A book/article about Shari'ah Law from an Iranian writer.

The Park 51 project in New York City is again under fire, this time for applying for funds from the 9-11 rebuilding fund. Critics and protesters think the project development is a "slap in the face" as people continue to debate its proximity to Ground Zero. Yet, how can the appropriation of public funding be legally withheld from a specific religious or cultural group?

In California, protesters are fighting to repeal the nation's first law requiring public schools to include prominent gay people and gay rights' milestones in school lessons. Some fear that it would expose young children to "inappropriate" sexual themes, however modern 20th century history often isn't taught until junior year of high school. Proponents of the referendum explain that social studies education covers broad spectrum topics and that those who develop the curriculum would be unlikely to "include the sexual orientation of historical figures unless it is relevant."

DeSoto County Schools, public schools, have been asked to stop allowing Gideon International to distribute bibles to students on the school campus. Some are saying it's not a violation of the separation between church and state or freedom of religion because any religion should be allowed to do the same. However, the real issue is whether or not it should even be allowed because just as everyone has freedom of religion, they should also have freedom from religion.

Some parents have the idea that allowing their teenagers and friends to drink in their private homes as opposed to attending unsupervised parties is a safer alternative. However, adults can end up legally liable or even in jail for supplying alcohol to other people's children.

There are 31 states that allow parents or guardians to give alcohol to minors, only 7 of those restrict it to a private residence. Even in countries where there is not minimum drinking age and it is customary for teens to drink during meals or religious ceremonies with their parents, there is still an observable incidence of intoxication and binge drinking.

This article discusses the parental dilemma of whether or not to allow kids to drink before the legal age of 21. It poses question if the kids are going to experiment with alcohol anyway, should parents forbid it, allow it, or supervise it?

Several states are considering passing laws like a bill that was recently passed in Tennessee outlawing parts of Islamic Shariah law. Shariah law is an Islamic way of settling disputes while taking religious tenets into account. Supporters of the bill feel that allowing the practice of Shariah law within the United States will denigrate the Judeo-Christian foundation of the U.S., however protesters argue that creating such laws will erode the very foundation of American democracy and freedom of religion.

This article talks about the negative response from a surprising number of readers of Babytalk Magazine when a 2006 magazine cover displayed part of a woman's breast and a baby nursing. While a number of readers were put off by the photo, another responded that she wants people to realize that a breast is more than just a sex object. It goes on to discuss celebrity support for public breast-feeding and how many retailers and restaurants who antagonize breast-feeding women have been subject to "nurse-ins." One of the best lines from the article is from a woman who refuses to feed in a public, questionably clean restroom stating, ""My kid needed to eat. I don't send people to the bathroom when THEY want to eat."

In this brief article, a woman was reprimanded by her employer for breast-feeding her 3-month-old son in a Fort Brag mini-mall. Someone who was offended by the woman breast-feeding filed an anonymous complaint and a few days later the woman was told by her manager that the Army and Air Force Exchange Services, which manages military malls, has banned breast feeding. Although the employee did not want to make anyone uncomfortable or cause any further issue after her reprimand both North Carolina and federal law, allow women to breast-feed in public, even if their breast is exposed.

This article discusses the controversy over breast-feeding in public. Although breast-feeding is healthy for both mother and child over half the American population is still uncomfortable with it. The author discusses the health benefits to babies that are breast fed and the barriers that mothers face.