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Category Archives: Current Events
Ideology and the News
A snippet of National Public Radio’s defense in the Juan Williams matter caught my attention last week: Writes NPR ombudsman Shephard: “This latest incident with Williams centers around a collision of values: NPR’s values emphasizing fact-based, objective journalism versus the … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Philosophy
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Devout and Diverse
From National Public Radio on The Role of Religion in the Voting Booth: [I]n some respects, America is quite unusual. It’s partly because of the separation of church and state that goes back to the Constitution. But Americans are, compared … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events
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Migrants Are Coming
Immigration angst is simmering all over the world. Immigrants move to a new land in search of a better life, and they encounter resistance because of limited resources and questions of national identity. Jean-Marc Lilling, an immigration lawyer in Jerusalem, … Continue reading
Prayer Spaces
On the trapped miners in Chile: Jimmy Sanchez, one of the 33 Chilean miners who have been trapped for over two months in the San Jose copper-gold mine in the Atacama Desert, would like to make one small correction to … Continue reading
Call to Civility
Senator Susan Collins worries about the incivility in Washington and believes a divided government helps the parties to get along better. She links her call to civility with this cultural observation: I will not try to play sociologist and weigh … Continue reading
A Sense of Restraint
Peter Hansen, a New Jersey attorney, on Dharun Ravi, the Rutgers student who posted the video of Tyler Clementi: The only mental state that really matters is the one that was missing rather than present with Mr. Ravi – a … Continue reading
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Americans Are Happy
Americans are among the happier people in the world. The World Giving Index, published Sept. 8 by the Charities Aid Foundation, was compiled from Gallup surveys conducted in 153 countries. The surveys asked people older than 15 whether or not … Continue reading
Straits of Mackinac
The Mackinac Bridge links the Lower and Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Before the bridge was completed in 1957, only ferries went across the Straits of Mackinac. The Mackinac Bridge Walk began that first year with 250 participants. It happens now … Continue reading
George Fox Off the Grid
Here is an article about the 750,000 Americans who live off the power grid. They power their homes with home grown solar, wind or geothermal energy instead of public utilities. Their numbers are growing by ten percent a year. The … Continue reading
Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality
This is a review of Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality, Revised and Expanded Edition, by Jack Rogers. (WJK Press, 2009) Summary Jack Rogers begins by telling his story. He once opposed homosexuality but later changed his mind to accept and … Continue reading
Citizen
This is a touching video of people who become US citizens. The first person you see is an Iranian-born cab driver. Watch long enough and you will see his wonderful art. It’s all a good reminder of blessings too easily … Continue reading
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Nonviolence and Olive Trees
David Neff lifts up nonviolent resistance and olive trees: Palestinians who had never before considered nonviolence an option are beginning to realize that they will always lose in a violent confrontation when dealing with a bigger, better-armed power. If peace … Continue reading
Oil Spill Lessons
A long article on lessons from the Gulf oil spill. Bottom line: better oil rigs and more inspectors to watch them, better clean-up plans with more grass-roots involvement, and a tax on oil to curb consumption and fund alternative energy … Continue reading
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Prayer for the Nation
Almighty God, ruler of all the peoples of the earth, forgive, we pray, our shortcomings as a nation; purify our hearts to see and love truth; give wisdom to our counselors and steadfastness to our people; and bring us at … Continue reading
10 Reasons Why I Love America
Studying the Reformation in seminary, I learned about the ‘two kingdoms theology.’ We have a dual citizenship, belonging to the spiritual kingdom of Christ and to a particular earthly kingdom. This way of thinking makes sense to me. So on … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Current Events
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Define Patriotism
Michael Ruffin on patriotism: “Patriotism” as I define it is a healthy love for, respect for, and devotion to one’s homeland, whether it is one’s homeland by birth or by adoption, and to its people, its traditions, and its principles, … Continue reading
Wal-Mart Feeds the Hungry
Wal-Mart has pledged 2 billion dollars to feed hungry people. Wal-Mart said its expanded focus on alleviating hunger will have four elements: • Donating more than 1.1 billion pounds of food from Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club locations, valued at $1.75 … Continue reading
Elena Kagan and a Protestant Worldview
Diana Butler Bass is sad over the loss of a Protestant perspective on the US Supreme Court. Should Elena Kagan be confirmed, the court will consist of three Jews and six Roman Catholics. Missing from the bench [in] upcoming years … Continue reading
Homosexuality and Conscience
A Baptist preacher in Britain was arrested last month for publicly saying homosexuality is a sin. Police arrested Dale McAlpine, a 42-year-old Baptist, under Britain’s Public Order Act 1986, which forbids “using threatening, abusive or insulting words … tending to … Continue reading
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