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Previous Posts
Why Jews Around the World are Praying for the Victory of the Egyptian Uprising
Originally appeared on Tikkun Daily BlogEver since the victory over the dictator of Tunisia and the subsequent uprising in Egypt, my email has been flooded with messages from Jews around the world hoping and praying for the victory of the Egyptian people over their cruel Mubarak regime.&nb
posted 1:48:39pm Feb. 01, 2011 |
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When Generosity, Love, and Kindness are Public Policy, the Violence We Saw in Arizona will Dramatically Diminish
The attempted assassination of Congresswoman Giffords and the murder of so many others in Arizona has elicited a number of policy suggestions, from gun control to private protection for elected officials, to banning incitement to violence on websites either directly or more subtly (e.g., Sarah Palin
posted 2:44:04pm Jan. 19, 2011 |
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The Spiritual Messages of Chanukah and Christmas -- and Their Downsides
Christmas and Chanukah share a spiritual message: that it is possible to bring light and hope in a world of darkness, oppression and despair. But whereas Christmas focuses on the birth of a single individual whose life and mission was itself supposed to bring liberation, Chanukah is about a national
posted 12:59:53pm Dec. 02, 2010 |
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Obama (and Biden) Have No Clue About What's Bothering Their Political Base
Shortly before the California Democratic primary in 2008, the San Fransisco Chronicle invited me to write a short article explaining why I, chair of the interfaithNetwork of Spiritual Progressives, was supporting Barack Obama. Like most other progressive activists, I understood that a pres
posted 1:44:11pm Sep. 30, 2010 |
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Values or Partisanship? TV Ad calls out Graham for caving on climate
by Keely Brewster
It was disappointing that Lindsey Graham changed his mind, values, and opinions surrounding climate legislation. Lindsey Graham was right when he discussed the need to decrease our dependence on foreign oil for reasons of national security, economic security, and job loss. Lindsey
posted 2:32:58pm Jun. 16, 2010 |
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posted September 5, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I don’t quite agree with Gerson here.
I think Mark Shields and Jon Stewart separately (on PBS) nailed it when they pointed out the fundamental contradiction between: (1) McCain’s spouting the usual Republican lines on policy issues (albeit rather briefly), and (2) McCain’s extended criticism of the politicians (i.e., Republicans) who have been in control and pushing those policies in Washington for the last eight years or so (without actually naming any of them).
He was trying to co-opt Obama’s critique of the failed performance of the Republicans of the last eight years and the fundamental necessity of changing what has been going on. Both are running against Bush and the Congressional Republicans.
posted September 5, 2008 at 2:23 pm
The most moving part of the speech was when McCain explained how he long ago came to hate war:
“When I was 5 years old, a car pulled up in front of our house. A Navy officer rolled down the window, and shouted at my father that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. I rarely saw my father again for four years. My grandfather came home from that same war exhausted from the burdens he had borne, and died the next day. In Vietnam, where I formed the closest friendships of my life, some of those friends never came home with me.
“I hate war. It is terrible beyond imagination. I’m running for president to keep the country I love safe, and prevent other families from risking their loved ones in war as my family has.”
Which of these categories do Obama and McCain differently fall into:
(1) The professional soldiers turned politicians like Dwight Eisenhower and George Washington who know the stench of war and who keep the peace as President?
(2) Or, the intellectuals (Woodrow Wilson, JFK) and the upper-class dilettantes (FDR, “W”) who get us into needless wars?