...Or not.

Some days, I'm really, really thankful that the UN is just an ineffectual paper tiger.  Imagine if this actually had some weight behind it:

GENEVA (AP) - Islamic countries pushed through a resolution at the U.N. Human Rights Council on Friday urging a global prohibition on the public defamation of religion—a response largely to the furor last year over caricatures published in a Danish newspaper of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad.

It makes no mention of any other religion besides Islam, but urges countries "to take resolute action to prohibit the dissemination of racist and xenophobic ideas and material aimed at any religion or its followers that constitute incitement and religious hatred, hostility, or violence."

The resolution was adopted by a 24-14 vote with nine abstentions. Canada, Japan and South Korea joined European countries in opposition, primarily citing its excessive focus on Islam and incompatibility with fundamental rights such as the freedoms of speech and thought.

Now a Council of Liberal Democracies, on the other hand, I'd be bullish on... 

Let it be known, I have a total schoolgirl crush on Mickey Kaus.  But setting my biases aside, I was wondering what you guys think on this post from his blog:

 <blockquote>

Kabuki Watch? Here's a question: If it's

a) in the Congressional Democrats' interest to try but ultimately fail to use their funding power force a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq (it shows the antiwar left Pelosi is trying without giving Dems responsibility for a messy Iraq outcome),

and it's

b) in the Bush administration's interest to have Congressional Dems' try but ultimately fail to use their funding power to force a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq (it lets Bush continue the "surge" while giving him the threat of a Dem-forced pullout with which to pressure the Maliki government),

then

c) isn't it true that what probably will happen is that the Congressional Dems try but ultimately fail to use their funding power to force a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq?

Just asking!</blockquote>

Did I mention I love his writing style, too?

Now, as many of you know, I'm not usually a big fan of "take to the streets" activism - I think it's too often more about counterproductive, egocentric grandstanding than a pragmatic approach to changing policy.

Last night was an exception.

For my 21st birthday, the beloved Georgetown Hoyas gave me a wonderful gift - WE'RE GOING TO THE FINAL FOUR!!!

This is DC, so we didn't just celebrate privately and leave it at that.

No, we marched to the White House several thousand strong, demanding Bush come out and congratulate the Hoyas on our victory.  While that didn't happen, they did at least turn on the floodlights on the lawn to acknowledge us.

Eat your heart out, Code Pink!