Free Republic

Today in the United States, one of the greatest threats—if not the greatest threat—to religious freedom and freedom of speech is the militant homosexual movement. There is no overstating this fact. In the few years since the homosexual advocate Barack Obama (or whatever his name is) was installed in the presidency, we have seen a boldness in the sexual anarchy movement unparalleled in our history. Obama has set homosexuals in positions at the highest levels in our government, and this is yet another of the myriad reasons it is crucial that he be ejected from power. There is a concerted...

A picket line could soon become the newest attraction at San Francisco's two fine arts museums if a contract dispute between some museum employees and management continues. Workers in the union that represents about 90 employees of the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor Museum in Lincoln Park completed voting last week to authorize their two-person bargaining team to call a strike if talks fail. "We do not want to go on strike, but we will be forced to if management refuses to work with us," said Larry Bradshaw, vice president of...

Fairfax, Virginia - After safely stored away in his grandfather's closet for years, the Springfield rifle above almost found it's way to the scrap heap. Luckily Carl was there to save the day. And lucky for us, he brought it in to the National Firearms Museum's for inspection. "A few of my family members were go through my grandfather's closet and found this stuck inside some plastic wrap," Carl began. "Their first reaction was to give it to the local police department for disposal — to which I exclaimed,'Hold on a minute there.'" That's when Museum Director Jim Supica grabbed...

The USS Iowa, one of the last battleships ever built, will open July 7 as a museum in Los Angeles Harbor. Advance tickets are on sale for tours of the ship, which served on and off from World War II to 1990. The 900-foot battleship with 16-inch guns was towed recently from Vallejo, on San Francisco Bay, to Los Angeles. It is the last of the four Iowa-class battleships to find a permanent home after years as part of "the mothball fleet." he Iowa will be operated by the nonprofit Pacific Battleship Center, which will begin offering tours July 7...

Though ostensibly dealing with a building, a recent report demonstrates how Turkey’s populace—once deemed the most secular and liberal in the Muslim world—is reverting to its Islamic heritage, complete with animosity for the infidel West and dreams of Islam’s glory days of jihad and conquest. According to Reuters: Thousands of devout Muslims prayed outside Turkey’s historic Hagia Sophia museum on Saturday [May 23] to protest a 1934 law that bars religious services at the former church and mosque. Worshippers shouted, “Break the chains, let Hagia Sophia Mosque open,” and “God is great” [the notorious “Allahu Akbar”] before kneeling in prayer...

SAN PEDRO, Calif. (KABC) -- The historic USS Iowa battleship arrived off the coast of San Pedro Wednesday morning, marking an exciting event. Crews were cleaning the vessel as it pulled into San Pedro. The ship will stay on the coast for a few days before docking at its permanent home. The ship is expected to open to the public July 7.

NEW YORK (CBS-New York) -- Space shuttle Enterprise will soon begin its final voyage to its new home in New York City. The shuttle is being airlifted on the back of a 747 from Washington’s Dulles Airport. It will then fly over New York City before landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Enterprise was the first shuttle ever to be built by NASA. It never flew into space, but Enterprise paved the way for others that did. NASA engineers used the Enterprise to figure out how to land a shuttle, launching the glider from the back of a modified...

SPACE SHUTTLE Enterprise ARRIVES IN NEW YORK CITY Landing at JFK Airport Marks First Leg of Historic Trip to New Home at Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum The Space Shuttle Enterprise, the original NASA orbiter that paved the way for America’s successful space shuttle program, will officially arrive in New York City and mark the start of its historic journey to its new home at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum when it touches down at John F. Kennedy Airport on Monday, April 23. The shuttle will be welcomed by an assembled gathering of invited guests, including school...

We are commemorating one of the most famous ships in the world in the lead up to the 100th anniversary of the demise of the Titanic said Orla Saul. To bring this special and unique story to life we are delighted to have Susie Miller over from Ireland. Miller runs Titanic Tours in Belfast and is here today to tell us the most intriguing, poignant and personal story about Titanic. The 100th anniversary coincides with the opening of the Titanic visitor centre on 31st March in Belfast. Some people don’t know that the Titanic was built in Belfast said Ms....

On Wednesday I went into NYC and spent the entire afternoon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I was most interested to visit the newly renovated "American Wing." I admit to being a bit frightened by the idea of a renovation because I always like the American Wing the way it was, which was a little bit unusual. Paintings covered most of the walls nearly up to the ceilings. The only other museum I can recall that was like this was the old Barnes Museum in (or near) Philadelphia. I couldn't find a picture of an old American Wing gallery...

Greek Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos resigned on Friday after masked armed robbers stole more than 60 objects of "incalculable" value, including a gold ring, from a museum in ancient Olympia. Sixty-eight objects were whisked from a museum dedicated to the ancient Olympic Games after two masked men immobilised the museum's sole female guard as she arrived for her early morning shift, officials said.

Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder's slavery museum is disputing a claim by the city of Fredericksburg that the museum failed to account for $1.6 million in funds. As part of its efforts to seek federal bankruptcy protection, the United States National Slavery Museum is trying to stop the appointment of an examiner to review its finances. The museum also maintains that it be allowed to reorganize so it can eventually resume fundraising and seek tax-exempt status with Fredericksburg. Last month, an attorney for the city filed a motion as part of its efforts to collect more than $215,000 in delinquent...

SUFFOLK A slave's collar, circa 1856, valued at $16,500. A first edition copy of Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1853, valued at $6,000. A slave's leg shackle, with an estimated value of $1,380. Therbia Parker figures he donated about $75,000 worth of slavery artifacts to the United States National Slavery Museum in 2004. Even before the museum, which never opened, filed for bankruptcy this month, Parker had been trying to reach former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder, the museum's founder, to get his artifacts back. "Not just me, but other people donated artifacts, donated money," he said. "Like a thief in the night,...

It might not cost a hefty $25 to get into the 9/11 museum after all. With prodding from Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, a bill was introduced in Congress yesterday to provide $20 million a year in operating funds to the museum. That would be enough to cover at least one-third of its estimated $50 million to $60 million in yearly expenses once it opens on Sept. 11, 2012. Museum officials disclosed earlier this year that they’d have to impose an admission charge to pay the bills, like most every other national memorial museum.

Exhibit explores America's Islamic history dating back to the 1500's. Southeast Washington is now home to a new museum commemorating Islamic heritage in the United States. The "America's Islamic Heritage Museum and Cultural Center" held a reception and media preview today. The museum, located on 2315 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, traces the history of Muslims in America. According to the press release: More than the stories already known in mainstream America, such as those of Kunta Kinte (Alex Haley's "Roots") and Abdul Rahman (A Prince Among Slaves). But there's also many stories waiting to be heard like those of...

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon was at the Gush Katif Museum in Jerusalem on Monday, where he opened the special events held by the museum to mark six years since the expulsion of the residents of Gush Katif as part of the 2005 disengagement plan. Ayalon was accompanied by MK Anastasia Michaeli and Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Masha Novikov. Ayalon said he was surprised and thrilled about the presence of the Gush Katif Museum in the heart of Jerusalem, something which he said gives the world a window into what happened in Gush Katif. He spoke about the importance and...

It's tanks for the memories at the Fort Snelling Military Museum. The volunteer-run organization, which has restored dozens of vintage tanks, jeeps, armored cars, trucks, halftracks and other American military vehicles, must shut down because the U.S. government wants to move the collection to other Army museums around the country. The museum, which is on Army Reserve land next to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, is scheduled to close in September. "Basically, it's a victim of the Base Realignment and Closure act," said Nick Goodwin, museum director and a chief warrant officer with the Army Reserve. All the vehicles in...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Several members of Congress called Thursday for a presidential commission to study the formation of a "melting pot museum" in Washington to tell the history of immigration and migration that formed the nation. Democratic Virginia Rep. Jim Moran introduced legislation Thursday that calls for studying the creation of a National Museum of the American People without any federal taxpayer funds. The bill had 11 other co-sponsors. "The people of the United States do not have a comprehensive and accurate picture of all the peoples who created and continue to build the nation," the bill says.

Sources told ABC News a backpack in Melaku's possession contained a package labeled ammonium nitrate as well as spent firearm ammunition. Ammonium nitrate, a common fertilizer, can be used in explosives. The FBI later said despite the label, the backpack presented no immediate threat. A search of Melaku's nearby car also found no potential devices. Law enforcement sources said Melaku does not appear to have known ties to any terror organization. In addition to his arrest today, Melaku already faces pending charges in Loudoun County, Virginia, for a rash of vehicle break-ins, police said.

WASHINGTON — A federal commission is calling for a national museum devoted to American Latino history and culture to be built on a grassy site next to the Capitol as part of the Smithsonian Institution. .. the museum would represent Latinos on the National Mall where their heritage has been absent. ... It calls for the museum to be established as the Smithsonian American Latino Museum. ..