The New York Times?! And so the racist, bigotted, right-wing onslaught continues... Seriously though, Dr. Sultan is a hero; fighting and willing to die for her belief in freedom. Wow.

Reality.

read this a few days ago. not really too sure about dr. sultan yet but she seems to have a lot of credibility because of her insider status. the thing i would caution people is not to lend too much credibility to people who are disillusioned even if they do have insider knowledge.

there are numerous examples of insiders we view as subject matter experts (former military and intelligence personnel who were forced to resign, former christians turned aetheists who didn't like the moral restraints they perceived, former husbands speaking about their ex-wives who they think are trying to take all their money, etc).

every individual and every segment of society exhibits some sort of behavior that others do not appreciate (my belief that jesus is the sole means to salvation is probably offensive to a lot of you out there).

lending too much credence to the spurned, who have just enough knowledge of that offensive behavior to be dangerous, can lead the rest of us down a very dangerous path. they cite isolated incidents of violence or make insinuations of wrong-doing: abortion clinic bombings; fraud, waste and abuse or dismissing of intel that they themselves had exclusive knowledge of and could have prevented terrorist attacks if only they had been listened to; etc.

not saying dr. sultan is wrong, just be careful about making decisions based off information about an organization or entire religion based off information provided by someone who is ticked off.

Today I am so glad it is a day of "rest the body".For some reason this has been a SORE week!Any way looking forward to a better wod this coming week.

This is a pretty powerful image: "We have not seen a single Jew blow himself up in a German restaurant. We have not seen a single Jew destroy a church. We have not seen a single Jew protest by killing people."

But I think there was some nutcase settler that went on a rampage with an AK47 a few years ago.

Way to go Woody. One of the nicest guys on Crossfit.

Like I have written before, a very brave woman. I hope this can be a beginning of çoming out of the closet' for more outspoken, 'humanistic' muslims.

I think God speaks to us all, in our personal language. We only have to listen. Do not take the words of others as gospel, just because they are suppose to have learned about it. Think for yourself. You yourself should speak with God, may that be during a prair, meditation, or whatever.
We all have our own thruth. Live with it and let other people live with theirs, in peace!!

This turns out to become longer than I expected. I love crossfit, it is stretching me in directions I have not moved before, in body and in mind.

Happy healthy mind training.

Quick? What does Infidel mean..Clearley I am talking about the meaning on the shirt found in the CF store and worn by some crossfitters. I have been with CF for a little while and have even been to CF HQ for a seminar but I have never heard of this? What are we talking about here? Any info will be helpful.....
V/R
MS

There's an article in NJ COPS magazine about Cross Fit. It's entitled, "Cross Fit in the Cross Hairs." I think you can see where it's going.

Read it at www.njcops.com. Go to the left side tool bar and click on the article link on p. 20 and p. 21. It is written by Matt Brzycki, a former Marine Drill, author of "SWAT Fitness" and instructor at operationaltactics.com.

Once again, the concept of scalability was omitted. Too bad.

After reading several of the comments from last rest day, I'm weary of another cross fit article. The sad thing about the last rest day was people just told him to F*** off and several of the posts basically went completely anti-muslim after that. I love cross fit and everyone involved in it, but please guys, don't turn cross fit into something angry and ugly. We are forging elite fitness and spreading cross fit to others to improve their physical fitness. We are not here to alienate anyone, but help them as well! Coach, please post some physical fitness stuff! We are always hungry for advice on that!

I promised i would leave but i guess i am a glutton for punishment............

I did read all the posts from the last rest day WOD- and was amazed that there are some intelligent free thinkers out there that dont buy into the `islam bashing` that Coach just loves to propagate.....and laughed heartily at the suggestion that `sweet pea` was my wife....
The NYT i recall had a lovely article about cross fit and rhabdo- i am sure that this article was an accurate reflection on crossfit and its methodologies , was it not??Or perhaps it was `shoddy` journalism as coach claimed??

coach sure does get in a huff and a puff when dodgy journalism casts dispersions on his fitness idealogies......so he should understand that muslims may get a tad upset when they cop all the abuse from media outlets about something as importnt as religion- isnt FOX news, and the NYT just awesome coach??

MFBUNCH whoever you are -you are a clever cookie , and the advice you give in your post is awesome......
Dr sultan is obviously not a muslim -she says as much, and any body that just rips into a religion like that aint looking to improve things but rather to inflame them....stuff that coach salivates over.......
She does raise some good points , but the way she attacked her former religion isnt going to foster good will......or allow her ideas to be adopted .......
I have news for Coach , despite what you hear and read in your beloved right wing publications -muslims do not have an inherent hate towards the USA or the west-our belief systems do not teach us to kill or to hate non-muslims..........if it did then why would so many muslims have migrated to non-muslim countries???We are in search of peace and prosperity just like the rest of the human race....... despite your best efforts to make us `devils that walk the earth`there are open-minded genuinely honest people that will understand that osama bin laden is not the face of islam........Peace to all........

ps- all you right wing nutters out there dont hold back, give me your best......

Welcome back, Turk.
Salaam.

Welcome back Turc, now leave forever...Unless you have had personal conversations with Coach, you have no idea what your talking about, and are just spreading hatred. Your getting more and more hysterical each post...it's kind of amusing. Look up libertarian and explain to me how the libertarian party is right wing.

You know, all it takes sometimes to change the world is for someone to have the courage to speak their mind openly and honestly, for all the world to hear, and damn the consequences. I admire this woman. She has a spirit we can all learn from.

As far as Coach: where has he posted? It seems to me, viewing these and other debates, that possibly in our efforts to be consistently polite and respectful--the theoretical underpinning of political correctness--we have lost the ability to actually discuss effectively genuinely controversial topics. The divide seems to be "Bush is a butt-head, everyone else is wonderful", and "Liberals are a bunch of slack-wristed losers." People assign you to one category or the other, and the discussion is over. You're in your trench, they're in theirs, and you just keep lobbing grenades.

That's where flanking manuevers come in. That's for another time though.

This Muslim BS gotta go.

Coach im not telling you how to run your website, its yours and you can do whatever you want, but i have a suggestion. If you are drawn to politics so much why dont you start a political website instead of mixing fitness, politics and religion all in the same webpage?

It seems to me that one religion is not better than the other, wherever I look there are fanatics, preaching the truth of Jesus, or Mohammed, ohh..."The only way to salvation is through Jesus/Mohammed" I am tired of this propaganda of religions. And I am especially tired of Religion being used as a political manifest.
I am tired of "good muslims" complaining that they are different... yes its true you are, but being different doesnt change the fact that most of you are quick to put up the shields and say "Alas! we are not like them" but you are indifferent as a whole to the violence they bring. What has the "good" Muslim community done to help the "west" (or themselves) against this fanaticism? Send letters denouncing the attacks? At least Dr. Sultan is more "pro-active" in the matter, sure Turk she did attack her former religion, because she, like the rest of the world, is tired of sitting quietly afraid to offend these fanatics because of the threat of more violence. The rationale of "bad" Muslims is twisted by violence and hate towards everything that is not Muslim. Lets pretend that they win this Jihad agaist the west, or agiainst Christianity.. or whatever they are mad about, what will happend after that? will they turn and have a jihad agaisnt Hindus? or attack China for they communistic beliefs? tell me?
I am not pointing fingers, I am not saying the west is any better, I am saying everyone is equally guilty. It is a vicious cycle of violence that from my prospective will not end anytime soon.
Unfortunatley all of these arguments do not take us anywhere but nowhere, lets be realistic, the world is set on a self destruction path and it is unlikley that a wave of pacifism, altruism and generosity will pass over our societies, so lets just keep accusing ourselves and kill eachother in the name of nothing concrete.

And least but not last, I am not a left or right wing nut, these are my opinions and mine only, they are abstracted from events i see happening in the world. So please denounce me, flame me, threathen to kill me or whatever. I pride myself into knowing that my opinions are not stemmed from any religious bias, but my logic, which might seem contorted and erranous to some, but nontheless its mine.

Very Respectfully,
Paul.

Larry L #12 - Tolerance, my friend. Turk is entitled to his opinion, and if I get a vote, he's entitled to post here. I don't agree that his post today is hysterical, but I do think he misses the mark on several counts. Comparing the NYT coverage of Dr. Sultan's interview with Al Jazeera and the piece that was done on Crossfit is apples to oranges. The Crossfit article was, at best, a badly researched puff piece that did not back up its own assertions with fact. It would have been a weak editorial had it been featured on the Opinions page. The Times article on Dr. Sultan, from my reading, purports nothing new beyond what she said herself on Al Jazeera - except that she has received email and answer-machine death threats. If Turk is arguing that she hasn't, OK, but I don't find the possibility that she has been threatened all that implausable. Turk makes a point that she may well be attempting to inflame emotions - particularly by using a Jewish-Muslim anology (flawed though it may be). But isn't that her whole point? How many people died, how much property was damaged, how much commerce was interrupted because Muslim clerics took umberage to the circulation of some mean-spirited cartoons that denigrated the prophet Mohammad? Was this rage endorsed by average Muslims? We don't know, because the Muslim "street" has been co-opted by the radical, anti-west, hate-spewing demigogues who seem to care only for their own place and power. Yes, Dr. Sultan is no longer a Muslim. That's no revelation, nor does it, on its face disqualify her opinions. In neither the Al Jazeera interview nor the NYT article does she claim to be a practicing Muslim. In fact, she openly admits to grinding an axe, hence giving us a reference from which to assess her assertions. Turk - your vitriol towards Coach does not serve you or your points well, anymore than burning down an embassy because you disagree with a disagreeable opinion.

Turk,
Welcome back. Looks like here in America you are free to express whatever opinion you choose. Try that in the middle east, N Korea or any other freedom denouncing state. We are far from a perfect society, yet we strive to better our entire lot, not just a select few. Religion always sparks a fervor amongst people. That is why here there is separation. Beleive what you will and never look at any other side of the issue but your own, right or wrong, you will continue to be ignorant of what is going on right in front of you. We act as if these issues we face lately are black and white. When in actuality we only get one side of the story, usually from the media. So, for most people that get only the media view of Islam, I'd have to say that it doesn't look good. UBL has never been portrayed as the poster boy for Islam either. He has been labeled an islamofascist, a terrorist, an extreme fundamentalist and the list could continue. Never has anyone pointed to UBL saying this is Islam. Yet, it is a misiterpretation of Islam. With a billion+ Muslims worldwide it appears the only thing to upset them is when there religion falls into question. What of a moral compass that says killing 3000 people just for the sake of killing is wrong. Where were the riots, or the outrage. Silent to little was heard about it. Also, obviously the Muslims that have gone to "free" countries saw something wrong with the one they were living in, or at the very least they saw a better opportunity for themselves and there families. Now I ask you if freedom is good enough for you and me, then why would it not be for the middle east. Should they be allowed to oppress, murder and steal from there own people.

Not been around long, but it seems to me that coach posts topics to start a conversation and then others toss lots of words into his mouth.

In the month or so I have been following Crossfit WODs, the few times coach has posted a comment are well thought out. Is it not possible, Turk, that you don't really know what his beliefs are? A few articles and a comment here or there to challenge people to think may not be indicative of his true beliefs at all. Without a response from coach confirming such statements, I wouldn't feel confident suggesting I know what his beliefs are or are not.

In any case, I would ask some clarifying questions and form a judgement based on the response. With no response (usually the case), I would definitely not assume I know what someone else believes.

Just my two cents.

Did the "widowmaker" from the Honolulu Fire Department (also the WOD from sometime back in November)

15 burpees
15 double-unders
15 box jumps (24" box)
15 foot rope climb

As many rounds as possible in 20 minutes.

Got either 6 or 7 rounds (I truly lost count . . . kinda hard to fathom that you can lose the number with just that few rounds involved, but this one kind of sucks all the blood from your brain.)

All movements strict, no cheating . . . full 15 feet on every climb (I've cheated with only 10 - 12 feet in the past).

Nice work david!

Question to all:
I have been doing crossfit for 6 months, but only seriously for the last 2, and am loving every bit of it. I have seen some incredible gains recently and recently tried my first ring dip. I can do a few, but when the WOD requires larger numbers I run into a problem. The straps on the rings rub on my upper arms causing burn marks. Is there a way to avoid this, or do I just have to get used to the pain?

Jesse Woody not only shows us a perfect L-sit but also finally proves to us that CrossFit guys are not required to wear geeky shorts when being photographed for the website.

Turk
Welcome back.

This woman has spirit and I admire it. No matter what you think of what she says, it takes courage to basically call down a fatwa on yourself. I don't know about the whole hating Muslims thing. The coffee shop I go to at least oncce a day is run by Turkish people and they are the absloute salt of the earth. The shop is frequented by a variety of people ranging from Turks to a Russian Marine Reservist to me. Everybody gets along and nobody seems to care whether you are Christian Muslim or atheist. I'm rambling, but the point is that I don't hate Muslims as a group. I am convinced that most of them are just like me. The problem that we run into though is that people like Abu Musab al-Zarqawi behead people in the name of their perverted version of Islam, and it scares people (me included). I try my best to be level-headed, but even though I think of myself as a reasonably tolerant guy I get scared thinking about terrorist attacks. And when I think about terrorists I think of Jihadis. I'm sorry when I feel this way, but you have to admit that the 9-11 attacks were done by people who called themselves Muslims, and the insurgency in Iraq is being waged by Jihadis. I don't know. You can call me crazy if you want, but it seems to me that a small but significant (in terms of their intensity of feeling) portion of the Muslim world is trying to kill me. Maybe I'm just paranoid. I don't hate Muslims though. I like all of the ones I know. (Except for this one guy I went to college with. He was a lazy asshole, but that's just how he was. It had nothing to do with his being Muslim.)

thanks durham m.Iaff,

row 500m
21 wall ball
row 500m
15 wall ball
row 500m
9 wall ball
total= 9.31.38

8 mins. good time durham m.

Turk,
I disagree with almost everything you say. But that's why I'm glad you're here. Welcome (back). Reread what JasonS wrote. At no point have the Glassman's stated they believe everything they put on the board to be gospel.
Dunno, maybe they do. On the other hand, your posts are still here...

R Cooper,
I'm not trying to pick on you and this rant is not directed towards you, but I defy you or anyone else to show me where the Constitution calls for seperation of church and state. The Constitution prohibits the establishment of a state religion; big difference. People can theorize about what the founders meant and quote notes from Madison and Jefferson all they want. But unless you believe those men were too dim-witted to write exactly what they intended, it doesn't change a thing. The Consitution is NOT a "living document"; it is fixed. Please read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textualism , and tell me where I'm wrong.
Rant over.
Coach, Lauren, my apologies for hijacking that thread.

Love the Parkour site, espcially the "Freerunning" video "Supermoves". (I could probably do that stuff if I wasn't so sore from doing Crossfit).

Thanks, Coach.

And a thought for the day...I don't know very many people with whom I completely agree on most things, and nobody with whom I completely agree on everything. But that's ok with me. For some of you, who find these political posting intolerable, perhaps you should either stay away from this site or at least stay away on rest days.

Particularly given what Coach charges for this incredible service, he's more than entitled to use this space however he chooses.

J

Wafa Sultan is not the only former Muslim speaking out about problems in Islam. Take a look at this article: http://americanfuture.net/?p=1480, which was published in the London Telegraph, then censored off their website for fear of offending Muslims. I will wager that such retractions do not occur in Britain or anywhere else for fear of offending Jews, Christians, Hindus, Bahai's, or any other religion. It's not fear of offending them, it's fear of riots, burning buildings, suicide bombers, etc--the very things that Dr. Sultan points out as being fundamentally wrong within the Muslim community.

From the article, and the whole is well worth reading:

"ENGLAND: The day is coming when British Muslims form a state within a state.

For the past two weeks, Patrick Sookhdeo has been canvassing the opinions of Muslim clerics in Britain on the row over the cartoons featuring images of Mohammed that were first published in Denmark and then reprinted in several other European countries.
"They think they have won the debate," he says with a sigh. "They believe that the British Government has capitulated to them, because it feared the consequences if it did not.
"The cartoons, you see, have not been published in this country, and the Government has been very critical of those countries in which they were published. To many of the Islamic clerics, that's a clear victory.
"It's confirmation of what they believe to be a familiar pattern: if spokesmen for British Muslims threaten what they call 'adverse consequences' – violence to the rest of us – then the British Government will cave in. I think it is a very dangerous precedent."
Dr Sookhdeo adds that he believes that "in a decade, you will see parts of English cities which are controlled by Muslim clerics and which follow, not the common law, but aspects of Muslim sharia law.
"It is already starting to happen – and unless the Government changes the way it treats the so-called leaders of the Islamic community, it will continue."
...
Several years ago, Dr Sookhdeo insisted that the next wave of radical Islam in Britain would involve suicide bombings in this country. His prediction was depressingly confirmed on 7/7 last year.
So his claim that, in the next decade, the Muslim community in Britain will not be integrated into mainstream British society, but will isolate itself to a much greater extent, carries weight behind it. Dr Sookhdeo has proved his prescience.
"The Government, and Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, are fundamentally deluded about the nature of Islam," he insists.

The last three WOD's helped bring in my 45th. Birthday on a high note, thanks Coach.
My shoulders are killing me though...but in a good way. Any stretching recommendations for the shoulders and chest?

Pat Ryan

For the life of me, I can't figure out why people become so threatened by opinion that differs from their own. Passionate dissent is often more affirming than discussion where all are in agreement.

arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics, even if you win, you're still retarded

I don't think students should be allowed to graduate high school without reading "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich". It's a thick, 1,500 page book, and it taking forever, but I am learnly endlessly from it about the nature and effectiveness of political and person intimidation, and how far a good poker player can go when he's dealing with people who doubt what they're sure of.

I'm just finishing the section of the prelude to the Germans taking Czechoslavakia, and it is absolutely nauseating reading about how Chamberlain fell all over himself kowtowing to Hitler, and how his lack of moral courage caused, in all the likelihood, the Second World War, with all that came with it.

With many of these Muslims--and I will be charitable and call them Muslim radicals, although they seem to enjoy widespread (10,000 demonstrating in London) support--we are dealing with gangsters, pure and simple, and gangsters only respect power and resolution. Period. Full Stop.

When I look at Bush, I see flaws, but I don't see cowardice or indecision.

Hi all,
Pull-upx10,10,10,10,10,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,7,7,7,7 (134 reps)sw/
Ring dipx8,8,8,8,8,6,6,6,6,6,6,6,5,5,5,5 (102 reps).
Duration 19:20 (each couplet was done on a 1:15 interval).
Bdw. 181#'s.
Lats are tender
Until tomorrow...

Is it even possible in this day and age to honestly criticise any religion and the often hideous results that some of their teachings have if taking to their (often) illogical conclusions in the real world? Automatically you will be branded in the harshest terms a fascist, heretic, bigoted hater, heathen etc...No further discussion is possible in such a situation, no understanding and no possibility for it to ever occur. This is the problem with people who blindly adhere to any ideology withought ever again questioning it once they have decided that it is 'right'. They have ceded their precious human reason in exchange for a certainty that doesn't in fact exist. This is why the 'true believers' become so tremendously enraged and violent when anyone dare take into question their cherished beliefs; if the structure of their belief system is shaken then they are left exposed to the uncertainties of life, change, and the very real fact that they control very little of it. In short, they are left with fear, and nobody likes to be afraid.

"I truly give up on this site........as a muslim I am insulted continuously by Coach and his anti-muslim posts. . . ."
-Posted by "Turk" March 6, 2006 1:09 a.m.

Turk goes on later to claim he will never return to this site. So much for integrity.

To classify one as "anti" anything without specific evidence of said trait is both irresponsible and lacking intelligence. My students, all aged between 12 and 14, could tell you, you don't make an argument without some evidence to back you up. You call Coach out for "islam bashing" (sic), yet fail to once cite a quote from Coach or any of the articles he's posted where the "religion" of Islam is called into disfavor. Do that once, and I'll repsect your posts henceforth. Until then, cut the whiny crap and do a WOD.

As for your defender, Aurelius, all I can say is that I am truly beyond saving if saving means being converted to any one religion. I don't subscribe to any faith as I feel I don't need it. I find my spirituality and salvation in my children's eyes when they look up to me. Some live by the mantra, "WWJD" or What Would Jesus Do? I live by WWMKT, or "What Would My Kids Think. It gives me all I need to guide my actions and help me live a "purposeful" life.

So, when you and your ilk come in and call those who disagree with you, "right-wing nutters," or beyond saving, remember this; no article posted here has made light or criticized your religion. No one has claimed the Pillars of Islam are stupid or that the tradition of some sects in covering their women from head to toe is insane. No one has claimed that the fact that Muslims get down on their knees and pray several times a day seems a bit obsessive. No one has ever said that Muslims have it all wrong and that their "prophet" is the wrong guy. So why claim your religion is being bashed?

What is called into question is the conduct of the imams not fully denouncing the actions of terrorists acting in the name of Allah. Pat Robertson says we should whack a foreign leader, Christians yell him down. The IRA blows up Lord Mountbatten; the Catholic church denounces the act. Most Westerners just don't see that kind of outrage from the Islamic world. Call us what you will, but we are waiting for that day.

Sorry for the ramble. Couldn't help myself.

Kevin (#29): You could have kept that little nugget of wisdom to yourself, jerk.

I have now erased my post. Just ditto Ron's.

Thanks for the link, coach. I've passed it around to a few friends - we'll be discussing it later.

Mother nature didn't allow a rest day today. Instead I got 25 minutes of shoveling very wet heavy snow

Kevin comment #29 making fun of the handicap makes you so superior. What is next stealing candy from babies, kicking puppies, or maybe a bench press contest against a one armed man. Special Olympic athletes work very hard and show much courage. They deserve respect not ridicule

Jeff,
Thanks for the props.
I'm going to the post office this week. . .guaranteed. I'll send a little something to take to my man Karl when you go to the UK.

From my very limited study of post-modern philosophy I offer this:

1. Our reality is negotiated.
2. This negotiation can only occur between free people.
3. Sometimes the negotiation can be heated, however, the negotiation should be careful to consider who has the power.
4. Something is not necessarily true because the powerful said it, or believe it.
5. The purpose for negotiating reality between free people is to discern how we can make the world a better place.

I think it was Aristotle who said that the answer to many problems is generally found in the middle of extremes. Extremism, in any form, often gets in the way of the negotiation required for people to live a life of true freedom. Wafa Sultan is engaged in the negotiation of this reality, in part, because she lives in a country where she can speak freely. This may not make her entirely correct, however, it appears that part of her message has some truth to it and does represent at least a portion of reality. Her views should not be dismissed, or completely embraced. They should be considered as a statement of her belief of how things are.

It some ways Crossfit is centrist in that any one training modality is not more "powerful" than the other. In addition, the application of the system is different for each participant, yet, we come to a more complete understanding of it in this "virtual negotiation" of what it is. Finally, I think we can all agree that this virtual community has improved our lives.

to #24
from the bill of rights
Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

real Freedom of religion also means freedom from religion. and back to Dr Sultan the beliefs that she attacks are clearly not sane no matter
what religion they are connected to.

as mentally rx'd:

15 min on eliptical xtrainer (random)
306 cals
1.67 miles

20 pullups
20 dips

5 min rowing

5 min jog cooldown

obviously i have issues....

"I'd like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony...."

Come on!! Everybody!!!!!

Nice rest day Zues....See you in few days!!!

Zeus

NEW TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION:

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW EVIL TO EXIST? Post thought to comments.

John Richmond,
Perhaps were doomed to be locked into a semantic debate. My point is that people routinely bring up "seperation of church and state" to say that one can never be involved with the other (i.e. tax credits, funding "open" church run programs, celebration of religious holidays like Christmas) without a true understanding of what is actually written in the Constitution or how it can properly be interpreted. I don't believe what you've posted disagrees with me in any way. Now if you're saying that freedom from religion means not having to worship, I agree. If you believe that it means being free from exposure to others beliefs at the expense of their freedom to worship and their free speech, I disagree.

"I'd like to teach the world to sing...", but I can't, so everybody else now....

better bring your gear, we're going to see who can find pukie first!

and what to do with idle hands?

Didn't do the ROD (read of the day) figured NYT would have whatever it is wrong. 99/100 times thats probably correct.

comment #44
Because we are free here on earth, there was never a promise by God that evrything will be safe and sound. Just read the Bible and it is full of trials and tribulations, life hasn't changed much since then just pool of trials and tribulations have grown as we become more complex. We are supposed to follow fearlessly. I heard a statement once that instead of trying to change laws like prayer in school and observance of religeous holidays we should simply pray in school fearlessly and observe holidays as we believe, take the risk, create an uproar, and just see if we really get punished like we think we will or if our bold actions will lead to Gods favor. just my 2c.

Did Coach B's WOD today, It's a great supplement to crossfit.

Kevin # 29
Funny. Wrong, but funny. Thanks for reminding the rest of us.

John Seiler You said - "but I defy you or anyone else to show me where the Constitution calls for seperation of church and state."

And the 1st amendment clearly does just that.

and for good reason,

Ran 5k today for 21:37- not a Pr by 7 seconds- another day !
...and a very proud Congratulations to my husband CrossFit Coach Jeff Martin.

Good stuff! Hopefully more people follow and stand up for what they believe in.

First bodyweight Power Clean today :D

180lbs ripped off the floor nice and 'clean'.

Turk, I'll tell you why so many Muslims are immigrating to non-muslim countries. They are trying to take over. Muslims understand that if Muslims take over the whole world, then Allah is God, and Allah wins. There are many peaceful, patriotic Muslims, but the international interpretation of Islam is that it is not a religion of peace. The enemies of Islam must ultimately be put under Islamic dominion. That doesn't mean they want to kill everyone; it means they want to rule. As with any invasion, you must kill some of the people you want to someday rule, but that isn't the point.

Every government bowing to Allah. Every person respecting the Prophet. That's the goal.

The good Dr. represents the worlds (second) best hope. The best thing that can happen to Islam is for a strong, liberal, western interpretation to dominate Islamic scholarship, penetrating to every level. It's not what the Holy Koran says, but liberal scholars have done a number on Christianity, so hopefully they can convince the worldwide Islamic community that Islam really is a peaceful relgion after all, full of tolerance. It's not true, but it will prevent a lot of grief in the next 100 years.

We can only hope.

Islam means " submission " not peace.

Totally Inspired.

I did 3 hours of Parkour today. Running through alleys and yards, climbing onto rooftops and jumping off, leaping gaps and rolling back to my feet, people yelling at me and giving funny looks--I felt like I was in 3rd grade again, playing capture the flag in a trailer park, or like I was in high school again, writing graffiti and running from the train cops.

Awesome.

Nic- Skateboard.

I kid, glad you had fun. Off topic, you know some great stuff has been posted when Ron goes for the multi-paragraph post. Well written, Sir.

I thought that the whole Special Olympics thing was funny as hell though. However, this is coming from somebody who can no longer be trusted to own a pocket knife, so perhaps it's no surprise that I enjoy the lowbrow.

-D.

Oh yeah, I'M NEVER COMING BACK TO THIS SITE!!!

Until I get back from work.

-D.

Woke up today and despite heavy rain and thunderstorms exercised my freedom to choose. instaed of cowering indoors like a gutless wonder went for a 50 min trail run. Ankle deep mud holes and had to wade waist deep where thtrail flooded.

Followed that up by doing a 3 hour trail ride. I feel much better now that I have exercised my freedom to do something silly.

Now let the public stoning and beating begin.

I have been trying this workout.
10 Rounds for time of:
35 Double Unders
25 Push Ups
My time was 21:42. I will get under 20 minutes in a week or two.

John Richmond:

es·tab·lish·ment
Function: noun
1 : something established: as a : a church recognized by law as the official church of a nation or state and supported by civil authority b : a permanent civil or military organization c : a place of residence or esp. business with its furnishings and staff
2 a : an act of establishing b : the state of being established
Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.

sep·a·ra·tion n.
The act or process of separating.
The condition of being separated.
The place at which a division or parting occurs.
An interval or space that separates; a gap.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

The lack of establishment does not require separation. If the definition of establishment said "to join things" your argument would begin to hold water. However, it doesn't. Definition is not open to interpretation. Since textualism is escaping your grasp, the next step is originalism (i.e. intent). In this case a simple way of determining intent can be found in the actions of the early government run by the men who wrote and voted for the Constitution. "in God we trust" ring a bell? How about having a chaplain in both houses of Congress? Not only have you not proven anything, you haven't even brought an argument to bear.

Executed the Lynne WoD today (bw= 181 lbs)-
R1: 5/20 reps (BP @ 175, assisted pull-ups @ 100lb)
R2: 6/8 reps (BP @175, assisted pull-ups @ 90lbs)
R3: 7/13 reps (BP @ 175, jumping pull-ups)
R4: 8/15 reps (BP @ 175, jumping pull-ups)
R5: 6/12 reps (BP @185, kipping pull-ups)
-Extra 3 sets of DB pull-overs @ 55, 70, 85 lbs
-Extra 4 sets of bar dips @ bw, 25wtd, 25wtd, bw
-Military sit-ups and back extentions @ 50 ea.

to further rest I did a 5 minute sprint shovel with even heavier wetter snowplow packed snow and later 10 more minutes with dripping wet heavy snowplow packed snow. I don't think it should be able to snow on a rest day. Isn't God a crosfitter?

Thanks for a great day of rest.Looking foward to tomorrow. No politics here, just love the ability to post stats, compare stats, and chat with like minded people about great workouts. Leaving the world behind and focusing on ourselves.

Dan,
To quote you; "Aw shucks."

This place is great. Turk causes drama, leaves, comes back, and then more drama. That crazy cook is pretty entertaining, though he has no points, only insults. Hey Turk leave for a few mounths again, and then come back. Only this time come back with a point. That would throw everybody off.

I still don't care if Turk is here or not. Everyone is welcome...and also welcome to leave.

As for the "Crossfit in the Crosshairs", here's the LTE I sent to the editor at the 'contact us' section:

"Letter to the Editor (the ‘contact publisher’ link at the top of the article didn’t work):

I am not a cop. Never have been. I am, however, perfectly happy following the Crossfit training regimen. What Mr. Brzycki fails to mention, as did the NYT article, is that the workouts are HIGHLY scalable for the practioner’s ability or needs. I have never done a Workout of the Day as written, nor do I expect to for a very long time. Those are things that are goals, not mandates. Has Mr. Brzycki even spent any time at the Crossfit internet board, or contacted any Crossfit trainers for information, or did he rely merely on the Times article? How often do we, as a society, complain about how the media always gets things wrong…except when it’s on a subject about which we have already formed an opinion?"

Group Moffett completed

4 rounds for time of:

Squat thrusters, 40lb dumbell (men), 20 reps
Squat thrusters, 30lb dumbell (women), 20 reps
Push ups, 15, reps
Pull ups, 10 reps

Total time: 26:22:68

Look everybody!! I left and came back and no body gives a S#@t!

Damn that Turk, F#@king glory hound.

Interesting article, I'm shocked the NYT printed it. Didn't see anything about blaming Bush for hurricanes/war/storms/traffic etc. I'm sure the editor has been fired. I'm not sure how I feel about the Dr., brave for sure, but I think she is a badly needed voice to stand up against the people who are now surely calling for her execution.

What I would like to see from Islam is organized Muslim outrage against Islamic terrorism. I'd like to see 100,000 people march on Washington to demand a punishing war on terror, as it threatens us all, including American Muslims. I'd like to see hordes of volunteers across the country holding town hall meetings to discuss Islam and what it is and what it is not. I'd like to see leaders in every Islamic community identify and expose those among us who advocate terrorism. I'd like to see daily op-eds in every newspaper in America from American and foreign Imams denouncing Islamic terrorism. My problem is I never see any of this. I read wordy defenses of the religion of peace and then I watch ritual execution of children in the name of the same religion. For all the defenders of Islam: What am I supposed to think? The only people I ever hear from keep telling me they want to kill me.

If most Muslims are really against Islamic terrorism, then hit the streets and show us. Convince us that we are all on the same team, and then get in the fight.

I am sorry the Dr. felt compelled to give up her religion. I hope we never reach a day when everyone is giving up things they believe in, including God and religion. If anybody wonders what that would be like, check out Europe; not working out to well for them. Just my .02.

All religions have spawned zealots who've done unthinkable crimes against humanity (the crusades anyone?)... Fact is as much as they all offer potentially powerful opportunities for spiritual vision they all seem to do way more harm than good.......intolerances, and hatred are generated more in the 'religious' than the secular........ leading to abhorant behavior that the 'non-religious' with any kind of concience and humanity wouldn't dream of.
Religion is the opium of the people??..even opium loses it's effects leaving low-life lower than when they started.
She is wise to question ....how could any real human not.

Nic, glad to see you've picked it up and are having a great time, that's what it's all about! Thanks to everybody else who's checked out the site today, we've had a record number of visitors, which has led our new webhost to shut down our service periodically throughout the day (in direct opposition to the terms of our hosting contract) seems like the huge surge of people rubbed them the wrong way ;)

Ms. Sultan speaks well.

However-- is it necessary to vilify religion in order to condemn fanatics? Is it necessary to abolish piety and any sort of regard for the divine simply because some men have done evil in the name of religion?

Moreover, it is a mistake to assert that Islamic terrorism is an atavism, a throwback to the Middle Ages. This assertion is founded upon, and reveals, the conviction that our age of technology, science and 'Progress' is the highest form of civilization possible. But is this conviction necessarily correct? Have we in fact reached the end of history? Is it in fact the case that any opposition to modern natural science, modern politics, and modern thought must necessarily be a throwback to more barbarous thought?

It goes almost without saying that Ms. Sultan's errors are less harmful than the depredations of terroirsts. But it does not seem to me that Ms. Sultan has truly grappled with the situation in which we find ourselves today; she has leapt from one superficial understanding of the world (the vulgar Arabic understanding, according to which the West is the Great Satan) to the other (the vulgar Western understanding, according to which history is at its end and the West as it presently exists is the highest possible form of human government, knowing, and existence).

I am not anti-Muslim by any means, nor do I claim any deep understanding of Islam. I am, however, glad that all religions do not riot, kill and otherwise wreak havoc whenever a cartoon or book slights them or their beliefs. Think of all of the violence we would have in America if all religions acted similarly. Catholics, Jews, Baptists, Mormons, etc. would constantly be rioting and sending out death threats. Utah alone would be a constant war zone!

#60 John Seiler:

"In God We Trust" was put on coins during the Civil War in a fervor of religious sentiment:
http://www.ustreas.gov/education/fact-sheets/currency/in-god-we-trust.shtml
Somehow the country survived 90 years without that on our coins. This relates to the Constitution how?

By the way, those chaplains are paid $140,000 and $160,000 a year. Your tax dollars at work.

#74 Andrew:

And our country has survived how many years WITH 'In God We Trust" on them.

What's your point?

Sure, but which God are we trusting?

That's the point of the 1st Amendment.

For another perspective on the terrorist issue,including numerous documented instances of Jewish terrorism not normally broadcast in the heavily Jew influenced U.S. media see
http://www.rense.com/general21/pastzionist.htm

For those who think that the statement "heavily Jew influenced media" is a conspiracy theory check out:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385265573/002-9249495-6280828?v=glance&n=283155

30 min eliptical (again) 2.82 mi @ ahr 162 bpm 544 cal
i'm going to be a dad!

Kevin, #29, I'm no PC-nutter, but that was a really sure way to offend any number of us here with children, any kind of children.
I suggest you think about the word 'retarded' for starters - nothing particularly to do with Special Olympics, and everything with schoolyard vocabulary. Or, are you 11?
Or, are you 'advanced'? Could I be you, if I tried really hard?

Her comments are awesome - i am surprised that they actually allowed the interview to be seen an Al-J

I just read a great book "Snow" by orham pamuk that really highlite's the dilemma of secular/traditional Muslim conflict set in Turkey and would recommed it highly if her comments intrigue you...

WWCND? What Would Chuck Norris Do? Mike OD- take it away.

Oh,almost forgot,here is an interesting (to moi anyway) piece on "being religious:

http://www.truthbeknown.com/religious.htm

http://www.zaytuna.org/articleDetails.asp?articleID=93

Andrew, comment 74,

Interesting about the "in God we trust". I did not know that. Incorrect example. Thanks. That does not change the point: to show an example of Originalism. Originalism has a lot to do with how our Constitution is interpreted. If you are interested in how:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Originalism

I'm pretty sure those chaplains make so much because they are dealing with the souls of politicians -hazardous duty pay.

My back wouldn't go for the missed Elizabeth, and my shoulder wouldn't go for my namesake, so play date in the gym. Everything worked sort of in rounds:
Kettlebell snatches: 26x5/5, 35x5/5,44x5/5, 53x1/1
Kb high pulls: 53x5/5, 5/5
Ring pushups: 15/12/12/12
Leg swoops (finally figured them out): 5/5, 5/5
And the big challenge for the evening: alternating double mills. I got parallel double mills a while ago, but the alternating ones have a high pain possibility! 10# clubs, 9/9 and 11/11
kb striders: 44x5/5, 5/5
Double-under practice

A couple of very good parkour videos:

http://www.urbanfreeflow.com/u_dollar_f/u_dollar_f.htm

For John Seiler, esp. #24

That the Constitution prohibits the establishment of a state religion is only a third of the separation story. If what you say were the whole story, that could be accomplished by banning all religion.

The first thing the First Amendment says is,

>Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; …

So in addition to what you observed, religion may be practiced outside the government and free of laws.

But what laws Congress may not make is not the end, either. Article VI, Section 3 says,

>no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

So that should take care of the personnel side of government (at least federally). (This paragraph seems to be more observed in the breach than in the obeyance.)

So: no laws respecting or prohibiting religion, and no personnel religious requirements. Unless there is some other part of government overlooked, the separation seems complete.

Took my rest day yesterday and did this at Brand X tonight:

In 20 minutes how many rounds can you complete
12 push press 65# (Modified to 45# bar)
10 pull ups

I did 9 even rounds. Completed a 10th round at 22:40 out of sheer stubborness.

(double posted to keep track with the posted WOD)

I've engaged endlessly on this First Amendment thing elsewhere. The fact is that in England until roughly the 19th Century, you couldn't hold elected office, or teach at Oxbridge without being a member of the Church of England. Our Founders thought that was nonsense, so they said "We won't make any formal Establishment of religion". Do what you want, we won't hold it against you. We also won't prohibit you from being, for example, a Catholic.

I'm going to do a tangential post on this in Community in a minute.

RE comment 79

Who decided there was shame attached to the word retarded? Or crippled? Someone just decides "that's a bad word" and suddenly it's so. You can't even say handicapped anymore. It's handicapable or challenged. The best descriptive word is retarded and we all know what it means. There's no shame or mockery attached. The poor kid's retarded.

Ron Nelson, Comment 33
rpo, Comment 69

I found the attached article in my local paper re: moderate Muslims decrying violence.

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060311/FEAT04/603110308&SearchID=73238380661506

Andy=severely challenged.

Andy, Comment 90

What does "retarded" mean? Did you know that in my world it means a person who may not be executed by the State no matter how heinous the murder he committed? Factually, it means a full range IQ under 75 diagnosed before age 18, along with a list of functional failings.

Turk, Welcome back. I've been around the block a few times. therefore I try VERY hard to stay apolitical and areligous, when in doubt workout.

ok, so, i am not anti any religion, really, i am anti people - any people, who would do "bad" things; kill, etc. i think people and groups can change, for example, the jewish people did many acts of violence in the late '40s when they were trying to establish their homeland. nobody really talks about that, now they don't go and act like that. ok good. but is that perhaps where the people of the 40's palistine learned what they are doing now? just a thought. perhaps they will change too.
my only point is as others have noted. all religions and groups of people have blood on their proverbial hands. all of them. when a group becomes fanatic, and the end of a life, theirs on anyone elses, is justified for their cause, then you can not bargain or plead or wish that away. you must meet them on the street and send them to allah, or christ, or yahwee. right now the loudest, most prominent groups are the radical muslim. if you are muslim and don't like that, or that people notice it and point it out - bummer. do something about it. but do something about the radicals, not about the people pointing it out. the same goes for a christian, jew, or taoist.

2cents spent

5 rounds

1.5min heavy bag
30s jump rope
1min 15 sumo deadlift high pulls with 75#s and as many HSPUs as I could before the minute was up.

Total time 15 minutes.

John seiler-
your not defining the right words.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

re·spect·ing - with respect to concerning or regard .

What they mean by this is to not favor one religion over another.

How can we have in god we trust on a coin and not be doing this?

Walt Comment 93

In my world, retarded means someone who's low IQ prevents him from functioning in the broad, broad range of average. If I say "He's retarded," everyone knows that I mean he has a mental disability that limits him in some way. It means the same thing as any other word or dulled-down phrase you may want to use to describe the disability. So why not just use the word retarded? Why can't we say "shellshock" instead of "post traumatic stress disorder"? Everything's a euphimism.

What world do YOU come from?

Walt,
Thanks. I'll read the article.

Andy (#90),
As one with a sister with Down's Syndrome, I feel I can safely say this:
You're an idiot. That's PC.

Squats, 8x2.

Only managed to work up to 235... Used chains for the first time, but they only weigh about 15# total. So I got up to about 250# at the top. But I am doing my squats from saw horses. So I am starting from the bottom, the WAY bottom. I am hoping that once I get more used to the movement, my strength will go up.

Re comment 99, Ron Nelson

My 7 month old also has Downs. We learned early during the preganancy that this would be the case yet abortion was never a consideration for my wife. We read, went to support groups and talked to other parents. We were ready and it was hard and I feel ahsamed that I ever considered terminating the pregnancy. Charlie has Downs. He's retarded. Again, any shame or bad intent you're attaching to that word you've mmade up yourself.

Andy,
I'm sure once your boy is walking, talking, and participating in the Special Olympics, I'm sure your attitude will change. You my be right, I've attached the negative connotation to the word, but I've had 40 years experience to do so.
You've only just begun your journey. If your attitude isn't different in say, 5 years, then my original statement will stand.
For now, I apologize for being curt and possibly rude with my calling you an idiot. Again, only time will tell.

That's okay, I never get offended. But you're right; I guess we'll see. As of now he hasn't learned to roll over, but he's a happy, happy boy!

missed sunday's don't have a bench

5rounds of
30sec push ups
30sec strict pull ups
30sec heavy bag round

Saturdays workout...10 excersises of fifteen reps
Time 27.50