Chris Hearn
The hijab, the name the headscarf worn by some Muslim women is often referred to, still continues to be a controversial topic both between Muslims and non-Muslims and within the Muslim community itself. This week, discussion about the hijab flared up during some very public exchanges through the media. Recent efforts, including the one made… Continue reading Intense Hijab Debate Rages Between Reformist And Traditionalist Muslims
Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother Teresa is getting closer to officially being a Saint. The Vatican has set the ball rolling with the recognizing of a miracle attributed to Mother Teresa that supposedly involved the curing of a Brazilian man who had a number of brain tumors. As the story goes, the family prayed to… Continue reading Vatican Set To Make Mother Teresa A Saint, But Is She Worthy Of It?
Merry Christmas has become somewhat of a contentious phrase in the last few decades. As retailers and government agencies strive for more inclusive environments, Merry Christmas, with its clear Christian connection, has fallen out of favor. As an atheist, I find this whole idea of Merry Christmas being wiped clean from parts of our society… Continue reading Yes, It Is Okay To Say ‘Merry Christmas,’ So Enjoy!
It’s OK to say Merry Christmas, according to some mysterious green and white signs popping up, especially around schools and city offices, in Redmond, Washington. In the seemingly perpetual “War on Christmas” that often hits during the Christmas season, an unknown sign poster has fired his or her shot showing what side he or she… Continue reading Mysterious ‘It’s OK To Say Merry Christmas’ Signs Posted In Redmond, Washington
Advance ticket sales from Star Wars: The Force Awakens show that the blockbuster film is already raking in the big money, with an estimated $100 million tickets being sold thus far, and up to $60 million of those tickets being reserved for the opening weekend. Despite the massive ticket sales for the new Star Wars… Continue reading Advance Ticket Sales For ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Hit Record With $100 Million And Counting
Not all refugees are enjoying their European experience. Some refugees from Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Iraq, disillusioned with how life is turning out for them in Austria, are packing up and going home. The Local reports that between January and November of 2015, more than 1,000 migrants from Kosovo, 530 from Iraq, and 120 from Afghanistan,… Continue reading Refugee Crisis: Disappointed Refugees Are Leaving Austria To Go Back Home
Angela Merkel, Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year” and Chancellor of Germany, has sparked controversy over remarks she made on Monday saying that multiculturalism is a lie. Merkel spoke yesterday at a convention of her Christian Democratic Union party, where she argued that multiculturalism (referred to as “multikulti” in Germany) “leads to parallel societies” that… Continue reading Angela Merkel: Multiculturalism Is A Lie, According To ‘Time Magazine’s’ ‘Person Of The Year’
Scathing as this may sound, as I see the outpouring of public affection being shown to Syrian refugees as they begin to arrive in Canada as part of the liberal government’s plan to bring 25,000 refugees into the country, I can’t help but grit my teeth. Although I completely support the initiative, the whole thing… Continue reading Dear Canada: Syrian Refugees Aren’t Trained Seals Here To Entertain Us
Christmas controversy has struck Norway after what is seen as a “War on Christmas” incident that has surprised parents at a school in suburban Oslo. According to The Local, Lesterud School sent permission slips home with students to ask parents if their children would be allowed to sing Christmas carols while dancing around a Christmas… Continue reading Christmas Controversy: Two Kinds Of ‘War On Christmas’ Incidents Hit Norway
A Toronto cab driver who was part of a protest by cabbies against unregulated Uber services in the city physically attacked a car driven by suspected Uber driver on Wednesday afternoon and ended up taking a free ride as a result. The taxi cab driver who was part of the protest saw a white Honda… Continue reading Uber Driver’s Car Attacked By Taxi Cab Driver During Anti-Uber Protest In Toronto [Video]
The holidays are upon us and along with the holiday season comes the much loved or loathed Christmas songs being played everywhere you turn, from coffee shops to department stores to your local gas station. You can’t escape it. Christmas music will follow you no matter where you go, whether it’s being played over some… Continue reading Here Are Five Rather Loud Christmas Music Alternatives To Help Brighten Your Holiday Season
In a video showing the arrest of a man who attacked three people with a knife in a London tube station, an incident labelled as a “terrorist attack” because the attacker screamed “This is for Syria!”, we hear a young man shouting “You ain’t no Muslim, Bruv!” This statement has grabbed the attention of social… Continue reading ‘You Ain’t No Muslim, Bruv!’: London ‘Terror Attack’ Response An Easy Out To Protect Islam?
There has been a spate of concerning anti-Muslim hate crimes in Canada over the last number of months in the wake of a heated national election campaign that saw some anti-Muslim sentiment pushed to the foreground of Canadian politics, the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and now the attacks in San Bernardino, California. As well,… Continue reading Hate Crime: String Of Anti-Muslim Attacks Hit Canada
Maryam Namazie, an Iranian, ex-Muslim, feminist, secularist and human rights campaigner, who was invited to speak at Goldsmiths University in London by the school’s Atheist, Secularist and Humanist Society (ASH), was met by a hostile group of students intent on disrupting her talk. The presentation by Maryam Namazie (titled “Apostasy, blasphemy and free expression in… Continue reading Maryam Namazie Presentation Descends Into Chaos At Goldsmiths University London
On Monday, the manager of a Jewish book store in the Upper West Side of Manhattan was the subject of an anti-Semitic attack by an agitated man repeatedly yelling “F*** the Jews.” Haartz reports that the attacker, who was an African-American man in his twenties and claimed to be a Muslim, was seen pacing back… Continue reading Anti-Semitism On The Rise: Jewish Bookstore Manager Attacked in Manhattan
The mystery behind the upcoming and highly-anticipated BBC Sherlock Christmas special, “The Abominable Bride,” is slowly starting to peel back with the release of a second trailer, new photos and more details on what to expect. Furthermore, in a quest to extract more information, Radio Times sat down with the co-writer of the show, Steven… Continue reading ‘Sherlock’: New Trailer, New Hints, New Excitement
Legendary “New Atheist” Richard Dawkins is a man whom some people worship — and others loathe. There seems to be little sentiment towards Richard Dawkins that lies in between those extremes. Those who loathe him have new fuel for the fire of their loathing over Ahmed Mohamed, the now famous Texas student who was arrested… Continue reading No, Richard Dawkins Does Not Represent Atheists Or Atheism — Here Is Why
Canada has vowed to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees into the country by the end of the year. But the plan has taken a controversial turn. The government has decided that (in the first wave of Syrian refugees, at least) it will only be accepting women, children, and families – no single unaccompanied males. According to… Continue reading No Unaccompanied Men: Canada’s Syrian Refugee Program Takes Controversial Turn
Students at the University of Ottawa who enjoyed free Yoga classes are out of luck after complaints levied by the school’s Center for Students with Disabilities over the issue of cultural appropriation. According to the Huffington Post, yoga instructor Jennifer Scharf was approached in 2008 by the Student Federation to run yoga classes to benefit… Continue reading University Of Ottawa Yoga Classes Nixed Over ‘Cultural Genocide’ Concerns
Bill Maher never shies away from controversial statements, and when it comes to bringing Syrian refugees to the U.S. (or more specifically, liberal Western societies) he has again stumbled into his usual fire storm. Maher has made his concerns over Islam clear. He is not a fan. And, on Friday, during his Real Time show… Continue reading Why Bill Maher Is Both Right And Wrong About Syrian Refugees
In the wake of the recent attacks in Paris attributed to ISIS, the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis has come front and center, once again, and the debate is getting rather messy. In one corner, you have the conservative view that NO refugees should be let into Western countries — you know, like the view of… Continue reading Let’s Be Honest About Refugees: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
It’s happened again. With the attacks on Paris by Islamic extremists, we are revisiting a problem that we have had for decades now. Islam and Muslims are drawn front and center into a spotlight most do not wish to be in. Unfortunately, the rhetoric on the topic of Islam is generally polarized, without a rational,… Continue reading It Really Is Okay To Criticize Islam
Since Friday, the news has been saturated with coverage of the attacks in Paris by ISIS that killed at least 127, and this has some upset, given the fact that an ISIS suicide bombing that killed 44 in Beirut did not have the same impact on the media. Is this an issue of Western superiority?… Continue reading Do The Paris Attacks Matter More Than The Beirut Attacks?
Poland is the first European Union country to react to the ISIS attacks in Paris, which killed 127 people, by changing its approach to the refugee crisis happening in Europe. In September, the E.U. agreed to a program to help countries on the front lines of the refugee crisis (Italy, Greece, and Hungry), by spreading… Continue reading Paris Attacks: Poland Backs Out Of E.U. Refugee Quota Program
Last night, as the Paris Attacks were unfolding, comedian and social critic Bill Maher began his Real Time show on HBO with a tribute to France by singing part of the French national anthem, “La Marseillaise.” “Now I’m not a very good singer, but that’s my way of saying: We’re with you.” Bill Maher has… Continue reading Bill Maher Sends Message To France After Paris Attacks: ‘We’re With You’
Claremont McKenna College, a small liberal arts school near Los Angeles, California, has seen the resignation of its dean over yet another race row that has been sweeping university campuses across the United States. According to the Wall Street Journal, Mary Spellman had served as the dean at the school of around 1,300 students since… Continue reading Dean At Claremont McKenna College Latest Casualty In Race Crisis At U.S. Schools
Sweden has become the latest country in the European Union to turn to controversial border controls to stem the current influx of refugees, many from Syria, but also from Afghanistan, Africa, and South East Asia. Sweden initially said it would grant residency to all Syrian refugees that came to its shores, according to Bloomberg Business.… Continue reading Refugee Crisis: Sweden Announces New Border Controls To Stem Tide
The man bun: The harmless trend that some guys are following, where they put their long hair in a bun. And yet, there is a scorn and hatred, an intense man bun shaming, shall we say, that is following this trend (the New York Post calls it the “world’s most controversial hairstyle”). So, what’s the… Continue reading Stop Hating On The Man Bun — And Clip-In Man Bun
Want to get directly to the pulse of the people? The place to go for that is twitter. And today on twitter, it appears that the current events happening at Yale University and University of Missouri have sparked a sizeable backlash that inspired the twitter hashtag #NationalOffendACollegeStudentDay. In an atmosphere where some university campuses seem… Continue reading Twitter Outrage: Offended People Declare ‘National Offend A College Student Day’
Richard Dawkins always has something to say, and his latest target is the Sun newspaper in the U.K. over a headline about Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. So, what exactly got Richard Dawkins upset? The Independent reports that the right-leaning, Rupert Murdoch-owned Sun took exception to how they perceived Jeremy Corbyn acted at a Remembrance Day… Continue reading Richard Dawkins Tears Into The Sun Over Jeremy Corbyn Coverage
The wheels are in motion to figure out how to get 25,000 Syrian refugees into Canada by the end of 2015 to fulfill Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s election campaign promise. The CBC reports that the recently sworn in Liberal government has assembled a new committee that will oversee the process of bringing the Syrian refugees… Continue reading Canada Making Good On Promise Of Accepting 25,000 Syrian Refugees By Year End
Yale University has found itself embroiled in controversy over one of the most pressing issues of our time: Halloween costumes. According to the New York Times, it all started when the Intercultural Affairs Committee of Yale sent an email to students making strong suggestions they should avoid certain Halloween costumes. “The culturally unaware or insensitive… Continue reading Yale University Students In Uproar Over Halloween Costumes
Bill Maher, the host of Real Time on HBO, a man who never fears giving his viewpoint on almost any subject, has an opinion on how to solve the Syrian refugee crisis, whether you like it or not. “I don’t know why we don’t create some sort of system where we could train [Syrian refugees]… Continue reading Does Bill Maher Have The Solution To The Syrian Refugee Crisis?
In 2013, the tiny, mega-rich Middle East Gulf country of Qatar developed a list of people who would be banned from getting a driver’s license in the country based on their occupation. The ban has now been expanded to exclude even more workers from being able to drive. In a quest to relieve the congestion… Continue reading Qatar Bans Calligraphy Technicians, Bakers, Nannies, And More From Driving
Concern and fear is growing within the transgender community in the United States due to an alarming spike in the number of murders being committed against its members in the past 12 months. The Guardian reports that murders have almost doubled over 2014, with an estimated 22 transgender or “gender non-conforming” individuals being killed in… Continue reading National Crisis: Transgender Murders In The U.S. Doubled In 2015
NASCAR has sent a strong message to Matt Kenseth and other drivers considering taking out a Chase contending race leader before this racing season is out: Do not do it. As the result of Matt Kenseth’s act of revenge over the weekend at the Sprint Cup Race in Martinsville, which saw the former champion run… Continue reading Dissapointed Matt Kenseth Loses Appeal Of NASCAR Suspension
Let’s be honest, this year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup series didn’t produce a ton of memorable moments. That isn’t to say the season was a wash-out, but at this moment in time, NASCAR is so competitive that drivers, owners, and crew chiefs can’t afford not to take every moment on the track seriously, and be conservative… Continue reading Logano Vs Kenseth Is Good For NASCAR, And NASCAR Knows It
It may seem a tad simple to just sum up director and co-writer Guillermo del Toro’s newest movie Crimson Peak in a few words: Just not that good. But that’s the best way to say it, it seems. It just wasn’t all that good. And at this point, readers should be warned that there will… Continue reading ‘Crimson Peak’ Movie Review: Meh, It’s Just Not That Good
Police in South London, U.K., are on the hunt for a serial cat killer who has been slaughtering cats, possibly with a machete, cutting them up and taking trophies of his fuzzy victims. So far, an estimated 20 cats may have been targeted by the killer, and residents of Croydon (in South London) are urged… Continue reading ‘Cat Ripper Of Croydon’: South London Serial Cat Killer Hunted By Police
During the recent Canadian election campaign, Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau made an ambitious promise that his Liberal government would settle 25,000 Iraqi and Syrian refugees by the end of 2015. So, will he be able to fulfill this promise? Should he even try? According to CTV, Justin Trudeau’s yet-to-be-sworn-in government has already begun discussions with… Continue reading Is Justin Trudeau’s Promise Of Settling 25,000 Syrian Refugees By End Of 2015 Achievable?
Oh, One Direction fans, you are going to love this. The much-screamed-over band has been slated to perform at the 2015 American Music Awards (AMAs) on November 22 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. And what will they be performing? The perfect choice for the evening is “Perfect” which will be perfect, assuredly, for… Continue reading A ‘Perfect’ Performance? One Direction Scheduled To Sing Hit Single At American Music Awards
Great news, Sherlock fans! You will no longer have to suffer the indignity of merely watching the Sherlock Christmas special on some two-bit TV screen. Now, you will be able to experience the full glory of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman on theater screens in select cities across the U.K., Canada, and the U.S. in… Continue reading BBC’s ‘Sherlock’: Much Anticipated Christmas Special To Hit The Silver Screen
For fans of Peter Capaldi as the current Doctor Who (the twelfth Time Lord), it has been confirmed that he will continue on being the Doctor for at least one more season, according to the Mirror. It had been previously suggested that the 57-year-old Scottish actor may be tiring of the role due to the… Continue reading Latest ‘Doctor Who’ News: Capaldi Stays On, Tennant Returns, Sonic Glasses May Go
The infamous Westboro Baptist Church has hatched a brand new hate-based campaign, and this one is a doozy. Now, the picket-happy church is out to protest the entire nation of Canada. Yes, the group has decided to go over the top this time by targeting an entire country. Apparently, Canadians are “depraved” and they must… Continue reading Westboro Baptist Church Protests Entire Nation Of Canada
Louis Tomlinson isn’t about to sit still when One Direction heads off on a year-long (at least) hiatus starting in March 2016. His schedule is filling up with plenty to keep himself busy. For starters, the 23-year-old boy band superstar is going to show off his strong altruistic streak. Louis Tomlinson is planning on doing… Continue reading Louis Tomlinson Will Not Be Sitting On His Laurels During One Direction Hiatus
Justin Trudeau, the new Prime Minister-designate of Canada, seems to be a popular guy on the world stage at the moment, but possibly for all the wrong reasons. It appears that he has his fair share of admirers who are far more focused on his looks than his politics. Canada isn’t known for its good… Continue reading Justin Trudeau: Too Good Looking For His Own Good?
Thirty-three-year-old actress Jessica Biel is one lucky lady. Either that or thirty-four-year-old Justin Timberlake is one lucky guy. Either way, it is safe to say that Justin loves Jessica, and Jessica loves Justin. The sexy former boy-band singer, Justin Timberlake, was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame over the weekend (presented to him… Continue reading Justin Timberlake REALLY Loves Jessica Biel, Like, A Lot
There is absolutely no doubt One Direction is one of the most successful boy bands of recent years. And, their cash inflow reports goes to prove just how successful they are. According to Sky News, in 2014, the One Direction kids made a whopping $114 million. That works out to a staggering $300,000 per day.… Continue reading One Direction Earned Over $300,000 Last Year — PER DAY!
An assistant high school principal has landed herself in hot water for her appearance in a music video starring Trey Songz and rapper J.R. called “Best Friends.” In the video, Trey Songz and J.R. didn’t hold back on the stereotypical rap video charm and surrounded themselves with flesh, chains, drugs, and sports cars. Although the… Continue reading Trey Songz Videos Are Not ‘Best Friends’ To High School Principal
Harry Potter has a brand new star! Clay Caldwell, a 13-year-old boy from Windermere, UK, is now acting as the model used to draw Harry Potter in the new illustrated version of the J.K. Rowling mega-blockbuster books. And based on photographs of the young, bespectacled boy, there couldn’t be a better match. How on earth… Continue reading Move Over Radcliffe, There Is A New Harry Potter On The Block