“We have to be clear what is at stake here…When each and every person's unqualified opinion is considered a fatwa, we lost a tool that is of the utmost importance to rein in extremism and preserve the flexibility and balance of Islamic law.”

“The change highlights the importance of inter-religious dialogue.”

—Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, stating to the Italian newspaper La Stampa that the Vatican would rescind its previous decision and will restore the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue as its own department.

"This is a totally screwed up policy… The commanders are just really nervous because they can't keep control any more."

—Colby Buzzell, winner of this year’s Blooker prize for his blog-based book, My War: Killing Time in Iraq, speaking about the recent Pentagon decision to restrict the soldiers’ freedom to post to blogs.

“Four years after the start of the conflict the blood of more than two hundred thousand murdered Darfuris stains the deserts of Darfur. The lives of the local population lie in tatters, as does the reputation of the international community.”

"We hope that after this show airs, homosexuality will no longer be an issue, that society will be more enlightened about it, more understanding and more tolerant."
—Gang Gang, the producer of "Gay Connections" in English or, according to the Chinese press release, "Connecting Homosexual People," the first program to focus on gay issues in the country. 

“I decided it either has to have a different meaning, or I can’t keep translating…I couldn’t believe that God would sanction harming another human being except in war.”

"The era of plurality and diversity is permeating Mexico City."
—Julio Cesar Moreno, a Mexico City councilor who presided over one of the first gay civil unions in Mexico City.

"This could be the beginning of a movement. I forgive those young people who do not know their history, and I blame myself and my generation for not preparing you. But today we are going to know our history. We are not going to refer to ourselves by anything negative, the way the slave master referred to black people, using the n-word."