Islamic Feminists Hijack Religion

If you’ve bought into the politically correct idea that Islam somehow preaches gender equality, then you’ve been sadly deceived by irrational Islamic feminists like Amina Wadud. No matter how these people construe sacred Islamic texts, any sane person can rationally conclude from the Qur’an and hadith (the sayings or actions of Muhammad) that Islam considers women inferior to men.

Letters to the Editor

I applaud the analysis behind your May 12 cover article, “Exactly How Liberal is Stanford University?” But I worry that the process of designing one’s Facebook profile pressures students to present themselves as more liberal than they actually are, skewing your results...

Editor's Note: Existential Faith

Scientifically, human life is temporary and fragile. Just a few feet of accumulated sedimentary rock can represent the time period of human existence. Nuclear warfare created unparalleled fears during the Cold War that an ideological disagreement could lead to the annihilation of mankind. Such things have been the subject of my studies this quarter—forcing me to deal with a pronounced existential crisis. Often, I find that faith is the only antidote to these types of crises.

Cartoons

Review cartoonist Paul Craft and guest cartoonist George Capps humorously draw on recent events.

Europe Conquered

“The gods by whom this kingdom stood are gone. Gone from the shrines and altars. You defend a city lost in flames. Come, let us die…the conquered have one safety: hope for none.” Although this verse was written by Virgil about the fall of Troy, it is strikingly applicable today to the fall of another civilization--Europe.

Immigration from a European Perspective

As the immigration debate sweeps the United States, it is helpful to examine other countries’ immigration policies and their subsequent economic effects. The E.U. produced about the same GDP as the U.S. in 2005, although it has double the population.

Promoting Science and Useful Arts: The Growth of Copyright Since 1976

In early 1971, a cartoonist named Dan O’Neill and his colleagues “decided that what America truly needed was the destruction of Walt Disney” (Levin). They drew raunchy, unauthorized comics featuring Mickey and friends doing drugs, having sex, and generally acting unDisneylike. Predictably, Disney sued for copyright infringement. Given the comics’ insignificant sales and the nonexistent potential for confusion with real Disney comics, an observer might think the case an easy free speech decision.

Marxist Lotta Speaks at Stanford

Marxist political economist Raymond Lotta gave a speech on why “Socialism is much better than Capitalism, And Communism will be a far better world” at Stanford on May 8 as part of a nation-wide tour of college campuses in an effort to get people to consider a Communist solution to the world’s problems.

A Ship without a Captain

As many know, 2008 will be the first election since 1952 that a sitting President or Vice President will not be running for the oval office. This, in turn, opens up the question of who will be the Republican standard bearer after Bush leaves office. A non-exhaustive list includes Condi Rice, John McCain, George Allen, Bill Frist, Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo, Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Newt Gingrich, and Mike Pence. Though it is obviously too early to make accurate predictions, some of these potential GOP candidates have already begun to separate from the pack.

Beinin isn't a “Supporter of Terrorism”

According to conservative publisher David Horowitz, Stanford Professor of Middle East History Joel Beinin supports terrorism. Horowitz has even gone so far as to use a photo of Professor Beinin on the cover of an upcoming book entitled “Campus Support for Terrorism.” (In response, Beinin has sued to prevent the use of his photo, claiming the accusation is untrue) Is Horowtiz’s provocative accusation that Professor Beinin “supports terrorism” true?

Smoke Signals

Throughout this year, columnists from The Stanford Daily have made several personal criticism of The Review. Many of the columnists attacked the credibility of The Review. Few, however, backed-up their claims with specific details. Daily columnist Adam Bad Wound was especially adept at attacking the paper. Smoke Signals records some of these public criticisms below, giving each a proper rating on its ingenuity.

Once Again, Do Not Be Afraid!

Benediction, not interdiction, is the surprising one-word summary of the change in leadership of the Catholic Church. The heady intellectual who succeeded the beloved John Paul II has lapped his critics while lapping up their criticisms. He proclaims peace and love, not war. He is the 265th leader in an historic line of two millennia--not all of whom were worthy of the role--but he is making more than his German mark.

Book Review: Illegal Immigration Debate Put in Context

As exemplified by President Bush’s nationally televised speech from the Oval Office on May 15th, illegal immigration has become a powerful political issue. States of emergeny have been declared, hundreds of thousands of protestors have marched through the streets, national guardsmen have been scheduled to be deployed, and potential solutions have been drafted. At times, however, the current political maneuvering and solution-drafting can obscure the social, economic, and historical complexities that truly fuel the debate.

This Week's Events

The Review continues its new weekly list of upcoming events--including popular parties, interesting lectures, and important campus events.