quot;progressive centre&quot;. Led by [[Enda Kenny]]. [http://www.finegael.com/index.cfm (6)]<br /> <br /> '''Labour Party''': A social democratic left-wing party, similar to the Labour Party of the British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]]. [[Pat Rabitte]] is the leader of the Labour Party. [http://www.labour.ie/ (7)]<br /> <br /> '''Progressive Democrats''': The second party in the ruling coalition, it is very right wing on economic issues, favouring low-taxation, pro-business policies, but are very liberal on social issues. [[Michael McDowell]] is the current leader and [[Tánaiste]](deputy Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland. [http://www.progressivedemocrats.ie/index-main.php (8)]<br /> <br /> '''Green Party''': A left-wing party in favour of environmental protection, renewable energy and a stronger system of social security. Led by Trevor Sargent. [http://www.greenparty.ie/ (9)]<br /> <br /> '''Sinn Féin''': (Pronounced Shin Fane, Irish for 'Ourselves') Ireland's oldest poltical party, it is closely connected with the IRA, a terrorist/guerrilla movement that sought a United Irish Republic. They have recently embraced a more democratic approach. They are a left-wing socialist party. They organise in all 32 counties of Ireland. Led by Gerry Adams. [http://www.sinnfein.ie/ (10)]<br /> <br /> '''Socialist Party''': A left-wing Trotskyite party. They oppose capitalism and seek a United Socialist Ireland. Led by Joe Higgins.<br /> <br /> The 26 counties officially became a Republic in 1949.<br /> <br /> ====Northern Ireland====<br /> <br /> The political parties of Northern Ireland are mostly divided on the national question (whether to remain within the UK or become part of a United Ireland), rather than on a left-right basis. They contest elections for the [[British Parliament]](where Northern Ireland is allocated 18 seats) and the 108 seat [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]. <br /> <br /> Westminster elections use the Plurality voting system, whereas the Assembly Elections use the Proportional Representation(PR) system.<br /> <br /> The major parties are:<br /> <br /> '''Democratic Unionist Party'''(DUP): Currently the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland. The DUP is a right-wing, hardline unionist party currently led by its founder, the Reverend Ian RK Paisley. The party has strong links with Rev. Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church.<br /> <br /> '''Sinn Féin'''<br /> Currently the largest nationalist party in Northern Ireland, they sit in the Irish parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly, but refuse to take their seats in the British Parliament in Westminster.<br /> <br /> '''Ulster Unionist Party'''(UUP): A right-wing party, which had strong links with the British Conservative Party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate David Trimble is a former leader. Currently in decline, with voters turning to the DUP. Currently led by Sir Reg Empey.<br /> <br /> '''Social Democratic and Labour Party'''(SDLP): A left-wing nationalist party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate John Hume is a former leader. The SDLP were the largest nationalist party until recently, when they were overtaken by Sinn Féin. Unlike SF, the SDLP have always advocated a non-violent and constitutional approach to achieving a United Ireland. Current leader is Mark Durkan.<br /> <br /> '''Alliance Party''': The Alliance party identifies as neither unionist or nationalist and thus receives support from both communities. The current leader is David Ford.<br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Countries]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Ireland&diff=47680 2007-03-19T12:10:41Z

<p>Boreas: Small corrections and wikification</p> <hr /> <div>Ireland is an [[island]] off the northwestern coast of [[Europe]]. It is divided between the Republic of Ireland, which consists of twenty-six counties and Northern Ireland, a part of the [[United Kingdom]]. According to the last census the Republic of Ireland has a population of 4,234,925[http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/environment/copy_of_census/ (1)] Northern Ireland has a population of 1,688,600 (1998 est.)[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108101.html (2)]<br /> <br /> The primary language is English, however, the official language of the Republic is ''Gaeilge'', or ''Irish''. In the Irish language the official name of Ireland (which appears on all coins, stamps, and government documents) is ''Éire''.<br /> <br /> == History ==<br /> <br /> Historically, Ireland's culture has been distinct from other regional cultures, as it was the one of the only [[Celtic]] territories never conquered by the [[Roman Empire]]. <br /> Ireland suffered from regular Viking incursions from the late 8th century until 1014, when High King Brian Boru defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf. <br /> <br /> In the 12th century, the Pope granted Ireland to the English crown as a papal fief. The English however, were unable to bring the entire island under their control until the 17th century, after the defeat of the Irish in the Nine Years War. In 1690, the Catholic King James II and his Irish allies were defeated by the Protestant William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne. This defeat ushered in an era of Protestant dominance in Ireland. A series of regulations limiting the status of the Catholic majority were passed between 1691 and 1760, known as the Penal Laws. These laws also discriminated against Jews, non-Anglican Protestants and Quakers.[http://www.risingroadtours.com/a7_penallaws.htm (3)]<br /> <br /> In 1798, a combined Protestant and Catholic Republican rebellion was defeated. This led to the Act of Union being passed in 1801, under which Ireland became a part of the United Kingdom. The Irish economy declined rapidly and the Great Famine ''An Gorta Mór'' broke out in 1845. The famine killed roughly one million, or one eighth of the entire population. It led to mass emigration to the United States, Canada and to Britain.<br /> <br /> Pro-nationalist sentiment continued to rise and the Irish tried to secure their own parliament. Opposition to this arose in the predominantly Protestant and Unionist province of Ulster which allied with the British Conservative Party in an attempt to block &quot;Home Rule&quot;. The outbreak of war in 1914 delayed the enaction of Home Rule and led to growing agitation amonst Irish Nationalists. The Easter Rising of 1916 was put down by the British, but their heavy-handed approach increased opposition to their rule. A war of independence broke out in 1919, the Irish using guerrilla tactics to undermine British rule in the country. The war with the British ended in 1921 with the British retaining control of six counties in the province of [[Ulster]]. The territory independent of the British became the [[Irish Free State]], while the territory controlled by the British became [[Northern Ireland]]. Later, in 1937, the Free State adopted a new constitution, changing its name to [[Éire]]. [http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107648.html (4)]<br /> <br /> == Politics ==<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Republic of Ireland====<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The Republic of Ireland uses [[Proportional Representation]] meaning that there are a large number of political parties. The 166 seat Irish Dáil(parliament) sits in Leinster House, Dublin. In recent times the country has been governed mostly by coalitions generally of either Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats or Fine Gael and Labour.<br /> <br /> '''Fianna Fail''': (Pronounced Fee-Na Fall which is Irish for 'Soldiers of Destiny'). Ireland's main political party, they do not class themselves as either left or right wing but are generally considered centrist and traditionally the choice for republicans due to its foundation by Eamon de Valera; considered by his supporters to be the greatest of all Irish nationalists. Traditionally the party of Big Business and the farming community. Currently the largest party in the ruling coalition. Led by Bertie Ahern, current [[Taoiseach]]([[Prime Minister]]) of the Republic of Ireland. [http://www.fiannafail.ie/ (5)]<br /> <br /> '''Fine Gael''': (Pronounced Finna Gale, Irish for the 'United Ireland Party'). Ireland's second largest party. Fine Gael is traditionally socially and fiscally conservative. Under the leadership of [[Garret FitzGerald]] in the 1980's, the party embraced [[social democracy]]. Today the party likes to characterize itself as a party of the &quot;progressive centre&quot;. Led by [[Enda Kenny]]. [http://www.finegael.com/index.cfm (6)]<br /> <br /> '''Labour Party''': A social democratic left-wing party, similar to the Labour Party of the British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]]. [[Pat Rabitte]] is the leader of the Labour Party. [http://www.labour.ie/ (7)]<br /> <br /> '''Progressive Democrats''': The second party in the ruling coalition, it is very right wing on economic issues, favouring low-taxation, pro-business policies, but are very liberal on social issues. [[Michael McDowell]] is the current leader and [[Tánaiste]](deputy Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland. [http://www.progressivedemocrats.ie/index-main.php (8)]<br /> <br /> '''Green Party''': A left-wing party in favour of environmental protection, renewable energy and a stronger system of social security. Led by Trevor Sargent. [http://www.greenparty.ie/ (9)]<br /> <br /> '''Sinn Féin''': (Pronounced Shin Fane, Irish for 'Ourselves') Ireland's oldest poltical party, it is closely connected with the IRA, a terrorist/guerrilla movement that sought a United Irish Republic. They have recently embraced a more democratic approach. They are a left-wing socialist party. They organise in all 32 counties of Ireland. Led by Gerry Adams. [http://www.sinnfein.ie/ (10)]<br /> <br /> '''Socialist Party''': A left-wing Trotskyite party. They oppose capitalism and seek a United Socialist Ireland. Led by Joe Higgins.<br /> <br /> The 26 counties officially became a Republic in 1949.<br /> <br /> ====Northern Ireland====<br /> <br /> The political parties of Northern Ireland are mostly divided on the national question (whether to remain within the UK or become part of a United Ireland), rather than on a left-right basis. They contest elections for the [[British Parliament]](where Northern Ireland is allocated 18 seats) and the 108 seat [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]. <br /> <br /> Westminster elections use the Plurality voting system, whereas the Assembly Elections use the Proportional Representation(PR) system.<br /> <br /> The major parties are:<br /> <br /> '''Democratic Unionist Party'''(DUP): Currently the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland. The DUP is a right-wing, hardline unionist party currently led by its founder, the Reverend Ian RK Paisley. The party has strong links with Rev. Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church.<br /> <br /> '''Sinn Féin'''<br /> Currently the largest nationalist party in Northern Ireland, they sit in the Irish parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly, but refuse to take their seats in the British Parliament in Westminster.<br /> <br /> '''Ulster Unionist Party'''(UUP): A right-wing party, which had strong links with the British Conservative Party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate David Trimble is a former leader. Currently in decline, with voters turning to the DUP. Currently led by Sir Reg Empey.<br /> <br /> '''Social Democratic and Labour Party'''(SDLP): A left-wing nationalist party. Nobel Peace Prize laureate John Hume is a former leader. The SDLP were the largest nationalist party until recently, when they were overtaken by Sinn Féin. Unlike SF, the SDLP have always advocated a non-violent and constitutional approach to achieving a United Ireland. Current leader is Mark Durkan.<br /> <br /> '''Alliance Party''': The Alliance party identifies as neither unionist or nationalist and thus receives support from both communities. The current leader is David Ford.<br /> <br /> [[Image:Ireland.gif]]<br /> <br /> [[Category:Countries]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Talk:Ireland&diff=47674 2007-03-19T12:00:58Z

<p>Boreas: </p> <hr /> <div>I did a very quick clean up of this, no references as of yet, I'll hopefully add them in the next few days. It's worth noting though<br /> <br /> -Scotland was never conquered by the romans<br /> -Ireland may call it the war of indepencence, but it's probably best described as a time of civil strife or something like that. There was no war as such.<br /> -the Treaty in '21 set up a free state, a republic wasn't declared till the 40s<br /> -Ireland still isn't called the Republic of Ireland. It's there, in the constitution that the name of the state is Ireland, or Eire in the Irish language.<br /> [[User:lil_cain|lil_cain]] 03.55, 10 March 2007 (GMT)<br /> <br /> == Ireland ==<br /> <br /> Ok guys a few things. One england invaded in the 11th century (not the 17th). The war of independence was not a proper war but did lead England to pull out of the 26 counties keeping the 6 counties of ulster under british control which lead to the CIVIL WAR. Ireland is now the richest country in Europe and has the 4th strongest economy in the world. It's cheaper to buy an appartment in Manhatten than in Dublin .. it's a funny old world.<br /> <br /> adest<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> I edited out the bit about the support bases for the various parties, as they were a: unreferenced, and b:simply wrong. If I get a chance I'll go back and add something correct with references and such, but better to leave it out until then.<br /> <br /> == 04:06, March 19, 2007 ==<br /> <br /> Just wondering the reason for the revert? All the info reverted was true and non-controversial, apart perhaps for the country name. --[[User:Boreas|Boreas]] 08:00, 19 March 2007 (EDT)</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Talk:Ireland&diff=47673 2007-03-19T12:00:32Z

<p>Boreas: 04:06, March 19, 2007</p> <hr /> <div>I did a very quick clean up of this, no references as of yet, I'll hopefully add them in the next few days. It's worth noting though<br /> <br /> -Scotland was never conquered by the romans<br /> -Ireland may call it the war of indepencence, but it's probably best described as a time of civil strife or something like that. There was no war as such.<br /> -the Treaty in '21 set up a free state, a republic wasn't declared till the 40s<br /> -Ireland still isn't called the Republic of Ireland. It's there, in the constitution that the name of the state is Ireland, or Eire in the Irish language.<br /> [[User:lil_cain|lil_cain]] 03.55, 10 March 2007 (GMT)<br /> <br /> == Ireland ==<br /> <br /> Ok guys a few things. One england invaded in the 11th century (not the 17th). The war of independence was not a proper war but did lead England to pull out of the 26 counties keeping the 6 counties of ulster under british control which lead to the CIVIL WAR. Ireland is now the richest country in Europe and has the 4th strongest economy in the world. It's cheaper to buy an appartment in Manhatten than in Dublin .. it's a funny old world.<br /> <br /> adest<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> I edited out the bit about the support bases for the various parties, as they were a: unreferenced, and b:simply wrong. If I get a chance I'll go back and add something correct with references and such, but better to leave it out until then.<br /> <br /> == 04:06, March 19, 2007 ==<br /> <br /> Just wondering the reason for the revert? All the info reverted was true and non-controversial, apart perhaps for the country name.</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Talk:Richard_Plantagenet&diff=45593 2007-03-18T15:45:40Z

<p>Boreas: </p> <hr /> <div>While Richard the Lionheart (Richard I) was a Plantagenet king, so were Richard II and Richard III (whose picture in in the article). This article should be changed to Richard I of England or Richard the Lionheart and the picture deleted or replaced. [[User:JesusSaves|JesusSaves]] 18 March 2007 11:38 (EDT)<br /> <br /> <br /> Oops, added the wrong Richard. Image now removed. --[[User:Boreas|Boreas]] 11:45, 18 March 2007 (EDT)</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Richard_Plantagenet&diff=45592 2007-03-18T15:45:02Z

<p>Boreas: </p> <hr /> <div>Richard Plantagenet lived September 8, 1157 – April 6, 1199. He was King of [[England]] from 1189 to 1199. Some consider him a great and very popular king despite the fact that he did not accomplish much for his people. He is an important figure in many stories about the [[crusades]] such as ''Ivanhoe''.<br /> <br /> [[Category:Biographies]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Richard_Plantagenet&diff=45580 2007-03-18T15:32:06Z

<p>Boreas: Added image</p> <hr /> <div>[[Image:Richard_3.jpg|thumbnail|right|150px|Richard III]]<br /> <br /> Richard Plantagenet lived September 8, 1157 – April 6, 1199. He was King of [[England]] from 1189 to 1199. Some consider him a great and very popular king despite the fact that he did not accomplish much for his people. He is an important figure in many stories about the [[crusades]] such as ''Ivanhoe''.<br /> <br /> [[Category:Biographies]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Helium&diff=45549 2007-03-18T15:17:01Z

<p>Boreas: Added name origin</p> <hr /> <div>{{Element | name=Helium| symbol=He | anumber=2 | amass=4.0026 amu | noe=2 | class=Nobel Gas| cstructure=hexagonal close-packed | color=Colorless | date= August 18, 1868| discname= [[Pierre Janssen]]| origname= from [[Helios]] the [[Greek]] [[Sun]] [[Deity|god]] | uses=Unknown | obtained=. }}<br /> <br /> Helium is the second element on the [[periodic table of elements]]. It is also the second most abundant element in the universe, after [[hydrogen]]. Helium is created by [[nuclear fusion]] in the center of stars. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Chemistry]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Helium&diff=45537 2007-03-18T15:12:28Z

<p>Boreas: Added Pierre Janssen</p> <hr /> <div>{{Element | name=Helium| symbol=He | anumber=2 | amass=4.0026 amu | noe=2 | class=Nobel Gas| cstructure=hexagonal close-packed | color=Colorless | date= August 18, 1868| discname= [[Pierre Janssen]]| origname= | uses=Unknown | obtained=. }}<br /> <br /> Helium is the second element on the [[periodic table of elements]]. It is also the second most abundant element in the universe, after [[hydrogen]]. Helium is created by [[nuclear fusion]] in the center of stars. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Chemistry]]</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Germany&diff=45524 2007-03-18T15:03:10Z

<p>Boreas: Added ref</p> <hr /> <div>[[Image:GermanyMap.gif|thumbnail|right|250px|Map of Germany]]<br /> <br /> '''Germany''' is a federally organized [[Democracy]] in Western [[Europe]] with a population of about 82.4 million. The Capital is [[Berlin]].<br /> <br /> As Europe's largest economy and second most populous nation, Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious [[Allied powers]] of the [[US]], [[UK]], [[France]], and the [[Soviet Union]] in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western [[Federal Republic of Germany]] (FRG) and the eastern [[German Democratic Republic]] (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the [[EC]], which became the [[EU]], and [[NATO]], while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages up to Western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the [[euro]].<br /> <br /> == Economic Overview ==<br /> <br /> Germany's affluent and technologically powerful economy - the fifth largest in the world in [[PPP]] terms - showed considerable improvement in 2006 with 2.7% growth. After a long period of stagnation with an average growth rate of 0.7% between 2001-05 and chronically high unemployment, stronger growth has led to a considerable fall in unemployment to about 8% at the end of 2006. Among the most important reasons for Germany's high unemployment during the past decade were macroeconomic stagnation, the declining level of investment in plant and equipment, company restructuring, flat domestic consumption, structural rigidities in the labor market, lack of competition in the service sector, and high interest rates. The modernization and integration of the eastern German economy continues to be a costly long-term process, with annual transfers from west to east amounting to roughly $80 billion. The former government of Chancellor [[Gerhard Schroeder]] launched a comprehensive set of reforms of labor market and welfare-related institutions. The current government of Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] has initiated other reform measures, such as a gradual increase in the mandatory retirement age from 65 to 67 and measures to increase female participation in the labor market. Germany's ageing population, combined with high chronic unemployment, has pushed social security outlays to a level exceeding contributions, but higher government revenues from the cyclical upturn in 2006 reduced Germany's budget deficit to within the EU's 3% debt limit. Corporate restructuring and growing capital markets are setting the foundations that could help Germany meet the long-term challenges of European economic integration and globalization.&lt;ref&gt;[https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gm.html] CIA World Factbook&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Famous Germans== <br /> *[[Pope Benedict XVI]]<br /> *[[Ludwig van Beethoven]]<br /> *[[Albert Einstein]]<br /> *[[Friedrich Engels]]<br /> *[[Daniel Fahrenheit]]<br /> *[[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]]<br /> *[[Henry Kissinger]]<br /> *[[Martin Luther]]<br /> *[[Karl Marx]]<br /> *[[Friedrich Nietzsche]]<br /> *[[Friedrich Schiller]]<br /> *[[Richard Wagner]]<br /> <br /> ==War on Terror==<br /> Germany currently contributes troops to the NATO-led operation in Afghanistan, but did not support the invasion of Iraq.<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> &lt;references/&gt;</div>

Boreas https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Peasant%27s_Crusade&diff=44765 2007-03-18T00:00:32Z

<p>Boreas: Added stub2</p> <hr /> <div>The real first crusade which consisted mainly of common people. 1096 AD<br /> <br /> {{stub2}}<br /> <br /> [[Category:History]]</div>

Boreas