Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Lady?
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: 'Feminine values' are making a comeback but do they have any place in today's world?

The eternal question of what makes a woman a lady has reared its well-coiffed head once again this summer thanks to a raft of new experts queuing up – politely, of course – to tell British women to polish their shoes, mind their p's and q's, and generally be a little more ladylike.

While for many the very idea of ladylike behaviour is outdated, or even risible – as illustrated by the memorable Little Britain sketches in which David Walliams cries: "I am a Laydee" – a controversial book poised to hit UK bookshops next month is seeking to rescue the term from ridicule, advocating a "return to feminine values". This may not be entirely fanciful.

At the same time, sales of the conservative magazine The Lady are soaring, and Miss Debrett, the etiquette authority's new online agony aunt, is offering women a helping hand on everything from weddings to email etiquette.

In her book How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World, Jordan Christy laments the rise of the "stupid girls", represented in the public eye by such celebrities as Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, declaring our "current female landscape as "embarrassing, flippant and shallow". >>> Rachel Shields | Sunday, August 30, 2009

Tension Mounts as Hezbollah Win Predicted
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: THE militant Islamic group Hezbollah looks set to consolidate its influence on power in Lebanon when voters go to the polls here on June 7.

Backed by Iran and Syria, the Hezbollah-led coalition known as March 8 is favoured to win a majority in parliament.

Led by the charismatic Shiite cleric Hassan Nasrallah, who is loathed in the West but loved across the Muslim world, Hezbollah is nevertheless expected to extend the current power-sharing arrangements under a new government of national unity.

With about 20 parties competing for attention in Lebanon's intractably complicated system - in which power is divided between the country's Sunni, Shiite, Druze and Christian populations - the Mediterranean country is in the grip of election fever. >>> Jason Koutsoukis Herald Correspondent in Beirut | Saturday, May 9, 2009

The Reverend that Ought to Be Ex-Communicated!
With many thanks to Judah of Judah's Journal for alerting me to this absurd story some days ago:

Photos of Rev Ann Holmes Redding courtesy of The Seattle Times

Doesn't this silly woman realise that these two faiths are totally and utterly incompatible; and doesn't she realise, too, that this will be viewed as an affront to Muslims throughout the world. Christianity states that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and was crucified for our sins, to save our souls. Muslims state categorically that Jesus was NOT the Son of God, for they believe that Allah begets not and is not begotten. Further, Muslims state that Jesus was NOT crucified. There are many other differences, too; but these two tenets alone show major and incontrovertible differences between the faiths. It is clearly impossible for this woman to be both a practising Christian AND a practising Muslim at one and the same time.

WORLD NET DAILY: SEATTLE – A veteran Episcopal priest says she became a Muslim just over a year ago and now worships at a mosque Fridays – but that hasn't stopped her from donning her white collar Sunday mornings.

"I am both Muslim and Christian, just like I'm both an American of African descent and a woman. I'm 100 percent both," Rev. Ann Holmes Redding told the Seattle Times.

Redding, a priest for more than 20 years, until recently was director of faith formation at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle, the paper reported. Now, she's telling the world about her adherence to Islam, provoking bewilderment from Christians and Muslims. Priest goes Muslim, but remains Christian: Episcopalian prays at mosque Fridays, joins in church service Sunday mornings (more)

THE SEATTLE TIMES:
I am both Muslim and Christian

THE SEATTLE TIMES:
Readers Reactions

Mark Alexander