http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/outsidein Just another irishtimes.com weblog Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:16:00 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en This story is hilarious! Talk about money making the world go around! The French are unapologetic about not having much time for that silly concept that others call multiculturalism. If you’re an immigrant who is granted the privilege of living in France, they by golly you will assimilate. And they’re pretty ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/outsidein/2009/11/19/sharia-good-religious-dress-bad/ Ordinarily, prostitution isn’t a subject I’d give very much thought. But lately, it seems that wherever I go, there’s a radio interview, newspaper article, or some other form of discussion on the subject. Worse, the prevailing consensus seems to be that it’s not that big a deal, it’s a great ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/outsidein/2009/11/18/prostitution/ Describing the process by which changes in social definitions of equality lead to conflict, Michael Walzer wrote the following: Some group of men and women - class, caste, strata, estate, alliance, or social formation - comes to enjoy a monopoly or a near monopoly of some dominant good; or, a coalition ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/outsidein/2009/11/16/a-thought-19/ The last post, Serfs and aristocrats, has got me wondering if there’s a real commitment out there to global solidarity that exists beyond the confines of a few small organisations and the odd home here and there. There’s definitely a formal commitment to the idea that we are all people, ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/outsidein/2009/11/11/why-pretend/ At the launch of From The Republic of Conscience in the National Library last night were Colm O'Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International's Irish section, former president Mary Robinson, and poet Seamus Heaney. Photograph: Aidan Crawley. Former President Mary Robinson is reported to have said that ...the question of overseas aid was “no ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/outsidein/2009/11/10/serfs-and-aristocrats/ Clockwise from top left, the routes and starting times of the protest marches in Galway, Dublin and Cork. I’m not sure how I feel about today’s planned marches. I’m a huge supporter of deliberative forms of governance. I also strongly believe in the right of people to protest and publicly register ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/outsidein/2009/11/06/why-are-we-marching/ The European Court of Human Rights has decided that having crucifixes up all over the place in Italian schools denies some people their rights. In the Court’s words, “The compulsory display of a symbol of a given confession in premises used by the public authorities restricted the right of parents ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/outsidein/2009/11/04/of-crucifixes-and-rights/ A fire juggling stiltwalker in the Colours Street Theatre Halloween parade in Galway city centre, October 31st. Photo:Joe O'Shaughnessy. Halloween in Belfast was for me, a night full of contradictions. According to Wikipedia (yes yes, I know it’s not the most reliable source of knowledge), Halloween is the offspring of ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/outsidein/2009/11/02/halloween-in-belfast/ I had an interesting conversation in a Belfast classroom last night. A debate over which leads to a better society, individualism or something more communitarian, led to the question of national purpose. A self-identified Brit (who I think comes from somewhere in Northern Ireland) claimed that what separated the Britain ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/outsidein/2009/10/29/get-rich-or-die-trying/ Today’s Irish Times poll asks the question, “Should cuts in social welfare be introduced in the forthcoming Budget?” Thus far, a surprising 62% believe that they should. Does that result reflect the socio-economic standing of the average Irish Times reader, online poll respondent, or the prevailing mood in the country? I’m ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/outsidein/2009/10/28/good-news/