Embed from Getty Images When a foreigner resides with you in your land, Do not harass him/her. You shall treat the Foreigner who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; have the same love for him/her as for yourself; for you too were once foreigners. . . (Lv. 19: 33-34) It’s beyond comprehension but here are just a few facts to ponder in a very complex situation: Today there are approximately 11 million refugees and migrants…
Embed from Getty Images Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhereThe ceremony of innocence is drowned;The best lack all conviction, while the worstAre full of passionate intensity. (William Butler Yeats, The Second Coming) Written in 1919 after World War I the above is one of 100 most anthologized poems in English literature. CAN the Center hold? This is a question that keeps rising within me as we…
Embed from Getty Images I began this blog on August 6, 70th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima; three days later, Nagasaki. The only nation who has used the atomic bomb – twice! Today, no matter where we live, violence affects us; violence pervades our surroundings, between people, within countries and throughout our planet. From the threat of nuclear weapons escalation hovering over us, civil wars in Congo, El Salvador, countries in the Middle East to a four year old little…
I ask you to read and reflect on the attached document below. It’s a process and struggle that continues today. The reflection is from the 1960s – another chaotic time with major shifts taking place. I believe it’s applicable and timely for the 2000s. The facts, as we continue to see and hear, are multiple and complex; perspectives and experiences contrast and conflict. In the midst of this many believe we are at a crisis point in our democracy. ….
Jeffrey Sachs, Ph.D., Director of Sustainable Development Solutions Network, A Global Initiative for the UN; Director of The Earth Institute, Columbia University. He is Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the Millennium Development Goals, having held the same position under former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Yesterday I heard this man interviewed by Fareed Zacharia on the Global Public Square, concerning sustainability and earth’s peril. I have read books by him and seen other interviews but never have…
Embed from Getty Images June 2014 Almost 300 Nigerian girls kidnapped, increase of rapes in the military and on college campuses (TIME, May 26, 2014), Malala Yousafzia , a young girl in Pakistan shot by the Taliban, with the intent to kill. The Daily Show: Extended Interview: Malala Yousafzai – YouTube 16 min – Oct 10, 2013 – Uploaded by Comedy Central In this exclusive, unedited interview, “I Am Malala” author Malala Yousafzai Ongoing domestic violence, human trafficking, infanticide against girl babies, femicide,…
A Harvard business prof and a behavioral economist recently asked more than 5,000 Americans how they thought wealth is distributed in the United States. Most thought that it’s more balanced than it actually is. Asked to choose their ideal distribution of wealth, 92% picked one that was even more equitable. Take a long, hard and reflective look at the chart below! It illustrates the disparity and dissonance within the U. S. economy. Years ago in 1986 the U.S. Bishops asked…
Earth Day, Apr. 22, a day to celebrate the environment! The first Earth Day was organized in 1970 to promote the ideas of ecology, encourage respect for life on earth, and highlight growing concern over pollution of the soil, air, and water. Earth Day is now observed in 140 nations with outdoor performances, exhibits, street fairs, and television programs that focus on environmental issues. Check your local listings! In 1970, I was teaching in an inner-city high school, school and we planted a tree beside a…
Embed from Getty Images “Countries with more gender equality have better economic growth. Companies with more women leaders perform better. Peace agreements that include women are more durable. Parliaments with more women enact more legislation on key social issues such as health, education, anti-discrimination and child support. The evidence is clear: equality for women means progress for all.” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts…
Embed from Getty Images “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” During February, Black History Month, we honor the history and outstanding individuals of African-Americans. Public events, TV specials, school programs with reading lists, specific assignments, and films are featured. Seldom if ever is one significant person mentioned…