Thursday, May 2, 2024

A Message from the Dispossessed

The message we send to the unfortunate of the earth is stark and unequivocal: "We have everything and if you try to take anything away from us we will kill you." The message the dispossessed sent back was delivered in Paris.

What ‘Je Suis Charlie’ Should Mean to Us

Our continuing alliance requires us all to repeat "Je suis Charlie" in the aftermath of the atrocious terror attack on a Parisian satire magazine. It is important to look closely at what we are defending.

Saudi Government Imposes Sentence of 1,000 Lashes Against Activist Blogger

The Saudi Arabian government has issued a series of 1,000 public lashings and 10 years in prison to an activist blogger Raif Badawi for insulting Islam. U.S. State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki requested an end to this punishment, but it does not look like Saudi authorities will end this brutality.

Paris Terrorist Was Radicalized by Bush’s Iraq War and Abu Ghraib Torture

Having American troops occupy Iraq for 8 years, humiliating its citizens and torturing people in military prisons, was a bad idea. Did Bush and Cheney model for the Kouashi brothers how you take what you want and rub out people who get in your way?

NRA: Why Can’t We Outlaw Guns Meant for Terrorists?

It's not only in the U.S. that these combat weapons—that is, arms developed for use on the battlefield—are being used against innocent, defenseless civilians. Shame, shame, shame.

Sen. Feinstein Introducing New Laws to Prohibit CIA Torture

Senator Feinstein sent a letter to President Obama with her recommendations to prevent the CIA from committing acts of torture. But are her good intentions enough prevent the CIA from committing further human rights violations?

Close Guantanamo—Then Give It Back to Cuba

This week is the 13th anniversary of the first post-9/11 prisoners arriving at Guantanamo Bay. This has people wondering: is it time to put an end to this dark chapter of U.S. history, close the prison and return the land to Cuba?

Feminism Unheeded

The debate within feminism over trans, "transgenderism" and transsexualism—varying in terms—goes back to the 1970s and continues today. Is there an endemic of sexual violence in the contemporary U.S.?

As 2015 Begins, Remember 2014′s Wins

The core message from last year’s elections wasn't that voters embraced the GOP’s right-wing values, it's that they didn’t want to elect namby-pamby Democrats. But there is now a chance to say “yes” to an array of progressive ballot initiatives.

All Forms of Life Are Sacred

Just because animals are cognitively different from us, why is it people's belief that they have lesser moral value? Using them is the ultimate problem—it does not matter how well we treat them.