text
stringlengths 2.57k
160k
| hyperpartisan
bool 2
classes | bias
int64 0
4
| cleaned_text
stringlengths 1.79k
91.8k
| word_count
int64 512
12.5k
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
<p>Republicans have always un­derstood that their party’s tent is home to different factions. But they have long tended to perceive these factions—the grassroots base, the business Right, the conservative movement, and the governing-party establishment—as deeply united by a way of thinking, and not just by transactional relationships.</p>
<p>For two decades and more after the end of the Reagan era, Republicans implicitly thought of this coalition in terms we might roughly describe as “The Four Modes of Phil Gramm.” Gramm, the former senator from Texas, was an ideal full-spectrum-conservative Republican. He was a homespun populist pouring his common sense like ice-cold water over liberal eggheads. He was a libertarian economics professor who believed in markets because he could do math. He was a wonk-intellectual deeply conversant in the vocabulary of modern conservatism. And he was a prudent politician who could cut a deal. So Gramm could be fully at home among the grassroots activists, the businesspeople, the conservative thinkers, and the politicians, but in every case he was a purist conservative of a particular sort.</p>
<p>In their rhetoric, but also in their genuine self-understanding, many Repub­lican activists and elected officials as­sumed that most people in these different factions roughly fit that description, too. This has never been quite true; it has grown less true over time, and it simply is no longer true in the wake of this momentous election.</p>
<p>The most significant implication of the party’s self-misunderstanding was a misimpression of the nature of its grassroots voters. Republican politicians thought of the base of the party as a steadfastly conservative voting bloc that would rebel against any departures from the GOP’s longstanding agenda and would be dissatisfied with party leaders to the extent they were not sufficiently aggressive in its pursuit. The war be­tween the Tea Party and the establishment in the Obama years was fought on this premise.</p>
<p>But Donald Trump’s campaign, even before he won the election, demonstrated that this understanding of the Right’s grassroots—the understanding on which the work of various tea-party activist groups, the House Freedom Caucus, and Senator Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign, as well as the responses to these from establishment Republicans, were based—was in error in some important ways, and in any case is no longer operative. Trump showed that much of the base of the party was driven far more by resentment of elitist arrogance, by a rejection of globalism, and by economic and cultural insecurity than by a commitment to conservative economic or political principles. And he thereby also made the base of the party even more traditionally populist.</p>
<p>This is surely part of the reason why most members of the House Freedom Caucus and many prominent conservative talk-radio hosts didn’t stand athwart Trump’s candidacy in the primaries, even though he showed contempt for much of what they have always championed. Trump demonstrated that the people they claimed to represent were not quite who they had imagined they were.</p>
<p>He made this explicit soon after clinch­ing the nomination. “This is called the Republican party, it’s not called the Conservative party,” Trump said in an interview in May. It was an extraordinary thing for a Republican presidential contender to say. And it was also true and important, and recognizing it would be a very good thing for both Republicans and conservatives.</p>
<p>For conservatives, in particular, ceasing to imagine that we own the Re­publican coalition, and therefore ceasing to expect it to simply follow our lead, would be a spur to sharpen, strengthen, and modernize our ideas so that they are more attractive and a better fit to contemporary problems. Understanding the need to persuade our fellow Republicans (and not just business leaders but populist middle- and working-class voters) that our ideas would address their concerns and priorities would strengthen our ability to persuade others, too. And it would help Republicans reinforce gains built up in a protest election that would be hard to sustain without substantive policy accomplishments.</p>
<p>But coalitions shape their members, and so just as conservatives might hope to channel the energies of the populist Right and restrain its excesses, sharing the party with a populist voter base might in turn reshape conservatism. In­deed, in some important ways it has already done that over the past decade and more. And just as Republicans have failed to take note of the actual character of their coalition, conservatives too have not sufficiently acknowledged how our movement has changed.</p>
<p>American conservatism has always been a collection of varied groups and schools of thought united, in broad terms, by a general view of the world. That view usually involves a low opinion of man’s character and rationality, combined with a high opinion of his dignity and rights; a resulting skepticism about power that tends to point toward greater confidence in mediating institutions and decentralized decision-making than in consolidated expertise and social engineering; and an overarching belief that the world is a dangerous place and maintaining order takes real work. These general views explain the attachment con­servatives have to the American Constitution—which is rooted in some similar premises—and to the Western tradition beyond.</p>
<p>But as foundations for a coalition, these general views can add up in different ways under different circumstances. Since the 1970s, conservatives have tended to think of them as adding up to a coalition modeled on a three-legged stool. The legs have been muscular (originally anti-Communist) internationalism, social conservatism, and supply-side economics. Different conservatives emphasized these differently, with some really belonging to just one faction and only tolerating the others for practical ends. But the three routinely worked together.</p>
<p>And as happens in coalitions, the three elements all tended to shape one another over time. The internationalists made social conservatives tougher and less naïve about the world, and made the supply-siders more committed to freedom along with wealth. The social conservatives made the hawks more idealistic and made many of the supply-siders pro-life and otherwise traditionalist. The supply-siders made the internationalists smarter critics of Communism and made the social conservatives friendlier to growth and wealth.</p>
<p>The result, for a time, was a better-rounded and more effective coalition—one with a particular kind of argument for freedom at its core. And that coalition also helped shape the Republican party in recent decades in its battles with the Democrats, who have been shaped by their own different, if no less powerful, understanding of freedom.</p>
<p>That conservative coalition was well formed to offer attractive solutions to the problems of the late 1970s and the 1980s, but with time it has grown in­creasingly detached from American circumstances and priorities. One of the things we see more clearly in light of this year is that the familiar conservative coalition has for some time already been gradually transforming into a related but different coalition. The precise shape of that emerging coalition remains unclear, but it is a little easier after this momentous election to speculate about its gen­eral outlines.</p>
<p>Rather than muscular internationalism, social conservatism, and supply-side economics, the three legs of the stool of the conservative coalition in the coming years seem more likely to be, broadly speaking, American nationalism, religious communitarianism, and market economics. That’s a closely re­lated coalition. The change has been evolutionary, not revolutionary, and conservatism has not changed as much as the broader Republican coalition has under the forces of populism.</p>
<p>The internationalists who were more defense hawks than democracy promoters can find a lot to like in a constructive nationalism. The supply-siders are be­lievers in free markets, they just tend to emphasize growth at the margins more than using markets as tools of problem-solving. The social conservatives share the worldview of religious communitarians, if not always the same political instincts. There are many similarities, but this also stands to be a different conservatism in some important ways.</p>
<p>It is, for one thing, an ideological coalition that evinces a yearning for solidarity as much as a hunger for freedom. The ideological coalition that is progressivism will likely change in similar ways in the coming years, as an emphasis on conformity overtakes an ethic of lib­eration. This gradual evolution of the ideological Right and Left reveals an underlying shift in American life that we are only beginning to understand.</p>
<p>The interaction of the elements of this new coalition will also, unavoidably, be different. As before, the three elements would need to restrain one another’s excesses to make the whole more functional and appealing. Religious communitarians might help to make nationalists less livid and more tolerant, and to make the “marketists” less libertarian and in­dividualistic. Nationalists could make religious conservatives less universalist and make marketists less cosmopolitan. Marketists could help make nationalists less isolationist and religious communitarians less collectivist.</p>
<p>In effect, all three will need to focus one another on the middle layers of society: a constructive nationalism as a unifying force against both hyper-individualism and globalism; a community-minded religious conservatism as a counterforce to the potential of markets to fall into moral chaos and of nationalism to de­volve into hateful insularity; market economics as a way of solving problems near at hand rather than of unleashing faceless global forces or just liberating individuals.</p>
<p>This would still be a thoroughly conservative coalition in a familiar sense. It would be the natural home for pro-growth, small-government capitalism, along with social traditionalism and unabashed American patriotism and constitutionalism. But it would tend to emphasize the links between these views (which, after all, are also naturally in tension) by emphasizing their common roots in humility more than their common aspirations to boundless liberation. It would be more sober than cheerful, more careful than confident, more Tocque­ville than Kemp. And it would be a conservatism heavily influenced by the increasingly populist flavor of the broader Republican coalition in the age of Trump, even as it frequently needs to act as a check on the party’s populism.</p>
<p>This outline is speculative and heavy on broad categories and vague “isms.” But it might suggest some guidelines for conservatives as we consider our role in the new Republican governing coalition. In a sense, Donald Trump has written a check to his voters that only conservatives can help him cash. That will require conservatives within the party to de­termine how far toward populism we should be willing to go, what we should ask in return, and how conservative principles can be applied to our contemporary challenges to address the desires and needs of middle- and working-class Americans.</p>
<p>None of these will be quite new questions. Some on the right have been asking them for years. But the Republican coalition is only now beginning to understand how important they will be to its future.</p>
<p>— Yuval Levin is the Hertog Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, editor of National Affairs and a contributing editor of National Review.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | false | 1 | republicans always understood partys tent home different factions long tended perceive factionsthe grassroots base business right conservative movement governingparty establishmentas deeply united way thinking transactional relationships two decades end reagan era republicans implicitly thought coalition terms might roughly describe four modes phil gramm gramm former senator texas ideal fullspectrumconservative republican homespun populist pouring common sense like icecold water liberal eggheads libertarian economics professor believed markets could math wonkintellectual deeply conversant vocabulary modern conservatism prudent politician could cut deal gramm could fully home among grassroots activists businesspeople conservative thinkers politicians every case purist conservative particular sort rhetoric also genuine selfunderstanding many republican activists elected officials assumed people different factions roughly fit description never quite true grown less true time simply longer true wake momentous election significant implication partys selfmisunderstanding misimpression nature grassroots voters republican politicians thought base party steadfastly conservative voting bloc would rebel departures gops longstanding agenda would dissatisfied party leaders extent sufficiently aggressive pursuit war tea party establishment obama years fought premise donald trumps campaign even election demonstrated understanding rights grassrootsthe understanding work various teaparty activist groups house freedom caucus senator ted cruzs presidential campaign well responses establishment republicans basedwas error important ways case longer operative trump showed much base party driven far resentment elitist arrogance rejection globalism economic cultural insecurity commitment conservative economic political principles thereby also made base party even traditionally populist surely part reason members house freedom caucus many prominent conservative talkradio hosts didnt stand athwart trumps candidacy primaries even though showed contempt much always championed trump demonstrated people claimed represent quite imagined made explicit soon clinching nomination called republican party called conservative party trump said interview may extraordinary thing republican presidential contender say also true important recognizing would good thing republicans conservatives conservatives particular ceasing imagine republican coalition therefore ceasing expect simply follow lead would spur sharpen strengthen modernize ideas attractive better fit contemporary problems understanding need persuade fellow republicans business leaders populist middle workingclass voters ideas would address concerns priorities would strengthen ability persuade others would help republicans reinforce gains built protest election would hard sustain without substantive policy accomplishments coalitions shape members conservatives might hope channel energies populist right restrain excesses sharing party populist voter base might turn reshape conservatism indeed important ways already done past decade republicans failed take note actual character coalition conservatives sufficiently acknowledged movement changed american conservatism always collection varied groups schools thought united broad terms general view world view usually involves low opinion mans character rationality combined high opinion dignity rights resulting skepticism power tends point toward greater confidence mediating institutions decentralized decisionmaking consolidated expertise social engineering overarching belief world dangerous place maintaining order takes real work general views explain attachment conservatives american constitutionwhich rooted similar premisesand western tradition beyond foundations coalition general views add different ways different circumstances since 1970s conservatives tended think adding coalition modeled threelegged stool legs muscular originally anticommunist internationalism social conservatism supplyside economics different conservatives emphasized differently really belonging one faction tolerating others practical ends three routinely worked together happens coalitions three elements tended shape one another time internationalists made social conservatives tougher less naïve world made supplysiders committed freedom along wealth social conservatives made hawks idealistic made many supplysiders prolife otherwise traditionalist supplysiders made internationalists smarter critics communism made social conservatives friendlier growth wealth result time betterrounded effective coalitionone particular kind argument freedom core coalition also helped shape republican party recent decades battles democrats shaped different less powerful understanding freedom conservative coalition well formed offer attractive solutions problems late 1970s 1980s time grown increasingly detached american circumstances priorities one things see clearly light year familiar conservative coalition time already gradually transforming related different coalition precise shape emerging coalition remains unclear little easier momentous election speculate general outlines rather muscular internationalism social conservatism supplyside economics three legs stool conservative coalition coming years seem likely broadly speaking american nationalism religious communitarianism market economics thats closely related coalition change evolutionary revolutionary conservatism changed much broader republican coalition forces populism internationalists defense hawks democracy promoters find lot like constructive nationalism supplysiders believers free markets tend emphasize growth margins using markets tools problemsolving social conservatives share worldview religious communitarians always political instincts many similarities also stands different conservatism important ways one thing ideological coalition evinces yearning solidarity much hunger freedom ideological coalition progressivism likely change similar ways coming years emphasis conformity overtakes ethic liberation gradual evolution ideological right left reveals underlying shift american life beginning understand interaction elements new coalition also unavoidably different three elements would need restrain one anothers excesses make whole functional appealing religious communitarians might help make nationalists less livid tolerant make marketists less libertarian individualistic nationalists could make religious conservatives less universalist make marketists less cosmopolitan marketists could help make nationalists less isolationist religious communitarians less collectivist effect three need focus one another middle layers society constructive nationalism unifying force hyperindividualism globalism communityminded religious conservatism counterforce potential markets fall moral chaos nationalism devolve hateful insularity market economics way solving problems near hand rather unleashing faceless global forces liberating individuals would still thoroughly conservative coalition familiar sense would natural home progrowth smallgovernment capitalism along social traditionalism unabashed american patriotism constitutionalism would tend emphasize links views also naturally tension emphasizing common roots humility common aspirations boundless liberation would sober cheerful careful confident tocqueville kemp would conservatism heavily influenced increasingly populist flavor broader republican coalition age trump even frequently needs act check partys populism outline speculative heavy broad categories vague isms might suggest guidelines conservatives consider role new republican governing coalition sense donald trump written check voters conservatives help cash require conservatives within party determine far toward populism willing go ask return conservative principles applied contemporary challenges address desires needs middle workingclass americans none quite new questions right asking years republican coalition beginning understand important future yuval levin hertog fellow ethics public policy center editor national affairs contributing editor national review 160 | 966 |
<p>The 16 films in this section are all world premieres.</p>
<p>American Animals (Director and screenwriter: Bart Layton, Producers: Derrin Schlesinger, Katherine Butler, Dimitri Doganis, Mary Jane Skalski) — The unbelievable but mostly true story of four young men who mistake their lives for a movie and attempt one of the most audacious art heists in U.S. history. Cast: Evan Peters, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner, Jared Abrahamson, Ann Dowd, Udo Kier.</p>
<p>Blaze (Director: Ethan Hawke, Screenwriters: Ethan Hawke, Sybil Rosen, Producers: Jake Seal, John Sloss, Ryan Hawke, Ethan Hawke) — A reimagining of the life and times of Blaze Foley, the unsung songwriting legend of the Texas Outlaw Music movement; he gave up paradise for the sake of a song. Cast: Benjamin Dickey, Alia Shawkat, Josh Hamilton, Charlie Sexton.</p>
<p>Blindspotting (Director: Carlos Lopez Estrada, Screenwriters: Rafael Casal, Daveed Diggs, Producers: Keith Calder, Jess Calder, Rafael Casal, Daveed Diggs) — A buddy comedy in a world that won’t let it be one. Cast: Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, Janina Gavankar, Jasmine Cephas Jones. DAY ONE</p>
<p>Burden (Director and screenwriter: Andrew Heckler, Producers: Robbie Brenner, Jincheng, Bill Kenwright) — After opening a KKK shop, Klansman Michael Burden falls in love with a single mom who forces him to confront his senseless hatred. After leaving the Klan and with nowhere to turn, Burden is taken in by an African-American reverend, and learns tolerance through their combined love and faith. Cast: Garrett Hedlund, Forest Whitaker, Andrea Riseborough, Tom Wilkinson, Usher Raymond.</p>
<p>Eighth Grade (Director and screenwriter: Bo Burnham, Producers: Scott Rudin, Eli Bush, Christopher Storer, Lila Yacoub) — Thirteen-year-old Kayla endures the tidal wave of contemporary suburban adolescence as she makes her way through the last week of middle school — the end of her thus far disastrous eighth grade year — before she begins high school. Cast: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton.</p>
<p>I Think We’re Alone Now (Director: Reed Morano, Screenwriter: Mike Makowsky, Producers: Fred Berger, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Fernando Loureiro, Roberto Vasconcellos, Peter Dinklage, Mike Makowsky) — The apocalypse proves a blessing in disguise for one lucky recluse — until a second survivor arrives with the threat of companionship. Cast: Peter Dinklage, Elle Fanning.</p>
<p>The Kindergarten Teacher (Director and screenwriter: Sara Colangelo, Producers: Celine Rattray, Trudie Styler, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Osnat Handelsman-Keren, Talia Kleinhendler) — Lisa Spinelli is a Staten Island teacher who is unusually devoted to her students. When she discovers one of her five-year-olds is a prodigy, she becomes fascinated with the boy, ultimately risking her family and freedom to nurture his talent. Based on the acclaimed Israeli film. Cast: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Parker Sevak, Rosa Salazar, Anna Barynishikov, Michael Chernus, Gael Garcia Bernal.</p>
<p>Lizzie (Director: Craig William Macneill, Screenwriter: Bryce Kass, Producers: Naomi Despres, Liz Destro) — Based on the 1892 murder of Lizzie Borden‘s family in Fall River, MA, this tense psychological thriller lays bare the legend of Lizzie Borden to reveal the much more complex, poignant and truly terrifying woman within, as well as her intimate bond with the family‘s young Irish housemaid, Bridget Sullivan. Cast: Chloë Sevigny, Kristen Stewart, Jamey Sheridan, Fiona Shaw, Kim Dickens, Denis O’Hare.</p>
<p>The Miseducation of Cameron Post (Director: Desiree Akhavan, Screenwriters: Desiree Akhavan, Cecilia Frugiuele, Producers: Cecilia Frugiuele, Jonathan Montepare, Michael B. Clark, Alex Turtletaub) — 1993: after being caught having sex with the prom queen, a girl is forced into a gay conversion therapy center. Based on Emily Danforth’s acclaimed and controversial coming-of-age novel. Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Sasha Lane, Forrest Goodluck, John Gallagher Jr., Jennifer Ehle.</p>
<p>Monster (Director: Anthony Mandler, Screenwriters: Radha Blank, Cole Wiley, Janece Shaffer, Producers: Tonya Lewis Lee, Nikki Silver, Aaron L. Gilbert, Mike Jackson, Edward Tyler Nahem) ― “Monster” is what the prosecutor calls 17-year-old honors student and aspiring filmmaker Steve Harmon. Charged with felony murder for a crime he says he did not commit, the film follows his dramatic journey through a complex legal battle that could leave him spending the rest of his life in prison. Cast: Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jeffrey Wright, Jennifer Hudson, Rakim Mayers, Jennifer Ehle, Tim Blake Nelson.</p>
<p>Monsters and Men (Director and screenwriter: Reinaldo Marcus Green, Producers: Elizabeth Lodge Stepp, Josh Penn, Eddie Vaisman, Julia Lebedev, Luca Borghese) — This interwoven narrative explores the aftermath of a police killing of a black man. The film is told through the eyes of the bystander who filmed the act, an African-American police officer and a high-school baseball phenom inspired to take a stand. Cast: John David Washington, Anthony Ramos, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Chanté Adams, Nicole Beharie, Rob Morgan.</p>
<p>Nancy (Director and screenwriter: Christina Choe, Producers: Amy Lo, Michelle Cameron, Andrea Riseborough) — Blurring lines between fact and fiction, Nancy becomes increasingly convinced she was kidnapped as a child. When she meets a couple whose daughter went missing thirty years ago, reasonable doubts give way to willful belief – and the power of emotion threatens to overcome all rationality. Cast: Andrea Riseborough, J. Smith-Cameron, Steve Buscemi, Ann Dowd, John Leguizamo.</p>
<p>Sorry to Bother You (Director and screenwriter: Boots Riley, Producers: Nina Yang Bongiovi, Forest Whitaker, Charles King, George Rush, Jonathan Duffy, Kelly Williams) — In a speculative and dystopian not-too- distant future, black telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success – which propels him into a macabre universe. Cast: Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Steven Yeun, Jermaine Fowler, Armie Hammer, Omari Hardwicke.</p>
<p>The Tale (Director and screenwriter: Jennifer Fox, Producers: Oren Moverman, Lawrence Inglee, Laura Rister, Mynette Louie, Sol Bondy, Simone Pero) — An investigation into one woman’s memory as she‘s forced to re-examine her first sexual relationship and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive; based on the filmmaker’s own story. Cast: Laura Dern, Isabel Nelisse, Jason Ritter, Elizabeth Debicki, Ellen Burstyn, Common.</p>
<p>Tyrel (Director and screenwriter: Sebastian Silva, Producers: Jacob Wasserman, Max Born) — Tyler spirals out of control when he realizes he‘s the only black person attending a weekend birthday party in a secluded cabin. Cast: Jason Mitchell, Christopher Abbott, Michael Cera, Caleb Landry Jones, Ann Dowd.</p>
<p>Wildlife (Director: Paul Dano, Screenwriters: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Producers: Andrew Duncan, Alex Saks, Oren Moverman, Ann Ruark, Jake Gyllenhaal, Riva Marker) — Montana, 1960: A portrait of a family in crisis. Based on the novel by Richard Ford. Cast: Carey Mulligan, Ed Oxenbould, Bill Camp, Jake Gyllenhaal.</p>
<p>The 16 films in this section are all world premieres unless otherwise specified.</p>
<p>Bisbee ’17 (Director and screenwriter: Robert Greene, Producers: Douglas Tirola, Susan Bedusa, Bennett Elliott) — An old mining town on the Arizona-Mexico border finally reckons with its darkest day: the deportation of 1200 immigrant miners exactly 100 years ago. Locals collaborate to stage recreations of their controversial past. Cast: Fernando Serrano, Laurie McKenna, Ray Family, Mike Anderson, Graeme Family, Richard Hodges.</p>
<p>Crime + Punishment (Director: Stephen Maing) — Over four years of unprecedented access, the story of a brave group of black and Latino whistleblower cops and one unrelenting private investigator who, amidst a landmark lawsuit, risk everything to expose illegal quota practices and their impact on young minorities.</p>
<p>Dark Money (Director and screenwriter: Kimberly Reed, Producer: Katy Chevigny) — “Dark money” contributions, made possible by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling, flood modern American elections – but Montana is showing Washington D.C. how to solve the problem of unlimited anonymous money in politics.</p>
<p>The Devil We Know (Director: Stephanie Soechtig, Producers: Kristin Lazure, Stephanie Soechtig, Joshua Kunau, Carly Palmour) — Unraveling one of the biggest environmental scandals of our time, a group of citizens in West Virginia take on a powerful corporation after they discover it has knowingly been dumping a toxic chemical — now found in the blood of 99.7% of Americans — into the local drinking water supply. THE NEW CLIMATE</p>
<p>Hal (Director: Amy Scott, Producers: Christine Beebe, Jonathan Lynch, Brian Morrow) — Hal Ashby’s obsessive genius led to an unprecedented string of Oscar®-winning classics, including Harold and Maude, Shampoo and Being There. But as contemporaries Coppola, Scorsese and Spielberg rose to blockbuster stardom in the 1980s, Ashby’s uncompromising nature played out as a cautionary tale of art versus commerce.</p>
<p>Hale County This Morning, This Evening (Director: RaMell Ross, Screenwriter: Maya Krinsky, Producers: Joslyn Barnes, RaMell Ross, Su Kim) — An exploration of coming-of-age in the Black Belt of the American South, using stereotypical imagery to fill in the landscape between iconic representations of black men and encouraging a new way of looking, while resistance to narrative suspends conclusive imagining – allowing the viewer to complete the film.</p>
<p>Inventing Tomorrow (Director: Laura Nix, Producers: Diane Becker, Melanie Miller, Laura Nix) — Take a journey with young minds from around the globe as they prepare their projects for the largest convening of high school scientists in the world, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Watch these passionate innovators find the courage to face the planet‘s environmental threats while navigating adolescence. THE NEW CLIMATE</p>
<p>Kailash (Director: Derek Doneen, Producers: Davis Guggenheim, Sarah Anthony) — As a young man, Kailash Satyarthi promised himself that he would end child slavery in his lifetime. In the decades since, he has rescued more than eighty thousand children and built a global movement. This intimate and suspenseful film follows one man‘s journey to do what many believed was impossible. DAY ONE</p>
<p>Kusama – Infinity (Director and screenwriter: Heather Lenz, Producers: Karen Johnson, Heather Lenz, Dan Braun, David Koh) — Now one of the world‘s most celebrated artists, Yayoi Kusama broke free of the rigid society in which she was raised, and overcame sexism, racism, and mental illness to bring her artistic vision to the world stage. At 88 she lives in a mental hospital and continues to create art.</p>
<p>The Last Race (Director: Michael Dweck, Producers: Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw) — A cinematic portrait of a small town stock car track and the tribe of drivers that call it home as they struggle to hold onto an American racing tradition. The avant-garde narrative explores the community and its conflicts through an intimate story that reveals the beauty, mystery and emotion of grassroots auto racing.</p>
<p>Minding the Gap (Director: Bing Liu, Producer: Diane Quon) — Three young men bond together to escape volatile families in their Rust Belt hometown. As they face adult responsibilities, unexpected revelations threaten their decade-long friendship.</p>
<p>On Her Shoulders (Director: Alexandria Bombach, Producers: Marie Therese Guirgis, Hayley Pappas, Brock Williams, Bryn Mooser, Adam Bardach) — A Yazidi genocide and ISIS sexual slavery survivor, 23-year-old Nadia Murad is determined to tell the world her story. As her journey leads down paths of advocacy and fame, she becomes the voice of her people and their best hope to spur the world to action. International Premiere</p>
<p>The Price of Everything (Director: Nathaniel Kahn, Producers: Jennifer Blei Stockman, Debi Wisch, Carla Solomon) — With unprecedented access to pivotal artists and the white-hot market surrounding them, this film dives deep into the contemporary art world, holding a funhouse mirror up to our values and our times – where everything can be bought and sold.</p>
<p>Seeing Allred (Directors: Sophie Sartain, Roberta Grossman, Producers: Roberta Grossman, Sophie Sartain, Marta Kauffman, Robbie Rowe Tollin, Hannah KS Canter) — Gloria Allred overcame trauma and personal setbacks to become one of the nation‘s most famous women‘s rights attorneys. Now the feminist firebrand takes on two of the biggest adversaries of her career, Bill Cosby and Donald Trump, as sexual violence allegations grip the nation and keep her in the spotlight.</p>
<p>The Sentence (Director: Rudy Valdez, Producers: Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee) — Cindy Shank, mother of three, is serving a 15-year sentence in federal prison for her tangential involvement with a Michigan drug ring years earlier. This intimate portrait of mandatory minimum drug sentencing’s devastating consequences, captured by Cindy’s brother, follows her and her family over the course of ten years.</p>
<p>Three Identical Strangers (Director: Tim Wardle, Producer: Becky Read) — New York,1980: three complete strangers accidentally discover that they’re identical triplets, separated at birth. The 19-year-olds‘ joyous reunion catapults them to international fame, but also unlocks an extraordinary and disturbing secret that goes beyond their own lives – and could transform our understanding of human nature forever.</p>
<p>The 12 films in this section are world premieres unless otherwise specified.</p>
<p>And Breathe Normally (Iceland-Sweden-Belgium – Director and screenwriter: Ísold Uggadóttir, Producers: Skúli Malmquist, Diana Elbaum, Annika Hellström, Lilja Ósk Snorradóttir, Inga Lind Karlsdóttir) — At the edge of Iceland‘s Reykjanes peninsula, two women‘s lives will intersect — for a brief moment — while trapped in circumstances unforeseen. Between a struggling Icelandic mother and an asylum seeker from Guinea-Bissau, a delicate bond will form as both strategize to get their lives back on track. Cast: Kristín Thóra Haraldsdóttir, Babetida Sadja, Patrik Nökkvi Pétursson.</p>
<p>Butterflies (Turkey – Director and screenwriter: Tolga Karaçelik, Producers: Tolga Karaçelik, Diloy Gülün, Metin Anter) — In the Turkish village of Hasanlar, three siblings who neither know each other nor anything about their late father, wait to bury his body. As they start to find out more about their father and about each other, they also start to know more about themselves. Cast: Tolga Tekin, Bartu Kucukcaglayan, Tugce Altug, Serkan Keskin, Hakan Karsak.</p>
<p>Dead Pigs (China – Director and screenwriter: Cathy Yan, Producers: Clarissa Zhang, Jane Zheng, Zhangke Jia, Mick Aniceto, Amy Aniceto) — A bumbling pig farmer, a feisty salon owner, a sensitive busboy, an expat architect and a disenchanted rich girl converge and collide as thousands of dead pigs float down the river towards a rapidly-modernizing Shanghai, China. Based on true events. Cast: Vivian Wu, Haoyu Yang, Mason Lee, Meng Li, David Rysdahl.</p>
<p>The Guilty (Denmark – Director: Gustav Möller, Screenwriters: Gustav Möller, Emil Nygaard Albertsen, Producer: Lina Flint) — Alarm dispatcher Asger Holm answers an emergency call from a kidnapped woman; after a sudden disconnection, the search for the woman and her kidnapper begins. With the phone as his only tool, Asger enters a race against time to solve a crime that is far bigger than he first thought. Cast: Jakob Cedergren, Jessica Dinnage, Johan Olsen, Omar Shargawi.</p>
<p>Holiday (Denmark-Netherlands-Sweden – Director: Isabella Eklöf, Screenwriters: Isabella Eklöf, Johanne Algren, Producer: David B. Sørensen) — A love triangle featuring the trophy girlfriend of a petty drug lord, caught up in a web of luxury and violence in a modern dark gangster tale set in the beautiful port city of Bodrum on the Turkish Riviera. Cast: Victoria Carmen Sonne, Lai Yde, Thijs Römer.</p>
<p>Loveling (Brazil-Uruguay – Director: Gustavo Pizzi, Screenwriters: Gustavo Pizzi, Karine Teles, Producers: Tatiana Leite, Rodrigo Letier, Agustina Chiarino, Fernando Epstein) — On the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, Irene has only a few days to overcome her anxiety and renew her strength before sending her eldest son out into the world. Cast: Karine Teles, Otavio Muller, Adriana Esteves, Konstantinos Sarris, Cesar Troncoso. DAY ONE</p>
<p>Pity (Greece-Poland – Director: Babis Makridis, Screenwriters: Efthimis Filippou, Babis Makridis, Producers: Amanda Livanou, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Klaudia Śmieja, Beata Rzeźniczek) — The story of a man who feels happy only when he is unhappy: addicted to sadness, with such need for pity, that he‘s willing to do everything to evoke it from others. This is the life of a man in a world not cruel enough for him. Cast: Yannis Drakopoulos, Evi Saoulidou, Nota Tserniafski, Makis Papadimitriou, Georgina Chryskioti, Evdoxia Androulidaki.</p>
<p>The Queen of Fear (Argentina-Denmark – Directors: Valeria Bertuccelli, Fabiana Tiscornia, Screenwriter: Valeria Bertuccelli, Producers: Benjamin Domenech, Santiago Gallelli, Matias Roveda, Juan Vera, Juan Pablo Galli, Christian Faillace) — Only one month left until the premiere of The Golden Time, the long-awaited solo show by acclaimed actress Robertina. Far from focused on the preparations for this new production, Robertina lives in a state of continuous anxiety that turns her privileged life into an absurd and tumultuous landscape. Cast: Valeria Bertuccelli, Diego Velázquez, Gabriel Eduardo “Puma” Goity, Darío Grandinetti.</p>
<p>Rust (Brazil – Director: Aly Muritiba, Screenwriters: Aly Muritiba, Jessica Candal, Producer: Antônio Junior) — Tati and Renet were already trading pics, videos and music by their cellphones and on the last school trip they started making eye contact. However, what could be the beginning of a love story becomes an end. Cast: Giovanni De Lorenzi, Tifanny Dopke, Enrique Diaz, Clarissa Kiste, Duda Azevedo, Pedro Inoue.</p>
<p>Time Share (Tiempo Compartido) (Mexico-Netherlands – Director: Sebastián Hofmann, Screenwriters: Julio Chavezmontes, Sebastián Hofmann, Producer: Julio Chavezmontes) — Two haunted family men join forces in a destructive crusade to rescue their families from a tropical paradise, after becoming convinced that an American timeshare conglomerate has a sinister plan to take their loved ones away. Cast: Luis Gerardo Mendez, Miguel Rodarte, Andrés Almeida, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Monserrat Marañon, R.J. Mitte.</p>
<p>Un Traductor (Canada-Cuba – Directors: Rodrigo Barriuso, Sebastián Barriuso, Screenwriter: Lindsay Gossling, Producers: Sebastián Barriuso, Lindsay Gossling) — A Russian Literature professor at the University of Havana is ordered to work as a translator for child victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster when they are sent to Cuba for medical treatment. Based on a true story. Cast: Rodrigo Santoro, Maricel Álvarez, Yoandra Suárez.</p>
<p>Yardie (U.K. –Director: Idris Elba, Screenwriters: Brock Norman Brock, Martin Stellman, Producers: Gina Carter, Robin Gutch) — Jamaica, 1973. When a young boy witnesses his brother‘s assassination, a powerful Don gives him a home. Ten years later he is sent on a mission to London. He reunites with his girlfriend and their daughter, but then the past catches up with them. Based on Victor Headley’s novel. Cast: Aml Ameen, Shantol Jackson, Stephen Graham, Fraser James, Sheldon Shepherd, Everaldo Cleary.</p>
<p>The 12 films in this section are world premieres unless otherwise specified.</p>
<p>A Polar Year (France – Director: Samuel Collardey, Screenwriters: Samuel Collardey, Catherine Paillé, Producer: Grégoire Debailly) — Anders leaves his native Denmark for a teaching position in rural Greenland. As soon as he arrives, he finds himself at odds with tightly-knit locals. Only through a clumsy and playful trial of errors can Anders shake his Euro-centric assumptions and embrace their snow-covered way of life. Cast: Anders Hvidegaard, Asser Boassen, Julius B. Nielsen, Tobias Ignatiussen, Thomasine Jonathansen, Gert Jonathansen.</p>
<p>Anote’s Ark (Canada – Director: Matthieu Rytz, Producers: Bob Moore, Mila Aung-Thwin, Daniel Cross, Shari Plummer, Shannon Joy) — How does a nation survive being swallowed by the sea? Kiribati, on a low-lying Pacific atoll, will disappear within decades due to rising sea levels, population growth, and climate change. This exploration of how to migrate an entire nation with dignity interweaves personal stories of survival and resilience. THE NEW CLIMATE</p>
<p>The Cleaners (Germany-Brazil – Directors: Moritz Riesewieck, Hans Block, Screenwriters: Moritz Riesewieck, Hans Block, Georg Tschurtschenthaler, Producers: Christian Beetz, Georg Tschurtschenthaler, Julie Goldman, Christopher Clements, Fernando Dias, Mauricio Dias) — When you post something on the web, can you be sure it stays there? Enter a hidden shadow industry of digital cleaning, where the Internet rids itself of what it doesn’t like: violence, pornography and political content. Who is controlling what we see…and what we think?</p>
<p>Genesis 2.0 (Switzerland – Directors: Christian Frei, Maxim Arbugaev, Producer: Christian Frei) — On the remote New Siberian Islands in the Arctic Ocean, hunters search for tusks of extinct mammoths. When they discover a surprisingly well-preserved mammoth carcass, its resurrection will be the first manifestation of the next great technological revolution: genetics. It may well turn our world upside down.</p>
<p>Matangi / Maya / M.I.A. (Sri Lanka-U.K.-U.S. – Director: Stephen Loveridge, Producers: Lori Cheatle, Andrew Goldman, Paul Mezey) — Drawn from a never before seen cache of personal footage spanning decades, this is an intimate portrait of the Sri Lankan artist and musician who continues to shatter conventions.</p>
<p>Of Fathers and Sons (Germany-Syria-Lebanon – Director: Talal Derki, Producers: Ansgar Frerich, Eva Kemme, Tobias N. Siebert, Hans Robert Eisenhauer) — Talal Derki returns to his homeland where he gains the trust of a radical Islamist family, sharing their daily life for over two years. His camera focuses on Osama and his younger brother Ayman, providing an extremely rare insight into what it means to grow up in an Islamic Caliphate. (North American Premiere)</p>
<p>The Oslo Diaries (Israel-Canada – Directors and screenwriters: Mor Loushy, Daniel Sivan, Producers: Hilla Medalia, Ina Fichman) — In 1992, Israeli-Palestinian relations reached an all time low. In an attempt to stop the bloodshed, a group of Israelis and Palestinians met illegally in Oslo. These meetings were never officially sanctioned and held in complete secrecy. They changed the Middle East forever.</p>
<p>Our New President (Russia-U.S. – Director: Maxim Pozdorovkin, Producers: Maxim Pozdorovkin, Joe Bender) — The story of Donald Trump’s election told entirely through Russian propaganda. By turns horrifying and hilarious, the film is a satirical portrait of Russian media that reveals an empire of fake news and the tactics of modern-day information warfare. DAY ONE</p>
<p>Shirkers (Director and screenwriter: Sandi Tan, Producers: Sandi Tan, Jessica Levin, Maya Rudolph) — In 1992, teenager Sandi Tan shot Singapore’s first indie road movie with her enigmatic American mentor Georges – who then vanished with all the footage. Twenty years later, the 16mm film is recovered, sending Tan, now a novelist in Los Angeles, on a personal odyssey in search of Georges’ vanishing footprints.</p>
<p>This is Home (U.S.-Jordan – Director: Alexandra Shiva, Producer: Lindsey Megrue) This is an intimate portrait of four Syrian families arriving in Baltimore, Maryland and struggling to find their footing. With eight months to become self-sufficient, they must forge ahead to rebuild their lives. When the travel ban adds further complications, their strength and resilience are put to the test.</p>
<p>Westwood (U.K. – Director: Lorna Tucker, Producers: Eleanor Emptage, Shirine Best, Nicole Stott, John Battsek) — Dame Vivienne Westwood: punk, icon, provocateur and one of the most influential originators in recent history. This is the first film to encompass the remarkable story of one of the true icons of our time, as she fights to maintain her brand‘s integrity, her principles – and her legacy.</p>
<p>A Woman Captured (Hungary – Director and screenwriter: Bernadett Tuza-Ritter, Producers: Julianna Ugrin, Viki Réka Kiss, Erik Winker, Martin Roelly) — A European woman has been kept by a family as a domestic slave for 10 years – one of over 45 million victims of modern-day slavery. Drawing courage from the filmmaker’s presence, she decides to escape the unbearable oppression and become a free person. (North American Premiere)</p>
<p>The 10 films in this section are all world premieres.</p>
<p>306 Hollywood (U.S.-Hungary – Directors: Elan Bogarín, Jonathan Bogarín, Screenwriters: Jonathan Bogarín, Elan Bogarín, Nyneve Laura Minnear, Producers: Elan Bogarín, Jonathan Bogarín, Judit Stalter) — When two siblings undertake an archaeological excavation of their late grandmother‘s house, they embark on a magical-realist journey from her home in New Jersey to ancient Rome, from fashion to physics, in search of what life remains in the objects we leave behind. DAY ONE</p>
<p>A Boy, A Girl, A Dream. (Director: Qasim Basir, Screenwriters: Qasim Basir, Samantha Tanner, Producer: Datari Turner) — On the night of the 2016 Presidential election, Cass, an L.A. club promoter, takes a thrilling and emotional journey with Frida, a Midwestern visitor. She challenges him to revisit his broken dreams – while he pushes her to discover hers. Cast: Omari Hardwick, Meagan Good, Jay Ellis, Kenya Barris, Dijon Talton, Wesley Jonathan.</p>
<p>Clara’s Ghost (Director and screenwriter: Bridey Elliott, Producer: Sarah Winshall) — Set over the course of a single evening at the Reynolds‘ family home in Connecticut, Clara, fed up with the constant ribbing from her self-absorbed showbiz family, finds solace in and guidance from the supernatural force she believes is haunting her. Cast: Paula Niedert Elliott, Chris Elliott, Abby Elliott, Bridey Elliott, Haley Joel Osment, Isidora Goreshter.</p>
<p>An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn (U.K.-U.S. – Director: Jim Hosking, Screenwriters: Jim Hosking, David Wike, Producers: Sam Bisbee, Theodora Dunlap, Oliver Roskill, Emily Leo, Lucan Toh, Andy Starke) — Lulu Danger’s unsatisfying marriage takes a fortunate turn for the worse when a mysterious man from her past comes to town to perform an event called ‘An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn For One Magical Night Only.‘ Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Emile Hirsch, Jemaine Clement, Matt Berry, Craig Robinson.</p>
<p>Madeline’s Madeline (Director and screenwriter: Josephine Decker, Producers: Krista Parris, Elizabeth Rao) — Madeline got the part! She‘s going to play the lead in a theater piece! Except the lead wears sweatpants like Madeline‘s. And has a cat like Madeline‘s. And is holding a steaming hot iron next to her mother‘s face – like Madeline is. Cast: Helena Howard, Molly Parker, Miranda July, Okwui Okpokwasili, Felipe Bonilla, Lisa Tharps.</p>
<p>Night Comes On (Director: Jordana Spiro, Screenwriters: Jordana Spiro, Angelica Nwandu, Producers: Jonathan Montepare, Alvaro R. Valente, Danielle Renfrew Behrens) — Angel LaMere is released from juvenile detention on the eve of her 18th birthday. Haunted by her past, she embarks on a journey with her 10 year-old sister that could destroy their future. Cast: Dominique Fishback, Tatum Hall, John Earl Jelks, Max Casella, James McDaniel.</p>
<p>Search (Director: Aneesh Chaganty, Screenwriters: Aneesh Chaganty, Sev Ohanian, Producers: Timur Bekmambetov, Sev Ohanian, Adam Sidman, Natalie Qasabian) — After his 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a desperate father breaks into her laptop to look for clues to find her. A thriller that unfolds entirely on computer screens. Cast: John Cho, Debra Messing. World Premiere. WINNER: 2018 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize.</p>
<p>Skate Kitchen (Director: Crystal Moselle, Screenwriters: Crystal Moselle, Ashlihan Unaldi, Producers: Lizzie Nastro, Izabella Tzenkova, Julia Nottingham, Matthew Perniciaro, Michael Sherman, Rodrigo Teixeira) — Camille’s life as a lonely suburban teenager changes dramatically when she befriends a group of girl skateboarders. As she journeys deeper into this raw New York City subculture, she begins to understand the true meaning of friendship as well as her inner self. Cast: Rachelle Vinberg, Dede Lovelace, Jaden Smith, Nina Moran, Ajani Russell, Kabrina Adams.</p>
<p>We the Animals (Director: Jeremiah Zagar, Screenwriters: Daniel Kitrosser, Jeremiah Zagar, Producers: Jeremy Yaches, Christina D. King, Andrew Goldman, Paul Mezey) — Us three, us brothers, us kings. Manny, Joel and Jonah tear their way through childhood and push against the volatile love of their parents. As Manny and Joel grow into versions of their father and Ma dreams of escape, Jonah, the youngest, embraces an imagined world all his own. Cast: Raul Castillo, Sheila Vand, Evan Rosado, Isaiah Kristian, Josiah Santiago.</p>
<p>White Rabbit (Director: Daryl Wein, Screenwriters: Daryl Wein, Vivian Bang, Producers: Daryl Wein, Vivian Bang) — A dramatic comedy following a Korean American performance artist who struggles to be authentically heard and seen through her multiple identities in modern Los Angeles. Cast: Vivian Bang, Nana Ghana, Nico Evers-Swindel, Tracy Hazas, Elizabeth Sung, Michelle Sui.</p>
<p>The 15 films in this section are all world premieres.</p>
<p>Beirut (Director: Brad Anderson, Screenwriter: Tony Gilroy) — A U.S. diplomat flees Lebanon in 1972 after a tragic incident at his home. Ten years later, he is called back to war-torn Beirut by CIA operatives to negotiate for the life of a friend he left behind. Cast: Jon Hamm, Rosamund Pike, Shea Whigham, Dean Norris.</p>
<p>The Catcher Was a Spy (Director: Ben Lewin, Screenwriter: Robert Rodat, Producers: Kevin Frakes, Tatiana Kelly, Buddy Patrick, Jim Young) — The true story of Moe Berg – professional baseball player, Ivy League graduate, attorney who spoke nine languages – and a top-secret spy for the OSS who helped the U.S. win the race against Germany to build the atomic bomb. Cast: Paul Rudd, Mark Strong, Sienna Miller, Jeff Daniels, Guy Pearce, Paul Giamatti.</p>
<p>Colette (U.K. – Director: Wash Westmoreland, Screenwriters: Wash Westmoreland, Richard Glatzer, Producers: Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon, Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley) — A young country woman marries a famous literary entrepreneur in turn-of-the-century Paris: At her husband’s request, Colette pens a series of bestselling novels published under his name. But as her confidence grows, she transforms not only herself and her marriage, but the world around her. Cast: Keira Knightley, Dominic West, Fiona Shaw, Denise Gough, Elinor Tomlinson, Aiysha Hart.</p>
<p>Come Sunday (Director: Joshua Marston, Screenwriter: Marcus Hinchey, Producers:Ira Glass, AlissaShipp, Julie Goldstein, James Stern, Lucas Smith, Cindy Kirven) — Internationally-renowned pastor Carlton Pearson — experiencing a crisis of faith — risks his church, family and future when he questions church doctrine and finds himself branded a modern-day heretic. Based on actual events. Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Danny Glover, Condola Rashad, Jason Segel, Lakeith Stanfield, Martin Sheen.</p>
<p>Damsel (Directors and screenwriters: David Zellner, Nathan Zellner, Producers: Nathan Zellner, Chris Ohlson, David Zellner) — Samuel Alabaster, an affluent pioneer, ventures across the American Frontier to marry the love of his life, Penelope. As Samuel, a drunkard named Parson Henry and a miniature horse called Butterscotch traverse the Wild West, their once-simple journey grows treacherous, blurring the lines between hero, villain and damsel. Cast: Robert Pattinson, Mia Wasikowska, David Zellner, Robert Forster, Nathan Zellner, Joe Billingiere.</p>
<p>Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot (Director: Gus Van Sant, Screenwriters: Gus Van Sant (screenplay), John Callahan (biography), Producers: Charles-Marie Anthonioz, Mourad Belkeddar, Steve Golin, Nicolas Lhermitte) — John Callahan has a talent for off-color jokes…and a drinking problem. When a bender ends in a car accident, Callahan wakes permanently confined to a wheelchair. In his journey back from rock bottom, Callahan finds beauty and comedy in the absurdity of human experience. Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara, Jack Black.</p>
<p>Futile and Stupid Gesture (Director: David Wain, Screenwriters: John Aboud, Michael Colton, Producers: Peter Principato, Jonathan Stern) — The story of comedy wunderkind Doug Kenney, who co-created the National Lampoon, Caddyshack, and Animal House. Kenney was at the center of the 70‘s comedy counter- culture which gave birth to Saturday Night Live and a whole generation’s way of looking at the world. Cast: Will Forte, Martin Mull, Domhnall Gleeson, Matt Walsh, Joel McHale, Emmy Rossum.</p>
<p>The Happy Prince (Germany-Belgium-Italy – Director and screenwriter: Rupert Everett) — The last days of Oscar Wilde—and the ghosts haunting them—are brought to vivid life. His body ailing, Wilde lives in exile, surviving on the flamboyant irony and brilliant wit that defined him as the transience of lust is laid bare and the true riches of love are revealed. Cast: Colin Firth, Emily Watson, Colin Morgan, Edwin Thomas, Rupert Everett.</p>
<p>Hearts Beat Loud (Director: Brett Haley, Screenwriters: Brett Haley, Marc Basch, Producers: Houston King, Sam Bisbee, Sam Slater) — In Red Hook, Brooklyn, a father and daughter become an unlikely songwriting duo in the last summer before she leaves for college. Cast: Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Ted Danson, Sasha Lane, Blythe Danner, Toni Collette.</p>
<p>Juliet, Naked (U.K. – Director: Jesse Peretz, Screenwriters: Tamara Jenkins, Jim Taylor, Phil Alden Robinson, Evgenia Peretz, Producers: Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa) — Annie is the long-suffering girlfriend of Duncan, an obsessive fan of obscure rocker Tucker Crowe. When the acoustic demo of Tucker’s celebrated record from 25 years ago surfaces, its release leads to an encounter with the elusive rocker himself. Based on the novel by Nick Hornby. Cast: Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke, Chris O’Dowd.</p>
<p>A Kid Like Jake (Director: Silas Howard, Screenwriter: Daniel Pearle, Producers: Jim Parsons, Todd Spiewak, Eric Norsoph, Paul Bernon, Rachel Song) — As married couple Alex and Greg navigate their roles as parents to a young son who prefers Cinderella to G.I. Joe, a rift grows between them, one that forces them to confront their own concerns about what‘s best for their child, and each other. Cast: Claire Danes, Jim Parsons, Octavia Spencer, Priyanka Chopra, Ann Dowd, Amy Landecker.</p>
<p>Ophelia (U.K. – Director: Claire McCarthy, Screenwriter: Semi Chellas, Producers: Daniel Bobker, Sarah Curtis, Ehren Kruger, Paul Hanson) — A mythic spin on Hamlet through a lens of female empowerment: Ophelia comes of age as lady-in-waiting for Queen Gertrude, and her singular spirit captures Hamlet’s affections. As lust and betrayal threaten the kingdom, Ophelia finds herself trapped between true love and controlling her own destiny. Cast: Daisy Ridley, Naomi Watts, Clive Owen, George MacKay, Tom Felton, Devon Terrell.</p>
<p>Puzzle (Director: Marc Turtletaub, Screenwriter: Oren Moverman, Producers: Peter Saraf, Wren Arthur, Guy Stodel) — Agnes, taken for granted as a suburban mother, discovers a passion for solving jigsaw puzzles which unexpectedly draws her into a new world – where her life unfolds in ways she could never have imagined. Cast: Kelly Macdonald, Irrfan Khan, David Denman, Bubba Weiler, Austin Abrams, Liv Hewson.</p>
<p>Untitled Debra Granik Project (Director: Debra Granik, Screenwriters: Debra Granik, Anne Rosellini, Producers: Anne Harrison, Linda Reisman, Anne Rosellini) — A father and daughter live a perfect but mysterious existence in Forest Park, a beautiful nature reserve near Portland, Oregon, rarely making contact with the world. A small mistake tips them off to authorities sending them on an increasingly erratic journey in search of a place to call their own. Cast: Ben Foster, Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, Jeff Korber, Dale Dickey.</p>
<p>What They Had (Director and screenwriter: Elizabeth Chomko) — Bridget returns home to Chicago at her brother‘s urging to deal with her mother‘s Alzheimer‘s and her father‘s reluctance to let go of their life together. Cast: Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon, Blythe Danner, Robert Forster.</p>
<p>The 13 films in this section are all world premieres.</p>
<p>Bad Reputation (Director: Kevin Kerslake, Screenwriter: Joel Marcus, Producers: Peter Afterman, Carianne Brinkman) — A look at the life of Joan Jett, from her early years as the founder of The Runaways and first meeting collaborator Kenny Laguna in 1980 to her enduring presence in pop culture as a rock ’n’ roll pioneer.</p>
<p>Believer (Director: Don Argott, Producers: Heather Parry, Sheena M. Joyce, Robert Reynolds) — Imagine Dragons‘ Mormon frontman Dan Reynolds is taking on a new mission to explore how the church treats its LGBTQ members. With the rising suicide rate amongst teens in the state of Utah, his concern with the church‘s policies sends him on an unexpected path for acceptance and change.</p>
<p>Chef Flynn (Director: Cameron Yates, Producer: Laura Coxson) — Ten-year-old Flynn transforms his living room into a supper club, using his classmates as line cooks and serving a tasting menu foraged from his neighbors‘ backyards. With sudden fame, Flynn outgrows his bedroom kitchen and mother’s camera, and sets out to challenge the hierarchy of the culinary world.</p>
<p>The Game Changers (Director: Louie Psihoyos, Screenwriters: Mark Monroe, Joseph Pace, Producers: Joseph Pace, James Wilks) — James Wilks, an elite special forces trainer and winner of The Ultimate Fighter, embarks on a quest for the truth in nutrition and uncovers the world’s most dangerous myth.</p>
<p>Generation Wealth (Director: Lauren Greenfield, Producers: Lauren Greenfield, Frank Evers) — Lauren Greenfield‘s postcard from the edge of the American Empire captures a portrait of a materialistic, image-obsessed culture. Simultaneously personal journey and historical essay, the film bears witness to the global boom–bust economy, the corrupted American Dream and the human costs of late stage capitalism, narcissism and greed. DAY ONE</p>
<p>Half the Picture (Director: Amy Adrion, Producers: Amy Adrion, David Harris) — At a pivotal moment for gender equality in Hollywood, successful women directors tell the stories of their art, lives and careers. Having endured a long history of systemic discrimination, women filmmakers may be getting the first glimpse of a future that values their voices equally.</p>
<p>Jane Fonda in Five Acts (Director: Susan Lacy, Producers: Susan Lacy, Jessica Levin, Emma Pildes) — Girl next door, activist, so-called traitor, fitness tycoon, Oscar winner: Jane Fonda has lived a life of controversy, tragedy and transformation – and she’s done it all in the public eye. An intimate look at one woman’s singular journey.</p>
<p>King In The Wilderness (Director: Peter Kunhardt, Producers: George Kunhardt, Teddy Kunhardt) — From the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 to his assassination in 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. remained a man with an unshakeable commitment to nonviolence in the face of an increasingly unstable country. A portrait of the last years of his life.</p>
<p>Quiet Heroes (Director: Jenny Mackenzie, Co-Directors: Jared Ruga, Amanda Stoddard, Producers: Jenny Mackenzie, Jared Ruga, Amanda Stoddard) — In Salt Lake City, Utah, the socially conservative religious monoculture complicated the AIDS crisis, where patients in the entire state and intermountain region relied on only one doctor. This is the story of her fight to save a maligned population everyone else seemed willing to just let die.</p>
<p>RBG (Directors and producers: Betsy West, Julie Cohen) — An intimate portrait of an unlikely rock star: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. With unprecedented access, the filmmakers show how her early legal battles changed the world for women. Now this 84-year-old does push-ups as easily as she writes blistering dissents that have earned her the title ―Notorious RBG.‖</p>
<p>Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind (Director: Marina Zenovich, Producers: Alex Gibney, Shirel Kozak) — This intimate portrait examines one of the world‘s most beloved and inventive comedians. Told largely through Robin‘s own voice and using a wealth of never-before-seen archive, the film takes us through his extraordinary life and career and reveals the spark of madness that drove him.</p>
<p>Studio 54 (Director: Matt Tyrnauer, Producers: Matt Tyrnauer, John Battsek, Corey Reeser) — Studio 54 was the pulsating epicenter of 1970s hedonism: a disco hothouse of beautiful people, drugs, and sex. The journeys of Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell — two best friends from Brooklyn who conquered New York City — frame this history of the “greatest club of all time.”</p>
<p>Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (Director: Morgan Neville, Producers: Caryn Capotosto, Nicholas Ma) — Fred Rogers used puppets and play to explore complex social issues: race, disability, equality and tragedy, helping form the American concept of childhood. He spoke directly to children and they responded enthusiastically. Yet today, his impact is unclear. Have we lived up to Fred’s ideal of good neighbors? SALT LAKE CITY OPENING NIGHT FILM</p>
<p>The seven films in this section are all world premieres unless otherwise specified.</p>
<p>Arizona (Director: Jonathan Watson, Screenwriter: Luke Del Tredici, Producers: Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Ryan Friedkin, Danny McBride, Brandon James) — Set in the midst of the 2009 housing crisis, this darkly comedic story follows Cassie Fowler, a single mom and struggling realtor whose life goes off the rails when she witnesses a murder. Cast: Danny McBride, Rosemarie DeWitt, Luke Wilson, Lolli Sorenson, Elizabeth Gillies, Kaitlin Olson.</p>
<p>Assassination Nation (Director and screenwriter: Sam Levinson, Producers: David Goyer, Anita Gou, Kevin Turen, Aaron L. Gilbert, Matthew J. Malek) — This is a one-thousand-percent true story about how the quiet, all-American town of Salem, Massachusetts, absolutely lost its mind. Cast: Odessa Young, Suki Waterhouse, Hari Nef, Abra, Bill Skarsgard, Bella Thorne.</p>
<p>Mandy (Belgium-U.S. – Director: Panos Cosmatos, Screenwriters: Panos Cosmatos, Aaron Stewart-Ahn, Producers: Daniel Noah, Josh Waller, Elijah Wood, Nate Bolotin, Adrian Politowski) — Pacific Northwest. 1983 AD. Outsiders Red Miller and Mandy Bloom lead a loving and peaceful existence. When their pine-scented haven is savagely destroyed by a cult led by the sadistic Jeremiah Sand, Red is catapulted into a phantasmagoric journey filled with bloody vengeance and laced with fire. Cast: Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, Olwen Fouéré, Richard Brake, Bill Duke.</p>
<p>Never Goin’ Back (Director and screenwriter: Augustine Frizzell, Producers: Toby Halbrooks, Liz Cardenas , James Johnston, David Lowery) — Jessie and Angela, high school dropout BFFs, are taking a week off to chill at the beach. Too bad their house got robbed, rent‘s due, they‘re about to get fired and they‘re broke. Now they’ve gotta avoid eviction, stay out of jail and get to the beach, no matter what!!! Cast: Maia Mitchell, Cami Morrone, Kyle Mooney, Joel Allen, Kendal Smith, Matthew Holcomb.</p>
<p>Piercing (Director and screenwriter: Nicolas Pesce, Producers: Josh Mond, Antonio Campos, Schuyler Weiss, Jake Wasserman) — In this twisted love story, a man seeks out an unsuspecting stranger to help him purge the dark torments of his past. His plan goes awry when he encounters a woman with plans of her own. A playful psycho-thriller game of cat-and-mouse based on Ryu Murakami‘s novel. Cast: Christopher Abbott, Mia Wasikowska, Laia Costa, Marin Ireland, Maria Dizzia, Wendell Pierce.</p>
<p>Revenge (France – Director and screenwriter: Coralie Fargeat, Producers: Marc-Etienne Schwartz, Jean-Yves Robin, Marc Stanimirovic) — Three wealthy married men get together for their annual hunting game in a desert canyon. This time, one of them has brought along his young mistress, who quickly arouses the interest of the other two. Things get dramatically out of hand as a hunting game turns into a ruthless manhunt. Cast: Matilda Lutz, Kevin Janssens, Vincent Colombe, Guillaume Bouchede, Jean-Louis Tribes. (Utah Premiere)</p>
<p>Summer of ’84 (Canada-U.S. – Directors: Francois Simard, Anouk Whissell, Yoann Whissell, Screenwriters: Matt Leslie, Stephen J. Smith, Producers: Shawn Williamson, Jameson Parker, Matt Leslie, Van Toffler, Cody Zwieg) — Summer, 1984: a perfect time to be a carefree 15-year-old. But when neighborhood conspiracy theorist Davey Armstrong begins to suspect his police officer neighbor might be the serial killer all over the local news, he and his three best friends begin an investigation that soon turns dangerous. Cast: Graham Verchere, Judah Lewis, Caleb Emery, Cory Grüter-Andrew, Tiera Skovbye, Rich Sommer.</p>
<p>This section represents a collection of half a dozen films that have already premiered at other festivals.</p>
<p>Beast (U.K. – Director and screenwriter: Michael Pearce, Producers: Ivana MacKinnon, Lauren Dark, Kristian Brodie ) — In a small island community, a troubled young woman falls for a mysterious outsider who empowers her to escape from her oppressive family. When he comes under suspicion for a series of brutal murders, she learns what she‘s capable of as she defends him at all costs. Cast: Jessie Buckley, Johnny Flynn, Trystan Gravelle, Geraldine James, Charley Palmer Rothwell. (U.S. Premiere)</p>
<p>The Death of Stalin (France-U.K.-Belgium – Director: Armando Iannucci, Screenwriters: Armando Iannucci, David Schneider, Ian Martin, Producers: Yann Zenou, Laurent Zeitoun, Nicolas Duval Adassovsky, Kevin Loader) — The internal political landscape of 1950‘s Soviet Russia through a darkly comic lens. In the days following Stalin‘s collapse, his core ministers tussle for control; some want positive change, others have more sinister motives. Their one common trait? They‘re all just desperately trying to remain alive. Cast: Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor, Andrea Riseborough, Rupert Friend, Olga Kurylenko, Jason Isaacs. (U.S. Premiere)</p>
<p>Foxtrot (Israel – Director and screenwriter: Samuel Maoz, Producers: Michael Weber, Viola Fügen, Eitan Mansuri, Cedomir Kolar, Marc Baschet, Michel Merkt) — Michael and Dafna are devastated when army officials show up at their home, announcing the death of their son Jonathan. While his sedated wife rests, Michael spirals into a whirlwind of anger only to experience one of life’s unfathomable twists, which rivals his son’s surreal military experiences. Cast: Lior Ashkenazi, Sarah Adler, Yonatan Shiray.</p>
<p>I Am Not a Witch (U.K. – Director and screenwriter: Rungano Nyoni, Producers: Juliette Grandmont, Emily Morgan) — After a minor incident, nine-year old Shula is exiled to a witch camp where she is told that if she escapes, she’ll be transformed into a goat. As she navigates through her new life, she must decide whether to accept her fate or risk the consequences of seeking freedom. Cast: Margaret Mulubwa, Henry B.J. Phiri, Nancy Mulilo, Margaret Sipaneia. (U.S. Premiere)</p>
<p>The Rider (Director and screenwriter: Chloé Zhao, Producers: Chloé Zhao, Bert Hamelinck, Sacha Ben Harroche, Mollye Asher) — After a tragic riding accident, young cowboy and rising rodeo circuit star Brady Jandreau is told that his competition days are over. In an attempt to regain control of his fate, Brady undertakes a search for new identity and tries to redefine his idea of manhood in America’s heartland. Cast: Brady Jandreau, Tim Jandreau, Lily Jandreau, Lane Scott, Cat Clifford. (Utah Premiere)</p>
<p>Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! (Director: Morgan Spurlock, Screenwriters: Jeremy Chilnick, Morgan Spurlock, Producers: Keith Calder, Jessica Calder, Spencer Silna, Nicole Barton, Jeremy Chilnick, Matthew Galkin) — Muckraking filmmaker Morgan Spurlock reignites his battle with the food industry – this time from behind the register – as he opens his own fast food restaurant. (U.S. Premiere)</p>
<p>The three films in this section are world premieres unless otherwise indicated.</p>
<p>Lu Over the Wall (Japan – Director: Masaaki Yuasa, Screenwriters: Reiko Yoshida, Masaaki Yuasa, Producer: Eunyoung Choi) — Kai is a lonely teenage boy who lives in a small fishing village. One day, he meets and befriends Lu, a fun-loving mermaid whose singing is hypnotic to all who hear it. But the townspeople have always thought that mermaids bring disaster. (Premiere of new English-dubbed version)</p>
<p>Science Fair (Directors: Cristina Costantini, Darren Foster, Producers: Cristina Costantini, Darren Foster, Jeffrey Plunkett) — Nine high school students from around the globe navigate rivalries, setbacks, and of course, hormones, on their journey to compete at the international science fair. Facing off against 1,700 of the smartest, quirkiest teens from 78 different countries, only one will be named Best in Fair.</p>
<p>White Fang (Director: Alexandre Espigares, Screenwriters: Dominique Monfery, Philippe Lioret, Serge Frydman, Producers: Jeremie Fajner, Clement Calvet, Peter Saraf, Marc Turtletaub) — An updated reimagining of Jack London’s classic novel, this thrilling tale of kindness, survival and the twin majesties of the animal kingdom and mankind traces the loving and magnificent hero White Fang, whose intense curiosity leads him on the adventure of a lifetime. Cast: Rashida Jones, Nick Offerman, Eddie Spears, Paul Giamatti.</p> | false | 1 | 16 films section world premieres american animals director screenwriter bart layton producers derrin schlesinger katherine butler dimitri doganis mary jane skalski unbelievable mostly true story four young men mistake lives movie attempt one audacious art heists us history cast evan peters barry keoghan blake jenner jared abrahamson ann dowd udo kier blaze director ethan hawke screenwriters ethan hawke sybil rosen producers jake seal john sloss ryan hawke ethan hawke reimagining life times blaze foley unsung songwriting legend texas outlaw music movement gave paradise sake song cast benjamin dickey alia shawkat josh hamilton charlie sexton blindspotting director carlos lopez estrada screenwriters rafael casal daveed diggs producers keith calder jess calder rafael casal daveed diggs buddy comedy world wont let one cast daveed diggs rafael casal janina gavankar jasmine cephas jones day one burden director screenwriter andrew heckler producers robbie brenner jincheng bill kenwright opening kkk shop klansman michael burden falls love single mom forces confront senseless hatred leaving klan nowhere turn burden taken africanamerican reverend learns tolerance combined love faith cast garrett hedlund forest whitaker andrea riseborough tom wilkinson usher raymond eighth grade director screenwriter bo burnham producers scott rudin eli bush christopher storer lila yacoub thirteenyearold kayla endures tidal wave contemporary suburban adolescence makes way last week middle school end thus far disastrous eighth grade year begins high school cast elsie fisher josh hamilton think alone director reed morano screenwriter mike makowsky producers fred berger brian kavanaughjones fernando loureiro roberto vasconcellos peter dinklage mike makowsky apocalypse proves blessing disguise one lucky recluse second survivor arrives threat companionship cast peter dinklage elle fanning kindergarten teacher director screenwriter sara colangelo producers celine rattray trudie styler maggie gyllenhaal osnat handelsmankeren talia kleinhendler lisa spinelli staten island teacher unusually devoted students discovers one fiveyearolds prodigy becomes fascinated boy ultimately risking family freedom nurture talent based acclaimed israeli film cast maggie gyllenhaal parker sevak rosa salazar anna barynishikov michael chernus gael garcia bernal lizzie director craig william macneill screenwriter bryce kass producers naomi despres liz destro based 1892 murder lizzie bordens family fall river tense psychological thriller lays bare legend lizzie borden reveal much complex poignant truly terrifying woman within well intimate bond familys young irish housemaid bridget sullivan cast chloë sevigny kristen stewart jamey sheridan fiona shaw kim dickens denis ohare miseducation cameron post director desiree akhavan screenwriters desiree akhavan cecilia frugiuele producers cecilia frugiuele jonathan montepare michael b clark alex turtletaub 1993 caught sex prom queen girl forced gay conversion therapy center based emily danforths acclaimed controversial comingofage novel cast chloë grace moretz sasha lane forrest goodluck john gallagher jr jennifer ehle monster director anthony mandler screenwriters radha blank cole wiley janece shaffer producers tonya lewis lee nikki silver aaron l gilbert mike jackson edward tyler nahem monster prosecutor calls 17yearold honors student aspiring filmmaker steve harmon charged felony murder crime says commit film follows dramatic journey complex legal battle could leave spending rest life prison cast kelvin harrison jr jeffrey wright jennifer hudson rakim mayers jennifer ehle tim blake nelson monsters men director screenwriter reinaldo marcus green producers elizabeth lodge stepp josh penn eddie vaisman julia lebedev luca borghese interwoven narrative explores aftermath police killing black man film told eyes bystander filmed act africanamerican police officer highschool baseball phenom inspired take stand cast john david washington anthony ramos kelvin harrison jr chanté adams nicole beharie rob morgan nancy director screenwriter christina choe producers amy lo michelle cameron andrea riseborough blurring lines fact fiction nancy becomes increasingly convinced kidnapped child meets couple whose daughter went missing thirty years ago reasonable doubts give way willful belief power emotion threatens overcome rationality cast andrea riseborough j smithcameron steve buscemi ann dowd john leguizamo sorry bother director screenwriter boots riley producers nina yang bongiovi forest whitaker charles king george rush jonathan duffy kelly williams speculative dystopian nottoo distant future black telemarketer cassius green discovers magical key professional success propels macabre universe cast lakeith stanfield tessa thompson steven yeun jermaine fowler armie hammer omari hardwicke tale director screenwriter jennifer fox producers oren moverman lawrence inglee laura rister mynette louie sol bondy simone pero investigation one womans memory shes forced reexamine first sexual relationship stories tell order survive based filmmakers story cast laura dern isabel nelisse jason ritter elizabeth debicki ellen burstyn common tyrel director screenwriter sebastian silva producers jacob wasserman max born tyler spirals control realizes hes black person attending weekend birthday party secluded cabin cast jason mitchell christopher abbott michael cera caleb landry jones ann dowd wildlife director paul dano screenwriters paul dano zoe kazan producers andrew duncan alex saks oren moverman ann ruark jake gyllenhaal riva marker montana 1960 portrait family crisis based novel richard ford cast carey mulligan ed oxenbould bill camp jake gyllenhaal 16 films section world premieres unless otherwise specified bisbee 17 director screenwriter robert greene producers douglas tirola susan bedusa bennett elliott old mining town arizonamexico border finally reckons darkest day deportation 1200 immigrant miners exactly 100 years ago locals collaborate stage recreations controversial past cast fernando serrano laurie mckenna ray family mike anderson graeme family richard hodges crime punishment director stephen maing four years unprecedented access story brave group black latino whistleblower cops one unrelenting private investigator amidst landmark lawsuit risk everything expose illegal quota practices impact young minorities dark money director screenwriter kimberly reed producer katy chevigny dark money contributions made possible us supreme courts citizens united ruling flood modern american elections montana showing washington dc solve problem unlimited anonymous money politics devil know director stephanie soechtig producers kristin lazure stephanie soechtig joshua kunau carly palmour unraveling one biggest environmental scandals time group citizens west virginia take powerful corporation discover knowingly dumping toxic chemical found blood 997 americans local drinking water supply new climate hal director amy scott producers christine beebe jonathan lynch brian morrow hal ashbys obsessive genius led unprecedented string oscarwinning classics including harold maude shampoo contemporaries coppola scorsese spielberg rose blockbuster stardom 1980s ashbys uncompromising nature played cautionary tale art versus commerce hale county morning evening director ramell ross screenwriter maya krinsky producers joslyn barnes ramell ross su kim exploration comingofage black belt american south using stereotypical imagery fill landscape iconic representations black men encouraging new way looking resistance narrative suspends conclusive imagining allowing viewer complete film inventing tomorrow director laura nix producers diane becker melanie miller laura nix take journey young minds around globe prepare projects largest convening high school scientists world intel international science engineering fair isef watch passionate innovators find courage face planets environmental threats navigating adolescence new climate kailash director derek doneen producers davis guggenheim sarah anthony young man kailash satyarthi promised would end child slavery lifetime decades since rescued eighty thousand children built global movement intimate suspenseful film follows one mans journey many believed impossible day one kusama infinity director screenwriter heather lenz producers karen johnson heather lenz dan braun david koh one worlds celebrated artists yayoi kusama broke free rigid society raised overcame sexism racism mental illness bring artistic vision world stage 88 lives mental hospital continues create art last race director michael dweck producers michael dweck gregory kershaw cinematic portrait small town stock car track tribe drivers call home struggle hold onto american racing tradition avantgarde narrative explores community conflicts intimate story reveals beauty mystery emotion grassroots auto racing minding gap director bing liu producer diane quon three young men bond together escape volatile families rust belt hometown face adult responsibilities unexpected revelations threaten decadelong friendship shoulders director alexandria bombach producers marie therese guirgis hayley pappas brock williams bryn mooser adam bardach yazidi genocide isis sexual slavery survivor 23yearold nadia murad determined tell world story journey leads paths advocacy fame becomes voice people best hope spur world action international premiere price everything director nathaniel kahn producers jennifer blei stockman debi wisch carla solomon unprecedented access pivotal artists whitehot market surrounding film dives deep contemporary art world holding funhouse mirror values times everything bought sold seeing allred directors sophie sartain roberta grossman producers roberta grossman sophie sartain marta kauffman robbie rowe tollin hannah ks canter gloria allred overcame trauma personal setbacks become one nations famous womens rights attorneys feminist firebrand takes two biggest adversaries career bill cosby donald trump sexual violence allegations grip nation keep spotlight sentence director rudy valdez producers sam bisbee jackie kelman bisbee cindy shank mother three serving 15year sentence federal prison tangential involvement michigan drug ring years earlier intimate portrait mandatory minimum drug sentencings devastating consequences captured cindys brother follows family course ten years three identical strangers director tim wardle producer becky read new york1980 three complete strangers accidentally discover theyre identical triplets separated birth 19yearolds joyous reunion catapults international fame also unlocks extraordinary disturbing secret goes beyond lives could transform understanding human nature forever 12 films section world premieres unless otherwise specified breathe normally icelandswedenbelgium director screenwriter Ísold uggadóttir producers skúli malmquist diana elbaum annika hellström lilja Ósk snorradóttir inga lind karlsdóttir edge icelands reykjanes peninsula two womens lives intersect brief moment trapped circumstances unforeseen struggling icelandic mother asylum seeker guineabissau delicate bond form strategize get lives back track cast kristín thóra haraldsdóttir babetida sadja patrik nökkvi pétursson butterflies turkey director screenwriter tolga karaçelik producers tolga karaçelik diloy gülün metin anter turkish village hasanlar three siblings neither know anything late father wait bury body start find father also start know cast tolga tekin bartu kucukcaglayan tugce altug serkan keskin hakan karsak dead pigs china director screenwriter cathy yan producers clarissa zhang jane zheng zhangke jia mick aniceto amy aniceto bumbling pig farmer feisty salon owner sensitive busboy expat architect disenchanted rich girl converge collide thousands dead pigs float river towards rapidlymodernizing shanghai china based true events cast vivian wu haoyu yang mason lee meng li david rysdahl guilty denmark director gustav möller screenwriters gustav möller emil nygaard albertsen producer lina flint alarm dispatcher asger holm answers emergency call kidnapped woman sudden disconnection search woman kidnapper begins phone tool asger enters race time solve crime far bigger first thought cast jakob cedergren jessica dinnage johan olsen omar shargawi holiday denmarknetherlandssweden director isabella eklöf screenwriters isabella eklöf johanne algren producer david b sørensen love triangle featuring trophy girlfriend petty drug lord caught web luxury violence modern dark gangster tale set beautiful port city bodrum turkish riviera cast victoria carmen sonne lai yde thijs römer loveling braziluruguay director gustavo pizzi screenwriters gustavo pizzi karine teles producers tatiana leite rodrigo letier agustina chiarino fernando epstein outskirts rio de janeiro irene days overcome anxiety renew strength sending eldest son world cast karine teles otavio muller adriana esteves konstantinos sarris cesar troncoso day one pity greecepoland director babis makridis screenwriters efthimis filippou babis makridis producers amanda livanou christos v konstantakopoulos klaudia Śmieja beata rzeźniczek story man feels happy unhappy addicted sadness need pity hes willing everything evoke others life man world cruel enough cast yannis drakopoulos evi saoulidou nota tserniafski makis papadimitriou georgina chryskioti evdoxia androulidaki queen fear argentinadenmark directors valeria bertuccelli fabiana tiscornia screenwriter valeria bertuccelli producers benjamin domenech santiago gallelli matias roveda juan vera juan pablo galli christian faillace one month left premiere golden time longawaited solo show acclaimed actress robertina far focused preparations new production robertina lives state continuous anxiety turns privileged life absurd tumultuous landscape cast valeria bertuccelli diego velázquez gabriel eduardo puma goity darío grandinetti rust brazil director aly muritiba screenwriters aly muritiba jessica candal producer antônio junior tati renet already trading pics videos music cellphones last school trip started making eye contact however could beginning love story becomes end cast giovanni de lorenzi tifanny dopke enrique diaz clarissa kiste duda azevedo pedro inoue time share tiempo compartido mexiconetherlands director sebastián hofmann screenwriters julio chavezmontes sebastián hofmann producer julio chavezmontes two haunted family men join forces destructive crusade rescue families tropical paradise becoming convinced american timeshare conglomerate sinister plan take loved ones away cast luis gerardo mendez miguel rodarte andrés almeida cassandra ciangherotti monserrat marañon rj mitte un traductor canadacuba directors rodrigo barriuso sebastián barriuso screenwriter lindsay gossling producers sebastián barriuso lindsay gossling russian literature professor university havana ordered work translator child victims chernobyl nuclear disaster sent cuba medical treatment based true story cast rodrigo santoro maricel Álvarez yoandra suárez yardie uk director idris elba screenwriters brock norman brock martin stellman producers gina carter robin gutch jamaica 1973 young boy witnesses brothers assassination powerful gives home ten years later sent mission london reunites girlfriend daughter past catches based victor headleys novel cast aml ameen shantol jackson stephen graham fraser james sheldon shepherd everaldo cleary 12 films section world premieres unless otherwise specified polar year france director samuel collardey screenwriters samuel collardey catherine paillé producer grégoire debailly anders leaves native denmark teaching position rural greenland soon arrives finds odds tightlyknit locals clumsy playful trial errors anders shake eurocentric assumptions embrace snowcovered way life cast anders hvidegaard asser boassen julius b nielsen tobias ignatiussen thomasine jonathansen gert jonathansen anotes ark canada director matthieu rytz producers bob moore mila aungthwin daniel cross shari plummer shannon joy nation survive swallowed sea kiribati lowlying pacific atoll disappear within decades due rising sea levels population growth climate change exploration migrate entire nation dignity interweaves personal stories survival resilience new climate cleaners germanybrazil directors moritz riesewieck hans block screenwriters moritz riesewieck hans block georg tschurtschenthaler producers christian beetz georg tschurtschenthaler julie goldman christopher clements fernando dias mauricio dias post something web sure stays enter hidden shadow industry digital cleaning internet rids doesnt like violence pornography political content controlling seeand think genesis 20 switzerland directors christian frei maxim arbugaev producer christian frei remote new siberian islands arctic ocean hunters search tusks extinct mammoths discover surprisingly wellpreserved mammoth carcass resurrection first manifestation next great technological revolution genetics may well turn world upside matangi maya mia sri lankaukus director stephen loveridge producers lori cheatle andrew goldman paul mezey drawn never seen cache personal footage spanning decades intimate portrait sri lankan artist musician continues shatter conventions fathers sons germanysyrialebanon director talal derki producers ansgar frerich eva kemme tobias n siebert hans robert eisenhauer talal derki returns homeland gains trust radical islamist family sharing daily life two years camera focuses osama younger brother ayman providing extremely rare insight means grow islamic caliphate north american premiere oslo diaries israelcanada directors screenwriters mor loushy daniel sivan producers hilla medalia ina fichman 1992 israelipalestinian relations reached time low attempt stop bloodshed group israelis palestinians met illegally oslo meetings never officially sanctioned held complete secrecy changed middle east forever new president russiaus director maxim pozdorovkin producers maxim pozdorovkin joe bender story donald trumps election told entirely russian propaganda turns horrifying hilarious film satirical portrait russian media reveals empire fake news tactics modernday information warfare day one shirkers director screenwriter sandi tan producers sandi tan jessica levin maya rudolph 1992 teenager sandi tan shot singapores first indie road movie enigmatic american mentor georges vanished footage twenty years later 16mm film recovered sending tan novelist los angeles personal odyssey search georges vanishing footprints home usjordan director alexandra shiva producer lindsey megrue intimate portrait four syrian families arriving baltimore maryland struggling find footing eight months become selfsufficient must forge ahead rebuild lives travel ban adds complications strength resilience put test westwood uk director lorna tucker producers eleanor emptage shirine best nicole stott john battsek dame vivienne westwood punk icon provocateur one influential originators recent history first film encompass remarkable story one true icons time fights maintain brands integrity principles legacy woman captured hungary director screenwriter bernadett tuzaritter producers julianna ugrin viki réka kiss erik winker martin roelly european woman kept family domestic slave 10 years one 45 million victims modernday slavery drawing courage filmmakers presence decides escape unbearable oppression become free person north american premiere 10 films section world premieres 306 hollywood ushungary directors elan bogarín jonathan bogarín screenwriters jonathan bogarín elan bogarín nyneve laura minnear producers elan bogarín jonathan bogarín judit stalter two siblings undertake archaeological excavation late grandmothers house embark magicalrealist journey home new jersey ancient rome fashion physics search life remains objects leave behind day one boy girl dream director qasim basir screenwriters qasim basir samantha tanner producer datari turner night 2016 presidential election cass la club promoter takes thrilling emotional journey frida midwestern visitor challenges revisit broken dreams pushes discover cast omari hardwick meagan good jay ellis kenya barris dijon talton wesley jonathan claras ghost director screenwriter bridey elliott producer sarah winshall set course single evening reynolds family home connecticut clara fed constant ribbing selfabsorbed showbiz family finds solace guidance supernatural force believes haunting cast paula niedert elliott chris elliott abby elliott bridey elliott haley joel osment isidora goreshter evening beverly luff linn ukus director jim hosking screenwriters jim hosking david wike producers sam bisbee theodora dunlap oliver roskill emily leo lucan toh andy starke lulu dangers unsatisfying marriage takes fortunate turn worse mysterious man past comes town perform event called evening beverly luff linn one magical night cast aubrey plaza emile hirsch jemaine clement matt berry craig robinson madelines madeline director screenwriter josephine decker producers krista parris elizabeth rao madeline got part shes going play lead theater piece except lead wears sweatpants like madelines cat like madelines holding steaming hot iron next mothers face like madeline cast helena howard molly parker miranda july okwui okpokwasili felipe bonilla lisa tharps night comes director jordana spiro screenwriters jordana spiro angelica nwandu producers jonathan montepare alvaro r valente danielle renfrew behrens angel lamere released juvenile detention eve 18th birthday haunted past embarks journey 10 yearold sister could destroy future cast dominique fishback tatum hall john earl jelks max casella james mcdaniel search director aneesh chaganty screenwriters aneesh chaganty sev ohanian producers timur bekmambetov sev ohanian adam sidman natalie qasabian 16yearold daughter goes missing desperate father breaks laptop look clues find thriller unfolds entirely computer screens cast john cho debra messing world premiere winner 2018 alfred p sloan feature film prize skate kitchen director crystal moselle screenwriters crystal moselle ashlihan unaldi producers lizzie nastro izabella tzenkova julia nottingham matthew perniciaro michael sherman rodrigo teixeira camilles life lonely suburban teenager changes dramatically befriends group girl skateboarders journeys deeper raw new york city subculture begins understand true meaning friendship well inner self cast rachelle vinberg dede lovelace jaden smith nina moran ajani russell kabrina adams animals director jeremiah zagar screenwriters daniel kitrosser jeremiah zagar producers jeremy yaches christina king andrew goldman paul mezey us three us brothers us kings manny joel jonah tear way childhood push volatile love parents manny joel grow versions father dreams escape jonah youngest embraces imagined world cast raul castillo sheila vand evan rosado isaiah kristian josiah santiago white rabbit director daryl wein screenwriters daryl wein vivian bang producers daryl wein vivian bang dramatic comedy following korean american performance artist struggles authentically heard seen multiple identities modern los angeles cast vivian bang nana ghana nico eversswindel tracy hazas elizabeth sung michelle sui 15 films section world premieres beirut director brad anderson screenwriter tony gilroy us diplomat flees lebanon 1972 tragic incident home ten years later called back wartorn beirut cia operatives negotiate life friend left behind cast jon hamm rosamund pike shea whigham dean norris catcher spy director ben lewin screenwriter robert rodat producers kevin frakes tatiana kelly buddy patrick jim young true story moe berg professional baseball player ivy league graduate attorney spoke nine languages topsecret spy oss helped us win race germany build atomic bomb cast paul rudd mark strong sienna miller jeff daniels guy pearce paul giamatti colette uk director wash westmoreland screenwriters wash westmoreland richard glatzer producers pamela koffler christine vachon elizabeth karlsen stephen woolley young country woman marries famous literary entrepreneur turnofthecentury paris husbands request colette pens series bestselling novels published name confidence grows transforms marriage world around cast keira knightley dominic west fiona shaw denise gough elinor tomlinson aiysha hart come sunday director joshua marston screenwriter marcus hinchey producersira glass alissashipp julie goldstein james stern lucas smith cindy kirven internationallyrenowned pastor carlton pearson experiencing crisis faith risks church family future questions church doctrine finds branded modernday heretic based actual events cast chiwetel ejiofor danny glover condola rashad jason segel lakeith stanfield martin sheen damsel directors screenwriters david zellner nathan zellner producers nathan zellner chris ohlson david zellner samuel alabaster affluent pioneer ventures across american frontier marry love life penelope samuel drunkard named parson henry miniature horse called butterscotch traverse wild west oncesimple journey grows treacherous blurring lines hero villain damsel cast robert pattinson mia wasikowska david zellner robert forster nathan zellner joe billingiere dont worry wont get far foot director gus van sant screenwriters gus van sant screenplay john callahan biography producers charlesmarie anthonioz mourad belkeddar steve golin nicolas lhermitte john callahan talent offcolor jokesand drinking problem bender ends car accident callahan wakes permanently confined wheelchair journey back rock bottom callahan finds beauty comedy absurdity human experience cast joaquin phoenix jonah hill rooney mara jack black futile stupid gesture director david wain screenwriters john aboud michael colton producers peter principato jonathan stern story comedy wunderkind doug kenney cocreated national lampoon caddyshack animal house kenney center 70s comedy counter culture gave birth saturday night live whole generations way looking world cast forte martin mull domhnall gleeson matt walsh joel mchale emmy rossum happy prince germanybelgiumitaly director screenwriter rupert everett last days oscar wildeand ghosts haunting themare brought vivid life body ailing wilde lives exile surviving flamboyant irony brilliant wit defined transience lust laid bare true riches love revealed cast colin firth emily watson colin morgan edwin thomas rupert everett hearts beat loud director brett haley screenwriters brett haley marc basch producers houston king sam bisbee sam slater red hook brooklyn father daughter become unlikely songwriting duo last summer leaves college cast nick offerman kiersey clemons ted danson sasha lane blythe danner toni collette juliet naked uk director jesse peretz screenwriters tamara jenkins jim taylor phil alden robinson evgenia peretz producers judd apatow barry mendel albert berger ron yerxa annie longsuffering girlfriend duncan obsessive fan obscure rocker tucker crowe acoustic demo tuckers celebrated record 25 years ago surfaces release leads encounter elusive rocker based novel nick hornby cast rose byrne ethan hawke chris odowd kid like jake director silas howard screenwriter daniel pearle producers jim parsons todd spiewak eric norsoph paul bernon rachel song married couple alex greg navigate roles parents young son prefers cinderella gi joe rift grows one forces confront concerns whats best child cast claire danes jim parsons octavia spencer priyanka chopra ann dowd amy landecker ophelia uk director claire mccarthy screenwriter semi chellas producers daniel bobker sarah curtis ehren kruger paul hanson mythic spin hamlet lens female empowerment ophelia comes age ladyinwaiting queen gertrude singular spirit captures hamlets affections lust betrayal threaten kingdom ophelia finds trapped true love controlling destiny cast daisy ridley naomi watts clive owen george mackay tom felton devon terrell puzzle director marc turtletaub screenwriter oren moverman producers peter saraf wren arthur guy stodel agnes taken granted suburban mother discovers passion solving jigsaw puzzles unexpectedly draws new world life unfolds ways could never imagined cast kelly macdonald irrfan khan david denman bubba weiler austin abrams liv hewson untitled debra granik project director debra granik screenwriters debra granik anne rosellini producers anne harrison linda reisman anne rosellini father daughter live perfect mysterious existence forest park beautiful nature reserve near portland oregon rarely making contact world small mistake tips authorities sending increasingly erratic journey search place call cast ben foster thomasin harcourt mckenzie jeff korber dale dickey director screenwriter elizabeth chomko bridget returns home chicago brothers urging deal mothers alzheimers fathers reluctance let go life together cast hilary swank michael shannon blythe danner robert forster 13 films section world premieres bad reputation director kevin kerslake screenwriter joel marcus producers peter afterman carianne brinkman look life joan jett early years founder runaways first meeting collaborator kenny laguna 1980 enduring presence pop culture rock n roll pioneer believer director argott producers heather parry sheena joyce robert reynolds imagine dragons mormon frontman dan reynolds taking new mission explore church treats lgbtq members rising suicide rate amongst teens state utah concern churchs policies sends unexpected path acceptance change chef flynn director cameron yates producer laura coxson tenyearold flynn transforms living room supper club using classmates line cooks serving tasting menu foraged neighbors backyards sudden fame flynn outgrows bedroom kitchen mothers camera sets challenge hierarchy culinary world game changers director louie psihoyos screenwriters mark monroe joseph pace producers joseph pace james wilks james wilks elite special forces trainer winner ultimate fighter embarks quest truth nutrition uncovers worlds dangerous myth generation wealth director lauren greenfield producers lauren greenfield frank evers lauren greenfields postcard edge american empire captures portrait materialistic imageobsessed culture simultaneously personal journey historical essay film bears witness global boombust economy corrupted american dream human costs late stage capitalism narcissism greed day one half picture director amy adrion producers amy adrion david harris pivotal moment gender equality hollywood successful women directors tell stories art lives careers endured long history systemic discrimination women filmmakers may getting first glimpse future values voices equally jane fonda five acts director susan lacy producers susan lacy jessica levin emma pildes girl next door activist socalled traitor fitness tycoon oscar winner jane fonda lived life controversy tragedy transformation shes done public eye intimate look one womans singular journey king wilderness director peter kunhardt producers george kunhardt teddy kunhardt passage voting rights act 1965 assassination 1968 martin luther king jr remained man unshakeable commitment nonviolence face increasingly unstable country portrait last years life quiet heroes director jenny mackenzie codirectors jared ruga amanda stoddard producers jenny mackenzie jared ruga amanda stoddard salt lake city utah socially conservative religious monoculture complicated aids crisis patients entire state intermountain region relied one doctor story fight save maligned population everyone else seemed willing let die rbg directors producers betsy west julie cohen intimate portrait unlikely rock star justice ruth bader ginsburg unprecedented access filmmakers show early legal battles changed world women 84yearold pushups easily writes blistering dissents earned title notorious rbg robin williams come inside mind director marina zenovich producers alex gibney shirel kozak intimate portrait examines one worlds beloved inventive comedians told largely robins voice using wealth neverbeforeseen archive film takes us extraordinary life career reveals spark madness drove studio 54 director matt tyrnauer producers matt tyrnauer john battsek corey reeser studio 54 pulsating epicenter 1970s hedonism disco hothouse beautiful people drugs sex journeys ian schrager steve rubell two best friends brooklyn conquered new york city frame history greatest club time wont neighbor director morgan neville producers caryn capotosto nicholas fred rogers used puppets play explore complex social issues race disability equality tragedy helping form american concept childhood spoke directly children responded enthusiastically yet today impact unclear lived freds ideal good neighbors salt lake city opening night film seven films section world premieres unless otherwise specified arizona director jonathan watson screenwriter luke del tredici producers dan friedkin bradley thomas ryan friedkin danny mcbride brandon james set midst 2009 housing crisis darkly comedic story follows cassie fowler single mom struggling realtor whose life goes rails witnesses murder cast danny mcbride rosemarie dewitt luke wilson lolli sorenson elizabeth gillies kaitlin olson assassination nation director screenwriter sam levinson producers david goyer anita gou kevin turen aaron l gilbert matthew j malek onethousandpercent true story quiet allamerican town salem massachusetts absolutely lost mind cast odessa young suki waterhouse hari nef abra bill skarsgard bella thorne mandy belgiumus director panos cosmatos screenwriters panos cosmatos aaron stewartahn producers daniel noah josh waller elijah wood nate bolotin adrian politowski pacific northwest 1983 ad outsiders red miller mandy bloom lead loving peaceful existence pinescented savagely destroyed cult led sadistic jeremiah sand red catapulted phantasmagoric journey filled bloody vengeance laced fire cast nicolas cage andrea riseborough linus roache olwen fouéré richard brake bill duke never goin back director screenwriter augustine frizzell producers toby halbrooks liz cardenas james johnston david lowery jessie angela high school dropout bffs taking week chill beach bad house got robbed rents due theyre get fired theyre broke theyve got ta avoid eviction stay jail get beach matter cast maia mitchell cami morrone kyle mooney joel allen kendal smith matthew holcomb piercing director screenwriter nicolas pesce producers josh mond antonio campos schuyler weiss jake wasserman twisted love story man seeks unsuspecting stranger help purge dark torments past plan goes awry encounters woman plans playful psychothriller game catandmouse based ryu murakamis novel cast christopher abbott mia wasikowska laia costa marin ireland maria dizzia wendell pierce revenge france director screenwriter coralie fargeat producers marcetienne schwartz jeanyves robin marc stanimirovic three wealthy married men get together annual hunting game desert canyon time one brought along young mistress quickly arouses interest two things get dramatically hand hunting game turns ruthless manhunt cast matilda lutz kevin janssens vincent colombe guillaume bouchede jeanlouis tribes utah premiere summer 84 canadaus directors francois simard anouk whissell yoann whissell screenwriters matt leslie stephen j smith producers shawn williamson jameson parker matt leslie van toffler cody zwieg summer 1984 perfect time carefree 15yearold neighborhood conspiracy theorist davey armstrong begins suspect police officer neighbor might serial killer local news three best friends begin investigation soon turns dangerous cast graham verchere judah lewis caleb emery cory grüterandrew tiera skovbye rich sommer section represents collection half dozen films already premiered festivals beast uk director screenwriter michael pearce producers ivana mackinnon lauren dark kristian brodie small island community troubled young woman falls mysterious outsider empowers escape oppressive family comes suspicion series brutal murders learns shes capable defends costs cast jessie buckley johnny flynn trystan gravelle geraldine james charley palmer rothwell us premiere death stalin franceukbelgium director armando iannucci screenwriters armando iannucci david schneider ian martin producers yann zenou laurent zeitoun nicolas duval adassovsky kevin loader internal political landscape 1950s soviet russia darkly comic lens days following stalins collapse core ministers tussle control want positive change others sinister motives one common trait theyre desperately trying remain alive cast steve buscemi jeffrey tambor andrea riseborough rupert friend olga kurylenko jason isaacs us premiere foxtrot israel director screenwriter samuel maoz producers michael weber viola fügen eitan mansuri cedomir kolar marc baschet michel merkt michael dafna devastated army officials show home announcing death son jonathan sedated wife rests michael spirals whirlwind anger experience one lifes unfathomable twists rivals sons surreal military experiences cast lior ashkenazi sarah adler yonatan shiray witch uk director screenwriter rungano nyoni producers juliette grandmont emily morgan minor incident nineyear old shula exiled witch camp told escapes shell transformed goat navigates new life must decide whether accept fate risk consequences seeking freedom cast margaret mulubwa henry bj phiri nancy mulilo margaret sipaneia us premiere rider director screenwriter chloé zhao producers chloé zhao bert hamelinck sacha ben harroche mollye asher tragic riding accident young cowboy rising rodeo circuit star brady jandreau told competition days attempt regain control fate brady undertakes search new identity tries redefine idea manhood americas heartland cast brady jandreau tim jandreau lily jandreau lane scott cat clifford utah premiere super size 2 holy chicken director morgan spurlock screenwriters jeremy chilnick morgan spurlock producers keith calder jessica calder spencer silna nicole barton jeremy chilnick matthew galkin muckraking filmmaker morgan spurlock reignites battle food industry time behind register opens fast food restaurant us premiere three films section world premieres unless otherwise indicated lu wall japan director masaaki yuasa screenwriters reiko yoshida masaaki yuasa producer eunyoung choi kai lonely teenage boy lives small fishing village one day meets befriends lu funloving mermaid whose singing hypnotic hear townspeople always thought mermaids bring disaster premiere new englishdubbed version science fair directors cristina costantini darren foster producers cristina costantini darren foster jeffrey plunkett nine high school students around globe navigate rivalries setbacks course hormones journey compete international science fair facing 1700 smartest quirkiest teens 78 different countries one named best fair white fang director alexandre espigares screenwriters dominique monfery philippe lioret serge frydman producers jeremie fajner clement calvet peter saraf marc turtletaub updated reimagining jack londons classic novel thrilling tale kindness survival twin majesties animal kingdom mankind traces loving magnificent hero white fang whose intense curiosity leads adventure lifetime cast rashida jones nick offerman eddie spears paul giamatti | 5,284 |
<p>BARCELONA— <a href="http://variety.com/t/otto-guerra/" type="external">Otto Guerra</a>’s “City of Pirates,” Germán Acuña’s “Nahuel and the Magical World,” and “ <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/global/ventana-sur-animation-director-david-bisbano-dalia-1202625542/" type="external">Dalia and the Red Book</a>,” are among the five work-in-progress features being presented to potential co-producers and buyers at the second edition of <a href="http://variety.com/t/ventana-sur/" type="external">Ventana Sur</a>’s <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/ventana-sur-escape-to-india-noahs-ark-inzomnia-animation-1202620379/" type="external">Animation!</a> showcase.</p>
<p>These features –along with the eight TV series and eight projects pitching at the Buenos Aires’ mart– can provide some clues about the current Latin American animation landscape.</p>
<p>Recent regional successes have come in the forms of Alex Orrell and Eduardo Schuldt’s “Condorito”–which pulled in $1.9 million in Peru alone, $8 million across the region and will be released in the U.S. next January via Pantelion- Gabriel Osorio’s Oscar winning animated short “Bear Story” (2014) and Gabriel and Rodolfo Riva Palacio Alatriste’s “Un Gallo con Muchos Huevos”(2015) – a Mexican production that has an international box office of $9.1 million.</p>
<p>“A new Latin American animation producer profile is being built. These new producers are working locally to set up new lobbies and new partnerships in their countries and in the region. On the other, they are being proactive at international events, co-production forums and markets,” Animation! coordinator Silvina Cornillon told Variety.</p>
<p>“Dalia and the Red Book,” for instance, is a co-production between two countries with little history of co-production –Argentina (Vista Sur, Felipe Producciones) and Peru (Golem Studio. Directed by German Acuña, “Nahuel and the Magical World” is a Chile (Punkrobot, Carburadores), Brazil (Red Animation) co-production.</p>
<p>“Financing continues to be the big issue. There is plenty of talent, but it’s necessary to get a strategic and coordinated resource boost in the region to take advantage from this emerging industry,” Acuña told Variety before pointing out the significant advantage of having a common language across the region.</p>
<p>According to a report from the Brazilian Association of Audiovisual Works (APRO) and the Brazilian Agency for Entrepreneurship (SEBRAE), out of 792 Brazilian films released from 2008 to 2015, just 1.4% were animated pics. Now, the country has nearly 30 films in different development stages.</p>
<p>Guerra acknowledged the importance of&#160; Brazil’s federal Fundo Setorial do Audiovisual –included in the general program Brasil de Todas as Telas– as crucial in animation support in a conversation with Variety: “Brazil is going through an upbeat moment, with a lot of productions ongoing. Features, and also a lot of animated TV shows, are being produced. Our studio is currently working on two of them, which is something completely new for us.”</p>
<p>TV projects being pitched this week include Argentina’s “The Adventures of Ugo and Serena the Whale” (El Perro en la Luna, Untref), “Ray Trigger, Space Commander (Banzai Films), “Onion the Steak” (Nuts Media), Mexico’s “My Brother the Monster” (Gasolina Studios), Brazil’s “The Bolecos” (Estúdio Alcalina and Sagui Filmes), Colombia’s “What Would Jesus Do?” (Be Cartoons) and two films from Chile: “Zander” (Plastiestudio) and “Raise the Bar!,” whose producer and director Fernanda Frick is in the race for a best animated short Oscar with “Here’s the Plan.”</p>
<p>Lucas Arechaga, contents senior at Turner’s Cartoon Network, Boomerang &amp; Tooncast in Buenos Aires also addressed TV animation, telling Variety: “Animation in general is not a content exclusively for children anymore. Many current blockbusters are animated, and TV shows are more sophisticated than ever before,” adding that, “animation is more and more an option for storytelling and building 360º properties. A example of this is “Historietas Assombradas: Para Crianças Malcriadas,” originated in Brazil as a Cartoon Network TV show and now ready for delivery as a movie.”</p>
<p>Completing&#160; <a href="http://variety.com/2017/film/global/ventana-sur-versus-ent-alpha-violet-hunting-season-1202625567/" type="external">Ventana Sur</a>’s Animation! slate are two WIPs from Mexico –”Koati the Movie” and “Here Comes the Grump.”</p>
<p>Produced by Latin America’s most prominent animation house, Anima Studios, and U.K.’s Prime Focus World, “Grump” turns on a young boy who discovers that the tales about balloons, dragons and wizards his grandma used to tell him are true, although not as happy and peaceful as she had indicated. The film is a reboot of DePatie-Freleng ’70s TV series and will be directed by Andrés Couturier (“Top Cat Begins”).</p>
<p>“Koati” is an Upstairs production with Colombian “Modern Family,” star Sofia Vergara voice acting and executive producing. The film follows a small and resolute coati – think a South American raccoon – embarking on an adventure to save his village which is being menaced by a volcano. Director Rodrigo Pérez Castro has worked on many animation blockbusters as story editor, such as “Ferdinand,” and “Rio 2”.</p>
<p>Géraldine Baché, projects head at Annecy International Animated Film Market (MIFA), which is curating this WIP section, said the animation booming is not only expressed in the “artistic originality” of projects, but in the amount of submissions for this year’s Ventana Sur Animation! Showcase, which have increased 50% (174 vs. 116) in the event’s second year.</p>
<p>Baché also perceives a “real awareness in terms of storytelling and seeking the right balance between Latin American traditions, myths, origins… and the need for opening up to the international market by injecting a more universal scope to the stories.”</p>
<p>“Historically there are three big pillars in animation: Disney in the U.S., the European branch –led by France in my opinion— and Japanese anime. I believe the time has come to set up a fourth pillar. Latin American animation has arrived!” Acuña declared enthusiastically.</p>
<p>VENTANA SUR’S ANIMATION! WORK IN PROGRESS, 2017</p>
<p>“City of Pirates,” (Otto Guerra, Brazil)</p>
<p>“Here Comes the Grump,” (Andrés Couturier, Mexico, UK.)</p>
<p>“Dalia and the Red Book,” (David Bisbano, Argentina, Peru)</p>
<p>“Koati the Movie”&#160; (Rodrigo Pérez Castro, Mexico)</p>
<p>“Nahuel and the Magical World” (Germán Acuña, Chile, Brazil)</p> | false | 1 | barcelona otto guerras city pirates germán acuñas nahuel magical world dalia red book among five workinprogress features presented potential coproducers buyers second edition ventana surs animation showcase features along eight tv series eight projects pitching buenos aires mart provide clues current latin american animation landscape recent regional successes come forms alex orrell eduardo schuldts condoritowhich pulled 19 million peru alone 8 million across region released us next january via pantelion gabriel osorios oscar winning animated short bear story 2014 gabriel rodolfo riva palacio alatristes un gallo con muchos huevos2015 mexican production international box office 91 million new latin american animation producer profile built new producers working locally set new lobbies new partnerships countries region proactive international events coproduction forums markets animation coordinator silvina cornillon told variety dalia red book instance coproduction two countries little history coproduction argentina vista sur felipe producciones peru golem studio directed german acuña nahuel magical world chile punkrobot carburadores brazil red animation coproduction financing continues big issue plenty talent necessary get strategic coordinated resource boost region take advantage emerging industry acuña told variety pointing significant advantage common language across region according report brazilian association audiovisual works apro brazilian agency entrepreneurship sebrae 792 brazilian films released 2008 2015 14 animated pics country nearly 30 films different development stages guerra acknowledged importance of160 brazils federal fundo setorial audiovisual included general program brasil de todas telas crucial animation support conversation variety brazil going upbeat moment lot productions ongoing features also lot animated tv shows produced studio currently working two something completely new us tv projects pitched week include argentinas adventures ugo serena whale el perro en la luna untref ray trigger space commander banzai films onion steak nuts media mexicos brother monster gasolina studios brazils bolecos estúdio alcalina sagui filmes colombias would jesus cartoons two films chile zander plastiestudio raise bar whose producer director fernanda frick race best animated short oscar heres plan lucas arechaga contents senior turners cartoon network boomerang amp tooncast buenos aires also addressed tv animation telling variety animation general content exclusively children anymore many current blockbusters animated tv shows sophisticated ever adding animation option storytelling building 360º properties example historietas assombradas para crianças malcriadas originated brazil cartoon network tv show ready delivery movie completing160 ventana surs animation slate two wips mexico koati movie comes grump produced latin americas prominent animation house anima studios uks prime focus world grump turns young boy discovers tales balloons dragons wizards grandma used tell true although happy peaceful indicated film reboot depatiefreleng 70s tv series directed andrés couturier top cat begins koati upstairs production colombian modern family star sofia vergara voice acting executive producing film follows small resolute coati think south american raccoon embarking adventure save village menaced volcano director rodrigo pérez castro worked many animation blockbusters story editor ferdinand rio 2 géraldine baché projects head annecy international animated film market mifa curating wip section said animation booming expressed artistic originality projects amount submissions years ventana sur animation showcase increased 50 174 vs 116 events second year baché also perceives real awareness terms storytelling seeking right balance latin american traditions myths origins need opening international market injecting universal scope stories historically three big pillars animation disney us european branch led france opinion japanese anime believe time come set fourth pillar latin american animation arrived acuña declared enthusiastically ventana surs animation work progress 2017 city pirates otto guerra brazil comes grump andrés couturier mexico uk dalia red book david bisbano argentina peru koati movie160 rodrigo pérez castro mexico nahuel magical world germán acuña chile brazil | 584 |
<p>George Weigel is one of the pre-eminent commentators on Catholicism today, and author of, among others, a bestselling <a href="http://www.amazon.com/End-Beginning-II---Victory-Freedom/dp/0385524803/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1362760769&amp;sr=1-4&amp;keywords=george+weigel" type="external">biography of Pope John Paul II</a>. Weigel recently published <a href="" type="internal">Evangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the 21st Century</a>.</p>
<p>Weigel discusses the future of the church and the challenges facing a new pope with author, journalist, commentator and Catholic scholar Michael Novak, author of more than 25 books, including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Open-Church-Michael-Novak/dp/0765807726/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1362769655&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=michael+novak+open+church" type="external">The Open Church</a>.</p>
<p>MICHAEL NOVAK: George, your new book could not have come at a better time–these days it is being quoted daily in television interviews with cardinals who are streaming into Rome. I like its implicit image that the church through its long history seems to live in a cocoon for a century or so, and then break forth like a newly resplendent butterfly, reborn and fresh for new challenges. You show how long this new rebirth has been generating in the church, some 150 years. Pope John Paul II invited you into his friendship as you interviewed him for his <a href="http://www.amazon.com/End-Beginning-II---Victory-Freedom/dp/0385524803/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1362673791&amp;sr=1-4&amp;keywords=george+weigel" type="external">biography</a>&#160;over many months–and you know now much he cherished the Second Vatican Council (1961-65) and wanted to rescue its main lessons from systematic distortion. Now you have found new words to get to the heart of this long-gestating rebirth.</p>
<p>And one other thing I notice: From so many quarters today we hear a super-aggressive hatred for the Catholic church, not least for its Pope. Yet here many of the major media so often contemptuous of the Pope are utterly fascinated by yet another conclave, summoned in an orderly way to choose a new Pope. What do you think your book is saying to the bitter critics of the church, first of all?</p>
<p>GEORGE WEIGEL: I hope it’s saying that the church is alive, that the liveliest parts of the church are those parts that have embraced the symphony of Catholic truth in full–and I even cherish the hope that some who are caught in the postmodern sandbox of self-absorption faintly recognize in Catholicism the possibility of a nobler, more humanly fulfilling path than living according to the mantra of “me, myself, and I.”</p>
<p>Evangelical Catholicism is aborning for two reasons: the internal dynamics you described, which touch the church’s understanding that she must always be purified so that the Gospel she preaches is mirrored in her own life, and the external environment, which is now so hostile to biblical religion throughout the Western world that only an affirmative orthodoxy, lived in mission, can meet its challenge–and perhaps invite secularists to think again about the possibility of friendship with Jesus Christ.</p>
<p>Here in Rome, the basic division is between those who get this–who understand with Vatican II, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI that the Church is a communion of disciples in mission and that everything and everyone in the Church must be measured by mission-effectiveness–and those who want to retreat into institutional-maintenance Catholicism (in either its starboard or portside variants). If my books helps put all of this in a broader historical context, so that we aren’t going through one more tedious round in the Vatican II Wars, then I’ll be gratified.</p>
<p>NOVAK:&#160;On your side is that Catholics now number 1.2 billion human beings on earth–one out of six–and are growing rapidly, faster than Muslims.The atheist part of the earth is shrinking, as more and more persons lose meaning, purpose, and even the heart to defend themselves–and fewer couples have children. But your central point is how Evangelical Catholicism will change the people in the pews, say, in America.</p>
<p>Do you expect that, quietly and one by one, more and more Catholics will seek opportunities to speak openly about the love and might of the Son of God within them? And during their lifetimes bring into our growing communion, say, three or four converts? In a generation that might mean 100 million new U.S. Catholics.</p>
<p>WEIGEL: Evangelical Catholic pastors, like my friend Father Scott Newman in Greenville, South Carolina (to whom, with Russ Hittinger, Evangelical Catholicism is dedicated), give their people a new conviction about their baptismal dignity, a conviction that leads them into a richer experience of the sacraments and a more intense, daily encounter with the Bible. And the results are remarkable: at every Easter Vigil, 30, 40, or 50 new Catholics are either baptized as adults or received into the full communion of the church. They’ve often been invited to consider Catholicism by their neighbors, the parishioners of St. Mary’s; they’ve been well-instructed by the parish’s permanent deacons and Father Newman; and when they come into the community of St. Mary’s, Greenville, they know that they, too, are taking on an evangelical, or missionary obligation. It takes years to build up this sort of momentum, but once it reaches what you might call ecclesial critical mass, it snowballs. And it has staying power, because the conversions involved are not merely emotional, but have real content.</p>
<p>This pattern replicates itself throughout the liveliest sectors of the church: among youth groups like FOCUS (which work on campuses); among the growing communities of religious women; in various renewal movements and new forms of Catholic community. There’s a hunger in the West for something more substantial than the thin gruel of solipsism. That hunger can be met by Catholic clergy and laity who have been deeply formed by the Gospel, are transparent to the love of Jesus Christ at work in their own lives, and understand that inviting others into the fellowship of faith, and who, with John Paul II, know that the paradox of faith is that it increases the more it is given to others.</p>
<p>NOVAK: Our mutual friend Mary Eberstadt has written in her upcoming book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-West-Really-Lost-Secularization/dp/1599473798/ref=la_B001JRXK4Q_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1362770205&amp;sr=1-3" type="external">How the West Lost God</a>, that family life is the natural language in which Christian life is first learned and comes alive. So I liked what you said about the “family church” as the living cell of faith. And I’m grateful for what you write about in “The Reform of Catholic Marriage.” It’s past due. The distortions that have arisen since the false readings of Vatican II have been ugly.</p>
<p>WEIGEL: The marriage crisis throughout the western world seems to me both an impediment to the New Evangelization and a spur to it. The terrible social effects of the sexual revolution and the reduction of sexual love to just another contact sport have now become undeniable: women who can’t find husbands; spouses who look on children as a lifestyle accessory; men who’ve been told by culture and society that sexual predation is a kind of right; internet pornography addiction wreaking havoc in young and old lives alike.</p>
<p>In the face of all this ugliness and unhappiness, the Catholic sexual ethic begins to look, not like some dreary laundry list of “No’s,” but as a very great “Yes” to human dignity, fidelity, promise-making and promise-keeping, and a badly-needed reaffirmation of the built-into-the-human-condition linkage between sexual love and procreation.</p>
<p>In an Evangelical Catholic context, these truths are often best conveyed by married couples who see their marriages as instruments for the evangelization of other married couples, especially those who may be struggling with the afterburn of the marriage culture breakdown. Marriage preparation programs in parishes–again, often best conducted by married couples with assistance from priests and deacons–are a great opportunity to invite engaged couples into a more integral and intense practice of Catholicism and the embrace of a robust faith that is an enormous help in navigating the rocks and shoals of postmodern culture, where solipsism is one of the biggest challenges to happy and fruitful marriages.</p>
<p>NOVAK:&#160;Looks like we’ve run out of space, George. A lot more I’d like to ask you. Can’t wait to be able to talk to you in person, when you get back from Rome. Enjoy a good pasta for me at our regular haunts. Give my best to our friends.</p>
<p>George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. and holds EPPC’s William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies.</p> | false | 1 | george weigel one preeminent commentators catholicism today author among others bestselling biography pope john paul ii weigel recently published evangelical catholicism deep reform 21st century weigel discusses future church challenges facing new pope author journalist commentator catholic scholar michael novak author 25 books including open church michael novak george new book could come better timethese days quoted daily television interviews cardinals streaming rome like implicit image church long history seems live cocoon century break forth like newly resplendent butterfly reborn fresh new challenges show long new rebirth generating church 150 years pope john paul ii invited friendship interviewed biography160over many monthsand know much cherished second vatican council 196165 wanted rescue main lessons systematic distortion found new words get heart longgestating rebirth one thing notice many quarters today hear superaggressive hatred catholic church least pope yet many major media often contemptuous pope utterly fascinated yet another conclave summoned orderly way choose new pope think book saying bitter critics church first george weigel hope saying church alive liveliest parts church parts embraced symphony catholic truth fulland even cherish hope caught postmodern sandbox selfabsorption faintly recognize catholicism possibility nobler humanly fulfilling path living according mantra evangelical catholicism aborning two reasons internal dynamics described touch churchs understanding must always purified gospel preaches mirrored life external environment hostile biblical religion throughout western world affirmative orthodoxy lived mission meet challengeand perhaps invite secularists think possibility friendship jesus christ rome basic division get thiswho understand vatican ii john paul ii benedict xvi church communion disciples mission everything everyone church must measured missioneffectivenessand want retreat institutionalmaintenance catholicism either starboard portside variants books helps put broader historical context arent going one tedious round vatican ii wars ill gratified novak160on side catholics number 12 billion human beings earthone sixand growing rapidly faster muslimsthe atheist part earth shrinking persons lose meaning purpose even heart defend themselvesand fewer couples children central point evangelical catholicism change people pews say america expect quietly one one catholics seek opportunities speak openly love might son god within lifetimes bring growing communion say three four converts generation might mean 100 million new us catholics weigel evangelical catholic pastors like friend father scott newman greenville south carolina russ hittinger evangelical catholicism dedicated give people new conviction baptismal dignity conviction leads richer experience sacraments intense daily encounter bible results remarkable every easter vigil 30 40 50 new catholics either baptized adults received full communion church theyve often invited consider catholicism neighbors parishioners st marys theyve wellinstructed parishs permanent deacons father newman come community st marys greenville know taking evangelical missionary obligation takes years build sort momentum reaches might call ecclesial critical mass snowballs staying power conversions involved merely emotional real content pattern replicates throughout liveliest sectors church among youth groups like focus work campuses among growing communities religious women various renewal movements new forms catholic community theres hunger west something substantial thin gruel solipsism hunger met catholic clergy laity deeply formed gospel transparent love jesus christ work lives understand inviting others fellowship faith john paul ii know paradox faith increases given others novak mutual friend mary eberstadt written upcoming book west lost god family life natural language christian life first learned comes alive liked said family church living cell faith im grateful write reform catholic marriage past due distortions arisen since false readings vatican ii ugly weigel marriage crisis throughout western world seems impediment new evangelization spur terrible social effects sexual revolution reduction sexual love another contact sport become undeniable women cant find husbands spouses look children lifestyle accessory men whove told culture society sexual predation kind right internet pornography addiction wreaking havoc young old lives alike face ugliness unhappiness catholic sexual ethic begins look like dreary laundry list nos great yes human dignity fidelity promisemaking promisekeeping badlyneeded reaffirmation builtintothehumancondition linkage sexual love procreation evangelical catholic context truths often best conveyed married couples see marriages instruments evangelization married couples especially may struggling afterburn marriage culture breakdown marriage preparation programs parishesagain often best conducted married couples assistance priests deaconsare great opportunity invite engaged couples integral intense practice catholicism embrace robust faith enormous help navigating rocks shoals postmodern culture solipsism one biggest challenges happy fruitful marriages novak160looks like weve run space george lot id like ask cant wait able talk person get back rome enjoy good pasta regular haunts give best friends george weigel distinguished senior fellow ethics public policy center washington dc holds eppcs william e simon chair catholic studies | 730 |
<p>Highland Reel went out a winner in Hong Kong, Orfevre got his first Group 1 win as a sire in Japan and American 2-year-olds strutted their stuff from coast to coast in highlights of weekend Thoroughbred racing.</p>
<p>Gulfstream Park hosted the Caribbean Cup for the first time, boosting the visibility of the region’s vibrant racing culture.</p>
<p>Before proceeding to that, however: There are many fund-raising platforms to help those affected by the tragic loss of horses and property as a wildfire swept through San Luis Rey Downs in California. Pick one and pitch in.</p>
<p>Now, onward:</p>
<p>Hong Kong</p>
<p>There was something for just about everyone at Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin. Highland Reel closed out his career with a win, giving trainer <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Aidan_O_Brien/" type="external">Aidan O’Brien</a> his record 28th Group 1 victory of the year. The top local jockey, Derek Leung, got a hugely popular win. And the Dubai World Cup night next March probably gained a runner or two.</p>
<p>Mostly, it was the local owners and trainers who were smiling as the smoke cleared from the post-race fireworks.</p>
<p>The Group 1 Hong Kong Vase</p>
<p>Highland Reel, making the final start of his globetrotting career, reversed the order of finish from the Breeders’ Cup Turf a month earlier at Del Mar, turning back a late challenge by Talismanic to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Jockey <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ryan_Moore/" type="external">Ryan Moore</a> quickly positioned Highland Reel right behind the early leader with Talismanic shadowing him. Highland Reel, a 5-year-old son of Galileo, easily took the lead turning into the stretch and ran on smoothly to score his seventh Group 1 win. He has won at the top level on three continents.</p>
<p>Tosen Basil, representing Japan, closed to get home third with Irish runner Chemical Charge a surprising fourth. Max Dynamite and Tiberian, third and seventh in the Melbourne Cup Nov. 7, finished sixth and 11th in the Vase. The 2,400-meter Vase, worth HK$18 million or US$2.3 million, was run over good turf in 2:26.23.</p>
<p>“I was always happy and always confident,” Moore said of Highland Reel’s run. “He’s the sort of horse when he gets into a fight, he’s usually going to win it.”</p>
<p>O’Brien said of Highland Reel, “He’s irreplaceable, really. “He’s a very special horse. We were lucky to get another year out of him at age 5. And at 2, 3, 4, 5 — he’s had winners all the way.”</p>
<p>The Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Cup</p>
<p>Time Warp capped a wonderful day for the local team in the Longines Hong Kong International Races, leading all the way to an easy victory in the 2,000-meters Cup. Time Warp, a 4-year-old, British-bred gelding by Archipenko, entered the Cup after a second-place finish to former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther in the BOCHK Jockey Club Cup. In that heat, Werther caught Time Warp in the late going.</p>
<p>This time, Werther came with a late rush but fell 2 1/4 lengths short of the winner. Japanese entrants Neorealism, Stapahanos and Smart Layer were third, fourth and fifth while British, Irish and French runners filled the final four spots in the 12-horse order of finish.</p>
<p>Time Warp, under the tutelage of experienced Hong Kong trainer <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tony_Cruz/" type="external">Tony Cruz</a>, has worked his way quickly through the ranks in Hong Kong, running on turf and all-weather courses at both Sha Tin and the in-town Happy Valley Racecourse. “I would love to take him overseas,” Cruz said. “But I haven’t worked out that program yet.”</p>
<p>The Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint</p>
<p>Mr Stunning, under Nash Rawiller at the controls, more than justified his favorite status in the 1,200-meters Sprint. Always near the front, the 5-year-old Exceed and Excel gelding grabbed the lead inside the 300-meter mark and gamely held off D B Pin to win by a neck. Blizzard, Lucky Bubbles and Amazing Kinds finished third through fifth, giving Hong Kong horses a sweep of the top five spots. The best finish by an invader was Japan’s mare Let’s Go Donki, who finished sixth.</p>
<p>American runner Stormy Liberal beat only two rivals. The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) winner is trained by Peter Miller for Rockingham Ranch, both hard hit by the tragic fire at San Luis Rey Downs. He broke a step slowly, raced wide and was never in the mix. “He was a little flat and might have been feeling the effects of the trip,” said rider Silvestre de Sousa.</p>
<p>“He’s had a lovely buildup into the race,” said winning trainer John Size. “He drew a good gate (No. 4) and Nash had him in a perfect position. It was hard to see him getting beat from there.” Size said he thinks Mr Stunning has more to give but is not likely to do so overseas. “I don’t think he’s got the constitution for that,” he said.</p>
<p>The Longines Hong Kong Mile</p>
<p>Beauty Generation went right to the front in the Longines Hong Kong Mile, set a perfectly measured pace and led yet another parade of local runners to the finish. The 5-year-old New Zealand-bred, ridden by Derek Leung for trainer <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/John_Moore/" type="external">John Moore</a>, finished a comfortable 1 length in front of Western Express. Helene Paragon and the favorite, Seasons Bloom, were third and fourth. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Lancaster Bomber was off a step slow from the No. 11 gate — an insurmountable hurdle in this race — and finished fifth, best of the foreign entrants.</p>
<p>“I decided to go early because my horse is one-paced. And he never stopped,” said Leung, who returned to cheers as a popular local rider and product of the Hong Kong Jockey Academy. It was his first win in the Hong Kong International Races from just his second ride.</p>
<p>Japan</p>
<p>Orfevre was a dominating force in Japanese racing early in this decade and twice finished second in the race all Japan wants — the Prix de l’ <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Arc_de_Triomphe/" type="external">Arc de Triomphe</a>. So it was with some joy that Orfevre got his first Group 1 win as a sire Sunday when Lucky Lilac circled the leaders into the stretch in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, took over the lead and held off Lily Noble by 3/4 length. Mau Lea was third and the favorite, Rock This Town, another by Orfevre, finished ninth.</p>
<p>Lucky Lilac, with Syu Ishibashi riding for trainer Mikio Matsunaga, covered 1,600 meters on firm turf in 1:31.3. She scored her third win from as many starts for Sunday Racing Co., which fielded the top two finishers.</p>
<p>“She was a bit keen in her last start but was very relaxed today,” Ishibashi said. “We were in a good striking position at the top of the stretch, which gave me all the confidence I needed. Her physical ability is extremely high and she is very intelligent, too. Although she has room to improve, I just hope she can start the next season in good form.”</p>
<p>Lucky Lilac is out of the Flower Alley mare Lilacs and Lace, winner of the Grade I Central Bank Ashland Stakes in 2012 at Keeneland.</p>
<p>England</p>
<p>Never Back Down, trained by Hugo Palmer and ridden by Josephine Gordon, rallied strongly to win Saturday’s 32Red.com Conditions Stakes at Wolverhampton, a Fast Track Qualifier for the 3-year-old All-Weather Championships Conditions Stakes on Good Friday at Lingfield. Never Back Down lived up to his name. Short of room on in the early going, he was dropped back to last and Gordon said she “nearly came down at one point.” He again was bothered approaching the quarter-mile marker but overcame that, found another gear and won by 1 length. Music Society also ran well late to finish second and Corinthia Knight was third. “We have always had high hopes for Never Back Down and he is going the right way at the moment,” Gordon said.</p>
<p>Back in North America:</p>
<p>Los Alamitos</p>
<p>Solomini got there first in Saturday’s $300,000 Grade I Cash Call Futurity but was set down to third by the stewards for bumping long shot rival Instilled Regard during a tight stretch run. That promoted McKinzie to the victory and Instilled Regard to second. Those three were in a race of their own with the next-closest competitor, For Him, 29 1/2 lengths farther back. McKinzie and Solomini are both trained by <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Bob_Baffert/" type="external">Bob Baffert</a>. McKinzie, a Street Sense colt, came into the race off a maiden win at Santa Anita in his only previous start. Solomini was second in both the Grade I FrontRunner at Santa Anita and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.</p>
<p>Baffert said Solomini’s jockey, Flavien Prat, “rode a great race just sitting behind them. Unfortunately, he (Solomini) will lay on horses in the lane and you have to be careful with him. Prat might have gotten a little over aggressive. It’s really too bad they took him down. He was the better horse today.”</p>
<p>Dream Tree, the odds-on favorite, had no trouble dispatching three rivals in Saturday’s $300,000 Grade I Starlet, prompting the pace set by Yesterday’s News before drawing off to win by 3 1/4 lengths. Yesterday’s News held second with Piedi Bianchi and Exuberance completing the order of finish. Dream Tree, an Uncle Mo filly, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.87 with Drayden <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Van_Dyke/" type="external">Van Dyke</a> up. Baffert trains the winner, who now is 3-for-3.</p>
<p>“I wasn’t sure about two turns,” Baffert said of Dream Tree. “But after she came back and worked the way she did is why I changed my mind and decided to run her in this spot.”</p>
<p>Laurel Park</p>
<p>Whirlin Curlin worked to the lead in the final sixteenth in Saturday’s $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Futurity for state-bred 2-year-olds and prevailed by a neck over early leader Still Having Fun. Whirlin Curlin, by Curlin out of the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Storm_Cat/" type="external">Storm Cat</a> mare Lexington Girl, ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:23.96 with Jevian Toledo riding.</p>
<p>Limited View showed unlimited prospects in Saturday’s $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship, kicking away to an easy 6-lengths victory for jockey <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Edgar_Prado/" type="external">Edgar Prado</a>. Deep Red was second at a big price, Vente to Go was third and the favorite, Frechette, got home eighth. Limited View, a daughter of Freedom Child, got the 7 furlongs in 1:23.96.</p>
<p>Struth was on the lead after a half mile in Saturday’s $75,0000 Howard M. Bender Memorial for Maryland-breds and got away to win by 4 1/4 lengths from Lewisfield. Winplaceorshowono was third. Struth, a 5-year-old Curlin gelding, ran 6 furlongs in 1:09.21 with Jorge Vargas Jr. in the irons.</p>
<p>Ms Locust Point was quickly on the point in Saturday’s $75,000 Willa On the Move Stakes for state-bred distaffers and never looked back, winning by 2 3/4 lengths with Ivy Bell in chase. Line of Best Fit was well back in third. Ms Locust Point, a 3-year-old daughter of Dialed In, finished 6 furlongs in 1:09.84 with Vargas riding.</p>
<p>Aqueduct</p>
<p>Quezon came from last of five to take Saturday’s $100,000 Garland of Roses Stakes for fillies and mares by 3/4 length over Pico Uno. Absatootly was third after leading through the early furlongs. Quezon, a 5-year-old Tiz Wonderful mare, ran 6 furlongs on a good track in 1:11.75 with Joe Rocco Jr. at the controls.</p>
<p>Woodbine</p>
<p>Leavem in Malibu disputed the lead with Ethical Funds through the first half of Sunday’s $150,000 (Canadian) Grade III Valedictory Stakes, edged away from that rival and went on strongly to win by 2 1/2 lengths. The even-money favorite, Melmich, was along for second, 3/4 length ahead of Ethical Funds. Leavem in Malibu, a 4-year-old <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Malibu_Moon/" type="external">Malibu Moon</a> colt, ran 1 3/4 miles on the all-weather track in 2:58.93 with <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Patrick_Husbands/" type="external">Patrick Husbands</a> riding.</p>
<p>Silent Sting got through along the rail in the final furlong to win Saturday’s $125,000 (Canadian) Kingarvie Stakes for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds by 3/4 length over Beer Pressure. Be Vewy Vewy Quiet was another neck back in third. Silent Sting, a Silent Name colt, ran 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:44.97 with Luis Contreras in the irons for trainer <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Sid_Attard/" type="external">Sid Attard</a>.</p>
<p>Gulfstream Park</p>
<p>Saturday’s program featured a series of Caribbean Cup races and six $75,000 events for 2-year-olds. Sadly, the main track was sloppy and the turf course was rated good.</p>
<p>Jala Jala, a Mexican-bred filly, rallied sharply from well back in the field in the day’s big race, the $300,000 Caribbean Classic Stakes for 3-year-olds, then drew off in the stretch to win by 9 lengths under <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Irad-Ortiz/" type="external">Irad Ortiz</a> Jr. Fray Angelico, representing Panama, was best of the rest with another Mexican, Joyme, finishing third. The Dominican Republic and Venezuela also were represented in the 12-horse field.</p>
<p>Ortiz had an equally easy time of it in the $124,000 Lady Caribbean Cup, booting home Mexio’s Jaguaryu to a 7 3/4-lengths victory over Gladiadora, representing Venezuela. Panamanian-bred Cigona finished third. Jaguaryu ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.77.</p>
<p>Venezuelan horses finished 1-2 in the $114,200 Caribbean Cup Speed Stakes. Master Supreme, with <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/John_Velazquez/" type="external">John Velazquez</a> up, led all the way and won by 2 lengths from Forze Mau. Mexican-bred Justiciero finished third. Master Supreme ran 6 furlongs in 1:12.49.</p>
<p>El Tigre Mono caught pacesetting Arquitecto in the final yards of the $100,000 Confraternity Caribbean Cup and won by a neck over that rival. El Tigre Mono, a 4-year-old Panamanian-bred colt, finished 1 1/4 miles in 2:05.69 with Velazquez in the irons.</p>
<p>Coltimus Prime took over in the lane in the $91,200 Invitational Cup for horses imported by the Confederacion Hipica del Caribe and drew off to win by 2 1/2 lengths over El Kurdo. Mishigas was third. Coltimus Prime, a 5-year-old son of Milwaukee Brew, ran 1 1/4 miles in the slop in 2:04.90, also with Ortiz up.</p>
<p>In the 2-year-old races:</p>
<p>Diamond Oops tracked the pace in the Buffalo Man Stakes, moved to the lead at the sixteenth pole and edged away to win by 2 lengths. Madamas ran well late to finish second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of pacesetting Aequor. The odds-on favorite, Mojovation, was fourth. Diamond Oops, a Lookin at Lucky colt, finished 6 furlongs in 1:11.40 with <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Victor_Espinoza/" type="external">Victor Espinoza</a> riding. The <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Patrick_Biancone/" type="external">Patrick Biancone</a> trainee scored his third win from four starts, the wins all coming at Gulfstream. He was sixth in the Grade II Saratoga Special.</p>
<p>Bal Harbour outfinished Whereshetoldmetogo in the Smooth Air Stakes, winning by a neck over that rival. Stronger was 6 3/4 lengths farther back in third. Bal Harbour, a First Samurai colt, ran 1 mile in 1:38.01 under <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Javier_Castellano/" type="external">Javier Castellano</a>. He was fifth in the Grade III Sanford and fourth in the Saratoga Special, then won the Sapling at Monmouth Park before trainer <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Todd_Pletcher/" type="external">Todd Pletcher</a> sent him south.</p>
<p>Speed Franco raced in second through the slow early furlongs in the Pulpit Stakes at 1 mile on the turf, then asserted himself, winning off by 6 lengths. Pony Up and the favorite, Maraud, filled out the trifecta. Speed Franco, a Declaration of War colt, finished in 1:42.29 with Emisael Jaramillo riding. He finished second in his only previous race.</p>
<p>The 2-year-old fillies:</p>
<p>Miss Mo Mentum drove clear in the stretch to win the 1-mile Hut Hut Stakes by 8 3/4 lengths over Alliya’s Story. Luxmimi Princess finished third. Miss Momentum, with Tyler Gaffalione up for trainer <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Mark_Casse/" type="external">Mark Casse</a>, finished in 1:40.41. The win was the third in her last four starts — a skein broken by a 14th-place finish in the Grade III JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland.</p>
<p>Malibu Saint came from far back in a field of 13, was bumped sideways in the stretch run and still won the Wait a While Stakes by 1/2 length over Gift of Glory. Golden Orb, who caused the stretch issues, was disqualified from third to fourth, promoting Filfila. The favorite, Stainless, came from California to finish seventh. Malibu Saint, a Malibu Moon filly trained by Mark Casse, got 1 mile on the grass in 1:45.76 for jockey Luis Saez, picking up her second career win.</p>
<p>Take Charge Paula and Razorback Lady hooked up in a stretch battle in the House Party Stakes with the former finally eking out a 1/2-length victory. Lil B Quick was another 2 1/4 lengths behind in third. Take Charge Paula, a daughter of Take Charge Indy, ran 6 furlongs in 1:11.60 with Paco Lopez in the irons. She now has won both her starts since finishing second in the Grade III Matron at Belmont Park in October. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Kelly_Breen/" type="external">Kelly Breen</a> is the trainer.</p>
<p>Fair Grounds</p>
<p>Saturday was Louisiana Champions Day in the Big Easy.</p>
<p>Mobile Bay, the odds-on favorite, opened a huge lead early in the $150,000 Classic but was all out in the final strides to preserve victory by a nose over Grande Basin. Under Pressure was third, well ahead of the other two. Mobile Bay, a 5-year-old son of Lone Star Special, ran 9 furlongs on the good main track in 1:51.95 with Diego Saenz up for trainer Victor Arceneaux.</p>
<p>Stand Him Up took charge in the final furlong of the $100,000 Sprint, edging away to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Just Kissing Buck. Hunker Down hunkered down at the back of the field early and then ran on to finish third. Stand Him Up, a 5-year-old Time Bandit gelding, ran 6 furlongs in 1:11.03 with Saens in the irons.</p>
<p>My Miss Chiff found her best foot late in the $100,000 Ladies Sprint, surging to a 3/4-length victory over Look Into My Eyes. Wheatfield waved from 3 1/2 lengths farther back in third. My Miss Chiff, a 3-year-old Into Mischief filly, covered 6 furlongs in 1:11.45 under Mitchell Murrill.</p>
<p>On the soft turf course:</p>
<p>Extra Credit came three wide to challenge in the lane in the $100,000 Turf and outfinished Fort Pulaski, winning by 3/4 length over that rival. The favorite, Trust Factor, led briefly turning for home but faded to finish third. Extra Credit, a 4-year-old Proud Citizen gelding, got the about 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.88 with <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Shaun_Bridgmohan/" type="external">Shaun Bridgmohan</a> in the irons.</p>
<p>Inveniam Viam rallied to the lead at the eighth pole in the $100,000 Ladies Stakes and 1 by 1 length over another late runner, Pacific Pink. Mr. Al’s Gal led the way and held on for show money. Inveniam Viam, a 5-year-old Half Ours mare, ran about 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.07 for jockey Bridgmohan.</p>
<p>On the 2-year-old front:</p>
<p>Greeley Went West ran by pacesetting favorite Divine Bean in the late going in the $100,000 Juvenile and went on to win by 1 length over that one. Cajun Creed was third. Greeley Went West, an El Corredor gelding, ran 6 furlongs on the good main track in 1:11.76 with <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/James_Graham/" type="external">James Graham</a> up.</p>
<p>Minit to Stardom needed only 12.18 seconds more than a minute to star in the $100,000 Lassie, kicking away in the stretch to win by 7 1/4 lengths under Colby Hernandez. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Chantal_Sutherland/" type="external">Chantal Sutherland</a> piloted Sarah’s Holy Bell to a second-place finish, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Girls Life. Minit to Stardom is from the first crop of the former Louisiana sensation Star Guitar.</p>
<p>Hawthorne Race Course</p>
<p>Pass the Gravy seized the lead in the stretch run in Saturday’s $50,000 <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jim_Edgar/" type="external">Jim Edgar</a> Futurity for Illinois-bred 2-year-olds and held gamely to win by a neck over Sir Anthony. Ghaaleb’s Winner was 4 1/4 lengths farther back in third. Pass the Gravy, an Afleet Alex colt, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:46.73 with Rodney Prescott in the irons for trainer Larry Rivelli.</p>
<p>Golden Gate Fields</p>
<p>Kathy’s Song rallied five-wide around the bulk of the field in Sunday’s $65,000 Miss America Stakes for fillies and mares and scooted off to a 3 1/4-lengths victory over Coachwhip. Lady Valeur finished third. Kathy’s Song, a 3-year-old <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Candy_Ride/" type="external">Candy Ride</a> filly, got 1 1/16 miles on good turf in 1:43.04 with <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Brice_Blanc/" type="external">Brice Blanc</a> along for the ride.</p>
<p>Fast and Foxy was quickly 3 lengths in front of the field in Saturday’s $75,000 Bear Fan Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares, then held on to win by 3/4 length over Cuddle Alert. Run for Retts was third. Fast and Foxy, a 7-year-old daughter of Thisnearlywasmine, ran 6 furlongs on the all-weather course in 1:09.43 with Catalino Martinez riding.</p> | false | 1 | highland reel went winner hong kong orfevre got first group 1 win sire japan american 2yearolds strutted stuff coast coast highlights weekend thoroughbred racing gulfstream park hosted caribbean cup first time boosting visibility regions vibrant racing culture proceeding however many fundraising platforms help affected tragic loss horses property wildfire swept san luis rey downs california pick one pitch onward hong kong something everyone sundays longines hong kong international races sha tin highland reel closed career win giving trainer aidan obrien record 28th group 1 victory year top local jockey derek leung got hugely popular win dubai world cup night next march probably gained runner two mostly local owners trainers smiling smoke cleared postrace fireworks group 1 hong kong vase highland reel making final start globetrotting career reversed order finish breeders cup turf month earlier del mar turning back late challenge talismanic win 1 14 lengths jockey ryan moore quickly positioned highland reel right behind early leader talismanic shadowing highland reel 5yearold son galileo easily took lead turning stretch ran smoothly score seventh group 1 win top level three continents tosen basil representing japan closed get home third irish runner chemical charge surprising fourth max dynamite tiberian third seventh melbourne cup nov 7 finished sixth 11th vase 2400meter vase worth hk18 million us23 million run good turf 22623 always happy always confident moore said highland reels run hes sort horse gets fight hes usually going win obrien said highland reel hes irreplaceable really hes special horse lucky get another year age 5 2 3 4 5 hes winners way group 1 longines hong kong cup time warp capped wonderful day local team longines hong kong international races leading way easy victory 2000meters cup time warp 4yearold britishbred gelding archipenko entered cup secondplace finish former hong kong horse year werther bochk jockey club cup heat werther caught time warp late going time werther came late rush fell 2 14 lengths short winner japanese entrants neorealism stapahanos smart layer third fourth fifth british irish french runners filled final four spots 12horse order finish time warp tutelage experienced hong kong trainer tony cruz worked way quickly ranks hong kong running turf allweather courses sha tin intown happy valley racecourse would love take overseas cruz said havent worked program yet group 1 longines hong kong sprint mr stunning nash rawiller controls justified favorite status 1200meters sprint always near front 5yearold exceed excel gelding grabbed lead inside 300meter mark gamely held b pin win neck blizzard lucky bubbles amazing kinds finished third fifth giving hong kong horses sweep top five spots best finish invader japans mare lets go donki finished sixth american runner stormy liberal beat two rivals breeders cup turf sprint g1t winner trained peter miller rockingham ranch hard hit tragic fire san luis rey downs broke step slowly raced wide never mix little flat might feeling effects trip said rider silvestre de sousa hes lovely buildup race said winning trainer john size drew good gate 4 nash perfect position hard see getting beat size said thinks mr stunning give likely overseas dont think hes got constitution said longines hong kong mile beauty generation went right front longines hong kong mile set perfectly measured pace led yet another parade local runners finish 5yearold new zealandbred ridden derek leung trainer john moore finished comfortable 1 length front western express helene paragon favorite seasons bloom third fourth aidan obrientrained lancaster bomber step slow 11 gate insurmountable hurdle race finished fifth best foreign entrants decided go early horse onepaced never stopped said leung returned cheers popular local rider product hong kong jockey academy first win hong kong international races second ride japan orfevre dominating force japanese racing early decade twice finished second race japan wants prix de l arc de triomphe joy orfevre got first group 1 win sire sunday lucky lilac circled leaders stretch hanshin juvenile fillies took lead held lily noble 34 length mau lea third favorite rock town another orfevre finished ninth lucky lilac syu ishibashi riding trainer mikio matsunaga covered 1600 meters firm turf 1313 scored third win many starts sunday racing co fielded top two finishers bit keen last start relaxed today ishibashi said good striking position top stretch gave confidence needed physical ability extremely high intelligent although room improve hope start next season good form lucky lilac flower alley mare lilacs lace winner grade central bank ashland stakes 2012 keeneland england never back trained hugo palmer ridden josephine gordon rallied strongly win saturdays 32redcom conditions stakes wolverhampton fast track qualifier 3yearold allweather championships conditions stakes good friday lingfield never back lived name short room early going dropped back last gordon said nearly came one point bothered approaching quartermile marker overcame found another gear 1 length music society also ran well late finish second corinthia knight third always high hopes never back going right way moment gordon said back north america los alamitos solomini got first saturdays 300000 grade cash call futurity set third stewards bumping long shot rival instilled regard tight stretch run promoted mckinzie victory instilled regard second three race nextclosest competitor 29 12 lengths farther back mckinzie solomini trained bob baffert mckinzie street sense colt came race maiden win santa anita previous start solomini second grade frontrunner santa anita breeders cup juvenile del mar baffert said solominis jockey flavien prat rode great race sitting behind unfortunately solomini lay horses lane careful prat might gotten little aggressive really bad took better horse today dream tree oddson favorite trouble dispatching three rivals saturdays 300000 grade starlet prompting pace set yesterdays news drawing win 3 14 lengths yesterdays news held second piedi bianchi exuberance completing order finish dream tree uncle mo filly ran 1 116 miles fast track 14387 drayden van dyke baffert trains winner 3for3 wasnt sure two turns baffert said dream tree came back worked way changed mind decided run spot laurel park whirlin curlin worked lead final sixteenth saturdays 100000 maryland juvenile futurity statebred 2yearolds prevailed neck early leader still fun whirlin curlin curlin storm cat mare lexington girl ran 7 furlongs fast track 12396 jevian toledo riding limited view showed unlimited prospects saturdays 100000 maryland juvenile filly championship kicking away easy 6lengths victory jockey edgar prado deep red second big price vente go third favorite frechette got home eighth limited view daughter freedom child got 7 furlongs 12396 struth lead half mile saturdays 750000 howard bender memorial marylandbreds got away win 4 14 lengths lewisfield winplaceorshowono third struth 5yearold curlin gelding ran 6 furlongs 10921 jorge vargas jr irons ms locust point quickly point saturdays 75000 willa move stakes statebred distaffers never looked back winning 2 34 lengths ivy bell chase line best fit well back third ms locust point 3yearold daughter dialed finished 6 furlongs 10984 vargas riding aqueduct quezon came last five take saturdays 100000 garland roses stakes fillies mares 34 length pico uno absatootly third leading early furlongs quezon 5yearold tiz wonderful mare ran 6 furlongs good track 11175 joe rocco jr controls woodbine leavem malibu disputed lead ethical funds first half sundays 150000 canadian grade iii valedictory stakes edged away rival went strongly win 2 12 lengths evenmoney favorite melmich along second 34 length ahead ethical funds leavem malibu 4yearold malibu moon colt ran 1 34 miles allweather track 25893 patrick husbands riding silent sting got along rail final furlong win saturdays 125000 canadian kingarvie stakes ontariosired 2yearolds 34 length beer pressure vewy vewy quiet another neck back third silent sting silent name colt ran 1 116 miles allweather track 14497 luis contreras irons trainer sid attard gulfstream park saturdays program featured series caribbean cup races six 75000 events 2yearolds sadly main track sloppy turf course rated good jala jala mexicanbred filly rallied sharply well back field days big race 300000 caribbean classic stakes 3yearolds drew stretch win 9 lengths irad ortiz jr fray angelico representing panama best rest another mexican joyme finishing third dominican republic venezuela also represented 12horse field ortiz equally easy time 124000 lady caribbean cup booting home mexios jaguaryu 7 34lengths victory gladiadora representing venezuela panamanianbred cigona finished third jaguaryu ran 1 116 miles 14577 venezuelan horses finished 12 114200 caribbean cup speed stakes master supreme john velazquez led way 2 lengths forze mau mexicanbred justiciero finished third master supreme ran 6 furlongs 11249 el tigre mono caught pacesetting arquitecto final yards 100000 confraternity caribbean cup neck rival el tigre mono 4yearold panamanianbred colt finished 1 14 miles 20569 velazquez irons coltimus prime took lane 91200 invitational cup horses imported confederacion hipica del caribe drew win 2 12 lengths el kurdo mishigas third coltimus prime 5yearold son milwaukee brew ran 1 14 miles slop 20490 also ortiz 2yearold races diamond oops tracked pace buffalo man stakes moved lead sixteenth pole edged away win 2 lengths madamas ran well late finish second 1 14 lengths ahead pacesetting aequor oddson favorite mojovation fourth diamond oops lookin lucky colt finished 6 furlongs 11140 victor espinoza riding patrick biancone trainee scored third win four starts wins coming gulfstream sixth grade ii saratoga special bal harbour outfinished whereshetoldmetogo smooth air stakes winning neck rival stronger 6 34 lengths farther back third bal harbour first samurai colt ran 1 mile 13801 javier castellano fifth grade iii sanford fourth saratoga special sapling monmouth park trainer todd pletcher sent south speed franco raced second slow early furlongs pulpit stakes 1 mile turf asserted winning 6 lengths pony favorite maraud filled trifecta speed franco declaration war colt finished 14229 emisael jaramillo riding finished second previous race 2yearold fillies miss mo mentum drove clear stretch win 1mile hut hut stakes 8 34 lengths alliyas story luxmimi princess finished third miss momentum tyler gaffalione trainer mark casse finished 14041 win third last four starts skein broken 14thplace finish grade iii jpmorgan chase jessamine stakes keeneland malibu saint came far back field 13 bumped sideways stretch run still wait stakes 12 length gift glory golden orb caused stretch issues disqualified third fourth promoting filfila favorite stainless came california finish seventh malibu saint malibu moon filly trained mark casse got 1 mile grass 14576 jockey luis saez picking second career win take charge paula razorback lady hooked stretch battle house party stakes former finally eking 12length victory lil b quick another 2 14 lengths behind third take charge paula daughter take charge indy ran 6 furlongs 11160 paco lopez irons starts since finishing second grade iii matron belmont park october kelly breen trainer fair grounds saturday louisiana champions day big easy mobile bay oddson favorite opened huge lead early 150000 classic final strides preserve victory nose grande basin pressure third well ahead two mobile bay 5yearold son lone star special ran 9 furlongs good main track 15195 diego saenz trainer victor arceneaux stand took charge final furlong 100000 sprint edging away win 1 14 lengths kissing buck hunker hunkered back field early ran finish third stand 5yearold time bandit gelding ran 6 furlongs 11103 saens irons miss chiff found best foot late 100000 ladies sprint surging 34length victory look eyes wheatfield waved 3 12 lengths farther back third miss chiff 3yearold mischief filly covered 6 furlongs 11145 mitchell murrill soft turf course extra credit came three wide challenge lane 100000 turf outfinished fort pulaski winning 34 length rival favorite trust factor led briefly turning home faded finish third extra credit 4yearold proud citizen gelding got 1 116 miles 14488 shaun bridgmohan irons inveniam viam rallied lead eighth pole 100000 ladies stakes 1 1 length another late runner pacific pink mr als gal led way held show money inveniam viam 5yearold half mare ran 1 116 miles 14507 jockey bridgmohan 2yearold front greeley went west ran pacesetting favorite divine bean late going 100000 juvenile went win 1 length one cajun creed third greeley went west el corredor gelding ran 6 furlongs good main track 11176 james graham minit stardom needed 1218 seconds minute star 100000 lassie kicking away stretch win 7 14 lengths colby hernandez chantal sutherland piloted sarahs holy bell secondplace finish 1 14 lengths ahead girls life minit stardom first crop former louisiana sensation star guitar hawthorne race course pass gravy seized lead stretch run saturdays 50000 jim edgar futurity illinoisbred 2yearolds held gamely win neck sir anthony ghaalebs winner 4 14 lengths farther back third pass gravy afleet alex colt ran 1 116 miles fast track 14673 rodney prescott irons trainer larry rivelli golden gate fields kathys song rallied fivewide around bulk field sundays 65000 miss america stakes fillies mares scooted 3 14lengths victory coachwhip lady valeur finished third kathys song 3yearold candy ride filly got 1 116 miles good turf 14304 brice blanc along ride fast foxy quickly 3 lengths front field saturdays 75000 bear fan stakes californiabred fillies mares held win 34 length cuddle alert run retts third fast foxy 7yearold daughter thisnearlywasmine ran 6 furlongs allweather course 10943 catalino martinez riding | 2,132 |
<p>By Jonathan Barrett</p>
<p>SYDNEY, October 6 (Reuters) – Plans to reopen one of the world’s biggest mines, shut by a civil war on the Pacific Island of Bougainville in 1989, have run into trouble.</p>
<p>The quarter of a million people of Bougainville are tentatively scheduled to vote on independence from Papua New Guinea in June 2019, and revenue from the reopening of the Panguna mine is essential for the otherwise impoverished island to have any chance of flourishing if it becomes the world’s newest nation.</p>
<p>But there is now a struggle over who will run the mine between Bougainville Copper Ltd – the previous operator now backed by the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the Papua New Guinea government – and a consortium of Australian investors supported by the head of the landowners who own the mineral rights.</p>
<p>The dispute is opening old wounds – and is almost certainly going to delay any reopening. That could help to drive copper prices higher as many forecasters expect that demand for the base metal will exceed supply in the next few years.</p>
<p>The battle lines have been hardening on several fronts, Reuters has learned.</p>
<p>Papua New Guinea has told airlines that Sydney businessman Ian de Renzie Duncan, who set up the consortium, is banned from entering the country until 2024, according to a Papua New Guinea government document reviewed by Reuters.</p>
<p>The request for the ban was made by the Bougainville government, three sources with knowledge of the document said.</p>
<p>The consortium has also acknowledged for the first time that it is paying some landowners a monthly stipend and has pulled in some big backers that have not previously been disclosed.</p>
<p>They include Richard Hains, part of a billionaire Australian race-horse owning family which runs hedge fund Portland House Group.</p>
<p>In a sign of how ugly the row is getting on the ground, local opponents of BCL becoming the operator – and some who are opposed to the mine reopening altogether – blocked Bougainville government officials from entering Panguna in June.</p>
<p>They had hoped to get key landowners to sign a memorandum of agreement that would have endorsed BCL as preferred developer, according to a copy of the document reviewed by Reuters. The proposed agreement also stipulated the mine would be re-opened by June 2019, ahead of BCL’s own timeframe of 2025-26.</p>
<p>The Papua New Guinea government didn’t respond to requests for comment for this story.</p>
<p>Bougainville’s main political leaders say getting the mine reopened is critical. “If the independence of the people is to be sustained then we need Panguna to run,” Bougainville Vice President and Mining Minister Raymond Masono told Reuters in a phone interview.</p>
<p>He said he believes BCL has first right of refusal to operate the mine under laws passed three years ago, and only if BCL declined to take up that right should an open tender take place.</p>
<p>For a graphic on Panguna mine on Bougainville island, click http://tmsnrt.rs/2yYCkTt</p>
<p>DEEP RESENTMENT</p>
<p>The abandoned copper and gold mine contains one of the world’s largest copper deposits. During its 17-year life until the closure in 1989, Panguna was credited for generating almost one-half of Papua New Guinea’s gross domestic product.</p>
<p>The civil war was largely about how the profits from the mine should be shared, and about the environmental damage it had caused.</p>
<p>There was deep resentment among the indigenous Bougainville people about the amount of the wealth that was going to Papua New Guinea and to the mine’s then operator, Conzinc Riotinto of Australia Ltd, a forerunner of Rio Tinto (LON:).</p>
<p>The mine was forced to shut after a campaign of sabotage by the rebel Bougainville Revolutionary Army.</p>
<p>The conflict between Bougainville’s rebel guerrilla army and Papua New Guinea forces left as many as 20,000 dead over the following decade, making it the biggest in the region known as Oceania since the Second World War.</p>
<p>Rio Tinto divested its stake in BCL in 2016, and the listed company is now just over one-third owned by the Bougainville government and one-third owned by Papua New Guinea.</p>
<p>Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said last year his government would gift the shares received from Rio, or 17.4 percent, to the people of Bougainville, although that is yet to take place.</p>
<p>“NEVER AGAIN”</p>
<p>The challenge from the Australian consortium that now includes listed gold and copper explorer RTG Mining was made public in June. Duncan and his fellow investors have joined forces with a group of Panguna landowners, the Special Mining Lease Osikaiyang Landowner Association (SMLOLA) led by Philip Miriori.</p>
<p>Miriori was in the Bougainville Revolutionary Army as the private secretary to the late Francis Ona, the former BCL mine surveyor who became leader of the resistance.</p>
<p>Ona had declared that BCL should “never again” be allowed to run the mine and Miriori, Ona’s brother-in-law, still supports that stance.</p>
<p>“They have caused a lot of damage, they don’t have the money and they are not telling the truth and so I wouldn’t accept them,” Miriori said in a telephone interview from the Bougainville town of Arawa.</p>
<p>The consortium’s challenge is based on new mining laws introduced in 2014 that downgraded BCL’s mining rights to an exploration license and gave landowners powerful rights over the minerals on their land to acknowledge the losses suffered by those in Panguna during the conflict.</p>
<p>Miriori told Reuters that the government did not have authority over mine negotiations.</p>
<p>PAYOUTS TO LANDOWNERS</p>
<p>Duncan, a former barrister with a background in mining law, heads an entity called Central Exploration that has a half share of the consortium.</p>
<p>Duncan’s consortium has been paying money, described as a stipend, to some of the landowners, but denies this amounts to bribery.</p>
<p>“We are really talking about people receiving a couple of thousand kina ($608) a month,” said Duncan, who added that the money helps the landowners to travel and find accommodation in towns where Panguna negotiations take place. “It’s not bribery, it’s business,” he said.</p>
<p>BCL claims to have the support of eight other landowner groups in Bougainville with an interest in the project. They have land rights covering access roads and the port site, among other areas, though crucially not the mine site itself.</p>
<p>BCL chairman Robert Burns, who formerly worked for Rio Tinto, said Bougainvilleans were the ones being impacted by Duncan’s attempt to gain control of the mine. “Everyone is being frustrated and impeded by this issue,” Burns told Reuters in a phone interview from the PNG capital, Port Morseby.</p>
<p>FINANCING DOUBTS</p>
<p>The uncertainty is going to make it difficult for either group to raise the capital that will be needed to get the mine restarted.</p>
<p>In 2012, BCL estimated the cost of re-opening at $5 billion. With few of its own assets, the company would need to secure the mining rights before tapping capital markets.</p>
<p>The Australian consortium may be in a stronger position, according to Hains, who is a 15 percent owner of RTG. He said the consortium has strong access to the North American capital markets and could re-develop Panguna in a “highly timely fashion”.</p>
<p>As it stands, BCL has no mine without the support of the owners of the minerals, and Duncan’s group has no project without road and port rights as well as government support.</p>
<p>Anthony Regan, a constitutional lawyer at the Australian National University and an adviser to the Bougainville government, said the immediate outlook for the mine is bleak. “The need of Bougainville to have a significant source of revenue if it’s to be really autonomous or independent has become hopelessly enmeshed with the future of Panguna.”</p> | false | 1 | jonathan barrett sydney october 6 reuters plans reopen one worlds biggest mines shut civil war pacific island bougainville 1989 run trouble quarter million people bougainville tentatively scheduled vote independence papua new guinea june 2019 revenue reopening panguna mine essential otherwise impoverished island chance flourishing becomes worlds newest nation struggle run mine bougainville copper ltd previous operator backed autonomous bougainville government papua new guinea government consortium australian investors supported head landowners mineral rights dispute opening old wounds almost certainly going delay reopening could help drive copper prices higher many forecasters expect demand base metal exceed supply next years battle lines hardening several fronts reuters learned papua new guinea told airlines sydney businessman ian de renzie duncan set consortium banned entering country 2024 according papua new guinea government document reviewed reuters request ban made bougainville government three sources knowledge document said consortium also acknowledged first time paying landowners monthly stipend pulled big backers previously disclosed include richard hains part billionaire australian racehorse owning family runs hedge fund portland house group sign ugly row getting ground local opponents bcl becoming operator opposed mine reopening altogether blocked bougainville government officials entering panguna june hoped get key landowners sign memorandum agreement would endorsed bcl preferred developer according copy document reviewed reuters proposed agreement also stipulated mine would reopened june 2019 ahead bcls timeframe 202526 papua new guinea government didnt respond requests comment story bougainvilles main political leaders say getting mine reopened critical independence people sustained need panguna run bougainville vice president mining minister raymond masono told reuters phone interview said believes bcl first right refusal operate mine laws passed three years ago bcl declined take right open tender take place graphic panguna mine bougainville island click httptmsnrtrs2yycktt deep resentment abandoned copper gold mine contains one worlds largest copper deposits 17year life closure 1989 panguna credited generating almost onehalf papua new guineas gross domestic product civil war largely profits mine shared environmental damage caused deep resentment among indigenous bougainville people amount wealth going papua new guinea mines operator conzinc riotinto australia ltd forerunner rio tinto lon mine forced shut campaign sabotage rebel bougainville revolutionary army conflict bougainvilles rebel guerrilla army papua new guinea forces left many 20000 dead following decade making biggest region known oceania since second world war rio tinto divested stake bcl 2016 listed company onethird owned bougainville government onethird owned papua new guinea papua new guinea prime minister peter oneill said last year government would gift shares received rio 174 percent people bougainville although yet take place never challenge australian consortium includes listed gold copper explorer rtg mining made public june duncan fellow investors joined forces group panguna landowners special mining lease osikaiyang landowner association smlola led philip miriori miriori bougainville revolutionary army private secretary late francis ona former bcl mine surveyor became leader resistance ona declared bcl never allowed run mine miriori onas brotherinlaw still supports stance caused lot damage dont money telling truth wouldnt accept miriori said telephone interview bougainville town arawa consortiums challenge based new mining laws introduced 2014 downgraded bcls mining rights exploration license gave landowners powerful rights minerals land acknowledge losses suffered panguna conflict miriori told reuters government authority mine negotiations payouts landowners duncan former barrister background mining law heads entity called central exploration half share consortium duncans consortium paying money described stipend landowners denies amounts bribery really talking people receiving couple thousand kina 608 month said duncan added money helps landowners travel find accommodation towns panguna negotiations take place bribery business said bcl claims support eight landowner groups bougainville interest project land rights covering access roads port site among areas though crucially mine site bcl chairman robert burns formerly worked rio tinto said bougainvilleans ones impacted duncans attempt gain control mine everyone frustrated impeded issue burns told reuters phone interview png capital port morseby financing doubts uncertainty going make difficult either group raise capital needed get mine restarted 2012 bcl estimated cost reopening 5 billion assets company would need secure mining rights tapping capital markets australian consortium may stronger position according hains 15 percent owner rtg said consortium strong access north american capital markets could redevelop panguna highly timely fashion stands bcl mine without support owners minerals duncans group project without road port rights well government support anthony regan constitutional lawyer australian national university adviser bougainville government said immediate outlook mine bleak need bougainville significant source revenue really autonomous independent become hopelessly enmeshed future panguna | 728 |
<p>Aides to President Donald Trump were in deep talks about how to defuse tensions between Qatar and other Arab nations when the door to the secure room at the White House burst open.</p>
<p>The urgent message: Trump had just tweeted about Qatar.</p>
<p>One adviser read the tweet aloud and with that, the policymakers in midconference call had no other choice but to rework their plans to reflect the president’s tweeted assertion that Qatar, host to some 11,000 U.S. troops, was funding terrorism.</p>
<p>It was an accusation against a close U.S. ally that had never been voiced so publicly and with such indelicacy.</p>
<p>The incident, relayed to The Associated Press by two people on the interagency call, offers a glimpse into the erratic business of crafting policy in the age of Donald Trump.</p>
<p>Where carefully crafted policies ideally precede public messaging, advisers now often scramble to reshape policy to catch up with the president’s tweets and public declarations.</p>
<p>On subjects from Qatar to Russia and, most recently, his surprise call for a ban on transgender people in the military, the president’s tendency to tweet his mind is blindsiding advisers and, in some cases, complicating or even upending administration policy.</p>
<p>“When presidential advisers are caught flat-footed by a policy announcement, the story tends to be about how the decision was made, not the decision itself,” said Bradley Blakeman, an adviser to former President George W. Bush. “It is a process and communications challenge.”</p>
<p>Policymakers worry that Trump’s tweets produce an inconsistent message. They’re hoping Trump’s selection this week of retired Marine Gen. John Kelly, known for his military discipline, to be White House chief of staff may help to streamline policymaking and convince the president that his tweets can create chaos when they’re at odds with administration policy.</p>
<p>Trump’s tweet about transgender policy last week made public a decision that military advisers had not agreed to.</p>
<p>Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, responded with an internal memo to military service chiefs stating that, for now, “there will be no modifications” to current policy.</p>
<p>The president’s tweet prompted some GOP lawmakers, including Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to speak out.</p>
<p>“I think generally speaking, it’s accepted you consult the secretary of defense before you make a decision that has to do with defending the nation,” McCain said.</p>
<p>Secretary of State Rex Tillerson signaled this week that Trump’s sometimes incendiary tweets are just “part of the environment in which we work.”</p>
<p>“We’ll adapt to it,” Tillerson said. “There’s a lot of unexpected things that happen to us in the world of diplomacy and we know how to adapt to that, we know how to work with it. I don’t view it as an obstacle, hindrance or as assistance. Whatever the president chooses to express, he expresses, and then that’s information to everybody — us included.”</p>
<p>Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian with the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, said that a public pronouncement that undermines existing policy “corrodes morale at the bureaus and agencies because they’re hearing their leader say things that they know aren’t true or can’t be implemented.”</p>
<p>“It creates a culture of mistrust within your administration,” he said. “That started happening with Nixon but that only happened in his last year when things started corroding all around him.”</p>
<p>While the president has generally been more cautious about declarations related to Russia, in July he proudly tweeted after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin about working with Moscow on “forming an impenetrable Cyber Security unit so that election hacking, &amp; many other negative things, will be guarded.”</p>
<p>The idea was widely and swiftly criticized, and the backtracking quickly commenced. First, Trump’s advisers defended the idea, then they cautioned that the cyber unit was just an idea floating around. Shortly thereafter, the president tweeted: “The fact that President Putin and I discussed a Cyber Security unit doesn’t mean I think it can happen. It can’t-but a ceasefire can, &amp; did!”</p>
<p>Trump has also made public pronouncements on Twitter about Afghanistan and Syria, but the U.S. policies toward those countries remain in flux as the administration attempts to find solutions to those conflicts while learning from the mistakes of past administrations.</p>
<p>And while disputes like the standoff over Qatar may be eased with a bit of skillful diplomacy, offhand tweets can risk major international incidents and raise legal issues in some cases.</p>
<p>For example, as conservative pressure builds for Trump to do away with the Obama-era Iran nuclear agreement, policymakers worry that the president might tweet something offensive about the fragile accord, jeopardizing any progress that has been made.</p>
<p>Trump’s tweets on health care policy seem to have caught the eye of judges on the federal court of appeals in Washington, who this week issued a procedural ruling counter to administration interests in a case involving billions of dollars in “Obamacare” subsidies.</p>
<p>In allowing a group of state attorneys general to intervene in the case, the appeals courts said states’ doubts that the administration could adequately defend their interests in court were fanned by “accumulating public statements by high-level officials … about a potential change in position.”</p>
<p>“He’s really a terrible client, President Trump is,” University of Michigan law professor Nicholas Bagley said. “The states point to his public statements and say, ‘Are you kidding me? We know the president is poised to throw us under the bus and we know because he said so.'”</p>
<p>Bill Galston, a former Clinton administration official now at The Brookings Institution, said there is a standard process in policymaking that most administrations strive to follow.</p>
<p>He cautioned: “If the president is not prepared to accept an orderly policy process with all of the restraints on individual conduct and behavior, then the new chief of staff will not have the power to implement policy.”</p> | false | 1 | aides president donald trump deep talks defuse tensions qatar arab nations door secure room white house burst open urgent message trump tweeted qatar one adviser read tweet aloud policymakers midconference call choice rework plans reflect presidents tweeted assertion qatar host 11000 us troops funding terrorism accusation close us ally never voiced publicly indelicacy incident relayed associated press two people interagency call offers glimpse erratic business crafting policy age donald trump carefully crafted policies ideally precede public messaging advisers often scramble reshape policy catch presidents tweets public declarations subjects qatar russia recently surprise call ban transgender people military presidents tendency tweet mind blindsiding advisers cases complicating even upending administration policy presidential advisers caught flatfooted policy announcement story tends decision made decision said bradley blakeman adviser former president george w bush process communications challenge policymakers worry trumps tweets produce inconsistent message theyre hoping trumps selection week retired marine gen john kelly known military discipline white house chief staff may help streamline policymaking convince president tweets create chaos theyre odds administration policy trumps tweet transgender policy last week made public decision military advisers agreed gen joseph dunford chairman joint chiefs staff responded internal memo military service chiefs stating modifications current policy presidents tweet prompted gop lawmakers including sen john mccain rariz speak think generally speaking accepted consult secretary defense make decision defending nation mccain said secretary state rex tillerson signaled week trumps sometimes incendiary tweets part environment work well adapt tillerson said theres lot unexpected things happen us world diplomacy know adapt know work dont view obstacle hindrance assistance whatever president chooses express expresses thats information everybody us included douglas brinkley presidential historian james baker iii institute public policy said public pronouncement undermines existing policy corrodes morale bureaus agencies theyre hearing leader say things know arent true cant implemented creates culture mistrust within administration said started happening nixon happened last year things started corroding around president generally cautious declarations related russia july proudly tweeted meeting russian president vladimir putin working moscow forming impenetrable cyber security unit election hacking amp many negative things guarded idea widely swiftly criticized backtracking quickly commenced first trumps advisers defended idea cautioned cyber unit idea floating around shortly thereafter president tweeted fact president putin discussed cyber security unit doesnt mean think happen cantbut ceasefire amp trump also made public pronouncements twitter afghanistan syria us policies toward countries remain flux administration attempts find solutions conflicts learning mistakes past administrations disputes like standoff qatar may eased bit skillful diplomacy offhand tweets risk major international incidents raise legal issues cases example conservative pressure builds trump away obamaera iran nuclear agreement policymakers worry president might tweet something offensive fragile accord jeopardizing progress made trumps tweets health care policy seem caught eye judges federal court appeals washington week issued procedural ruling counter administration interests case involving billions dollars obamacare subsidies allowing group state attorneys general intervene case appeals courts said states doubts administration could adequately defend interests court fanned accumulating public statements highlevel officials potential change position hes really terrible client president trump university michigan law professor nicholas bagley said states point public statements say kidding know president poised throw us bus know said bill galston former clinton administration official brookings institution said standard process policymaking administrations strive follow cautioned president prepared accept orderly policy process restraints individual conduct behavior new chief staff power implement policy | 552 |
<p />
<p>The third round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 is well under way in Geneva.&#160; Both proponents of peace and war are looking to the outcome of these negotiations with abated breath.&#160;&#160; Hope and fear abound, and the demands and expectations are a good indicator of the direction these talks are likely to take.&#160; Moreover, the key to understanding the potential of these talks is to review why Iran’s nuclear program is the subject of these negotiations in the first place.&#160;</p>
<p>The Road to Sanctions – and Talks</p>
<p>At the onset of the 1979 revolution, Iran abandoned its nuclear power program.&#160; However, the considerable damage to Iran’s infrastructure during the Iran-Iraq war, and the demand by the growing population prompted the Iranian government to revisit and resume its quest for nuclear power.&#160; It announced these intentions in 1982.&#160;&#160;&#160; Thereon, the United States made every attempt to stop Iran – unsuccessfully.</p>
<p>In 2002, Israel provided the means to place further obstacles in Iran’s path.&#160; It provided the MEK terrorist group a report indicating Iran had undertaken clandestine activities.[1]&#160; Iran came under scrutiny for building nuclear sites&#160; (which it was entitled to as an NPT member).&#160; In 2003, as an act of goodwill, Iran voluntary suspended its enrichment program for two years and allowed intrusive inspections in order to alleviate concerns over its peaceful nuclear program (The Iran-EU Agreement).</p>
<p>To understand what pursued, it is imperative to review the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) &#160;to which Iran is a signatory.&#160; The main pillars of the NPT are non-proliferation (Articles I &amp; II), disarmament (Article VI), and peaceful uses of nuclear energy (Articles III and IV). &#160;&#160;While Article IV reiterates the “inalienable right” of member states to research, develop, and use nuclear energy for non-weapons purposes, Article III demands that non-nuclear-weapon States party to the Treaty “undertake to accept safeguards, as set forth in an agreement to be negotiated and concluded with the International Atomic Energy Agency.”&#160; Iran concluded such and agreement with the IAEA.</p>
<p>There is consensus that Iran has not proliferated. In other words, it has not weaponized or helped another state weaponize, nor has it received or delivered weapons material from or to another state.&#160;&#160;&#160; This much is indisputable.&#160; Furthermore, in 2005, the IAEA reported that all declared fissile material in Iran had been accounted for, and none had been diverted. It has continued since to verify the non-diversion of nuclear material to any military aspect of its program in every report it issues.</p>
<p>Yet, contrary to its findings, and in direct conflict with the safeguard agreement it had concluded with Iran, specifically Article 19 (the Agency may refer Iran to the UN Security Council if it is “unable to verify that there has been no diversion of nuclear material required to be safeguarded under this agreement, to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices”), the IAEA reported that Iran had violated Tehran’s IAEA safeguards agreement.</p>
<p>What led to this decision was a push by the United States.&#160; This was made possible due to the fact that there is no definition of non-compliance.&#160; As the prominent Arms Control Association opines: “Surprisingly, although the IAEA Board of Governors has determined on five occasions that a state was in noncompliance with its NPT safeguards agreement—Iraq (1991), Romania (1992), North Korea (1993), Libya (2004), and Iran (2006)—there remains no established definition of noncompliance.”</p>
<p>It’s noteworthy that the United States contributes about 25% of the total IAEA Technical Cooperation budget.&#160;&#160; The lack of definition allowed flexibility to enforce a political motivation.&#160;&#160; America’s ability to impose its will was not limited to the IAEA.&#160; As former Assistant Secretary for Non-proliferation and International Security at the U.S. State Department, Stephen G. Rademaker, confirmed:&#160; “The best illustration of this is the two votes India cast against Iran at the IAEA. I am the first person to admit that the votes were coerced.”</p>
<p>Iran’s nuclear dossier was sent to the United Nations Security Council.&#160;&#160; Politics and America’s might prevailed at the expense of international treaties—and Iran.&#160;&#160; Sanctions—war by other means—were imposed on Iran.&#160; Numerous rounds of negotiations have only brought harsher sanctions—and progress in Iran’s civilian program.</p>
<p>Current Demands</p>
<p>According to Western sources, there have been three demands placed on Iran: 1) limiting the 3.5% enriched uranium, 2) suspension of 20% enriched uranium, 3) halting the construction of the Arak heavy water plant.&#160;&#160;&#160; It has also been reported that Iran is required to ratify the Additional Protocol.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Given that the talks hang on these issues, they must be explored.</p>
<p>Limitations on 3.5% enriched uranium</p>
<p>Uranium enriched below 5% is strictly used for fuel.&#160;&#160; There are several reasons why Iran has ‘drawn a red line’ on its right to enrich uranium:</p>
<p>“Bulletin 26 – Dual Use: Avoiding The Nuclear Precipice” of the International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation &#160;(INESAP) confirms that Iran’s share in the French uranium enrichment plant, Eurodif, and France’s refusal to supply Iran with its own enriched uranium for use in its power plants, which according to them, justifies Iran’s desire to exercise its inalienable right under Article IV of the NPT to enrich uranium indigenously versus importing from any other country.</p>
<p>As important, if not of more of a concern to Tehran, is the undeniable fact that prior to the Iranian revolution, the United States had signed National Security Decision Memorandums&#160; (NSDM) that demanded Iran to be a hub for enriching and distributing uranium to profit the United States.</p>
<p>Furthermore, given the rising demand and cost of uranium, Iran is being asked not to enrich its indigenous uranium, and instead be exploited. Iran has its own uranium, not to mention shares in a uranium mine in Africa.&#160; But it is being told to import enriched uranium from elsewhere. No doubt the cost of labor is cheaper in Iran than France! Iran is being asked to import its fuel needs at a higher cost to benefit the potential providers.</p>
<p>Suspension of 20% Enrichment</p>
<p>20% enriched uranium is used to produce medical isotopes.&#160;&#160; In a 1999 report by the Department of Energy two important issues stand out: a coming shortage in medical isotopes and a promise of new treatments such as ‘ isotopes for cancer therapy and pain control’.</p>
<p>There are simply not enough medical isotopes to meet demand.&#160;&#160;&#160; It is important to note that Iran uses LEU (low enriched uranium) of under 20% to produce medical isotopes.&#160; In sharp contrast, the United States supplies weapon-grade uranium (HEU, 90-percent 235U) to the Canadian radioisotope producers.&#160; Not only are there inherent dangers (and legal hurdles) in transporting weapons-grade material, but also the conversion of HEU to LEU is a feat in itself.</p>
<p>Demanding a stop to the production of medical isotopes in the face of growing demand and shortage reflects the callous nature of the demands being placed on Tehran.</p>
<p>The Arak Heavy Water Plant</p>
<p>The media, egged on by Western countries, has been quick to refer to Arak heavy water plant as a plutonium plant for making bombs.&#160;&#160; This is patently false.</p>
<p>Any reactor fueled by uranium can be used to produce Plutonium, including light water reactors. According to World Nuclear Association “Plutonium, both that routinely made in power reactors and that from dismantled nuclear weapons, is a valuable energy source when integrated into the nuclear fuel cycle.” &#160;Reactor grade plutonium is a by-product of typical used fuel from a nuclear reactor. Weapons grade plutonium is recovered from uranium fuel that has been irradiated 2-3 months in a plutonium production reactor.&#160;</p>
<p>It is worth mentioning here that Japan, a close American ally, has more plutonium than any other non-weapons state, with enough plutonium stored in Japan to build 1,000 weapons.&#160;&#160; In fact, the United States circumvented laws to provide Japan with plutonium.</p>
<p>Arak is a heavy water reactor (HWR) of the type highly recommended by the IAEA.&#160; A 2002 IAEA publication encouraged the use of heavy water reactors stating: “HWR technology offers fuel flexibility, low operating costs and a high level of safety, and therefore represents an important option for countries considering nuclear power programmes.”&#160; Contrary to NPT commitments, the Treaty is being used as a political tool ‘doling out’ assistance to chosen allies, while depriving others.</p>
<p>Geneva 3</p>
<p>The current negotiations are said to be a ‘beginning’ in which Iran has to meet the above demands in exchange for ‘some easing of sanctions’, and with ‘all options on the table’.&#160;&#160; This cowboy diplomacy has been in the making for years.</p>
<p>In 2007, while still a junior senator, Barack Obama had “crippling sanctions” in mind for the Iranian people when he introduced S. 1430 in 2007. &#160;&#160;His commitment caught the attention of AIPAC’s president and a major donor to his campaign: Lee Rosenberg.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; In 2008, during his presidential run, he addressed AIPAC:</p>
<p>“Our willingness to pursue diplomacy will make it easier to join our cause.&#160; &#160;If Iran fails to change course when presented with this choice by the United States it will be clear to the people of Iran and to the world that the Iranian regime is the author of its own isolation and that will strengthen our hand with Russia and China as we insist on stronger sanctions in the Security Council.”</p>
<p>But Mr. Obama’s vision is as limited as his knowledge of Iranians.&#160; During the Iran-Iraq war, isolated, disarrayed, and reeling from a revolution, Iran repelled not only Iraq’s attacks, but all its backers including America, European, and Arab states.&#160; Today, Iran is in a much stronger position not only by virtue of its defense forces, its determination and accomplishments, but also due to its relations with the outside world. Iran has the full backing of the Non-Aligned Movement’s (NAM) 120 countries as well as powerful allies including&#160; Russia.</p>
<p>These negotiations present a unique opportunity—not for the United States, but for the revival of international law and treaties, and the rejection if imperialism.&#160;&#160; Let us hope that the opportunity is not plundered.</p> | false | 1 | third round nuclear negotiations iran p51 well way geneva160 proponents peace war looking outcome negotiations abated breath160160 hope fear abound demands expectations good indicator direction talks likely take160 moreover key understanding potential talks review irans nuclear program subject negotiations first place160 road sanctions talks onset 1979 revolution iran abandoned nuclear power program160 however considerable damage irans infrastructure iraniraq war demand growing population prompted iranian government revisit resume quest nuclear power160 announced intentions 1982160160160 thereon united states made every attempt stop iran unsuccessfully 2002 israel provided means place obstacles irans path160 provided mek terrorist group report indicating iran undertaken clandestine activities1160 iran came scrutiny building nuclear sites160 entitled npt member160 2003 act goodwill iran voluntary suspended enrichment program two years allowed intrusive inspections order alleviate concerns peaceful nuclear program iraneu agreement understand pursued imperative review nuclear nonproliferation treaty npt 160to iran signatory160 main pillars npt nonproliferation articles amp ii disarmament article vi peaceful uses nuclear energy articles iii iv 160160while article iv reiterates inalienable right member states research develop use nuclear energy nonweapons purposes article iii demands nonnuclearweapon states party treaty undertake accept safeguards set forth agreement negotiated concluded international atomic energy agency160 iran concluded agreement iaea consensus iran proliferated words weaponized helped another state weaponize received delivered weapons material another state160160160 much indisputable160 furthermore 2005 iaea reported declared fissile material iran accounted none diverted continued since verify nondiversion nuclear material military aspect program every report issues yet contrary findings direct conflict safeguard agreement concluded iran specifically article 19 agency may refer iran un security council unable verify diversion nuclear material required safeguarded agreement nuclear weapons nuclear explosive devices iaea reported iran violated tehrans iaea safeguards agreement led decision push united states160 made possible due fact definition noncompliance160 prominent arms control association opines surprisingly although iaea board governors determined five occasions state noncompliance npt safeguards agreementiraq 1991 romania 1992 north korea 1993 libya 2004 iran 2006there remains established definition noncompliance noteworthy united states contributes 25 total iaea technical cooperation budget160160 lack definition allowed flexibility enforce political motivation160160 americas ability impose limited iaea160 former assistant secretary nonproliferation international security us state department stephen g rademaker confirmed160 best illustration two votes india cast iran iaea first person admit votes coerced irans nuclear dossier sent united nations security council160160 politics americas might prevailed expense international treatiesand iran160160 sanctionswar meanswere imposed iran160 numerous rounds negotiations brought harsher sanctionsand progress irans civilian program current demands according western sources three demands placed iran 1 limiting 35 enriched uranium 2 suspension 20 enriched uranium 3 halting construction arak heavy water plant160160160 also reported iran required ratify additional protocol160160160160 given talks hang issues must explored limitations 35 enriched uranium uranium enriched 5 strictly used fuel160160 several reasons iran drawn red line right enrich uranium bulletin 26 dual use avoiding nuclear precipice international network engineers scientists proliferation 160inesap confirms irans share french uranium enrichment plant eurodif frances refusal supply iran enriched uranium use power plants according justifies irans desire exercise inalienable right article iv npt enrich uranium indigenously versus importing country important concern tehran undeniable fact prior iranian revolution united states signed national security decision memorandums160 nsdm demanded iran hub enriching distributing uranium profit united states furthermore given rising demand cost uranium iran asked enrich indigenous uranium instead exploited iran uranium mention shares uranium mine africa160 told import enriched uranium elsewhere doubt cost labor cheaper iran france iran asked import fuel needs higher cost benefit potential providers suspension 20 enrichment 20 enriched uranium used produce medical isotopes160160 1999 report department energy two important issues stand coming shortage medical isotopes promise new treatments isotopes cancer therapy pain control simply enough medical isotopes meet demand160160160 important note iran uses leu low enriched uranium 20 produce medical isotopes160 sharp contrast united states supplies weapongrade uranium heu 90percent 235u canadian radioisotope producers160 inherent dangers legal hurdles transporting weaponsgrade material also conversion heu leu feat demanding stop production medical isotopes face growing demand shortage reflects callous nature demands placed tehran arak heavy water plant media egged western countries quick refer arak heavy water plant plutonium plant making bombs160160 patently false reactor fueled uranium used produce plutonium including light water reactors according world nuclear association plutonium routinely made power reactors dismantled nuclear weapons valuable energy source integrated nuclear fuel cycle 160reactor grade plutonium byproduct typical used fuel nuclear reactor weapons grade plutonium recovered uranium fuel irradiated 23 months plutonium production reactor160 worth mentioning japan close american ally plutonium nonweapons state enough plutonium stored japan build 1000 weapons160160 fact united states circumvented laws provide japan plutonium arak heavy water reactor hwr type highly recommended iaea160 2002 iaea publication encouraged use heavy water reactors stating hwr technology offers fuel flexibility low operating costs high level safety therefore represents important option countries considering nuclear power programmes160 contrary npt commitments treaty used political tool doling assistance chosen allies depriving others geneva 3 current negotiations said beginning iran meet demands exchange easing sanctions options table160160 cowboy diplomacy making years 2007 still junior senator barack obama crippling sanctions mind iranian people introduced 1430 2007 160160his commitment caught attention aipacs president major donor campaign lee rosenberg160160160160 2008 presidential run addressed aipac willingness pursue diplomacy make easier join cause160 160if iran fails change course presented choice united states clear people iran world iranian regime author isolation strengthen hand russia china insist stronger sanctions security council mr obamas vision limited knowledge iranians160 iraniraq war isolated disarrayed reeling revolution iran repelled iraqs attacks backers including america european arab states160 today iran much stronger position virtue defense forces determination accomplishments also due relations outside world iran full backing nonaligned movements nam 120 countries well powerful allies including160 russia negotiations present unique opportunitynot united states revival international law treaties rejection imperialism160160 let us hope opportunity plundered | 948 |
<p>Blackwater before drinking water</p>
<p>1. Bless the President for having rescue teams in the air almost immediately. That was President Olafur Grimsson of Iceland. On Wednesday, the AP reported that the President of the United States promised, “The initial contingent of 2,000 Marines could be deployed to the quake-ravaged country within the next few days.” “In a few days,” Mr. Obama?</p>
<p>2. There’s no such thing as a ‘natural’ disaster. 200,000 Haitians have been slaughtered by slum housing and IMF “austerity” plans.</p>
<p>3. A friend of mine called. Do I know a journalist who could get medicine to her father? And she added, trying to hold her voice together, “My sister, she’s under the rubble. Is anyone going who can help, anyone?” Should I tell her, “Obama will have Marines there in ‘a few days'”?</p>
<p>4. China deployed rescuers with sniffer dogs within 48 hours. China, Mr. President. China: 8,000 miles distant. Miami: 700 miles close. US bases in Puerto Rico: right there.</p>
<p>5. Obama’s Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, “I don’t know how this government could have responded faster or more comprehensively than it has.” We know Gates doesn’t know.</p>
<p>6. From my own work in the field, I know that FEMA has access to ready-to-go potable water, generators, mobile medical equipment and more for hurricane relief on the Gulf Coast. It’s all still there. Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, who served as the task force commander for emergency response after Hurricane Katrina, told the Christian Science Monitor, “I thought we had learned that from Katrina, take food and water and start evacuating people.” Maybe we learned but, apparently, Gates and the Defense Department missed school that day.</p>
<p>7. Send in the Marines. That’s America’s response. That’s what we’re good at. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson finally showed up after three days. With what? It was dramatically deployed — without any emergency relief supplies. It has sidewinder missiles and 19 helicopters.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">&lt;img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2720" style="margin: 5px;" title="iceland_cr" src="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/iceland_cr-300x241.png" alt="" width="300" height="241" srcset="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/iceland_cr-300x241.png 300w, https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/iceland_cr-497x400.png 497w, https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/iceland_cr-80x63.png 80w, https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/iceland_cr-500x402.png 500w, https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/iceland_cr-273x220.png 273w, https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/iceland_cr-638x513.png 638w, https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/iceland_cr-118x94.png 118w, https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/iceland_cr-479x385.png 479w, https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/iceland_cr.png 761w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /&gt;</a>8. But don’t worry, the International Search and Rescue Team, fully equipped and self-sufficient for up to seven days in the field, deployed immediately with ten metric tons of tools and equipment, three tons of water, tents, advanced communication equipment and water purifying capability. They’re from Iceland.</p>
<p>9. Gates wouldn’t send in food and water because, he said, there was no “structure … to provide security.” For Gates, appointed by Bush and allowed to hang around by Obama, it’s security first. That was his lesson from Hurricane Katrina. Blackwater before drinking water.</p>
<p>10. Previous US presidents have acted far more swiftly in getting troops on the ground on that island. Haiti is the right half of the island of Hispaniola. It’s treated like the right testicle of Hell. The Dominican Republic the left. In 1965, when Dominicans demanded the return of Juan Bosch, their elected President, deposed by a junta, Lyndon Johnson reacted to this crisis rapidly, landing 45,000 US Marines on the beaches to prevent the return of the elected president.</p>
<p>11. How did Haiti end up so economically weakened, with infrastructure, from hospitals to water systems, busted or non-existent – there are two fire stations in the entire nation – and infrastructure so frail that the nation was simply waiting for “nature” to finish it off?</p>
<p>Don’t blame Mother Nature for all this death and destruction. That dishonor goes to Papa Doc and Baby Doc, the Duvalier dictatorship, which looted the nation for 28 years. Papa and his Baby put an estimated 80% of world aid into their own pockets – with the complicity of the US government happy to have the Duvaliers and their voodoo militia, Tonton Macoutes, as allies in the Cold War. (The war was easily won: the Duvaliers’ death squads murdered as many as 60,000 opponents of the regime.)</p>
<p>12. What Papa and Baby didn’t run off with, the IMF finished off through its “austerity” plans. An austerity plan is a form of voodoo orchestrated by economists zomby-fied by an irrational belief that cutting government services will somehow help a nation prosper.</p>
<p>13. In 1991, five years after the murderous Baby fled, Haitians elected a priest, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who resisted the IMF’s austerity diktats. Within months, the military, to the applause of Papa George HW Bush, deposed him. History repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce. The farce was George W. Bush. In 2004, after the priest Aristide was re-elected President, he was kidnapped and removed again, to the applause of Baby Bush.</p>
<p>14. Haiti was once a wealthy nation, the wealthiest in the hemisphere, worth more, wrote Voltaire in the 18th century, than that rocky, cold colony known as New England. Haiti’s wealth was in black gold: slaves. But then the slaves rebelled – and have been paying for it ever since.</p>
<p>From 1825 to 1947, France forced Haiti to pay an annual fee to reimburse the profits lost by French slaveholders caused by their slaves’ successful uprising. Rather than enslave individual Haitians, France thought it more efficient to simply enslave the entire nation.</p>
<p>15. Secretary Gates tells us, “There are just some certain facts of life that affect how quickly you can do some of these things.” The Navy’s hospital boat will be there in, oh, a week or so. Heckuva job, Brownie!</p>
<p>16. Note just received from my friend. Her sister was found, dead; and her other sister had to bury her. Her father needs his anti-seizure medicines. That’s a fact of life too, Mr. President.</p>
<p>Through our journalism network, we are trying to get my friend’s medicines to her father. If any reader does have someone getting into or near Port-au-Prince, please contact <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> immediately.</p>
<p>Urgently recommended reading – The Black Jacobins: Toussaint L’Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution, the history of the successful slave uprising in Hispaniola by the brilliant CLR James.</p> | false | 1 | blackwater drinking water 1 bless president rescue teams air almost immediately president olafur grimsson iceland wednesday ap reported president united states promised initial contingent 2000 marines could deployed quakeravaged country within next days days mr obama 2 theres thing natural disaster 200000 haitians slaughtered slum housing imf austerity plans 3 friend mine called know journalist could get medicine father added trying hold voice together sister shes rubble anyone going help anyone tell obama marines days 4 china deployed rescuers sniffer dogs within 48 hours china mr president china 8000 miles distant miami 700 miles close us bases puerto rico right 5 obamas defense secretary robert gates said dont know government could responded faster comprehensively know gates doesnt know 6 work field know fema access readytogo potable water generators mobile medical equipment hurricane relief gulf coast still army lt gen russel honoré served task force commander emergency response hurricane katrina told christian science monitor thought learned katrina take food water start evacuating people maybe learned apparently gates defense department missed school day 7 send marines thats americas response thats good aircraft carrier uss carl vinson finally showed three days dramatically deployed without emergency relief supplies sidewinder missiles 19 helicopters ltimg classalignleft sizemedium wpimage2720 stylemargin 5px titleiceland_cr srchttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201001iceland_cr300x241png alt width300 height241 srcsethttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201001iceland_cr300x241png 300w httpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201001iceland_cr497x400png 497w httpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201001iceland_cr80x63png 80w httpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201001iceland_cr500x402png 500w httpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201001iceland_cr273x220png 273w httpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201001iceland_cr638x513png 638w httpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201001iceland_cr118x94png 118w httpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201001iceland_cr479x385png 479w httpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201001iceland_crpng 761w sizesmaxwidth 300px 100vw 300px gt8 dont worry international search rescue team fully equipped selfsufficient seven days field deployed immediately ten metric tons tools equipment three tons water tents advanced communication equipment water purifying capability theyre iceland 9 gates wouldnt send food water said structure provide security gates appointed bush allowed hang around obama security first lesson hurricane katrina blackwater drinking water 10 previous us presidents acted far swiftly getting troops ground island haiti right half island hispaniola treated like right testicle hell dominican republic left 1965 dominicans demanded return juan bosch elected president deposed junta lyndon johnson reacted crisis rapidly landing 45000 us marines beaches prevent return elected president 11 haiti end economically weakened infrastructure hospitals water systems busted nonexistent two fire stations entire nation infrastructure frail nation simply waiting nature finish dont blame mother nature death destruction dishonor goes papa doc baby doc duvalier dictatorship looted nation 28 years papa baby put estimated 80 world aid pockets complicity us government happy duvaliers voodoo militia tonton macoutes allies cold war war easily duvaliers death squads murdered many 60000 opponents regime 12 papa baby didnt run imf finished austerity plans austerity plan form voodoo orchestrated economists zombyfied irrational belief cutting government services somehow help nation prosper 13 1991 five years murderous baby fled haitians elected priest jeanbertrand aristide resisted imfs austerity diktats within months military applause papa george hw bush deposed history repeats first tragedy farce farce george w bush 2004 priest aristide reelected president kidnapped removed applause baby bush 14 haiti wealthy nation wealthiest hemisphere worth wrote voltaire 18th century rocky cold colony known new england haitis wealth black gold slaves slaves rebelled paying ever since 1825 1947 france forced haiti pay annual fee reimburse profits lost french slaveholders caused slaves successful uprising rather enslave individual haitians france thought efficient simply enslave entire nation 15 secretary gates tells us certain facts life affect quickly things navys hospital boat oh week heckuva job brownie 16 note received friend sister found dead sister bury father needs antiseizure medicines thats fact life mr president journalism network trying get friends medicines father reader someone getting near portauprince please contact haitigregpalastcom immediately urgently recommended reading black jacobins toussaint louverture san domingo revolution history successful slave uprising hispaniola brilliant clr james | 602 |
<p>Awavena (U.S.-Australia-Brazil – Lead Artist: Lynette Wallworth, Key Collaborators: Nicole Newnham, Tashka Yawanawa, Laura Soriano de Yawanawa) The Yawanawa, an indigenous Amazonian people, see immersive technologies as tools they can co-opt to share their connected worldview. Inviting artist Lynette Wallworth to their community, the Yawanawa share the visions of Hushahu, their first woman Shaman, and our technology renders visible the luminous world they have always known. Cast: Hushahu Yawanawa, Tata Yawanawa, Mutum Community.</p>
<p>Deep Astronomy and the Romantic Sciences (Director and screenwriter: Cory McAbee, Producers: Cory McAbee, Daryle Conners, Steve Holmgren, Richard Cole) — A live sci-fi event, presented in the form of two master‘s classes, featuring music, animation and artwork. Topics include the colonization of other planets, sentimentality reform, transdimensional drifting, the proper way to view the universe and the reason that humans exist.Cast: Cory McAbee.</p>
<p>Experience Realistic Touch in Virtual Reality (Lead Artists: Andrew Mitrak, Greg Bilsland, Joe Michaels, Jake Rubin, Key Collaborator: Dr. Bob Crockett) — HaptX brings realistic touch to virtual reality for the first time. The innovative technology lets VR users feel the shape, movement, texture and temperature of digital objects. By providing advanced haptic feedback and natural interaction, HaptX enables unprecedented levels of realism in virtual experiences.</p>
<p>Organ Player (Director and screenwriter: Narcissister) — This hybrid performance/documentary film explores how ancestral data is stored in our bodies, impacting the lives we lead. On the personal level, the film investigates how the artist’s complex family history compelled them to create the masked, erotic performance character Narcissister. Cast: Narcissister, Sarah Lumpkin, Oscar Lumpkin, Bernard Lumpkin, Carmine Boccuzzi.</p>
<p>(Star) (Austria – Lead Artist: Johann Lurf) — This film, compiling shots of clear night-time skies from throughout film history in chronological order, reveals that what humans may regard as an absolute image is actually quite unstable. This instability occurs not only of evolving technological parameters, but also as a result of period- specific trends in culture.</p>
<p>A Thousand Thoughts (Directors and screenwriters: Sam Green, Joe Bini, Producers: Janet Cowperthwaite, Sam Green, Josh Penn) — A live cinema portrait of the legendary classical music group the Kronos Quartet. Green narrates the film and Kronos performs the soundtrack live. A meditation on music itself – the act of listening closely to music, the experience of feeling music deeply, and the power of music to change the world. Cast: David Harrington, John Sherba, Hank Dutt, Sunny Yang.</p>
<p>Frankenstein AI: A Monster Made by Many (Lead Artists: Lance Weiler, Nick Fortugno, Rachel Ginsberg, Key Collaborators: Nick Childs, Hunter Owens, Brandon Powers) — By challenging dystopian perspectives around Artificial Intelligence, this immersive experience reimagines Shelley‘s seminal work to examine the cultural ramifications of pervasive, ubiquitous technology. Participants interact with an artificial intelligence, co-creating a shared narrative around the implications of unleashing this naive, intelligent “monster,‖ both mythical and imminent, into the world.</p>
<p>TendAR (Lead Artists: Samantha Gorman, Danny Cannizzaro) — A humorous and provocative installation that combines interactive storytelling, AR and emotion/face recognition technology to promote discussion about current topics in biometric data and artificial intelligence. Your guide: a fish-like creature who amusingly analyzes the partners collaborating in the experience, their emotions and the world around them.</p>
<p>BattleScar (U.S.-France, Lead Artists: Martin Allais, Nico Casavecchia, Key Collaborators: Arnaud Colinart, Raphael Penasa, Andrew Geller, René Pinell) — New York City, 1978: When Lupe, a Puerto Rican-American teen, meets fellow runaway Debbie, the Bowery’s punk scene and the Lower East Side are their playground. This coming-of-age narrative explores identity through animation and immersive environments as Lupe’s handwritten journals guide users through her year. Cast: Rosario Dawson.</p>
<p>Chorus (Lead Artist: Tyler Hurd, Key Collaborators: Chris Milk, Megan Ellison, Justice) — Crystals, lasers, monsters, heroines. Transform into fantastical female warriors in this social virtual reality experience. Six people can band together to battle evil in this epic journey of empowerment, all orchestrated to the song “Chorus” by Justice.</p>
<p>DICKGIRL 3D(X) (U.K. – Lead Artist: Sidsel Meineche Hansen, Key Collaborator: James B Stringer) — DICKGIRL 3D(X) is the non-binary version of EVA v3.0, an avatar purchased online and appropriated by the artist. Through DICKGIRL 3D(X), the viewer becomes a post-human pleasure-seeker in an encounter with a submissive clay-like sculpture.</p>
<p>Elastic Time / Switzerland (Lead Artist: Mark Boulos, Key Collaborators: Robin Mange, Javier Bello Ruiz) — A mixed reality interactive documentary about space-time, narrated by astronomer Tony Stark (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics). A real-time hologram of your body is integrated into the observatory room; using the controllers, you bend space and time to your will, creating black holes, wormholes and time portals. Cast: Tony Stark.</p>
<p>Hero (Lead Artists: Navid Khonsari, Vassiliki Khonsari, Key Collaborators: Brooks Brown, Mark Harwood, Sinclair Fleming) — An immersive, large-scale installation that explores humanity in our modern era of civilian warfare. In this vérité VR experience with multi-sensory engagement, participants embark upon their own primal journey. When everyday life is disrupted by profound crisis only human connection can inspire hope. Cast: Masoume Khonsari, Perla Daoud, Samer Sakka, Sam Sako, Said Faraj, Sue Shaheen.</p>
<p>Spheres: Songs of Spacetime (Lead Artist: Eliza McNitt, Key Collaborators: Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, Jess Engel, Arnaud Colinart) — Dive into the heart of a black hole and uncover the hidden songs of the cosmos. In this interactive VR experience, the breakthrough discovery of gravitational waves transforms how we see the Universe. Fall into the darkness, and you will find the light.</p>
<p>VR_I / Switzerland (Lead Artists: Gilles Jobin, Caecilia Charbonnier, Sylvain Chagué, Key Collaborators: Jean- Paul Lespagnard, Carla Scaletti, Camilo De Martino) — Blending art with technology, VR_I resulted from the encounter between Swiss choreographer Gilles Jobin and the founders of Artanim, Caecilia Charbonnier and Sylvain Chagué. In this contemplative virtual dance piece, five spectators, immersed together and in real time, use avatars to investigate a performance among surprising effects of scale. Cast: Susana Panadés Diaz, Victoria Chiu, Diya Naidu, Gilles Jobin, Tidiani N’Diaye.</p>
<p>Wolves in the Walls (Chapter 1) (Lead Artists: Pete Billington, Jessica Shamash, Key Collaborators: Edward Saatchi, Saschka Unseld, Jennine Willett, Zach Morris) — All is not as it seems when 8-year-old Lucy‘s imagination proves to be reality. Help her discover what’s hiding inside the walls of her house in this immersive fable, based on the work by Neil Gaiman, and choreographed by New York‘s critically acclaimed immersive theater company, Third Rail. Cast: Elisa Davis, Elizabeth Carena, Cadence Goblirsch</p>
<p>Zikr: A Sufi Revival (Lead Artists: Gabo Arora, John Fitzgerald, Matthew Niederhauser, Key Collaborators: Selim Bensedrine, Igal Nassima, Jennifer Tiexiera, Wilson Brown) — This interactive social VR experience uses song and dance to transport four participants into ecstatic Sufi rituals, while also exploring the motivations behind followers of this mystical Islamic tradition, still observed by millions around the world.</p>
<p>Dinner Party (Lead Artists: Charlotte Stoudt, Laura Wexler, Angel Manuel Soto, Key Collaborators: Rachel Skidmore, Bryn Mooser, Erik Donley) — A short virtual reality thriller that dramatizes the incredible story of Betty and Barney Hill, who in the 1960’s reported the first nationally known UFO abduction case in America. Cast: Malcolm Barrett, Sarah Sokolovic.</p>
<p>Dispatch (Lead Artist: Edward Robles) — A small-town police dispatcher faces the greatest challenge of his career during an all-night crime spree. Cast: Martin Starr, Julianna Guill, Graham Shiels, Beth Grant, Samuel Stricklen, Kelly Jenrette.</p>
<p>Eyes in the Red Wind (S. Korea – Lead Artists: Sngmoo Lee, Jongmin kim, Youngsam Jung, Key Collaborators: Jaehyun Park, Myuonggoo Ji, Youngsik Yu) — Friends and family members gather to throw a ̳soul scooping‘ ritual, to pacify the soul of a drowned man. When a possessed shaman reveals the murderous truth behind the death on the table, lust and secrets come to the fore. Cast: Sungmi Kim, Jaehyun Kim, Jeongmi Lee, Nara Kim.</p>
<p>Masters of the Sun (Lead Artists: will.i.am, apl de ap, Taboo, Key Collaborators: Pasha Shapiro, Ernst Weber, Sara Ramaker, Eddie Axley) — In 1983, Los Angeles was spared from utter destruction driven by an ancient evil. The ghetto became ground zero for drug epidemic that transformed citizens into soul-sucking zombies through Z-Drops, until a ragtag crew used one weapon to take their city back: hip-hop. Cast: Rakim, Queen Latifah, Jason Isaacs, Stan Lee, KRS-One, Slick Rick.</p>
<p>Micro Giants (China – Lead Artist: Yifu Zhou, Key Collaborators: Teng Wang, Shuyi Qiao, Jia Zhang) — A computer-generated VR experience that gives an unprecedented and highly engaging perspective of insect life. When participantsenter into the micro world, tiny flowers and insects in normal life now become mighty trees and beasts. Cast: Pantawit Kiangsiri.</p>
<p>On My Way (Lead Artist: Yung Jake, Key Collaborators: Mike Rosenstien, Ari Kuschnir, Andrew Schwartz) — In a Tesla, multiple Yung Jakes rap about money, cars, drugs and things of that nature, among interactive elements. Cast: Yung Jake.</p>
<p>Space Explorers: A New Dawn (Canada-U.S. – Lead Artists: Paul Raphaël, Felix Lajeunesse, Key Collaborators: Morgan Spurlock, Ryan Horrigan, Stéphane Rituit) Experience the journey of NASA astronauts as they navigate the trials and sacrifices of their training and missions. An immersive VR experience that shines a light on mankind‘s most ambitious endeavor to understand our planet, our universe and our origins. Cast: Jessica Chastain, Jeanette Epps, Jessica Meir, Victor Glover, Michael Gernhardt.</p>
<p>The Sun Ladies VR (Lead Artists: Maria Bello, Celine Tricart, Christian Stephen, Key Collaborators: Wesley Allsbrook, Tim Gedemer, Mark Simpson) An in-depth look at the personal journey of Xate Singali: from her roots as a famous singer in Kurdistan, through ISIS sex slavery, and to her new life as a soldier on the front lines as she starts a female-only Iraqi fighting unit called the Sun Ladies. Cast: Maria Bello.</p>
<p>The Summation of Force (Australia – Lead Artists: Narelle Autio, Trent Parke, Matthew Bate, Key Collaborator: Anton Andreacchio) — In a moonlit suburban yard, two brothers battle one another in a mythic game of cricket. A study of the motion, physics and psychology of elite sport; a cosmic, dreamlike and darkly beautiful metaphor for life. Cast: Jem Autio Parke, Dash Autio Parke.</p>
<p>Your Spiritual Temple Sucks (Taiwan – Lead Artist: John Hsu) — Mr. Chang arrives to his ―Spiritual Temple,‖ a place that represents one‘s destiny. To solve his marital crisis and financial problems, he summons his guardian – The Thunder God. They attempt to tidy his life, which turns out to be a big mistake…with hilarious consequences. Cast: Ctwo, Sun Ke-Fang, Han Chang, Andy Tsai, Wei Hao Tseng, Liu Kuan-Ting.</p> | false | 1 | awavena usaustraliabrazil lead artist lynette wallworth key collaborators nicole newnham tashka yawanawa laura soriano de yawanawa yawanawa indigenous amazonian people see immersive technologies tools coopt share connected worldview inviting artist lynette wallworth community yawanawa share visions hushahu first woman shaman technology renders visible luminous world always known cast hushahu yawanawa tata yawanawa mutum community deep astronomy romantic sciences director screenwriter cory mcabee producers cory mcabee daryle conners steve holmgren richard cole live scifi event presented form two masters classes featuring music animation artwork topics include colonization planets sentimentality reform transdimensional drifting proper way view universe reason humans existcast cory mcabee experience realistic touch virtual reality lead artists andrew mitrak greg bilsland joe michaels jake rubin key collaborator dr bob crockett haptx brings realistic touch virtual reality first time innovative technology lets vr users feel shape movement texture temperature digital objects providing advanced haptic feedback natural interaction haptx enables unprecedented levels realism virtual experiences organ player director screenwriter narcissister hybrid performancedocumentary film explores ancestral data stored bodies impacting lives lead personal level film investigates artists complex family history compelled create masked erotic performance character narcissister cast narcissister sarah lumpkin oscar lumpkin bernard lumpkin carmine boccuzzi star austria lead artist johann lurf film compiling shots clear nighttime skies throughout film history chronological order reveals humans may regard absolute image actually quite unstable instability occurs evolving technological parameters also result period specific trends culture thousand thoughts directors screenwriters sam green joe bini producers janet cowperthwaite sam green josh penn live cinema portrait legendary classical music group kronos quartet green narrates film kronos performs soundtrack live meditation music act listening closely music experience feeling music deeply power music change world cast david harrington john sherba hank dutt sunny yang frankenstein ai monster made many lead artists lance weiler nick fortugno rachel ginsberg key collaborators nick childs hunter owens brandon powers challenging dystopian perspectives around artificial intelligence immersive experience reimagines shelleys seminal work examine cultural ramifications pervasive ubiquitous technology participants interact artificial intelligence cocreating shared narrative around implications unleashing naive intelligent monster mythical imminent world tendar lead artists samantha gorman danny cannizzaro humorous provocative installation combines interactive storytelling ar emotionface recognition technology promote discussion current topics biometric data artificial intelligence guide fishlike creature amusingly analyzes partners collaborating experience emotions world around battlescar usfrance lead artists martin allais nico casavecchia key collaborators arnaud colinart raphael penasa andrew geller rené pinell new york city 1978 lupe puerto ricanamerican teen meets fellow runaway debbie bowerys punk scene lower east side playground comingofage narrative explores identity animation immersive environments lupes handwritten journals guide users year cast rosario dawson chorus lead artist tyler hurd key collaborators chris milk megan ellison justice crystals lasers monsters heroines transform fantastical female warriors social virtual reality experience six people band together battle evil epic journey empowerment orchestrated song chorus justice dickgirl 3dx uk lead artist sidsel meineche hansen key collaborator james b stringer dickgirl 3dx nonbinary version eva v30 avatar purchased online appropriated artist dickgirl 3dx viewer becomes posthuman pleasureseeker encounter submissive claylike sculpture elastic time switzerland lead artist mark boulos key collaborators robin mange javier bello ruiz mixed reality interactive documentary spacetime narrated astronomer tony stark harvardsmithsonian center astrophysics realtime hologram body integrated observatory room using controllers bend space time creating black holes wormholes time portals cast tony stark hero lead artists navid khonsari vassiliki khonsari key collaborators brooks brown mark harwood sinclair fleming immersive largescale installation explores humanity modern era civilian warfare vérité vr experience multisensory engagement participants embark upon primal journey everyday life disrupted profound crisis human connection inspire hope cast masoume khonsari perla daoud samer sakka sam sako said faraj sue shaheen spheres songs spacetime lead artist eliza mcnitt key collaborators darren aronofsky ari handel jess engel arnaud colinart dive heart black hole uncover hidden songs cosmos interactive vr experience breakthrough discovery gravitational waves transforms see universe fall darkness find light vr_i switzerland lead artists gilles jobin caecilia charbonnier sylvain chagué key collaborators jean paul lespagnard carla scaletti camilo de martino blending art technology vr_i resulted encounter swiss choreographer gilles jobin founders artanim caecilia charbonnier sylvain chagué contemplative virtual dance piece five spectators immersed together real time use avatars investigate performance among surprising effects scale cast susana panadés diaz victoria chiu diya naidu gilles jobin tidiani ndiaye wolves walls chapter 1 lead artists pete billington jessica shamash key collaborators edward saatchi saschka unseld jennine willett zach morris seems 8yearold lucys imagination proves reality help discover whats hiding inside walls house immersive fable based work neil gaiman choreographed new yorks critically acclaimed immersive theater company third rail cast elisa davis elizabeth carena cadence goblirsch zikr sufi revival lead artists gabo arora john fitzgerald matthew niederhauser key collaborators selim bensedrine igal nassima jennifer tiexiera wilson brown interactive social vr experience uses song dance transport four participants ecstatic sufi rituals also exploring motivations behind followers mystical islamic tradition still observed millions around world dinner party lead artists charlotte stoudt laura wexler angel manuel soto key collaborators rachel skidmore bryn mooser erik donley short virtual reality thriller dramatizes incredible story betty barney hill 1960s reported first nationally known ufo abduction case america cast malcolm barrett sarah sokolovic dispatch lead artist edward robles smalltown police dispatcher faces greatest challenge career allnight crime spree cast martin starr julianna guill graham shiels beth grant samuel stricklen kelly jenrette eyes red wind korea lead artists sngmoo lee jongmin kim youngsam jung key collaborators jaehyun park myuonggoo ji youngsik yu friends family members gather throw soul scooping ritual pacify soul drowned man possessed shaman reveals murderous truth behind death table lust secrets come fore cast sungmi kim jaehyun kim jeongmi lee nara kim masters sun lead artists william apl de ap taboo key collaborators pasha shapiro ernst weber sara ramaker eddie axley 1983 los angeles spared utter destruction driven ancient evil ghetto became ground zero drug epidemic transformed citizens soulsucking zombies zdrops ragtag crew used one weapon take city back hiphop cast rakim queen latifah jason isaacs stan lee krsone slick rick micro giants china lead artist yifu zhou key collaborators teng wang shuyi qiao jia zhang computergenerated vr experience gives unprecedented highly engaging perspective insect life participantsenter micro world tiny flowers insects normal life become mighty trees beasts cast pantawit kiangsiri way lead artist yung jake key collaborators mike rosenstien ari kuschnir andrew schwartz tesla multiple yung jakes rap money cars drugs things nature among interactive elements cast yung jake space explorers new dawn canadaus lead artists paul raphaël felix lajeunesse key collaborators morgan spurlock ryan horrigan stéphane rituit experience journey nasa astronauts navigate trials sacrifices training missions immersive vr experience shines light mankinds ambitious endeavor understand planet universe origins cast jessica chastain jeanette epps jessica meir victor glover michael gernhardt sun ladies vr lead artists maria bello celine tricart christian stephen key collaborators wesley allsbrook tim gedemer mark simpson indepth look personal journey xate singali roots famous singer kurdistan isis sex slavery new life soldier front lines starts femaleonly iraqi fighting unit called sun ladies cast maria bello summation force australia lead artists narelle autio trent parke matthew bate key collaborator anton andreacchio moonlit suburban yard two brothers battle one another mythic game cricket study motion physics psychology elite sport cosmic dreamlike darkly beautiful metaphor life cast jem autio parke dash autio parke spiritual temple sucks taiwan lead artist john hsu mr chang arrives spiritual temple place represents ones destiny solve marital crisis financial problems summons guardian thunder god attempt tidy life turns big mistakewith hilarious consequences cast ctwo sun kefang han chang andy tsai wei hao tseng liu kuanting | 1,253 |
<p>Pakistanis make their anger with the American policies very clear</p>
<p>After three days of America-bashing that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton endured during her recent visit to Pakistan, she is sure to have carried back interesting baggage: some realistic and troubling assessments about how Pakistanis look upon the war on terror that America has imposed on them. If she is honest, she will report to President Obama the disdain that exists in the Pakistani streets for America’s thoughtless policies and heartless actions that have brought death, destruction and suffering to the people.</p>
<p>This sentiment could best be gauged by a comment that she heard from a tribesman from FATA, the tribal region straddling Pakistan and Afghanistan where Pakistan Army fights anti-Pakistan Taliban (to be distinguished from Afghan Taliban) and where American drones kill hundreds of women and children, when he said to her point blank, “Your presence in the region is not good for peace.”</p>
<p>Clinton was here for first hand assessments of ground realities important for Obama’s future Afghan war strategy now under review. She wanted to know the mood of the people, the prospects of Zardari’s survival amid public uproar against him on a variety of issues and reading the mind of Pakistan’s military which deeply influences defense and Afghanistan related decisions.</p>
<p>Washington has, in the past, turned a deaf ear to sensitivities and opinions from Pakistani civil society and the media about its heavy-handed, counter-productive, insensitive policies that generated distrust, anger and eventually hatred for America. The Obama administration, like others before it, relies for decision-making on Washington-based neoconservatives, military hawks, war mongering intellectuals, diplomats and so called “experts” who are either unaware of ground realities, or hide unpleasant facts by telling the administrations what they want to hear or perpetuating their own distorted visions. As a result, America lost the hearts and minds of the people. This visit was therefore a breath of fresh air.</p>
<p>Clinton later told CNN that she anticipated the “pretty negative situation” in Pakistan, but she said “I wanted to have these interactions. … I don’t think the way you deal with negative feelings is to pretend they’re not there …”</p>
<p>She was absolutely right. She did well to broaden the scope of her visit by meeting a cross section of civil society. Even though she was sheltered from adverse public opinion and the participants were carefully screened for every forum, they challenged her on sensitive issues such as drone attacks, the mammoth new embassy, suspicious activities of Blackwater now believed by many to be behind devastating bomb attacks, violations of local law by American marines, American plans of denuclearizing Pakistan, its support to anti-Pakistan elements in Afghanistan and FATA, its collusion with India, etc. While she did give forthright answers to some, to many an awkward and probing question Clinton had no answers. “[T]his issue is between the leadership of two sides. So let’s not to discuss this here,” was her typical line.</p>
<p>When Clinton sought support for the Afghan war, in no uncertain terms was she told by a female journalist: “We are fighting a war that is imposed on us. It’s not our war. It is your war. You had one 9-11. We are having daily 9-11s in Pakistan.”</p>
<p>In a country where 90 percent of the people oppose this war, where the Afghan Taliban are regarded as national resistance to the American occupation, and where the fallout of the war turns their lives upside down, this answer is perfectly legitimate. As polls indicate, religious extremism generally enjoys no support and Al Qaeda is not believed to cause bloodshed. The belief is that the American sponsored militants commit these heinous crimes which are then pinned on Al Qaeda. “Winning the hearts and minds of the people is critical for Al Qaeda to succeed. Why then would it shed blood and alienate people”, asked a tribesman.</p>
<p>And when her contention that the U.S. and Pakistan face a common enemy in “terrorism” was publicly rejected, Clinton admitted that “we’re not getting through.”</p>
<p>The critical coverage that American policies received in the media made a frustrated Clinton retort that the US would respond “aggressively” to the misreporting by Pakistani media, drawing an immediate response from the media’s spokesperson who said: “We should understand the actual message behind her statement. The aggressive response means the US will either hit or oblige the media… both are unacceptable to us”. Richard Snelsire of US embassy in Islamabad quickly issued a statement that Clinton was not making any threats. “It has been taken wrong. The word aggressive doesn’t mean that US will take any action…”</p>
<p>Aside from other functionaries, Clinton also met General Kayani, Pakistan’s Army chief. The general’s influence on decision making by the presidency is well understood. Also, the Pakistan Army is the custodian of the country’s nuclear assets, the seizing of which is widely believed to be America’s key objective. The meeting was aimed to figure out General Kayani’s response to an upcoming war strategy in which Obama would most likely want the Pakistan Army to play a role and understand the security environment. She must have also tried to make sense of President Zardari’s position in view of the increasing confrontation that Zardari faces from the Army on security issues.</p>
<p>Zardari and his team, who touted the insensitive piece of American legislation called the Kerry-Lugar Bill (now Act), which drew universal scorn from within the country, were openly rebuffed by the Army when it publicly called upon them to seek a review of clauses unacceptable to the armed forces, after behind-the-scene messages were ignored. These clauses had set off alarm bells in the armed forces over Washington’s demand for indirect veto power over promotions and appointments to senior ranks, something no sovereign nation could allow.</p>
<p>A female National Assembly member, Marvi Memon, who refused to meet Clinton, said in an open letter: “there are patriotic Pakistanis who will defend the soil before accepting your policies of creating a US fiefdom in Pakistan.&#160;As a young parliamentarian, I would only welcome you to Pakistan once we have evidence of your shift in policy so that Pakistan is dealt with as a sovereign country.”</p>
<p>In her meeting with prominent tribesmen in the North West Frontier Province, which bears the brunt of the Afghan war, she heard the same hostile message: Pakistanis do not want American friendship despite a multi-billion-dollar aid package laden with insulting conditions.</p>
<p>Clinton’s earlier criticism of Pakistan’s failure to get Al Qaeda leadership had generated negative headlines. Softening her tone, she told a group of women: “What I said was I don’t know if anyone knows, but we in the U.S. would very much like to see the end of the Al Qaeda leadership. And our best information is that they are somewhere in Pakistan, and we think it’s in Pakistan’s interests, as well as our own, that we try to capture or kill the leadership of Al Qaeda.”</p>
<p>But Clinton’s call to locate and eliminate Al Qaeda leadership was rejected. On the contrary it raised some questions: Why after seven years of disinterest in eliminating Al Qaeda leadership by Bush has the Obama administration taken up the cudgel now? Is he seeking in this an objective, which he has been accused of not having in fighting this war?&#160; Why is America, with its technology and intelligence, incapable of pinpointing the location of Al-Qaeda leadership to Pakistan? Is Al Qaeda being used as a pretext to launch attacks in Balochistan like 9/11 and Afghanistan?</p>
<p>Pakistan has consistently denied Al Qaeda leadership’s presence on its soil and has challenged the Americans to point it out if they believe it is here. So far no information has been provided.</p>
<p>Anne Patterson, the intemperate US Ambassador in Islamabad in “her imperial hubris” (to borrow a phrase from Eric Margolis) recently called for air attacks on Al Qaeda leaders in Quetta that lends credibility to the belief that America intends to destabilize Balochistan after having done that to FATA and NWFP. There is strong evidence that, with American nod, the Indians are actively supporting Balochistan Liberation Army, a rogue insurgent outfit headquartered in Tel Aviv, with fundraising address in Washington.</p>
<p>Interestingly, when during her televised press conference Clinton remarked “Al Qaeda is in league with the people who are attacking Pakistan,” a young student turned to his friends and asked, “Has the US changed its name to Al Qaeda?”</p>
<p>If Clinton kept an open mind and made some sense of the blunt criticism she heard, she should have drawn some important conclusions. One, there is enormous pent up anger against decades of manipulative American policies to exploit Pakistan. Two, Pakistanis intensely dislike American intervention in its internal affairs, including manipulations of removing and installing governments. Three, no government in Islamabad can survive for too long that serves as a door mat for the Americans, much less the feeble, subservient and extremely unpopular lot that currently runs the government. Four, Pakistanis deeply suspect American intentions and would aggressively reject American diktat that serves its geopolitical interests in this region at the cost of Pakistan’s stability and security.</p> | false | 1 | pakistanis make anger american policies clear three days americabashing secretary state hillary clinton endured recent visit pakistan sure carried back interesting baggage realistic troubling assessments pakistanis look upon war terror america imposed honest report president obama disdain exists pakistani streets americas thoughtless policies heartless actions brought death destruction suffering people sentiment could best gauged comment heard tribesman fata tribal region straddling pakistan afghanistan pakistan army fights antipakistan taliban distinguished afghan taliban american drones kill hundreds women children said point blank presence region good peace clinton first hand assessments ground realities important obamas future afghan war strategy review wanted know mood people prospects zardaris survival amid public uproar variety issues reading mind pakistans military deeply influences defense afghanistan related decisions washington past turned deaf ear sensitivities opinions pakistani civil society media heavyhanded counterproductive insensitive policies generated distrust anger eventually hatred america obama administration like others relies decisionmaking washingtonbased neoconservatives military hawks war mongering intellectuals diplomats called experts either unaware ground realities hide unpleasant facts telling administrations want hear perpetuating distorted visions result america lost hearts minds people visit therefore breath fresh air clinton later told cnn anticipated pretty negative situation pakistan said wanted interactions dont think way deal negative feelings pretend theyre absolutely right well broaden scope visit meeting cross section civil society even though sheltered adverse public opinion participants carefully screened every forum challenged sensitive issues drone attacks mammoth new embassy suspicious activities blackwater believed many behind devastating bomb attacks violations local law american marines american plans denuclearizing pakistan support antipakistan elements afghanistan fata collusion india etc give forthright answers many awkward probing question clinton answers issue leadership two sides lets discuss typical line clinton sought support afghan war uncertain terms told female journalist fighting war imposed us war war one 911 daily 911s pakistan country 90 percent people oppose war afghan taliban regarded national resistance american occupation fallout war turns lives upside answer perfectly legitimate polls indicate religious extremism generally enjoys support al qaeda believed cause bloodshed belief american sponsored militants commit heinous crimes pinned al qaeda winning hearts minds people critical al qaeda succeed would shed blood alienate people asked tribesman contention us pakistan face common enemy terrorism publicly rejected clinton admitted getting critical coverage american policies received media made frustrated clinton retort us would respond aggressively misreporting pakistani media drawing immediate response medias spokesperson said understand actual message behind statement aggressive response means us either hit oblige media unacceptable us richard snelsire us embassy islamabad quickly issued statement clinton making threats taken wrong word aggressive doesnt mean us take action aside functionaries clinton also met general kayani pakistans army chief generals influence decision making presidency well understood also pakistan army custodian countrys nuclear assets seizing widely believed americas key objective meeting aimed figure general kayanis response upcoming war strategy obama would likely want pakistan army play role understand security environment must also tried make sense president zardaris position view increasing confrontation zardari faces army security issues zardari team touted insensitive piece american legislation called kerrylugar bill act drew universal scorn within country openly rebuffed army publicly called upon seek review clauses unacceptable armed forces behindthescene messages ignored clauses set alarm bells armed forces washingtons demand indirect veto power promotions appointments senior ranks something sovereign nation could allow female national assembly member marvi memon refused meet clinton said open letter patriotic pakistanis defend soil accepting policies creating us fiefdom pakistan160as young parliamentarian would welcome pakistan evidence shift policy pakistan dealt sovereign country meeting prominent tribesmen north west frontier province bears brunt afghan war heard hostile message pakistanis want american friendship despite multibilliondollar aid package laden insulting conditions clintons earlier criticism pakistans failure get al qaeda leadership generated negative headlines softening tone told group women said dont know anyone knows us would much like see end al qaeda leadership best information somewhere pakistan think pakistans interests well try capture kill leadership al qaeda clintons call locate eliminate al qaeda leadership rejected contrary raised questions seven years disinterest eliminating al qaeda leadership bush obama administration taken cudgel seeking objective accused fighting war160 america technology intelligence incapable pinpointing location alqaeda leadership pakistan al qaeda used pretext launch attacks balochistan like 911 afghanistan pakistan consistently denied al qaeda leaderships presence soil challenged americans point believe far information provided anne patterson intemperate us ambassador islamabad imperial hubris borrow phrase eric margolis recently called air attacks al qaeda leaders quetta lends credibility belief america intends destabilize balochistan done fata nwfp strong evidence american nod indians actively supporting balochistan liberation army rogue insurgent outfit headquartered tel aviv fundraising address washington interestingly televised press conference clinton remarked al qaeda league people attacking pakistan young student turned friends asked us changed name al qaeda clinton kept open mind made sense blunt criticism heard drawn important conclusions one enormous pent anger decades manipulative american policies exploit pakistan two pakistanis intensely dislike american intervention internal affairs including manipulations removing installing governments three government islamabad survive long serves door mat americans much less feeble subservient extremely unpopular lot currently runs government four pakistanis deeply suspect american intentions would aggressively reject american diktat serves geopolitical interests region cost pakistans stability security | 850 |
<p>A more traditional person might call it crass, an ostentatious 90th birthday bash with a $250-per-person price tag to attend. But then, no one would call Louisiana’s four-term former governor, Edwin Edwards — the convicted felon with a wife five decades his junior, a 4-year-old son and a lifetime of making headlines — anything close to traditional.</p>
<p>The birthday festivities Saturday night at a posh Baton Rouge hotel sold out weeks in advance, with hundreds of elected officials, lobbyists and onlookers ponying up for tickets and a chance to watch the throw-back celebration remembering when Edwards was the Democratic king of Louisiana politics.</p>
<p>“A lot of people just feel personally close to him. No other governor has served four times. To me this is just a once-in-a-lifetime historic event,” said Robert Gentry, a former newspaper publisher and the long-time Edwards friend who organized the celebration.</p>
<p>Edwards called it “one of the highlights of my long career” to see the cocktail party and ballroom packed with more than 500 people, including Louisiana’s current governor, Democrat John Bel Edwards (no relation), Democratic former Gov. Kathleen Blanco, Republican Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and Republican Senate President John Alario.</p>
<p>“Obviously he’s beloved by a lot of folks,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards.</p>
<p>The former governor’s daughter Anna was surprised so many celebrants turned out for a man out of office for two decades, but she’s been gratified to see how many people continue to embrace her father’s legacy even after his federal corruption conviction.</p>
<p>“You never know what to expect when somebody comes home from prison. Will he be shunned? Will he be greeted warmly?” she said. “From the day I picked him up from prison he’s been greeted warmly by people from all walks of life. It’s amazing, and it’s heartwarming.”</p>
<p>The program included a highlight video of Edwards’ life, an appearance by New Orleans burlesque dancer Chris Owens and a speech from Edwards. And everyone at the party was going home with a gift bag: photos of Edwards with his wife, Trina, and preschooler son Eli, a souvenir magazine and a commemorative poster. More items were available for sale outside the ballroom.</p>
<p>Edwards was the dominant figure in Louisiana politics for the second half of the 20th Century, with charisma and power rivaled only by that other famous Louisiana legend from decades earlier, Huey Long.</p>
<p>Edwards sums up his 90 years succinctly and without bitterness: “It’s very wonderful to reach 90. I’ve had a great life, and while I’ve had my ups and downs over life, I have no complaints.”</p>
<p>He won his first office, a city council seat, in 1954, followed by elections to the state legislature and Congress before serving as governor for 16 years between 1972 and 1996. He was famous for deadpan one-liners delivered with a Cajun accent, deftly cutting one opponent by describing him as “so slow it takes him an hour and a half to watch ’60 Minutes.'”</p>
<p>That wit is what Edwards’ authorized biographer Leo Honeycutt believes is drawing so many to the birthday festivities: “People are tied of seriousness. They’re tired of belligerency.”</p>
<p>As for the attendance price tag?</p>
<p>“I look at this like Edwin is an entertainer,” Honeycutt said. “And I haven’t been to a concert yet where an entertainer just said, ‘Come on in for free.’ Everyone’s willing to pay to see him perform.”</p>
<p>The lovable rogue nostalgia chafes Bob Mann, an LSU mass communication professor who worked for years as a Democratic political operative. Mann said the Edwards terms were marked by razzle-dazzle, but few long-term accomplishments — and he said elected officials should “stay 10 miles away” from the party for a man convicted of corruption.</p>
<p>“I don’t know anybody who says the state is so much better off than we were in 1972 when he took office. After four terms, he didn’t markedly improve the state’s lot in terms of poverty and education,” Mann said. “I don’t think there are many people who would argue that he ran anything close to an ethical administration in any of his four terms.”</p>
<p>During decades in office Edwards drew a reputation for shady, backroom dealing. The ex-governor seemed to foster the status, with quips about two dozen investigations and multiple trials. As he defeated white supremacist David Duke in the 1991 governor’s race, bumper stickers promoting Edwards declared: “Vote for the Crook. It’s Important.”</p>
<p>Edwards’ luck with federal investigations ran out in 2000, when he was convicted in a bribery and extortion scheme to rig riverboat casino licenses during and after his fourth term. He spent more than eight years in federal prison, always maintaining his innocence.</p>
<p>Prison did nothing to quell public interest — or Edwards’ popularity in many pockets of Louisiana. Freed in 2011, Edwards was quickly back in the spotlight, getting married for a third time, having a son and starring in a short-lived reality show while traveling the state touting his biography.</p>
<p>Though he continued to captivate, Edwards was unable to regain political footing. He was handed his first-ever election defeat in 2014 when he ran for Congress in a heavily Republican district. He’s a real estate broker now, living in the Baton Rouge suburbs and raising his fifth child.</p>
<p>Edwards hasn’t given up on politics entirely. Son Eli bears his same initials, EWE, a well-known monogram in Louisiana politics. Edwards said his wife printed T-shirts bearing the slogan “EWE for Governor 2043.”</p> | false | 1 | traditional person might call crass ostentatious 90th birthday bash 250perperson price tag attend one would call louisianas fourterm former governor edwin edwards convicted felon wife five decades junior 4yearold son lifetime making headlines anything close traditional birthday festivities saturday night posh baton rouge hotel sold weeks advance hundreds elected officials lobbyists onlookers ponying tickets chance watch throwback celebration remembering edwards democratic king louisiana politics lot people feel personally close governor served four times onceinalifetime historic event said robert gentry former newspaper publisher longtime edwards friend organized celebration edwards called one highlights long career see cocktail party ballroom packed 500 people including louisianas current governor democrat john bel edwards relation democratic former gov kathleen blanco republican lt gov billy nungesser republican senate president john alario obviously hes beloved lot folks said gov john bel edwards former governors daughter anna surprised many celebrants turned man office two decades shes gratified see many people continue embrace fathers legacy even federal corruption conviction never know expect somebody comes home prison shunned greeted warmly said day picked prison hes greeted warmly people walks life amazing heartwarming program included highlight video edwards life appearance new orleans burlesque dancer chris owens speech edwards everyone party going home gift bag photos edwards wife trina preschooler son eli souvenir magazine commemorative poster items available sale outside ballroom edwards dominant figure louisiana politics second half 20th century charisma power rivaled famous louisiana legend decades earlier huey long edwards sums 90 years succinctly without bitterness wonderful reach 90 ive great life ive ups downs life complaints first office city council seat 1954 followed elections state legislature congress serving governor 16 years 1972 1996 famous deadpan oneliners delivered cajun accent deftly cutting one opponent describing slow takes hour half watch 60 minutes wit edwards authorized biographer leo honeycutt believes drawing many birthday festivities people tied seriousness theyre tired belligerency attendance price tag look like edwin entertainer honeycutt said havent concert yet entertainer said come free everyones willing pay see perform lovable rogue nostalgia chafes bob mann lsu mass communication professor worked years democratic political operative mann said edwards terms marked razzledazzle longterm accomplishments said elected officials stay 10 miles away party man convicted corruption dont know anybody says state much better 1972 took office four terms didnt markedly improve states lot terms poverty education mann said dont think many people would argue ran anything close ethical administration four terms decades office edwards drew reputation shady backroom dealing exgovernor seemed foster status quips two dozen investigations multiple trials defeated white supremacist david duke 1991 governors race bumper stickers promoting edwards declared vote crook important edwards luck federal investigations ran 2000 convicted bribery extortion scheme rig riverboat casino licenses fourth term spent eight years federal prison always maintaining innocence prison nothing quell public interest edwards popularity many pockets louisiana freed 2011 edwards quickly back spotlight getting married third time son starring shortlived reality show traveling state touting biography though continued captivate edwards unable regain political footing handed firstever election defeat 2014 ran congress heavily republican district hes real estate broker living baton rouge suburbs raising fifth child edwards hasnt given politics entirely son eli bears initials ewe wellknown monogram louisiana politics edwards said wife printed tshirts bearing slogan ewe governor 2043 | 537 |
<p>Portraits of fascism in the US.</p>
<p>The US no longer has a judiciary.&#160; This former branch of government has transitioned into an enabler of executive branch fascism.</p>
<p>Privacy is a civil liberty protected by the US Constitution.&#160; The Constitution relies on courts to enforce its prohibitions against intrusive government, but if the executive branch claims (no proof required) “national security,” courts kiss the Constitution good-bye.</p>
<p>Federal judges are chosen by the executive branch.&#160; The senate can refuse to confirm, but that is rare.&#160; The executive branch chooses judges who are friendly to executive power. This is especially the case for the appeals courts and the Supreme Court. The Justice (sic) Department keeps tabs on district court judges who rule against the government, and these judges don’t make it to the higher courts. The result over time is to erode civil liberty.</p>
<p>Recently, a three-judge panel of the US Appeals Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the National Security Agency (NSA) can continue its mass surveillance&#160;of the US population without showing cause.&#160; The panel avoided the constitutional question by ruling on procedural terms that NSA had a right to withhold the information that would prove the plaintiffs’ case.</p>
<p>By refusing to extend the section of the USA PATRIOT Act—a name that puts a patriotic sheen on Orwellian totalitarianism—that gave carte blanche to the NSA and by passing the USA Freedom Act, Congress attempted to give NSA’s spying a constitutional patina. The USA Freedom Act allows the telecom companies to spy on us and collect all of our communications data and for NSA to access the data by obtaining a warrant from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Court. The Freedom Act protects constitutional procedures by requiring NSA to go through the motions, but it does not prevent telecom companies from invading our privacy in behalf of NSA.</p>
<p>No one has ever explained the supposed threat that American citizens pose to themselves that requires all of their communications to be collected and stored by Big Brother.&#160; If the US Constitution was respected by the executive branch, Congress, the judiciary, law schools and bar associations, there would have been a public discussion about whether Americans are most threatened by the supposed threat that requires universal surveillance or by the loss of their constitutional protections. We all know what our Founding Fathers’ answer would be.</p>
<p>Florida Government Defies Voters, Misuses Earmarked Funds</p>
<p>By allocating funds set aside by law for the purchase of land and wildlife habitat to other purposes, Florida Republicans have negated the Water and Land Conservation Amendment that Floridians passed with a 75% majority last November. The amendment requires that one-third of the funds produced by real estate stamp taxes be used for conservation purposes.</p>
<p>Conservation runs counter to the interests of real estate developers and polluters who have done so much to destroy Florida’s unique environment. Real estate developers and polluters are major Republican contributors.</p>
<p>Faced with the people’s will, the Republican government is claiming that proper uses of the fund are to pay salaries for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, to teach best management practices for privately owned lands, and to pay private agricultural operations to retain the pollution that results from their operations on their own property.</p>
<p>In typical Republican fashion, money legally mandated for purchasing public land is being used to pay state salaries and to make payments to private land owners.&#160; This is a good indication of the scant respect that American democracy has for the will of the people.</p>
<p>A Robot Will Take Your Job</p>
<p>Several recent studies conclude that robots are going to displace millions of human workers. An Oxford University study found that 47 percent of jobs are at risk. Another study concludes that one third of all jobs will be lost to robots during the next 10 years.&#160; Some claim that the net job loss will not be so large, because new jobs will be created in order to repair the robots, at least until robots learn to do this also.</p>
<p>Perhaps you remember the claims by economists Matthew Slaughter, Michael Porter, and other shills for jobs offshoring that moving American jobs offshore would create better and more jobs in the US.&#160; After many years I am still watching for any sign of these promised new jobs.</p>
<p>Despite promises to the contrary, the US economy has been halted in its tracks by jobs offshoring. US corporations have moved middle class manufacturing jobs abroad. The high speed Internet has made it possible for tradable professional skills, such as software engineering, information technology, research, design, and scan interpretations by medical doctors, to be performed offshore. This enormous giveaway of American middle class jobs and GDP to foreign countries has left the domestic economy with non-tradable service jobs.</p>
<p>Robotics is now attacking the remaining domestic service jobs. Robots are becoming sales assistants, providing room service to hotel guests, filling orders at delis, providing medical diagnosis, cooking and serving meals, and becoming incorporated into smart household appliances that reduce the need for electrical and repair services. All of us are familiar with customer service robots.&#160; We encounter them whenever we telephone about a bank or credit card statement or utility bill.</p>
<p>The unaddressed problem is:&#160; what happens to consumer demand, on which the economy depends, when humans are replaced by robots?&#160; Robots don’t need a paycheck in order to purchase food, clothes, shoes, entertainment, health care, go on vacations, or to make car, utility, credit card, rent or mortgage payments.&#160; The consumer economy has suffered from incomes lost to jobs offshoring.&#160; If robots replace yet more Americans, where does the income come from to purchase the products of the robots’ work?&#160; Any one firm’s owners and managers can benefit from lowering costs by replacing a human workforce with robots, but all firms cannot. If all firms replace their work forces with robots, the rate of unemployment becomes astronomical, and consumer demand collapses pulling down the economy.</p>
<p>Economists call what works in the singular but not in the plural the fallacy of composition.&#160; Keynesian macroeconomists teach that if everyone in society is thrifty with the consequence that savers save more than investors want to invest, aggregate demand falls, and with it incomes and savings.&#160; Thus, by trying to save more, savers end up with less.</p>
<p>With the advent of jobs offshoring and financial deregulation, the US has one of the most unequal distributions of income and wealth.&#160; As robotics patents are held by a mere handful of people, the concentration of income and wealth at the top will increase.</p>
<p>What kind of society would result?&#160; Will governments nationalize robotics or heavily tax the incomes of owners in order to issue monthly payments to people with which to purchase the work product of robots? What would a population living off the work of robots do with itself?&#160; Would population growth be tolerated?&#160; Or would the powerful owners of robotics use the governments that they control to reduce the surplus population?</p>
<p>Free market economists with their heads forever in the sand will say, “No worry, people thought that the industrial revolution would destroy the demand for labor, but industry employed ever more people.”&#160; A former MIT professor who has gone into business producing robots says robots will bring the jobs lost to offshoring home to America.&#160; But will they be jobs for humans or for robots? I am waiting to hear how robotics will expand the demand for human labor beyond a few repairmen to fix robots. And I am still waiting for the new and better jobs that offshoring promised. By the time they get here, if ever, robots will take them away.</p>
<p>Stock Market Supported By Corporate Buybacks</p>
<p>Pension funds purchase corporate bonds, and the corporations use the money to buy back their own stocks, thus driving up the price, enriching executives with bonuses and shareholders with capital gains, but leaving the company in debt. One study found that last year, 95 percent of all corporate earnings were used either <a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/08/28/looting-made-easy-the-2-trillion-buyback-binge/" type="external">to pay dividends or to buy back the company’s stock</a>.</p>
<p>The Ship Did It</p>
<p>The presence of The White Lady, a four-masted Chilean sailing ship, at the Tall Ships Festival in England is being protested.&#160; Protestors believe the ship is guilty of human rights violations as the ship was allegedly the site of torture inflicted by the Pinochet government as it put down the terrorism that followed the overthrow of the Allende government.&#160; Just as guns murder, ships torture.</p>
<p>The torture alleged to have occurred aboard The White Lady sounds like a small town performance of the torture sanctioned by Washington and London at Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and numerous secret sites. How are the American and British democracies superior to Chilean military dictatorship if the former out-tortures the latter? To my knowledge, the Pinochet regime, unlike the Bush regime, never had John Yoo write a legal memo making torture legal. This is probably why, prior to stepping down and returning Chile to constitutional democracy, Pinochet issued pardons both to the military government and to the terrorists.</p>
<p>Demand for Silver Outstripping Supply, But Price Is Falling</p>
<p>On numerous occasions, Dave Kranzler and I have pointed out that despite high and rising demand for physical bullion and constrained supply, the prices of gold and silver are forced down by concerted manipulation in the futures market.&#160; Silver supplies are so tight that both the US and Canadian mints have had to suspend the production and sale of silver coins. Despite supply constraints, in the manipulated futures market, the price of silver has been falling, but in the physical market the price of silver coins has risen with premiums over spot raising coin prices as much as 30 percent. Regulatory authorities have brought no action against the obvious manipulation in the futures market.</p>
<p>It is important to the value of the fiat currencies that are being printed in profusion that gold and silver be discredited as hedges against currency depreciation. Thus, authorities turn a blind eye to the obvious manipulation, the purpose of which is to show that inflating fiat paper currencies are gaining in value relative to gold and silver.</p>
<p>I am awaiting the explanation from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) why it is normal for inflating fiat currencies to gain value in relation to gold and silver bullion. Kranzler and I, supported by individuals thoroughly acquainted with the bullion market, have written to the CFTC&#160; asking how it is possible for price to fall when demand is rising and supply is constrained.</p>
<p>We will see if a former Assistant Secretary of the US Treasury can get an answer.</p>
<p>Good-Bye to Cash</p>
<p>If all this isn’t enough, government now wants to deprive us of cash in order to deprive us of private and unreported payments and savings. The Financial Times, Britain’s equivalent to the Wall Street Journal, has published an anonymous article advocating that cash be abolished and all transactions be digital so that authorities can know and completely control our behavior. Clearly a big push in this direction is in the works.&#160; If the authorities succeed, we will have a situation in which the privacy guaranteed by the US Constitution becomes a myth that slowly fades from memory.</p> | false | 1 | portraits fascism us us longer judiciary160 former branch government transitioned enabler executive branch fascism privacy civil liberty protected us constitution160 constitution relies courts enforce prohibitions intrusive government executive branch claims proof required national security courts kiss constitution goodbye federal judges chosen executive branch160 senate refuse confirm rare160 executive branch chooses judges friendly executive power especially case appeals courts supreme court justice sic department keeps tabs district court judges rule government judges dont make higher courts result time erode civil liberty recently threejudge panel us appeals court district columbia ruled national security agency nsa continue mass surveillance160of us population without showing cause160 panel avoided constitutional question ruling procedural terms nsa right withhold information would prove plaintiffs case refusing extend section usa patriot acta name puts patriotic sheen orwellian totalitarianismthat gave carte blanche nsa passing usa freedom act congress attempted give nsas spying constitutional patina usa freedom act allows telecom companies spy us collect communications data nsa access data obtaining warrant foreign intelligence surveillance act fisa court freedom act protects constitutional procedures requiring nsa go motions prevent telecom companies invading privacy behalf nsa one ever explained supposed threat american citizens pose requires communications collected stored big brother160 us constitution respected executive branch congress judiciary law schools bar associations would public discussion whether americans threatened supposed threat requires universal surveillance loss constitutional protections know founding fathers answer would florida government defies voters misuses earmarked funds allocating funds set aside law purchase land wildlife habitat purposes florida republicans negated water land conservation amendment floridians passed 75 majority last november amendment requires onethird funds produced real estate stamp taxes used conservation purposes conservation runs counter interests real estate developers polluters done much destroy floridas unique environment real estate developers polluters major republican contributors faced peoples republican government claiming proper uses fund pay salaries florida department agriculture consumer services teach best management practices privately owned lands pay private agricultural operations retain pollution results operations property typical republican fashion money legally mandated purchasing public land used pay state salaries make payments private land owners160 good indication scant respect american democracy people robot take job several recent studies conclude robots going displace millions human workers oxford university study found 47 percent jobs risk another study concludes one third jobs lost robots next 10 years160 claim net job loss large new jobs created order repair robots least robots learn also perhaps remember claims economists matthew slaughter michael porter shills jobs offshoring moving american jobs offshore would create better jobs us160 many years still watching sign promised new jobs despite promises contrary us economy halted tracks jobs offshoring us corporations moved middle class manufacturing jobs abroad high speed internet made possible tradable professional skills software engineering information technology research design scan interpretations medical doctors performed offshore enormous giveaway american middle class jobs gdp foreign countries left domestic economy nontradable service jobs robotics attacking remaining domestic service jobs robots becoming sales assistants providing room service hotel guests filling orders delis providing medical diagnosis cooking serving meals becoming incorporated smart household appliances reduce need electrical repair services us familiar customer service robots160 encounter whenever telephone bank credit card statement utility bill unaddressed problem is160 happens consumer demand economy depends humans replaced robots160 robots dont need paycheck order purchase food clothes shoes entertainment health care go vacations make car utility credit card rent mortgage payments160 consumer economy suffered incomes lost jobs offshoring160 robots replace yet americans income come purchase products robots work160 one firms owners managers benefit lowering costs replacing human workforce robots firms firms replace work forces robots rate unemployment becomes astronomical consumer demand collapses pulling economy economists call works singular plural fallacy composition160 keynesian macroeconomists teach everyone society thrifty consequence savers save investors want invest aggregate demand falls incomes savings160 thus trying save savers end less advent jobs offshoring financial deregulation us one unequal distributions income wealth160 robotics patents held mere handful people concentration income wealth top increase kind society would result160 governments nationalize robotics heavily tax incomes owners order issue monthly payments people purchase work product robots would population living work robots itself160 would population growth tolerated160 would powerful owners robotics use governments control reduce surplus population free market economists heads forever sand say worry people thought industrial revolution would destroy demand labor industry employed ever people160 former mit professor gone business producing robots says robots bring jobs lost offshoring home america160 jobs humans robots waiting hear robotics expand demand human labor beyond repairmen fix robots still waiting new better jobs offshoring promised time get ever robots take away stock market supported corporate buybacks pension funds purchase corporate bonds corporations use money buy back stocks thus driving price enriching executives bonuses shareholders capital gains leaving company debt one study found last year 95 percent corporate earnings used either pay dividends buy back companys stock ship presence white lady fourmasted chilean sailing ship tall ships festival england protested160 protestors believe ship guilty human rights violations ship allegedly site torture inflicted pinochet government put terrorism followed overthrow allende government160 guns murder ships torture torture alleged occurred aboard white lady sounds like small town performance torture sanctioned washington london abu ghraib guantanamo numerous secret sites american british democracies superior chilean military dictatorship former outtortures latter knowledge pinochet regime unlike bush regime never john yoo write legal memo making torture legal probably prior stepping returning chile constitutional democracy pinochet issued pardons military government terrorists demand silver outstripping supply price falling numerous occasions dave kranzler pointed despite high rising demand physical bullion constrained supply prices gold silver forced concerted manipulation futures market160 silver supplies tight us canadian mints suspend production sale silver coins despite supply constraints manipulated futures market price silver falling physical market price silver coins risen premiums spot raising coin prices much 30 percent regulatory authorities brought action obvious manipulation futures market important value fiat currencies printed profusion gold silver discredited hedges currency depreciation thus authorities turn blind eye obvious manipulation purpose show inflating fiat paper currencies gaining value relative gold silver awaiting explanation commodity futures trading commission cftc normal inflating fiat currencies gain value relation gold silver bullion kranzler supported individuals thoroughly acquainted bullion market written cftc160 asking possible price fall demand rising supply constrained see former assistant secretary us treasury get answer goodbye cash isnt enough government wants deprive us cash order deprive us private unreported payments savings financial times britains equivalent wall street journal published anonymous article advocating cash abolished transactions digital authorities know completely control behavior clearly big push direction works160 authorities succeed situation privacy guaranteed us constitution becomes myth slowly fades memory | 1,084 |
<p>When supporters of same-sex marriage attack the federal Defense of Marriage Act, they invoke purported federalism concerns about the authority of the states to regulate marriage. But when they sue to strike down state marriage laws as unconstitutional, those federalism concerns disappear. The Supreme Court’s recent decision to review lower-court rulings against both the Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8, which reinstated traditional marriage in that state, provides the Court a clear opportunity to set right the relationship between marriage and federalism. It should rule that both DOMA and Prop 8 are constitutionally sound.</p>
<p>Let’s start with DOMA. President Clinton signed DOMA into law in 1996, after it had been approved by overwhelming majorities in Congress–85 to 14 in the Senate and 342 to 67 in the House–including lots of strong supporters of gay rights (then-senator Joe Biden among them). DOMA defines “marriage,” for purposes of provisions of federal law only, as “a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife,” and it provides a corresponding definition of “spouse.”</p>
<p>The Supreme Court challenge to DOMA arises in U.S. v. Windsor. Edith Windsor married her longtime same-sex partner, Thea Spyer, in Canada in 2007. The two resided in New York. When Spyer died in 2009, she left her estate to Windsor. Because Windsor did not qualify as a spouse under DOMA, she was ineligible for the spousal deduction from the federal estate tax and incurred a hefty tax.</p>
<p>The question before the Court is whether DOMA violates the Constitution–specifically, the so-called equal-protection component that the Court has discerned in the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. (The 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause applies only against the states.) In other words, is it a violation of equal-protection principles for the federal government to define “marriage,” for purposes of provisions of federal law, in a way that excludes same-sex couples who are recognized as married under the law of the state in which they reside?</p>
<p>In its ruling striking down DOMA, a divided Second Circuit panel, in a sloppy opinion, asserted that Congress has “historically deferred to state domestic relations laws” in applying provisions of federal law, and it condemned DOMA as “an unprecedented breach of longstanding deference to federalism.” This trumpeting of the federalism concerns raised by DOMA’s challengers cannot withstand scrutiny.</p>
<p>Far from effecting any departure from past practice, DOMA merely reaffirmed and made crystal clear what Congress had always meant by the term “marriage” in provisions of federal law: a male-female union. DOMA doesn’t intrude at all on a state’s authority to regulate marriage under state law. It doesn’t nullify or prohibit any marriages, or in any other respect preempt the operation of state law. On the contrary, it leaves the states free to define, or redefine, marriage as they please. That point is illustrated by the fact that nine states (as well as the District of Columbia) have adopted same-sex marriage since DOMA’s enactment.</p>
<p>DOMA’s definition of marriage merely establishes what marriage is for purposes of provisions of federal law. Under our system of federalism, the states and the federal government have sovereign authority over their respective domains. Thus, DOMA respects and implements federalism by exercising the federal government’s authority over federal law.</p>
<p>Congress has often found it convenient to use state-law marital status in federal laws and programs. But it has never accepted state-law marital status as constraining how those laws and programs operate, and there is no reason that it should. For example, under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, a person who is legally separated from his spouse, but not yet divorced, is treated as unmarried, as is a person whose spouse is a nonresident alien. Likewise, under the immigration laws, a marriage entered into for the purpose of gaining an immigrant’s admission will be disregarded even though that marriage remains valid under state law. How could anyone imagine that federalism means that a state’s authority to regulate marriage for state-law purposes should intrude on how the federal government operates in these and other areas?</p>
<p>If the federal government were somehow obligated to incorporate into provisions of federal law whatever a state defines as a marriage, that would mean that a state that recognized polyamorous marriages would trigger federal benefits (prorated, let’s assume) for members of those marriages. Even if another state chose to limit marriage to a two-person union, it could allow adult siblings to marry and to reap federal benefits. Yet another state could deem any two business partners, or any two neighbors, who are otherwise unmarried to be married. (After all, if the term “marriage” can mean anything, it means virtually nothing.) In all these instances, the federal government would have to extend the federal benefits of marriage in accordance with the states’ wildly varying definitions.</p>
<p>There is no substantively neutral position available to the federal government in defining marriage for purposes of provisions of federal law. If the federal government chooses to incorporate into federal law a state’s revised and expanded definition of marriage, it inevitably is subsidizing, and implicitly validating, that state’s redefinition, and it is forcing the citizens of other states to subsidize that redefinition.</p>
<p>A proper understanding of DOMA and of federalism leads readily to the conclusion that DOMA easily satisfies the deferential “rational basis” review that the Court ordinarily applies to federal statutes. Among other things, DOMA clearly advances the federal government’s interest in uniform eligibility standards for federal benefits. Just as it is reasonable for the federal government to apply a single definition of “disability” for purposes of Social Security benefits, it is reasonable to apply the same definition of “marriage” for federal benefits generally.</p>
<p>DOMA’s challengers contend that the federal government’s interest in uniform eligibility is somehow undercut by the fact that DOMA ignores variations in state marriage laws on matters such as age of consent and permitted degrees of consanguinity. But this shows only that DOMA distinguishes between the components of marriage that the federal government regards as essential and those it regards as incidental. DOMA’s challengers accept this same distinction as reasonable, as they don’t object to DOMA’s requirements that a marriage be a legal union and that it be between two persons. Where they differ is only in their insistence that it is illegitimate to regard the male-female component of DOMA’s definition as an essential attribute of marriage–the very point at the heart of the constitutional attack on state marriage laws.</p>
<p>Which brings us to the Prop 8 case, Hollingsworth v. Perry. In 2008, in the wake of the California supreme court’s invention of a right to same-sex marriage under the state constitution, California voters adopted Prop 8 to amend the state constitution to restore the traditional definition of marriage. Two same-sex couples, represented by the strange-bedfellows legal duo of Ted Olson and David Boies, sued to invalidate Prop 8, claiming that it violated the federal constitution.</p>
<p>Federal district judge Vaughn Walker capped off his astounding course of misconduct in the Prop 8 case–misconduct that led to his decrees’ being reversed three times (including once by the Supreme Court) before his final judgment was even presented for appellate review–by declaring Prop 8 invalid on the broad ground that state marriage laws that exclude same-sex couples violate the equal-protection and due-process guarantees of the 14th Amendment. (Only after Walker finished with the case and retired from the bench did he disclose that he was in th e midst of a long-term same-sex relationship–which means that he had been ruling on his own legal right to marry his same-sex partner, which may explain the bias that he showed during the entire proceeding.)</p>
<p>On appeal, a divided Ninth Circuit panel, led by the notorious liberal arch-activist Stephen Reinhardt, undertook to invalidate Prop 8 on a purportedly more narrow ground. (Unbelievably, Reinhardt failed to disqualify himself from the case even though his wife, Ramona Ripston, directed an ACLU affiliate that had filed briefs in support of the Prop 8 challengers in Walker’s courtroom, and had publicly celebrated Walker’s ruling.) According to Reinhardt, the particular context in California–same-sex couples under the state’s domestic-partnership law had all the rights of marriage, and Prop 8 restored the definition of marriage that the state supreme court had invalidated–meant that there was no “legitimate reason” for Prop 8.</p>
<p>It’s obvious that Reinhardt designed his ruling to try to immunize it from Supreme Court review and, failing that, to hoodwink his former Ninth Circuit colleague, Justice Anthony Kennedy, into providing the critical vote to affirm his ruling. Reinhardt missed his first goal, and he ought to miss his second. He claimed to be tracking Kennedy’s analysis in the 1996 case of Romer v. Evans, which struck down a Colorado constitutional amendment that imposed a comprehensive ban on all legislative, executive, or judicial action designed to protect gays and lesbians.</p>
<p>But Reinhardt’s reasoning departs dramatically from Kennedy’s on all the key points. Kennedy explained that the Colorado law was “unprecedented in our jurisprudence,” that it imposed a “broad and undifferentiated disability on a single named group,” and that its “sheer breadth . . . seems inexplicable by anything but animus.” In contrast, the traditional definition of marriage that Prop 8 restored has deep roots in American jurisprudence; by Reinhardt’s own account, Prop 8 has a “unique and strictly limited effect” and “made a singular and limited change”; and Reinhardt himself disclaims the suggestion that Prop 8 was motivated by “ill will.”</p>
<p>Reinhardt’s approach would also have perverse effects on federalism. By seeming to render irrevocable any state experiment with the definition of marriage, it would tend to freeze in place existing redefinitions. Further, if a state’s adoption of domestic-partnership laws undermines its ability to retain traditional marriage, then the state may be deterred from providing any recognition of same-sex relationships or may be forced to an all-or-nothing choice.</p>
<p>On any sound understanding of the Constitution, the Prop 8 case is easy. The Constitution does not speak to the question of same-sex marriage, but instead leaves the matter to the processes of representative government for resolution. Under our system of federalism, it’s permissible for the states to retain traditional marriage, and it’s permissible for them to revise the definition of marriage to encompass same-sex couples. It’s not the proper business of the Court either to require states to adopt same-sex marriage or to prohibit them from doing so</p>
<p>Alas, the fact that the DOMA and Prop 8 cases ought to be easy provides no assurance that the Court will get them right. The Court has many times strayed far from the Constitution, and in so doing it has accumulated malleable precedents that invite more straying. Much ink will be spilled in the coming months over whether DOMA and Prop 8 should be subject to “heightened” scrutiny or an “intensified” version of rational-basis review, whether homosexuals constitute a “suspect” or “quasi-suspect” class, and so on. These inquiries, which inevitably turn on subjective and flexible considerations, have no intellectual integrity and, when they yield results incompatible with the fair meaning of the Constitution, have no legitimacy. But that doesn’t matter: Any justices intent on invalidating DOMA and Prop 8 will simply reverse-engineer whatever standard of review they believe provides them adequate cover.</p>
<p>Many people seem to forget that, in addition to being a guardian of federalism and other constitutional boundaries, the Supreme Court sits atop one branch of the federal government and is thus sometimes a player in the very game that it is umpiring. If the Court invalidates DOMA, it would violate the federal separation-of-powers principles that it is charged with defending. And if it invents a federal constitutional right to same-sex marriage, or otherwise impairs the ability of the states to preserve traditional marriage, that would be the real and grave intrusion on federalism.</p>
<p>For better or worse, state experimentation with the novelty of same-sex marriage is proceeding apace. Those of us with strong policy views on either side of the question will not likely be inclined to be content with the current state of affairs. But one of the great virtues of federalism is that it allows the citizens of the various states to pursue the different policies that make sense to them and to learn from their own, and one another’s, experiences.</p>
<p>As the years pass, it may become increasingly clear that same-sex marriage was a wonderful innovation, or a tragic folly, or something in between. And if the Court has the sound judgment to stay out of the way, we will retain the ability to revise the marriage policies in our states so that they reflect the lessons we have learned.</p>
<p>Ed Whelan, a regular contributor to National Review Online’s blog Bench Memos, is the president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center.</p> | false | 1 | supporters samesex marriage attack federal defense marriage act invoke purported federalism concerns authority states regulate marriage sue strike state marriage laws unconstitutional federalism concerns disappear supreme courts recent decision review lowercourt rulings defense marriage act californias proposition 8 reinstated traditional marriage state provides court clear opportunity set right relationship marriage federalism rule doma prop 8 constitutionally sound lets start doma president clinton signed doma law 1996 approved overwhelming majorities congress85 14 senate 342 67 houseincluding lots strong supporters gay rights thensenator joe biden among doma defines marriage purposes provisions federal law legal union one man one woman husband wife provides corresponding definition spouse supreme court challenge doma arises us v windsor edith windsor married longtime samesex partner thea spyer canada 2007 two resided new york spyer died 2009 left estate windsor windsor qualify spouse doma ineligible spousal deduction federal estate tax incurred hefty tax question court whether doma violates constitutionspecifically socalled equalprotection component court discerned due process clause fifth amendment 14th amendments equal protection clause applies states words violation equalprotection principles federal government define marriage purposes provisions federal law way excludes samesex couples recognized married law state reside ruling striking doma divided second circuit panel sloppy opinion asserted congress historically deferred state domestic relations laws applying provisions federal law condemned doma unprecedented breach longstanding deference federalism trumpeting federalism concerns raised domas challengers withstand scrutiny far effecting departure past practice doma merely reaffirmed made crystal clear congress always meant term marriage provisions federal law malefemale union doma doesnt intrude states authority regulate marriage state law doesnt nullify prohibit marriages respect preempt operation state law contrary leaves states free define redefine marriage please point illustrated fact nine states well district columbia adopted samesex marriage since domas enactment domas definition marriage merely establishes marriage purposes provisions federal law system federalism states federal government sovereign authority respective domains thus doma respects implements federalism exercising federal governments authority federal law congress often found convenient use statelaw marital status federal laws programs never accepted statelaw marital status constraining laws programs operate reason example provisions internal revenue code person legally separated spouse yet divorced treated unmarried person whose spouse nonresident alien likewise immigration laws marriage entered purpose gaining immigrants admission disregarded even though marriage remains valid state law could anyone imagine federalism means states authority regulate marriage statelaw purposes intrude federal government operates areas federal government somehow obligated incorporate provisions federal law whatever state defines marriage would mean state recognized polyamorous marriages would trigger federal benefits prorated lets assume members marriages even another state chose limit marriage twoperson union could allow adult siblings marry reap federal benefits yet another state could deem two business partners two neighbors otherwise unmarried married term marriage mean anything means virtually nothing instances federal government would extend federal benefits marriage accordance states wildly varying definitions substantively neutral position available federal government defining marriage purposes provisions federal law federal government chooses incorporate federal law states revised expanded definition marriage inevitably subsidizing implicitly validating states redefinition forcing citizens states subsidize redefinition proper understanding doma federalism leads readily conclusion doma easily satisfies deferential rational basis review court ordinarily applies federal statutes among things doma clearly advances federal governments interest uniform eligibility standards federal benefits reasonable federal government apply single definition disability purposes social security benefits reasonable apply definition marriage federal benefits generally domas challengers contend federal governments interest uniform eligibility somehow undercut fact doma ignores variations state marriage laws matters age consent permitted degrees consanguinity shows doma distinguishes components marriage federal government regards essential regards incidental domas challengers accept distinction reasonable dont object domas requirements marriage legal union two persons differ insistence illegitimate regard malefemale component domas definition essential attribute marriagethe point heart constitutional attack state marriage laws brings us prop 8 case hollingsworth v perry 2008 wake california supreme courts invention right samesex marriage state constitution california voters adopted prop 8 amend state constitution restore traditional definition marriage two samesex couples represented strangebedfellows legal duo ted olson david boies sued invalidate prop 8 claiming violated federal constitution federal district judge vaughn walker capped astounding course misconduct prop 8 casemisconduct led decrees reversed three times including supreme court final judgment even presented appellate reviewby declaring prop 8 invalid broad ground state marriage laws exclude samesex couples violate equalprotection dueprocess guarantees 14th amendment walker finished case retired bench disclose th e midst longterm samesex relationshipwhich means ruling legal right marry samesex partner may explain bias showed entire proceeding appeal divided ninth circuit panel led notorious liberal archactivist stephen reinhardt undertook invalidate prop 8 purportedly narrow ground unbelievably reinhardt failed disqualify case even though wife ramona ripston directed aclu affiliate filed briefs support prop 8 challengers walkers courtroom publicly celebrated walkers ruling according reinhardt particular context californiasamesex couples states domesticpartnership law rights marriage prop 8 restored definition marriage state supreme court invalidatedmeant legitimate reason prop 8 obvious reinhardt designed ruling try immunize supreme court review failing hoodwink former ninth circuit colleague justice anthony kennedy providing critical vote affirm ruling reinhardt missed first goal ought miss second claimed tracking kennedys analysis 1996 case romer v evans struck colorado constitutional amendment imposed comprehensive ban legislative executive judicial action designed protect gays lesbians reinhardts reasoning departs dramatically kennedys key points kennedy explained colorado law unprecedented jurisprudence imposed broad undifferentiated disability single named group sheer breadth seems inexplicable anything animus contrast traditional definition marriage prop 8 restored deep roots american jurisprudence reinhardts account prop 8 unique strictly limited effect made singular limited change reinhardt disclaims suggestion prop 8 motivated ill reinhardts approach would also perverse effects federalism seeming render irrevocable state experiment definition marriage would tend freeze place existing redefinitions states adoption domesticpartnership laws undermines ability retain traditional marriage state may deterred providing recognition samesex relationships may forced allornothing choice sound understanding constitution prop 8 case easy constitution speak question samesex marriage instead leaves matter processes representative government resolution system federalism permissible states retain traditional marriage permissible revise definition marriage encompass samesex couples proper business court either require states adopt samesex marriage prohibit alas fact doma prop 8 cases ought easy provides assurance court get right court many times strayed far constitution accumulated malleable precedents invite straying much ink spilled coming months whether doma prop 8 subject heightened scrutiny intensified version rationalbasis review whether homosexuals constitute suspect quasisuspect class inquiries inevitably turn subjective flexible considerations intellectual integrity yield results incompatible fair meaning constitution legitimacy doesnt matter justices intent invalidating doma prop 8 simply reverseengineer whatever standard review believe provides adequate cover many people seem forget addition guardian federalism constitutional boundaries supreme court sits atop one branch federal government thus sometimes player game umpiring court invalidates doma would violate federal separationofpowers principles charged defending invents federal constitutional right samesex marriage otherwise impairs ability states preserve traditional marriage would real grave intrusion federalism better worse state experimentation novelty samesex marriage proceeding apace us strong policy views either side question likely inclined content current state affairs one great virtues federalism allows citizens various states pursue different policies make sense learn one anothers experiences years pass may become increasingly clear samesex marriage wonderful innovation tragic folly something court sound judgment stay way retain ability revise marriage policies states reflect lessons learned ed whelan regular contributor national review onlines blog bench memos president ethics public policy center | 1,201 |
<p>CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The right kind of mindset worked for the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Carolina_Panthers/" type="external">Carolina Panthers</a>, both leading into the game against the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Minnesota-Vikings/" type="external">Minnesota Vikings</a> and during the game when adversity struck.</p>
<p>That was one of the takeaways for the Panthers after they pulled out Sunday’s 31-24 home victory.</p>
<p>“We responded all day,” Panthers head coach <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ron_Rivera/" type="external">Ron Rivera</a> said. “We felt good about our offense. We felt we really liked the opportunities we had to score late in the game and we were able to do it.”</p>
<p>The Panthers had enough facets of the rushing attack working to keep the Vikings off balance, particularly on a day with a few snags in the passing attack could have put the Panthers out of whack.</p>
<p>This makes the next game potentially even bigger for the Panthers.</p>
<p>“It’s a week-by-week league and we’ve got to prepare well every week because it’s tough to win,” rookie running back Christian McCaffrey said. “We have that win and we’ll enjoy it and then start getting ready for next week.”</p>
<p>A week after losing their showdown at New Orleans, the Panthers (9-4) are right back tied for first place in the NFC South, albeit the Saints own the tiebreaker.</p>
<p>“It’s one of those things when you look at the season going into the year and you hope that in December you’re playing games that really matter, and this game mattered for a lot of reasons,” Panthers linebacker <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Luke-Kuechly/" type="external">Luke Kuechly</a> said. “For playoff implications and stuff like that.”</p>
<p>There will be more of that this week with the Panthers getting a visit from the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Green_Bay_Packers/" type="external">Green Bay Packers</a>, who could be one of the contenders for a wild-card berth into the playoffs.</p>
<p>The Panthers benefited from a strong goal-line defense against the Vikings. They forced Minnesota into field goals near the end of each half after the Vikings had first-and-goal at the 4 and first-and-goal at the 6. Each time, those defensive efforts prevented Minnesota from taking the lead.</p>
<p>“Our guys (on defense) were able to hold and do what they needed to do to give us a chance,” Rivera said.</p>
<p>After the final Minnesota field goal when the Panthers regained possession in a tie game, Rivera might have been most proud that Carolina produced the winning points on a drive without throwing the ball.</p>
<p>“We felt we could run the ball in certain situations,” Rivera said.</p>
<p>With 216 rushing yards for the game, the Panthers became one of two NFL teams with three or more games with 200 yards on the ground this season. Carolina hadn’t had three games with that level of rushing attack since 2009.</p>
<p>In that mix this time was running back <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jonathan_Stewart/" type="external">Jonathan Stewart</a>, a 10-year veteran, rushing for three touchdowns in a game for the first time in his career. With 103 rushing yards in the game, Stewart reached the 100-yard mark for the 16th time in his career.</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>Cornerback Captain <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Munnerlyn/" type="external">Munnerlyn</a> played 50 snaps in a heightened role against his former team. He rejoined the Panthers during the offseason after playing the last three seasons for the Vikings.</p>
<p>“It’s special, it’s definitely special,” Munnerlyn said. “When I first signed back here and I saw we were playing them on December 10 — it’s my wife’s birthday, by the way — I circled the game and I tried to just get through the season and wait on this game.”</p>
<p>Munnerlyn, who had his first extended role of the season, was credited with three tackles and one pass defended.</p>
<p>“I had to get this win and now I have bragging rights,” he said.</p>
<p>Head coach Ron Rivera said the Panthers used Munnerlyn and left tackle <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Matt-Kalil/" type="external">Matt Kalil</a>, who also joined the team this season after playing for the Vikings, to help provide information in the week leading to the game about some of Minnesota’s tendencies.</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>The Panthers have played back-to-back games against NFC divisional leaders so they could be getting some traction with a possible spot in the postseason if they finish December strong.</p>
<p>“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see those guys again,” Carolina quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Cam_Newton/" type="external">Cam Newton</a> said of the Vikings after the Panthers defeated Minnesota 31-24.</p>
<p>The Panthers’ next game comes Sunday at home against the Green Bay Packers, who are trying to move into playoff position.</p>
<p>Linebacker <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Thomas_Davis/" type="external">Thomas Davis</a> said the way the Panthers responded after the loss to New Orleans was a good sign.</p>
<p>“For us to come back and really establish ourselves here at home … we knew we had a tough challenge ahead of us,” Davis said.</p>
<p>NOTES: LB <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Shaq-Thompson/" type="external">Shaq Thompson</a> missed the Minnesota game because of a foot injury. On Monday, head coach Ron Rivera said Thompson had responded well to treatment and it’s possible that he could play against Green Bay. … LB <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Spencer-Paysinger/" type="external">Spencer Paysinger</a> was signed last week and he was activated for the Minnesota game. In fact, he was on the field for the opening kickoff as part of Carolina’s coverage unit. … C <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ryan-Kalil/" type="external">Ryan Kalil</a> made it through his first full game since September as he came back from a neck injury. Head coach Ron Rivera said the game footage showed that Kalil became stronger throughout the afternoon.</p>
<p>REPORT CARD VS. VIKINGS</p>
<p>—PASSING OFFENSE: C – The Panthers didn’t make a lot of big plays in this area, but QB Cam Newton improvised enough to find WR Devin Funchess for a touchdown pass. Often, 137 passing yards for the game isn’t going to cut it.</p>
<p>—RUSHING OFFENSE: A-minus – RB Jonathan Stewart scored on three touchdown runs, including a 60-yarder on the game’s opening possession. The Panthers piled up 216 yards on the ground, eclipsing the 200-yard rushing mark for the third time this season. QB Cam Newton had a 62-yard run to set up the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. Perhaps of concern for the Panthers is other than the two big runs, they picked up 94 rushing yards on the remaining 34 carries.</p>
<p>—PASS DEFENSE: B – The Panthers had a lot of good moments in this area, with two interceptions halting a couple of Minnesota possessions. The pass rush might have been the best part of this category because Carolina registered six sacks and forced Minnesota QB <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Case_Keenum/" type="external">Case Keenum</a> into several other uncomfortable situations. The Vikings had 10 players with at least one catch, so it wasn’t like the Panthers locked them down altogether in this area.</p>
<p>—RUSH DEFENSE: B – The Panthers were good, though not great, in this area. The Vikings picked up 100 rushing yards on 21 carries, so there were some concerns. Three different Vikings had runs of at least 11 yards. But take away QB Case Keenum’s scrambles that accounted for 40 yards and the Panthers were pretty solid here.</p>
<p>—SPECIAL TEAMS: B-minus – The Panthers gave up a big punt return (29 yards) and didn’t have any game-changing plays of their own with the special teams. There also weren’t any major glitches, so that was encouraging. P Michael Palardy didn’t have one of his better days, but there wasn’t anything disastrous as he averaged 43.3 yards on six attempts and he was bailed out by a 56-yard blast.</p>
<p>—COACHING: A – The Panthers defeated a Minnesota team that was riding an eight-game winning streak and could end up as the top team in the NFC. The Panthers expected a solid game plan and also worked in a couple of players coming off injuries, so that could have been disruptive. An 11-point lead disappeared in the fourth quarter in a matter of about three minutes of the fourth quarter, but the Panthers seemed to know what to do to get back on track.</p> | false | 1 | charlotte nc right kind mindset worked carolina panthers leading game minnesota vikings game adversity struck one takeaways panthers pulled sundays 3124 home victory responded day panthers head coach ron rivera said felt good offense felt really liked opportunities score late game able panthers enough facets rushing attack working keep vikings balance particularly day snags passing attack could put panthers whack makes next game potentially even bigger panthers weekbyweek league weve got prepare well every week tough win rookie running back christian mccaffrey said win well enjoy start getting ready next week week losing showdown new orleans panthers 94 right back tied first place nfc south albeit saints tiebreaker one things look season going year hope december youre playing games really matter game mattered lot reasons panthers linebacker luke kuechly said playoff implications stuff like week panthers getting visit green bay packers could one contenders wildcard berth playoffs panthers benefited strong goalline defense vikings forced minnesota field goals near end half vikings firstandgoal 4 firstandgoal 6 time defensive efforts prevented minnesota taking lead guys defense able hold needed give us chance rivera said final minnesota field goal panthers regained possession tie game rivera might proud carolina produced winning points drive without throwing ball felt could run ball certain situations rivera said 216 rushing yards game panthers became one two nfl teams three games 200 yards ground season carolina hadnt three games level rushing attack since 2009 mix time running back jonathan stewart 10year veteran rushing three touchdowns game first time career 103 rushing yards game stewart reached 100yard mark 16th time career cornerback captain munnerlyn played 50 snaps heightened role former team rejoined panthers offseason playing last three seasons vikings special definitely special munnerlyn said first signed back saw playing december 10 wifes birthday way circled game tried get season wait game munnerlyn first extended role season credited three tackles one pass defended get win bragging rights said head coach ron rivera said panthers used munnerlyn left tackle matt kalil also joined team season playing vikings help provide information week leading game minnesotas tendencies panthers played backtoback games nfc divisional leaders could getting traction possible spot postseason finish december strong wouldnt surprised see guys carolina quarterback cam newton said vikings panthers defeated minnesota 3124 panthers next game comes sunday home green bay packers trying move playoff position linebacker thomas davis said way panthers responded loss new orleans good sign us come back really establish home knew tough challenge ahead us davis said notes lb shaq thompson missed minnesota game foot injury monday head coach ron rivera said thompson responded well treatment possible could play green bay lb spencer paysinger signed last week activated minnesota game fact field opening kickoff part carolinas coverage unit c ryan kalil made first full game since september came back neck injury head coach ron rivera said game footage showed kalil became stronger throughout afternoon report card vs vikings passing offense c panthers didnt make lot big plays area qb cam newton improvised enough find wr devin funchess touchdown pass often 137 passing yards game isnt going cut rushing offense aminus rb jonathan stewart scored three touchdown runs including 60yarder games opening possession panthers piled 216 yards ground eclipsing 200yard rushing mark third time season qb cam newton 62yard run set gamewinning touchdown fourth quarter perhaps concern panthers two big runs picked 94 rushing yards remaining 34 carries pass defense b panthers lot good moments area two interceptions halting couple minnesota possessions pass rush might best part category carolina registered six sacks forced minnesota qb case keenum several uncomfortable situations vikings 10 players least one catch wasnt like panthers locked altogether area rush defense b panthers good though great area vikings picked 100 rushing yards 21 carries concerns three different vikings runs least 11 yards take away qb case keenums scrambles accounted 40 yards panthers pretty solid special teams bminus panthers gave big punt return 29 yards didnt gamechanging plays special teams also werent major glitches encouraging p michael palardy didnt one better days wasnt anything disastrous averaged 433 yards six attempts bailed 56yard blast coaching panthers defeated minnesota team riding eightgame winning streak could end top team nfc panthers expected solid game plan also worked couple players coming injuries could disruptive 11point lead disappeared fourth quarter matter three minutes fourth quarter panthers seemed know get back track | 721 |
<p>(Reuters) – It was an awkward coalition riven by political and sectarian differences, facing an elusive, fanatical enemy dug into an urban maze of narrow streets and alleyways. So, could Iraq’s government really deliver on its vow to vanquish Islamic State?</p>
<p>In the end, the army, Shi’ite Muslim paramilitaries and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters mustered rare unity to end Islamic State’s reign of terror in Iraq’s second city Mosul, seat of the ultra-hardline Sunni insurgents’ “caliphate”.</p>
<p>Baghdad’s victory in July 2017 after nine months of fighting was the coup de grace for the caliphate and came three years after a jihadist juggernaut seized one third of Iraq.</p>
<p>But even with supportive U.S. air strikes, Baghdad’s triumph came at a devastating cost for the once-vibrant, multicultural city in northern Iraq and the surrounding region.</p>
<p>When Islamic State militants first arrived in Mosul in June 2014 after sweeping aside crumbling Iraqi army units, many Mosul residents initially welcomed them.</p>
<p>The militants were Sunni Muslims, like many in Mosul who had accused the forces of then-Shi’ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of widespread sectarian abuses.</p>
<p>Islamic State consequently presented itself as Mosul’s savior. But as jihadists brandishing AK-47 assault rifles began imposing an Islamist doctrine even more brutal and mediaeval than al Qaeda, its popularity soon faded.</p>
<p>Maliki’s successor,&#160;Haider al-Abadi, had long been seen as an ineffective leader who could not make tough decisions.</p>
<p>However, a U.S.-backed campaign against IS in Mosul offered Abadi a chance to emerge as a steely statesman capable of taking on a group that had terrorized a sprawling city with beheadings in public squares while staging deadly attacks in the West.</p>
<p>REIGN OF TERROR</p>
<p>Just smoking one cigarette, an act IS saw as anti-Islamic, earned you dozens of lashes. Children were used as informers. Women in minority communities were turned into sex slaves.</p>
<p>But taking back Mosul was never going to be easy.</p>
<p>Long before the first shot was fired, Abadi and his advisers and military commanders had to tread cautiously, taking into account sectarian and ethnic sensitivities that could splinter the united front he urgently needed to establish.</p>
<p>Iraqi and Kurdish intelligence agencies had recruited informers inside Mosul, from ex-soldiers and army officers to taxi drivers, who would face instant execution if caught.</p>
<p>Even if an alliance of convenience was struck, glossing over sectarian splits, Mosul itself posed formidable physical obstacles.</p>
<p>Key districts consisted of ancient little streets and alleyways inaccessible to tanks and armored vehicles, and they were so densely populated that U.S.-led coalition air strikes risked heavy civilian casualties.</p>
<p>So, street by street, house by house, fighting was unavoidable.</p>
<p>Such challenges first popped up in Mosul’s hinterland as Kurdish forces slowly advanced against fierce IS resistance.</p>
<p>In one village, a single IS sniper hunkered down in a house held up hundreds of Kurdish fighters, the U.S. special forces advising them and 40 of their vehicles. Eventually, his rifle went silent after three air strikes on the house.</p>
<p>As pro-government forces inched forward, the United Nations warned of a possible humanitarian disaster and expressed fear that jihadists could seize civilians for use as human shields, and gun down anyone trying to escape.</p>
<p>IS fighters – both Iraqis and foreigners&#160;– were experts at carrying out suicide bombings and assembling homemade bombs. Many houses were booby-trapped. Iraqi military commanders had to factor these lurking perils into their gameplan.</p>
<p>In interviews, IS insurgents shed light on what Iraqi forces were up against. They were quite open about their ideology and what they were willing to do to transform the Middle East.</p>
<p>One man said he had used rape as a weapon of war against more than 200 women from Iraqi minorities, and had killed 500 people.</p>
<p>DEADLY OBSTACLE COURSE</p>
<p>After months of grueling fighting, Iraqi forces finally attained the outskirts of Mosul, but any celebrations were premature. Bombs littered dusty roads. Car bombs were exploding.</p>
<p>A Mosul resident explained that his child no longer flinched as explosions shook his street because many people, including the young, had grown numb to the daily bloodshed.</p>
<p>Each side resorted to desperate measures to gain an edge.</p>
<p>In north Mosul, people walked by fly-infested, bloated corpses of militants&#160;who had been left on roadsides for two weeks. Iraqi soldiers explained that the stinking bodies had been left there to send a clear message to residents – don’t join IS or you will suffer the same fate.</p>
<p>Caught in the middle were civilians who had suffered under the IS reign of terror for three years and were now wondering if they would survive a relentless battle to “liberate” them.</p>
<p>Parents waited patiently after weeks of fighting for a largely unknowable right moment to make a dash for Iraqi government lines, clutching their children, risking a run-in with jihadists from places as far away as Chechnya.</p>
<p>As much of east and west Mosul was pulverized by coalition air strikes or IS truck and car bombs, the city was reduced to row after row of collapsed or gutted housing.</p>
<p>In the end, IS suffered its most decisive defeat and watched their self-proclaimed caliphate evaporate in Iraq, then in Syria as Kurdish-led forces retook Raqqa, IS’s urban stronghold there.</p>
<p>FUTURE CHALLENGES</p>
<p>But those victories will be followed by tough questions about the future of both Iraq and Syria.</p>
<p>Preserving the shaky understanding forged between the different communities in the run-up to the Mosul campaign will be essential to saving Iraq as a state in the future.</p>
<p>It did not take long for the Mosul coalition to fray.</p>
<p>In October, Iraqi forces dislodged Kurdish Peshmerga fighters from the oil city of Kirkuk and other disputed areas and Baghdad imposed curbed air travel to and from the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region in retaliation for a Kurdish independence referendum held in northern Iraq in September. &#160;</p>
<p>The battle for Raqqa, which became IS’s operational base in Syria, had a different feel to it as U.S.-backed Kurds and Arabs in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) tightened their siege.</p>
<p>The fighting seemed slower and more measured, step by step along abandoned streets where journalists were given access.</p>
<p>In the weeks before Raqqa’s fall in October, young female SDF fighters faced off against hardened militants and suffered losses. But that did not curb their enthusiasm and some said they would eventually like to join Kurdish PKK militants in Turkey and help advance their 33-year-old insurgency there.</p>
<p>The victors in Iraq and Syria now face new challenges as they rebuild&#160;cities shattered by the showdown with IS.</p>
<p>After IS’s defeat in Raqqa, Raqqa residents formed a council to run the city but they had no budget when it was first set up, just residents streaming into their tin, run-down headquarters demanding everything from instant jobs to getting their damaged farmland back.</p>
<p>Syrian Kurdish fighters were inspired by the ideas of Abdullah Ocalan, head of the PKK militants who has been imprisoned in Turkey for almost 20 years.</p>
<p>Turkey views the political rise of Syria’s Kurds as a threat to its national security and is fiercely opposed to the idea of Kurdish autonomy on its doorstep.</p>
<p>The Kurdish groups who led the fight against Islamic State in its former capital Raqqa must now navigate a complex peace to avoid ethnic tension with the city’s Arab majority and to secure critical U.S. aid.&#160; &#160;&#160;</p>
<p>So, life for Raqqa’s victors will remain fraught with risk.</p> | false | 1 | reuters awkward coalition riven political sectarian differences facing elusive fanatical enemy dug urban maze narrow streets alleyways could iraqs government really deliver vow vanquish islamic state end army shiite muslim paramilitaries kurdish peshmerga fighters mustered rare unity end islamic states reign terror iraqs second city mosul seat ultrahardline sunni insurgents caliphate baghdads victory july 2017 nine months fighting coup de grace caliphate came three years jihadist juggernaut seized one third iraq even supportive us air strikes baghdads triumph came devastating cost oncevibrant multicultural city northern iraq surrounding region islamic state militants first arrived mosul june 2014 sweeping aside crumbling iraqi army units many mosul residents initially welcomed militants sunni muslims like many mosul accused forces thenshiite prime minister nuri almaliki widespread sectarian abuses islamic state consequently presented mosuls savior jihadists brandishing ak47 assault rifles began imposing islamist doctrine even brutal mediaeval al qaeda popularity soon faded malikis successor160haider alabadi long seen ineffective leader could make tough decisions however usbacked campaign mosul offered abadi chance emerge steely statesman capable taking group terrorized sprawling city beheadings public squares staging deadly attacks west reign terror smoking one cigarette act saw antiislamic earned dozens lashes children used informers women minority communities turned sex slaves taking back mosul never going easy long first shot fired abadi advisers military commanders tread cautiously taking account sectarian ethnic sensitivities could splinter united front urgently needed establish iraqi kurdish intelligence agencies recruited informers inside mosul exsoldiers army officers taxi drivers would face instant execution caught even alliance convenience struck glossing sectarian splits mosul posed formidable physical obstacles key districts consisted ancient little streets alleyways inaccessible tanks armored vehicles densely populated usled coalition air strikes risked heavy civilian casualties street street house house fighting unavoidable challenges first popped mosuls hinterland kurdish forces slowly advanced fierce resistance one village single sniper hunkered house held hundreds kurdish fighters us special forces advising 40 vehicles eventually rifle went silent three air strikes house progovernment forces inched forward united nations warned possible humanitarian disaster expressed fear jihadists could seize civilians use human shields gun anyone trying escape fighters iraqis foreigners160 experts carrying suicide bombings assembling homemade bombs many houses boobytrapped iraqi military commanders factor lurking perils gameplan interviews insurgents shed light iraqi forces quite open ideology willing transform middle east one man said used rape weapon war 200 women iraqi minorities killed 500 people deadly obstacle course months grueling fighting iraqi forces finally attained outskirts mosul celebrations premature bombs littered dusty roads car bombs exploding mosul resident explained child longer flinched explosions shook street many people including young grown numb daily bloodshed side resorted desperate measures gain edge north mosul people walked flyinfested bloated corpses militants160who left roadsides two weeks iraqi soldiers explained stinking bodies left send clear message residents dont join suffer fate caught middle civilians suffered reign terror three years wondering would survive relentless battle liberate parents waited patiently weeks fighting largely unknowable right moment make dash iraqi government lines clutching children risking runin jihadists places far away chechnya much east west mosul pulverized coalition air strikes truck car bombs city reduced row row collapsed gutted housing end suffered decisive defeat watched selfproclaimed caliphate evaporate iraq syria kurdishled forces retook raqqa iss urban stronghold future challenges victories followed tough questions future iraq syria preserving shaky understanding forged different communities runup mosul campaign essential saving iraq state future take long mosul coalition fray october iraqi forces dislodged kurdish peshmerga fighters oil city kirkuk disputed areas baghdad imposed curbed air travel semiautonomous kurdistan region retaliation kurdish independence referendum held northern iraq september 160 battle raqqa became iss operational base syria different feel usbacked kurds arabs syrian democratic forces sdf tightened siege fighting seemed slower measured step step along abandoned streets journalists given access weeks raqqas fall october young female sdf fighters faced hardened militants suffered losses curb enthusiasm said would eventually like join kurdish pkk militants turkey help advance 33yearold insurgency victors iraq syria face new challenges rebuild160cities shattered showdown iss defeat raqqa raqqa residents formed council run city budget first set residents streaming tin rundown headquarters demanding everything instant jobs getting damaged farmland back syrian kurdish fighters inspired ideas abdullah ocalan head pkk militants imprisoned turkey almost 20 years turkey views political rise syrias kurds threat national security fiercely opposed idea kurdish autonomy doorstep kurdish groups led fight islamic state former capital raqqa must navigate complex peace avoid ethnic tension citys arab majority secure critical us aid160 160160 life raqqas victors remain fraught risk | 741 |
<p />
<p>November 9 will mark the 25th anniversary of the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. The extravagant hoopla began months ago in Berlin. In the United States we can expect all the Cold War clichés about The Free World vs. Communist Tyranny to be trotted out and the simple tale of how the wall came to be will be repeated: In 1961, the East Berlin communists built a wall to keep their oppressed citizens from escaping to West Berlin and freedom. Why? Because commies don’t like people to be free, to learn the “truth”. What other reason could there have been?</p>
<p>First of all, before the wall went up in 1961, thousands of East Germans had been commuting to the West for jobs each day and then returning to the East in the evening; many others went back and forth for shopping or other reasons. So they were clearly not being held in the East against their will. Why then was the wall built? There were two major reasons:</p>
<p>1) The West was bedeviling the East with a vigorous campaign of recruiting East German professionals and skilled workers, who had been educated at the expense of the Communist government. This eventually led to a serious labor and production crisis in the East. As one indication of this, the&#160;New York Times&#160;reported in 1963: “West Berlin suffered economically from the wall by the loss of about 60,000 skilled workmen who had commuted daily from their homes in East Berlin to their places of work in West Berlin.”</p>
<p>It should be noted that in 1999,&#160;USA Today&#160;reported: “When the Berlin Wall crumbled [1989], East Germans imagined a life of freedom where consumer goods were abundant and hardships would fade. Ten years later, a remarkable 51% say they were happier with communism.”&#160;&#160;Earlier polls would likely have shown even more than 51% expressing such a sentiment, for in the ten years many of those who remembered life in East Germany with some fondness had passed away; although even 10 years later, in 2009, the&#160;Washington Post&#160;could report: “Westerners [in Berlin] say they are fed up with the tendency of their eastern counterparts to wax nostalgic about communist times.”</p>
<p>It was in the post-unification period that a new Russian and eastern Europe proverb was born: “Everything the Communists said about Communism was a lie, but everything they said about capitalism turned out to be the truth.”</p>
<p>It should be further noted that the division of Germany into two states in 1949 – setting the stage for 40 years of Cold War hostility – was an American decision, not a Soviet one.</p>
<p>2) During the 1950s, American coldwarriors in West Germany instituted a crude campaign of sabotage and subversion against East Germany designed to throw that country’s economic and administrative machinery out of gear. The CIA and other US intelligence and military services recruited, equipped, trained and financed German activist groups and individuals, of West and East, to carry out actions which ran the spectrum from juvenile delinquency to terrorism; anything to make life difficult for the East German people and weaken their support of the government; anything to make the commies look bad.</p>
<p>It was a remarkable undertaking. The United States and its agents used explosives, arson, short circuiting, and other methods to damage power stations, shipyards, canals, docks, public buildings, gas stations, public transportation, bridges, etc; they derailed freight trains, seriously injuring workers; burned 12 cars of a freight train and destroyed air pressure hoses of others; used acids to damage vital factory machinery; put sand in the turbine of a factory, bringing it to a standstill; set fire to a tile-producing factory; promoted work slow-downs in factories; killed 7,000 cows of a co-operative dairy through poisoning; added soap to powdered milk destined for East German schools; were in possession, when arrested, of a large quantity of the poison&#160;cantharidin&#160;with which it was planned to produce poisoned cigarettes to kill leading East Germans; set off stink bombs to disrupt political meetings; attempted to disrupt the World Youth Festival in East Berlin by sending out forged invitations, false promises of free bed and board, false notices of cancellations, etc.; carried out attacks on participants with explosives, firebombs, and tire-puncturing equipment; forged and distributed large quantities of food ration cards to cause confusion, shortages and resentment; sent out forged tax notices and other government directives and documents to foster disorganization and inefficiency within industry and unions … all this and much more.</p>
<p>The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, of Washington, DC, conservative coldwarriors, in one of their Cold War International History Project Working Papers (#58, p.9) states: “The open border in Berlin exposed the GDR [East Germany] to massive espionage and subversion and, as the two documents in the appendices show, its closure gave the Communist state greater security.”</p>
<p>Throughout the 1950s, the East Germans and the Soviet Union repeatedly lodged complaints with the Soviets’ erstwhile allies in the West and with the United Nations about specific sabotage and espionage activities and called for the closure of the offices in West Germany they claimed were responsible, and for which they provided names and addresses. Their complaints fell on deaf ears. Inevitably, the East Germans began to tighten up entry into the country from the West, leading eventually to the infamous wall. However, even after the wall was built there was regular, albeit limited, legal emigration from east to west. In 1984, for example, East Germany allowed 40,000 people to leave. In 1985, East German newspapers claimed that more than 20,000 former citizens who had settled in the West wanted to return home after becoming disillusioned with the capitalist system. The West German government said that 14,300 East Germans had gone back over the previous 10 years.</p>
<p>Let’s also not forget that while East Germany completely denazified, in West Germany for more than a decade after the war, the highest government positions in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches contained numerous former and “former” Nazis.</p>
<p>Finally, it must be remembered, that Eastern Europe became communist because Hitler, with the approval of the West, used it as a highway to reach the Soviet Union to wipe out Bolshevism forever, and that the Russians in World War I and II lost about 40 million people because the West had used this highway to invade Russia. It should not be surprising that after World War II the Soviet Union was determined to close down the highway.</p>
<p>For an additional and very interesting view of the Berlin Wall anniversary, see the article “ <a href="http://www.truth-out.org/speakout/item/26667-humpty-dumpty-and-the-fall-of-berlins-wall" type="external">Humpty Dumpty and the Fall of Berlin’s Wall</a>” by Victor Grossman. Grossman (née Steve Wechsler) fled the US Army in Germany under pressure from McCarthy-era threats and became a journalist and author during his years in the (East) German Democratic Republic. He still lives in Berlin and mails out his “Berlin Bulletin” on German developments on an irregular basis. You can subscribe to it at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. His autobiography: “Crossing the River: a Memoir of the American Left, the Cold War and Life in East Germany” was published by University of Massachusetts Press. He claims to be the only person in the world with diplomas from both Harvard University and Karl Marx University in Leipzig.</p> | false | 1 | november 9 mark 25th anniversary tearing berlin wall extravagant hoopla began months ago berlin united states expect cold war clichés free world vs communist tyranny trotted simple tale wall came repeated 1961 east berlin communists built wall keep oppressed citizens escaping west berlin freedom commies dont like people free learn truth reason could first wall went 1961 thousands east germans commuting west jobs day returning east evening many others went back forth shopping reasons clearly held east wall built two major reasons 1 west bedeviling east vigorous campaign recruiting east german professionals skilled workers educated expense communist government eventually led serious labor production crisis east one indication the160new york times160reported 1963 west berlin suffered economically wall loss 60000 skilled workmen commuted daily homes east berlin places work west berlin noted 1999160usa today160reported berlin wall crumbled 1989 east germans imagined life freedom consumer goods abundant hardships would fade ten years later remarkable 51 say happier communism160160earlier polls would likely shown even 51 expressing sentiment ten years many remembered life east germany fondness passed away although even 10 years later 2009 the160washington post160could report westerners berlin say fed tendency eastern counterparts wax nostalgic communist times postunification period new russian eastern europe proverb born everything communists said communism lie everything said capitalism turned truth noted division germany two states 1949 setting stage 40 years cold war hostility american decision soviet one 2 1950s american coldwarriors west germany instituted crude campaign sabotage subversion east germany designed throw countrys economic administrative machinery gear cia us intelligence military services recruited equipped trained financed german activist groups individuals west east carry actions ran spectrum juvenile delinquency terrorism anything make life difficult east german people weaken support government anything make commies look bad remarkable undertaking united states agents used explosives arson short circuiting methods damage power stations shipyards canals docks public buildings gas stations public transportation bridges etc derailed freight trains seriously injuring workers burned 12 cars freight train destroyed air pressure hoses others used acids damage vital factory machinery put sand turbine factory bringing standstill set fire tileproducing factory promoted work slowdowns factories killed 7000 cows cooperative dairy poisoning added soap powdered milk destined east german schools possession arrested large quantity poison160cantharidin160with planned produce poisoned cigarettes kill leading east germans set stink bombs disrupt political meetings attempted disrupt world youth festival east berlin sending forged invitations false promises free bed board false notices cancellations etc carried attacks participants explosives firebombs tirepuncturing equipment forged distributed large quantities food ration cards cause confusion shortages resentment sent forged tax notices government directives documents foster disorganization inefficiency within industry unions much woodrow wilson international center scholars washington dc conservative coldwarriors one cold war international history project working papers 58 p9 states open border berlin exposed gdr east germany massive espionage subversion two documents appendices show closure gave communist state greater security throughout 1950s east germans soviet union repeatedly lodged complaints soviets erstwhile allies west united nations specific sabotage espionage activities called closure offices west germany claimed responsible provided names addresses complaints fell deaf ears inevitably east germans began tighten entry country west leading eventually infamous wall however even wall built regular albeit limited legal emigration east west 1984 example east germany allowed 40000 people leave 1985 east german newspapers claimed 20000 former citizens settled west wanted return home becoming disillusioned capitalist system west german government said 14300 east germans gone back previous 10 years lets also forget east germany completely denazified west germany decade war highest government positions executive legislative judicial branches contained numerous former former nazis finally must remembered eastern europe became communist hitler approval west used highway reach soviet union wipe bolshevism forever russians world war ii lost 40 million people west used highway invade russia surprising world war ii soviet union determined close highway additional interesting view berlin wall anniversary see article humpty dumpty fall berlins wall victor grossman grossman née steve wechsler fled us army germany pressure mccarthyera threats became journalist author years east german democratic republic still lives berlin mails berlin bulletin german developments irregular basis subscribe wechsler_grossmanyahoode autobiography crossing river memoir american left cold war life east germany published university massachusetts press claims person world diplomas harvard university karl marx university leipzig | 697 |
<p>This year’s record long list for the Academy’s foreign-language film race is good news for an award that, however much the Academy attempts to tinker with it, can only be an imperfectly selective sampling of what world cinema has to offer. But the larger the playing field is to begin with, the more opportunities voters have to throw us a curveball — even reducing 92 movies to just five nominees is a cruel game. Whether or not the final choices reflect it, this may be the most pleasingly diverse selection the Academy has ever had to work with in this category.</p>
<p>Femme MightEight years after Kathryn Bigelow’s historic win for “The Hurt Locker,” Hollywood’s systemic sexism is still sorely felt at Oscar time. But the outlook is far brighter in the foreign-language race, where 26 of this year’s 92 submissions have female directors, ranging from established critical darlings like Argentina’s Lucrecia Martel (“ <a href="http://variety.com/t/zama/" type="external">Zama</a>”) to up-and-coming talents like Haitian-American Guetty Felin (behind Haiti’s first-ever entry “Ayiti Mon Amour”), from Hollywood-dabbling crossover veterans like Poland’s Agnieszka Holland (“Spoor”) to bona fide Hollywood royalty in Angelina Jolie, whose “First They Killed My Father” got the nod from Cambodia.</p>
<p>Granted, it’s far from equal representation, but if 28% of the current best picture field was female-helmed, we’d be calling it an industry revolution. Competition may be stiff, but if no women make it onto the December shortlist, eyebrows will be raised. Look for challenging formalist Martel and Hungary’s Ildiko Enyedi, director of the beguiling, Berlinale Golden Bear-winning dream romance “On Body and Soul,” to potentially benefit from the grace of the executive committee — the smaller, discerning body that rounds out the choices of the larger voting branch.</p>
<p>Banner LGBT YearWith “Moonlight” our reigning best picture winner and Luca Guadagnino’s “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/call-me-by-your-name/" type="external">Call Me by Your Name</a>” with Armie Hammer looking to make a run at succeeding it, the Academy’s spotty record of recognizing gay-themed cinema may be improving. That could further be demonstrated in this year’s foreign-language race, where a number of LGBT-oriented titles are vying for attention. In a field shorter than usual on slam-dunk contenders, France’s “BPM (Beats Per Minute)” could be the prohibitive favorite: a rich, sensual, impassioned study of early AIDS activism and gay awakening in Paris, it took the Grand Prix at Cannes and has been winning hearts on the festival circuit. A dark horse to watch, meanwhile, is South Africa’s “The Wound,” which impressed many at Sundance with its troubling tale of emerging gay sexuality and tribal adolescent initiation. Finland, meanwhile, has decided to test the Academy’s kinkier side by entering “Tom of Finland,” a slick biopic of the legendary eponymous erotic artist.</p>
<p>“This may be the most pleasingly diverse selection the Academy has ever had to work with.”</p>
<p>And while the stress is too often on the “G” in LGBT cinema when it comes to awards attention, Chile has a notable contender in “A Fantastic Woman,” Sebastian Lelio’s vibrant study of a transgender woman facing the emotional aftermath of her lover’s death. Sony Classics, ever a dominant force in this category, has high hopes for the film, while there’s outside talk of a history-making lead actress campaign for revelatory trans star Daniela Vega. A longer shot, meanwhile, is Taiwan’s “Small Talk,” filmmaker Huang Hui-chen’s documentary about her own fraught relationship with her lesbian priestess mother.</p>
<p>All in all, we could be looking at the biggest victory for queer cinema in this race since Pedro Almodovar’s “All About My Mother” in 1999.</p>
<p>Fresh VoicesOne of the reasons for the Academy’s contentious one-film-per-country system is to avoid certain major filmmaking nations dominating the race. But that doesn’t protect the category from an overwhelming Eurocentric bias. In the 61 years this has been a competitive category, a non-European country has taken the award on only 10 occasions. So it’s heartening to see several smaller, previously unrepresented national cinemas, all from developing countries, joining the mix for the first time this year.</p>
<p>Syria, for example, has drawn headlines by entering the documentary “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/little-gandhi/" type="external">Little Gandhi</a>,” about slain peace activist Ghiyath Matar; with such international visions on the country as “Last Men in Aleppo” and “City of Ghosts” looking to feature in the documentary race, it’s a timely entry in many ways. Haiti, as discussed above, has joined the fold, as has Honduras, with historical biopic “Morazan,” and Laos, with Mattie Do’s festival-traveled horror film “Dearest Sister.”</p>
<p>Finally, we look to Africa, a continent eternally under-represented in this category — Nigeria, for example, may have a bustling film industry, but has never entered a film.</p>
<p>Now it’s making one of its strongest showings in years. Kenya rejoins the race after a five-year absence, and two first-timers — Mozambique (last year’s Locarno-premiered “The Train of Salt and Sugar”) and Senegal (“Felicite,” a vibrant, music-propelled character study that took the Grand Prix in Berlin). The latter may be one to watch with the executive committee, as well as South Africa’s “The Wound.”</p>
<p>Which way the race will go is anyone’s guess at this point, but the Academy has never had less of an excuse to fall back on the familiar.</p> | false | 1 | years record long list academys foreignlanguage film race good news award however much academy attempts tinker imperfectly selective sampling world cinema offer larger playing field begin opportunities voters throw us curveball even reducing 92 movies five nominees cruel game whether final choices reflect may pleasingly diverse selection academy ever work category femme mighteight years kathryn bigelows historic win hurt locker hollywoods systemic sexism still sorely felt oscar time outlook far brighter foreignlanguage race 26 years 92 submissions female directors ranging established critical darlings like argentinas lucrecia martel zama upandcoming talents like haitianamerican guetty felin behind haitis firstever entry ayiti mon amour hollywooddabbling crossover veterans like polands agnieszka holland spoor bona fide hollywood royalty angelina jolie whose first killed father got nod cambodia granted far equal representation 28 current best picture field femalehelmed wed calling industry revolution competition may stiff women make onto december shortlist eyebrows raised look challenging formalist martel hungarys ildiko enyedi director beguiling berlinale golden bearwinning dream romance body soul potentially benefit grace executive committee smaller discerning body rounds choices larger voting branch banner lgbt yearwith moonlight reigning best picture winner luca guadagninos call name armie hammer looking make run succeeding academys spotty record recognizing gaythemed cinema may improving could demonstrated years foreignlanguage race number lgbtoriented titles vying attention field shorter usual slamdunk contenders frances bpm beats per minute could prohibitive favorite rich sensual impassioned study early aids activism gay awakening paris took grand prix cannes winning hearts festival circuit dark horse watch meanwhile south africas wound impressed many sundance troubling tale emerging gay sexuality tribal adolescent initiation finland meanwhile decided test academys kinkier side entering tom finland slick biopic legendary eponymous erotic artist may pleasingly diverse selection academy ever work stress often g lgbt cinema comes awards attention chile notable contender fantastic woman sebastian lelios vibrant study transgender woman facing emotional aftermath lovers death sony classics ever dominant force category high hopes film theres outside talk historymaking lead actress campaign revelatory trans star daniela vega longer shot meanwhile taiwans small talk filmmaker huang huichens documentary fraught relationship lesbian priestess mother could looking biggest victory queer cinema race since pedro almodovars mother 1999 fresh voicesone reasons academys contentious onefilmpercountry system avoid certain major filmmaking nations dominating race doesnt protect category overwhelming eurocentric bias 61 years competitive category noneuropean country taken award 10 occasions heartening see several smaller previously unrepresented national cinemas developing countries joining mix first time year syria example drawn headlines entering documentary little gandhi slain peace activist ghiyath matar international visions country last men aleppo city ghosts looking feature documentary race timely entry many ways haiti discussed joined fold honduras historical biopic morazan laos mattie dos festivaltraveled horror film dearest sister finally look africa continent eternally underrepresented category nigeria example may bustling film industry never entered film making one strongest showings years kenya rejoins race fiveyear absence two firsttimers mozambique last years locarnopremiered train salt sugar senegal felicite vibrant musicpropelled character study took grand prix berlin latter may one watch executive committee well south africas wound way race go anyones guess point academy never less excuse fall back familiar | 513 |
<p />
<p>“What does imperialism mean?&#160; It means the assertion of absolute force over others.” — Robert Lowe 1878</p>
<p>The G-20 ministers declared their meeting in Pittsburgh a success, but as Rob Kall reports in OpEdNews.com, the meeting’s main success was to turn Pittsburgh into “a ghost-town, emptied of workers and the usual pedestrians, but filled to overflowing with over 12,000 swat cops from all over the US.”</p>
<p>This is “freedom and democracy” at work.&#160; The leaders of the G-20 countries, which account for 85% of the world’s income, cannot meet in an American city without 12,000 cops outfitted like the emperor’s storm troopers in Star Wars.&#160; And the US government complains about Iran.</p>
<p>The US government’s complaints about Iran have reached a new level of shrillness.&#160; On September 25 Obama declared: “Iran is breaking rules that all nations must follow.”&#160; The heads of America’s British, French, and German puppet states added their two cents worth, giving the government of Iran three months to meet the “international community’s demands” to give up its rights as a signatory to the non-proliferation treaty to nuclear energy.&#160; In case you don’t know, the term “international community” is shorthand for the US, Israel, and Europe, a handful of arrogant and rich countries that oppress the rest of the world.</p>
<p>Who is breaking the rules?&#160; Iran or the United States?</p>
<p>Iran is insisting that the US government abide by the non-proliferation treaty that the US originated and pushed and that Iran signed.&#160; But the US government, which is currently engaged in three wars of aggression and has occupying troops in a number of other countries, insists that Iran, which is invading and occupying no country, cannot be trusted with nuclear energy capability, because the capability might in the future lead to nuclear weapon capability, like Israel’s, India’s, and Pakistan’s–all non-signatories to the nuclear proliferation treaty, countries that, unlike Iran, have never submitted to IAEA inspections.&#160; Indeed, at this very moment the Israeli government is screaming and yelling “anti-semite” to the suggestion that Israel submit to IAEA inspections.&#160; Iran has submitted to the IAEA inspections for years.</p>
<p>In keeping with its obligations under the treaty, on September 21 Iran disclosed to the International Atomic Energy Agency that it is constructing another nuclear facility.&#160; The British prime minister Gordon Brown confused Iran’s disclosure with “serial deception,” and declared, “We will not let this matter rest.”</p>
<p>What matter? Why does Gordon Brown think that Iran’s disclosure to the IAEA is a deception.&#160; Does the moronic UK prime minister mean that Iran is claiming to be constructing a plant but is not, and thus by claiming one is deceiving the world?</p>
<p>Not to be outdone in idiocy, out of Obama’s mouth jumped Orwellian doublespeak: “The Iranian government must now demonstrate through deeds its peaceful intentions or be held accountable to international standards and international law.”</p>
<p>The incongruity blows the mind.&#160; Here is Obama, with troops engaged in wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan demanding that a peaceful nation at war with no one demonstrate “its peaceful intentions or be held accountable to international standards and international law.”</p>
<p>It is the US government and its NATO puppet states, and militarist Israel, of course, that need to be held accountable to international law.&#160; Under international law the US, its NATO puppets, and Israel are war criminal governments.&#160; There is no doubt about it.&#160; The record is totally clear.&#160; The US, Israel, and the NATO puppet states have committed military aggression exactly as did Germany’s Third Reich, and they have murdered large numbers of civilians.&#160; Following the Fuhrer’s script, “the great democratic republics”&#160; have justified these acts of lawlessness with lies and deceptions.</p>
<p>Rudy Giuliani, the former US Attorney who framed high profile victims in order to gain name recognition for a political career, keynoted a rally against Iran in New York on September 25.&#160; According to Richard Silverstein at AlterNet, the rally was sponsored by an Israeli lobby group and an organization with connections to an Iranian terror organization (probably financed by the US government) that calls for the violent overthrow of the Iranian government.</p>
<p>The efforts to build pressure for acts of war against Iran continue despite the repeated declaration from the IAEA that there is no sign of an Iranian nuclear weapons program, and despite the reaffirmation by US intelligence agencies that Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program years ago.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the US and Israeli governments, who are so solicitous of international law and holding accountable countries that violate it, have <a href="http://www.forward.com/articles/114867/" type="external">moved to prevent the report</a> of Judge Richard Goldstone from reaching the UN Security Council.&#160; <a href="http://www.forward.com/articles/114867/" type="external" /></p>
<p>Why?</p>
<p>Judge Goldstone’s report found Israel guilty of war crimes in its massive military assault against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza.</p>
<p>&lt;img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2109" style="margin: 5px;" title="ahmadinejad-un" src="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/ahmadinejad-un.jpg" alt="ahmadinejad-un" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/ahmadinejad-un.jpg 300w, https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/ahmadinejad-un-150x85.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /&gt; The continuous efforts of the world’s two militarist-aggressor states–the United States and Israel–to demonize Iran was addressed by Ahmadinejad in his speech to the UN General Assembly (September 23).&#160; Ahmadinejad spoke of the assault on human dignity and spiritual values by the selfish material interests of the US and its puppet states.&#160; Seeking hegemony “under the mantle of freedom,” the US and its puppets use “the ugliest methods of intimidation and deceit” to disguise that they are “the first who violate” the fundamental principles that they espouse and apply to others.</p>
<p>Why, Ahmadinejad asked the UN General Assembly, do the countries of the world sit there while Israel murders and dispossesses the Palestinian people?</p>
<p>Why, asked Ahmadinejad, do the countries of the world sit there while the US, from thousands of miles away, sends troops to the Middle East, “spreading war, bloodshed, aggression, terror and intimidation in the whole region,” while blaming the countries that are suffering the West’s naked aggression?</p>
<p>Ahmadinejad told the General Assembly what most of the UN representatives already know, that “selfishness and insatiable greed have taken the place of such humanitarian concepts as love, sacrifice, dignity, and justice. . . . Lies have taken the place of honesty; hypocrisy has replaced integrity, and selfishness has taken the place of sacrifice. Deception in foreign affairs is called foresight and statesmanship, looting the wealth of other nations is called development efforts; occupation is said to be a gift that promotes freedom and democracy; and defenseless nations are subjected to repression in the name of defending human rights.”</p>
<p>It could not be put any clearer.&#160; However, if Ahmadinejad’s speech is reported by the US print and TV media, statements will be taken out of context and used to enrage the conservatives and Christian Zionists in order to unify them behind the Obama/Israeli assault on Iran.</p>
<p>America will not be satisfied until, like Rome, she has more enemies and more wars than she can survive.</p> | false | 1 | imperialism mean160 means assertion absolute force others robert lowe 1878 g20 ministers declared meeting pittsburgh success rob kall reports opednewscom meetings main success turn pittsburgh ghosttown emptied workers usual pedestrians filled overflowing 12000 swat cops us freedom democracy work160 leaders g20 countries account 85 worlds income meet american city without 12000 cops outfitted like emperors storm troopers star wars160 us government complains iran us governments complaints iran reached new level shrillness160 september 25 obama declared iran breaking rules nations must follow160 heads americas british french german puppet states added two cents worth giving government iran three months meet international communitys demands give rights signatory nonproliferation treaty nuclear energy160 case dont know term international community shorthand us israel europe handful arrogant rich countries oppress rest world breaking rules160 iran united states iran insisting us government abide nonproliferation treaty us originated pushed iran signed160 us government currently engaged three wars aggression occupying troops number countries insists iran invading occupying country trusted nuclear energy capability capability might future lead nuclear weapon capability like israels indias pakistansall nonsignatories nuclear proliferation treaty countries unlike iran never submitted iaea inspections160 indeed moment israeli government screaming yelling antisemite suggestion israel submit iaea inspections160 iran submitted iaea inspections years keeping obligations treaty september 21 iran disclosed international atomic energy agency constructing another nuclear facility160 british prime minister gordon brown confused irans disclosure serial deception declared let matter rest matter gordon brown think irans disclosure iaea deception160 moronic uk prime minister mean iran claiming constructing plant thus claiming one deceiving world outdone idiocy obamas mouth jumped orwellian doublespeak iranian government must demonstrate deeds peaceful intentions held accountable international standards international law incongruity blows mind160 obama troops engaged wars iraq afghanistan pakistan demanding peaceful nation war one demonstrate peaceful intentions held accountable international standards international law us government nato puppet states militarist israel course need held accountable international law160 international law us nato puppets israel war criminal governments160 doubt it160 record totally clear160 us israel nato puppet states committed military aggression exactly germanys third reich murdered large numbers civilians160 following fuhrers script great democratic republics160 justified acts lawlessness lies deceptions rudy giuliani former us attorney framed high profile victims order gain name recognition political career keynoted rally iran new york september 25160 according richard silverstein alternet rally sponsored israeli lobby group organization connections iranian terror organization probably financed us government calls violent overthrow iranian government efforts build pressure acts war iran continue despite repeated declaration iaea sign iranian nuclear weapons program despite reaffirmation us intelligence agencies iran abandoned nuclear weapons program years ago meanwhile us israeli governments solicitous international law holding accountable countries violate moved prevent report judge richard goldstone reaching un security council160 judge goldstones report found israel guilty war crimes massive military assault civilians civilian infrastructure gaza ltimg classalignleft sizefull wpimage2109 stylemargin 5px titleahmadinejadun srchttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads200909ahmadinejadunjpg altahmadinejadun width300 height169 srcsethttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads200909ahmadinejadunjpg 300w httpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads200909ahmadinejadun150x85jpg 150w sizesmaxwidth 300px 100vw 300px gt continuous efforts worlds two militaristaggressor statesthe united states israelto demonize iran addressed ahmadinejad speech un general assembly september 23160 ahmadinejad spoke assault human dignity spiritual values selfish material interests us puppet states160 seeking hegemony mantle freedom us puppets use ugliest methods intimidation deceit disguise first violate fundamental principles espouse apply others ahmadinejad asked un general assembly countries world sit israel murders dispossesses palestinian people asked ahmadinejad countries world sit us thousands miles away sends troops middle east spreading war bloodshed aggression terror intimidation whole region blaming countries suffering wests naked aggression ahmadinejad told general assembly un representatives already know selfishness insatiable greed taken place humanitarian concepts love sacrifice dignity justice lies taken place honesty hypocrisy replaced integrity selfishness taken place sacrifice deception foreign affairs called foresight statesmanship looting wealth nations called development efforts occupation said gift promotes freedom democracy defenseless nations subjected repression name defending human rights could put clearer160 however ahmadinejads speech reported us print tv media statements taken context used enrage conservatives christian zionists order unify behind obamaisraeli assault iran america satisfied like rome enemies wars survive | 658 |
<p>In his new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0674028201/103-7836381-5667056?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=wwweppcorg-20&amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creativeASIN=0674028201" type="external">How Judges Think</a>, Seventh Circuit judge Richard A. Posner states that he aims to offer a “cogent, unified, realistic, and appropriately eclectic account of how judges actually arrive at their decisions in nonroutine cases” — that is, in those “rather frequent” instances in which judges can’t “just apply rules.” But his book, in the end, offers much less insight about how judges actually think than about how Judge Posner thinks judges should think.</p>
<p>I. In developing his “basic model,” Posner presents nine “overstated or incomplete” theories of judicial behavior; explores various factors (such as power, respect, leisure, and the intrinsic satisfaction of the judicial craft) that motivate judges as “labor-market participants”; and discusses the role that preconceptions and ideological world views play in judicial decisionmaking.</p>
<p>In elaborating his model, Posner looks at “external constraints” on federal judges (such as desire for promotion, concern for reputation, and the possibility of political retribution) and finds those constraints to be weak. Nor does he find “internal constraints” on judging to be significant. Legalism — the concept that “law is distinct from politics and policy [and] is the realm of rules, rights, and principles” — gives judicial decisionmaking the “appearance of judicial rigor.” But, Posner argues, that appearance is false, as the interpretive rules that various versions of legalism (strict construction, textualism, originalism) adopt cannot “be derived by reasoning from agreed-upon premises” but instead depend on “choices that entail the exercise of legislative-like judicial discretion.”</p>
<p>Pragmatic adjudication, which has as its core “heightened judicial concern for consequences and thus a disposition to base [judicial] policy judgments on them rather than on conceptualisms and generalities,” is therefore inescapable. “Sensible pragmatic judges,” unlike their shortsighted brethren, will consider “systemic, including institutional consequences.” They, in contrast to legalists, are “less interested in whether the facts of a case bring it within the semantic scope of the rule agreed to govern the case than in what the purpose of the rule is — what consequences it seeks to induce or block — and how that purpose, those consequences, would be affected by deciding the case one way or the other.” Pragmatism won’t “grind[] out certifiably correct answers to legal questions”; it “sets no higher aspiration for the judge than that his decisions be reasonable in light of the warring interests in the cases, although a reasonable decision is not necessarily a ‘right’ one.” Pragmatism can’t be banished, and efforts to banish it would “make judges even less candid than they are” and would inadvertently give greater play to judges’ personal and political preconceptions in cases involving discretion.</p>
<p>II.</p>
<p>Does Posner succeed in his stated goal of providing a “cogent, unified, realistic, and appropriately eclectic account of how judges actually arrive at their decisions in nonroutine cases”? I certainly don’t think so. As Posner himself acknowledges, his “nine overstated or incomplete” theories of judicial behavior — attitudinal, strategic, sociological, psychological, economic, organizational, pragmatic, phenomenological, and legalistic — “make for an unwieldy analytic apparatus.” That analytic apparatus becomes even more unwieldy when Posner adds in his insights on the various factors that motivate and constrain judicial decisionmaking. The fact that Posner’s approach is highly theoretical and abstract, not empirical, compounds the problem. In the end, the reader is left with a hodgepodge of considerations — an interesting hodgepodge, but a hodgepodge nonetheless — that might or might not affect how various judges decide various cases.</p>
<p>III.</p>
<p>Judge Posner’s argument that judges should be Posnerian pragmatists hinges on his claim that “the materials of legalist decision making fail to generate acceptable answers to all the legal questions that American judges are required to decide.” This claim, as I understand it, in turn rests on three underlying contentions: (1) the interpretive rules that legalists (or, if you prefer, formalists) adopt cannot in fact “be derived by reasoning from agreed-upon premises” but instead depend on “choices that entail the exercise of legislative-like judicial discretion”; (2) even these interpretive rules will leave lots of cases without “right” answers; and (3) these interpretive rules will yield some “right” answers that we reject as unacceptable. Let me address these one by one.</p>
<p>First: I readily concede that the interpretive rules that legalists adopt cannot all be derived, with mathematical precision, “by reasoning from agreed-upon premises.” Given that academic philosophers might have difficulty agreeing, say, on premises from which one could reason to the conclusion that Judge Posner really exists, the standard that Posner would hold legalists to seems an impossible one to reach. But is that the proper standard? And is the exercise of freewheeling “legislative-like judicial discretion” the only alternative? Why isn’t it coherent for legalists to advocate for particular interpretive rules on the grounds that those rules are most faithful to text and history, or to separation-of-powers principles, or to the properly limited role of the judiciary? I don’t doubt that “discretion” will be involved in determining which interpretive rule is best, and I don’t doubt that there will sometimes be room for reasonable disagreement. But I don’t think that the result is open-ended “legislative-like judicial discretion,” and I don’t see why the set of interpretive rules available to legalists needs to be as limited as Posner maintains.</p>
<p>Second: Only after the full set of interpretive rules available to the legalist is established is it possible to try to demonstrate that those rules would leave cases without “right” answers. Given the availability of default canons of construction, it’s not obvious to me that there would be such cases. (At one point, Posner seems to argue that because deferential appellate review might leave in place opposite rulings below, “it must be that legalism … countenances a great deal of error.” But surely he doesn’t mean to imply that legalists must support de novo appellate review of all questions. The fact that there is a right appellate answer in the cases he posits — uphold both rulings — means that legalism is determinate in those cases.)</p>
<p>Third: Posner offers a laundry list of unacceptable results that would flow from “strict construction.” An aside: I’m not aware that any legalist these days argues for strict construction. As Justice Scalia has put it (in A Matter of Interpretation), “I am not a strict constructionist, and no one ought to be.… A text should not be construed strictly, and it should not be construed leniently; it should be construed reasonably, to contain all that it fairly means.” It’s rather strange that Posner’s refutation of legalism has strict construction front and center, and it’s also surprising that he confuses “original meaning” with the “original understanding” variant of originalism.</p>
<p>Back to the point: Let’s assume that each legalist approach, if it were adopted today and employed to overturn contrary precedents, would yield some results that we find unacceptable (and let’s set aside any questions about what Posner’s standard of accepta bility is). Why would that amount to an indictment of legalism? Our perception of acceptability is surely path-dependent: the existence of wrong, but long-entrenched, precedents makes us more likely to see their reversal as problematic. But that fact says nothing about the validity of a legalist approach ex ante (nor about the world that would have resulted if that approach had been consistently followed). Nor is it obvious why legalists should be compelled to seek the reversal of all wrong precedents. As Scalia has explained, “Originalism, like any other theory of interpretation put into practice in an ongoing system of law, must accommodate the doctrine of stare decisis; it cannot remake the world anew.… Where originalism will make a difference is not in the rolling back of accepted old principles of constitutional law but in the rejection of usurpatious new ones.”</p>
<p>IV. Judge Posner’s primary argument for judicial pragmatism is that “there is no alternative” to it. As discussed in the preceding section, I am not persuaded that Posner has demonstrated the inadequacy of legalism.</p>
<p>Posner’s secondary argument for judicial pragmatism is that it produces “better consequences” than legalism. I am not particularly interested in contesting Posner on this ground. As Posner suggests, it would be curious to rest the defense of legalism on pragmatist grounds. At bottom, the only legitimate test of a legalist approach is whether it produces legally right results, not whether those results are, in the judgment of some grand social engineer, better for society than what pragmatism would yield.</p>
<p>That said, I would like to call into question briefly whether pragmatism can really be expected to yield the favorable consequences that Posner claims.</p>
<p>First, as a simple matter of institutional competence, I question whether the typical federal judge is able to weigh the relative social consequences of different possible rulings. I don’t mean this comment to slight the intellect or ability of judges; I mean, rather, to recognize the inevitable narrowness of their training and the limited empirical perspective that they have on the real world. It will be rare that any judge will have the remarkable breadth of learning and undeniable brilliance that Posner has, and it’s far from clear that even a Posner can handle the challenges that pragmatism would place on him.</p>
<p>Second, as Posner acknowledges, different judges “will weigh consequences differently depending on a judge’s background, temperament, training, experience, and ideology” — and, of course, intellect. Posner’s criticism of Justice Breyer (in a different part of his book) is particularly telling, as Breyer, an avowed pragmatist and an extremely bright man, would seem to be Posner’s closest intellectual soulmate in the federal judiciary:</p>
<p>“[L]aw” for Breyer, or at least constitutional law, seems more his own creation than a body of thought external to his personal views. I am tempted to describe him as a bricoleur — one who uses “the instruments he finds at his disposition around him, … which had not been especially conceived with an eye to the operation for which they are to be used and to which one tries by trial and error to adapt them, not hesitating to change them whenever it appears necessary.” [Quoting Derrida] … Such eclecticism leaves a judge with complete freedom to indulge his political instincts — liberal, conservative, or moderate — as it can accommodate any result that a judge might want to reach for reasons he might be unwilling to acknowledge publicly, such as a visceral dislike for capital punishment, abortion, affirmative action, or religion in the public sphere.</p>
<p>Posner calls Breyer an “intermittent pragmatist whose pragmatism is heavily leavened with liberal political commitments,” but it is difficult to see how Posner’s criticisms of Breyer don’t apply to Posner himself and to any pragmatist.</p>
<p>Third, Posner claims that self-conscious pragmatists “are less likely to be drunk with power if they realize they are exercise discretion” than legalists are. This wishful thinking rests on mere assertion. It also contradicts Posner’s interest earlier in the book on the external and internal constraints on judges: within Posner’s own scheme, it makes no sense that a lessening of constraints would make a judge more constrained. Curiously, whereas Posner had previously emphasized how weak the remaining constraints on federal judges are, he here plays up their significance.</p>
<p>V. Chapter 10 of Judge Posner’s How Judges Think is titled “The Supreme Court Is a Political Court,” and Posner argues in favor of the proposition in the chapter title. But in so doing, he renders the seemingly significant and surprising proposition entirely vacuous — devoid of any meaningful content. Consider:</p>
<p>Posner argues that the Supreme Court is inescapably a political court when it deals with constitutional issues. He intertwines two arguments. The first argument is that a constitution “deal[s] with fundamental issues” that “are political issues: issues about political governance, political values, political rights, and political power.” (Emphasis in original.) “Political issues by definition,” he asserts, “cannot be referred to a neutral expert for resolution.” This argument is simply incoherent. By the same illogic, Posner could argue, say, that legal questions dealing with Department of Agriculture manure regulations are manure issues — issues about manure governance, manure values, manure rights, and manure power — and that manure issues by definition cannot be referred to a non-manure expert for resolution.</p>
<p>Posner’s second argument is coherent, but doesn’t come anywhere close to establishing (either by itself or together with his first argument) his proposition that the court is, in ordinary parlance, necessarily a “political” court when it deals with constitutional issues. Posner argues that constitutional provisions “tend … to be both old and vague” and that the “political preferences [of justices] are [therefore] likely to determine how they vote.” There is, of course, always a danger that justices will indulge their political preferences. That danger is compounded when justices subscribe to a theory of constitutional decisionmaking (e.g., living constitutionalism) that invites them to indulge those political preferences, and, as I’ve extensively documented, it would seem that that danger has frequently been realized. But Posner offers no evidence for his assertion that each justice’s political preferences are “likely” to determine how that justice votes, nor does he recognize that even the threshold of likelihood falls short of establishing that political decisionmaking is inevitable.</p>
<p>It gets worse. Later in the chapter, Posner asserts that “discrepancies between [a justice’s] personal and judicial positions usually concern rather trivial issues, where the judicial position may be supporting a more important, though not necessarily a less personal, agenda of the Justice.” Further, Posner maintains, a justice’s “doctrinal beliefs [on constitutional meaning] are as personal or political as the desire for a particular outcome; they are not the products of submission to the compulsion of the constitutional text or of some other conventional source of legal guidance (though the judge many think they are) because there are no such compulsions in the cases that I have been discussing” (i.e., cases that Posner considers typical of constitutional cases). (Emphasis added.) Where there are discrepancies between a justice’s personal and judicial positions, the justice is unconsciously “trad[ing] a minor preference for a major one.”</p>
<p>It simply isn’t true that discrepancies between, say, Justice Scalia’s personal and judicial positions “usually concern rather trivial issues.” Take the issue of abortion. Let’s assume, as Posner does, that Scalia’s personal position would favor substantial restrictions on abortion. Scalia, in arguing that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and should be overturned, has never taken the position that the Constitution should be construed to prohibit permissive abortion laws. On the contrary, his position is that the Constitution is substantively neutral on the question of abortion — and that state legislators should generally be free to permit or proscribe it. Of course, it is true that Scalia’s judicial position, if adopted, would make it possible for a legislature to implement his putative personal views. But that does not alter the fact that there is a huge gap between his personal and judicial positions. (I develop this elementary, but somehow widely misunderstood, point in this <a href="" type="internal">essay</a>.) Ditto for Scalia on an endless list of issues like the death penalty, pornography, criminal procedure, and same-sex marriage.</p>
<p>More importantly, Posner’s dogma that a doctrinal position on a vague constitutional provision is necessarily “as personal or political as the desire for a particular outcome” renders tautological and meaningless his proposition that the Court is inescapably a “political” court (as well as his taunt that only “the self-deluded believe that ‘ideological commitments’ play a significantly smaller role in the decisions of legalists … than in those of” other judges). For whenever a legalist’s position is determined by legalist materials, Posner’s response is that the legalist’s adoption of his legalist approach was itself a political (or ideological) decision.</p>
<p>At bottom, Posner’s charge that the Supreme Court is necessarily a “political” court is empty and deceptive wordplay.</p>
<p>VI. Having addressed Posner’s central arguments in How Judges Think, I’d like to draw attention to a handful of lesser — but revealing — assertions that he makes:</p>
<p>1. On the first page of his introduction, Posner refers to the “startling (to the naïve) right turn by the Supreme Court” in its 2006-2007 last term, a turn that “resulted from the replacement of a moderately conservative Justice (O’Connor) by an extremely conservative one (Alito).” It’s bad enough that newspapers routinely use reductionist political labels to describe the Court and its justices. I found it even more startling that an esteemed jurist would do so. Except, of course, that I later discovered (as discussed above) that Posner actually maintains that when justices decide most constitutional issues, they are merely imposing their political preferences (because Posner defines the concept of political preferences in an all-consuming manner) — and that anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded. Given the fact that Posner reduces Supreme Court decisionmaking on most constitutional questions to mere politics, his resort to reductionist political labels is consistent.</p>
<p>But the particular political labels that Posner adopts don’t make sense, even within his scheme. Let’s skip over Posner’s reference to the “startling (to the naïve) right turn” by the Court, as it’s not clear how sharp a turn Posner thinks the Court made. (As I explain <a href="http://bench.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZTM1MmNhZDUzZmRkODIwZjFiOTBkZTczYzBjY2M5MjM=" type="external">here</a>, if crude political shorthands must be employed, the 2006-2007 term is best summarized as a small step towards the right — and towards the center.) How can Posner label Justice Alito an “extremely conservative” justice? Let’s assume, as Posner presumably does (and as I hope), that Alito’s general positions on constitutional law may, over time, largely comport with those of Justice Scalia. As I’ve discussed, on the broad bulk of constitutional issues, the Scalia position is that the Constitution is substantively neutral and that the matter is left to the political processes for decision. In a sensible system of reductionist political labeling (as I discuss in this <a href="" type="internal">essay</a>), that position is moderate. Even after one sprinkles in the much smaller number of instances in which Scalia would override the political processes, it’s difficult to see how Scalia would merit anything other than a label of moderate conservative — the label Posner mistakenly confers on O’Connor (who, among other things, voted to retain the radical abortion regime that the Court imposed in Roe). Posner doesn’t offer a word of explanation for his mislabeling of Alito and of O’Connor, and it would seem that his labels merely signal that he finds his own positions closer to O’Connor’s than to Alito’s.</p>
<p>2. Posner asserts that in his first two terms Chief Justice Roberts “demonstrated by his judicial votes and opinions that he aspires to remake significant areas of constitutional law.” According to Posner, the “tension” between Roberts’s invocation of the umpire analogy at his confirmation hearing and “what he is doing as a Justice is a blow to Roberts’s reputation for candor and a further debasement of the already debased currency of the testimony of nominees at judicial confirmation hearings.”</p>
<p>Posner’s characterization of Roberts’s first two terms is rank and conclusory hyperbole, and the tension that he posits, along with the supposed resulting “blow to Roberts’s reputation for candor,” is tendentious distortion. As Posner recognizes, Roberts’s umpire analogy is legalist in nature. If Roberts were to determine that previous umpires have misdefined the strike zone, it would be entirely consistent with his analogy for Roberts to strive to redefine it properly. The tension is not between Roberts’s testimony and his performance, but between Roberts’s legalist understanding of judging and Posner’s pragmatism.</p>
<p>Posner’s curious and baseless attacks on Roberts and Alito invite attention to Posner’s discussion of the psychological theory of judicial behavior. Might Posner resent the fact that his juniors have become his superiors? Unfortunately, his brief discussion of the psychological theory does not address the possible phenomenon of SCOTUS envy.</p>
<p>3. Posner asserts that “[m]ost judges who oppose abortion rights do so because of religious belief rather than because of a pragmatic assessment of such rights.” This statement is remarkably sloppy. First, Posner offers no empirical or even anecdotal support for it. Second, Posner fails to make clear whether the phrase “oppose abortion rights” means merely “believe that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion” (in which case, of course, the legislative process remains available to protect abortion) or means also “opposes the legislative conferral of abortion rights.” (We can exclude a third possible meaning — “believes that the Constitution prohibits permissive abortion laws” — only because few if any judges have ever taken that position.) Third, Posner presents a false dichotomy: There are plenty of legalist reasons beyond “religious belief” or “a pragmatic assessment” to recognize that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion — and not even Posner contends that judges can adopt legalism only out of “religious belief.”</p>
<p>4. Posner asserts, in the context of discussing judicial confirmations, that “the Republican Party is more disciplined than the Democratic Party and therefore better able to organize opposition to a nominee.” Posner offers no evidence for this startling assertion. Nor does he confront the most obvious contrary data: (a) Whereas Justices Ginsburg and Breyer received strong support from Republican senators and were confirmed by overwhelming majorities (96-3 and 87-9, respectively), Roberts and Alito encountered ardent opposition from Democratic senators and much closer vote margins (78-22 and 58-42, respectively). (b) Senate Democrats have taken the unprecedented step of resorting to partisan use of the filibuster against President Bush’s lower-court nominees. In 2003 and 2004, they succeeded in defeating some 20 cloture petitions on ten different nominees, five of whom were never ultimately confirmed.</p>
<p>I would have thought that the necessary intellectual temperament of a pragmatist would be empirically focused, skeptical of his own initial certitudes, and meticulous — not abstract, dogmatic, and sloppy.</p>
<p>VII. There is much in Posner’s book that is interesting and insightful. In particular, although I think that Posner falls far short of his stated goal of providing a descriptive model of judicial behavior, anyone interested in the topic will find his discussion worth reading. There are also various collateral discussions that I haven’t touched on — modern legal academia, Justice Breyer’s Active Liberty, Justice Kennedy’s “moral vanguardism,” and the Court’s misuse of foreign legal materials, to name a few — that many readers will appreciate.</p>
<p>My overall assessment of How Judges Think, however, is decidedly negative. Beyond the criticisms that I’ve already offered, I’ll add that the book is at least one thorough redraft short of being ready for publication. Posner states in his acknowledgments section that he has “incorporated material” from nine previous articles of his, “though with much revision and amplification,” but the book reads like a hasty copy-and-paste compilation, with little attention to harmonious coherence. Posner is indisputably brilliant and amazingly prolific, but brilliance and rigor, alas, do not always keep company.</p>
<p>— Edward Whelan is president of the <a href="" type="internal">Ethics and Public Policy Center</a> and is a regular contributor to NRO’s <a href="http://bench.nationalreview.com/" type="external">“Bench Memos” blog</a>.</p> | false | 1 | new book judges think seventh circuit judge richard posner states aims offer cogent unified realistic appropriately eclectic account judges actually arrive decisions nonroutine cases rather frequent instances judges cant apply rules book end offers much less insight judges actually think judge posner thinks judges think developing basic model posner presents nine overstated incomplete theories judicial behavior explores various factors power respect leisure intrinsic satisfaction judicial craft motivate judges labormarket participants discusses role preconceptions ideological world views play judicial decisionmaking elaborating model posner looks external constraints federal judges desire promotion concern reputation possibility political retribution finds constraints weak find internal constraints judging significant legalism concept law distinct politics policy realm rules rights principles gives judicial decisionmaking appearance judicial rigor posner argues appearance false interpretive rules various versions legalism strict construction textualism originalism adopt derived reasoning agreedupon premises instead depend choices entail exercise legislativelike judicial discretion pragmatic adjudication core heightened judicial concern consequences thus disposition base judicial policy judgments rather conceptualisms generalities therefore inescapable sensible pragmatic judges unlike shortsighted brethren consider systemic including institutional consequences contrast legalists less interested whether facts case bring within semantic scope rule agreed govern case purpose rule consequences seeks induce block purpose consequences would affected deciding case one way pragmatism wont grind certifiably correct answers legal questions sets higher aspiration judge decisions reasonable light warring interests cases although reasonable decision necessarily right one pragmatism cant banished efforts banish would make judges even less candid would inadvertently give greater play judges personal political preconceptions cases involving discretion ii posner succeed stated goal providing cogent unified realistic appropriately eclectic account judges actually arrive decisions nonroutine cases certainly dont think posner acknowledges nine overstated incomplete theories judicial behavior attitudinal strategic sociological psychological economic organizational pragmatic phenomenological legalistic make unwieldy analytic apparatus analytic apparatus becomes even unwieldy posner adds insights various factors motivate constrain judicial decisionmaking fact posners approach highly theoretical abstract empirical compounds problem end reader left hodgepodge considerations interesting hodgepodge hodgepodge nonetheless might might affect various judges decide various cases iii judge posners argument judges posnerian pragmatists hinges claim materials legalist decision making fail generate acceptable answers legal questions american judges required decide claim understand turn rests three underlying contentions 1 interpretive rules legalists prefer formalists adopt fact derived reasoning agreedupon premises instead depend choices entail exercise legislativelike judicial discretion 2 even interpretive rules leave lots cases without right answers 3 interpretive rules yield right answers reject unacceptable let address one one first readily concede interpretive rules legalists adopt derived mathematical precision reasoning agreedupon premises given academic philosophers might difficulty agreeing say premises one could reason conclusion judge posner really exists standard posner would hold legalists seems impossible one reach proper standard exercise freewheeling legislativelike judicial discretion alternative isnt coherent legalists advocate particular interpretive rules grounds rules faithful text history separationofpowers principles properly limited role judiciary dont doubt discretion involved determining interpretive rule best dont doubt sometimes room reasonable disagreement dont think result openended legislativelike judicial discretion dont see set interpretive rules available legalists needs limited posner maintains second full set interpretive rules available legalist established possible try demonstrate rules would leave cases without right answers given availability default canons construction obvious would cases one point posner seems argue deferential appellate review might leave place opposite rulings must legalism countenances great deal error surely doesnt mean imply legalists must support de novo appellate review questions fact right appellate answer cases posits uphold rulings means legalism determinate cases third posner offers laundry list unacceptable results would flow strict construction aside im aware legalist days argues strict construction justice scalia put matter interpretation strict constructionist one ought text construed strictly construed leniently construed reasonably contain fairly means rather strange posners refutation legalism strict construction front center also surprising confuses original meaning original understanding variant originalism back point lets assume legalist approach adopted today employed overturn contrary precedents would yield results find unacceptable lets set aside questions posners standard accepta bility would amount indictment legalism perception acceptability surely pathdependent existence wrong longentrenched precedents makes us likely see reversal problematic fact says nothing validity legalist approach ex ante world would resulted approach consistently followed obvious legalists compelled seek reversal wrong precedents scalia explained originalism like theory interpretation put practice ongoing system law must accommodate doctrine stare decisis remake world anew originalism make difference rolling back accepted old principles constitutional law rejection usurpatious new ones iv judge posners primary argument judicial pragmatism alternative discussed preceding section persuaded posner demonstrated inadequacy legalism posners secondary argument judicial pragmatism produces better consequences legalism particularly interested contesting posner ground posner suggests would curious rest defense legalism pragmatist grounds bottom legitimate test legalist approach whether produces legally right results whether results judgment grand social engineer better society pragmatism would yield said would like call question briefly whether pragmatism really expected yield favorable consequences posner claims first simple matter institutional competence question whether typical federal judge able weigh relative social consequences different possible rulings dont mean comment slight intellect ability judges mean rather recognize inevitable narrowness training limited empirical perspective real world rare judge remarkable breadth learning undeniable brilliance posner far clear even posner handle challenges pragmatism would place second posner acknowledges different judges weigh consequences differently depending judges background temperament training experience ideology course intellect posners criticism justice breyer different part book particularly telling breyer avowed pragmatist extremely bright man would seem posners closest intellectual soulmate federal judiciary law breyer least constitutional law seems creation body thought external personal views tempted describe bricoleur one uses instruments finds disposition around especially conceived eye operation used one tries trial error adapt hesitating change whenever appears necessary quoting derrida eclecticism leaves judge complete freedom indulge political instincts liberal conservative moderate accommodate result judge might want reach reasons might unwilling acknowledge publicly visceral dislike capital punishment abortion affirmative action religion public sphere posner calls breyer intermittent pragmatist whose pragmatism heavily leavened liberal political commitments difficult see posners criticisms breyer dont apply posner pragmatist third posner claims selfconscious pragmatists less likely drunk power realize exercise discretion legalists wishful thinking rests mere assertion also contradicts posners interest earlier book external internal constraints judges within posners scheme makes sense lessening constraints would make judge constrained curiously whereas posner previously emphasized weak remaining constraints federal judges plays significance v chapter 10 judge posners judges think titled supreme court political court posner argues favor proposition chapter title renders seemingly significant surprising proposition entirely vacuous devoid meaningful content consider posner argues supreme court inescapably political court deals constitutional issues intertwines two arguments first argument constitution deals fundamental issues political issues issues political governance political values political rights political power emphasis original political issues definition asserts referred neutral expert resolution argument simply incoherent illogic posner could argue say legal questions dealing department agriculture manure regulations manure issues issues manure governance manure values manure rights manure power manure issues definition referred nonmanure expert resolution posners second argument coherent doesnt come anywhere close establishing either together first argument proposition court ordinary parlance necessarily political court deals constitutional issues posner argues constitutional provisions tend old vague political preferences justices therefore likely determine vote course always danger justices indulge political preferences danger compounded justices subscribe theory constitutional decisionmaking eg living constitutionalism invites indulge political preferences ive extensively documented would seem danger frequently realized posner offers evidence assertion justices political preferences likely determine justice votes recognize even threshold likelihood falls short establishing political decisionmaking inevitable gets worse later chapter posner asserts discrepancies justices personal judicial positions usually concern rather trivial issues judicial position may supporting important though necessarily less personal agenda justice posner maintains justices doctrinal beliefs constitutional meaning personal political desire particular outcome products submission compulsion constitutional text conventional source legal guidance though judge many think compulsions cases discussing ie cases posner considers typical constitutional cases emphasis added discrepancies justices personal judicial positions justice unconsciously trading minor preference major one simply isnt true discrepancies say justice scalias personal judicial positions usually concern rather trivial issues take issue abortion lets assume posner scalias personal position would favor substantial restrictions abortion scalia arguing roe v wade wrongly decided overturned never taken position constitution construed prohibit permissive abortion laws contrary position constitution substantively neutral question abortion state legislators generally free permit proscribe course true scalias judicial position adopted would make possible legislature implement putative personal views alter fact huge gap personal judicial positions develop elementary somehow widely misunderstood point essay ditto scalia endless list issues like death penalty pornography criminal procedure samesex marriage importantly posners dogma doctrinal position vague constitutional provision necessarily personal political desire particular outcome renders tautological meaningless proposition court inescapably political court well taunt selfdeluded believe ideological commitments play significantly smaller role decisions legalists judges whenever legalists position determined legalist materials posners response legalists adoption legalist approach political ideological decision bottom posners charge supreme court necessarily political court empty deceptive wordplay vi addressed posners central arguments judges think id like draw attention handful lesser revealing assertions makes 1 first page introduction posner refers startling naïve right turn supreme court 20062007 last term turn resulted replacement moderately conservative justice oconnor extremely conservative one alito bad enough newspapers routinely use reductionist political labels describe court justices found even startling esteemed jurist would except course later discovered discussed posner actually maintains justices decide constitutional issues merely imposing political preferences posner defines concept political preferences allconsuming manner anyone thinks otherwise deluded given fact posner reduces supreme court decisionmaking constitutional questions mere politics resort reductionist political labels consistent particular political labels posner adopts dont make sense even within scheme lets skip posners reference startling naïve right turn court clear sharp turn posner thinks court made explain crude political shorthands must employed 20062007 term best summarized small step towards right towards center posner label justice alito extremely conservative justice lets assume posner presumably hope alitos general positions constitutional law may time largely comport justice scalia ive discussed broad bulk constitutional issues scalia position constitution substantively neutral matter left political processes decision sensible system reductionist political labeling discuss essay position moderate even one sprinkles much smaller number instances scalia would override political processes difficult see scalia would merit anything label moderate conservative label posner mistakenly confers oconnor among things voted retain radical abortion regime court imposed roe posner doesnt offer word explanation mislabeling alito oconnor would seem labels merely signal finds positions closer oconnors alitos 2 posner asserts first two terms chief justice roberts demonstrated judicial votes opinions aspires remake significant areas constitutional law according posner tension robertss invocation umpire analogy confirmation hearing justice blow robertss reputation candor debasement already debased currency testimony nominees judicial confirmation hearings posners characterization robertss first two terms rank conclusory hyperbole tension posits along supposed resulting blow robertss reputation candor tendentious distortion posner recognizes robertss umpire analogy legalist nature roberts determine previous umpires misdefined strike zone would entirely consistent analogy roberts strive redefine properly tension robertss testimony performance robertss legalist understanding judging posners pragmatism posners curious baseless attacks roberts alito invite attention posners discussion psychological theory judicial behavior might posner resent fact juniors become superiors unfortunately brief discussion psychological theory address possible phenomenon scotus envy 3 posner asserts judges oppose abortion rights religious belief rather pragmatic assessment rights statement remarkably sloppy first posner offers empirical even anecdotal support second posner fails make clear whether phrase oppose abortion rights means merely believe constitution confer right abortion case course legislative process remains available protect abortion means also opposes legislative conferral abortion rights exclude third possible meaning believes constitution prohibits permissive abortion laws judges ever taken position third posner presents false dichotomy plenty legalist reasons beyond religious belief pragmatic assessment recognize constitution confer right abortion even posner contends judges adopt legalism religious belief 4 posner asserts context discussing judicial confirmations republican party disciplined democratic party therefore better able organize opposition nominee posner offers evidence startling assertion confront obvious contrary data whereas justices ginsburg breyer received strong support republican senators confirmed overwhelming majorities 963 879 respectively roberts alito encountered ardent opposition democratic senators much closer vote margins 7822 5842 respectively b senate democrats taken unprecedented step resorting partisan use filibuster president bushs lowercourt nominees 2003 2004 succeeded defeating 20 cloture petitions ten different nominees five never ultimately confirmed would thought necessary intellectual temperament pragmatist would empirically focused skeptical initial certitudes meticulous abstract dogmatic sloppy vii much posners book interesting insightful particular although think posner falls far short stated goal providing descriptive model judicial behavior anyone interested topic find discussion worth reading also various collateral discussions havent touched modern legal academia justice breyers active liberty justice kennedys moral vanguardism courts misuse foreign legal materials name many readers appreciate overall assessment judges think however decidedly negative beyond criticisms ive already offered ill add book least one thorough redraft short ready publication posner states acknowledgments section incorporated material nine previous articles though much revision amplification book reads like hasty copyandpaste compilation little attention harmonious coherence posner indisputably brilliant amazingly prolific brilliance rigor alas always keep company edward whelan president ethics public policy center regular contributor nros bench memos blog | 2,146 |
<p>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday barred all refugees from entering the United States for four months — and those from war-ravaged Syria indefinitely — declaring the ban necessary to prevent “radical Islamic terrorists” from entering the nation.</p>
<p>The order immediately suspended a program that last year resettled to the U.S. roughly 85,000 people displaced by war, political oppression, hunger and religious prejudice. Trump indefinitely blocked all those fleeing Syria, where a civil war has displaced millions of people, and imposed a 90-day ban on entry to the U.S. from seven Muslim majority nations.</p>
<p>“We want to ensure that we are not admitting into our country the very threats our soldiers are fighting overseas,” Trump said as he signed the order at the Pentagon. “We only want to admit those into our country who will support our country and love deeply our people.”</p>
<p>Trump said the halt in the refugee program was necessary to give government agencies time to develop a stricter vetting system. But the order did spell out what additional steps he wants the Homeland Security and State departments to take.</p>
<p>The U.S. may admit refugees on a case-by-case basis during the freeze, and the government will continue to process requests from people claiming religious persecution, “provided that the religion of the individual is a minority religion in the individual’s country.”</p>
<p>In an interview with CBN News, Trump said persecuted Christians would be given priority in applying for refugee status.</p>
<p>“We are going to help them,” Trump said. “They’ve been horribly treated.”</p>
<p>The order was signed on Trump’s most robust day of national security and foreign policy at the start of his presidency, marked by a meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May and a lengthy phone call with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.</p>
<p>As a candidate, Trump called for a temporary ban on all Muslim immigration to the U.S. He later shifted his focus to putting in place “extreme vetting” procedures to screen people coming to the U.S. from countries with terrorism ties.</p>
<p>The State Department said the three-month ban in the directive applied to Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen — all Muslim-majority nations.</p>
<p>The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, said it would file a federal lawsuit Monday challenging the constitutionality of the executive order.</p>
<p>“There is no evidence that refugees — the most thoroughly vetted of all people entering our nation — are a threat to national security,” said CAIR National Litigation Director Lena F. Masri. “This is an order that is based on bigotry, not reality.”</p>
<p>During the past budget year, the U.S. accepted 84,995 refugees, including 12,587 people from Syria. President Barack Obama had set the refugee limit for this budget year at 110,000.</p>
<p>Trump, according to the executive order, plans to cut that to 50,000. Refugee processing was suspended in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks and restarted months later.</p>
<p>The president was applauded by House Speaker Paul Ryan, who said it was “time to re-evaluate and strengthen the visa-vetting process.” Many Democrats cast the measures as un-American.</p>
<p>“Tears are running down the cheeks of the Statue of Liberty tonight as a grand tradition of America, welcoming immigrants, that has existed since America was founded has been stomped upon,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.</p>
<p>Trump’s order was signed on Holocaust Remembrance Day, which brought to mind the global effort to help refugees during World War II and its aftermath.</p>
<p>The order makes no mention of a plan to provide safe zones in Syria and the surrounding area. A draft of the order had directed the Pentagon and the State Department to produce a plan for safe zones in the war-torn Mideast nation.</p>
<p>The president’s directive capped a hectic first week for Trump at the White House, giving Americans an initial look at how he intends to position the United States around the globe.</p>
<p>Earlier Friday, he hosted British Prime Minister Theresa May at the White House for his first meeting with a world leader since taking office. Asked about whether he would revert back to Bush-era use of torture, Trump said he would defer to the views of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.</p>
<p>“He has stated publicly that he does not necessarily believe in torture or waterboarding, or however you want to define it. … I don’t necessarily agree,” Trump said. “But I would tell you that he will override because I’m giving him that power. He’s an expert.”</p>
<p>The Associated Press and other news organizations have obtained copies of a draft executive order signaling sweeping changes to U.S. interrogation and detention policy. The draft, which the White House said was not official, also requests recommendations on whether the U.S. should reopen CIA detention facilities outside the United States. Critics said the clandestine sites have marred America’s image on the world stage.</p>
<p>Trump held firm Friday on another controversy — trade and illegal immigration from Mexico. He told reporters he had a “very good call” with Pena Nieto earlier in the day, but he reaffirmed his belief that Mexico has “outnegotiated and beat us to a pulp” on trade — and that would change.</p>
<p>“We’re no longer going to be the country that doesn’t know what it’s doing,” he declared a day after the Mexican leader canceled his visit to Washington in response to Trump’s plans to build a border wall and have Mexico pay for it.</p> | false | 1 | washington president donald trump friday barred refugees entering united states four months warravaged syria indefinitely declaring ban necessary prevent radical islamic terrorists entering nation order immediately suspended program last year resettled us roughly 85000 people displaced war political oppression hunger religious prejudice trump indefinitely blocked fleeing syria civil war displaced millions people imposed 90day ban entry us seven muslim majority nations want ensure admitting country threats soldiers fighting overseas trump said signed order pentagon want admit country support country love deeply people trump said halt refugee program necessary give government agencies time develop stricter vetting system order spell additional steps wants homeland security state departments take us may admit refugees casebycase basis freeze government continue process requests people claiming religious persecution provided religion individual minority religion individuals country interview cbn news trump said persecuted christians would given priority applying refugee status going help trump said theyve horribly treated order signed trumps robust day national security foreign policy start presidency marked meeting british prime minister theresa may lengthy phone call mexican president enrique pena nieto candidate trump called temporary ban muslim immigration us later shifted focus putting place extreme vetting procedures screen people coming us countries terrorism ties state department said threemonth ban directive applied iraq syria iran sudan libya somalia yemen muslimmajority nations council americanislamic relations cair said would file federal lawsuit monday challenging constitutionality executive order evidence refugees thoroughly vetted people entering nation threat national security said cair national litigation director lena f masri order based bigotry reality past budget year us accepted 84995 refugees including 12587 people syria president barack obama set refugee limit budget year 110000 trump according executive order plans cut 50000 refugee processing suspended immediate aftermath sept 11 attacks restarted months later president applauded house speaker paul ryan said time reevaluate strengthen visavetting process many democrats cast measures unamerican tears running cheeks statue liberty tonight grand tradition america welcoming immigrants existed since america founded stomped upon said senate minority leader chuck schumer new york trumps order signed holocaust remembrance day brought mind global effort help refugees world war ii aftermath order makes mention plan provide safe zones syria surrounding area draft order directed pentagon state department produce plan safe zones wartorn mideast nation presidents directive capped hectic first week trump white house giving americans initial look intends position united states around globe earlier friday hosted british prime minister theresa may white house first meeting world leader since taking office asked whether would revert back bushera use torture trump said would defer views defense secretary jim mattis stated publicly necessarily believe torture waterboarding however want define dont necessarily agree trump said would tell override im giving power hes expert associated press news organizations obtained copies draft executive order signaling sweeping changes us interrogation detention policy draft white house said official also requests recommendations whether us reopen cia detention facilities outside united states critics said clandestine sites marred americas image world stage trump held firm friday another controversy trade illegal immigration mexico told reporters good call pena nieto earlier day reaffirmed belief mexico outnegotiated beat us pulp trade would change longer going country doesnt know declared day mexican leader canceled visit washington response trumps plans build border wall mexico pay | 533 |
<p>June Foray, the voice of “The Bullwinkle Show’s” Rocky the Flying Squirrel and his nemesis Natasha Fatale of Boris and Natasha fame, died Thursday. She was 99.</p>
<p>Her close friend Dave Nimitz, confirmed her death on Facebook, writing “With a heavy heart again I want to let you all know that we lost our little June today at 99 years old.”</p>
<p>Foray was the voice behind Looney Tunes’ Witch Hazel, Nell from “Dudley Do-Right,” Granny in the “Tweety and Sylvester” cartoons and Cindy Lou Who in Chuck Jones’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” among many others.</p>
<p>The first lady of voice acting and founder of the annual Annie Awards was instrumental in the creation of the Oscars’ animated feature category.</p>
<p>She continued to work late in life, recently reprising her role as Rocky in director Gary Trousdale’s short “Rocky and Bullwinkle,” set to be released by DreamWorks. In a 2013 interview with Variety, Foray said: “I’m still going. It keeps you thinking young. My body is old, but I think the same as I did when I was 20 years old.”</p>
<p>Foray is credited with coming up with the idea for the Annie Awards, which started out as a dinner honoring the year’s best in animation in 1972, and she presided over what has become a gala event in the animation industry every year since. The Annies created a juried award named for Foray in 1995 that honors individuals who have made significant or benevolent contributions to the art and industry of animation, and she was its first recipient.</p>
<p>Foray told Variety that she had been working in the animation business for about 20 years before the group that would eventually become ASIFA-Hollywood casually came to be. “We never did anything. Sometimes we’d have lunch together and call each other on the phone,” she said. Foray was a founding member of what was then called ASIFA West Coast in the early 1960s with fellow animation professionals Les Goldman, Bill Littlejohn, Ward Kimball, John Wilson, Carl Bell and Herbert Kasower.</p>
<p>In the early 1970s Foray pitched the idea for an awards show. “I was thinking that there were the Grammys, the Tonys, the Oscars, but nobody recognizes animation,” Foray said. So she suggested the board host a dinner, and though other board members said no one would show up to such an event, they rented space in the Sportsmen’s Lodge in the San Fernando Valley to honor animation pioneers Max and Dave Fleischer. “And 400 people showed up,” boasted Foray.</p>
<p>A longtime cheerleader for the animation industry, Foray lobbied for many years to have animated films recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts &amp; Sciences. “I was on the board of governors for 26 years and I tried for 20 years” to convince the Academy to have a category for animated features, she told Variety. Finally the Academy created the category in 2001, and DreamWorks Animation’s “Shrek” won the first Oscar for animated feature. Afterward, Foray said, “Jeffrey Katzenberg called me to thank me because he was aware of what I had done.”</p>
<p>Though not a superstar in the traditional sense, Foray had an impressive list of fans, as Leonard Maltin relayed in his forward to Foray’s 2009 autobiography “Dig You Grow Up With Me, Too?” He wrote: “When I was fortunate enough to attend the Oscar nominees’ luncheon in 2007, I asked director Martin Scorsese who he was excited to have met that day, among the hundred-or-so contenders and Academy guests. He smiled and said, ‘June Foray.'”</p>
<p>Foray was born June Lucille Forer in Springfield, Mass., and she was doing vocal work in local radio dramas by the time she was 12. She continued working in radio after her family moved to Los Angeles after she graduated from high school, following her dream of becoming an actress. She even had her own “Lady Make Believe” radio show that showcased her vocal talents, and she appeared regularly on network shows such as “Lux Radio Theater” and “The Jimmy Durante Show.”</p>
<p>She met her future husband, writer and director Hobart Donavan, while working on “Smilin’ Ed’s Buster Brown Show,” then moved on to work with Steve Allen on morning radio show “Smile Time,” in which she’d play “everyone and everything. It was there that I perfected my Spanish accent and where my booming Marjorie Main-type voice got a good workout,” she recalled in her autobiography.</p>
<p>After “Smile Time,” Foray found work with Capitol Records, where she recorded many children’s albums and where she first met and worked with Stan Freberg and Daws Butler, with whom she recorded several comedy records, including “Dragnet” parody “St. George and the Dragonet.” Later she was a regular cast member of “The Stan Freberg Show” on CBS Radio.</p>
<p>Foray got her start in the animation business when someone from the Walt Disney studio called her to ask if she could do the voice of a cat. “Well, I could do anything,” recalled Foray in an interview with Variety. “So he hired me as Lucifer the cat in ‘Cinderella,’ and then I started to work for Disney.” Much of her work for Disney was uncredited, including work as a mermaid and squaw in “Peter Pan.” But she starred as the voice of Hazel the Witch in the 1952 Donald Duck short “Trick or Treat,” using a voice that would later morph into “Looney Tunes” character Witch Hazel. She would often say that she voiced a long litany of cartoon witches, many of them named Hazel.</p>
<p>About the same time, the 1950s, Foray worked on a series of cartoons by such animation pioneers as Tex Avery and Walter Lantz. For Warner Bros., she became Granny in the “Tweety and Sylvester” cartoons and Alice Crumden in the cartoon parody of “The Honeymooners,” “The Honey-Mousers.” At Warner Bros. she met Chuck Jones, for whom she worked on several “Looney Tunes” cartoons, starting with “Broom-Stick Bunny” in 1956. She would later star as Cindy Lou Who in Jones’ cartoon adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”</p>
<p>She also voiced Mother Magoo mother in the “Mister Magoo” series.</p>
<p>But her greatest fame came with Jay Ward’s satirical “Rocky and His Friends,” which would later become “The Bullwinkle Show,” eventually known collectively as “The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show,” which ran from 1959 through 1964. Foray virtually did all the female voices for the show, including the voice of Russian villain Natasha Fatale, as well as that of Rocket J. Squirrel. She also voiced characters for other Jay Ward cartoons, such as “Dudley Do-Right” (Nell Fenwick), “George of the Jungle” (Jane) and “Tom Slick” (Marigold).</p>
<p>It wasn’t only in animation that Foray got to use her myriad vocal talents. She voiced the demonic doll Talky Tina in “The Twilight Zone” episode entitled “Living Doll” in 1963.</p>
<p>Despite her prolific career, she had to wait until 2012 for an Emmy nomination; she went on to win a Daytime Emmy for her performance as Mrs. Cauldron on Cartoon Network’s “The Garfield Show.”</p>
<p>A documentary about her life, “The One and Only June Foray,” was produced in 2013.</p>
<p>Foray was married to Bernard Barondess from 1941 to 1945. She was married to Donavan from 1954 until his death in 1976.</p> | false | 1 | june foray voice bullwinkle shows rocky flying squirrel nemesis natasha fatale boris natasha fame died thursday 99 close friend dave nimitz confirmed death facebook writing heavy heart want let know lost little june today 99 years old foray voice behind looney tunes witch hazel nell dudley doright granny tweety sylvester cartoons cindy lou chuck jones grinch stole christmas among many others first lady voice acting founder annual annie awards instrumental creation oscars animated feature category continued work late life recently reprising role rocky director gary trousdales short rocky bullwinkle set released dreamworks 2013 interview variety foray said im still going keeps thinking young body old think 20 years old foray credited coming idea annie awards started dinner honoring years best animation 1972 presided become gala event animation industry every year since annies created juried award named foray 1995 honors individuals made significant benevolent contributions art industry animation first recipient foray told variety working animation business 20 years group would eventually become asifahollywood casually came never anything sometimes wed lunch together call phone said foray founding member called asifa west coast early 1960s fellow animation professionals les goldman bill littlejohn ward kimball john wilson carl bell herbert kasower early 1970s foray pitched idea awards show thinking grammys tonys oscars nobody recognizes animation foray said suggested board host dinner though board members said one would show event rented space sportsmens lodge san fernando valley honor animation pioneers max dave fleischer 400 people showed boasted foray longtime cheerleader animation industry foray lobbied many years animated films recognized academy motion picture arts amp sciences board governors 26 years tried 20 years convince academy category animated features told variety finally academy created category 2001 dreamworks animations shrek first oscar animated feature afterward foray said jeffrey katzenberg called thank aware done though superstar traditional sense foray impressive list fans leonard maltin relayed forward forays 2009 autobiography dig grow wrote fortunate enough attend oscar nominees luncheon 2007 asked director martin scorsese excited met day among hundredorso contenders academy guests smiled said june foray foray born june lucille forer springfield mass vocal work local radio dramas time 12 continued working radio family moved los angeles graduated high school following dream becoming actress even lady make believe radio show showcased vocal talents appeared regularly network shows lux radio theater jimmy durante show met future husband writer director hobart donavan working smilin eds buster brown show moved work steve allen morning radio show smile time shed play everyone everything perfected spanish accent booming marjorie maintype voice got good workout recalled autobiography smile time foray found work capitol records recorded many childrens albums first met worked stan freberg daws butler recorded several comedy records including dragnet parody st george dragonet later regular cast member stan freberg show cbs radio foray got start animation business someone walt disney studio called ask could voice cat well could anything recalled foray interview variety hired lucifer cat cinderella started work disney much work disney uncredited including work mermaid squaw peter pan starred voice hazel witch 1952 donald duck short trick treat using voice would later morph looney tunes character witch hazel would often say voiced long litany cartoon witches many named hazel time 1950s foray worked series cartoons animation pioneers tex avery walter lantz warner bros became granny tweety sylvester cartoons alice crumden cartoon parody honeymooners honeymousers warner bros met chuck jones worked several looney tunes cartoons starting broomstick bunny 1956 would later star cindy lou jones cartoon adaptation dr seuss grinch stole christmas also voiced mother magoo mother mister magoo series greatest fame came jay wards satirical rocky friends would later become bullwinkle show eventually known collectively rocky bullwinkle show ran 1959 1964 foray virtually female voices show including voice russian villain natasha fatale well rocket j squirrel also voiced characters jay ward cartoons dudley doright nell fenwick george jungle jane tom slick marigold wasnt animation foray got use myriad vocal talents voiced demonic doll talky tina twilight zone episode entitled living doll 1963 despite prolific career wait 2012 emmy nomination went win daytime emmy performance mrs cauldron cartoon networks garfield show documentary life one june foray produced 2013 foray married bernard barondess 1941 1945 married donavan 1954 death 1976 | 696 |
<p>The market for media streaming devices is a crowded one. Roku, Amazon, Google and Apple are offering consumers a plethora of pucks, sticks and boxes designed to bring Netflix, Hulu and more to consumers’ TVs. However, a small but growing group of cord cutters and digital media enthusiasts is instead swearing on a device produced by an unlikely competitor: Graphics card maker <a href="http://variety.com/tag/nvidia/" type="external">Nvidia</a> and its Shield TV set-top, which just received some major updates.</p>
<p>When <a href="http://variety.com/2017/artisans/production/production-workers-ai-1202447872/" type="external">Nvidia</a> first introduced the Shield 2015, it was primarily viewed as a slimmed-down game console, capable of streaming video games directly from the cloud. The device, which initially sold in two configurations for $199 and $299 respectively, had little in common with inexpensive media streamers from the likes of Roku and Amazon. For one, it shipped with a full-fledged game controller in the box. And then there were the high-powered innards, which were also more closely resembling a game console than a cheap streaming box.</p>
<p>“We built a custom processor,” said Shield general manager Ali Kani during a recent interview with Variety. Nvidia also decided to put 3GB of RAM into the device, and shipped the higher-end version with an integrated 500 GB hard drive. And the Shield hits the top of the specs in almost any other measure as well: It streams 4K and HDR, and supports Dolby Atmos surround sound. “We over-invested,” in the hardware, admitted Kani.</p>
<p>But the company also had an inkling that media may be a big opportunity as well. “The TV hadn’t changed that much,” said Kani. Nvidia’s hunch was that this would quickly change if it would give developers a full-fledged app store, and the ability to run powerful apps in a multitasking environment. In other words: Make it possible to run services 24/7, and not just when a user decides to open or close a streaming app.</p>
<p>“There is gonna be a need for computing power,” said Kani. “You need these specs, you need this performance.”</p>
<p>In the case of the Shield, this “build it, and they will come” approach actually worked. <a href="http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/plex-nvidia-shield-media-server-1201791913/" type="external">Plex teamed up with Nvidia to build a special version of its software</a> for the streamer that works both as a server and a client, doing away with the need to run a separate PC or home server to manage one’s media collection — a first for the media center app maker.</p>
<p />
<p>CREDIT: Screenshot: Janko Roettgers / Variety</p>
<p>Plex has since added more functionality to its software, <a href="http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/plex-live-tv-android-tv-ios-1202449335/" type="external">including support for live TV and DVR features</a>. Now, the Shield can be turned into a full-fledged DVR with the addition of little more than a USB TV tuner. Other companies have since followed suit and also embraced the Shield as a DVR solution. This includes Tablo, a company that’s best known for its DVRs for cord cutters, <a href="http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/nvidia-shield-dvr-tablo-cord-cutting-1202480309/" type="external">which is now selling a tuner adapter to bring live and recorded over-the-air television to the Tablo as well.&#160;</a></p>
<p>This week, Nvidia added another major update to the Shield, rolling out a software update that brings Google’s Assistant to the device. Users can now voice search across apps, start direct playback of shows with voice commands, query their calendars, ask for weather, traffic, photos from their Google Photos albums, factoids, jokes and much more. The device even works in concert with other Google Chromecast-compatible hardware, so you can ask it to start playing music in another room of the house.</p>
<p />
<p>CREDIT: Courtesy of Nvidia</p>
<p>To be fair, the Assistant integration isn’t perfect yet. A brief test on a device loaned to Variety by Nvidia revealed a few shortcomings, including missing integrations with some of the apps available on the device.</p>
<p>Moreover, Google Assistant continues to offer different sets of features on your phone, on a Google Home and now on an <a href="http://variety.com/tag/android-tv/" type="external">Android TV</a> device like the Nvidia Shield. Some of that is to be expected, as each of these devices comes with its own strengths and weaknesses, but it’s hard to understand why one wouldn’t be able to do something as simple as set an alarm on a TV device.</p>
<p>Then there’s the issue of the microphone. Nvidia chose not to integrate a far-field mic into the Shield itself, in part because more than half of its users stow it away in their TV furniture. Instead, the company integrated a mic in the remote that needs to be activated with the press off a button.</p>
<p>[embedded content]</p>
<p>And starting this week, it also turned the Shield’s game controller into an always-on mic, capable of responding to the obligatory “Okay Google” wake word. However, the game controller’s mic is optimized for distances ranging from 3-6 feet, so you may not be able to use it from across the room.</p>
<p>For that Amazon Echo-like use case, Nvidia had announced its own hardware solution at CES. The Nvidia Spot, a $50 microphone and speaker combination, was supposed to bring far-field voice to the Shield, and potentially to any room in your house. However, ten months later, the Spot is still nowhere to be found.</p>
<p>“We are still working on it,” said Kani. He wouldn’t comment on whether the company would release the product before the end of the year or delay it to next year, but admitted that it wasn’t ready for a release: “We are not there yet.”</p>
<p>The company is close to shipping another previously-announced Shield feature. It is going to add support for Samsung’s Smartthings technology to the streamer, effectively turning it into a hub for the smart home. In a demo, Kani showed how this will make it possible to control a thermostat, connected light bulbs and even a Sonos speaker with simple voice commands with the Shield.</p>
<p>What’s more, consumers can connect multiple devices together, and change the temperature, light and music as soon as a sensor notices the garage door opening. The Shield will be able to control Wifi-connected devices at no additional cost, and the company will sell a small USB adapter to add support for additional wireless standards commonly used by internet-connected appliances for around $30.</p>
<p>A DVR, smart home support and advanced voice control: Much of this functionality goes far beyond what other streaming devices can do. Or, as Kani put it: “A Roku doesn’t have the specs to do these things.” And with the Google Assistant on board, the Shield may finally be ready to appeal to more mainstream audiences as well. “We clearly were the best streamer for games,” said Kani. “Now, we feel we are the best streamer.”</p>
<p>Nvidia hasn’t released any sales numbers for the Shield yet, but it’s clear that Roku’s and Amazon’s streamers as well as Google’s Chromecast are still a lot more popular. These devices are also significantly cheaper. Roku’s streaming hardware starts at $25, while the cheapest Shield sells for $179. Only Apple sells its Apple TV in the same price range.</p>
<p>Still, Kani seemed optimistic that ultimately, horsepower and versatility will win. “Streaming is changing,” he said.</p> | false | 1 | market media streaming devices crowded one roku amazon google apple offering consumers plethora pucks sticks boxes designed bring netflix hulu consumers tvs however small growing group cord cutters digital media enthusiasts instead swearing device produced unlikely competitor graphics card maker nvidia shield tv settop received major updates nvidia first introduced shield 2015 primarily viewed slimmeddown game console capable streaming video games directly cloud device initially sold two configurations 199 299 respectively little common inexpensive media streamers likes roku amazon one shipped fullfledged game controller box highpowered innards also closely resembling game console cheap streaming box built custom processor said shield general manager ali kani recent interview variety nvidia also decided put 3gb ram device shipped higherend version integrated 500 gb hard drive shield hits top specs almost measure well streams 4k hdr supports dolby atmos surround sound overinvested hardware admitted kani company also inkling media may big opportunity well tv hadnt changed much said kani nvidias hunch would quickly change would give developers fullfledged app store ability run powerful apps multitasking environment words make possible run services 247 user decides open close streaming app gon na need computing power said kani need specs need performance case shield build come approach actually worked plex teamed nvidia build special version software streamer works server client away need run separate pc home server manage ones media collection first media center app maker credit screenshot janko roettgers variety plex since added functionality software including support live tv dvr features shield turned fullfledged dvr addition little usb tv tuner companies since followed suit also embraced shield dvr solution includes tablo company thats best known dvrs cord cutters selling tuner adapter bring live recorded overtheair television tablo well160 week nvidia added another major update shield rolling software update brings googles assistant device users voice search across apps start direct playback shows voice commands query calendars ask weather traffic photos google photos albums factoids jokes much device even works concert google chromecastcompatible hardware ask start playing music another room house credit courtesy nvidia fair assistant integration isnt perfect yet brief test device loaned variety nvidia revealed shortcomings including missing integrations apps available device moreover google assistant continues offer different sets features phone google home android tv device like nvidia shield expected devices comes strengths weaknesses hard understand one wouldnt able something simple set alarm tv device theres issue microphone nvidia chose integrate farfield mic shield part half users stow away tv furniture instead company integrated mic remote needs activated press button embedded content starting week also turned shields game controller alwayson mic capable responding obligatory okay google wake word however game controllers mic optimized distances ranging 36 feet may able use across room amazon echolike use case nvidia announced hardware solution ces nvidia spot 50 microphone speaker combination supposed bring farfield voice shield potentially room house however ten months later spot still nowhere found still working said kani wouldnt comment whether company would release product end year delay next year admitted wasnt ready release yet company close shipping another previouslyannounced shield feature going add support samsungs smartthings technology streamer effectively turning hub smart home demo kani showed make possible control thermostat connected light bulbs even sonos speaker simple voice commands shield whats consumers connect multiple devices together change temperature light music soon sensor notices garage door opening shield able control wificonnected devices additional cost company sell small usb adapter add support additional wireless standards commonly used internetconnected appliances around 30 dvr smart home support advanced voice control much functionality goes far beyond streaming devices kani put roku doesnt specs things google assistant board shield may finally ready appeal mainstream audiences well clearly best streamer games said kani feel best streamer nvidia hasnt released sales numbers shield yet clear rokus amazons streamers well googles chromecast still lot popular devices also significantly cheaper rokus streaming hardware starts 25 cheapest shield sells 179 apple sells apple tv price range still kani seemed optimistic ultimately horsepower versatility win streaming changing said | 660 |
<p>SPOILER ALERT:&#160;Do not read if you have not yet watched the Nov. 10 episode of “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/jane-the-virgin/" type="external">Jane The Virgin</a>,” entitled “Chapter Sixty-Nine.”</p>
<p>Jane Gloriana Villanueva (Gina Rodriguez) is all grown-up and about to become a published author. The single mother’s debut novel, a romance tale based on her relationship with Michael (Brett Dier), is about to hit shelves not only on the CW’s “Jane The Virgin” but in real life, as well, thanks to a partnership with Simon &amp; Schuster’s Adams Media imprint. But given how much is changing in her life, a follow-up book may not be far behind.</p>
<p>She has plenty of material: Her new boyfriend Adam (Tyler Posey) just revealed that he is bisexual, something Jane struggled with, given her conservative upbringing. And then there are her parents, who are co-parenting with Rogelio’s baby mama and her new boyfriend, who also happens to be her father’s nemesis.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Jane’s baby daddy Rafael (Justin Baldoni) thought he was finally going to get his fortune back, along with ownership of the Marbella Hotel, only to learn his sister signed assets over to Petra’s twisted twin sister Anezka (Yael Grobglas).</p>
<p>Here, showrunner <a href="http://variety.com/t/jennie-snyder-urman/" type="external">Jennie Snyder Urman</a> talks with Variety&#160;about why she wanted to explore bisexuality through Adam’s character, what struggles are still to come for characters like Rafael, and just how Jane’s novel came to be.</p>
<p>When and how did the idea of exploring bisexuality on the show come up, and why was it important that Adam be the one to identify that way?</p>
<p>We had huge discussions about who Adam was before we started breaking stories because we were introducing a character who comes with a lot of history, a lot of weight for Jane, and a lot of narrative propulsive energy for us. So that was something we discussed and decided on early on. I feel like you see a lot of bisexual women on TV because men think it’s sexy when women make out&#160;— so that’s become a little more seen on TV, and we felt like we hadn’t had a romantic hero who’s also bisexual. And also, it felt like an interesting place to explore because Jane would think she’s very progressive and Jane would think she’d have no issue with it — that would be the place she wants to come into the story with, but then she has to unpack a lot of stuff. Some of it is residual [because] she grew up in a very religious house and has certain ideas in her head that are based in telenovelas and based on romance writing. And she had to struggle with her own discomfort and get over it. It was more about Jane realizing that even though on paper she should be totally fine,&#160;there’s no issue, she had to accept the fact that things did not go down as smoothly as she wished it did. She had to confront what that meant and ask questions&#160;— and feel safe enough to ask questions because sometimes you feel like your questions are silly and you should know better, but ask them! So it gave her a chance to [do that] and then continue on with Adam, who is her romantic hero right now.</p>
<p>How is the show continuing that story? Will we see any of his exes pop up the way we’ve seen hers?</p>
<p>He does have his own arc with a beginning, middle, and end.</p>
<p>Adam has really been embraced by the Villanueva family, but if he hadn’t been, would Jane have been able to stay with him, given how tight-knit the family is?</p>
<p>She’s made choices, and she realizes that as much as she always wants to please her grandmother, sometimes she can’t because she’s her own woman and they’re going to disagree. Even though that’s sort of painful&#160;— to disagree with someone who has placed so much stock in you&#160;— she has come to terms with that. Long-term if they were to work out and her family didn’t like him, I’m sure that would complicate things because Jane is somebody who’s very close to her family. And on a storytelling level there is an additional challenge because the audience loves the Villanuevas so much. If they’re hating a character, you start to lose a little bit of investment in him because you trust them and you trust they always want the best for Jane.</p>
<p>Why has it been important to move away, at this time, from the love triangle or love square aspect of the show that was key to earlier seasons?</p>
<p>I have to put a pin in that because some things are going to happen. But you know, you’re not constantly in a love triangle. That would be crazy if Jane was constantly in a love triangle, or constantly at the center of a love triangle. So the beginning of the season was about moving to her to the side, and Rafael was at the center, with both Petra and Jane wanting to be with him. And then they both went on different paths. And I think it was important to see Jane as somebody who can’t always get what she wants. I think it feels too false if you’re just choosing between various suitors because no one lives like that.</p>
<p>Rafael is a bit darker this season, too. Is this closer to who he truly is, or can he find his way back to Zen Rafael?</p>
<p>I think he’s got to find a middle ground. I have a lot of empathy, even though Rafael’s taken some dark turns this year. I can understand it [because] everything he’s built his life and identity around has been taken away and he is feeling very desperate. From Jane’s point of view, it’s like, “You can be happy and you don’t need all of this stuff!” But as much as he’d like to believe that, he can’t. He didn’t grow up like that. I think he and Jane have to come to terms with the fact that money does mean something to him. It is a measure of how he defines success. I think Zen Rafael was a direct reaction to doing too many things that were not right, but you still have to engage in the world, and he’s trying to find his balance. He went into panic mode in the beginning of the season, and in [episode] 5 he’s grappling. He wants to not care about that stuff, but he does, and he’s really at a broken place, and from that place, he will start to rebuild.</p>
<p>Is he rebuilding his old life by trying to reclaim the money and the hotel?</p>
<p>It’s a little bit of everything. He’s trying to figure out, “What is my line? What is it OK to want?” He’s refocusing on family and trying to step back, trying to see how far he’ll go and what he needs as his own moral center.</p>
<p>Similarly, how far will Petra go to get the power — and hotel — back from her sister?</p>
<p>Petra’s been a survivor and scrappy from the beginning! Rafael grew up with an incredible amount of privilege, Petra didn’t, so they’re coming from different places. Petra’s always had to do things to survive, and Petra’s line is different. Rafael went steps and steps over the line, but he’s also left the weight on her shoulders really strong. He hasn’t had to count on himself the way that Petra has, so his fall is bigger because he’s not as trusting that he can get out of anything. Petra feels that she can think her way out of everything. Life is hard, but she can come out on top.</p>
<p>Rogelio and Xiomara seem relatively stable now that they’ve come to a consensus on his vasectomy. Is it more of a challenge to write a happy couple than conflict?</p>
<p>They definitely are stable. They went into their marriage without thinking it was going to be a fairytale&#160;— knowing that there would be work involved and that it was not the perfect situation that they had dreamed about. They love each other, and they went in with their eyes open, a lot because of age and perspective, but they’re going to definitely have challenges. They’re not in jeopardy, but you know, life is hard, and the way that you deal with problems is often different from the way your partner deals with problems, which creates its own problems. We wanted to take our time to get them there so it felt earned, but there’s going to be so many challenges and conflicts. How can you be in a partnership in life without that? If I was just writing them as happy all of the time, I think I’d start to lose my grip on reality. I’m in a happy marriage, but things can be hard.</p>
<p>Luisa (Yara Martinez) has been tricked into thinking she’s hallucinating and having another breakdown. How will the show follow her journey with mental illness this season?</p>
<p>It’s tricky because I would give anything to have enough money to make Yara a series regular — I love her and that scene at the end of episode 5 where she’s with Rafael and giving him back his shares is as grounded and real as anything, even though she’s often a broad character. And if she was [a regular], then we’d be able to examine it in a different way because I’d have her for every episode and examine it in ways large and small. But because I have her for a limited amount of episodes, a lot of times she’s there turning plots and creating situations for the characters. That being said, we talked about at the beginning of this season really wanting to understand her in a bigger way, and some of that is the pain of her mental illness. She did have a breakdown at the beginning of her medical career, she hates when people call her crazy, her mother struggled. It’s something she struggles with — mental illness — but we’re not examining it in quite the same way as if it was Jane. She comes up in central moments, and you’ll hear what’s gone on, but right now she doesn’t even know what we know, so when she finds out she’s going to have a very big reaction. This was a terrible thing they did to her&#160;— a terrible thing&#160;— and we will definitely be carving out enough space for Luisa to process that and for us to understand where she’s coming from, how she’s feeling, and how her history will propel her into her future.</p>
<p>“ <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/features/jane-the-virgin-season-4-jane-adam-michael-rafael-preview-interview-1202582865/" type="external">Jane The Virgin</a>” has extended its storytelling through Rogelio’s Twitter account, but a tie-in novel is a much bigger undertaking. How did that come about and what are your hopes for the novel?</p>
<p>Actually Simon &amp; Schuster came to us. They said that after we announced that Jane was going to have a book&#160;and what it was about&#160;— her love story with Michael&#160;— they had a lot of people asking if it was real. They reached out to us and asked us if we were interested in exploring that. You get so attached to characters on the show, and they feel real, and we always say Jane is a romance writer, but what does that feel like, and what are the rules? How does she fictionalize her relationship with Michael and still follow the rules of romance, which needs a happily ever after, and all those tropes. So it’s really to extend your feelings of Jane. We talk so much this season about the book because it’s published and different events come about as a result of it, so it was a way to continue to broaden out the audience’s experience of writing the show, which we always try to make interactive with the Tweeting and the text on-screen.</p>
<p>What are the challenges in creating Jane’s voice as a writer separate from how she speaks, as well as separate from the voice of the show itself?</p>
<p>We had a great, great ghostwriter for the book&#160;— Caridad Piñeiro,&#160;who is one of the biggest voices in Latina romance. We really let her do her thing. We read chapters and gave feedback on the overall structure, but we trust her. She knows romance writing better than we do. She’s the voice of Jane.</p>
<p>There are some passages in the book in what seems like the narrator’s voice. Does that hint at his connection to Jane?</p>
<p>Definitely not! That was a choice that she made early on to tie them together and incorporate for the fans of the show, but it doesn’t have anything to do with who are narrator is.</p>
<p>An earlier episode flat-out told the audience to expect another death. When will that be paid off?</p>
<p>Very soon. You’ll have some idea at the end of the next episode, but it will all be clear by the fall finale.</p>
<p>“Jane The Virgin” airs on Fridays at 9 p.m. on the CW.</p> | false | 1 | spoiler alert160do read yet watched nov 10 episode jane virgin entitled chapter sixtynine jane gloriana villanueva gina rodriguez grownup become published author single mothers debut novel romance tale based relationship michael brett dier hit shelves cws jane virgin real life well thanks partnership simon amp schusters adams media imprint given much changing life followup book may far behind plenty material new boyfriend adam tyler posey revealed bisexual something jane struggled given conservative upbringing parents coparenting rogelios baby mama new boyfriend also happens fathers nemesis meanwhile janes baby daddy rafael justin baldoni thought finally going get fortune back along ownership marbella hotel learn sister signed assets petras twisted twin sister anezka yael grobglas showrunner jennie snyder urman talks variety160about wanted explore bisexuality adams character struggles still come characters like rafael janes novel came idea exploring bisexuality show come important adam one identify way huge discussions adam started breaking stories introducing character comes lot history lot weight jane lot narrative propulsive energy us something discussed decided early feel like see lot bisexual women tv men think sexy women make out160 thats become little seen tv felt like hadnt romantic hero whos also bisexual also felt like interesting place explore jane would think shes progressive jane would think shed issue would place wants come story unpack lot stuff residual grew religious house certain ideas head based telenovelas based romance writing struggle discomfort get jane realizing even though paper totally fine160theres issue accept fact things go smoothly wished confront meant ask questions160 feel safe enough ask questions sometimes feel like questions silly know better ask gave chance continue adam romantic hero right show continuing story see exes pop way weve seen arc beginning middle end adam really embraced villanueva family hadnt would jane able stay given tightknit family shes made choices realizes much always wants please grandmother sometimes cant shes woman theyre going disagree even though thats sort painful160 disagree someone placed much stock you160 come terms longterm work family didnt like im sure would complicate things jane somebody whos close family storytelling level additional challenge audience loves villanuevas much theyre hating character start lose little bit investment trust trust always want best jane important move away time love triangle love square aspect show key earlier seasons put pin things going happen know youre constantly love triangle would crazy jane constantly love triangle constantly center love triangle beginning season moving side rafael center petra jane wanting went different paths think important see jane somebody cant always get wants think feels false youre choosing various suitors one lives like rafael bit darker season closer truly find way back zen rafael think hes got find middle ground lot empathy even though rafaels taken dark turns year understand everything hes built life identity around taken away feeling desperate janes point view like happy dont need stuff much hed like believe cant didnt grow like think jane come terms fact money mean something measure defines success think zen rafael direct reaction many things right still engage world hes trying find balance went panic mode beginning season episode 5 hes grappling wants care stuff hes really broken place place start rebuild rebuilding old life trying reclaim money hotel little bit everything hes trying figure line ok want hes refocusing family trying step back trying see far hell go needs moral center similarly far petra go get power hotel back sister petras survivor scrappy beginning rafael grew incredible amount privilege petra didnt theyre coming different places petras always things survive petras line different rafael went steps steps line hes also left weight shoulders really strong hasnt count way petra fall bigger hes trusting get anything petra feels think way everything life hard come top rogelio xiomara seem relatively stable theyve come consensus vasectomy challenge write happy couple conflict definitely stable went marriage without thinking going fairytale160 knowing would work involved perfect situation dreamed love went eyes open lot age perspective theyre going definitely challenges theyre jeopardy know life hard way deal problems often different way partner deals problems creates problems wanted take time get felt earned theres going many challenges conflicts partnership life without writing happy time think id start lose grip reality im happy marriage things hard luisa yara martinez tricked thinking shes hallucinating another breakdown show follow journey mental illness season tricky would give anything enough money make yara series regular love scene end episode 5 shes rafael giving back shares grounded real anything even though shes often broad character regular wed able examine different way id every episode examine ways large small limited amount episodes lot times shes turning plots creating situations characters said talked beginning season really wanting understand bigger way pain mental illness breakdown beginning medical career hates people call crazy mother struggled something struggles mental illness examining quite way jane comes central moments youll hear whats gone right doesnt even know know finds shes going big reaction terrible thing her160 terrible thing160 definitely carving enough space luisa process us understand shes coming shes feeling history propel future jane virgin extended storytelling rogelios twitter account tiein novel much bigger undertaking come hopes novel actually simon amp schuster came us said announced jane going book160and about160 love story michael160 lot people asking real reached us asked us interested exploring get attached characters show feel real always say jane romance writer feel like rules fictionalize relationship michael still follow rules romance needs happily ever tropes really extend feelings jane talk much season book published different events come result way continue broaden audiences experience writing show always try make interactive tweeting text onscreen challenges creating janes voice writer separate speaks well separate voice show great great ghostwriter book160 caridad piñeiro160who one biggest voices latina romance really let thing read chapters gave feedback overall structure trust knows romance writing better shes voice jane passages book seems like narrators voice hint connection jane definitely choice made early tie together incorporate fans show doesnt anything narrator earlier episode flatout told audience expect another death paid soon youll idea end next episode clear fall finale jane virgin airs fridays 9 pm cw | 1,010 |
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — A bleak description of "American carnage." A forceful rollback of his predecessor's achievements. A blatant falsehood from the White House podium.</p>
<p>And that was just the first 24 hours.</p>
<p>In his first year in office, Donald Trump proved to be a singular figure, casting aside norms and traditions, fighting with Republicans and Democrats alike and changing how the nation and the presidency are viewed at home and abroad.</p>
<p>Seemingly each day spawned several can-you-believe-it headlines that would have defined a previous president's term. But in the hyper-accelerated Trump news cycle, many were forgotten by the next morning.</p>
<p>Appropriate for a former reality TV star, Trump's first year was can't-miss drama, full of unforgettable characters, surprise casting changes and innumerable plot twists. It came against the backdrop of a deeply polarized nation, a looming nuclear threat, whispers about the president's fitness for office and, for good measure, the shadow of the Russia investigation.</p>
<p>The reviews weren't kind. Trump's first-year approval rating stood at 39 percent, the lowest of any president. But viewers couldn't look away.</p>
<p>"He is a compulsively watchable political character," said Jon Meacham, presidential historian and biographer. "The country elected the most unconventional president in our history and he has proven to be just that. To me, the story of the first year is the atmospheric chaos that the president has created, sustained and perpetuated."</p>
<p>Trump was the first president to be elected without any government or military experience. And from the first moments of Trump's inauguration, it was clear that Washington had never seen anything like this before.</p>
<p>His inaugural speech was a dark pitch to the nation's forgotten, suggesting a retreat from the world under the slogan of "America First." It soon led to an uproar over the White House press secretary's wild claims about the inauguration crowd size.</p>
<p>Soon, other crowds were the story.</p>
<p>Millions of people flooded streets around the globe for the "Women's March" to protest Trump's presidency. That set the template for the so-called #Resistance, which swarmed airports just days later when the White House suddenly announced its travel ban on visitors from several Muslim-majority countries.</p>
<p>There would be little attempt from Trump to bring those protesters into the fold. Despite losing the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes, the president forged forward as if elected with a sweeping mandate, aiming his policies directly at his base — with moves such as the rollback of environment regulations and civil rights protections — and blaming Democrats for any Washington failure.</p>
<p>Always eager to have a foe, Trump governed as he campaigned, and not just by incessantly reliving his 2016 election over Hillary Clinton. Trump frequently instigated fights and rarely let a slight go unanswered via his favorite weapon, his Twitter account.</p>
<p>Any pre-inauguration talk of restraining his Twitter usage was soon forgotten. He used the 140-character — and later, up to 280 — bursts to target foes, traffic in conspiracy theories, salute the programming on Fox News, rattle Congress and unnerve world capitals. In March, he even made the unsubstantiated claim that his predecessor had wiretapped Trump Tower, and he labeled President Barack Obama a "bad (or sick) guy."</p>
<p>The trail of tweets has roiled the capital for 12 months. Across Washington, phones would buzz with alerts anytime Trump tweeted. Republicans found themselves to be targets of Trump's tweet just like Democrats, particularly when their efforts to repeal Obama's health care law — a plan seven years in the making — failed not once, but twice.</p>
<p>Some tweets drew puzzlement; none more than the president's late-night posting of the nonsensical word "covfefe."</p>
<p>Some tweets challenged American institutions, full of criticisms of the media and the FBI. Others provoked outrage, as when he suggested that MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski had a face-lift or claimed that Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., "would do anything" for a donation, an unsavory insinuation made at the height of the #MeToo movement.</p>
<p>The discussion about sexual harassment toppled many powerful men but, while Trump's own accusers resurfaced, the White House never changed its story: The women were lying.</p>
<p>That was just one of many moments in which Trump appeared almost eager to foment divisions, including racial ones.</p>
<p>His political career was launched on the lie that Obama was not born in the United States, and this month, Trump was denounced for dismissing African nations as "shithole countries" when he urged a limit on immigration from that continent.</p>
<p>He dismissed Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., as "Pocahontas," mocking her claims about being part Native American, while addressing a group of American Indians. More divisively, he blamed "both sides" for the violence between neo-Nazis and anti-hate group protesters that left one woman dead in Charlottesville, Virginia.</p>
<p>While Trump was rewriting the rules of behavior within the Oval Office, his agenda was largely lifted from the Republican playbook and his first year victories thrilled the GOP orthodoxy. He appointed conservative judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, rolled back business regulations, presided over a massive tax cut and, the White House argued, fostered an environment that freed the stock market to boom.</p>
<p>"2017 was a year of tremendous achievement (and) the achievements for our country, our people, and for our standing in the world have been very monumental," Trump said at a Cabinet meeting last week, before offering a glimpse into how he views the presidency — as catnip for cable.</p>
<p>"I'm sure their ratings were fantastic. They always are," he said.</p>
<p>Like any president, Trump faced crises during his first year.</p>
<p>Most ominously, North Korea escalated its nuclear weapons development program while Trump responded with unprecedentedly bellicose rhetoric. He warned of "fire and fury" that could wipe out Pyongyang. At the United Nations, he insulted North Korean leader Kim Jung Un as "Little Rocket Man." Trump took to Twitter to suggest that his nuclear button was bigger than Kim's.</p>
<p>The anniversary of his inauguration coincided with a government shutdown, and he scoffed that Democrats "wanted to give me a nice present."</p>
<p>He traveled overseas four times, upbraiding traditional American allies at NATO for not paying enough, basking in the flattery of Chinese President Xi Jinping and touching a mysterious, glowing orb with Saudi King Salman.</p>
<p>His responses to domestic tragedies were uneven.</p>
<p>He paid tribute to the 58 victims of a shooting at a country music concert in Las Vegas, but made no effort to toughen gun control laws. When Hurricane Maria crushed Puerto Rico, leaving half the island without power for months, Trump feuded with a local mayor and, during a visit, distributed paper towels to survivors by shooting them like they were basketballs.</p>
<p>Befitting a man whose reality show ended with a firing each week, in Trump's first year his administration's upper-level officials have had a turnover rate of 34 percent, much higher than any other in the past 40 years. Gone were chief of staff Reince Priebus, chief strategist Steve Bannon, press secretary Sean Spicer and, after just 11 eventful days, communications director Anthony Scaramucci.</p>
<p>But the circumstances of two exits above all may define not just Trump's first year in office, but those to follow.</p>
<p>National security adviser Mike Flynn was fired less than a month into the term for lying to Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with foreign officials. In May, Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, who had been leading the investigation into possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Russian officials during the 2016 election.</p>
<p>That dismissal led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller, whose probe into possible collusion and obstruction of justice has hovered over the White House. Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents and is now cooperating with Mueller. Trump himself may at some point be interviewed.</p>
<p>"We've never had a president who had such a chaotic first year. Every day is topsy-turvy and disorganized, the country has not been so divided since the Civil War and Trump thrives at being the bull that carries his own china shop around with him," said Douglas Brinkley, presidential historian at Rice University. "He's not like anything we've seen before and this is the question: What are the consequences going to be?"</p> | false | 1 | washington ap bleak description american carnage forceful rollback predecessors achievements blatant falsehood white house podium first 24 hours first year office donald trump proved singular figure casting aside norms traditions fighting republicans democrats alike changing nation presidency viewed home abroad seemingly day spawned several canyoubelieveit headlines would defined previous presidents term hyperaccelerated trump news cycle many forgotten next morning appropriate former reality tv star trumps first year cantmiss drama full unforgettable characters surprise casting changes innumerable plot twists came backdrop deeply polarized nation looming nuclear threat whispers presidents fitness office good measure shadow russia investigation reviews werent kind trumps firstyear approval rating stood 39 percent lowest president viewers couldnt look away compulsively watchable political character said jon meacham presidential historian biographer country elected unconventional president history proven story first year atmospheric chaos president created sustained perpetuated trump first president elected without government military experience first moments trumps inauguration clear washington never seen anything like inaugural speech dark pitch nations forgotten suggesting retreat world slogan america first soon led uproar white house press secretarys wild claims inauguration crowd size soon crowds story millions people flooded streets around globe womens march protest trumps presidency set template socalled resistance swarmed airports days later white house suddenly announced travel ban visitors several muslimmajority countries would little attempt trump bring protesters fold despite losing popular vote nearly 3 million votes president forged forward elected sweeping mandate aiming policies directly base moves rollback environment regulations civil rights protections blaming democrats washington failure always eager foe trump governed campaigned incessantly reliving 2016 election hillary clinton trump frequently instigated fights rarely let slight go unanswered via favorite weapon twitter account preinauguration talk restraining twitter usage soon forgotten used 140character later 280 bursts target foes traffic conspiracy theories salute programming fox news rattle congress unnerve world capitals march even made unsubstantiated claim predecessor wiretapped trump tower labeled president barack obama bad sick guy trail tweets roiled capital 12 months across washington phones would buzz alerts anytime trump tweeted republicans found targets trumps tweet like democrats particularly efforts repeal obamas health care law plan seven years making failed twice tweets drew puzzlement none presidents latenight posting nonsensical word covfefe tweets challenged american institutions full criticisms media fbi others provoked outrage suggested msnbc host mika brzezinski facelift claimed sen kirsten gillibrand dny would anything donation unsavory insinuation made height metoo movement discussion sexual harassment toppled many powerful men trumps accusers resurfaced white house never changed story women lying one many moments trump appeared almost eager foment divisions including racial ones political career launched lie obama born united states month trump denounced dismissing african nations shithole countries urged limit immigration continent dismissed sen elizabeth warren dmass pocahontas mocking claims part native american addressing group american indians divisively blamed sides violence neonazis antihate group protesters left one woman dead charlottesville virginia trump rewriting rules behavior within oval office agenda largely lifted republican playbook first year victories thrilled gop orthodoxy appointed conservative judge neil gorsuch supreme court rolled back business regulations presided massive tax cut white house argued fostered environment freed stock market boom 2017 year tremendous achievement achievements country people standing world monumental trump said cabinet meeting last week offering glimpse views presidency catnip cable im sure ratings fantastic always said like president trump faced crises first year ominously north korea escalated nuclear weapons development program trump responded unprecedentedly bellicose rhetoric warned fire fury could wipe pyongyang united nations insulted north korean leader kim jung un little rocket man trump took twitter suggest nuclear button bigger kims anniversary inauguration coincided government shutdown scoffed democrats wanted give nice present traveled overseas four times upbraiding traditional american allies nato paying enough basking flattery chinese president xi jinping touching mysterious glowing orb saudi king salman responses domestic tragedies uneven paid tribute 58 victims shooting country music concert las vegas made effort toughen gun control laws hurricane maria crushed puerto rico leaving half island without power months trump feuded local mayor visit distributed paper towels survivors shooting like basketballs befitting man whose reality show ended firing week trumps first year administrations upperlevel officials turnover rate 34 percent much higher past 40 years gone chief staff reince priebus chief strategist steve bannon press secretary sean spicer 11 eventful days communications director anthony scaramucci circumstances two exits may define trumps first year office follow national security adviser mike flynn fired less month term lying vice president mike pence contacts foreign officials may trump fired fbi director james comey leading investigation possible collusion trumps campaign russian officials 2016 election dismissal led appointment special counsel robert mueller whose probe possible collusion obstruction justice hovered white house flynn pleaded guilty lying fbi agents cooperating mueller trump may point interviewed weve never president chaotic first year every day topsyturvy disorganized country divided since civil war trump thrives bull carries china shop around said douglas brinkley presidential historian rice university hes like anything weve seen question consequences going | 814 |
<p>Those who lost the 2016 presidential election to Donald Trump are finding their Russian story falling apart before their eyes, because there was nothing there, and now they are trying this, said Chris Kitze, founder of encrypted internet service Unseen.</p>
<p>Facebook agreed to release to Congress data about ads allegedly bought by Russia, amid an ongoing investigation into Moscow’s purported meddling in the 2016 US election.</p>
<p>The social media giant claims it discovered 3,000 paid political ads that could have links to Russia. They cost a hundred thousand dollars in total, and were bought between 2015 and 2017.</p>
<p>The company said all the purchased advertisements are linked to “inauthentic” accounts.</p>
<p>Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/404178-kremlin-facebook-political-ads/" type="external">denied</a> Moscow have anything to do with political advertisements on Facebook.</p>
<p>“We don’t know who placed the advertisements on Facebook or how, and have never done it. The Russian side has never been part of it,” said Peskov.</p>
<p>RT:&#160; Earlier Facebook refused to publish these ads, posted by user accounts allegedly linked to Russian authorities. What made the company change its position?</p>
<p>Chris Kitze: They are running out of time. They can’t prove anything that Russia did anything bad with the American election. They are obviously trying to put some news out there to try and keep the story alive. It looks to me like it is pretty much nothing.</p>
<p>RT:&#160; Are you suggesting that there is someone specific behind this issue?</p>
<p>CK: What happens with politics in America is that there are certain people behind the scenes who are doing things. They are not accomplishing what they wanted to accomplish. So what they end up doing is that they have to keep trying more and more things. In the case of Facebook, they said: ‘Well, we can dump these things out and make a news headline.’ Everyone will forget about it in a couple days.</p>
<p>RT:&#160; What kind of leverages does the congressional investigation committee have to pressure the Internet giants like Facebook to cooperate?</p>
<p>CK: Facebook is so big they basically do whatever they want anyway. The Congressional hearing can subpoena things, but a lot of these giant companies can just sandbag and hold things back so that they don’t have to provide anything. They will just drag it out so long that it won’t matter. There is a reason why all the stuff is being released right now – and you noticed the coordination of the news media – that is the first tell that shows you this whole thing is a setup.</p>
<p>RT:&#160; Usually the big companies do not immediately agree on such demands of a government, trying to draw public attention to the problem. Why this time it was not the case?&#160;</p>
<p>CK: They are contributing to the Russia hysteria. There are two sides to this: there is President Trump and then there are the other people. The other people lost power. They were surprised they lost the election. And now what they are trying to do is get back at President Trump. It’s just that simple. What is happening now – they are finding that the whole Russian story fell apart right in front of their eyes, because there was nothing there, and now they are trying this. It is another bit of nothing. They may try and use this as a way to try and regulate people, like Matt Drudge and other news websites to say: ‘Well, you’re accepting ads potentially from foreign people.’ But there is no way that a news website knows who the advertisers are, because they all are done by add networks, like Google.</p>
<p>The Russia hoax continues, now it’s ads on Facebook. What about the totally biased and dishonest Media coverage in favor of Crooked Hillary?</p>
<p>— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/911179462745710593" type="external">September 22, 2017</a></p>
<p>RT:&#160; The investigation committee has a right to make any company share the materials that might interest them. Why then are they focusing on Russia? Doesn’t it violate privacy rights of the Internet users?</p>
<p>CK: There are things that the Congress can do and judges can do. They have wide powers to subpoena things for criminal investigations. So at that point people pretty much lose their privacy rights – that is just the way it is.</p>
<p>RT:&#160;&#160; Judging by what you’ve said, today people almost don’t have a chance for any kind of secrecy, do they?</p>
<p>CK: I am not sure you can hang your hat on that for this matter. People can have privacy, but the real issue here is between Facebook and the advertisers. So it is not really involving the end user – it is more a corporate and a political matter.</p>
<p>RT:&#160; Usually the big companies do not always agree to comply with such demands from the government, trying to draw public attention to the problem. Why is that not the case this time around?</p>
<p>CK: It is interesting to me, as someone who used to be a Facebook user… They push all kinds of other junk, things that most moral people would never want in their homes. Now they are cooperating with the government. The only reason they are doing this is obviously because that is what they want to do – that is in their interest. These are companies who could hide all this stuff and say: ‘We don’t know anything about it,’ or they can drag it out for two years – just looking for the information, or even lose it. There is a reason why these companies all of a sudden are showing up with this information – it is because that is a part of the agenda that is being pushed by the news media complex and the tech complex in the US.</p>
<p>RT:&#160; Remember the case when Apple company did not immediately agree to cooperate with FBI to unlock the terrorist’s cell phone, raising a huge debate over the privacy rights. Should not this case with Facebook ads be raising similar concerns?</p>
<p>CK: They are controlled by the same group of people. There is a group of people – the deep state – here in the US, who are controlling many, many things. They control banking, education, corporate business. They have all the power. They control all the tech companies. Basically, they have perfect information.&#160; It’s all been merged into various data basis, and so forth. They have perfect information about everybody. The only time that they drag stuff like this out is when it serves their interests. That is all it is. It is an unbelievable thing that they are even promoting this. And when you see it promoted in the media, you know that there are lying about something. They are hiding something, and they are pushing for something that is probably not true. You can usually assume it is exactly the opposite of whatever they say on the major news media.</p> | false | 1 | lost 2016 presidential election donald trump finding russian story falling apart eyes nothing trying said chris kitze founder encrypted internet service unseen facebook agreed release congress data ads allegedly bought russia amid ongoing investigation moscows purported meddling 2016 us election social media giant claims discovered 3000 paid political ads could links russia cost hundred thousand dollars total bought 2015 2017 company said purchased advertisements linked inauthentic accounts kremlin spokesman dmitry peskov friday denied moscow anything political advertisements facebook dont know placed advertisements facebook never done russian side never part said peskov rt160 earlier facebook refused publish ads posted user accounts allegedly linked russian authorities made company change position chris kitze running time cant prove anything russia anything bad american election obviously trying put news try keep story alive looks like pretty much nothing rt160 suggesting someone specific behind issue ck happens politics america certain people behind scenes things accomplishing wanted accomplish end keep trying things case facebook said well dump things make news headline everyone forget couple days rt160 kind leverages congressional investigation committee pressure internet giants like facebook cooperate ck facebook big basically whatever want anyway congressional hearing subpoena things lot giant companies sandbag hold things back dont provide anything drag long wont matter reason stuff released right noticed coordination news media first tell shows whole thing setup rt160 usually big companies immediately agree demands government trying draw public attention problem time case160 ck contributing russia hysteria two sides president trump people people lost power surprised lost election trying get back president trump simple happening finding whole russian story fell apart right front eyes nothing trying another bit nothing may try use way try regulate people like matt drudge news websites say well youre accepting ads potentially foreign people way news website knows advertisers done add networks like google russia hoax continues ads facebook totally biased dishonest media coverage favor crooked hillary donald j trump realdonaldtrump september 22 2017 rt160 investigation committee right make company share materials might interest focusing russia doesnt violate privacy rights internet users ck things congress judges wide powers subpoena things criminal investigations point people pretty much lose privacy rights way rt160160 judging youve said today people almost dont chance kind secrecy ck sure hang hat matter people privacy real issue facebook advertisers really involving end user corporate political matter rt160 usually big companies always agree comply demands government trying draw public attention problem case time around ck interesting someone used facebook user push kinds junk things moral people would never want homes cooperating government reason obviously want interest companies could hide stuff say dont know anything drag two years looking information even lose reason companies sudden showing information part agenda pushed news media complex tech complex us rt160 remember case apple company immediately agree cooperate fbi unlock terrorists cell phone raising huge debate privacy rights case facebook ads raising similar concerns ck controlled group people group people deep state us controlling many many things control banking education corporate business power control tech companies basically perfect information160 merged various data basis forth perfect information everybody time drag stuff like serves interests unbelievable thing even promoting see promoted media know lying something hiding something pushing something probably true usually assume exactly opposite whatever say major news media | 541 |
<p>George Weigel&#160;is a Washington, D.C.-based Catholic theologian and writer,&#160; <a href="http://george%20weigel%2C%20who%20wrote%20a%20biography%20of%20blessed%20john%20paul%20ii%2C%20speaks%20at%20a%20press%20conference%20at%20the%20vatican%20april%2025.%20at%20right%20is%20jesuit%20father%20federico%20lombardi%2C%20the%20vatican%20spokesman.%20weigel%20called%20blessed%20john%20paul%20%22a%20greater%20reformer%20of%20the%20priesthood%22%20while%20taking%20steps%20to%20deal%20with%20the%20clergy%20abuse%20scandal%20that%20emerged%20in%202002.%20%28cns%20photo/Paul%20Haring)%20(April%2025,%202014)" type="external">Distinguished Senior Fellow</a>&#160;of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and Vatican analyst for NBC News. His weekly column, “The Catholic Difference,” is syndicated to 60 newspapers.</p>
<p>Mr. Weigel is the author of 21 books, including&#160; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Witness-Hope-Biography-Pope-John/dp/0060732032/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1405610352&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=Witness+to+Hope" type="external">Witness to Hope</a>&#160;and&#160; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/End-Beginning-II---Victory-Freedom/dp/0385524803/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1405610390&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=the+end+and+the+beginning" type="external">The End and the Beginning</a>, his two-volume biography of John Paul II, who was canonized by Pope Francis on April 27. He received a B.A. from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore and an M.A. from the University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto. He has also been awarded 18 honorary doctorates in areas including divinity, philosophy, law, history and social science.</p>
<p>On July 16, [Sean Salai, S.J.] interviewed Mr. Weigel by email on the recent canonization of St. John Paul II. At the time of this interview, Mr. Weigel was in Cracow, Poland, where he was leading the 23rd annual session of the&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Tertio Millennio Seminar on the Free Society</a>. The following text of this interview is unabridged.</p>
<p>You’re in Poland now until July 22. What’s the current mood among Poles about the recent canonization of Pope John Paul II?</p>
<p>I think there’s a great sense of satisfaction here: satisfaction that the universal church has recognized the heroic virtues of a son of this country who bent the course of history in a more humane direction. At the same time, I’d suggest that the canonization of John Paul II ought to be the moment when Polish Catholicism stops looking back over its shoulder, so to speak, and begins to look forward with the “eyes” of John Paul II. World Youth Day 2016 in Cracow, to take one example, ought to be an occasion to think about the future of John Paul II’s new evangelization, here in Poland and elsewhere, rather than about the past. That’s certainly what he would want.</p>
<p>Why was Pope John Paul II’s canonization such a significant moment for the church and the world?</p>
<p>I vividly remember that, within an hour after John Paul II died, Henry Kissinger, discussing the late pope’s legacy with Brian Williams and me on NBC, said that John Paul had been the emblematic figure of the second half of the twentieth century—the man in whose life that historical drama had been most powerfully embodied. I think that’s right, and I also think it’s astonishing: no one expected that a Catholic priest and bishop, from a country long thought to be a victim of history rather than a protagonist of history, would play that role on the world stage. And that’s an important indicator of the vitality of Catholicism. Where a lot of Catholics saw chaos and confusion in the church in October 1978, when John Paul II was elected, he saw immense possibility—and then acted on that sense of possibility.</p>
<p>Under Pope Francis, the media’s attention seems to have moved from Europe to the third world, implying a shift in gravity from the last two pontificates. Why should Catholics still care about Europe?</p>
<p>Joseph Ratzinger once wrote that the “first inculturation” of the Gospel, in the civilization of classical antiquity, had been providential, because Greek rationality gave the early church the ability to “translate” kerygma (“Jesus is Lord”) into doctrine and creed. So while the Gospel can be inculturated anywhere, because the universal truths the Gospel bears illuminate and strengthen what is good in particular cultures, there is a certain pride-of-place in that “first inculturation.” So the state of the church in Europe, Christianity’s historic heartland, remains important for the world Church. Sometimes, however, that means resisting the misconceptions the European Church (or parts of it) have about the Catholic future, which is what is happening in the third world and North Atlantic response to certain proposals for the upcoming Synod coming out of Germany. I’d also suggest that Europe has no future—literally “no future,” given its catastrophic demographics—without a profound European rediscovery of the vitality of the Gospel, which, among other things, teaches us that generosity toward the future that is essential to creating the future in the most elemental sense, by having children.</p>
<p>As Catholics, what can we take from the course set by St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI in regard to the future of the church in Europe?</p>
<p>The church in Europe will survive, even if it takes the form of one of those “creative minorities” of which Benedict XVI was fond of speaking, borrowing from Arnold Toynbee. The question is whether the church in Europe will have the capacity to give Europe a new birth of freedom rightly understood. And the only church capable of doing that is a church that has rejected the temptations of “Catholic lite” and embraced the symphony of Catholic truth in full. In that sense, the church in Europe ought to look to the most vital sectors of the church in the United States for a model of the New Evangelization of John Paul II—and of public engagement with what Benedict XVI presciently called the “dictatorship of relativism.”</p>
<p>Other than the canonization, what are some concrete ways Pope Francis has honored or continued the legacy of St. John Paul II?</p>
<p>“ <a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html" type="external">Evangelii Gaudium</a>” is Pope Francis’s “playbook” for implementing John Paul II’s new evangelization, as I tried to explain in the afterword to the recently-published paperback edition of my&#160; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Evangelical-Catholicism-Reform-21st-Century-Church/dp/0465075673/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1405610456&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=evangelical+catholicism" type="external">Evangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the Twenty-First Century Church.</a>&#160;There’s a deep, strategic continuity here: at the end of the Great Jubilee, John Paul II challenged the world church to leave the shallow waters of institutional maintenance and “put out into the deep” of a new evangelization. That is the core of Pope Francis’s message and, I think, the heart of his papal ministry.</p>
<p>Are you working on any upcoming projects in regard to St. John Paul II?</p>
<p>At the moment I’m working with my photographer-son, Stephen, and my old Ethics and Public Policy Center colleague, Carrie Gress Stibora, on a historical-spiritual guidebook to Cracow, presenting this remarkable city through the prism of John Paul II’s life here. I hope the book will be helpful for World Youth Day 2016 pilgrims, and long beyond that. And I continue to ponder the possibility of a memoir of my experiences with John Paul II.</p>
<p>In your opinion, what are the greatest signs of hope in the Catholic Church right now?</p>
<p>The young people I’m privileged to work with here in Cracow—from the U.S., Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Russia, Ukraine and Colombia—are a terrific sign of hope for the Catholic future, not least because they’re unaffected by the post-conciliar tong wars between Catholic “progressives” and Catholic “traditionalists.” They’ve met the truth in Jesus Christ, and they want to deepen their knowledge of that truth in all its dimensions, so that they can be the missionary disciples John Paul II and Francis are calling them to be; they’re simply uninterested in the who’s-in-charge-here fights that exhausted too much of post-conciliar Catholicism.</p>
<p>Then there are the tens—indeed hundreds—of thousands of people who were baptized as adults or came into full communion with the Catholic Church at Easter. That’s the index of the church’s health: how many new brethren are accepting our invitation into the Body of Christ. I’m also encouraged by the U.S. bishops’ firm stance in defense of religious freedom for all, which is a service to the United States and the world, not just to the Catholic Church.</p>
<p>What are the biggest challenges facing the Catholic Church right now?</p>
<p>I lay out a lot of this in the second part of&#160;Evangelical Catholicism, addressing what seem to me the reforms needed in the episcopate, the priesthood, consecrated life, the lay vocation, Catholic higher education, the liturgy, the church’s public witness, and the papacy and the Roman Curia, so that the church of the 21st century can be the Church of the New Evangelization that it must be. Let me highlight just one of those proposals here.</p>
<p>We need a refined set of criteria for the selection of bishops, focused on a man’s proven capacity to be an evangelizer, and we need a refined mechanism for dealing justly, but with appropriate speed, when a bishop has manifestly lost the capacity to govern his diocese—which usually means a loss of his capacity to be an evangelist. The seeming inability of the church to deal with episcopal malfeasance or incompetence (or worse) is a large drag on the new evangelization. That doesn’t mean subjecting bishops to impeachment-by-media-driven-plebiscite; it does mean recognizing when, by the church’s own standards, a change is essential for the future of the church’s evangelical mission, and acting on that recognition.</p>
<p>As the legacy of St. John Paul II continues to evolve, what are your hopes for the pontificate of Francis?</p>
<p>Pope Francis was elected to clean up what Ronald Knox used to refer to as the “engine room,” meaning the church’s central administration. He has made a courageous start on that with the appointment of Cardinal George Pell as Prefect of a new Secretariat for the Economy and by the <a href="http://americamagazine.org/content/all-things/exclusive-interview-cardinal-george-pell-financial-reform-vatican" type="external">&#160;clean-up at the Institute for the Works of Religion</a>, the “Vatican Bank.” The reform of the Curia will, I hope, continue, and be guided by what I called, in&#160;Evangelical Catholicism, the “criterion of mission”: does this or that proposed reform enhance the church’s mission-effectiveness? That would make clear that curial reform and restructuring is not just moving slots around on an organizational flow-chart, but a matter of trying to bring the church’s central administration into line with the new evangelization, which it, like everything else in the church, must serve.</p>
<p>Any final thoughts?</p>
<p>Orioles Magic is back, I hope!</p>
<p>Sean Salai, S.J.,&#160;is a summer editorial intern at&#160;America.</p> | false | 1 | george weigel160is washington dcbased catholic theologian writer160 distinguished senior fellow160of ethics public policy center vatican analyst nbc news weekly column catholic difference syndicated 60 newspapers mr weigel author 21 books including160 witness hope160and160 end beginning twovolume biography john paul ii canonized pope francis april 27 received ba st marys seminary university baltimore university st michaels college toronto also awarded 18 honorary doctorates areas including divinity philosophy law history social science july 16 sean salai sj interviewed mr weigel email recent canonization st john paul ii time interview mr weigel cracow poland leading 23rd annual session the160 tertio millennio seminar free society following text interview unabridged youre poland july 22 whats current mood among poles recent canonization pope john paul ii think theres great sense satisfaction satisfaction universal church recognized heroic virtues son country bent course history humane direction time id suggest canonization john paul ii ought moment polish catholicism stops looking back shoulder speak begins look forward eyes john paul ii world youth day 2016 cracow take one example ought occasion think future john paul iis new evangelization poland elsewhere rather past thats certainly would want pope john paul iis canonization significant moment church world vividly remember within hour john paul ii died henry kissinger discussing late popes legacy brian williams nbc said john paul emblematic figure second half twentieth centurythe man whose life historical drama powerfully embodied think thats right also think astonishing one expected catholic priest bishop country long thought victim history rather protagonist history would play role world stage thats important indicator vitality catholicism lot catholics saw chaos confusion church october 1978 john paul ii elected saw immense possibilityand acted sense possibility pope francis medias attention seems moved europe third world implying shift gravity last two pontificates catholics still care europe joseph ratzinger wrote first inculturation gospel civilization classical antiquity providential greek rationality gave early church ability translate kerygma jesus lord doctrine creed gospel inculturated anywhere universal truths gospel bears illuminate strengthen good particular cultures certain prideofplace first inculturation state church europe christianitys historic heartland remains important world church sometimes however means resisting misconceptions european church parts catholic future happening third world north atlantic response certain proposals upcoming synod coming germany id also suggest europe futureliterally future given catastrophic demographicswithout profound european rediscovery vitality gospel among things teaches us generosity toward future essential creating future elemental sense children catholics take course set st john paul ii pope benedict xvi regard future church europe church europe survive even takes form one creative minorities benedict xvi fond speaking borrowing arnold toynbee question whether church europe capacity give europe new birth freedom rightly understood church capable church rejected temptations catholic lite embraced symphony catholic truth full sense church europe ought look vital sectors church united states model new evangelization john paul iiand public engagement benedict xvi presciently called dictatorship relativism canonization concrete ways pope francis honored continued legacy st john paul ii evangelii gaudium pope franciss playbook implementing john paul iis new evangelization tried explain afterword recentlypublished paperback edition my160 evangelical catholicism deep reform twentyfirst century church160theres deep strategic continuity end great jubilee john paul ii challenged world church leave shallow waters institutional maintenance put deep new evangelization core pope franciss message think heart papal ministry working upcoming projects regard st john paul ii moment im working photographerson stephen old ethics public policy center colleague carrie gress stibora historicalspiritual guidebook cracow presenting remarkable city prism john paul iis life hope book helpful world youth day 2016 pilgrims long beyond continue ponder possibility memoir experiences john paul ii opinion greatest signs hope catholic church right young people im privileged work cracowfrom us poland lithuania slovakia russia ukraine colombiaare terrific sign hope catholic future least theyre unaffected postconciliar tong wars catholic progressives catholic traditionalists theyve met truth jesus christ want deepen knowledge truth dimensions missionary disciples john paul ii francis calling theyre simply uninterested whosinchargehere fights exhausted much postconciliar catholicism tensindeed hundredsof thousands people baptized adults came full communion catholic church easter thats index churchs health many new brethren accepting invitation body christ im also encouraged us bishops firm stance defense religious freedom service united states world catholic church biggest challenges facing catholic church right lay lot second part of160evangelical catholicism addressing seem reforms needed episcopate priesthood consecrated life lay vocation catholic higher education liturgy churchs public witness papacy roman curia church 21st century church new evangelization must let highlight one proposals need refined set criteria selection bishops focused mans proven capacity evangelizer need refined mechanism dealing justly appropriate speed bishop manifestly lost capacity govern diocesewhich usually means loss capacity evangelist seeming inability church deal episcopal malfeasance incompetence worse large drag new evangelization doesnt mean subjecting bishops impeachmentbymediadrivenplebiscite mean recognizing churchs standards change essential future churchs evangelical mission acting recognition legacy st john paul ii continues evolve hopes pontificate francis pope francis elected clean ronald knox used refer engine room meaning churchs central administration made courageous start appointment cardinal george pell prefect new secretariat economy 160cleanup institute works religion vatican bank reform curia hope continue guided called in160evangelical catholicism criterion mission proposed reform enhance churchs missioneffectiveness would make clear curial reform restructuring moving slots around organizational flowchart matter trying bring churchs central administration line new evangelization like everything else church must serve final thoughts orioles magic back hope sean salai sj160is summer editorial intern at160america | 883 |
<p>SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched “Ian Garvey,” the eighth episode of the fifth season of “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/the-blacklist/" type="external">The Blacklist</a>.”</p>
<p>NBC’s “ <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/the-blacklist-renewed-season-5-nbc-1202423464/" type="external">The Blacklist</a>” has never shied away from tumultuous and game-changing deaths, but the fifth season winter finale delivered its biggest story-bending twist to-date when it killed off an original character in the episode’s closing moments, and jumped forward a year in the timeline.</p>
<p>After spending the entirety of the season searching for the truth behind the suitcase of bones that Reddington (James Spader) desperately wanted hidden, Tom Keen ( <a href="http://variety.com/t/ryan-eggold/" type="external">Ryan Eggold</a>) finally learned what his father-in- law was hiding. Leading up to that moment, the episode combined flashbacks of when Tom was first assigned to Liz (Megan Boone) and a present-day chase involving Red, Tom and the episode’s Blacklister Ian Garvey (recurring guest-star Jonny Coyne), culminating in a shaky alliance of sorts between father- and son-in- law.</p>
<p>Unfortunately by the time Tom snuck off with the bones and made plans to tell Liz everything that had happened, Garvey had caught up with them both. The Keene residence became a crimson crime screen for Garvey and his goons as the leader repeatedly stabbed Tom and his men delivered a potentially fatal blow to Liz’s head. By the time Red and his sidekick Dembe (Hisham Tawfiq) arrived on the scene both Liz and Tom were in precarious conditions, and Garvey had long escaped.</p>
<p>It all culminated in a tranquil finish as Liz awoke from a coma to Red reading to her. She had been unconscious for ten months, and as Red informed her, Tom died at the hospital.</p>
<p>In the wake of the pivotal episode, Variety caught up with executive producers <a href="http://variety.com/t/jon-bokenkamp/" type="external">Jon Bokenkamp</a> and <a href="http://variety.com/t/john-eisendrath/" type="external">John Eisendrath</a> — along with departing star Eggold — to break down Tom’s final moments, why the character’s time had come, and how this particular death changes the tone of the show when it returns for its back half in January.</p>
<p>Tom Keen was a character that was supposed to die in the pilot; why kill him&#160;now?</p>
<p>Eisendrath: There’s not any one particular answer. Yes, he was supposed to die in the pilot. We feel like we had given the character of Tom just so many different avenues to pursue: opportunities with Liz to love, to hate, to fight, to get divorced, to annul their marriage, to get remarried. Ultimately in the end the short answer is that, when the series ends, whenever it ends, it’s ultimately a parent-child story and Tom was the most important person in Liz, ‘the child’s’ life. His passing is going to change the dynamic of who Liz is, how she behaves, and what her relationship is with Red in ways that are a huge new engine for her going forward in the show.</p>
<p>Bokenkamp: The “why now” is almost why you need to come back in the winter to see where the show goes. How she deals with this, how she can overcome it, how Liz tries to resist any of the dark impulses that might be within her are all important things to look at as we move ahead. It’s going to be really seismic for her to grapple with. It does sort of change the show in a way. Not only because Tom is gone, but because of what it might do to Liz.</p>
<p>Had you not had the opportunity to go so deep into Tom’s background with the&#160;“Redemption” spinoff is this a character that could have stuck around longer on&#160;“Blacklist?”</p>
<p>Eisendrath: One doesn’t have anything to do with the other. As writers the show tells you what the stories are going to be as much as the writers tell the show what the stories are going to be. There’s a rhythm, a life of its own. “Redemption” didn’t really play a big part of it, it just seemed like the organic, right time.</p>
<p>Eggold: It’s a tragic but fitting ending. There’s always been a twinge of Romeo and Juliet to their relationship and there’s always been this idealistic dream that they would get away from this crazy world with the truth in hand and have peace and have Agnes and live in a beautiful home in the middle of some beach somewhere. The episode delivers an enormous, violent dose of reality. It’s a catalyst for Liz. In terms of the ‘when’ of it all, I don’t know there’s a right time but it is a really fitting, tragic ending.</p>
<p>The episode featured telling flashbacks of Tom’s earlier days, does that allow&#160;for the character’s return in the future?</p>
<p>Eisendrath: We’ll leave that to Ryan to tell us. Or Ryan’s agents. We would love it. We have no idea what the future holds in terms of those stories but there are secrets and stories that we have not told that he has gone to his grave holding; that might be fun to unearth at some point in the future.</p>
<p>Eggold: These guys can do plenty of amazing storytelling without Tom, but doing some of the flashback scenes in eight was really fun and it’s interesting how truth from the past affects the present. It affects your perspective of the current story. Some of that here and there could be interesting.</p>
<p>Given certain fake deaths in the past, was it important to physically show Tom&#160;in the morgue?</p>
<p>Bokenkamp: It was really important, that’s why it’s the last shot of the episode. Not to say that he’s not coming back because that would be great in a flashback if we told those stories — but we should be clear that, like Mr. Kaplan (Susan Blommaert), he is dead. There’s no trick there. We wanted to play fair with the audience like we did with Mr. Kaplan and a number of other people on the show who have died. We just wanted to be super clear that there was no trickery here, there was no bigger agenda.</p>
<p>Eggold: I tried one take with a wink in the morgue but the guys cut it.</p>
<p>Tom was often the window into the espionage world of the show; will&#160;someone else take up that mantle?</p>
<p>Bokenkamp: We still like to tell the dark, espionage kind of situations that our characters get into so we’re going to continue to do those kinds of stories. Tom’s death just opens up some real estate in an exciting way where we get to know the other characters on the show more. Quite honestly what it does to Liz is probably the story that might in a way take up some of that oxygen in terms of what she does moving forward and how she chooses to handle this.</p>
<p>Eisendrath: The extra illegal undertakings that Tom did, Liz might end up doing some of those in pursuit of the people who killed Tom.</p>
<p>Is that a confirmation of Jonny Coyne returning as Ian Garvey?</p>
<p>Eisendrath: For sure. Yeah. Jonny Coyne is great and he sort of represents this new big bad. What he’s after or what he’s all about is something that will continue in the back half of the season.</p>
<p>The finale jumps ten months into the future and when the show returns a couple more months have passed. Why such a big leap?</p>
<p>Eisendrath: We wanted to skip some of what we would have been obliged to play if we just had Liz wake up the next day in that raw state of frozen depression. What we want to play is her active, avenging desire mixed in obviously with the pain and the agony of losing the person she loves the most. We wanted to get to a place where she is moving forward and active in her search, in her hunt and in her healing.</p>
<p>Bokenkamp: The time jump also raises a lot of questions. What is Liz going to do, what has happened to the task force, where is Reddington? It shapes the dynamic in a really interesting way that helps us tell compelling stories.</p>
<p>With Tom’s death dies the truth about the suitcase of bones, how does thatfactor into the second half of the season?</p>
<p>Bokenkamp: Tom found the truth to what was in that suitcase and who that was, and what that larger secret may sort of represent to Reddington in a dangerous way. That truth is still out there. Jonny Coyne took that suitcase and that is a story that we continue to unpack and that we will have to confirm before the end of the season.</p>
<p>How will Tom’s death affect Liz and Red’s relationship going forward?</p>
<p>Eisendrath: There will be many twists and turns in it, both in the immediateaftermath and in the rest of the season. Questions revolving around, does he support her in her quest? What did he know? Was he involved in a way that he’s kept secret from her? When last seen, Liz is totally unaware of any of this. She’s unaware of Kaplan having given this suitcase to Tom. She doesn’t know anything so she’s going to find all that out and that’s going to have a huge impact on her relationship with Red.</p>
<p>Bokenkamp: They’re going to have a lot to talk about.</p>
<p>“The Blacklist” returns Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 8 p.m. on NBC.</p> | false | 1 | spoiler alert read yet watched ian garvey eighth episode fifth season blacklist nbcs blacklist never shied away tumultuous gamechanging deaths fifth season winter finale delivered biggest storybending twist todate killed original character episodes closing moments jumped forward year timeline spending entirety season searching truth behind suitcase bones reddington james spader desperately wanted hidden tom keen ryan eggold finally learned fatherin law hiding leading moment episode combined flashbacks tom first assigned liz megan boone presentday chase involving red tom episodes blacklister ian garvey recurring gueststar jonny coyne culminating shaky alliance sorts father sonin law unfortunately time tom snuck bones made plans tell liz everything happened garvey caught keene residence became crimson crime screen garvey goons leader repeatedly stabbed tom men delivered potentially fatal blow lizs head time red sidekick dembe hisham tawfiq arrived scene liz tom precarious conditions garvey long escaped culminated tranquil finish liz awoke coma red reading unconscious ten months red informed tom died hospital wake pivotal episode variety caught executive producers jon bokenkamp john eisendrath along departing star eggold break toms final moments characters time come particular death changes tone show returns back half january tom keen character supposed die pilot kill him160now eisendrath theres one particular answer yes supposed die pilot feel like given character tom many different avenues pursue opportunities liz love hate fight get divorced annul marriage get remarried ultimately end short answer series ends whenever ends ultimately parentchild story tom important person liz childs life passing going change dynamic liz behaves relationship red ways huge new engine going forward show bokenkamp almost need come back winter see show goes deals overcome liz tries resist dark impulses might within important things look move ahead going really seismic grapple sort change show way tom gone might liz opportunity go deep toms background the160redemption spinoff character could stuck around longer on160blacklist eisendrath one doesnt anything writers show tells stories going much writers tell show stories going theres rhythm life redemption didnt really play big part seemed like organic right time eggold tragic fitting ending theres always twinge romeo juliet relationship theres always idealistic dream would get away crazy world truth hand peace agnes live beautiful home middle beach somewhere episode delivers enormous violent dose reality catalyst liz terms dont know theres right time really fitting tragic ending episode featured telling flashbacks toms earlier days allow160for characters return future eisendrath well leave ryan tell us ryans agents would love idea future holds terms stories secrets stories told gone grave holding might fun unearth point future eggold guys plenty amazing storytelling without tom flashback scenes eight really fun interesting truth past affects present affects perspective current story could interesting given certain fake deaths past important physically show tom160in morgue bokenkamp really important thats last shot episode say hes coming back would great flashback told stories clear like mr kaplan susan blommaert dead theres trick wanted play fair audience like mr kaplan number people show died wanted super clear trickery bigger agenda eggold tried one take wink morgue guys cut tom often window espionage world show will160someone else take mantle bokenkamp still like tell dark espionage kind situations characters get going continue kinds stories toms death opens real estate exciting way get know characters show quite honestly liz probably story might way take oxygen terms moving forward chooses handle eisendrath extra illegal undertakings tom liz might end pursuit people killed tom confirmation jonny coyne returning ian garvey eisendrath sure yeah jonny coyne great sort represents new big bad hes hes something continue back half season finale jumps ten months future show returns couple months passed big leap eisendrath wanted skip would obliged play liz wake next day raw state frozen depression want play active avenging desire mixed obviously pain agony losing person loves wanted get place moving forward active search hunt healing bokenkamp time jump also raises lot questions liz going happened task force reddington shapes dynamic really interesting way helps us tell compelling stories toms death dies truth suitcase bones thatfactor second half season bokenkamp tom found truth suitcase larger secret may sort represent reddington dangerous way truth still jonny coyne took suitcase story continue unpack confirm end season toms death affect liz reds relationship going forward eisendrath many twists turns immediateaftermath rest season questions revolving around support quest know involved way hes kept secret last seen liz totally unaware shes unaware kaplan given suitcase tom doesnt know anything shes going find thats going huge impact relationship red bokenkamp theyre going lot talk blacklist returns wednesday jan 3 8 pm nbc | 752 |
<p />
<p>This interview was first published by <a href="http://www.fff.org/comment/com0908m.asp" type="external">The Future of Freedom Foundation</a>.</p>
<p>Col. Lawrence Wilkerson served in the US military for 31 years and was Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell from August 2002 until January 2005, two months after Powell’s resignation, when he left the State Department. He is now the chairman of the <a href="http://www.newamerica.net/" type="external">New America Foundation</a>’s <a href="http://www.newamerica.net/programs/american_strategy/us_cuba_policy_initiative" type="external">US-Cuba 21st Century Policy Initiative</a>. In March, in a guest column for the <a href="http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2009/03/some_truths_abo/" type="external">Washington Note</a>, he wrote an article criticizing some crucial aspects of the Bush administration’s detention policies in the “War on Terror,” which, as <a href="http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/03/18/lawrence-wilkerson-tells-the-truth-about-guantanamo/" type="external">I noted at the time</a>, “are not as widely known as they should be, and which echo some of the important issues that I’ve tried to raise in my book <a href="http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/the-guantanamo-files/" type="external">The Guantánamo Files</a> and my subsequent writing.”</p>
<p>&lt;img class="size-medium wp-image-1936 alignleft" style="margin: 5px;" mce_style="margin: 5px;" title="wilkerson" src="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/wilkerson-300x168.jpg" mce_src="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/wilkerson-300x168.jpg" alt="wilkerson" height="151" width="270"&gt; Specifically, Col. Wilkerson wrote about “the utter incompetence of the battlefield vetting in Afghanistan during the early stages of the US operations there,” and how “several in the US leadership became aware of this lack of proper vetting very early on and, thus, of the reality that many of the detainees were innocent of any substantial wrongdoing, had little intelligence value, and should be immediately released.” He also poured scorn on “the ad hoc intelligence philosophy that was developed to justify keeping many of these people, called the mosaic philosophy,” whose shortcomings were recognized, in May, by a District Court judge, Gladys Kessler, when she granted the habeas corpus petition of a Yemeni prisoner, <a href="http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/05/14/judge-condemns-mosaic-of-guantanamo-intelligence-and-unreliable-witnesses/" type="external">Alla Ali Bin Ali Ahmed</a>.</p>
<p>I recently approached Col. Wilkerson to ask if he would discuss some of these issues in greater detail, and was delighted when he agreed to be interviewed, as he provided some startling new insights into the conduct of the “War on Terror’; specifically, in this first part, he explained how the State Department had wondered whether the little-reported <a href="http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/07/13/the-convoy-of-death-will-obama-investigate-the-afghan-massacre-of-november-2001/" type="external">Dasht-i-Leili container massacre</a> had involved war crimes, how the Bush administration had considered using the Indian Ocean territory of Diego Garcia (leased from the UK) instead of Guantánamo, and how Col. Wilkerson himself believed that some prisoners had been <a href="http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2008/08/01/secret-prison-on-diego-garcia-confirmed-six-high-value-guantanamo-prisoners-held-plus-ghost-prisoner-mustafa-setmariam-nasar/" type="external">held on Diego Garcia</a>.</p>
<p>He also spoke about the administration’s obsession with building a “mosaic” of intelligence from the prisoners to understand the workings of al-Qaeda, and how, increasingly, this obsession shifted to <a href="http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/04/29/even-in-cheneys-bleak-world-the-al-qaeda-iraq-torture-story-is-a-new-low/" type="external">a search for connections between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein</a>, to justify the planned invasion of Iraq. What I found particularly interesting at this point in the interview was Col. Wilkerson’s insistence that the administration’s fear of another terrorist attack subsided more rapidly than has been previously acknowledged, as the drive for war in Iraq took over.</p>
<p>Col. Wilkerson also spoke about the long-standing rivalry between the Pentagon and the CIA, and how defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld — albeit with the backing of <a href="http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2007/06/26/dick-cheney-more-horrors-from-the-vice-president-for-torture/" type="external">Dick Cheney</a> — infected the military with the kind of techniques authorized for use by the CIA on “high-value detainees,” and he also mentioned receiving reports from military personnel who refused to disobey the Geneva Conventions when it came to the humane treatment of prisoners, and from others who revealed the disturbing scale of the global detention policies implemented by both the Pentagon and the CIA.</p>
<p>Towards the end of this first half of the interview, he also explained how he believed that President Bush had no idea how dysfunctional his administration was, and reinforced his earlier claim that “no more than a dozen or two” of the prisoners held at Guantánamo had “any intelligence of significance” with a few pointed anecdotes about the administration’s overall failure to seize more than a handful of worthwhile prisoners.</p>
<p>Andy Worthington: I wanted to talk to you about the article you wrote about Guantánamo for the Washington Note in March, which was fascinating because you pointed out so many aspects of how the prison had come into being that had not been reported very well. I know that you received a certain amount of attention for it at the time, but I’m very interested in putting some of those comments that you made out there again, for some people who may have missed them the first time around, and also because I was hoping that maybe you could expand on a few of the themes that you wrote about.</p>
<p>In the first major point that you raised in your article, you talked about the incompetence of the battlefield vetting, and I know, from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Interrogators-Inside-Secret-Against-Qaeda/dp/0316871125" type="external">The Interrogators</a>, a book by a former interrogator in Afghanistan, who wrote under the pseudonym Chris Mackey, that the orders came from Camp Doha in Kuwait, where the prisoner lists were being looked at, that every single Arab who came into US custody had to be sent to Guantánamo, that there was effectively no screening process whatsoever.</p>
<p>And, of course, the Article 5 competent tribunals <a href="http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/05/27/guantanamo-and-the-many-failures-of-us-politicians/" type="external">didn’t take place either</a>. (Held close to the time and place of capture, and designed to separate combatants from those caught up in the fog of war, these tribunals were established in the Geneva Conventions, and were used by the US military in every war from Vietnam onwards — until the US-led invasion of Afghanistan). So I was wondering how you’d heard about the incompetence, if you’d heard this from military people in the field who’d complained that the competent tribunals didn’t take place, whether you’d been getting feedback from Kandahar and Bagram about how there was no screening. I wonder if you could explain a little bit more about that.</p>
<p>Lawrence Wilkerson: My initial source was immediate, and it was from the conversations that took place every morning without fail, sometimes at the weekend but always Monday through Friday, at 8:30, in the Deputy’s Conference Room in the State Department, with the Secretary [Colin Powell] and the Deputy [Richard Armitage] assembled and some 50-odd undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, office directors, etc. We went around the table with everyone with a dog in the fight, which was most of the undersecretaries and the assistants getting his or her three or four minutes, and the Secretary would get his five minutes or 30 minutes, depending on what the issues were that day — and of course the Deputy would get his time too. And immediately upon our commencing operations in Afghanistan — and when I say commencing operations, I mean the moment we had the first Special Operating Force team with the Northern Alliance, and we were getting actual reporting back from US as well as CIA with Northern Alliance Forces (so, from US military sources, CIA sources, and initially from others in-country, let’s put it this way, to whom we had access) — what I got immediately was that, with regard to the Northern Alliance taking prisoners, it was absolute chaos.</p>
<p>We got signs that they weren’t taking prisoners; that is to say, they were shooting them. We got signs that when they did take prisoners they would negotiate with them, get them to reconcile themselves, so to speak, and let them go. I mean, it was chaos. Everything you can possibly imagine that could be happening on a battlefield in Afghanistan was happening.</p>
<p>Andy Worthington: So this is presumably after <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/26/world/a-nation-challenged-stronghold-taliban-foes-say-kunduz-is-theirs.html" type="external">the fall of Kunduz</a> and the fall of the North, when there was the terrible container massacre …</p>
<p>Lawrence Wilkerson: It grew particularly — how shall I say it? The volume [of information] increased remarkably right before, and then during and after <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/19/world/a-nation-challenged-mazar-i-sharif-a-deadly-siege-at-last-won-mazar-i-sharif.html" type="external">the fall of Mazar-e-Sharif</a>. &lt;img src="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/trans.gif" mce_src="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/trans.gif" class="mceNextPage mceItemNoResize" title="Next Page ..."&gt;</p>
<p>Andy Worthington: OK. And then most of these people didn’t end up in American hands. To my knowledge, only dozens of the thousands of prisoners who made it alive to General Dostum’s prison in Sheberghan, near Mazar-e-Sharif were taken to Guantánamo …</p>
<p>Lawrence Wilkerson: Right, and of course that was the subject of an intense period of discussion. If my memory serves, it was over several mornings with different questions from the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary of our war crimes envoy, Pierre Prosper — ambassador-at-large Pierre Prosper — and of other people like Beth Jones, who was assistant secretary for Eurasia. The appropriate functional and/or regional assistant secretaries would join in the discussion in the morning when the Secretary would ask questions, and I do remember several discussions about these prisoners who grew fairly visible there for a moment and then just seemed to fade from the scene as Dostum apparently had his people put them in containers. One story was that his people then ventilated the containers with AK47s in an attempt to give the prisoners some air, if you want to put a positive spin on it; if you want to put a negative spin on it, in an attempt to kill them. I mean, there are all kinds of stories associated with that, but that was sort of minor considering the chaos that, it seemed to me, existed on the battlefield of Afghanistan with regard to detainee management.</p>
<p>Then it faded for a bit and we didn’t get a lot until we began to hear that there were going to be some detainees that were going to be siphoned off, and were going to be brought back to either Diego Garcia or Guantánamo Bay, or some other place that would be essentially out of US jurisdiction, and Guantánamo quickly took the most emphasis, because we had dealings with Guantánamo before, during the ’93, ’94 exodus of Haitians, when we had problems with immigration across the Florida Strait, and we needed a place to keep people in this instance, so that we could determine, on a very careful, methodical basis, whether they were economic asylum seekers, whether they were political asylum seekers, or whether they were just people trying to get away from wherever they were, and to do the vetting process, and so forth, and to do it out of the confines of the very precisely delineated American judicial procedures.</p>
<p>So Guantánamo was a place that we knew from past, what I would call altruistic uses of it — to allow the process to work, to keep people in a place where they weren’t harassed, where they were fed and looked after, and had medical attention and so forth — but it became a place where we were trying to detain people from the so-called “War on Terror.”</p>
<p>And the reason for picking that place ultimately — and I still believe we had a few at Diego Garcia, and perhaps a few in other places too, but Guantánamo was the principal place — the motivation for picking it was familiarity, and the fact that we’d been through this before, with this sort of extra-territoriality, this being outside the US court system and so forth, and it had met the test of time, if you will, during those episodes, and so it very quickly became the area of choice, I think, and before we knew it at the State Department we were getting cables saying that people were coming back, detainees were coming back from Afghanistan and coming back to Guantánamo.</p>
<p>We knew that these people probably included people captured in Pakistan, people captured under what was a bounty system, essentially, people captured perhaps in other areas, but we knew that the central flow point was going to be Afghanistan, and we also knew that because we were already getting signals from Foreign Minister Straw, the Foreign Minster in Spain, and different countries, who were alerting us to the fact that they knew that we had some of their citizens in these contingents, and they were making their early pleas to get their citizens repatriated, to get them back, under the guise that, of course, they could do as well determining their guilt or innocence, putting them through their judicial systems and incarcerating them if necessary.</p>
<p>And I remember Jack Straw being particularly adamant about this, because he was one of the first to know, as you might expect, that British citizens were involved, and that went on, almost on a daily basis, to the point where it became exasperating for Powell and to a certain extent for Armitage, who would be there sometimes when Powell was traveling, and we’d ask these questions, with specific detainees in mind, with specific countries in mind, indeed often with specific foreign ministers in mind who had just called the Secretary that morning, and the Secretary or the Deputy would ask Pierre, “What’s the update?” and Pierre would, as happened almost every time, roll his eyes and report essentially the same thing: that the Secretary of Defense would not let them go.</p>
<p>We had made every plea, we had banged on doors, we had sent cables, the Secretary himself had called the National Security Advisor, Dr. Rice, the Secretary himself had brought it up with the President of the United States on one occasion, but the Secretary of Defense would not relent, these people were not going to be released. And that went on, and of course the Uighurs got into it, and we started a program to sort of shop the Uighurs around the world, and that went on and, as far as I remember, was never resolved in a way that the Secretary or Pierre was very happy with, and in fact we wound up <a href="http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2007/10/21/guantanamos-uyghurs-stranded-in-albania/" type="external">placing a few Uighurs in Albania</a>, that was the only country that would take them …</p>
<p>Andy Worthington: And that took place in May 2006.</p>
<p>Lawrence Wilkerson: Yes, that was much later, but to return to Afghanistan, the regular meetings were one of my sources of knowing how chaotic the vetting was, and how chaotic the imprisonment was, and how adamant Rumsfeld was — and I’ve come to find now that Donald would not have been adamant without the Vice President’s cover — about not letting any of these guys go, for any reason whatsoever. I also know that one of the motivations for this was not just his obstreperousness, or his arrogance, which was manifested most of the time, but it was the fact that they wanted all of these people questioned vigorously, and they wanted to put together a pattern, a map, a body of evidence, if you will, from all these people, that they thought was going to tell them more and more about al-Qaeda, and increasingly more and more about the connection between al-Qaeda and Baghdad.</p>
<p>I even think that probably, in the summer of 2002, well before Powell gave his presentation at the UN in February 2003, their priority had shifted, as their expectation of another attack went down, and that happened, I think, rather rapidly. I’ve just stumbled on this. I thought before that it had persisted all the way through 2002, but I’m convinced now, from talking to hundreds of people, literally, that that’s not the case, that their fear of another attack subsided rather rapidly after their attention turned to Iraq, and after Tommy Franks, in late November as I recall, was directed to begin planning for Iraq and to take his focus off Afghanistan.</p>
<p>So those discussions that went on — the cables that came in, the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary, all the cognizant people in the Department of State, Pierre, and their discussions every morning, sidebar discussions in the corridors on the seventh floor, indeed, discussions with me in my office, once I became Chief of Staff in August 2002 — that was one source. Another source was military personnel whom I’d known in the past or who people I’d known in the past introduced to me as good sources, who reported to me from, essentially, all over the world, not just Afghanistan and Iraq, but places like Indonesia, places like Djibouti, and so forth, about what was going on with regard to what the Defense Department was calling “kinetic activity”; that is to say, Delta Force and the like, spread all over the world looking for al-Qaeda, and what was happening in the various countries and cities where they were doing this. &lt;img src="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/trans.gif" mce_src="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/trans.gif" class="mceNextPage mceItemNoResize" title="Next Page ..."&gt;</p>
<p>Other information came from other places like conventional formations in Afghanistan and Iraq, where I had people I knew in the military who were reporting back to me, usually by email, and also from the other side of the house, if you will, from the diplomats and the people in the embassies and the consulates and so forth in some of these countries, some of whom were much dismayed that they had, as one ambassador put it, 6’ 4” white males with 19-inch biceps walking around in their capital cities, and did anybody really think that they were fooling anyone, and when was somebody going to tell him why they were in his capital city? You know, these were forces that Rumsfeld and [Douglas] Feith [the undersecretary of defense for policy] spread across the world to go after everything from Abu Sayyaf to Jemaah Islamiyah to al-Qaeda, and our ambassadors knew nothing about it initially, but these people were very visible, and they were discovered, and calls began to come back from cities around the world to the Secretary of State and to others about who were these people and what were they doing.</p>
<p>And they were also detaining people, because I believe that Rumsfeld’s first goal there was — he didn’t trust the CIA, he didn’t trust their interrogation, he didn’t trust what they were doing — so he wanted his own activity, he wanted his own action. That’s one of the reasons that the procedures that the President, for example, had confined to a very select group of “high-value detainees” and to just the CIA as the instrument of interrogation — that’s how that migrated over to the Defense Department, essentially through Rumsfeld’s distrust of the CIA, and, frankly, bureaucratic jealousy, and a grab for power. And so Rumsfeld wanted his people doing the same thing, and Jim Haynes, his lawyer in the Defense Department, was perfectly willing to go over to David Addington, and [John] Yoo and [Jay] Bybee and the rest, and craft his own legal views for justifying what the Defense Department then struck out to do.</p>
<p>But much of the reporting that was coming back to me was coming back not just from this massive chaos in the battlefield areas, which Abu Ghraib, of course, with regard to Iraq, came to characterize most vividly, but also from these other detentions that were going on around the world, because, as I said, Rumsfeld’s first priority was to capture, not to kill. If they got in extremis, they were authorized to kill, as Seymour Hersh has stumbled onto, but their real goal was to capture them and to provide more intelligence for this “mosaic” that Rumsfeld and crew were building up, so that they could understand more about al-Qaeda, and more about terrorism in general, and go after these people.</p>
<p>So that was another source. Still another source was people who were involved in detainee management. These were contractors — CIA and military — who were a little bit uneasy about what they were being asked to do, and by whom they were being asked to do it, and without, in some cases, any paperwork to cover their butts, so to speak, and they were sending cables back, and they were talking to people, and people were talking to me, about the disquiet that was going on amongst people who were either seeing some of these things happen, or in some cases were actually involved in it, in some way, and weren’t happy about what they were doing.</p>
<p>I’ve said before that one of the things that, with regard to the armed forces, has made me proud of a lot of those young guys out there — and young gals out there — was that a lot of these people apparently refused to do this stuff, and their leaders, whether they were captains or lieutenants, or whether they were majors, lieutenant colonels, colonels, brigadier generals or whatever, were not eager to order them to, because they knew, from past experience, that when that happens, then you get whistleblowers, you get people who write their Congressmen, and call their Congressmen, and take pictures and so forth, so I was elated to hear that a lot of these young officers — in particular, young NCOs — were refusing to do this stuff, but nonetheless they were talking about what others were doing.</p>
<p>Andy Worthington: And, just to confirm, you’re talking about detention and interrogations in Afghanistan, Iraq and many other places, I mean, was this kind of across the board?</p>
<p>Lawrence Wilkerson: Yes, and it wasn’t just interrogation, as you indicated, it was some of the things that happened when they were detaining prisoners for the initial time on the battlefield, it was some of the other things that happened other than just officially sitting down in a room and being interrogated, the whole detention system and the management thereof.</p>
<p>Andy Worthington: Well, I’m very glad to hear you talk about that, and about the numbers of people refusing to take part in abusive behavior, because I realize that it was such a shock to so many serving military personnel that they were expecting the Geneva Conventions, and that was all stripped away, and suddenly they’re in a chaotic place, where, it seems, anything goes, and presumably, for so many of these people, the only rule seemed to be some kind of sadism, so I’m really pleased that you mentioned how much feedback was coming from people who were appalled by it and who refused to take part in it.</p>
<p>Lawrence Wilkerson: There was one young lieutenant, who happened to be a Pakistani American, who was fluent in Urdu and one of the Afghan languages, and who also spoke enough Arabic to get by in Iraq. He gave me some really electrifying vignettes, about leading his platoon the first year that he was over there, and some of the things that he had to do that made him feel like he was risking his life in order to, as he put it, obey the law.</p>
<p>Andy Worthington: You’ve made it very clear how much professional jealousy encouraged Donald Rumsfeld to drive the “CIA-ization” of the military’s way of treating prisoners, which is horrific really …</p>
<p>Lawrence Wilkerson: It wasn’t a surprise to me, because I spent 31 years in the DoD, and I have to say that the entity we probably disliked the most during the majority of my years was the Central Intelligence Agency. I mean, we would sit out in the Pacific, when I was working out there, and our station chiefs then, we would mock them, you know: big fat dudes, making 120, 130 thousand a year, and all they did was sit there and read the newspapers in their capital cities and report it back to Langley as finished intelligence. I mean, we didn’t have much use for the CIA and that’s generally the way the rank and file in the Pentagon feels — and in the military in general. I remember in the first Gulf War, when Norman Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell were on the phone at Colin Powell’s house — a secure phone; late in the evening for Powell, and early in the morning for Schwarzkopf — and Norm was threatening to come to Washington and shoot the DCI.</p>
<p>So I mean, there’s always been that institutional jealousy, hatred even between the Pentagon and the CIA, so I didn’t have much difficulty understanding that that was a part of what had happened, and you add Rumsfeld’s arrogance and his power play to it, and you’ve got a real, powerfully dysfunctional system there, in terms of — as Powell put it in his debrief to President Bush, January 13, 2005, if I recall, “Mr. President, you have no idea.” Bush had just said, “Well, you’ve lived through Weinberger and Shultz, you know that there’s always infighting,” and Powell’s response was, “Mr. President, you have no idea. This is an order of magnitude worse.” Frankly, I think that was the first time anybody had ever alerted the President to the fact that his wasn’t a normal administration.</p>
<p>Andy Worthington: And that’s important to raise, because so much of what went on focused on Cheney, obviously, and I was going to ask you a little bit about Cheney — and Addington, because I was particularly struck by a passage in Jane Mayer’s book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Side-Inside-Terror-American/dp/0385526393" type="external">The Dark Side</a>. Mayer was writing about when John Bellinger, legal counsel to National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, had discovered, from intelligence reports, that a significant number of innocent men were being held at Guantánamo, but when he tried to approach the President about it (via Alberto Gonzales, who was then White House Counsel), they were met by Addington instead, who dismissed Bellinger’s concerns by declaring, “No, there will be no review. The President has determined that they are ALL enemy combatants. We are not going to revisit it!” After Bellinger fired back, pointing out that this was “a violation of basic notions of American fairness,” Addington replied, “We are not second-guessing the President’s decision. These are ‘enemy combatants.’ Please use that phrase. They’ve all been through a screening process. There’s nothing to talk about.”</p>
<p>Lawrence Wilkerson: I received one particular assessment from a person for whom I had no reason whatsoever to believe that he would give me an inaccurate portrayal — and one reason was, that was his character, but another reason was that he had no dog in the fight — and his estimate of the number of people — I think it was 741 or 742 that we suddenly had on a piece of paper somewhere — of any significance was as follows. He said, “I’ll tell you right now that 700 of them haven’t done a damn thing except get in the way of somebody capturing them.”</p>
<p>Andy Worthington: Right, and those are the kinds of figures that we’re down to. I mean, back in March, you stated that no more than a couple of dozen had any serious intelligence value …</p>
<p>Lawrence Wilkerson: The other thing — I laughed at this when I first heard it, but now I realize it was probably closer to the truth than anything the administration said — when Bush announced in September 2006, with some degree of trepidation, that he’d <a href="http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/09/07/torture/" type="external">transferred these 14 to Guantánamo</a> out of the secret prisons. Now I realize that they made that transfer principally so they could get some hardcore terrorists to Guantánamo.</p>
<p>In the second part of this interview, Col. Wilkerson discusses, amongst other things, Barack Obama’s response to the legacy of the Bush administration, and the madness of Dick Cheney.</p> | false | 1 | interview first published future freedom foundation col lawrence wilkerson served us military 31 years chief staff secretary state colin powell august 2002 january 2005 two months powells resignation left state department chairman new america foundations uscuba 21st century policy initiative march guest column washington note wrote article criticizing crucial aspects bush administrations detention policies war terror noted time widely known echo important issues ive tried raise book guantánamo files subsequent writing ltimg classsizemedium wpimage1936 alignleft stylemargin 5px mce_stylemargin 5px titlewilkerson srchttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads200908wilkerson300x168jpg mce_srchttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads200908wilkerson300x168jpg altwilkerson height151 width270gt specifically col wilkerson wrote utter incompetence battlefield vetting afghanistan early stages us operations several us leadership became aware lack proper vetting early thus reality many detainees innocent substantial wrongdoing little intelligence value immediately released also poured scorn ad hoc intelligence philosophy developed justify keeping many people called mosaic philosophy whose shortcomings recognized may district court judge gladys kessler granted habeas corpus petition yemeni prisoner alla ali bin ali ahmed recently approached col wilkerson ask would discuss issues greater detail delighted agreed interviewed provided startling new insights conduct war terror specifically first part explained state department wondered whether littlereported dashtileili container massacre involved war crimes bush administration considered using indian ocean territory diego garcia leased uk instead guantánamo col wilkerson believed prisoners held diego garcia also spoke administrations obsession building mosaic intelligence prisoners understand workings alqaeda increasingly obsession shifted search connections alqaeda saddam hussein justify planned invasion iraq found particularly interesting point interview col wilkersons insistence administrations fear another terrorist attack subsided rapidly previously acknowledged drive war iraq took col wilkerson also spoke longstanding rivalry pentagon cia defense secretary donald rumsfeld albeit backing dick cheney infected military kind techniques authorized use cia highvalue detainees also mentioned receiving reports military personnel refused disobey geneva conventions came humane treatment prisoners others revealed disturbing scale global detention policies implemented pentagon cia towards end first half interview also explained believed president bush idea dysfunctional administration reinforced earlier claim dozen two prisoners held guantánamo intelligence significance pointed anecdotes administrations overall failure seize handful worthwhile prisoners andy worthington wanted talk article wrote guantánamo washington note march fascinating pointed many aspects prison come reported well know received certain amount attention time im interested putting comments made people may missed first time around also hoping maybe could expand themes wrote first major point raised article talked incompetence battlefield vetting know interrogators book former interrogator afghanistan wrote pseudonym chris mackey orders came camp doha kuwait prisoner lists looked every single arab came us custody sent guantánamo effectively screening process whatsoever course article 5 competent tribunals didnt take place either held close time place capture designed separate combatants caught fog war tribunals established geneva conventions used us military every war vietnam onwards usled invasion afghanistan wondering youd heard incompetence youd heard military people field whod complained competent tribunals didnt take place whether youd getting feedback kandahar bagram screening wonder could explain little bit lawrence wilkerson initial source immediate conversations took place every morning without fail sometimes weekend always monday friday 830 deputys conference room state department secretary colin powell deputy richard armitage assembled 50odd undersecretaries assistant secretaries office directors etc went around table everyone dog fight undersecretaries assistants getting three four minutes secretary would get five minutes 30 minutes depending issues day course deputy would get time immediately upon commencing operations afghanistan say commencing operations mean moment first special operating force team northern alliance getting actual reporting back us well cia northern alliance forces us military sources cia sources initially others incountry lets put way access got immediately regard northern alliance taking prisoners absolute chaos got signs werent taking prisoners say shooting got signs take prisoners would negotiate get reconcile speak let go mean chaos everything possibly imagine could happening battlefield afghanistan happening andy worthington presumably fall kunduz fall north terrible container massacre lawrence wilkerson grew particularly shall say volume information increased remarkably right fall mazaresharif ltimg srchttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads200908transgif mce_srchttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads200908transgif classmcenextpage mceitemnoresize titlenext page gt andy worthington ok people didnt end american hands knowledge dozens thousands prisoners made alive general dostums prison sheberghan near mazaresharif taken guantánamo lawrence wilkerson right course subject intense period discussion memory serves several mornings different questions secretary deputy secretary war crimes envoy pierre prosper ambassadoratlarge pierre prosper people like beth jones assistant secretary eurasia appropriate functional andor regional assistant secretaries would join discussion morning secretary would ask questions remember several discussions prisoners grew fairly visible moment seemed fade scene dostum apparently people put containers one story people ventilated containers ak47s attempt give prisoners air want put positive spin want put negative spin attempt kill mean kinds stories associated sort minor considering chaos seemed existed battlefield afghanistan regard detainee management faded bit didnt get lot began hear going detainees going siphoned going brought back either diego garcia guantánamo bay place would essentially us jurisdiction guantánamo quickly took emphasis dealings guantánamo 93 94 exodus haitians problems immigration across florida strait needed place keep people instance could determine careful methodical basis whether economic asylum seekers whether political asylum seekers whether people trying get away wherever vetting process forth confines precisely delineated american judicial procedures guantánamo place knew past would call altruistic uses allow process work keep people place werent harassed fed looked medical attention forth became place trying detain people socalled war terror reason picking place ultimately still believe diego garcia perhaps places guantánamo principal place motivation picking familiarity fact wed sort extraterritoriality outside us court system forth met test time episodes quickly became area choice think knew state department getting cables saying people coming back detainees coming back afghanistan coming back guantánamo knew people probably included people captured pakistan people captured bounty system essentially people captured perhaps areas knew central flow point going afghanistan also knew already getting signals foreign minister straw foreign minster spain different countries alerting us fact knew citizens contingents making early pleas get citizens repatriated get back guise course could well determining guilt innocence putting judicial systems incarcerating necessary remember jack straw particularly adamant one first know might expect british citizens involved went almost daily basis point became exasperating powell certain extent armitage would sometimes powell traveling wed ask questions specific detainees mind specific countries mind indeed often specific foreign ministers mind called secretary morning secretary deputy would ask pierre whats update pierre would happened almost every time roll eyes report essentially thing secretary defense would let go made every plea banged doors sent cables secretary called national security advisor dr rice secretary brought president united states one occasion secretary defense would relent people going released went course uighurs got started program sort shop uighurs around world went far remember never resolved way secretary pierre happy fact wound placing uighurs albania country would take andy worthington took place may 2006 lawrence wilkerson yes much later return afghanistan regular meetings one sources knowing chaotic vetting chaotic imprisonment adamant rumsfeld ive come find donald would adamant without vice presidents cover letting guys go reason whatsoever also know one motivations obstreperousness arrogance manifested time fact wanted people questioned vigorously wanted put together pattern map body evidence people thought going tell alqaeda increasingly connection alqaeda baghdad even think probably summer 2002 well powell gave presentation un february 2003 priority shifted expectation another attack went happened think rather rapidly ive stumbled thought persisted way 2002 im convinced talking hundreds people literally thats case fear another attack subsided rather rapidly attention turned iraq tommy franks late november recall directed begin planning iraq take focus afghanistan discussions went cables came secretary deputy secretary cognizant people department state pierre discussions every morning sidebar discussions corridors seventh floor indeed discussions office became chief staff august 2002 one source another source military personnel id known past people id known past introduced good sources reported essentially world afghanistan iraq places like indonesia places like djibouti forth going regard defense department calling kinetic activity say delta force like spread world looking alqaeda happening various countries cities ltimg srchttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads200908transgif mce_srchttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads200908transgif classmcenextpage mceitemnoresize titlenext page gt information came places like conventional formations afghanistan iraq people knew military reporting back usually email also side house diplomats people embassies consulates forth countries much dismayed one ambassador put 6 4 white males 19inch biceps walking around capital cities anybody really think fooling anyone somebody going tell capital city know forces rumsfeld douglas feith undersecretary defense policy spread across world go everything abu sayyaf jemaah islamiyah alqaeda ambassadors knew nothing initially people visible discovered calls began come back cities around world secretary state others people also detaining people believe rumsfelds first goal didnt trust cia didnt trust interrogation didnt trust wanted activity wanted action thats one reasons procedures president example confined select group highvalue detainees cia instrument interrogation thats migrated defense department essentially rumsfelds distrust cia frankly bureaucratic jealousy grab power rumsfeld wanted people thing jim haynes lawyer defense department perfectly willing go david addington john yoo jay bybee rest craft legal views justifying defense department struck much reporting coming back coming back massive chaos battlefield areas abu ghraib course regard iraq came characterize vividly also detentions going around world said rumsfelds first priority capture kill got extremis authorized kill seymour hersh stumbled onto real goal capture provide intelligence mosaic rumsfeld crew building could understand alqaeda terrorism general go people another source still another source people involved detainee management contractors cia military little bit uneasy asked asked without cases paperwork cover butts speak sending cables back talking people people talking disquiet going amongst people either seeing things happen cases actually involved way werent happy ive said one things regard armed forces made proud lot young guys young gals lot people apparently refused stuff leaders whether captains lieutenants whether majors lieutenant colonels colonels brigadier generals whatever eager order knew past experience happens get whistleblowers get people write congressmen call congressmen take pictures forth elated hear lot young officers particular young ncos refusing stuff nonetheless talking others andy worthington confirm youre talking detention interrogations afghanistan iraq many places mean kind across board lawrence wilkerson yes wasnt interrogation indicated things happened detaining prisoners initial time battlefield things happened officially sitting room interrogated whole detention system management thereof andy worthington well im glad hear talk numbers people refusing take part abusive behavior realize shock many serving military personnel expecting geneva conventions stripped away suddenly theyre chaotic place seems anything goes presumably many people rule seemed kind sadism im really pleased mentioned much feedback coming people appalled refused take part lawrence wilkerson one young lieutenant happened pakistani american fluent urdu one afghan languages also spoke enough arabic get iraq gave really electrifying vignettes leading platoon first year things made feel like risking life order put obey law andy worthington youve made clear much professional jealousy encouraged donald rumsfeld drive ciaization militarys way treating prisoners horrific really lawrence wilkerson wasnt surprise spent 31 years dod say entity probably disliked majority years central intelligence agency mean would sit pacific working station chiefs would mock know big fat dudes making 120 130 thousand year sit read newspapers capital cities report back langley finished intelligence mean didnt much use cia thats generally way rank file pentagon feels military general remember first gulf war norman schwarzkopf colin powell phone colin powells house secure phone late evening powell early morning schwarzkopf norm threatening come washington shoot dci mean theres always institutional jealousy hatred even pentagon cia didnt much difficulty understanding part happened add rumsfelds arrogance power play youve got real powerfully dysfunctional system terms powell put debrief president bush january 13 2005 recall mr president idea bush said well youve lived weinberger shultz know theres always infighting powells response mr president idea order magnitude worse frankly think first time anybody ever alerted president fact wasnt normal administration andy worthington thats important raise much went focused cheney obviously going ask little bit cheney addington particularly struck passage jane mayers book dark side mayer writing john bellinger legal counsel national security advisor condoleezza rice discovered intelligence reports significant number innocent men held guantánamo tried approach president via alberto gonzales white house counsel met addington instead dismissed bellingers concerns declaring review president determined enemy combatants going revisit bellinger fired back pointing violation basic notions american fairness addington replied secondguessing presidents decision enemy combatants please use phrase theyve screening process theres nothing talk lawrence wilkerson received one particular assessment person reason whatsoever believe would give inaccurate portrayal one reason character another reason dog fight estimate number people think 741 742 suddenly piece paper somewhere significance follows said ill tell right 700 havent done damn thing except get way somebody capturing andy worthington right kinds figures mean back march stated couple dozen serious intelligence value lawrence wilkerson thing laughed first heard realize probably closer truth anything administration said bush announced september 2006 degree trepidation hed transferred 14 guantánamo secret prisons realize made transfer principally could get hardcore terrorists guantánamo second part interview col wilkerson discusses amongst things barack obamas response legacy bush administration madness dick cheney | 2,132 |
<p>By Randy Boyagoda Image, 459 pages, $30</p>
<p>Richard John Neuhaus, a Lutheran pastor turned Catholic priest who died six years ago at the age of 72, was one of the most important American religious figures of the postwar era. Possessed of intellectual range, boundless energy, a graceful pen and the resonant baritone of a first-rate preacher, he was both an active clergyman and a man of ideas operating in the public realm. In “Richard John Neuhaus: A Life in the Public Square,” Randy Boyagoda captures his subject’s deep sense of vocation and the complexity of his personality, offering a comprehensive biography and, along the way, a thoughtful introduction to some of the “culture wars” of the past several decades.</p>
<p>As Mr. Boyagoda notes, Neuhaus (1936-2009) wanted to be “a bold Christian and a bold intellectual and a bold cosmopolitan and a bold operator, all at once, all as one.” His political involvements began in the 1960s, with his support of civil rights and opposition to the Vietnam War, and culminated in a passionate commitment to the defense of human life and the moral renewal of American society, a goal he pursued by forging an alliance of evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics and by fostering a deepened level of “Jewish-Christian collaboration.” This “ecumenical orthodoxy” of different religious traditions joined in a common purpose could be found in First Things, the monthly magazine Neuhaus edited for many years.</p>
<p>Neuhaus’s journalism combined rigor with an ingratiating stylishness. Far from going easy on his prey out of Christian piety, he took obvious pleasure in taking down poseurs and other public nuisances. He did the job so engagingly that he developed a following among secular readers who admired his writing for its rapier precision.</p>
<p>But his most enduring legacy will inevitably be a longer work, “The Naked Public Square” (1984), in which he argued for the indispensable role of religion in sustaining America’s moral and civic health. Neuhaus intended the book as a reformulation of one of the Founders’ convictions: that America should have not a naked public square in which religion is proscribed; nor a sacred public square in which religion is imposed; but a civilpublic square in which the culture-forming energies of our religious traditions are given full expression—“free exercise,” in the language of the First Amendment—in ways that would nurture the humane pluralism of our diverse culture.</p>
<p>Mr. Boyagoda, a novelist and a professor of American studies at Ryerson University in Toronto, finds an overarching unity and nobility in Neuhaus’s varied career—in his effort to “bring Judeo-Christian concepts of human dignity, worth and purpose to bear on every dimension of American life.” His chronicle is winsomely written, sympathetic to its subject but responsible and fair-minded. Mr. Boyagoda does not flinch from calling his subject out on his errors of judgment.</p>
<p>Neuhaus’s father was a Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor, originally from Illinois, whose ministry had taken his family to tiny Pembroke, Ontario, 90 miles west of Ottawa. It was perhaps inevitable that Neuhaus would become impatient with the insularity and political quietism of the Missouri Synod Lutherans, a sect whose opposition to ecumenism had caused it to break away from the larger Lutheran community in the mid-19th century.</p>
<p>Beginning in his seminary days, in the late 1950s, Neuhaus was drawn to a more “catholic” view of Lutheranism, one that would seek a more active role for the church in the world. He found in the political left a vehicle for his social-reform passions and in time began to espouse radical positions, although always with a religious inflection. The Vietnamese people, he declared in one 1969 speech, were “God’s instrument for bringing the American empire to its knees.”</p>
<p>But Neuhaus did not stay on the left for very long, because his own activism was always grounded in his Christian beliefs, and liberal Christianity, he came to feel, was betraying itself by uncoupling the Gospel’s call to fashion a more just world from the Gospel’s revelation of God in Christ. In addition, this new liberalism was hardening into a tool of the elite classes, mirroring their obsessions with personal autonomy while showing a strange indifference to the moral sensibilities of poor and common people—and proving shockingly indifferent to the dignity of the very weakest group of all: the unborn. The causes that had drawn Neuhaus to the left—antidiscrimination, antipoverty, antiwar—were being overwhelmed by an agenda of cultural revolution, epitomized by an increasing commitment to unrestricted abortion rights. The religious left, he concluded, had lost sight of first things, of the foundational premises to which a just and humane society must be committed.</p>
<p>Such insights led Neuhaus to gravitate to the political right, though not always smoothly. He founded First Things magazine in 1990 after breaking with the Rockford Institute, a Midwest-based foundation that had funded Neuhaus’s Center on Religion and Society. The break was acrimonious and ended up being reported on the front page of the New York Times. Neuhaus had detected in Rockford’s own magazine, Chronicles of Culture, a set of views that—as he put it in a letter—“intelligent persons might reasonably understand to be xenophobic, racist, and nativist.” The charge was emblematic of a general shift within the intellectual culture of the right—a rebellion against what is now called paleo-conservatism. By this time, Neuhaus had also grown disillusioned with mainline Protestantism and had gravitated toward Roman Catholicism, which he embraced as both a convert and a priest.</p>
<p>On these events, and on Neuhaus’s ever-widening influence, Mr. Boyagoda’s account is detailed and informative. We see Neuhaus influencing the economic thinking of John Paul II (to the irritation of the church’s American bishops) and serving as an adviser to&#160; <a href="http://topics.wsj.com/person/B/George-W.%20Bush/5369" type="external">George W. Bush</a>. Mr. Boyagoda’s portrait of Neuhaus’s last days, as cancer advanced, is stabbingly poignant. But Neuhaus, who had described an earlier brush with death in his beautiful 2002 book “As I Lay Dying,” was unsentimental about his earthly end. He wrote that he was reading a “collection of stories about people preparing for good deaths, in the tradition of the ars moriendi manuals of the Middle Ages.” Far from fearing his demise, he found that its approach stimulated his intellectual curiosity.</p>
<p>Mr. Boyagoda does not refrain from faulting some of Neuhaus’s more questionable judgments, such as his playing down of the clergy sex-abuse scandal, which led him to undertake a fierce and misguided defense of Father Marcial Maciel, the founder of the Legion of Christ, who would eventually be exposed as a prodigious sexual abuser and disciplined by <a href="http://topics.wsj.com/person/B/Pope-Benedict%20XVI/6472" type="external">Pope Benedict XVI</a>.</p>
<p>Mr. Boyagoda also gives a detailed account of the controversy over Neuhaus’s incautious words accompanying a First Things symposium called “The End of Democracy?,” in which he indirectly compared America to Nazi Germany, words that led to an angry exodus from his editorial board and ruptured lifelong friendships. His ardent public support of the Iraq War was another source of division. Critics of Neuhaus cannot complain that anything has been glossed over by Mr. Boyagoda. But in the end, the book is more admiring than not, its criticisms tempered by an awareness of the burdens of being, in Theodore Roosevelt’s words, “the man who is actually in the arena.”</p>
<p>My only complaint about Mr. Boyagoda’s chronicle is that it stops abruptly with Neuhaus’s death and thereby fails to sum up the meaning of such a consequential life. Perhaps such reticence reflects the author’s instincts as a novelist who wishes to show rather than tell. In any event, it is not hard to see that, even in the churning whirlwind of Neuhaus’s career, there was a still point—a first thing that neither left nor right can claim exclusively as its own: the inalienable dignity of the individual person, grounded in the image of God.</p>
<p>—Mr. McClay teaches history at the University of Oklahoma.</p> | false | 1 | randy boyagoda image 459 pages 30 richard john neuhaus lutheran pastor turned catholic priest died six years ago age 72 one important american religious figures postwar era possessed intellectual range boundless energy graceful pen resonant baritone firstrate preacher active clergyman man ideas operating public realm richard john neuhaus life public square randy boyagoda captures subjects deep sense vocation complexity personality offering comprehensive biography along way thoughtful introduction culture wars past several decades mr boyagoda notes neuhaus 19362009 wanted bold christian bold intellectual bold cosmopolitan bold operator one political involvements began 1960s support civil rights opposition vietnam war culminated passionate commitment defense human life moral renewal american society goal pursued forging alliance evangelical protestants roman catholics fostering deepened level jewishchristian collaboration ecumenical orthodoxy different religious traditions joined common purpose could found first things monthly magazine neuhaus edited many years neuhauss journalism combined rigor ingratiating stylishness far going easy prey christian piety took obvious pleasure taking poseurs public nuisances job engagingly developed following among secular readers admired writing rapier precision enduring legacy inevitably longer work naked public square 1984 argued indispensable role religion sustaining americas moral civic health neuhaus intended book reformulation one founders convictions america naked public square religion proscribed sacred public square religion imposed civilpublic square cultureforming energies religious traditions given full expressionfree exercise language first amendmentin ways would nurture humane pluralism diverse culture mr boyagoda novelist professor american studies ryerson university toronto finds overarching unity nobility neuhauss varied careerin effort bring judeochristian concepts human dignity worth purpose bear every dimension american life chronicle winsomely written sympathetic subject responsible fairminded mr boyagoda flinch calling subject errors judgment neuhauss father missouri synod lutheran pastor originally illinois whose ministry taken family tiny pembroke ontario 90 miles west ottawa perhaps inevitable neuhaus would become impatient insularity political quietism missouri synod lutherans sect whose opposition ecumenism caused break away larger lutheran community mid19th century beginning seminary days late 1950s neuhaus drawn catholic view lutheranism one would seek active role church world found political left vehicle socialreform passions time began espouse radical positions although always religious inflection vietnamese people declared one 1969 speech gods instrument bringing american empire knees neuhaus stay left long activism always grounded christian beliefs liberal christianity came feel betraying uncoupling gospels call fashion world gospels revelation god christ addition new liberalism hardening tool elite classes mirroring obsessions personal autonomy showing strange indifference moral sensibilities poor common peopleand proving shockingly indifferent dignity weakest group unborn causes drawn neuhaus leftantidiscrimination antipoverty antiwarwere overwhelmed agenda cultural revolution epitomized increasing commitment unrestricted abortion rights religious left concluded lost sight first things foundational premises humane society must committed insights led neuhaus gravitate political right though always smoothly founded first things magazine 1990 breaking rockford institute midwestbased foundation funded neuhauss center religion society break acrimonious ended reported front page new york times neuhaus detected rockfords magazine chronicles culture set views thatas put letterintelligent persons might reasonably understand xenophobic racist nativist charge emblematic general shift within intellectual culture righta rebellion called paleoconservatism time neuhaus also grown disillusioned mainline protestantism gravitated toward roman catholicism embraced convert priest events neuhauss everwidening influence mr boyagodas account detailed informative see neuhaus influencing economic thinking john paul ii irritation churchs american bishops serving adviser to160 george w bush mr boyagodas portrait neuhauss last days cancer advanced stabbingly poignant neuhaus described earlier brush death beautiful 2002 book lay dying unsentimental earthly end wrote reading collection stories people preparing good deaths tradition ars moriendi manuals middle ages far fearing demise found approach stimulated intellectual curiosity mr boyagoda refrain faulting neuhauss questionable judgments playing clergy sexabuse scandal led undertake fierce misguided defense father marcial maciel founder legion christ would eventually exposed prodigious sexual abuser disciplined pope benedict xvi mr boyagoda also gives detailed account controversy neuhauss incautious words accompanying first things symposium called end democracy indirectly compared america nazi germany words led angry exodus editorial board ruptured lifelong friendships ardent public support iraq war another source division critics neuhaus complain anything glossed mr boyagoda end book admiring criticisms tempered awareness burdens theodore roosevelts words man actually arena complaint mr boyagodas chronicle stops abruptly neuhauss death thereby fails sum meaning consequential life perhaps reticence reflects authors instincts novelist wishes show rather tell event hard see even churning whirlwind neuhauss career still pointa first thing neither left right claim exclusively inalienable dignity individual person grounded image god mr mcclay teaches history university oklahoma | 725 |
<p>The BDS movement has apologists for Israel's crimes against the Palestinians very worried.</p>
<p>A thousand Israelis and their supporters gathered in Jerusalem’s International Convention Center on March 28 at a conference aimed at combating the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS).</p>
<p>The conference was a display of “fear, paranoia, anger and determination,” <a href="http://mondoweiss.net/2016/03/we-dont-want-to-find-ourselves-in-a-position-like-apartheid-south-africa-a-report-from-israels-first-national-conference-against-bds/" type="external">as described by Antony Loewenstein</a>, and featured top government officials, members of the oppositions and a strange conglomerate of guests, including celebrity has-beens like Roseanne Barr.</p>
<p>Statements made at the conference were predictably frightening and antagonistic—they amounted to nothing more than a display of the language of blood and vengeance that people have grown accustomed to within the Israeli political discourse.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.alternet.org/grayzone-project/watch-israel-govt-calls-civil-elimination-left-wing-activists-and-roseanne-barr" type="external">One of the most alarming of the statements</a> was made by Israeli Minister of Transportation, Israel Katz, who called for the “ <a href="https://www.alternet.org/grayzone-project/watch-israel-govt-calls-civil-elimination-left-wing-activists-and-roseanne-barr" type="external">focused civilian elimination</a> of the leadership of BDS.”</p>
<p>We need to know how “to act against them, how to isolate them, also to transfer information to intelligence agents around the world, and other agents. We have to understand that there is a battle here. It is wrapped in many covers,” Katz said.</p>
<p>Barr on the other hand, <a href="https://www.alternet.org/grayzone-project/watch-israel-govt-calls-civil-elimination-left-wing-activists-and-roseanne-barr" type="external">called for nuclear bombing the University of California-Davis</a> following its students’ support of BDS.</p>
<p>One must certainly have no illusions regarding the ferocity of the fight ahead—this is the nature of conflict between any popular movement, the objective of which is to put pressure on a state that violates international law with impunity, and a government that sees itself above and in no way bound by the law.</p>
<p>The impetus behind the antagonism faced by the BDS movement is that it has in fact matured in its message and grown in size with its primary objective clear-cut—Israel, sooner or later would see BDS as a threat, and would move decisively to combat it.</p>
<p>However, one can certainly not be oblivious to the internal challenges faced by BDS itself. While the movement is largely de-centralized, and local decisions are left to the numerous branches located throughout the world, speaking in one voice is a certain challenge. Of course, there are the guiding principles, but it remains essential to overcome the practical hindrances to an honest and transparent democratic dialogue in order to keep the movement strong and forward thinking.</p>
<p>BDS was initiated after repeated calls from Palestinian civil society, especially in <a href="http://www.pacbi.org/etemplate.php?id=1108" type="external">2004</a> and <a href="http://www.pacbi.org/etemplate.php?id=66" type="external">2005</a> to boycott Israel for its crimes against Palestinians, its violations of international law, its illegal occupation and its discriminatory, racially-motivated policies. The call found receptive audiences across the world, and over the last decade it became the primary platform, if not rally-cry for pro-Palestine activists confronting Israel.</p>
<p>BDS did not expand so significantly in recent years only because of its own organization and successful branding. One cannot ignore the multiple crimes carried out by the Israeli army and armed Jewish settlers since then. One cannot overlook the many racist laws passed by the Israeli Knesset, targeting the country’s minorities. With every killing, every additional day of siege on Gaza, every war, and every abhorrent statement made by an Israeli official, BDS grew—significantly.</p>
<p>BDS owes much of its success to an effective strategy that is predicated on harnessing the energy of civil society, but also to the fact that Israel is relentless in demonstrating the need for global action, to end the occupation, the discrimination and the impunity of an army that killed much too many Palestinians.</p>
<p>Yet, not until recently did Israelis and their supporters begin viewing BDS with alarm, if not real concern. In the past, that job was left to Zionist student groupings in Western campuses. But they failed, and terribly so, to stem the flow of the pro-Palestine sentiments in US-Western campuses. As of last year, a large anti-BDS movement began forming with the sole purpose of crushing the budding BDS movement, but to no avail.</p>
<p>The ‘big guns’ were summoned by two massively rich Zionists, casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and Haim Saban. They invited fellow millionaires to a June 2015 conference in Las Vegas in order to raise funds for an anti-BDS movement. Those invited, mostly rightwing zealots, went to the Venetian hotel (also owned by Adelson) with the understanding that a minimal acceptable donation is one million dollars.</p>
<p>Anti-BDS activists and government officials who travelled to Las Vegas for the event were <a href="http://forward.com/news/israel/309676/secret-sheldon-adelson-summit-raises-up-to-50m-for-strident-anti-bds-push/" type="external">promised by an Israeli-American businessmen, Adam Milstein</a>, that they “no longer have to worry about financing and fundraising. You just need to be united.”</p>
<p>Galvanizing on the momentum, Hillary Clinton, who is now leading in her party’s primaries as a precursor for presidential elections in November, sent Saban a letter that could serve as a glaring <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2158218-hillary-clintons-letter-to-haim-saban-against-bds.html" type="external">example of a politician groveling</a> to a rich funder with no regard for morality or self-respect:</p>
<p>Under the letter heading, ‘ <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2158218-hillary-clintons-letter-to-haim-saban-against-bds.html" type="external">Hillary for America</a>,’ she wrote to “express her alarm” over BDS, insisting that countering the movement must become a ‘priority’. “I am seeking your advice on how we can work together to reverse this trend,” she wrote.</p>
<p>“As a Senator and a Secretary of State, I saw how crucial it is for America to defend Israel at every turn. I have opposed dozens of anti-Israel resolutions at the UN, the Human Rights Council and other international organizations,” she boasted, going as far as condemning the Goldstone Report, which accused Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza.</p>
<p>Clinton is not alone. In June 2015, soon after the anti-BDS millionaires’ club concluded its gathering in Las Vegas, President Barack Obama signed into law a measure <a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/obama-signs-anti-bds-bill-into-law/" type="external">specifically designed to combat BDS</a>.</p>
<p>“The Trade Promotion Authority legislation … contained the anti-BDS provisions, which make rejection of the phenomenon a top priority for US negotiators as they work on a more distant free trade agreement with the European Union,” the Times of Israel <a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/obama-signs-anti-bds-bill-into-law/" type="external">reported</a>.</p>
<p>Within months, the flood-gates had opened, and a foray of BDS condemnations followed. Yet, this was largely a farce. The calls from Western governments, originating from the UK, the US, Canada and others to criminalize the boycott of Israel have hardly slowed down the momentum of the movement. On the contrary, it has accelerated it.</p>
<p>History has taught us that criminalizing civil society and outlawing ideas, especially those that are guided by moral principles, is never a good idea. Nor is calling for ‘ <a href="https://www.alternet.org/grayzone-project/watch-israel-govt-calls-civil-elimination-left-wing-activists-and-roseanne-barr" type="external">eliminating</a>’ civilian society activists and bombing their universities.</p>
<p>The only sensible strategy to combat BDS is one that not a single speaker in the anti-BDS gatherings had raised: ending the very criminal and racist policies that inspired BDS in the first place.</p>
<p><a href="http://bdsmovement.net/" type="external">BDS has, thus far, been the most successful strategy</a> and tactic to support Palestinian steadfastness while, at the same time, holding Israel accountable for its progressively worsening policies of apartheid.</p>
<p>International pressure is building up, placing the <a href="http://972mag.com/in-israel-bds-is-winning/118198/" type="external">ball firmly in the Israeli court</a>, and no amount of bombs or firepower can ever solve Israel’s quandary this time.</p> | false | 1 | bds movement apologists israels crimes palestinians worried thousand israelis supporters gathered jerusalems international convention center march 28 conference aimed combating boycott divestment sanctions movement bds conference display fear paranoia anger determination described antony loewenstein featured top government officials members oppositions strange conglomerate guests including celebrity hasbeens like roseanne barr statements made conference predictably frightening antagonisticthey amounted nothing display language blood vengeance people grown accustomed within israeli political discourse one alarming statements made israeli minister transportation israel katz called focused civilian elimination leadership bds need know act isolate also transfer information intelligence agents around world agents understand battle wrapped many covers katz said barr hand called nuclear bombing university californiadavis following students support bds one must certainly illusions regarding ferocity fight aheadthis nature conflict popular movement objective put pressure state violates international law impunity government sees way bound law impetus behind antagonism faced bds movement fact matured message grown size primary objective clearcutisrael sooner later would see bds threat would move decisively combat however one certainly oblivious internal challenges faced bds movement largely decentralized local decisions left numerous branches located throughout world speaking one voice certain challenge course guiding principles remains essential overcome practical hindrances honest transparent democratic dialogue order keep movement strong forward thinking bds initiated repeated calls palestinian civil society especially 2004 2005 boycott israel crimes palestinians violations international law illegal occupation discriminatory raciallymotivated policies call found receptive audiences across world last decade became primary platform rallycry propalestine activists confronting israel bds expand significantly recent years organization successful branding one ignore multiple crimes carried israeli army armed jewish settlers since one overlook many racist laws passed israeli knesset targeting countrys minorities every killing every additional day siege gaza every war every abhorrent statement made israeli official bds grewsignificantly bds owes much success effective strategy predicated harnessing energy civil society also fact israel relentless demonstrating need global action end occupation discrimination impunity army killed much many palestinians yet recently israelis supporters begin viewing bds alarm real concern past job left zionist student groupings western campuses failed terribly stem flow propalestine sentiments uswestern campuses last year large antibds movement began forming sole purpose crushing budding bds movement avail big guns summoned two massively rich zionists casino mogul sheldon adelson haim saban invited fellow millionaires june 2015 conference las vegas order raise funds antibds movement invited mostly rightwing zealots went venetian hotel also owned adelson understanding minimal acceptable donation one million dollars antibds activists government officials travelled las vegas event promised israeliamerican businessmen adam milstein longer worry financing fundraising need united galvanizing momentum hillary clinton leading partys primaries precursor presidential elections november sent saban letter could serve glaring example politician groveling rich funder regard morality selfrespect letter heading hillary america wrote express alarm bds insisting countering movement must become priority seeking advice work together reverse trend wrote senator secretary state saw crucial america defend israel every turn opposed dozens antiisrael resolutions un human rights council international organizations boasted going far condemning goldstone report accused israel committing war crimes gaza clinton alone june 2015 soon antibds millionaires club concluded gathering las vegas president barack obama signed law measure specifically designed combat bds trade promotion authority legislation contained antibds provisions make rejection phenomenon top priority us negotiators work distant free trade agreement european union times israel reported within months floodgates opened foray bds condemnations followed yet largely farce calls western governments originating uk us canada others criminalize boycott israel hardly slowed momentum movement contrary accelerated history taught us criminalizing civil society outlawing ideas especially guided moral principles never good idea calling eliminating civilian society activists bombing universities sensible strategy combat bds one single speaker antibds gatherings raised ending criminal racist policies inspired bds first place bds thus far successful strategy tactic support palestinian steadfastness time holding israel accountable progressively worsening policies apartheid international pressure building placing ball firmly israeli court amount bombs firepower ever solve israels quandary time | 644 |
<p>This Town: Two Parties and a Funeral—Plus, Plenty of Valet Parking!—in America’s Gilded Capital By Mark Leibovich Blue Rider Press, 400 pages</p>
<p>Many years ago, shortly after I moved to Washington D.C., I began to notice a pattern: People would talk about the nation’s capital with disgust and barely concealed contempt, as if living and working there were a terrible sacrifice. They spoke of a great gulf between the “real America” and the impure horror that is Washington D.C., as though the capital’s occupants were evil aliens who had invaded human bodies. Then, as I watched and learned, it became clear that many of these very same people would just as soon give up their first child as leave the nation’s capital. The truth is that they loved D.C.—and they hated themselves for loving it.</p>
<p>Which brings me to Mark Leibovich’s&#160;This Town, the withering portrait of Washington that topped the bestseller lists this summer. In the eyes of Leibovich, D.C. is a city of preening egos and fake friendships, of men and women who are superficial, petty, self-celebratory, greedy, insincere, insecure, and lusting for power. It soon becomes apparent that there is no book party Leibovich won’t attend, no palatial home he will not visit, no soiree he won’t appear at in his search to expose the shallowness of&#160;This Town. “The shaming of Washington,” Leibovich has said, “is a noble pursuit.” And in Leibovich we have found our journalistic Sir Galahad.</p>
<p>To be sure, Washington is a target-rich environment for a reporter like Leibovich. He lashes current and former officeholders, congressional and White House aides, lobbyists and journalists, super-agents, and social networkers. He makes clear his disapproval of—among countless other things and people—the online publication Politico (and in particular “Mikey” Allen and his daily Playbook, its online tip sheet delivered via email every morning), the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, and the networking that occurs at big-ticket Washington funerals (including Tim Russert’s and Richard Holbrooke’s).</p>
<p>Leibovich devotes a chapter to Kurt Bardella, a particularly self-promoting and obnoxious, but largely inconsequential, aide to the Republican House member Darrell Issa. And if you’ve ever found yourself longing to enter the world of former television-producer-turned-hostess-to-the-political-stars, Tammy Haddad, and her “Tam Cam” (a video camera she uses to record celebrity interviews and other events), this is the book for you.</p>
<p>Look, I enjoy seeing pretentious figures taken down a notch as much as the next guy. And Leibovich is able to deliver some cutting (and richly deserved) criticisms. “The standard line on [Ken] Duberstein,” Leibovich writes, “is that he spent six and a half months as Reagan’s chief of staff and twenty-fours years (and counting) dining out on it.” Or this one about former DNC chair and Clinton Best Friend Forever Terry McAuliffe: “To deprive McAuliffe of the words ‘Bill Clinton’ would be like depriving a mathematician of numbers.” But that is about as good as it gets. Leibovich’s efforts at humor are often forced. We’re told Harry Reid is “endowed with all the magnetism of a dried snail.” That encountering Bill Clinton these days “is like meeting a skinny older guy wearing an oversize rubber Bill Clinton head.” And that “sucking up is as basic to Washington as humidity.” In other words, the dust jacket’s claim that&#160;This Town&#160;is “hysterically funny” is hysterically exaggerated.</p>
<p>Even so, Leibovich can moralize with the best of them. He’s a Good-Government Liberal who is very upset when lawmakers become lobbyists or go on to work for Goldman Sachs. The “uber-theme” of his book, Leibovich told one interviewer, is that “self-service has replaced public service as the defining ethic of This Town.” He is morally offended at members of The Club who, especially during hard economic times, cash in on their Inside-the-Beltway experience.</p>
<p>But here’s what you need to know: The man who so despises This Town is chief national correspondent for the&#160;New York Times Magazine—based in Washington. Previously he was a political correspondent in the&#160;Times&#160;Washington bureau. And before that he worked for the&#160;Washington Post. All told, he’s lived in D.C. for 16 years. And not just Washington D.C., but&#160;political&#160;Washington. This is the world Leibovich lives in; it’s the air he breathes. And while Leibovich takes great delight in skewering people of both parties and different ideologies, those in office and those who have held office, people on the way up and those who have passed away, somewhere along the way it begins to strike you that maybe, just maybe, Leibovich is perfectly at home in this town.</p>
<p>He is drawn to the stupid gamesmanship and narcissistic personalities and $420 bottles of Louis Roederer champagne like a moth to a flame. He thrives on and eagerly immerses himself in the trivial political culture he laments. And, in the end, D.C.’s sins are really his. Every page is laced with cynicism and jaded negativity. Every person in his book, with very few exceptions, is portrayed as being animated by base motives and morally compromised. No act—no eulogy at a funeral, no note of condolence, no gift to a newborn child, no support for charity, no kind gesture—is taken at face value. Everything is heavily tainted by selfishness. In Leibovich’s view, generosity of spirit is a fiction and a fool’s game.</p>
<p>The real disservice of&#160;This Town, however, is that it is a carnival mirror. The side of Washington that Leibovich writes about exists; his subjects are not mythological. The problem is that his book distorts Washington so grotesquely, with such a massively incomplete picture of the city, that it borders on being a lie.</p>
<p>Nowhere does Leibovich capture, or even make an effort to capture, the other side of Washington—the side that is far more rooted and decent than anything described by Leibovich. The town I have in mind includes men and women who actually do care about justice and wrestle with complicated policy matters. They try to make sense of the world and unfolding events. Those who served in high positions in government even try to understand why things went wrong on their watch.</p>
<p>Over meals they discuss, easily and without pretension, books they are reading and the thinkers who have influenced their political philosophy. Once in a while they open up about the struggles and doubts and brokenness in their lives. Those people exist, and Leibovich either doesn’t know any of them or chooses to ignore them.</p>
<p>Near the end of&#160;This Town, Leibovich quotes NBC’s Tom Brokaw, who is discussing the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. “I don’t go anymore,” Brokaw said. “If you go, it will steal your soul.” Leibovich clearly agrees, but surely it takes more to have your soul stolen than attending a fancy dinner. Reading&#160;This Town&#160;might be a start down that path.</p>
<p>Peter Wehner is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.</p> | false | 1 | town two parties funeralplus plenty valet parkingin americas gilded capital mark leibovich blue rider press 400 pages many years ago shortly moved washington dc began notice pattern people would talk nations capital disgust barely concealed contempt living working terrible sacrifice spoke great gulf real america impure horror washington dc though capitals occupants evil aliens invaded human bodies watched learned became clear many people would soon give first child leave nations capital truth loved dcand hated loving brings mark leibovichs160this town withering portrait washington topped bestseller lists summer eyes leibovich dc city preening egos fake friendships men women superficial petty selfcelebratory greedy insincere insecure lusting power soon becomes apparent book party leibovich wont attend palatial home visit soiree wont appear search expose shallowness of160this town shaming washington leibovich said noble pursuit leibovich found journalistic sir galahad sure washington targetrich environment reporter like leibovich lashes current former officeholders congressional white house aides lobbyists journalists superagents social networkers makes clear disapproval ofamong countless things peoplethe online publication politico particular mikey allen daily playbook online tip sheet delivered via email every morning white house correspondents association dinner networking occurs bigticket washington funerals including tim russerts richard holbrookes leibovich devotes chapter kurt bardella particularly selfpromoting obnoxious largely inconsequential aide republican house member darrell issa youve ever found longing enter world former televisionproducerturnedhostesstothepoliticalstars tammy haddad tam cam video camera uses record celebrity interviews events book look enjoy seeing pretentious figures taken notch much next guy leibovich able deliver cutting richly deserved criticisms standard line ken duberstein leibovich writes spent six half months reagans chief staff twentyfours years counting dining one former dnc chair clinton best friend forever terry mcauliffe deprive mcauliffe words bill clinton would like depriving mathematician numbers good gets leibovichs efforts humor often forced told harry reid endowed magnetism dried snail encountering bill clinton days like meeting skinny older guy wearing oversize rubber bill clinton head sucking basic washington humidity words dust jackets claim that160this town160is hysterically funny hysterically exaggerated even leibovich moralize best hes goodgovernment liberal upset lawmakers become lobbyists go work goldman sachs ubertheme book leibovich told one interviewer selfservice replaced public service defining ethic town morally offended members club especially hard economic times cash insidethebeltway experience heres need know man despises town chief national correspondent the160new york times magazinebased washington previously political correspondent the160times160washington bureau worked the160washington post told hes lived dc 16 years washington dc but160political160washington world leibovich lives air breathes leibovich takes great delight skewering people parties different ideologies office held office people way passed away somewhere along way begins strike maybe maybe leibovich perfectly home town drawn stupid gamesmanship narcissistic personalities 420 bottles louis roederer champagne like moth flame thrives eagerly immerses trivial political culture laments end dcs sins really every page laced cynicism jaded negativity every person book exceptions portrayed animated base motives morally compromised actno eulogy funeral note condolence gift newborn child support charity kind gestureis taken face value everything heavily tainted selfishness leibovichs view generosity spirit fiction fools game real disservice of160this town however carnival mirror side washington leibovich writes exists subjects mythological problem book distorts washington grotesquely massively incomplete picture city borders lie nowhere leibovich capture even make effort capture side washingtonthe side far rooted decent anything described leibovich town mind includes men women actually care justice wrestle complicated policy matters try make sense world unfolding events served high positions government even try understand things went wrong watch meals discuss easily without pretension books reading thinkers influenced political philosophy open struggles doubts brokenness lives people exist leibovich either doesnt know chooses ignore near end of160this town leibovich quotes nbcs tom brokaw discussing white house correspondents association dinner dont go anymore brokaw said go steal soul leibovich clearly agrees surely takes soul stolen attending fancy dinner reading160this town160might start path peter wehner senior fellow ethics public policy center | 633 |
<p>M:I-2, directed by John Woo and written by Robert Towne, is like the original Mission Impossible (1996) in being a postmodern-style romance of technology. The earlier film, which was directed by Brian de Palma, did for the deus ex machina what Shakespeare did for the Aristotelian unities, which is to say that it blew the all old rules and prohibitions out of the water. Neoclassical critics used to think it funny and a sign of bad art when an author discovered that he’d got his characters into difficulties he couldn’t well get them out of and so was forced to introduce into the proceedings a divine personage of some description winched onto the stage in order to suspend the usual laws of nature and get the good guys off the hook. In Mission Impossible the machinae were virtually the same as the dei, and both were as plentiful and as unremarkable as beetles.</p>
<p>It was still funny when the old god is lowered from the flies, but now it was good-funny. The god and the author were laughing with us at the absurdity of their intervention in what might otherwise have appeared to be human events. So when Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt laughingly undertook to break into the secure vault at CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia, in order to steal the most secret information that the CIA possessed, we knew at once that he would succeed. In Mr Woo’s film, we have only to see the “self-destructing” talking sunglasses delivered from headquarters and we know already that the allegedly “impossible” mission is already in the bag. Or, if we didn’t, the point is driven home by Mr Cruise’s spectacular self-rescue, which we have just witnessed at the point where the sunglasses arrive, after he has been dangling by his fingertips from an isolated butte in Utah. Impossible escapes are what this guy does for recreation.</p>
<p>Both films offer us the cinematic equivalent of Tertullian’s maxim: we believe because it is impossible. Presumably it would not make it onto the screen in the first place if it were only difficult or unlikely. But the great god into whose mysteries we are made initiates is technology. Deus and machina are again functionally equivalent. Thus, in Mission Impossible, when Hunt is crawling through the air-conditioning ducts at Langley (one trusts that the real CIA has since taken the trouble to make its ductwork less accessible) and finds a laser screen which might otherwise prevent his egress from the ducts into the vault, he reaches back into his little tool-kit and takes out—what else?—a laser screen neutralizer! No doubt he just picked one up at Radio Shack. For every measure there is an instantly available countermeasure already in the omniscient MI bag of tricks.</p>
<p>Obviously, a film like this one sets little store by either plausibility or suspense, and M:I-2 is clearly out of the same stable. But there are also some new, Wooish wrinkles. On several occasions, for instance Mr Cruise’s hero is seen in unfamiliar and shocking situations, as the ally or the victim of terrorists. Thereupon, like John Travolta and Nicholas Cage in Mr Woo’s Face/Off (1997), he peels off the high-tech prosthesis covering his face to reveal that he is really one of the bad guys, or that one of the bad guys is really him. In one situation, the ever-reliable MI&#160;tool kit apparently allows him to apply this elaborate latex makeup in the space of about ten seconds, not only to himself but to his antagonist in one of the film’s acrobatic kicking-fights. And this amazing feat of speed-maquillage is all so that the ally of the latter will think (briefly) that the fight has come out the other way—his way—and will too late discover that he has finished off not Hunt but his old pal and henchman.</p>
<p>One cannot but wonder what kind of audience takes pleasure in being deceived in this perfunctory, almost contemptuous fashion? Presumably, in the technological romance pace and timing are everything, so there is just no time to lay down a false trail for the reader to follow. Instead, something happens to divert us for a moment from the inevitable conclusion to which all has been tending, then the characters pull off their faces, or take out of some pocket or bag the necessary machine or weapon, and we are instantly back on track again. Instead of a narrative switch-back, it is a journey on greased rails to the point at which Mr Cruise and his love-interest, Nyah (Thandie Newton), an Anglo-Caribbean cat-burglar with a heart of gold, foil the plot of a terrorist gang led by a former MI colleague called Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott) to infect Australia with a killer virus.</p>
<p>In favor of this film (as opposed to Mission Impossible) the plot is at least more or less comprehensible, if still wildly implausible and politically paranoid. A Russian scientist (Radé Sherbedgia) working for an Australian pharmaceutical company called Biocyte has developed both the horrible Chimera virus and its antidote, Bellerophon. The wicked head of Biocyte, amusingly called John McCloy (Brendan Gleeson), makes a brief appearance on behalf of the evils of capitalism, explaining that his company can make a fortune by spreading this deadly virus and then selling people the patented antidote. Naturally the terrorist Ambrose, who stole the thing from the Russian scientist, killed him and crashed the commercial airliner in which he had been traveling to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, chooses to forego his multi-million dollar ransom in favor of stock-options in Biocyte.</p>
<p>On the case is not only the rather depleted MI force, consisting of Mr Cruise’s Ethan Hunt, the hulking computer genius Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and an Aussie helicopter pilot called Billy Baird (John Polson), but also the fetching Nyah, who comes into the caper as a former girl-friend of Ambrose. Having formed a sexual liaison with this allegedly conscience-less thief, Hunt is forced against his own conscience to appeal to her (fortunately robust) idealistic side to make her return to this monster, who continues to carry a torch for her, so that she can lead Hunt’s men to him—with the help of an implanted homing device tracked by Luther on his trusty laptop. Of course she is discovered and, in an effort to save Hunt from the terrorists, injects herself with the virus.</p>
<p>This self-inoculation makes no more sense than that of the Russian scientist, which begins the film, but it leads to a climax in which there is a race against time to get the antidote to her, or her to it, before she dies a horrible death. She, being not of the initiate and therefore of little faith, pleads with Hunt to kill her swiftly: “I’m infected with chimera; you haven’t got a choice. Do it; do it now!” It is the language of real human drama, which often takes place in reaction to situations where the characters really haven’t got a choice. But in the technological romance where anything is possible, there obviously is no situation of no choice. “We’ve got 20 hours,” says Hunt (typically, the virus’s point-of-no-return is precisely defined). “I’m not going to lose you.” So, of course, he doesn’t. As there is never the slightest doubt in our minds that he will, there can be no charm in the movie’s drama or suspense. Audiences must flock to it only for the thin pleasure they can take in the fantasy of seeing all human difficulties magically eradicated by machines.</p> | false | 1 | mi2 directed john woo written robert towne like original mission impossible 1996 postmodernstyle romance technology earlier film directed brian de palma deus ex machina shakespeare aristotelian unities say blew old rules prohibitions water neoclassical critics used think funny sign bad art author discovered hed got characters difficulties couldnt well get forced introduce proceedings divine personage description winched onto stage order suspend usual laws nature get good guys hook mission impossible machinae virtually dei plentiful unremarkable beetles still funny old god lowered flies goodfunny god author laughing us absurdity intervention might otherwise appeared human events tom cruise ethan hunt laughingly undertook break secure vault cia headquarters langley virginia order steal secret information cia possessed knew would succeed mr woos film see selfdestructing talking sunglasses delivered headquarters know already allegedly impossible mission already bag didnt point driven home mr cruises spectacular selfrescue witnessed point sunglasses arrive dangling fingertips isolated butte utah impossible escapes guy recreation films offer us cinematic equivalent tertullians maxim believe impossible presumably would make onto screen first place difficult unlikely great god whose mysteries made initiates technology deus machina functionally equivalent thus mission impossible hunt crawling airconditioning ducts langley one trusts real cia since taken trouble make ductwork less accessible finds laser screen might otherwise prevent egress ducts vault reaches back little toolkit takes outwhat elsea laser screen neutralizer doubt picked one radio shack every measure instantly available countermeasure already omniscient mi bag tricks obviously film like one sets little store either plausibility suspense mi2 clearly stable also new wooish wrinkles several occasions instance mr cruises hero seen unfamiliar shocking situations ally victim terrorists thereupon like john travolta nicholas cage mr woos faceoff 1997 peels hightech prosthesis covering face reveal really one bad guys one bad guys really one situation everreliable mi160tool kit apparently allows apply elaborate latex makeup space ten seconds antagonist one films acrobatic kickingfights amazing feat speedmaquillage ally latter think briefly fight come wayhis wayand late discover finished hunt old pal henchman one wonder kind audience takes pleasure deceived perfunctory almost contemptuous fashion presumably technological romance pace timing everything time lay false trail reader follow instead something happens divert us moment inevitable conclusion tending characters pull faces take pocket bag necessary machine weapon instantly back track instead narrative switchback journey greased rails point mr cruise loveinterest nyah thandie newton anglocaribbean catburglar heart gold foil plot terrorist gang led former mi colleague called sean ambrose dougray scott infect australia killer virus favor film opposed mission impossible plot least less comprehensible still wildly implausible politically paranoid russian scientist radé sherbedgia working australian pharmaceutical company called biocyte developed horrible chimera virus antidote bellerophon wicked head biocyte amusingly called john mccloy brendan gleeson makes brief appearance behalf evils capitalism explaining company make fortune spreading deadly virus selling people patented antidote naturally terrorist ambrose stole thing russian scientist killed crashed commercial airliner traveling center disease control atlanta chooses forego multimillion dollar ransom favor stockoptions biocyte case rather depleted mi force consisting mr cruises ethan hunt hulking computer genius luther stickell ving rhames aussie helicopter pilot called billy baird john polson also fetching nyah comes caper former girlfriend ambrose formed sexual liaison allegedly conscienceless thief hunt forced conscience appeal fortunately robust idealistic side make return monster continues carry torch lead hunts men himwith help implanted homing device tracked luther trusty laptop course discovered effort save hunt terrorists injects virus selfinoculation makes sense russian scientist begins film leads climax race time get antidote dies horrible death initiate therefore little faith pleads hunt kill swiftly im infected chimera havent got choice language real human drama often takes place reaction situations characters really havent got choice technological romance anything possible obviously situation choice weve got 20 hours says hunt typically viruss pointofnoreturn precisely defined im going lose course doesnt never slightest doubt minds charm movies drama suspense audiences must flock thin pleasure take fantasy seeing human difficulties magically eradicated machines | 645 |
<p>After weeks of quarrels, qualms and then eleventh-hour horse-trading, Republicans revealed the details of their huge national tax rewrite late Friday.</p>
<p>Republican Senators Bob Corker of Tennessee and Marco Rubio of Florida announced their support for the bill after members of the House Freedom Caucus agreed to support it. Those votes all but guarantee President Donald Trump has the support needed to pass the bill next week.</p>
<p>The White House praised the Republican tax bill. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says President Donald Trump "applauds the House and Senate conferees on coming to an agreement ... and looks forward to fulfilling the promise he made to the American people to give them a tax cut by the end of the year."</p>
<p>Below is a review of what is in the GOP tax plan.</p>
<p />
<p>The White House and Republicans in Congress say the plan will grow the economy and make the U.S. more competitive. However, the preliminary deficit estimate for the final version of the GOP tax bill says it would add $1.46 trillion to the budget deficit over the coming 10 years.</p>
<p>The true deficit cost is likely to be even higher if lawmakers extend the tax cuts for individuals before they expire at the end of 2025. This "sunset" gimmick is used to make the tax cuts more generous over the eight years they would be in force.</p>
<p />
<p>Overall, the legislation would <a href="http://wjla.com/news/nation-world/ample-tax-cuts-for-business-wealthy-in-new-gop-tax-accord" type="external">slash tax rates for big business</a> and lower levies on the richest Americans in a massive $1.5 trillion bill. Benefits for most other taxpayers would be smaller.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.jct.gov/" type="external">Joint Committee on Taxation</a> analysis combines revenue losses from rate cuts with tax increases from repeal of deductions and other preferences. All told, cuts for individuals and businesses taxed under the code for individuals account for $1.1 trillion of the net tax cuts.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://wjla.com/news/connect-to-congress/house-republicans-tax-reform-will-be-great-christmas-gift-for-americans" type="external">final version</a> of the GOP tax bill would create seven tax brackets, including a new 37 percent rate for top-end wage earners.</p>
<p>The new rates start at 10 percent and rise to 12, 22, 24, 32, 35 and 37 percent.</p>
<p>The measure also lowers the top corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. It provides sweeping tax deductions to other businesses lowering their top effective tax rate to about 30 percent instead of 39.6 percent.</p>
<p />
<p>The final version of the GOP tax bill would provide a $2,000 per child tax credit to families making up to $400,000 a year.</p>
<p>That doubles the child tax credit from the current maximum of $1,000 and makes it available to a greater number of middle- and upper-bracket families.</p>
<p>The credit was a top priority of GOP Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who won a late-stage concession that would make up to $1,400 of the credit available as a tax refund to lower- and middle-income families with relatively small tax bills.</p>
<p>It would begin to phase out for families earning above $400,000. That's down from $500,000 in the original Senate measure, which passed earlier this month.</p>
<p />
<p>The tax bill barreling toward a final vote in Congress guts the most unpopular "Obamacare" provision, its requirement that virtually all Americans carry health insurance or face fines.</p>
<p>Politically, the move is a winner for Republicans, who otherwise would have little to show for seven years of rhetoric and repeated legislative efforts to kill the Affordable Care Act.</p>
<p>But if estimates by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office are right, it will lead to more uninsured people and higher premiums for those buying individual health insurance policies.</p>
<p>Congress may then find itself considering other ways to nudge people to get health insurance.Other popular parts of the Affordable Care Act would remain in place, including subsidized premiums, "essential" benefits and protections for people with pre-existing medical conditions.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>The Republican tax overhaul would keep a popular deduction for Americans with expensive medical bills.Taxpayers can deduct medical expenses not covered by insurance when they exceed 10 percent of adjusted gross income. The threshold is 7.5 percent for taxpayers who are 65 or older.</p>
<p>The bill temporarily expands the medical expense deduction by applying the 7.5 percent threshold to all taxpayers in 2018 and 2019.</p>
<p>A return to the 10 percent threshold takes place beginning in 2020.</p>
<p>The House bill would have eliminated medical expense deductions, so senators ended up prevailing in negotiations.</p>
<p>Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, sought to reduce the threshold for deducting medical expenses, saying it would particularly help seniors and people with chronic conditions.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Count commuters among the losers in the Republican tax bill that the House and Senate are expected to vote on next week.</p>
<p>The final bill agreed to by Republican negotiators and released late Friday eliminates the tax incentive for private employers that subsidize their employees' transit, parking and bicycle commuting expenses.</p>
<p>Companies currently can provide parking or transit passes worth up to $255 a month to employees as a benefit to help pay for their commuting expenses, then deduct the costs from their corporate taxes.</p>
<p>Businesses would no longer be able write-off $20 a month per employee to cover the expense of commuting by bicycle.</p>
<p />
<p>A tax bill moving forward in Congress would open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling, a longtime Republican priority that most Democrats fiercely oppose.</p>
<p>The 19.6-million-acre refuge in northeastern Alaska is one of the most pristine areas in the United States and is home to polar bears, caribou, migratory birds and other wildlife.</p>
<p>Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski and other Republicans say drilling can be done safely with new technology, while ensuring a steady energy supply for West Coast refineries.</p>
<p>Democrats and environmental groups say the GOP plan risks spoiling one of the nation's most pristine areas and is especially unwise at a time when U.S. oil production is booming, with imports declining and exports reaching record levels.</p>
<p />
<p>Stocks have finished higher on Wall Street as Congressional Republicans put the final touches on a tax overhaul plan.</p>
<p>The gains today more than wiped out the market's losses from the day before and drove indexes to their latest all-time highs. The S&amp;P 500 rose over 23 points to 2,675. The Dow climbed 143 points to 24,651 and the Nasdaq ended the day up 80 points to 6,936. The Russell 2000 index of small cap firms rose 23 points to 1,530.</p>
<p>The Associated Press contributed to this report.</p> | false | 1 | weeks quarrels qualms eleventhhour horsetrading republicans revealed details huge national tax rewrite late friday republican senators bob corker tennessee marco rubio florida announced support bill members house freedom caucus agreed support votes guarantee president donald trump support needed pass bill next week white house praised republican tax bill press secretary sarah huckabee sanders says president donald trump applauds house senate conferees coming agreement looks forward fulfilling promise made american people give tax cut end year review gop tax plan white house republicans congress say plan grow economy make us competitive however preliminary deficit estimate final version gop tax bill says would add 146 trillion budget deficit coming 10 years true deficit cost likely even higher lawmakers extend tax cuts individuals expire end 2025 sunset gimmick used make tax cuts generous eight years would force overall legislation would slash tax rates big business lower levies richest americans massive 15 trillion bill benefits taxpayers would smaller joint committee taxation analysis combines revenue losses rate cuts tax increases repeal deductions preferences told cuts individuals businesses taxed code individuals account 11 trillion net tax cuts final version gop tax bill would create seven tax brackets including new 37 percent rate topend wage earners new rates start 10 percent rise 12 22 24 32 35 37 percent measure also lowers top corporate tax rate 35 percent 21 percent provides sweeping tax deductions businesses lowering top effective tax rate 30 percent instead 396 percent final version gop tax bill would provide 2000 per child tax credit families making 400000 year doubles child tax credit current maximum 1000 makes available greater number middle upperbracket families credit top priority gop sen marco rubio florida latestage concession would make 1400 credit available tax refund lower middleincome families relatively small tax bills would begin phase families earning 400000 thats 500000 original senate measure passed earlier month tax bill barreling toward final vote congress guts unpopular obamacare provision requirement virtually americans carry health insurance face fines politically move winner republicans otherwise would little show seven years rhetoric repeated legislative efforts kill affordable care act estimates nonpartisan congressional budget office right lead uninsured people higher premiums buying individual health insurance policies congress may find considering ways nudge people get health insuranceother popular parts affordable care act would remain place including subsidized premiums essential benefits protections people preexisting medical conditions republican tax overhaul would keep popular deduction americans expensive medical billstaxpayers deduct medical expenses covered insurance exceed 10 percent adjusted gross income threshold 75 percent taxpayers 65 older bill temporarily expands medical expense deduction applying 75 percent threshold taxpayers 2018 2019 return 10 percent threshold takes place beginning 2020 house bill would eliminated medical expense deductions senators ended prevailing negotiations sen susan collins rmaine sought reduce threshold deducting medical expenses saying would particularly help seniors people chronic conditions count commuters among losers republican tax bill house senate expected vote next week final bill agreed republican negotiators released late friday eliminates tax incentive private employers subsidize employees transit parking bicycle commuting expenses companies currently provide parking transit passes worth 255 month employees benefit help pay commuting expenses deduct costs corporate taxes businesses would longer able writeoff 20 month per employee cover expense commuting bicycle tax bill moving forward congress would open alaskas arctic national wildlife refuge oil gas drilling longtime republican priority democrats fiercely oppose 196millionacre refuge northeastern alaska one pristine areas united states home polar bears caribou migratory birds wildlife alaska sen lisa murkowski republicans say drilling done safely new technology ensuring steady energy supply west coast refineries democrats environmental groups say gop plan risks spoiling one nations pristine areas especially unwise time us oil production booming imports declining exports reaching record levels stocks finished higher wall street congressional republicans put final touches tax overhaul plan gains today wiped markets losses day drove indexes latest alltime highs sampp 500 rose 23 points 2675 dow climbed 143 points 24651 nasdaq ended day 80 points 6936 russell 2000 index small cap firms rose 23 points 1530 associated press contributed report | 665 |
<p>By Yimou Lee and Marius Zaharia</p>
<p>YANGON/HONG KONG (Reuters) – When officials from Myanmar’s commercial capital Yangon toured six European countries in June, they were hoping to drum up investment in transport, energy and education.</p>
<p>Instead, they were bombarded with questions about the country’s treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority, who have long complained of persecution by the Buddhist majority in the oil-rich, ethnically divided, western state of Rakhine.</p>
<p>“In each of every country, that issue was always brought up,” Hlaing Maw Oo, secretary of Yangon City Development Committee, told Reuters after the 16-day trip.</p>
<p>The situation in Rakhine has worsened dramatically since then, with more than 400,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh to escape a military counterinsurgency offensive the United Nations has described as “ethnic cleansing”.</p>
<p>Western trade and investment in Myanmar is small, but there were hopes that a series of reforms this year would prise open an economy stunted by international sanctions and decades of mismanagement under military rule.</p>
<p>With most sanctions now lifted, an expected flood of Western money was seen as a key dividend from the transition to civilian rule under Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Regional diplomats saw it balancing China’s growing influence over its neighbor.</p>
<p>But Suu Kyi has been beset by international criticism for saying little about human rights abuses against the Rohingya, and lawyers, consultants and lobbyists say the European and U.S. companies that had been circling are now wary of the reputational risks of investing in the country.</p>
<p>Louis Yeung, managing principal of Yangon-based investment firm Faircap Partners, said one of his business partners – a listed, U.S.-based food and beverage company – decided to hold off its plan to enter the Myanmar market for three to five years, citing factors including slower-than-expected reforms and the Rohingya crisis.</p>
<p>“Their conclusion is that it wasn’t the right time for them,” he said. “They want to see more traction from the government and Rakhine is not helpful.”</p>
<p>ON HOLD</p>
<p>The pressure has been growing in recent months, even on existing investors, with rights group AFD International calling on foreign firms to stop investing in Myanmar.</p>
<p>A small group of investors in U.S. oil major Chevron (N:) filed an unsuccessful motion at its annual general meeting urging it to pull out of its production sharing contract with a state-run firm to explore for oil and gas, while Norwegian telecoms firm Telenor (OL:), which runs a mobile network in Myanmar, issued a statement calling for human rights protection.</p>
<p>Chevron declined to comment on its investment in Myanmar, while Telenor did not respond to several requests for comment.</p>
<p>Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament Committee on International Trade, said last week his delegation postponed a visit to Myanmar indefinitely, saying the human rights situation “does not allow a fruitful discussion on a potential EU-Myanmar investment agreement”.</p>
<p>Khin Aung Tun, vice-chairman of the Myanmar Tourism Federation, told Reuters global firms planning to hold conferences in Myanmar were now considering other locations.</p>
<p>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;“People were just starting to see Myanmar as a ‘good news’ story,” said Dane Chamorro, head of South East Asia at Control Risks, a global risk consultancy.</p>
<p>“Now you can imagine a boardroom in which someone mentions Myanmar and someone else says ‘hold on, I’ve just seen something on Myanmar on TV: villages burned down, refugees, etc’.”</p>
<p>In an interview published in Asia Review on Thursday, Suu Kyi acknowledged it was “natural” for foreign investors to be concerned, but repeated her view that economic development was the key to solving poor Rakhine’s long-standing problems.</p>
<p>“So investments would actually help make the situation better,” she said.</p>
<p>IN CHINA’S ORBIT</p>
<p>Myanmar’s $70 billion economy should be a strong investment proposition for Western firms. It boasts large oil and gas reserves and natural resources such as rubies, jade and timber. Wages are low and its youthful population of more than 50 million is eager for retail and manufacturing jobs.</p>
<p>In April, Myanmar passed a long-awaited investment law, simplifying procedures and granting foreign investors equal treatment to the locals. A game-changing law allowing foreigners to buy stakes in local firms is expected later this year.</p>
<p>“The investment conditions were improving,” said Dustin Daugherty, ASEAN lead for business intelligence at Dezan Shira &amp; Associates, a consultancy for foreign investors in Asia.</p>
<p>Myanmar’s economy may not suffer much, however, if Western firms shun the country – or even if their governments were to reimpose some sanctions, although that appears unlikely for now.</p>
<p>Suu Kyi has sought to deepen relations with China at a time when Beijing is keen to push projects that fit with its “Belt and Road” initiative, which aims to stimulate trade by investment in infrastructure throughout Asia and beyond.</p>
<p>Myanmar trades with China as much as it does with its next four biggest partners: Singapore, Thailand, Japan and India. None of that top five participated in previous sanctions.</p>
<p>Trade with the United States is only about $400 million and U.S. investment is just 0.5 percent of the total. Europe accounts for around a 10th of investment, while China and Hong Kong make up more than a third, and Singapore and Thailand another third.</p>
<p>Than Aung Kyaw, Deputy Director General of Myanmar’s Directorate of Investment and Company Administration, told Reuters European investors might have “second thoughts”, but he expected Asian investors to stay put.</p>
<p>China is already in talks to sell electricity to energy-hungry Myanmar and pushing for preferential access to a strategic port on the Bay of Bengal. In April, the two countries reached an agreement on an oil pipeline that pumps oil across Myanmar to southwest China.</p>
<p>“It is going to feed Aung San Suu Kyi straight into the hands of (Chinese President) Xi Jinping,” said John Blaxland, director at the ANU Southeast Asia Institute and head of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre.</p> | false | 1 | yimou lee marius zaharia yangonhong kong reuters officials myanmars commercial capital yangon toured six european countries june hoping drum investment transport energy education instead bombarded questions countrys treatment rohingya muslim minority long complained persecution buddhist majority oilrich ethnically divided western state rakhine every country issue always brought hlaing maw oo secretary yangon city development committee told reuters 16day trip situation rakhine worsened dramatically since 400000 rohingya fleeing bangladesh escape military counterinsurgency offensive united nations described ethnic cleansing western trade investment myanmar small hopes series reforms year would prise open economy stunted international sanctions decades mismanagement military rule sanctions lifted expected flood western money seen key dividend transition civilian rule nobel laureate aung san suu kyi regional diplomats saw balancing chinas growing influence neighbor suu kyi beset international criticism saying little human rights abuses rohingya lawyers consultants lobbyists say european us companies circling wary reputational risks investing country louis yeung managing principal yangonbased investment firm faircap partners said one business partners listed usbased food beverage company decided hold plan enter myanmar market three five years citing factors including slowerthanexpected reforms rohingya crisis conclusion wasnt right time said want see traction government rakhine helpful hold pressure growing recent months even existing investors rights group afd international calling foreign firms stop investing myanmar small group investors us oil major chevron n filed unsuccessful motion annual general meeting urging pull production sharing contract staterun firm explore oil gas norwegian telecoms firm telenor ol runs mobile network myanmar issued statement calling human rights protection chevron declined comment investment myanmar telenor respond several requests comment bernd lange chair european parliament committee international trade said last week delegation postponed visit myanmar indefinitely saying human rights situation allow fruitful discussion potential eumyanmar investment agreement khin aung tun vicechairman myanmar tourism federation told reuters global firms planning hold conferences myanmar considering locations 160160160160people starting see myanmar good news story said dane chamorro head south east asia control risks global risk consultancy imagine boardroom someone mentions myanmar someone else says hold ive seen something myanmar tv villages burned refugees etc interview published asia review thursday suu kyi acknowledged natural foreign investors concerned repeated view economic development key solving poor rakhines longstanding problems investments would actually help make situation better said chinas orbit myanmars 70 billion economy strong investment proposition western firms boasts large oil gas reserves natural resources rubies jade timber wages low youthful population 50 million eager retail manufacturing jobs april myanmar passed longawaited investment law simplifying procedures granting foreign investors equal treatment locals gamechanging law allowing foreigners buy stakes local firms expected later year investment conditions improving said dustin daugherty asean lead business intelligence dezan shira amp associates consultancy foreign investors asia myanmars economy may suffer much however western firms shun country even governments reimpose sanctions although appears unlikely suu kyi sought deepen relations china time beijing keen push projects fit belt road initiative aims stimulate trade investment infrastructure throughout asia beyond myanmar trades china much next four biggest partners singapore thailand japan india none top five participated previous sanctions trade united states 400 million us investment 05 percent total europe accounts around 10th investment china hong kong make third singapore thailand another third aung kyaw deputy director general myanmars directorate investment company administration told reuters european investors might second thoughts expected asian investors stay put china already talks sell electricity energyhungry myanmar pushing preferential access strategic port bay bengal april two countries reached agreement oil pipeline pumps oil across myanmar southwest china going feed aung san suu kyi straight hands chinese president xi jinping said john blaxland director anu southeast asia institute head strategic defence studies centre | 600 |
<p>EPPC Senior Fellow Peter Wehner talked with Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin about Donald Trump’s apparent widespread support among evangelical voters. This interview originally appeared in two parts ( <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2016/03/07/a-conversation-how-can-evangelicals-support-trump-part-1/" type="external">part 1 here</a>; <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2016/03/07/a-conversation-how-can-evangelicals-support-trump-part-2/" type="external">part 2 here</a>). The introductory text is Ms. Rubin’s.&#160;</p>
<p>As stunning to me as the widespread Republican support for Donald Trump — an opportunist, a know-nothing, a recent Democratic donor — may be, nothing has been as perplexing as is the widespread support for Trump among evangelicals, as evidenced by his wins in <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2016/03/06/daily-202-super-saturday-results-show-rubio-collapsing-trump-stoppable-and-cruz-gaining-momentum/56dba8b9981b92a22d6f0b92/?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_daily202-1045am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory" type="external">Louisiana and Kentucky on Saturday</a>. How could a vulgar, thrice-married billionaire whose bullying and nastiness have driven the presidential contest into the rhetorical gutter get the support of people of faith?</p>
<p>I am not Christian, let alone an expert in the evangelical community, so I reached out to my longtime friend Peter Wehner, who has thought and written extensively about the intersection of faith and politics. (He, along with my colleague Michael Gerson, wrote the indispensable “ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802458572/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0802458572&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=thewaspos09-20&amp;linkId=WW2TADCZMXB3LAT7" type="external">City of Man”</a> a few years ago, a must-read on the subject.)</p>
<p>RUBIN: Where are the values voters when you need them? I’m mystified Trump is getting so much support from genuinely religious people while spewing hatred. What is going on here?</p>
<p>
WEHNER: It’s a great question, and a mystery to many of us who are evangelical Christians and social conservatives. I’ll answer that in a moment but let me say at the outset, it’s important to point out that while Donald Trump is winning a plurality of self-described evangelical voters in many states, the term “evangelical voter” is somewhat elastic. For some, it’s a kind of broad cultural identification; for others, it refers to a creedal faith. Those in the latter camp are more faithful churchgoers – and that group tends to be less supportive of Donald Trump. To put it another way: The un-churched are more supportive of Trump than regular churchgoers.</p>
<p>In addition, impressive and important voices in the evangelical world like Russell Moore and Max Lucado are speaking out against Trump, and I imagine more will follow. I’ve heard from many evangelicals who are pained and alarmed at the rise of Trump and Trumpism.</p>
<p>RUBIN: That’s worth keeping in mind. Still, a large number of evangelicals are supporting Trump. How do you explain that?</p>
<p>WEHNER: It’s complicated, and among the tentative explanations I’ve come up with, based in part on personal interaction with others and in part based on my survey of stories and the data, is that some blue-collar, non-college educated Christians — like blue-collar, non-college educated non-Christians — are drawn to Trump’s positions on trade and illegal immigration.</p>
<p>In addition, many Trump supporters who are self-described evangelicals are terribly worried about the state of America, enraged at the so-called “Republican establishment,” and feeling increasingly powerless and desperate. There’s also a growing grievance culture among some on the right, and Trump gives voice to those grievances, their bitterness, their anger. They have in a sense given up on traditional politics and the political system, and so they find themselves supporting someone they believe will overthrow the tables in the temple courts.</p>
<p>He may be a wrecking ball, but he’s wrecking what deserves to be wrecked, in their minds.</p>
<p>Beyond that, I think many on the right — including people on the Christian right — are caught up in the Trump persona. They believe he’s the epitome of strength, of power, of kick-ass toughness.</p>
<p>“I think we have likely slipped past the point of no return as a country and I’m desperately hoping for a leader who can turn us around,” one evangelical wrote me. “I have no hope that one of the establishment guys would do that. That, I believe, is what opens people up to Trump.”</p>
<p>These people feel increasingly disrespected and beaten down, and they see Trump as fighting the very elites they believe, with some reason, has disparaged and disrespected them. He might not share their faith or embody moral virtue — he may even be a moral degenerate — but he’s our moral degenerate. He’s fighting political correctness like we wish we could.</p>
<p>RUBIN: The embrace of a crude, arrogant bully by people of deep Christian faith is not what most of us expected.</p>
<p>WEHNER: Nor did I. It’s all very odd and worrisome, since many faith voters — like many conservative Trump supporters — are jettisoning long-held convictions in order to rally around Trump. There’s a cult of personality involved here. And Trump himself — rude, vulgar, cruel, crude, narcissistic — is having a corrosive effect on our civic culture, which “values voters” once claimed to care for. People who once argued that moral character mattered in leaders are sympathetic to a man who is genuinely proud of his vices, who celebrates them. Christians are facilitating what Nietzsche called the transvaluation of values, paving the way for the Will to Power. So this is a very strange moment.</p>
<p>RUBIN: That all makes perfect political sense, but I am still surprised that there was not more reticence about Trump. Trump is bigoted, crude, mean and dishonest&#160;and yet people of faith seem not to care. “Values” used to mean humility, kindness, self-discipline and so on. Yet Trump sneers at these values. I don’t mean to be flip, but I expected more from Christians. Have secular trends including the degeneration of popular culture afflicted evangelicals as well?</p>
<p>WEHNER: I don’t mean to be flip, but I expected more from Christians, too!</p>
<p>Your observation is a good one. We’re all products of our cultural environment — and we’re all tainted by it. If the lake is polluted, all the fish that swim in it, regardless of the species, are affected. To be sure, Christians are called to offer an alternative to the world, including a different way of looking at things. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world,” St. Paul wrote in Romans, “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” At the same time, Christians believe everyone,&#160;including those of the Christian faith,&#160;are fallen. Our lives are broken in many areas. None of us is&#160;insulated from having our thoughts corrupted; none of us is fully redeemed.</p>
<p>Still, the resonance Mr.&#160;Trump has with some&#160;Christians is rather stunning to me, for the reasons you say. Jerry Springer said the other day that the Trump show was too juvenile and offensive even for him. That tells you how dramatically things have fallen.</p>
<p>Donald Trump isn’t responsible for our cultural rot, but he is helping to spread it in ways that were once unimaginable. And it’s not just one thing with Trump; it’s the whole ugly, packaged deal — the crudity and vulgarity, the vindictiveness and ease with which he lies,&#160;the&#160;unprincipled stands and&#160;staggering shallowness on issues,&#160;the erratic behavior and vanity,&#160;the open admiration for tyrants and slandering of America, the utter indifference to justice,&#160;the belief that might makes right, the contempt for the weak and powerless, the cruel mockery even of people with disabilities.&#160;The fact that people of the Christian faith aren’t repelled by this, or are even draw to him, is difficult to comprehend.</p>
<p>Not long ago I posed a question to a close friend of mine, who is not of the Christian faith, asking him why he thought evangelical Christians shouldn’t support Mr. Trump. He told me that as a general matter he’d say evangelicals value some character traits in leaders — moral uprightness, compassion, honesty, fidelity, godliness — and value some substantive commitments in politics: the defense of the unborn, concern for the poor, prioritization of religious liberty, and a grasp of the moral foundations of our society. He quickly added that there has probably been no major party candidate for national office in the history of the United States who has so thoroughly failed both sets of tests at once and has so embodied in his personal life and in his work what social conservatives believe is wrong with modern America. That sounds right to me.</p>
<p>Because I do think it’s important,&#160;I do want to re-emphasize that many evangelical Christians are taking a stand against Trump for reasons that are tied to their faith, and that shouldn’t be overlooked.</p>
<p>Let me say just one other thing: The people in my life whose faith commitments I most respect by and large share my views of Mr. Trump. But some of my friends, including those of the Christian faith, don’t. When I see Mr. Trump I see one thing; when many of my fellow evangelicals see him, they see something very different.&#160;I look at Trump I see a person running a malicious and deeply destructive campaign; when they see Trump they see someone who will be beat the political establishment, which they hate, into submission. That is so important to them — their rage is so overwhelming, their sense of injury and grievances so powerful — that they are willing to give Mr. Trump a pass on almost everything else that usually matters to them.</p>
<p>I think they’re wrong to do so — that they’re suspending their moral faculties to support a fraud, a con artist, a carnival barker — and I think in doing so their faith witness is being damaged. That when non-Christians see people like Jerry Falwell, Jr. lining up to support Mr. Trump and people like Mike Huckabee defend him rather than challenge him — speaking out on behalf of Trump’s “ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqhQ0aI6eQQ" type="external">moral authority</a>” —&#160;they can’t help but think the whole thing is a hypocritical joke, that it was fine to use the issue of character to beat Bill Clinton upside the head but when it comes to Donald Trump it suddenly doesn’t matter. The very same arguments the Left used to defend Clinton are now being used by Trump supporters.</p>
<p>With all that said, I’m steeped in enough Christian theology — I know myself well enough — to know that my perspective is hardly perfect. It’s a lot easier for me to see how politics and certain predilections distort the faith of others than it is to see when that same thing is happening to me.</p>
<p>So I’ll leave it as this: When it comes to Mr. Trump, time will tell whose views of him are closer to the reality of things. For now, maybe the best we can do is to have dialogue and debate and arguments, to make our case as reasonably as we can and see which views events vindicate and which views they repudiate. So far, I’d suggest that the case, including the Christian case, against Donald Trump is stronger than the case for him. By a country mile.</p>
<p>Peter Wehner is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times.&#160;Jennifer Rubin writes the Right Turn blog for The Washington Post, offering reported opinion from a conservative perspective.</p> | false | 1 | eppc senior fellow peter wehner talked washington post columnist jennifer rubin donald trumps apparent widespread support among evangelical voters interview originally appeared two parts part 1 part 2 introductory text ms rubins160 stunning widespread republican support donald trump opportunist knownothing recent democratic donor may nothing perplexing widespread support trump among evangelicals evidenced wins louisiana kentucky saturday could vulgar thricemarried billionaire whose bullying nastiness driven presidential contest rhetorical gutter get support people faith christian let alone expert evangelical community reached longtime friend peter wehner thought written extensively intersection faith politics along colleague michael gerson wrote indispensable city man years ago mustread subject rubin values voters need im mystified trump getting much support genuinely religious people spewing hatred going wehner great question mystery many us evangelical christians social conservatives ill answer moment let say outset important point donald trump winning plurality selfdescribed evangelical voters many states term evangelical voter somewhat elastic kind broad cultural identification others refers creedal faith latter camp faithful churchgoers group tends less supportive donald trump put another way unchurched supportive trump regular churchgoers addition impressive important voices evangelical world like russell moore max lucado speaking trump imagine follow ive heard many evangelicals pained alarmed rise trump trumpism rubin thats worth keeping mind still large number evangelicals supporting trump explain wehner complicated among tentative explanations ive come based part personal interaction others part based survey stories data bluecollar noncollege educated christians like bluecollar noncollege educated nonchristians drawn trumps positions trade illegal immigration addition many trump supporters selfdescribed evangelicals terribly worried state america enraged socalled republican establishment feeling increasingly powerless desperate theres also growing grievance culture among right trump gives voice grievances bitterness anger sense given traditional politics political system find supporting someone believe overthrow tables temple courts may wrecking ball hes wrecking deserves wrecked minds beyond think many right including people christian right caught trump persona believe hes epitome strength power kickass toughness think likely slipped past point return country im desperately hoping leader turn us around one evangelical wrote hope one establishment guys would believe opens people trump people feel increasingly disrespected beaten see trump fighting elites believe reason disparaged disrespected might share faith embody moral virtue may even moral degenerate hes moral degenerate hes fighting political correctness like wish could rubin embrace crude arrogant bully people deep christian faith us expected wehner odd worrisome since many faith voters like many conservative trump supporters jettisoning longheld convictions order rally around trump theres cult personality involved trump rude vulgar cruel crude narcissistic corrosive effect civic culture values voters claimed care people argued moral character mattered leaders sympathetic man genuinely proud vices celebrates christians facilitating nietzsche called transvaluation values paving way power strange moment rubin makes perfect political sense still surprised reticence trump trump bigoted crude mean dishonest160and yet people faith seem care values used mean humility kindness selfdiscipline yet trump sneers values dont mean flip expected christians secular trends including degeneration popular culture afflicted evangelicals well wehner dont mean flip expected christians observation good one products cultural environment tainted lake polluted fish swim regardless species affected sure christians called offer alternative world including different way looking things conform pattern world st paul wrote romans transformed renewing mind time christians believe everyone160including christian faith160are fallen lives broken many areas none us is160insulated thoughts corrupted none us fully redeemed still resonance mr160trump some160christians rather stunning reasons say jerry springer said day trump show juvenile offensive even tells dramatically things fallen donald trump isnt responsible cultural rot helping spread ways unimaginable one thing trump whole ugly packaged deal crudity vulgarity vindictiveness ease lies160the160unprincipled stands and160staggering shallowness issues160the erratic behavior vanity160the open admiration tyrants slandering america utter indifference justice160the belief might makes right contempt weak powerless cruel mockery even people disabilities160the fact people christian faith arent repelled even draw difficult comprehend long ago posed question close friend mine christian faith asking thought evangelical christians shouldnt support mr trump told general matter hed say evangelicals value character traits leaders moral uprightness compassion honesty fidelity godliness value substantive commitments politics defense unborn concern poor prioritization religious liberty grasp moral foundations society quickly added probably major party candidate national office history united states thoroughly failed sets tests embodied personal life work social conservatives believe wrong modern america sounds right think important160i want reemphasize many evangelical christians taking stand trump reasons tied faith shouldnt overlooked let say one thing people life whose faith commitments respect large share views mr trump friends including christian faith dont see mr trump see one thing many fellow evangelicals see see something different160i look trump see person running malicious deeply destructive campaign see trump see someone beat political establishment hate submission important rage overwhelming sense injury grievances powerful willing give mr trump pass almost everything else usually matters think theyre wrong theyre suspending moral faculties support fraud con artist carnival barker think faith witness damaged nonchristians see people like jerry falwell jr lining support mr trump people like mike huckabee defend rather challenge speaking behalf trumps moral authority 160they cant help think whole thing hypocritical joke fine use issue character beat bill clinton upside head comes donald trump suddenly doesnt matter arguments left used defend clinton used trump supporters said im steeped enough christian theology know well enough know perspective hardly perfect lot easier see politics certain predilections distort faith others see thing happening ill leave comes mr trump time tell whose views closer reality things maybe best dialogue debate arguments make case reasonably see views events vindicate views repudiate far id suggest case including christian case donald trump stronger case country mile peter wehner senior fellow ethics public policy center contributing opinion writer new york times160jennifer rubin writes right turn blog washington post offering reported opinion conservative perspective | 947 |
<p>America is tearing itself apart. People are angrier at each other, more resentful and contemptuous of each other, than they’ve been in living memory. Americans are experiencing a collective nervous breakdown, and there’s no telling what happens if they don’t find a way out of it.</p>
<p>At the center of this is politics, which has become a tribal battle between Team Blue and Team Red. And quite often, at the center of our political battles is race.</p>
<p>Race has always been an important and divisive issue in American politics, but there’s no question things have become much more abrasive in recent years. Why is this? An obvious answer is “Donald Trump.” And he certainly deserves more blame than any other living individual. His career in politics has been defined by racial demagoguery and by remaking the GOP in his image. In taking the White House, he has done more than anyone to make racial divisions deeper and more acrimonious.</p>
<p>But Trump is not the whole story. Gallup has been&#160; <a href="http://news.gallup.com/poll/1687/race-relations.aspx" type="external">tracking</a>&#160;Americans’ views of race relations, as good a proxy for the intensity of racial conflict as any, and we were doing okay until 2013-2014, when we start going into a tailspin. That’s before Trump was on every TV screen every day. And it makes sense: Demagogues don’t create new tensions — they tap into and exacerbate pre-existing anger and conflict, even as they intensify it on their way to the top.</p>
<p>So if not just Trump, what or who is to blame? The answer is American political parties, which have become structurally designed to whip up racial anger and division to their maximum extent.</p>
<p>The word “structural” here is important: This is bigger than any individual, or even any camp. It’s the system.</p>
<p>A lot has been written about the Republican Party’s infamous “Southern strategy” of the 1970s to appeal to white Southern voters, including through coded racial appeals. And a lot has been written about the concept of the “emerging Democratic majority” where minorities, coastal elites, and the young would deliver permanent and unassailable governing majorities for the left. This strategy works out to what the political analyst Robert Tracinski&#160; <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/newsletters/the_daily_debate/2013/07/18/" type="external">called</a>&#160;a “Southern strategy in reverse.” For the strategy to work, Democrats need to get supermajorities of minority votes, and need to keep voters polarized along racial lines.</p>
<p>Each party is now associated with certain shades of skin color. If you look at every national election cycle we’ve had in the last decade, one finding becomes starkly obvious: The party that turns out more of “its own” wins. In 2008 and 2012, minority turnout was above average, and the Democrats won. In 2010, 2014, and 2016, white turnout was above average, and the Republicans won.</p>
<p>The incentive for both parties is not only to keep voters polarized along racial lines, it’s to make their own voters more angry, more panicked, and more fearful — so that they turn out to vote more than the other side. And because both sides are doing it, the system is set up for a never-ending arms race.</p>
<p>Now, it’s important to note what I am not saying. I am not saying that both parties are morally equivalent, or that both sides are equally to blame. Of course they’re not. Of course white racism is worse, and of course it’s morally worse to stoke white racial anxieties. That is indisputable.</p>
<p>I am not making a moral argument. I am looking to understand the way things are so that we can tell where we are going. The reason it’s important to note that both sides have these incentives is not to make some tepid moral equivalency, but because it shows how the system is self-perpetuating. If you say the U.S. is locked in an arms race with the Soviet Union, you’re not saying communism is equivalent to democracy, or that Stalin is the same as Eisenhower. Accurately describing what is happening is not the same as saying it’s right or just.</p>
<p>It’s also important to understand that our media ecosystem is only making things worse, because it is also incentivized to stoke division. Racial controversies are great for ratings and clicks, and social media is perfect for engineering anger and division.</p>
<p>Now, obviously, we cannot just stop talking about race. There are real issues of discrimination and policing that we need to address. But please notice that today, we’re doing everything but actually addressing these issues.</p>
<p>After Ferguson, and the subsequent Black Lives Matter protests, many Americans asked tough and probing questions about policing in black communities. But now our debates are about Colin Kaepernick, the national anthem, and Confederate statues. However you feel about any of these issues, please note that all of them are&#160;purely symbolic, and that none of them directly affect policing, or criminal justice, or discrimination, or racial wealth disparities.</p>
<p>If you have a system where the parties are wired to stoke racial division and hatred (and the media to magnify it), the worst thing you could do is address any real issues, because then people might have to talk about the tradeoffs that any particular policy might involve, and people might start to have ideas for compromises. The temperature might cool, even a little bit. If the issues are symbolic, however, all that’s left is for Team A to remind itself of how virtuous it is and how hateful everyone is on Team B. It’s the system, man.</p>
<p>If at any point in the previous argument you found yourself angrily thinking “No, the problem is Trump!” or “No, the problem is the Democrats!” well, you’re not entirely wrong. Of course they’re part of the problem. But not the real problem.</p>
<p>Ideas matter. Policies matter. Politics matters. But political parties themselves are nothing more than utterly amoral vehicles for winning elections. Which is fine — you need political parties in a democracy. It’s important to have utilities. But I wouldn’t wear my utility’s T-shirt or feel contempt for someone who gets their electricity from a different company.</p>
<p>So … what do we do about it? Our political parties are obviously not going to de-racialize. So it has to start with us.</p>
<p>Believe what you believe. Fight for your issues. Yes, Trump is a dangerous demagogue. Yes, some social justice warriors can be crazy, and it’s disturbing how powerful they are within the Democratic Party. But at the same time, it’s also the case that if you feel yourself getting angry at the latest outrage to pop up on your Facebook feed, you are being played. Not that the issue isn’t real, or important. But there are millions of real and important issues in the world. And the reason why this specific issue is being put in front of your eyes is because you are played by the cold unfeeling monsters that are the political powerbrokers behind Team Blue and Team Red. Team Blue and Team Red want you angry, pissed-off, and contemptuous of your fellow American, every day, so you don’t notice the political elite picking your pocket.</p>
<p>You can believe in your ideas and defend them and advance them without giving in to tribalism and hatred. And when we do give in, we feed into a vicious cycle that is taking us into a tailspin.</p>
<p>Wake up. We need you.</p>
<p>Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.</p> | false | 1 | america tearing apart people angrier resentful contemptuous theyve living memory americans experiencing collective nervous breakdown theres telling happens dont find way center politics become tribal battle team blue team red quite often center political battles race race always important divisive issue american politics theres question things become much abrasive recent years obvious answer donald trump certainly deserves blame living individual career politics defined racial demagoguery remaking gop image taking white house done anyone make racial divisions deeper acrimonious trump whole story gallup been160 tracking160americans views race relations good proxy intensity racial conflict okay 20132014 start going tailspin thats trump every tv screen every day makes sense demagogues dont create new tensions tap exacerbate preexisting anger conflict even intensify way top trump blame answer american political parties become structurally designed whip racial anger division maximum extent word structural important bigger individual even camp system lot written republican partys infamous southern strategy 1970s appeal white southern voters including coded racial appeals lot written concept emerging democratic majority minorities coastal elites young would deliver permanent unassailable governing majorities left strategy works political analyst robert tracinski160 called160a southern strategy reverse strategy work democrats need get supermajorities minority votes need keep voters polarized along racial lines party associated certain shades skin color look every national election cycle weve last decade one finding becomes starkly obvious party turns wins 2008 2012 minority turnout average democrats 2010 2014 2016 white turnout average republicans incentive parties keep voters polarized along racial lines make voters angry panicked fearful turn vote side sides system set neverending arms race important note saying saying parties morally equivalent sides equally blame course theyre course white racism worse course morally worse stoke white racial anxieties indisputable making moral argument looking understand way things tell going reason important note sides incentives make tepid moral equivalency shows system selfperpetuating say us locked arms race soviet union youre saying communism equivalent democracy stalin eisenhower accurately describing happening saying right also important understand media ecosystem making things worse also incentivized stoke division racial controversies great ratings clicks social media perfect engineering anger division obviously stop talking race real issues discrimination policing need address please notice today everything actually addressing issues ferguson subsequent black lives matter protests many americans asked tough probing questions policing black communities debates colin kaepernick national anthem confederate statues however feel issues please note are160purely symbolic none directly affect policing criminal justice discrimination racial wealth disparities system parties wired stoke racial division hatred media magnify worst thing could address real issues people might talk tradeoffs particular policy might involve people might start ideas compromises temperature might cool even little bit issues symbolic however thats left team remind virtuous hateful everyone team b system man point previous argument found angrily thinking problem trump problem democrats well youre entirely wrong course theyre part problem real problem ideas matter policies matter politics matters political parties nothing utterly amoral vehicles winning elections fine need political parties democracy important utilities wouldnt wear utilitys tshirt feel contempt someone gets electricity different company political parties obviously going deracialize start us believe believe fight issues yes trump dangerous demagogue yes social justice warriors crazy disturbing powerful within democratic party time also case feel getting angry latest outrage pop facebook feed played issue isnt real important millions real important issues world reason specific issue put front eyes played cold unfeeling monsters political powerbrokers behind team blue team red team blue team red want angry pissedoff contemptuous fellow american every day dont notice political elite picking pocket believe ideas defend advance without giving tribalism hatred give feed vicious cycle taking us tailspin wake need pascalemmanuel gobry fellow ethics public policy center | 606 |
<p>TAMPA — The <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers/" type="external">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> beat the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Chicago_Bears/" type="external">Chicago Bears</a>. The <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Pittsburgh_Steelers/" type="external">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> beat the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Minnesota-Vikings/" type="external">Minnesota Vikings</a>. The Bears beat the Steelers.</p>
<p>It’s a crazy NFL from week to week and that’s about all head coach <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Dirk-Koetter/" type="external">Dirk Koetter</a> can say to explain away Tampa Bay’s 34-17 loss at Minnesota.</p>
<p>“The Steelers got after the Vikings pretty good; one week later, look what happened,” Koetter said Monday. “A week ago, Oakland, Denver and Seattle were unbeatable and they all lost yesterday. Yeah, I do think it’s a week-to-week league.</p>
<p>“That said, I’m worried about the way our team played. We didn’t play good enough in any area yesterday. We have to play more consistent <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/John_Walker/" type="external">football</a> than we did and when we do that, we will like the results better.”</p>
<p>The Bucs can start by tightening up their pass coverage. Tampa Bay was playing without three defensive starters — cornerback Brent Grimes, defensive tackle <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Chris_Baker/" type="external">Chris Baker</a> and linebacker Kwon Alexander.</p>
<p>During the game, they experienced injuries to defensive end Noah Spence, defensive tackle <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Gerald-McCoy/" type="external">Gerald McCoy</a> and linebacker Lavonte David, who had to be carted off the field in the fourth quarter.</p>
<p>But that didn’t explain why Vikings quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Case_Keenum/" type="external">Case Keenum</a>, who has beaten Tampa Bay three times in the last three years, was able to pass for 369 yards and three touchdowns.</p>
<p>“We got beat in every aspect and one of them was (them) throwing the ball over our head,” Koetter said. “We just weren’t tight enough on our coverage and your coverage, your over-the-top coverage, your intermediate coverage and your pass rush all has to work together and we didn’t at all.</p>
<p>“We didn’t put pressure on him. (Case) Keenum did a good job of getting rid of the ball. Our underneath coverage didn’t get deep enough in their drops and our deep coverage played too loose and let them throw balls not only behind them, but in front of them.”</p>
<p>The other problem was turnovers.</p>
<p>The Bucs ran only 51 plays to the Vikings’ 70. But quarterback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jameis-Winston/" type="external">Jameis Winston</a> had a chance to get back in the game in the second half. Unfortunately, he was intercepted three times.</p>
<p>“The first one, again, that’s a touchdown,” Koetter said. “That’s a 14-point swing right there with the way it ended up. That’s a seven-point swing, you know, DeSean (Jackson) smoked that guy and Jameis has got to get it out there for him — plain and simple on that. The second interception, we were driving, we were back within two scores, we were across the 50 on the plus 45 and it was a poor read. We had a good man-zone indicator there. Jameis missed the read, try to force it in there to DeSean, he had to step up, had a little bit of pressure, tried to force it in there — just not going to work. On the third interception, now we are down 17 points.</p>
<p>“We probably don’t have enough possessions and Jameis tried to force it into Mike (Evans) — (he’s) just got to check that ball down. I think at one point in the second half, Jameis was something like 18 out of 22. I’m talking in the second half now, two incompletions and two interceptions, so Jameis made some really nice plays, some really nice throws, but just the main thing is as an offense we can’t turn it over. Those kinds of things have a tendency to happen more when you’re playing from behind and you’re playing in a more desperate situation than you would like to be.”</p>
<p>The road won’t get easier for the Bucs. Tampa Bay will host the Giants on Oct. 1 and then the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/New_England_Patriots/" type="external">New England Patriots</a> visit four days later.</p>
<p>“We treat it as a normal week just because it is a normal week, No. 1,” Koetter said. “We do have two home games in 11 days and especially coming off the way we played yesterday, it makes it even more important. The first thing we have to do is put this game behind us. Twenty-four-hour rule – we are getting pretty close right now to being at 24 hours. We got a little bit beat up yesterday. The players came in, worked out today, watched the tape, got their grades, did their postgame workouts and then the players will be off tomorrow.</p>
<p>“(The) coaches turn their attention already to the Giants and then we will come in and have a normal Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. We’ve got to get ready for a Giants team that obviously is looking for a win as well.”</p>
<p>NOTES, QUOTES</p>
<p>–Center Ali Marpet still is a work in progress since moving over from right guard. He had several errant shotgun snaps on Sunday that threw off the timing of the play.</p>
<p>“(Ali Marpet) went through a little stretch there where he had like three in a four-play sequence right there in the second half and then it was fine,” head coach Dirk Koetter said. “Maybe this all would have happened in the Miami game had we played. First game on the road in a loud stadium – I thought for the most part we handled the noise OK. Other than that, it did throw us off a little. We are still 100 percent on board with moving Ali to center. He is going to be an excellent center and (he is) doing a lot of things well.”</p>
<p>–Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy says he is tired of the trolls on social media taking shots at his teammates following Sunday’s loss.</p>
<p>“There’s a bunch of people out there that say a lot of terrible things that I know they wouldn’t say to our face,” McCoy said. “These social media tough guys. I would love to meet them. Just being honest. … I would love to meet you. I work at One Buccaneer Place if you would like to talk to me. I’m not going to give you my home address, but I’ll meet you up here anytime you want to talk about it.”</p>
<p>STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL</p>
<p>PLAYER NOTES</p>
<p>–LB Lavonte David has an ankle sprain, but not a high ankle sprain, which might have cost him 4-6 weeks. As it is the Bucs are optimistic to get David back sooner, although he likely will miss games against the Giants and Patriots.</p>
<p>–DE Noah Spence dislocated his right shoulder again Sunday but finished the game. Spence had offseason shoulder surgery on a torn labrum.</p>
<p>–CB Brent Grimes has a shoulder injury and did not play Sunday at Minnesota. He was limited in practice last week, but there is a good chance he could play vs. the Giants.</p>
<p>–DE Jacquies Smith missed Sunday’s game with the flu but should be back this week vs. Minnesota.</p>
<p>–G Evan Smith got the start over Kevin Pamphile at left guard Sunday because Pamphile missed time with the flu.</p>
<p>REPORT CARD VS VIKINGS</p>
<p>—PASSING OFFENSE: D – QB Jameis Winston passed for 328 yards and two touchdowns. But he also threw three interceptions and was never pressured on any of them. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Xavier-Rhodes/" type="external">Xavier Rhodes</a> did a good job on <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Mike_Evans/" type="external">Mike Evans</a>. Center Ali Marpet had some bad snaps in the shotgun formation that killed the timing of plays.</p>
<p>—RUSHING OFFENSE: F – The Bucs were not committed to running the football. They fell behind early, sure, but running backs only combined or nine touches Sunday. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jacquizz_Rodgers/" type="external">Jacquizz Rodgers</a> had five carries for 15 yards. The Bucs did not utilize second-year RB Peyton Barber at all.</p>
<p>—PASS DEFENSE: F – Case Keenum becomes the “best player in the NFL” according to head coach Dirk Koetter, anytime he plays the Bucs. Keenum is 3-0 in the past three years vs. Tampa Bay, including two wins with the Rams. The Bucs let every pass go over their heads. Keenum had three more passes of 45 yards or more.</p>
<p>—RUSH DEFENSE: C-minus – The Bucs did a decent job on RB <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Dalvin-Cook/" type="external">Dalvin Cook</a>. He gained 97 yards and a touchdown on the ground, but it took him 27 carries for a 3.6 average. Rookie Kendell Beckwith, playing for injured starter Kwon Alexander, led the team in tackles.</p>
<p>—SPECIAL TEAMS: C-minus – The Bucs got a 50-yard kickoff return from Bernard Reedy. That was the highlight. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Nick_Folk/" type="external">Nick Folk</a> made his only field-goal attempt from 40 yards and both extra points. Punter Bryan Anger wasn’t up to his usual standards with a 40.8 average.</p>
<p>—COACHING: F – The Bucs were thoroughly outplayed and outcoached. Dirk Koetter and his staff couldn’t prevent the Bucs from following a big opening-day win with a lopsided loss. Defensive coordinator <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Mike_Smith/" type="external">Mike Smith</a> had a terrible plan against Case Keenum. Special teams were underwhelming.</p> | false | 1 | tampa tampa bay buccaneers beat chicago bears pittsburgh steelers beat minnesota vikings bears beat steelers crazy nfl week week thats head coach dirk koetter say explain away tampa bays 3417 loss minnesota steelers got vikings pretty good one week later look happened koetter said monday week ago oakland denver seattle unbeatable lost yesterday yeah think weektoweek league said im worried way team played didnt play good enough area yesterday play consistent football like results better bucs start tightening pass coverage tampa bay playing without three defensive starters cornerback brent grimes defensive tackle chris baker linebacker kwon alexander game experienced injuries defensive end noah spence defensive tackle gerald mccoy linebacker lavonte david carted field fourth quarter didnt explain vikings quarterback case keenum beaten tampa bay three times last three years able pass 369 yards three touchdowns got beat every aspect one throwing ball head koetter said werent tight enough coverage coverage overthetop coverage intermediate coverage pass rush work together didnt didnt put pressure case keenum good job getting rid ball underneath coverage didnt get deep enough drops deep coverage played loose let throw balls behind front problem turnovers bucs ran 51 plays vikings 70 quarterback jameis winston chance get back game second half unfortunately intercepted three times first one thats touchdown koetter said thats 14point swing right way ended thats sevenpoint swing know desean jackson smoked guy jameis got get plain simple second interception driving back within two scores across 50 plus 45 poor read good manzone indicator jameis missed read try force desean step little bit pressure tried force going work third interception 17 points probably dont enough possessions jameis tried force mike evans hes got check ball think one point second half jameis something like 18 22 im talking second half two incompletions two interceptions jameis made really nice plays really nice throws main thing offense cant turn kinds things tendency happen youre playing behind youre playing desperate situation would like road wont get easier bucs tampa bay host giants oct 1 new england patriots visit four days later treat normal week normal week 1 koetter said two home games 11 days especially coming way played yesterday makes even important first thing put game behind us twentyfourhour rule getting pretty close right 24 hours got little bit beat yesterday players came worked today watched tape got grades postgame workouts players tomorrow coaches turn attention already giants come normal wednesday thursday friday weve got get ready giants team obviously looking win well notes quotes center ali marpet still work progress since moving right guard several errant shotgun snaps sunday threw timing play ali marpet went little stretch like three fourplay sequence right second half fine head coach dirk koetter said maybe would happened miami game played first game road loud stadium thought part handled noise ok throw us little still 100 percent board moving ali center going excellent center lot things well defensive tackle gerald mccoy says tired trolls social media taking shots teammates following sundays loss theres bunch people say lot terrible things know wouldnt say face mccoy said social media tough guys would love meet honest would love meet work one buccaneer place would like talk im going give home address ill meet anytime want talk strategy personnel player notes lb lavonte david ankle sprain high ankle sprain might cost 46 weeks bucs optimistic get david back sooner although likely miss games giants patriots de noah spence dislocated right shoulder sunday finished game spence offseason shoulder surgery torn labrum cb brent grimes shoulder injury play sunday minnesota limited practice last week good chance could play vs giants de jacquies smith missed sundays game flu back week vs minnesota g evan smith got start kevin pamphile left guard sunday pamphile missed time flu report card vs vikings passing offense qb jameis winston passed 328 yards two touchdowns also threw three interceptions never pressured xavier rhodes good job mike evans center ali marpet bad snaps shotgun formation killed timing plays rushing offense f bucs committed running football fell behind early sure running backs combined nine touches sunday jacquizz rodgers five carries 15 yards bucs utilize secondyear rb peyton barber pass defense f case keenum becomes best player nfl according head coach dirk koetter anytime plays bucs keenum 30 past three years vs tampa bay including two wins rams bucs let every pass go heads keenum three passes 45 yards rush defense cminus bucs decent job rb dalvin cook gained 97 yards touchdown ground took 27 carries 36 average rookie kendell beckwith playing injured starter kwon alexander led team tackles special teams cminus bucs got 50yard kickoff return bernard reedy highlight nick folk made fieldgoal attempt 40 yards extra points punter bryan anger wasnt usual standards 408 average coaching f bucs thoroughly outplayed outcoached dirk koetter staff couldnt prevent bucs following big openingday win lopsided loss defensive coordinator mike smith terrible plan case keenum special teams underwhelming | 816 |
<p>AUSTIN, Texas — The man tasked with overseeing Texas’ Hurricane Harvey rebuilding efforts sees his job as “future-proofing” before the next disaster, but he isn’t empowered on his own to reshape flood-prone Houston or the state’s vulnerable coastline, which has been walloped by three major hurricanes since 2006.</p>
<p>Texas A&amp;M Chancellor John Sharp will face the same political and bureaucratic challenges that have long stalled meaningful improvements in storm protections, and some doubt that even Harvey’s record flooding and huge price tag will bring about real change.</p>
<p>“It doesn’t give me very much confidence at all,” Houston resident Steve Sacks said of the prospects that the government will get the recovery right. Sacks’s home has flooded four times since 2012, and even before Harvey’s floodwaters near the rooftops in his Meyerland neighborhood, he was frustrated by delays and what he believes is the mismanagement of a government project to elevate homes in the city.</p>
<p>“It’s all spur of the moment and not thought out. It’s just, ‘Let’s go ahead and react now to make it look good,'” said the 46-year-old Sacks.</p>
<p>Sharp, who was appointed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, follows a line of fix-it men charged with picking up the pieces following major storms in recent years, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012. He has won early bipartisan praise as a practical choice to preside over the efforts to recover from Harvey, which killed more than 70 people and damaged or destroyed more than 200,000 homes.</p>
<p>Sharp is the rare Democrat with sustained relevance in Republican-controlled Texas. He is a former lawmaker and state comptroller who was U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry’s college roommate at Texas A&amp;M, which Sharp has led since 2011 and will continue to lead while overseeing the rebuilding effort. Abbott joked that he’s now getting calls, texts and emails from Sharp “up to and sometimes well after midnight.”</p>
<p>Sharp hasn’t laid out a long-term rebuilding plan yet and most of his public comments so far have been aimed at reassuring hard-hit communities that he won’t be a bureaucratic cog. But he has indicated that he’s thinking about the next disaster, saying “one of the guiding principles will be to future-proof what is being rebuilt so as to mitigate future risks as much as possible.”</p>
<p>Abbott spokesman John Wittman said Sharp will be involved in developing a rebuilding plan to “minimize the impact” of future natural disasters and will advocate for funding.</p>
<p>But Sharp is constrained in how far he can go in reimagining a more resilient Texas coast. His mandate only pertains to public infrastructure, and not housing, which experts say is crucial to any comprehensive mitigation plan, including buying out particularly flood-prone neighborhoods.</p>
<p>Sharp’s mandate also doesn’t mention zoning changes — Houston is the largest U.S. city with no zoning laws — or how much money the state will put up to deliver on his eventual recommendations. Abbott, who has estimated that the recovery could cost more than $150 billion, has suggested the state will dip into its $10 billion rainy day fund, but not by how much.</p>
<p>“When you’re dealing with a limited amount of funds, there are always trade-offs that have to be made,” said Marc Williams, deputy executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation. His agency will work closely with Sharp’s commission, which could recommend elevating certain roads that flooded during Harvey.</p>
<p>All rebuilding czars are eventually tested by political and financial realities. Donald Powell, who left his role as chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to be the federal coordinator of Gulf Coast recovery efforts after Katrina, expressed frustration over not being able to speed up the rebuilding.</p>
<p>Marc Ferzan, who was appointed by Gov. Chris Christie to oversee New Jersey’s recovery after Sandy, said his biggest struggle was jumping from agency to agency to get funding.</p>
<p>“Whether it’s Katrina or Sandy or any major event you’re going to hear the same story. It’s just the way disaster aid is administered. It’s a slow, cumbersome process that is too bureaucratic to respond to the urgency of the situation,” he said.</p>
<p>After Hurricane Andrew caused $26 billion in damage to the Miami area in 1992, Florida installed the most stringent building codes in the country. Since 2001, structures throughout the state must be built to withstand winds of at least 111 mph (178 kph), and new codes also require shatterproof windows, fortified roofs and reinforced concrete pillars, among other things.</p>
<p>Sam Brody, an environmental planning expert and director of the Center for Texas Beaches and Shores at Texas A&amp;M University, said drainage is among the “low-hanging fruit” that could be addressed immediately to begin future-proofing the coast for the next major storm. But he said the funds and the political determination must be solved.</p>
<p>“In terms of will, there hasn’t been the will in the past. Maybe this is a wake-up call, and maybe with his leadership and personality, he can change the way we can think and act,” Brody said of Sharp.</p>
<p>This week, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner endorsed long-stalled plans for a sweeping reservoir project that might have spared parts of the city from Harvey’s flooding. He also has joined some top Texas Republicans in urging Congress to approve billions to build a coastal seawall that could protect Houston and other areas from deadly storm surges that Harvey didn’t unleash but that future storms could.</p>
<p>Turner said Houston “cannot talk about rebuilding” if “we do not build the coastal spine.”</p>
<p>How active the federal government will be in making the Texas coast more resilient is unclear. Following Sandy, the Obama administration commissioned a design competition that ultimately resulted in nearly $1 billion in federal funding to kickstart projects that include turning the low-lying Meadowlands into a flood-protected public park and installing bulkheads and seawalls along the Hudson River.</p>
<p>The project, known as Rebuild by Design, was just a one-time initiative. And even when things go right, such enormous undertakings are slow to materialize: the first projects aren’t scheduled to break ground until 2019, seven years after Sandy.</p>
<p>“You are receptive when you feel like something ripped the heart out of your city,” said Amy Chester, managing director of Rebuild by Design. “Everyone is going to need to say, ‘We’ve had enough.'”</p> | false | 1 | austin texas man tasked overseeing texas hurricane harvey rebuilding efforts sees job futureproofing next disaster isnt empowered reshape floodprone houston states vulnerable coastline walloped three major hurricanes since 2006 texas aampm chancellor john sharp face political bureaucratic challenges long stalled meaningful improvements storm protections doubt even harveys record flooding huge price tag bring real change doesnt give much confidence houston resident steve sacks said prospects government get recovery right sackss home flooded four times since 2012 even harveys floodwaters near rooftops meyerland neighborhood frustrated delays believes mismanagement government project elevate homes city spur moment thought lets go ahead react make look good said 46yearold sacks sharp appointed republican gov greg abbott follows line fixit men charged picking pieces following major storms recent years including hurricane katrina 2005 superstorm sandy 2012 early bipartisan praise practical choice preside efforts recover harvey killed 70 people damaged destroyed 200000 homes sharp rare democrat sustained relevance republicancontrolled texas former lawmaker state comptroller us energy secretary rick perrys college roommate texas aampm sharp led since 2011 continue lead overseeing rebuilding effort abbott joked hes getting calls texts emails sharp sometimes well midnight sharp hasnt laid longterm rebuilding plan yet public comments far aimed reassuring hardhit communities wont bureaucratic cog indicated hes thinking next disaster saying one guiding principles futureproof rebuilt mitigate future risks much possible abbott spokesman john wittman said sharp involved developing rebuilding plan minimize impact future natural disasters advocate funding sharp constrained far go reimagining resilient texas coast mandate pertains public infrastructure housing experts say crucial comprehensive mitigation plan including buying particularly floodprone neighborhoods sharps mandate also doesnt mention zoning changes houston largest us city zoning laws much money state put deliver eventual recommendations abbott estimated recovery could cost 150 billion suggested state dip 10 billion rainy day fund much youre dealing limited amount funds always tradeoffs made said marc williams deputy executive director texas department transportation agency work closely sharps commission could recommend elevating certain roads flooded harvey rebuilding czars eventually tested political financial realities donald powell left role chairman federal deposit insurance corporation federal coordinator gulf coast recovery efforts katrina expressed frustration able speed rebuilding marc ferzan appointed gov chris christie oversee new jerseys recovery sandy said biggest struggle jumping agency agency get funding whether katrina sandy major event youre going hear story way disaster aid administered slow cumbersome process bureaucratic respond urgency situation said hurricane andrew caused 26 billion damage miami area 1992 florida installed stringent building codes country since 2001 structures throughout state must built withstand winds least 111 mph 178 kph new codes also require shatterproof windows fortified roofs reinforced concrete pillars among things sam brody environmental planning expert director center texas beaches shores texas aampm university said drainage among lowhanging fruit could addressed immediately begin futureproofing coast next major storm said funds political determination must solved terms hasnt past maybe wakeup call maybe leadership personality change way think act brody said sharp week houston mayor sylvester turner endorsed longstalled plans sweeping reservoir project might spared parts city harveys flooding also joined top texas republicans urging congress approve billions build coastal seawall could protect houston areas deadly storm surges harvey didnt unleash future storms could turner said houston talk rebuilding build coastal spine active federal government making texas coast resilient unclear following sandy obama administration commissioned design competition ultimately resulted nearly 1 billion federal funding kickstart projects include turning lowlying meadowlands floodprotected public park installing bulkheads seawalls along hudson river project known rebuild design onetime initiative even things go right enormous undertakings slow materialize first projects arent scheduled break ground 2019 seven years sandy receptive feel like something ripped heart city said amy chester managing director rebuild design everyone going need say weve enough | 615 |
<p>Part 2 of an interview with Yuval Levin. (View part 1 <a href="" type="internal">here</a>.)</p>
<p>We’re honored to feature an excerpt of an interview of Yuval Levin by Charles Kesler. <a href="http://thefederalist.com/2014/10/14/is-burke-the-right-role-model-for-american-conservatives/" type="external">You can watch and read the first excerpt here</a>. Levin is the Hertog Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the editor of National Affairs, and author of, most recently, The Great Debate: Edmund Burke, Thomas Paine, and the Birth of Left and Right. Charles Kesler is a senior fellow at The Claremont Institute and editor of The Claremont Review of Books.</p>
<p />
<p>Charles Kesler: With Tom Paine, we arrive at a figure who is … Central might be a little bit too strong, but important in two revolutions. I mean, he was the author of Common Sense and The Crisis over here in the American revolution/ then, marvelously found himself in France just at the right time to participate in the opening acts of the French revolution and to get himself thrown in prison.</p>
<p>Paine raises the question, “What is his relation to the American revolution,” and, “What’s the American revolution’s relation to American conservatism these days?” What role should the American founding or the American revolution, call it what you will, play in today’s formulations of conservatism?</p>
<p>Yuval Levin: Well, I think that the order that we as conservatives have been trying to conserve is impossible to understand without the American founding and more than that, it owes itself to the American founding. Paine understood and articulated something very important about the American founding, not everything about it. His idea of the founding was much more radical, I think than the founding itself, more radical than Jefferson even and certainly more radical than the average view of the American living at the time and even of the American founders.</p>
<p>Charles Kesler: What do you mean by that?</p>
<p>Yuval Levin: Well, Paine saw the American founding as a philosophical event. It’s also why he found himself in France when he did and why he had that great timing in the age of revolutions. Paine said himself that he was a revolutionary more than an American. And of course it’s impossible to avoid that. Paine only arrived in America a year and a half before the Declaration of Independence.</p>
<p>Charles Kesler: He had an uncanny eye for revolution.</p>
<p>Yuval Levin: He had an extraordinary ability to find himself in the right place at the right time. What he believed was happening in America was the dawn of a new age, essentially an inevitable age that could only be stopped by the worst kind of despotism, which he thought was what was happening, is what the actions of the British meant in America.&#160;What that age meant was the dawning of a political order that answered the political ideas and especially through enlightenment. It was about equality, about the freedom of the individual. Paine held to I think it’s fair to say, the most radical form of a Lockean liberalism, which is not itself the most radical form of liberalism, by any means.</p>
<p>He found himself at home in America and thought that the American revolution should be understood in terms of the first chapter in an era of revolutions that he spread around the world. He very much connected the American revolution and the French revolution.</p>
<p>The connection between those two was a controversial question in America, was in some sense the controversial question of the error of the French revolution here. For Paine there was no question. It was all about opening this new age of individual liberation, of equality and liberty and democracy.</p>
<p>Of course, that was partially right, so the spirit of Paine is very much alive in anyone who wants to preserve the spirit of the American Revolution. I think it doesn’t account for everything about the revolution. It isn’t everything that conservatives should conserve. Also, Paine’s disposition and Paine’s attitude about knowledge in the role of policy and politics isn’t really what conservatives try to conserve or ever have.</p>
<p>His disposition is radical. That is, he was first and foremost outraged at the bad and believed that it could be undone only by overthrowing the tyranny of the political order that we inherited and starting over on the right foundations. In that sense he was literally a radical. He wanted to go to the core, to the root, to the beginning and thought that you could almost return to a kind of state of nature and from it build in the right way and get to the right kinds of institutions.</p>
<p>That’s not exactly what the American revolution did. The American revolution believed that it had more to draw on than that, so tried to draw the best out of the English tradition and to build new ideas upon that and to build a new political order upon that.</p>
<p>Charles Kesler: Where do you draw the line there? I mean, Paine is in favor of human equality, liberty, natural rights, consent of the governed, social contract, limited government in some large sense of the term just like Jefferson, just like Adams, just like Hamilton or just like Madison.</p>
<p>Yuval Levin: Well, Paine was a believer in absolute democracy. He didn’t believe in the division of powers. He was an opponent of the constitution, though he was very careful not to say too much about it. He certainly didn’t believe in the bicameral legislature and in federalism the way it took shape in the constitution. He was a believer that opening up democracy, allowing it to have its way was the right approach to government and that anything else was a compromise with realities that didn’t need to be compromised with anymore and shouldn’t be compromised with.</p>
<p>I think Paine was much more radical than Jefferson and much less practical than Jefferson and certainly much more so than Madison, let alone Hamilton and Adams.</p>
<p>Charles Kesler: Well, certainly in his later career when he became openly anti-Christian, he far exceeded the bounds of American opinion and even of American radical opinion.</p>
<p>Yuval Levin: Paine, I think also shows you how that radical form of liberalism can lead to a much greater belief in the power and role of government, ultimately, so that you can see in the course of his career a development from what is essentially radical libertarianism to the early roots of welfare state thinking. By 1800, he is writing about creating a system by which government will help the poor. His belief always was that if you liberate the right principles, all these problems should be solved, including poverty, including war.</p>
<p>When it didn’t happen by itself, Paine came to believe that government could help it happen, if it was the right sort of government, if it was a fully democratic government. He writes in an essay called “Agrarian Justice” in 1797, what it essentially kind of description of a proto-welfare state. It provides benefits directly to the public to alleviate poverty. That’s not where Burke was ever headed. The path from radical individualism to safeism is much easier for Paine and I think is much easier for the people who have followed Paine to the more radical approach in the liberal society that followed Paine, because ultimately, a lot of it is about ends.</p>
<p>When the means that Paine believed in didn’t achieve those ends, the followers of Paine and even of Jefferson became open to far different kinds of means because the utopian ends were the point for them. I think you start to see in Paine’s own career, how the belief in limited government is the first thing to give way when it turns out not to work in practice the way that he had hoped.</p>
<p>Charles Kesler: Would he say in defense of himself that both the scheme of agrarian justice and the beginnings of a welfare state and the rights of man are meant for England, I mean meant for a society that has been aristocratic and has been warped by the experience of aristocracy, but not meant for a more natural society, in his terms, as the United States?</p>
<p>Yuval Levin: Well, I wouldn’t say that they were not meant for the United States. Paine, in Agrarian Justice, in one of the later editions of it, in 1802, there’s an American introduction to agrarian justice and he seemed to think it would have some value in America. Now, Paine thought America did have a kind of aristocratic past, at least certain parts of America, that had to be overcome.</p>
<p>I think he would make a form of that case, but ultimately that case amounts to saying that this wouldn’t be necessary in a perfect society, but it is necessary in a real society. That means that it’s necessary. Every society has its history and its limitations. The idea that you can start over and not have to confront the burdens of the past is certainly something Paine always hoped for, but I think it’s fair to say it’s something that is ultimately not possible.</p>
<p>Charles Kesler: Which would you say is the more American debate, though, between Paine and say, Adams or his critics in America, of which he had many, precisely because he was a simple government man, not a complex government man, didn’t really trust or didn’t think checks and balances were really necessary in that kind of thing? French almost in his thinking as far as that goes. Is that the debate or is the Burke-Paine debate the American debate?</p>
<p>Yuval Levin: Well, I think that the Burke-Paine debate is actually a deeper form of that same debate. I think Burke and Paine brought out in each other really their deepest views. They forced one another to think about the roots of their beliefs. The view that Burke is articulating is very similar to the one that Adams make that argues against Paine. Burke is also a believer in complexity.</p>
<p>Ultimately, because he thinks that that complexity arose for a reason and that the reason is probably not entirely knowable to us, so that again, we should start with working institutions, keep those and build on them in ways that try to address their problems. That’s going to result in a very complicated government, in a government that has all sorts of arms and legs.</p>
<p>It’s not clear what its various vestiges are achieving, exactly. Burke was a reformer of some of those when it was clear they were excessive, but he also believed in maintaining them, more or less because they existed and were working. That certainly wasn’t Paine’s view. What the Burke-Paine debate allows you to see – there was no real debate with Adams. Of course, Paine never really quite answered Adams. Adams insulted him in very abusing ways, but it didn’t exactly get down to profound ideas, like the age of Paine. He loved that his name was Paine. It was such a wonderful thing for John Adams.</p>
<p>The Burke-Paine debate gets to ideas and ultimately gets to the question of how we should think about the sources and the roots of politics. For Burke, the key fact is that politics has to begin from the given world. That means that it has to be a politics of generational connections. It has to be a politics of gradual improvement. Paine simply rejected that, including the generational question.</p>
<p>Paine makes explicit something that a lot of other liberal thinkers don’t, which is that the state of nature idea as a source of our understanding of rights, means that there is no importance to the connection between generations. Every person has to be thought of like the first person in the world.</p>
<p>To Burke, this was sheer insanity and it would be impossible to build a society by beginning from that premise. The Burke-Paine debate shows us therefore, that our heritage, our inheritance is very complicated. We want to believe and do in the sort of idea of rights that Paine articulates, but the roots of that idea as Paine lays them out, I think are not ultimately supportable. Those ideas come from somewhere deeper, somewhere further in our intellectual heritage, in British history and in western civilization, in places that a lot of liberals were not comfortable talking about then and are not comfortable talking about now.</p>
<p>The danger of not talking about it or of not seeing those roots, is that it can very easily become utilitarian if you have no roots. It really can be all about ends. At that point you lose the case for limits. That’s exactly what happens in Paine’s own thinking.</p> | false | 1 | part 2 interview yuval levin view part 1 honored feature excerpt interview yuval levin charles kesler watch read first excerpt levin hertog fellow ethics public policy center editor national affairs author recently great debate edmund burke thomas paine birth left right charles kesler senior fellow claremont institute editor claremont review books charles kesler tom paine arrive figure central might little bit strong important two revolutions mean author common sense crisis american revolution marvelously found france right time participate opening acts french revolution get thrown prison paine raises question relation american revolution whats american revolutions relation american conservatism days role american founding american revolution call play todays formulations conservatism yuval levin well think order conservatives trying conserve impossible understand without american founding owes american founding paine understood articulated something important american founding everything idea founding much radical think founding radical jefferson even certainly radical average view american living time even american founders charles kesler mean yuval levin well paine saw american founding philosophical event also found france great timing age revolutions paine said revolutionary american course impossible avoid paine arrived america year half declaration independence charles kesler uncanny eye revolution yuval levin extraordinary ability find right place right time believed happening america dawn new age essentially inevitable age could stopped worst kind despotism thought happening actions british meant america160what age meant dawning political order answered political ideas especially enlightenment equality freedom individual paine held think fair say radical form lockean liberalism radical form liberalism means found home america thought american revolution understood terms first chapter era revolutions spread around world much connected american revolution french revolution connection two controversial question america sense controversial question error french revolution paine question opening new age individual liberation equality liberty democracy course partially right spirit paine much alive anyone wants preserve spirit american revolution think doesnt account everything revolution isnt everything conservatives conserve also paines disposition paines attitude knowledge role policy politics isnt really conservatives try conserve ever disposition radical first foremost outraged bad believed could undone overthrowing tyranny political order inherited starting right foundations sense literally radical wanted go core root beginning thought could almost return kind state nature build right way get right kinds institutions thats exactly american revolution american revolution believed draw tried draw best english tradition build new ideas upon build new political order upon charles kesler draw line mean paine favor human equality liberty natural rights consent governed social contract limited government large sense term like jefferson like adams like hamilton like madison yuval levin well paine believer absolute democracy didnt believe division powers opponent constitution though careful say much certainly didnt believe bicameral legislature federalism way took shape constitution believer opening democracy allowing way right approach government anything else compromise realities didnt need compromised anymore shouldnt compromised think paine much radical jefferson much less practical jefferson certainly much madison let alone hamilton adams charles kesler well certainly later career became openly antichristian far exceeded bounds american opinion even american radical opinion yuval levin paine think also shows radical form liberalism lead much greater belief power role government ultimately see course career development essentially radical libertarianism early roots welfare state thinking 1800 writing creating system government help poor belief always liberate right principles problems solved including poverty including war didnt happen paine came believe government could help happen right sort government fully democratic government writes essay called agrarian justice 1797 essentially kind description protowelfare state provides benefits directly public alleviate poverty thats burke ever headed path radical individualism safeism much easier paine think much easier people followed paine radical approach liberal society followed paine ultimately lot ends means paine believed didnt achieve ends followers paine even jefferson became open far different kinds means utopian ends point think start see paines career belief limited government first thing give way turns work practice way hoped charles kesler would say defense scheme agrarian justice beginnings welfare state rights man meant england mean meant society aristocratic warped experience aristocracy meant natural society terms united states yuval levin well wouldnt say meant united states paine agrarian justice one later editions 1802 theres american introduction agrarian justice seemed think would value america paine thought america kind aristocratic past least certain parts america overcome think would make form case ultimately case amounts saying wouldnt necessary perfect society necessary real society means necessary every society history limitations idea start confront burdens past certainly something paine always hoped think fair say something ultimately possible charles kesler would say american debate though paine say adams critics america many precisely simple government man complex government man didnt really trust didnt think checks balances really necessary kind thing french almost thinking far goes debate burkepaine debate american debate yuval levin well think burkepaine debate actually deeper form debate think burke paine brought really deepest views forced one another think roots beliefs view burke articulating similar one adams make argues paine burke also believer complexity ultimately thinks complexity arose reason reason probably entirely knowable us start working institutions keep build ways try address problems thats going result complicated government government sorts arms legs clear various vestiges achieving exactly burke reformer clear excessive also believed maintaining less existed working certainly wasnt paines view burkepaine debate allows see real debate adams course paine never really quite answered adams adams insulted abusing ways didnt exactly get profound ideas like age paine loved name paine wonderful thing john adams burkepaine debate gets ideas ultimately gets question think sources roots politics burke key fact politics begin given world means politics generational connections politics gradual improvement paine simply rejected including generational question paine makes explicit something lot liberal thinkers dont state nature idea source understanding rights means importance connection generations every person thought like first person world burke sheer insanity would impossible build society beginning premise burkepaine debate shows us therefore heritage inheritance complicated want believe sort idea rights paine articulates roots idea paine lays think ultimately supportable ideas come somewhere deeper somewhere intellectual heritage british history western civilization places lot liberals comfortable talking comfortable talking danger talking seeing roots easily become utilitarian roots really ends point lose case limits thats exactly happens paines thinking | 1,016 |
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal">&lt;img class="aligncenter wp-image-14150" title="Ron-Paul-statesman" src="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Ron-Paul-statesman.jpg" alt="Ron Paul" width="459" height="283" /&gt;</a></p>
<p>Doug Wead, a senior advisor to the Ron Paul campaign, <a href="https://dougwead.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/ron-paul-to-obama-and-romney-jerusalem-is-the-capital-of-israel/" type="external">writes in his blog</a> that Ron Paul was asked by evangelical leaders about moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. “The real issue here is not what America wants but what Israel wants,” Dr. Paul told them, according to Wead. “We have no right to choose their capital…. If they say it is Jerusalem, then it is Jerusalem.” Wead summarizes Dr. Paul’s position as: “Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Get over it.”</p>
<p>Ron Paul’s position, as reported by Mr. Wead, is morally and legally wrong, as well as strategically mistaken. Dr. Paul has stood out as a presidential candidate precisely because of his unwavering consistency and incorruptibility, the only one who is not willing to betray his values to win votes or pander to the lobbies. His statement on Jerusalem is extremely damaging to that reputation, and will no doubt give rise to the charge that he has sold his soul to the “Israeli lobby”.</p>
<p>If we give him the benefit of the doubt and assume his position is sincere, that he has not said this merely to win some votes, then we must assume that Dr. Paul is just not very well read on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is not the first time that he has been wrong in his views regarding Israel. His campaign often touts that he was the only one to defend Israel’s bombing of Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981, which is entirely inconsistent with his correct observation that “Another term for preventive war is aggressive war—starting wars because someday somebody might do something to us.”</p>
<p>Israel’s attack was not a “preemptive” act of self-defense, but an act of aggression, “the supreme international crime”, as defined at Nuremberg. The IAEA had been monitoring Iraq’s program, and there was no evidence at that time of any weapons program. Israel was only nation in the Middle East that actually possessed nuclear weapons (which remains true), and its attack was condemned by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 487, which noted that “Iraq has been a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [NPT] since it came into force in 1970, that in accordance with that Treaty Iraq has accepted IAEA safeguards on all its nuclear activities, and that the Agency has testified that these safeguards have been satisfactorily applied to date”. Far from making the world safer from the threat of nuclear weapons proliferation, the international community, in strongly condemning Israel’s attack as a “clear violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the norms of international conduct”, found that Israel’s attack constituted “a serious threat to the entire IAEA safeguards regime which is the foundation of the non-proliferation Treaty”.</p>
<p>While there’s no evidence Israel’s attack prevented Iraq from acquiring a nuclear weapon, according to U.S. intelligence, it was likely an important factor that played into Saddam Hussein’s subsequent decision to move his nuclear program underground and seek to develop an Iraqi nuclear deterrent to further Israeli aggression. An interagency intelligence assessment on the consequences of Israel’s attack stated that it “could be a watershed event in the Middle East” by adding “new strains” to “US-Arab relations” and sparking an “arms race” in which “Arab leaders will intensify their search for alternative ways to boost their security and protect their interests” (much the same observation that Rafsanjani made in 2001). Israel’s own possession of nuclear weapons made its actions all the more destabilizing. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan had “dispelled the ambiguity that surrounded Israel’s nuclear program by acknowledging Israel’s capability to produce nuclear weapons, and the raid on Iraq has laid Tel Aviv’s challenge before the Arab world in clear terms.” Saddam Hussein responded “by suggesting that world governments provide the Arabs with a nuclear deterrent to Israel’s formidable nuclear capabilities. His message to other Arabs is that they can have no security as long as Israel alone commands the nuclear threat.” In line with the view of the international community as reflected in the U.N. resolution, the assessment stated that Israel’s attack seriously damaged international efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. “A related consequence of the raid is damage to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and to the IAEA safeguards system”, which would “probably have a detrimental impact”. Contrary to Israeli assertions “that the IAEA safeguards system is a sham”, the assessment made a similar observation as the U.N. resolution that “The Iraqis have had the support of most IAEA members because of general acceptance that international and bilateral safeguards over Iraq’s program were sufficient to guard against the diversion of fissile material for a nuclear device.”</p>
<p>Ron Paul’s suggestion that the U.S. should recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is likewise a disappointing defense of lawlessness that would seem to indicate that Dr. Paul is unfamiliar with the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and rather bases his views on the establishment-approved mythical narrative, which is essentially the history as it is presented in Zionist propaganda.</p>
<p>The truth is that following the Zionists’ unilateral declaration of the existence of the state of Israel in May 1948, an act prejudicial to the rights of the majority inhabitants and for which there was absolutely no legal basis, Palestine was ethnically cleansed. More than 700,000 Arab Palestinians were expelled or fled from their homes, never allowed to return. The Zionist forces captured Jerusalem, and when an armistice was finally reached in 1949, Israel controlled the west and Jordan the east of the city.</p>
<p>In 1967, Israel invaded and occupied the West Bank and claimed to annex East Jerusalem. Subsequently, the United Nations Security Council passed resolution 242, which emphasized “the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war”, emphasized that member states have a commitment to abide by the U.N. Charter, and called for the “Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied” during the June 1967 war.</p>
<p>In May 1968, the Security Council passed resolution 252, which declared Israel’s annexation of Jerusalem “invalid” and called upon Israel “to rescind all such measures already taken and to desist forthwith from taking any further action which tends to change the status of Jerusalem”.</p>
<p>In July 1969, the Security Council passed resolution 267, noting that Israel had since “taken further measures tending to change the status of the City of Jerusalem”. It reaffirmed “the established principle that acquisition of territory by military conquest is inadmissible” and deplored Israel’s further violations of U.N. resolutions, censured “in the strongest terms all measures taken to change the status of the City of Jerusalem”, and confirmed “that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel which purport to alter the status of Jerusalem, including expropriation of land and properties thereon, are invalid and cannot change that status”, and urgently called on Israel to rescind the measures taken to annex Jerusalem.</p>
<p>Security Council 271 of September 1969 again reaffirmed the principle of the inadmissibility under international law of the acquisition of territory by war, describing Jerusalem as being under “military occupation” by Israel and condemning Israel’s continued violation of previous resolutions.</p>
<p>Resolution 298 of September 1971 again reaffirmed the principle, deplored Israel’s continued violation of U.N. resolutions, and confirmed that Israel’s attempts to annex Jerusalem “are totally invalid”.</p>
<p>Resolution 446 of March 1979 affirmed “once more that the Fourth Geneva Convention … is applicable to the&#160;Arab territories&#160;occupied by Israel,&#160;including Jerusalem“, determined “that the policy and practices of Israel in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity” (emphasis added).</p>
<p>Resolution 452 of July 1979 again deplored Israel’s continued violation of Security Council resolutions and again emphasized that Israel’s annexation of Jerusalem “has no legal validity and constitutes a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention”. It again also noted that Jerusalem is included in “the occupied Arab territories”.</p>
<p>Resolution 465 of March 1980 again condemned Israel’s settlement policy, which violates the Fourth Geneva Convention and U.N. Security Council resolutions, and again reaffirmed that Israel’s annexation attempts “have no legal validity” and constitutes “a flagrant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention”.</p>
<p>Resolution 471 of June 1980 once again reaffirmed the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention “to&#160;the Arab territories&#160;occupied by Israel since 1967,&#160;including Jerusalem“, and once again called upon Israel to end its illegal occupation of those territories,&#160;including Jerusalem.</p>
<p>Resolution 476 of June 1980 again deplored Israel’s continued violation of international law and reaffirmed “the overriding necessity to end the prolonged occupation of Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem”, and reaffirmed Israel’s annexation measures “have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention” and were “null and void”.</p>
<p>Resolution 478 of August 1980 again censured Israel’s continued violation of international law and again reaffirmed that its annexation attempts were “null and void”.</p>
<p>Resolutions 592 of December 1986, 605 of December 1987, 607 of January 1988, 636 of July 1989, 694 of May 1991, 726 of January 1992, 799 of December 1992 all again reaffirmed the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention to occupied Arab territory, including Jerusalem.</p>
<p>In July 2004, the&#160; <a href="http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?p1=3&amp;p2=4&amp;code=mwp&amp;case=131&amp;k=5a" type="external">International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion</a>&#160;on the legal consequences of Israel’s decision to build a wall in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, which concluded that “all these territories (including East Jerusalem) remain occupied territories and that Israel has continued to have the status of occupying Power”, that the construction of the wall in those territories is “illegal”, and that Israel’s settlements in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, similarly “have been established in breach of international law.”</p>
<p>Ron Paul’s defense of Israel’s Osirak attack and his statement on Jerusalem are inconstant with his beliefs in individual liberty and the rule of law, which is unfortunately damaging to his credibility and to his presidential campaign.</p>
<p>One must keep in mind that of the candidates, Ron Paul is also the only one who has said he would cut off all foreign aid, including the $3 billion plus given annually to Israel. This is not trivial, given the fact that without U.S. support, Israel’s criminal policies against the Palestinians could not continue. Ron Paul is the only one who has criticized Israel’s siege of Gaza and the massacre it carried out there from December 27, 2008 to January 18, 2009. He is unquestionably a preferable candidate than Newt Gingrich, who <a href="http://www.jeremyrhammond.com/2011/12/13/newts-invented-history-of-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/" type="external">has said</a> that Palestinians are an “invented” people. Or Mitt Romney, who <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/10/07/text-of-mitt-romneys-speech-on-foreign-policy-at-the-citadel/" type="external">has pledged</a> that if elected president, he will “begin discussions with Israel to increase the level of our military assistance and coordination”. Or Barack Obama, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/23/us/politics/23text-obama.html?_r=1" type="external">who told his Israeli audience</a> in Sderot during his presidential campaign in July 2008 of his “unshakeable commitment” to Israel, and who declared that “Jerusalem will be the capital of Israel”.</p>
<p>It is a disturbing development in Ron Paul’s campaign to see him sounding on this issue more rather than less like his establishment opponents.</p> | false | 1 | ltimg classaligncenter wpimage14150 titleronpaulstatesman srchttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201201ronpaulstatesmanjpg altron paul width459 height283 gt doug wead senior advisor ron paul campaign writes blog ron paul asked evangelical leaders moving us embassy israel tel aviv jerusalem real issue america wants israel wants dr paul told according wead right choose capital say jerusalem jerusalem wead summarizes dr pauls position jerusalem capital israel get ron pauls position reported mr wead morally legally wrong well strategically mistaken dr paul stood presidential candidate precisely unwavering consistency incorruptibility one willing betray values win votes pander lobbies statement jerusalem extremely damaging reputation doubt give rise charge sold soul israeli lobby give benefit doubt assume position sincere said merely win votes must assume dr paul well read israelipalestinian conflict first time wrong views regarding israel campaign often touts one defend israels bombing iraqs osirak nuclear reactor 1981 entirely inconsistent correct observation another term preventive war aggressive warstarting wars someday somebody might something us israels attack preemptive act selfdefense act aggression supreme international crime defined nuremberg iaea monitoring iraqs program evidence time weapons program israel nation middle east actually possessed nuclear weapons remains true attack condemned united nations security council resolution 487 noted iraq party treaty nonproliferation nuclear weapons npt since came force 1970 accordance treaty iraq accepted iaea safeguards nuclear activities agency testified safeguards satisfactorily applied date far making world safer threat nuclear weapons proliferation international community strongly condemning israels attack clear violation charter united nations norms international conduct found israels attack constituted serious threat entire iaea safeguards regime foundation nonproliferation treaty theres evidence israels attack prevented iraq acquiring nuclear weapon according us intelligence likely important factor played saddam husseins subsequent decision move nuclear program underground seek develop iraqi nuclear deterrent israeli aggression interagency intelligence assessment consequences israels attack stated could watershed event middle east adding new strains usarab relations sparking arms race arab leaders intensify search alternative ways boost security protect interests much observation rafsanjani made 2001 israels possession nuclear weapons made actions destabilizing israeli defense minister moshe dayan dispelled ambiguity surrounded israels nuclear program acknowledging israels capability produce nuclear weapons raid iraq laid tel avivs challenge arab world clear terms saddam hussein responded suggesting world governments provide arabs nuclear deterrent israels formidable nuclear capabilities message arabs security long israel alone commands nuclear threat line view international community reflected un resolution assessment stated israels attack seriously damaged international efforts prevent proliferation nuclear weapons related consequence raid damage nonproliferation treaty npt iaea safeguards system would probably detrimental impact contrary israeli assertions iaea safeguards system sham assessment made similar observation un resolution iraqis support iaea members general acceptance international bilateral safeguards iraqs program sufficient guard diversion fissile material nuclear device ron pauls suggestion us recognize jerusalem capital israel likewise disappointing defense lawlessness would seem indicate dr paul unfamiliar history israelipalestinian conflict rather bases views establishmentapproved mythical narrative essentially history presented zionist propaganda truth following zionists unilateral declaration existence state israel may 1948 act prejudicial rights majority inhabitants absolutely legal basis palestine ethnically cleansed 700000 arab palestinians expelled fled homes never allowed return zionist forces captured jerusalem armistice finally reached 1949 israel controlled west jordan east city 1967 israel invaded occupied west bank claimed annex east jerusalem subsequently united nations security council passed resolution 242 emphasized inadmissibility acquisition territory war emphasized member states commitment abide un charter called withdrawal israeli armed forces territories occupied june 1967 war may 1968 security council passed resolution 252 declared israels annexation jerusalem invalid called upon israel rescind measures already taken desist forthwith taking action tends change status jerusalem july 1969 security council passed resolution 267 noting israel since taken measures tending change status city jerusalem reaffirmed established principle acquisition territory military conquest inadmissible deplored israels violations un resolutions censured strongest terms measures taken change status city jerusalem confirmed legislative administrative measures actions taken israel purport alter status jerusalem including expropriation land properties thereon invalid change status urgently called israel rescind measures taken annex jerusalem security council 271 september 1969 reaffirmed principle inadmissibility international law acquisition territory war describing jerusalem military occupation israel condemning israels continued violation previous resolutions resolution 298 september 1971 reaffirmed principle deplored israels continued violation un resolutions confirmed israels attempts annex jerusalem totally invalid resolution 446 march 1979 affirmed fourth geneva convention applicable the160arab territories160occupied israel160including jerusalem determined policy practices israel establishing settlements palestinian arab territories occupied since 1967 legal validity emphasis added resolution 452 july 1979 deplored israels continued violation security council resolutions emphasized israels annexation jerusalem legal validity constitutes violation fourth geneva convention also noted jerusalem included occupied arab territories resolution 465 march 1980 condemned israels settlement policy violates fourth geneva convention un security council resolutions reaffirmed israels annexation attempts legal validity constitutes flagrant violation fourth geneva convention resolution 471 june 1980 reaffirmed applicability fourth geneva convention to160the arab territories160occupied israel since 1967160including jerusalem called upon israel end illegal occupation territories160including jerusalem resolution 476 june 1980 deplored israels continued violation international law reaffirmed overriding necessity end prolonged occupation arab territories occupied israel since 1967 including jerusalem reaffirmed israels annexation measures legal validity constitute flagrant violation fourth geneva convention null void resolution 478 august 1980 censured israels continued violation international law reaffirmed annexation attempts null void resolutions 592 december 1986 605 december 1987 607 january 1988 636 july 1989 694 may 1991 726 january 1992 799 december 1992 reaffirmed applicability fourth geneva convention occupied arab territory including jerusalem july 2004 the160 international court justice issued advisory opinion160on legal consequences israels decision build wall west bank including jerusalem concluded territories including east jerusalem remain occupied territories israel continued status occupying power construction wall territories illegal israels settlements west bank including jerusalem similarly established breach international law ron pauls defense israels osirak attack statement jerusalem inconstant beliefs individual liberty rule law unfortunately damaging credibility presidential campaign one must keep mind candidates ron paul also one said would cut foreign aid including 3 billion plus given annually israel trivial given fact without us support israels criminal policies palestinians could continue ron paul one criticized israels siege gaza massacre carried december 27 2008 january 18 2009 unquestionably preferable candidate newt gingrich said palestinians invented people mitt romney pledged elected president begin discussions israel increase level military assistance coordination barack obama told israeli audience sderot presidential campaign july 2008 unshakeable commitment israel declared jerusalem capital israel disturbing development ron pauls campaign see sounding issue rather less like establishment opponents | 1,050 |
<p>Even before “Wings” won the first Academy Award for best picture in 1929, stories about soldiers and the military were already a staple of the big screen. Nearly ninety years later, the circumstances of their service have changed, but the nobility of their sacrifice endures, inspiring film and television storytellers alike to continue to pay them tribute with complex, rousing tales of heroism on and off the battlefield.</p>
<p>Spurred by patriotism and the promise of a window into the daily lives of soldiers, audiences have readily embraced military-themed films and shows, from “Band of Brothers” to “American Sniper” to last year’s “Hacksaw Ridge.” But an upcoming wave of projects offers filmmakers the opportunity — and responsibility — to explore the lives of United States <a href="http://variety.com/t/veterans/" type="external">veterans</a> more authentically than ever before, drawing upon firsthand accounts from real-life heroes to both do justice and lend credulity to stories both fictional and fact-based without succumbing to jingoistic clichés.</p>
<p>Making his directorial debut, <a href="http://variety.com/t/jason-hall/" type="external">Jason Hall</a> hopes to apply the lessons he learned writing the Oscar-nominated screenplay for “American Sniper” to “ <a href="http://variety.com/t/thank-you-for-your-service/" type="external">Thank You for Your Service</a>,” his adaptation of David Finkel’s nonfiction book about soldiers facing <a href="http://variety.com/t/ptsd/" type="external">PTSD</a> after returning home from Iraq.</p>
<p>“As much as I felt like I set out to make a film about the sacrifices of a soldier in ‘American Sniper,’ it was reviewed by many as something that was war porn,” Hall says. “And in this book I saw the story of this guy who, as heroic as everything he did over there was, he came home and he opened up about the things that he was going through … it was the most extensive, revealing, poetic account of a soldier after war that I’d ever seen.”</p>
<p>The postwar experience has been explored on film as far back as in William Wyler’s 1946 “The Best Years of Our Lives.” Hall suggests that soldiers at the center of his story expose viewers to an experience many people go through, even outside the military. “Trauma isn’t something unique to just soldiers,” he says. “We saw in Las Vegas what happened, and all of those people are going to have the same kind of terror and experience resonating inside of them. So I tried to tell a story of human endurance and triumph as much of a story of a veteran experience.”</p>
<p>Nicole Riegel, a former Ohio Army National Guardsman-turned-screenwriter whose Twitter bio reads “traded my M16 for a pen,” says she’s eager to expand the scope of military stories beyond the narratives most commonly associated with <a href="http://variety.com/2017/biz/spotlight/entertainment-biz-takes-mighty-big-step-for-veterans-1202609627/" type="external">veterans</a>.</p>
<p>“I think that the common thread is when we think of soldiers we think of PTSD and there are so many other areas that are fertile territories for drama,” she says. Riegel is developing an adaptation of George Brant’s stage play “Grounded” for Anne Hathaway. It’s about America’s transition to drone warfare through the eyes of a young female pilot. “We really focus on what’s it’s like for a fighter pilot to make the transition to becoming an [Remote Piloted Aircraft] pilot: what is that transition like and how does it affect you physically and mentally and emotionally?”</p>
<p>Riegel, whose original screenplay about American POW Jessica Lynch was selected for participation in the 2014 Sundance Screenwriters lab, says she also feels a particular responsibility to create more — and more complex — portraits of female soldiers.</p>
<p>“I would like to see women in the military depicted in a way where they are operating within a male dominated field, but also maintaining their femininity,” she says. “And the fact that it was so important to [Anne] that I get involved in telling this story, I think that’s where real change happens. We’re talking about women in the military, and seeking out who gets to help tell those narratives.”</p>
<p>Another way in which storytellers are empowering veterans to control their own stories is by enlisting them as consultants and even content creators. According to executive producer Sarah Timberman, CBS’ “SEAL Team” has thus far enlisted as many as 50 veterans, such as Delta Force Tier 1 operator Tyler Grey, to provide a sense of verisimilitude, not only in terms of operational accuracy, but also intellectual and emotional perspective.</p>
<p>“Their involvement is so much more than giving logistical or technical advice,” Timberman says. “We’re trying to reflect how these guys feel about warfare and about their comrades and about the people they’ve known and about the degree of loss that’s involved.”</p>
<p>Of course, trying to wrangle so many different perspectives into a cohesive or singular portrait of the military mindset is a challenge for a show meant for the broadest audience possible. But Timberman says focusing on the ground-level perspective of the individuals that populate the show’s ensemble enables them to avoid the larger political ramifications of their operations.</p>
<p>“One of the things that we’ve come to admire about the former Tier 1 operators that we’ve come to know is that they’re really apolitical,” she says. “They don’t get to say whether a particular mission is being staged for the right reasons. They just have to execute it to the best of their ability and within very strict confines that are the rules of engagement.”</p>
<p>Grey, who joined the show as a consulting producer, echoed Timberman’s emphasis on accuracy and immediacy, branding “SEAL Team” less as a tribute than a faithful and immersive chronicle of military culture. “My goal was to make something that, as authentically as we can within an entertainment space, portrays the real lives both deployed, home, away and the families of these team members,” Grey says. “It’s a workplace drama, and by workplace it’s really a military drama because being deployed and away from your family is something that’s pretty universal. So for me, it’s how much can I help tell the stories of the last 16 years of our country’s history that as many people as possible can understand?”Just as fictional stories can shed light on real life experiences, real life has an unfortunate way of making works of fiction relevant — as the filmmakers of “Last Flag Flying” learned when controversy erupted over President Trump’s comments to a Gold Star widow on the way to retrieve her husband’s casket. The story of a Vietnam veteran traveling with his son’s body after being killed in Iraq, Richard Linklater’s adaptation of Darryl Ponicsan’s novel offers a suitably complicated take on military service reflected in the experiences of two generations of soldiers.</p>
<p>Executive producer Thomas Lee Wright says he hopes that the story’s similarities to current events will spur a bigger conversation about how the American military reflects upon its country.</p>
<p>“The synchronicity is remarkable in terms of the concerns that are front and center in the media right now,” Wright says. “The notion of military service is that it’s the purest form of public virtue. What is the effect that has on our national identity? I think that this film can be part of a healing process in the sense that we talk about what our history is, and then where we’re headed in the future. There’s room for all sorts of different films about war and about men at war and about men after war. And my hope is that it continues and promotes a national discussion of these issues. Even if just one percent are still fighting on behalf of the other 99 percent of us, we need to have a greater understanding of the sacrifice of that one percent in order for the healing to occur.”</p> | false | 1 | even wings first academy award best picture 1929 stories soldiers military already staple big screen nearly ninety years later circumstances service changed nobility sacrifice endures inspiring film television storytellers alike continue pay tribute complex rousing tales heroism battlefield spurred patriotism promise window daily lives soldiers audiences readily embraced militarythemed films shows band brothers american sniper last years hacksaw ridge upcoming wave projects offers filmmakers opportunity responsibility explore lives united states veterans authentically ever drawing upon firsthand accounts reallife heroes justice lend credulity stories fictional factbased without succumbing jingoistic clichés making directorial debut jason hall hopes apply lessons learned writing oscarnominated screenplay american sniper thank service adaptation david finkels nonfiction book soldiers facing ptsd returning home iraq much felt like set make film sacrifices soldier american sniper reviewed many something war porn hall says book saw story guy heroic everything came home opened things going extensive revealing poetic account soldier war id ever seen postwar experience explored film far back william wylers 1946 best years lives hall suggests soldiers center story expose viewers experience many people go even outside military trauma isnt something unique soldiers says saw las vegas happened people going kind terror experience resonating inside tried tell story human endurance triumph much story veteran experience nicole riegel former ohio army national guardsmanturnedscreenwriter whose twitter bio reads traded m16 pen says shes eager expand scope military stories beyond narratives commonly associated veterans think common thread think soldiers think ptsd many areas fertile territories drama says riegel developing adaptation george brants stage play grounded anne hathaway americas transition drone warfare eyes young female pilot really focus whats like fighter pilot make transition becoming remote piloted aircraft pilot transition like affect physically mentally emotionally riegel whose original screenplay american pow jessica lynch selected participation 2014 sundance screenwriters lab says also feels particular responsibility create complex portraits female soldiers would like see women military depicted way operating within male dominated field also maintaining femininity says fact important anne get involved telling story think thats real change happens talking women military seeking gets help tell narratives another way storytellers empowering veterans control stories enlisting consultants even content creators according executive producer sarah timberman cbs seal team thus far enlisted many 50 veterans delta force tier 1 operator tyler grey provide sense verisimilitude terms operational accuracy also intellectual emotional perspective involvement much giving logistical technical advice timberman says trying reflect guys feel warfare comrades people theyve known degree loss thats involved course trying wrangle many different perspectives cohesive singular portrait military mindset challenge show meant broadest audience possible timberman says focusing groundlevel perspective individuals populate shows ensemble enables avoid larger political ramifications operations one things weve come admire former tier 1 operators weve come know theyre really apolitical says dont get say whether particular mission staged right reasons execute best ability within strict confines rules engagement grey joined show consulting producer echoed timbermans emphasis accuracy immediacy branding seal team less tribute faithful immersive chronicle military culture goal make something authentically within entertainment space portrays real lives deployed home away families team members grey says workplace drama workplace really military drama deployed away family something thats pretty universal much help tell stories last 16 years countrys history many people possible understandjust fictional stories shed light real life experiences real life unfortunate way making works fiction relevant filmmakers last flag flying learned controversy erupted president trumps comments gold star widow way retrieve husbands casket story vietnam veteran traveling sons body killed iraq richard linklaters adaptation darryl ponicsans novel offers suitably complicated take military service reflected experiences two generations soldiers executive producer thomas lee wright says hopes storys similarities current events spur bigger conversation american military reflects upon country synchronicity remarkable terms concerns front center media right wright says notion military service purest form public virtue effect national identity think film part healing process sense talk history headed future theres room sorts different films war men war men war hope continues promotes national discussion issues even one percent still fighting behalf 99 percent us need greater understanding sacrifice one percent order healing occur | 675 |
<p>Now that Cindy Sheehan, the “Peace Mom” has gone back to her own mom, who has had a stroke, it seems a good time to reflect on what she means to the media. Obviously there’s a great story there if they can make the case that this ordinary mom from California who claims she just wants to meet with President Bush has created a “peace movement” where there wasn’t one before. Ron Fournier of the Associated Press writes that “What began as one mother’s vigil on a country road in Texas two weeks ago has grown into a nationwide protest, putting a grieving human face to the miseries of war and the misgivings about President Bush’s strategies in Iraq.” Charles Gibson of “Good Morning America” says that “all across the country protests against the war in Iraq, inspired by the mother standing her ground at President Bush’s ranch. But is anyone in the White House feeling the heat?”</p>
<p>Likewise, Wyatt Andrews of CBS says that “Cindy Sheehan has tapped the public’s frustration,” while Geoff Morrell of ABC says that “Cindy Sheehan is re-energizing the anti-war movement.” But of course all these reporters know perfectly well that Cindy Sheehan didn’t “inspire” or “re-energize” anything. There has been a left-wing anti-war movement since before the war even began, and it is now doing its utmost to batten on to Mrs. Sheehan in order to create the impression that it amounts to a grass-roots movement — an impression that the media are only too eager to promote. Moreover, they pretend to believe that Bush is making a big mistake by not meeting with her. I say “pretend” because they couldn’t possibly believe this unless they also believe that a meeting with the President is what Cindy Sheehan really wants; and to believe that, they would have to be idiots.</p>
<p>I know, I know. Media idiocy is not exactly unheard of. One commentator who appears pretty slow on the uptake is Jim Hoagland of the Washington Post who writes that Mrs. Sheehan’s “vigil risks becoming political theater disconnected from its larger purpose.” Uh, Jim, what larger purpose would that be? Well, let’s see. “A vigil by a war victim’s mother should be an act of devotion that transcends political theater,” he writes, indulging himself in the magisterial editorial should. “Bush owes Sheehan the respect of the meeting she seeks — if she demonstrates that she will show him the respect any elected president deserves.” You mean like calling him just a liar instead of a liar and a war criminal? Almost as idiotic is George Stephanopoulos. He not only says that Bush is making a mistake, he pretends to believe that Republicans privately believe Bush is making a mistake. Newsflash, George. They don’t.</p>
<p>But if Mrs. Sheehan really believes that Bush is a liar and a war criminal, why does she want to talk to him? So that he can explain to her why he’s not a liar and a war criminal. Maybe then she’ll pipe down and “show him the respect any elected president deserves,” in Mr. Hoagland’s formulation. But does anyone seriously suppose that there’s anything the President could say which would persuade her of his good faith when she has so loudly insisted to all the world that it doesn’t exist? Does she seriously believe, any more than her sponsors in MoveOn.org, that even if he did meet with her, and even if she hadn’t already poisoned the wells of any potential dialogue, that she has any chance of persuading Bush to abandon Israel and his oil baron buddies to pull out of Iraq? No, Jim Hoagland, becoming political theater is the larger purpose behind her demonstration.</p>
<p>And what’s showing is what’s always showing in our contemporary American political theatre, namely the psychodrama of authenticity. My favorite bit of the week’s histrionics comes from Newsweek:</p>
<p>Privately, Bush has met with about 900 family members of some 270 soldiers killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. The conversations are closed to the press, and Bush does not like to talk about what goes on in these grieving sessions, though there have been hints. An hour after he met with the families at Fort Bragg in June, he gave a hard-line speech on national TV. When he mentioned the sacrifice of military families, his lips visibly quivered….Family members interviewed by Newsweek say they have been taken aback by the president’s emotionalism and his sincerity. More complicated is the question of whether Bush’s suffering is essentially sympathetic, or whether he is agonizing over the war that he chose to start.</p>
<p>And what would be the difference between these two things? Why would the President’s “suffering,” that is, not be “essentially sympathetic” if he were “agonizing over the war that he chose to start”? Wouldn’t, in that case, the “agonizing” have sprung from the sympathy? Or does Newsweek imagine that Bush is “agonizing” only because of the mistake he made in going to war and its political cost to himself and that it is just coincidental that this happens only after he has met with grieving family members?</p>
<p>I’m trying to make sense of the question, but I don’t think it makes any sense. What Newsweek is really asking, I think, is whether Bush’s suffering is sincere. Or sincere enough. But that for some reason is a question the media by and large don’t yet permit themselves to ask — just as they don’t permit themselves to engage in Mrs. Sheehan’s wilder charges of criminal behavior on the President’s part, or even to reflect on the relevance of them to her request for a meeting. They may believe similar things themselves, but they don’t say them because to do so would too obviously blow their cover. That’s why they are reduced to asking absurd questions such as this about what Bush is agonizing about while upholding the absurd pretense that the Peace Mom really just wants a chat with him. They’ve got to cloak their hostility to Bush by such means but don’t seem to realize that most people aren’t fooled for a minute.</p>
<p>—James Bowman is a resident scholar at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, media essayist for the New Criterion, and The American Spectator‘s movie critic.</p> | false | 1 | cindy sheehan peace mom gone back mom stroke seems good time reflect means media obviously theres great story make case ordinary mom california claims wants meet president bush created peace movement wasnt one ron fournier associated press writes began one mothers vigil country road texas two weeks ago grown nationwide protest putting grieving human face miseries war misgivings president bushs strategies iraq charles gibson good morning america says across country protests war iraq inspired mother standing ground president bushs ranch anyone white house feeling heat likewise wyatt andrews cbs says cindy sheehan tapped publics frustration geoff morrell abc says cindy sheehan reenergizing antiwar movement course reporters know perfectly well cindy sheehan didnt inspire reenergize anything leftwing antiwar movement since war even began utmost batten mrs sheehan order create impression amounts grassroots movement impression media eager promote moreover pretend believe bush making big mistake meeting say pretend couldnt possibly believe unless also believe meeting president cindy sheehan really wants believe would idiots know know media idiocy exactly unheard one commentator appears pretty slow uptake jim hoagland washington post writes mrs sheehans vigil risks becoming political theater disconnected larger purpose uh jim larger purpose would well lets see vigil war victims mother act devotion transcends political theater writes indulging magisterial editorial bush owes sheehan respect meeting seeks demonstrates show respect elected president deserves mean like calling liar instead liar war criminal almost idiotic george stephanopoulos says bush making mistake pretends believe republicans privately believe bush making mistake newsflash george dont mrs sheehan really believes bush liar war criminal want talk explain hes liar war criminal maybe shell pipe show respect elected president deserves mr hoaglands formulation anyone seriously suppose theres anything president could say would persuade good faith loudly insisted world doesnt exist seriously believe sponsors moveonorg even meet even hadnt already poisoned wells potential dialogue chance persuading bush abandon israel oil baron buddies pull iraq jim hoagland becoming political theater larger purpose behind demonstration whats showing whats always showing contemporary american political theatre namely psychodrama authenticity favorite bit weeks histrionics comes newsweek privately bush met 900 family members 270 soldiers killed iraq afghanistan conversations closed press bush like talk goes grieving sessions though hints hour met families fort bragg june gave hardline speech national tv mentioned sacrifice military families lips visibly quiveredfamily members interviewed newsweek say taken aback presidents emotionalism sincerity complicated question whether bushs suffering essentially sympathetic whether agonizing war chose start would difference two things would presidents suffering essentially sympathetic agonizing war chose start wouldnt case agonizing sprung sympathy newsweek imagine bush agonizing mistake made going war political cost coincidental happens met grieving family members im trying make sense question dont think makes sense newsweek really asking think whether bushs suffering sincere sincere enough reason question media large dont yet permit ask dont permit engage mrs sheehans wilder charges criminal behavior presidents part even reflect relevance request meeting may believe similar things dont say would obviously blow cover thats reduced asking absurd questions bush agonizing upholding absurd pretense peace mom really wants chat theyve got cloak hostility bush means dont seem realize people arent fooled minute james bowman resident scholar ethics public policy center media essayist new criterion american spectators movie critic | 533 |
<p>It is tempting, if disheartening, to believe that Donald Trump has irrevocably changed the GOP for the worse, imperiling conservatism’s hold on the party. But he hasn’t. The same dynamics and fissures that existed prior to this cycle remain intact today. Trump’s armies do, however, constitute a new “fifth faction” that now competes with the GOP’s traditional “four factions” for party dominance. This new faction is not wholly unconservative. It is instead a forceful reassertion of a kind of conservatism that has long lain dormant.</p>
<p>“Trumpism” is best understood as a resurrection of the conservative ideas of nationality and citizenship. Trump’s success shows how important it is to reincorporate these neo-Kirkian strands into modern conservatism, thereby creating a new fusionism that can command a national, conservative majority.</p>
<p>Republican nominating contests prior to this year were primarily battles between four factions. Two of these groups tended to identify as “very conservative.” Evangelicals constituted about 20–25 percent of the GOP electorate, and they liked candidates who focused on giving their religion a role in public life. Another 10–15 percent of GOP voters were hard-line fiscal conservatives, and they liked candidates who talked about cutting taxes and lowering spending.</p>
<p>The other two of the traditional four factions, often referred to as the “establishment,” were actually distinct groups with different priorities. Moderates, who accounted for about 30 percent of the national party, always liked candidates who downplayed religion’s public role and favored making government work over cutting it. “Somewhat conservatives,” the largest group of the four, were the remaining 35–40 percent of Republican voters, and they backed candidates whom movement conservatives considered “moderates”: Bob Dole, George W. Bush, John McCain, Mitt Romney. Though they were not the preferred choice of the party’s “very conservative” factions, these men stood farther right than moderates would have liked, endorsing movement-conservative goals such as lower taxes and a strong national defense.</p>
<p>Trump’s coalition does not fit neatly into this paradigm. Although he does better with the two “establishment” factions than with the two “very conservative” ones, his support is strong in all four groups and seems to be driven by class more than ideology: The less formal education one has, the likelier one is to back Trump. The group that likes him the most has never been to college, and the group that likes him the least has post-graduate degrees. Since the race now seems to be defined in terms of whether one is for or against Trump, some pundits have contended that he has completely upended the party and made old distinctions irrelevant.</p>
<p>A closer look at the data shows that this isn’t quite so. Support for the non-Trump candidates has broken on exactly the ideological lines that the “four factions” theory would predict. Cruz has done very well among very conservative Evangelicals and almost as well among very conservative seculars. Marco Rubio ran strongest among somewhat conservatives, while John Kasich has racked up large margins among moderates who don’t back Trump. The real-estate developer has not renovated the GOP; he has simply built an addition to its existing structure.</p>
<p>Many conservatives think that this addition threatens their principles, because Trump voters are out of sync with some of the sentiments that dominate today’s conservative movement: They are suspicious of, if not opposed to, free-trade agreements and entitlement reform; they are not strongly pro-life; and they question the sort of foreign military intervention many strong conservatives favor. But this does not mean that Trump voters are unconservative; it simply means that they sing from a different hymnal than the one distributed in today’s conservative church.</p>
<p>Their hymnal is one of nationalism and citizenship. Virtually every one of the major concerns that move Trump’s voters can be tied together under the idea that America is an entity that exists apart from voluntary arrangements of its residents, and that this entity obligates all of its members to act on behalf of all the other members. In this view, citizenship is not simply voting and paying taxes: It is a membership by birth in a body that demands things from everyone and in return protects and supports everyone.</p>
<p>This view will strike many readers as odd, given the by-now-ossified conventional wisdom that Trump’s support is based on his extreme anti-immigrant rhetoric, his ability to tap the GOP base’s anti-establishment fervor, and his persona. But the exit-poll data show that none of these assumptions is quite true: Trump’s appeal contains these elements but largely transcends them.</p>
<p>The immigration argument is easy to refute. Exit polls regularly ask which of four issues is the most important to GOP voters, and immigration almost always ranks last, with just 8–12 percent of respondents. Trump does capture most of these voters — he normally gets between 50 and 70 percent of them — but they are a small share of the electorate, and the bulk of his supporters think some other issue is more important. Nor does his advocacy of deporting illegal immigrants explain his rise. The exit polls show that there are only two states, Alabama and Mississippi, where a majority of Republican voters favor deportation. Trump normally wins only a bit more than half of such voters, and in virtually every state, about half of his backers oppose deportation.</p>
<p>Anti-establishment fervor is also overstated as a cause of Trump’s rise. One exit-poll question asks whether voters prefer someone with political experience or someone from outside the establishment. While a majority normally prefers the outsider, and Trump wins about two-thirds of that vote, this is a classic chicken-or-egg question. Do voters want an outsider and then choose Trump, or do they like Trump and then say they want someone without political experience? A better gauge of the depth of anti-establishment fervor is to ask whether voters feel “betrayed by Republican politicians.” A majority say they do, but Trump does not fare much better among these voters than he does among those who say they don’t. Indeed, in five of the 14 states where the question was asked, Trump ran better or as well among those who did not feel betrayed by Republican officials.</p>
<p>Trump’s persona doesn’t explain his success, either. Exit polls ask voters what quality they find most important in a candidate, and one of the options is “tells it like it is.” We should expect this to be one of the most popular answers among Trump’s supporters if they were primarily attracted to his brashness. It is not. It almost always ranks third, just ahead of electability, and is usually mentioned by about 20 percent of all voters. Trump does clean up with that 20 percent — he usually gets around 80 percent of the vote among those who prefer someone who “tells it like it is.” But fewer than half of his voters overall choose that answer.</p>
<p>A larger share of Trump’s vote comes from people choosing another quality, the one that often finishes first or second: “can bring needed change.” About a third of all voters select this quality on average, and Trump usually gets about half of their votes. Indeed, these voters are so important to him that he always either loses or wins quite narrowly when he gets fewer than 45 percent of their votes. Those who want to understand Trumpism, therefore, must understand the nature of the change Trump’s voters want him to bring.</p>
<p>We can do so by looking for the common thread that ties together the issues those voters care about: a perceived failure on the part of government to protect vulnerable Americans from threats to their way of life.</p>
<p>With immigration and trade, the danger is economic — Americans (in the view of Trump voters) are losing jobs and wages to competition from foreigners, and the people who run the country prefer profiting from that competition to protecting workers who are harmed by it.</p>
<p>The stakes are felt to be much higher with Trump’s proposed indefinite ban on Muslims’ entering the United States: The perceived danger is to life itself. Trump voters believe they are threatened by Islamic terrorism. If Muslims come to America, they think, Americans will be more likely to die. Trump’s proposed ban seems to them to be common sense: The first duty of a national government is to protect its citizens from foreign threats. One must not underestimate how important the proposed ban is to Trump’s voters and to his appeal. Trump’s national poll numbers were stuck in a narrow band in the mid 20s prior to the Paris and San Bernardino terrorist attacks, according to the RealClearPolitics averages. He started to move into the high 20s immediately after the Paris attacks, and his appeal skyrocketed after he proposed the ban on December 7. Polls taken after that date show him in the mid to high 30s, a position of dominance that he has held ever since.</p>
<p>The exit polls confirm this interpretation. The ban is highly popular among Republican primary voters, with between 63 and 78 percent approving it in every state where the question was asked. Trump normally wins between 45 and 50 percent of these voters. But this actually understates the import of the issue to his candidacy. Between 80 and 90 percent of his voters back the ban, meaning that it unites his backers more than any other concern.</p>
<p>This fact helps us understand the change his voters want. Opponents of Trump’s views on immigration, trade, and a ban on Muslims’ entering the United States often use individual-based arguments to justify their views. Immigration is needed because individual employers need to contract with individual workers. Free trade is good for individual companies and consumers, and for the (often foreign) individuals with whom they trade. The rights of individual Muslims in America outweigh the concerns of native-born Americans about their safety. The implicit understanding conveyed by many in the “never Trump” movement is that the country is little more than a land mass containing individuals rather than an entity with obligations to, and capable of imposing obligations on, those who belong to it.</p>
<p>Trump voters disagree with this view. The America they want to “make great again” is not a land mass, a large, rules-based network that lets individuals coordinate with minimal transaction costs. It is instead a place, a people, a nation. Trump voters believe that they have upheld their side of the American social contract, while others — businessmen, politicians, journalists, professors — have violated it.</p>
<p>In past generations, American conservative philosophy and political leadership incorporated this strand of thinking into the movement. Writers such as Russell Kirk and Edward Shils would remind us that society has organic, primordial elements that no culture of individuality can erase. Leaders such as Ronald Reagan subtly weaved this element of thought into their invocations of American nationality. The “boys of Pointe du Hoc” were worthy of praise not because they individually made courageous choices, although they clearly did in the heat of battle. They were worthy of praise because they did their duty, they fulfilled their end of the national bargain. Reagan’s appeal to Americans, especially to the so-called Reagan Democrats, rested in part on the notion that he would always commit the country to fulfilling its end of the deal.</p>
<p>Recapturing Reagan’s blend of American individualism and American nationalism will be difficult but not impossible. A conservative movement that can achieve this goal will not only heal a fractured party; it will also create a not-so-silent majority and win many elections to come.</p>
<p>– Mr. Olsen is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.</p> | false | 1 | tempting disheartening believe donald trump irrevocably changed gop worse imperiling conservatisms hold party hasnt dynamics fissures existed prior cycle remain intact today trumps armies however constitute new fifth faction competes gops traditional four factions party dominance new faction wholly unconservative instead forceful reassertion kind conservatism long lain dormant trumpism best understood resurrection conservative ideas nationality citizenship trumps success shows important reincorporate neokirkian strands modern conservatism thereby creating new fusionism command national conservative majority republican nominating contests prior year primarily battles four factions two groups tended identify conservative evangelicals constituted 2025 percent gop electorate liked candidates focused giving religion role public life another 1015 percent gop voters hardline fiscal conservatives liked candidates talked cutting taxes lowering spending two traditional four factions often referred establishment actually distinct groups different priorities moderates accounted 30 percent national party always liked candidates downplayed religions public role favored making government work cutting somewhat conservatives largest group four remaining 3540 percent republican voters backed candidates movement conservatives considered moderates bob dole george w bush john mccain mitt romney though preferred choice partys conservative factions men stood farther right moderates would liked endorsing movementconservative goals lower taxes strong national defense trumps coalition fit neatly paradigm although better two establishment factions two conservative ones support strong four groups seems driven class ideology less formal education one likelier one back trump group likes never college group likes least postgraduate degrees since race seems defined terms whether one trump pundits contended completely upended party made old distinctions irrelevant closer look data shows isnt quite support nontrump candidates broken exactly ideological lines four factions theory would predict cruz done well among conservative evangelicals almost well among conservative seculars marco rubio ran strongest among somewhat conservatives john kasich racked large margins among moderates dont back trump realestate developer renovated gop simply built addition existing structure many conservatives think addition threatens principles trump voters sync sentiments dominate todays conservative movement suspicious opposed freetrade agreements entitlement reform strongly prolife question sort foreign military intervention many strong conservatives favor mean trump voters unconservative simply means sing different hymnal one distributed todays conservative church hymnal one nationalism citizenship virtually every one major concerns move trumps voters tied together idea america entity exists apart voluntary arrangements residents entity obligates members act behalf members view citizenship simply voting paying taxes membership birth body demands things everyone return protects supports everyone view strike many readers odd given bynowossified conventional wisdom trumps support based extreme antiimmigrant rhetoric ability tap gop bases antiestablishment fervor persona exitpoll data show none assumptions quite true trumps appeal contains elements largely transcends immigration argument easy refute exit polls regularly ask four issues important gop voters immigration almost always ranks last 812 percent respondents trump capture voters normally gets 50 70 percent small share electorate bulk supporters think issue important advocacy deporting illegal immigrants explain rise exit polls show two states alabama mississippi majority republican voters favor deportation trump normally wins bit half voters virtually every state half backers oppose deportation antiestablishment fervor also overstated cause trumps rise one exitpoll question asks whether voters prefer someone political experience someone outside establishment majority normally prefers outsider trump wins twothirds vote classic chickenoregg question voters want outsider choose trump like trump say want someone without political experience better gauge depth antiestablishment fervor ask whether voters feel betrayed republican politicians majority say trump fare much better among voters among say dont indeed five 14 states question asked trump ran better well among feel betrayed republican officials trumps persona doesnt explain success either exit polls ask voters quality find important candidate one options tells like expect one popular answers among trumps supporters primarily attracted brashness almost always ranks third ahead electability usually mentioned 20 percent voters trump clean 20 percent usually gets around 80 percent vote among prefer someone tells like fewer half voters overall choose answer larger share trumps vote comes people choosing another quality one often finishes first second bring needed change third voters select quality average trump usually gets half votes indeed voters important always either loses wins quite narrowly gets fewer 45 percent votes want understand trumpism therefore must understand nature change trumps voters want bring looking common thread ties together issues voters care perceived failure part government protect vulnerable americans threats way life immigration trade danger economic americans view trump voters losing jobs wages competition foreigners people run country prefer profiting competition protecting workers harmed stakes felt much higher trumps proposed indefinite ban muslims entering united states perceived danger life trump voters believe threatened islamic terrorism muslims come america think americans likely die trumps proposed ban seems common sense first duty national government protect citizens foreign threats one must underestimate important proposed ban trumps voters appeal trumps national poll numbers stuck narrow band mid 20s prior paris san bernardino terrorist attacks according realclearpolitics averages started move high 20s immediately paris attacks appeal skyrocketed proposed ban december 7 polls taken date show mid high 30s position dominance held ever since exit polls confirm interpretation ban highly popular among republican primary voters 63 78 percent approving every state question asked trump normally wins 45 50 percent voters actually understates import issue candidacy 80 90 percent voters back ban meaning unites backers concern fact helps us understand change voters want opponents trumps views immigration trade ban muslims entering united states often use individualbased arguments justify views immigration needed individual employers need contract individual workers free trade good individual companies consumers often foreign individuals trade rights individual muslims america outweigh concerns nativeborn americans safety implicit understanding conveyed many never trump movement country little land mass containing individuals rather entity obligations capable imposing obligations belong trump voters disagree view america want make great land mass large rulesbased network lets individuals coordinate minimal transaction costs instead place people nation trump voters believe upheld side american social contract others businessmen politicians journalists professors violated past generations american conservative philosophy political leadership incorporated strand thinking movement writers russell kirk edward shils would remind us society organic primordial elements culture individuality erase leaders ronald reagan subtly weaved element thought invocations american nationality boys pointe du hoc worthy praise individually made courageous choices although clearly heat battle worthy praise duty fulfilled end national bargain reagans appeal americans especially socalled reagan democrats rested part notion would always commit country fulfilling end deal recapturing reagans blend american individualism american nationalism difficult impossible conservative movement achieve goal heal fractured party also create notsosilent majority win many elections come mr olsen senior fellow ethics public policy center | 1,077 |
<p>Doug Jones won a special Senate election in Alabama on Tuesday, an upset victory after his Republican opponent, <a href="http://variety.com/t/roy-moore/" type="external">Roy Moore</a>, faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.</p>
<p>Jones’ narrow victory was rare for a Democrat in a deep southern conservative state, and constituted what may be an indication of a backlash against the brash and bombastic style of Moore and even President <a href="http://variety.com/t/donald-trump/" type="external">Donald Trump</a>, who endorsed him late in the race.</p>
<p>“Folks, I got to tell you, I think I have been waiting all my life and now I just don’t know what the hell to say,” Jones told his supporters, who gave him thunderous applause for his unexpected victory. He was joined by former NBA star Charles Barkley.</p>
<p>“We have shown the country the way that we can be unified,” Jones said, in a victory speech in which he quoted Martin Luther King Jr.</p>
<p>Exit polls showed that Jones benefited from higher-than-expected turnout in Democratic strongholds, and perhaps a greater-than-usual number of write-in votes.</p>
<p>Jones is a lawyer and former prosecutor who successfully pursued a case in 2001 and 2002 against two members of the Ku Klux Klan for their roles in the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama.</p>
<p>He was given long odds of winning the seat, but the nature of the race changed in November, when&#160;The Washington Post published a story in which multiple women claimed that Moore pursued sexual relations with them when they were teenagers. Another accuser claimed that Moore sexually assaulted her when she was in her teens.</p>
<p>He denied the allegations, casting himself as the target of the media elite and a threat to the Washington establishment.</p>
<p>No Democrat has been elected to the Senate from Alabama since 1992, when Richard Shelby was re-elected to his seat. But Shelby switched to the Republican party two years later, and earlier this week said that he didn’t vote for Moore.</p>
<p>“I think, so many accusations, so many cuts, so many drip, drip, drip — when it got to the 14-year-old’s story, that was enough for me. I said I can’t vote for <a href="http://variety.com/2017/politics/news/jeff-sessions-roy-moore-sexual-assault-1202614494/" type="external">Roy Moore</a>,” Shelby said on CNN.</p>
<p>After Jones’ victory, some Republicans expressed relief. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) said on Twitter, “Decency wins.”</p>
<p>Indeed, a number of Republicans saw a potential Moore victory as an existential crisis for the party and its ability to win over moderate voters in the long term.</p>
<p>Had Moore been elected, it would have posed problems for Senate Majority Leader <a href="http://variety.com/t/mitch-mcconnell/" type="external">Mitch McConnell</a>, who would have faced the prospect of seating a candidate under a cloud of allegations of sexual misconduct, or of trying to eject him and face the wrath of the GOP electorate. McConnell called on Moore to drop out, and when that didn’t happen, he said that he would face an ethics investigation.</p>
<p>Even before The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/woman-says-roy-moore-initiated-sexual-encounter-when-she-was-14-he-was-32/2017/11/09/1f495878-c293-11e7-afe9-4f60b5a6c4a0_story.html?utm_term=.4099afd86925" type="external">published its story about Moore’s accusers</a>, Moore’s candidacy already had exposed fissures in the Republican party in the era of <a href="http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/billy-bush-stephen-colbert-donald-trump-1202631417/" type="external">Donald Trump</a>. He was backed by Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, and Trump gave him his endorsement last week.</p>
<p>Moore at times bashed McConnell with almost the same fervor as he railed against Democrats and the news media. He didn’t back off of past far-to-the-right positions, characterizing them as rooted in the Biblical law. In appealing to white evangelicals, Moore mirrored Trump’s 2016 playbook by engaging in us vs. them populist rhetoric that played on cultural divides.</p>
<p>He has said that homosexual relations <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/21/politics/kfile-roy-moore-homosexuality-illegal/index.html" type="external">should be illegal</a>, and on Tuesday his spokesman Ted Crockett told CNN that he probably still believes it. “Homosexuality is a sin in the Biblical sense. That is where Roy Moore is and the state of Alabama is,” Crockett said. Moore <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/27/roy-moore-outrageous-things-he-said-243207" type="external">also said in 2006</a> that Keith Ellison should not be sworn in to Congress because Ellison is a Muslim.</p>
<p>Moore rose to prominence with his controversial tenure as Alabama’s Supreme Court chief justice, in which he was removed in 2003 after he refused a federal court order to remove a a monument to the Ten Commandments from the judicial building. More than a decade later, after he again was elected as chief justice, he again came under fire for refusing to recognize same-sex marriage despite the Supreme Court decision that legalized the nuptials.</p>
<p>The mix of religious zealotry and political defiance proved to be particularly potent in the Republican primary to fill Jeff Sessions Senate seat. Moore trounced Luther Strange, who was appointed to fill the seat and backed by McConnell and other Republicans in Washington. Trump himself backed Strange, but eventually endorsed Moore. He did a robocall, and on Friday held a rally in Pensacola, Fla., within the coverage area of Alabama.</p>
<p>Trump’s support came with a great deal of consternation among some Republicans. Mitt Romney wrote last week that Moore would be “a stain on the GOP and on the nation. Leigh Corfman and other victims are courageous heroes. No vote, no majority is worth losing our honor, our integrity.”</p>
<p>About an hour after Jones’ victory, Trump tweeted, “Congratulations to Doug Jones on a hard fought victory. The write-in votes played a very big factor, but a win is a win. The people of Alabama are great, and the Republicans will have another shot at this seat in a very short period of time. It never ends!”</p>
<p>Congratulations to Doug Jones on a hard fought victory. The write-in votes played a very big factor, but a win is a win. The people of Alabama are great, and the Republicans will have another shot at this seat in a very short period of time. It never ends!</p>
<p>— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/940795587733151744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" type="external">December 13, 2017</a></p> | false | 1 | doug jones special senate election alabama tuesday upset victory republican opponent roy moore faced multiple allegations sexual misconduct jones narrow victory rare democrat deep southern conservative state constituted may indication backlash brash bombastic style moore even president donald trump endorsed late race folks got tell think waiting life dont know hell say jones told supporters gave thunderous applause unexpected victory joined former nba star charles barkley shown country way unified jones said victory speech quoted martin luther king jr exit polls showed jones benefited higherthanexpected turnout democratic strongholds perhaps greaterthanusual number writein votes jones lawyer former prosecutor successfully pursued case 2001 2002 two members ku klux klan roles 1963 16th street baptist church bombing birmingham alabama given long odds winning seat nature race changed november when160the washington post published story multiple women claimed moore pursued sexual relations teenagers another accuser claimed moore sexually assaulted teens denied allegations casting target media elite threat washington establishment democrat elected senate alabama since 1992 richard shelby reelected seat shelby switched republican party two years later earlier week said didnt vote moore think many accusations many cuts many drip drip drip got 14yearolds story enough said cant vote roy moore shelby said cnn jones victory republicans expressed relief sen jeff flake rarizona said twitter decency wins indeed number republicans saw potential moore victory existential crisis party ability win moderate voters long term moore elected would posed problems senate majority leader mitch mcconnell would faced prospect seating candidate cloud allegations sexual misconduct trying eject face wrath gop electorate mcconnell called moore drop didnt happen said would face ethics investigation even washington post published story moores accusers moores candidacy already exposed fissures republican party era donald trump backed steve bannon trumps former chief strategist trump gave endorsement last week moore times bashed mcconnell almost fervor railed democrats news media didnt back past fartotheright positions characterizing rooted biblical law appealing white evangelicals moore mirrored trumps 2016 playbook engaging us vs populist rhetoric played cultural divides said homosexual relations illegal tuesday spokesman ted crockett told cnn probably still believes homosexuality sin biblical sense roy moore state alabama crockett said moore also said 2006 keith ellison sworn congress ellison muslim moore rose prominence controversial tenure alabamas supreme court chief justice removed 2003 refused federal court order remove monument ten commandments judicial building decade later elected chief justice came fire refusing recognize samesex marriage despite supreme court decision legalized nuptials mix religious zealotry political defiance proved particularly potent republican primary fill jeff sessions senate seat moore trounced luther strange appointed fill seat backed mcconnell republicans washington trump backed strange eventually endorsed moore robocall friday held rally pensacola fla within coverage area alabama trumps support came great deal consternation among republicans mitt romney wrote last week moore would stain gop nation leigh corfman victims courageous heroes vote majority worth losing honor integrity hour jones victory trump tweeted congratulations doug jones hard fought victory writein votes played big factor win win people alabama great republicans another shot seat short period time never ends congratulations doug jones hard fought victory writein votes played big factor win win people alabama great republicans another shot seat short period time never ends donald j trump realdonaldtrump december 13 2017 | 532 |
<p>The final report of President Bush’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform reveals a Republican party shell-shocked by the hostile reception to its Social Security reform plans and deeply ambivalent about the direction to take on tax policy. The underlying drama, rarely acknowledged, is whether the party should move away from Ronald Reagan’s approach to these issues.</p>
<p>A broad-based, low-rate income tax was integral to Reagan’s 1977 vision of a “New Republican Party . . . not limited to the country-club big-business image that, for reasons both fair and unfair, it is burdened with today.” Reagan said then that he hoped to “attract more working men and women”–a goal served both by lowering rates, as in his 1981 tax cuts, and broadening the tax base, as in his 1986 loophole-eliminating reform.</p>
<p>But less than a decade later, the party was already moving back toward that “country-club big-business” image that Reagan so regretted. The 1995 National Commission on Economic Growth and Tax Reform, chaired by former Rep. Jack Kemp–who had convinced Reagan on the 1981 tax cuts and played a key role in the 1986 reform–and including now-Treasury Secretary John Snow, unanimously recommended shifting from a broad-based income tax to a flat tax effectively limited (over time) to labor income alone.</p>
<p>The current panel, chaired by Connie Mack, the former Republican senator from Florida, and John Breaux, the former Democratic senator from Louisiana, examined several approximations of the Kemp Commission’s plan, but rejected these after concluding that they would violate President Bush’s charge to come up with a system that raised about the same revenue as current law without greatly changing the distribution of the tax burden by income class. (A revenue-neutral 1995-style flat tax would have lowered the burden on those with incomes over $200,000 and raised it on those with incomes below that amount.)</p>
<p>Instead, the Mack-Breaux panel has recommended twin plans. The first would simplify the current income tax, which has acquired some 15,000 pages since the 1986 reform, without greatly changing tax rates. (Today’s six brackets from 10 to 35 percent would be replaced with four brackets–15, 25, 28, and 33 percent.) The simplification would consolidate the plethora of existing personal credits and savings deductions and get rid of the Alternative Minimum Tax, enacted in 1969 to snag non-taxpaying millionaires, but expected to snag more than 50 million taxpayers in the next decade. These changes would be paid for by limiting deductions for mortgage interest, charitable deductions, and health insurance, and by eliminating the deduction for state and local taxes. On the business side, the plan would end the double taxation of corporate dividends and taxation of foreign income, simplify depreciation, and tax corporate profits at 31.5 percent.</p>
<p>The second proposal shares many of these features, but combines progressive tax rates on labor income (15, 25, 30), a flat rate of 15 percent on interest income, dividends, and capital gains, and a flat 30 percent rate on business cash flow (after investment in property, which is “expensed”).</p>
<p>The initial response has been underwhelming, but in this respect, the Mack-Breaux panel resembles the Reagan 1986 reform, which was greeted with derisive laughter when the president proposed it in his 1984 State of the Union address and pronounced dead-on-arrival countless times before it finally passed. The 1995 panel’s proposal, in contrast, was widely hailed at first for its simplicity, but self-destructed when Steve Forbes campaigned on it in the 1996 Republican presidential primaries and many middle-income voters discovered that any revenue-neutral version would raise their taxes.</p>
<p>Critically missing from the Mack-Breaux twin proposals are significant marginal tax-rate reductions, general acclaim for which in 1986 drowned out the bellows of all the gored political oxen. That reform cut the top rate (which had been 70 percent when Reagan took office) from 50 to a nominal 28 percent. As I have argued previously in these pages ( <a href="" type="internal">Taxes, Social Security and the Politics of Reform</a> Nov. 29, 2004), there’s only one easy, economically beneficial and popular way to achieve similar rate reductions today: Eliminate all remaining deductions favoring property over labor income, and tax both alike, allowing only a refundable credit based on family size (a “human maintenance” credit matching the deduction for property maintenance). When I proposed this to the Kemp Commission I calculated that the revenue-neutral tax rate under such a plan would be a flat 16 percent, but only an up-to-date Treasury estimate could confirm this.</p>
<p>There are two political obstacles. The first is general confusion, even among experts. On the day the Mack-Breaux panel’s report was delivered, two of the panel’s members, Edward P. Lazear and James M. Poterba, framed the basic choice this way in the Wall Street Journal: “Tax systems are income-based or consumption-based. Income taxes apply to labor earnings and capital income. Consumption taxes apply to spending, and they do not tax the return to saving or investment.” Here is the confusion: The same analysis applies to people (so-called human capital) and to property (so-called nonhuman capital), yet the panelists would tax the investment spending or income of the first more heavily than the second, as if only property were capital and as if spending were synonymous with consumption. Even worse, because of a general failure to take seriously the issue of human capital formation, much spending on children that should properly be considered as an investment in human capital would be taxed as consumption.</p>
<p>The first obstacle, confusion, feeds and is fed by the second, factional ideology. As James Madison pointed out, faction is endemic to representative government, and faction depends on what we now call ideology. Ideologues are constantly vying to take over political parties, and their ideologies are fictions designed to serve the interest of a faction. Generally speaking, the Democratic party’s constituents have depended disproportionately on labor income and the Republican party’s disproportionately on property income. Democratic party ideology assumes that you can tax the bejeezus out of property income and yet somehow investment in property will take care of itself. The corresponding Republican ideology assumes that you can tax the bejeezus out of workers’ income without reducing investment in people. I refer to this as the “Stork Theory,” because it assumes that workers will just spring from out of the blue as if brought by a large stork. This theory is belied by plummeting birth rates in Europe and Japan, where labor income is heavily taxed.</p>
<p>The choice between taxing property and labor income equally or favoring one over the other cannot be finessed. As both Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan knew in their bones, because both had switched parties themselves, the way to beat the other party is to attract, not destroy, its constituents. The recent GOP tax reform record is not inspiring, but despite the stumble on Social Security, President Bush still has three years to pick up Reagan’s economic mantle. If not, it will remain on the ground waiting to be picked up by 2008 presidential candidates–from either party.</p>
<p>— John D. Mueller is director of the economics and ethics program at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. He served as an adviser to the 1995 National Commission on Economic Growth and Tax Reform.</p> | false | 1 | final report president bushs advisory panel federal tax reform reveals republican party shellshocked hostile reception social security reform plans deeply ambivalent direction take tax policy underlying drama rarely acknowledged whether party move away ronald reagans approach issues broadbased lowrate income tax integral reagans 1977 vision new republican party limited countryclub bigbusiness image reasons fair unfair burdened today reagan said hoped attract working men womena goal served lowering rates 1981 tax cuts broadening tax base 1986 loopholeeliminating reform less decade later party already moving back toward countryclub bigbusiness image reagan regretted 1995 national commission economic growth tax reform chaired former rep jack kempwho convinced reagan 1981 tax cuts played key role 1986 reformand including nowtreasury secretary john snow unanimously recommended shifting broadbased income tax flat tax effectively limited time labor income alone current panel chaired connie mack former republican senator florida john breaux former democratic senator louisiana examined several approximations kemp commissions plan rejected concluding would violate president bushs charge come system raised revenue current law without greatly changing distribution tax burden income class revenueneutral 1995style flat tax would lowered burden incomes 200000 raised incomes amount instead mackbreaux panel recommended twin plans first would simplify current income tax acquired 15000 pages since 1986 reform without greatly changing tax rates todays six brackets 10 35 percent would replaced four brackets15 25 28 33 percent simplification would consolidate plethora existing personal credits savings deductions get rid alternative minimum tax enacted 1969 snag nontaxpaying millionaires expected snag 50 million taxpayers next decade changes would paid limiting deductions mortgage interest charitable deductions health insurance eliminating deduction state local taxes business side plan would end double taxation corporate dividends taxation foreign income simplify depreciation tax corporate profits 315 percent second proposal shares many features combines progressive tax rates labor income 15 25 30 flat rate 15 percent interest income dividends capital gains flat 30 percent rate business cash flow investment property expensed initial response underwhelming respect mackbreaux panel resembles reagan 1986 reform greeted derisive laughter president proposed 1984 state union address pronounced deadonarrival countless times finally passed 1995 panels proposal contrast widely hailed first simplicity selfdestructed steve forbes campaigned 1996 republican presidential primaries many middleincome voters discovered revenueneutral version would raise taxes critically missing mackbreaux twin proposals significant marginal taxrate reductions general acclaim 1986 drowned bellows gored political oxen reform cut top rate 70 percent reagan took office 50 nominal 28 percent argued previously pages taxes social security politics reform nov 29 2004 theres one easy economically beneficial popular way achieve similar rate reductions today eliminate remaining deductions favoring property labor income tax alike allowing refundable credit based family size human maintenance credit matching deduction property maintenance proposed kemp commission calculated revenueneutral tax rate plan would flat 16 percent uptodate treasury estimate could confirm two political obstacles first general confusion even among experts day mackbreaux panels report delivered two panels members edward p lazear james poterba framed basic choice way wall street journal tax systems incomebased consumptionbased income taxes apply labor earnings capital income consumption taxes apply spending tax return saving investment confusion analysis applies people socalled human capital property socalled nonhuman capital yet panelists would tax investment spending income first heavily second property capital spending synonymous consumption even worse general failure take seriously issue human capital formation much spending children properly considered investment human capital would taxed consumption first obstacle confusion feeds fed second factional ideology james madison pointed faction endemic representative government faction depends call ideology ideologues constantly vying take political parties ideologies fictions designed serve interest faction generally speaking democratic partys constituents depended disproportionately labor income republican partys disproportionately property income democratic party ideology assumes tax bejeezus property income yet somehow investment property take care corresponding republican ideology assumes tax bejeezus workers income without reducing investment people refer stork theory assumes workers spring blue brought large stork theory belied plummeting birth rates europe japan labor income heavily taxed choice taxing property labor income equally favoring one finessed abraham lincoln ronald reagan knew bones switched parties way beat party attract destroy constituents recent gop tax reform record inspiring despite stumble social security president bush still three years pick reagans economic mantle remain ground waiting picked 2008 presidential candidatesfrom either party john mueller director economics ethics program ethics public policy center served adviser 1995 national commission economic growth tax reform | 715 |
<p>By Katie Paul and Stephen Kalin</p>
<p>RIYADH (Reuters) – All major Gulf stock markets slid on Tuesday on jitters about Saudi Arabia’s sweeping anti-graft purge, a campaign seen by critics as a populist power grab but by ordinary Saudis as an overdue attack on the sleaze of a moneyed ultra-elite.</p>
<p>U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed the crackdown, saying some of those arrested have been “milking” Saudi Arabia for years, but some Western officials expressed unease about the possible reaction in Riyadh’s opaque tribal and royal politics.</p>
<p>Authorities detained dozens of top Saudis including billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal in a move widely seen as an attempt by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to neuter any opposition to his lightening ascent to the pinnacle of power.</p>
<p>Admirers see it as an assault on the endemic theft of public funds in the world’s top oil exporter, an absolute monarchy where the state and the ruling family are intertwined.</p>
<p>“Corruption should have been fought a long time ago, because it’s corruption that delays society’s development,” Riyadh resident Hussein al-Dosari told Reuters.</p>
<p>“God willing, everything that happened … is only the beginning of what is planned,” said Faisal bin Ali, adding he wanted to see “correcting mistakes, correcting ministries and correcting any injustices against the general population.”</p>
<p>But some analysts see the arrests as the latest in a string of moves shifting power from a consensus-based system dispersing authority among the ruling Al Saud to a governing structure centred around 32-year-old Prince Mohammed himself.</p>
<p>Investors worry that his campaign against corruption – involving the arrests of the kingdom’s most internationally known businessmen – could see the ownership of businesses and assets become vulnerable to unpredictable policy shifts.</p>
<p>Saudi banks have frozen more than 1,200 accounts belonging to individuals and companies in the kingdom and the number keeps rising, bankers and lawyers said.</p>
<p>The authorities sought to reassure the business community late on Tuesday, with the central bank saying it was freezing suspects’ personal bank accounts at the request of the attorney general but not suspending operations of their companies.</p>
<p>“In other words, corporate businesses remain unaffected. It is business as usual for both banks and corporates,” the bank said in a statement, adding there were no restrictions on money transfers through proper banking channels.</p>
<p>A separate statement said Prince Mohammed had directed a powerful ministerial committee, the Council for Economic Affairs and Development, to ensure that national and multinational companies, including those wholly or partly owned by individuals under investigation, were not disrupted.</p>
<p>“The Council recognized the importance of these companies for the national economy, and the importance of ensuring that investors could operate with confidence in Saudi Arabia,” the state news agency SPA said.</p>
<p>In Washington, the U.S. State Department said it was not informed in advance of the Saudi crackdown, but it had been reassured by Riyadh that any prosecutions of suspects would be undertaken in a fair and transparent manner.</p>
<p>INVESTOR NERVES</p>
<p>The Saudi stock index .TASI sank 0.7 percent in heavy trade, led by shares in companies linked to people detained in the investigation.</p>
<p>The market, which was down 3.1 percent at one stage, would have finished much lower without apparent buying by government-linked funds seeking to prevent a panic, fund managers said. A mass pull-out of foreign funds was not apparent.</p>
<p>Among the companies, Prince Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding (SE:) plunged by its 10 percent daily limit, bringing its losses in the three days since the investigation was announced to 21 percent. The fall has wiped about $2 billion off his fortune, previously estimated by Forbes magazine at $17 billion.</p>
<p>In Dubai, where Saudis have been significant investors, the index () slipped 1.8 percent. The index in Abu Dhabi (), less exposed to Saudi money, fell only 0.4 percent. But Kuwait continued to slide, its index () losing 2.8 percent.</p>
<p>The show of investor nerves coincided with sharply heightened strains between Riyadh and Tehran, reflected in a fresh denunciation of adversary Iran by Prince Mohammed over its role in Yemen, and by continuing mutual acrimony over political turmoil in Lebanon, another cockpit of Iranian-Saudi rivalry.</p>
<p>Displaying an apparently undimmed taste for navigating several challenges simultaneously, Prince Mohammed said Iran’s supply of rockets to militias in Yemen is an act of “direct military aggression” that could be an act of war.</p>
<p>He was speaking in a phone call with the British foreign minister after Saudi forces intercepted a ballistic missile they said was fired toward Riyadh on Saturday by the Houthis.</p>
<p>A Saudi-led coalition, which backs Yemen’s internationally-recognized government, has been targeting the Houthis in a war which has killed more than 10,000 people and triggered a humanitarian disaster in one of the region’s poorest countries.</p>
<p>Iran has denied it was behind the missile launch, rejecting the Saudi and U.S. statements condemning Tehran as “destructive and provocative” and “slanders”.</p>
<p>The coincidence of heightened Saudi-Iranian tensions and Saudi domestic political upheaval has stirred unease among some Western governments and analysts about the emergence of an impromptu policy-making style under Prince Mohammed and turmoil in a region traditionally seen as a haven of stability.</p>
<p>“He seems to be pushing the creation of a personalized system of rule without the checks and balances that have typically characterized the Saudi system of governance,” wrote Marc Lynch, professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University, in the Washington Post.</p>
<p>“In both domestic and foreign affairs, he has consistently undertaken sudden and wide-ranging campaigns for unclear reasons which shatter prevailing norms.”</p>
<p>PIVOTAL POWER BASE</p>
<p>Among those held in the anti-graft purge was Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who was replaced as minister of the National Guard, a pivotal power base rooted in the kingdom’s tribes. That recalled a palace coup in June that ousted Mohammed bin Nayef, known as MbN, as heir to the throne.</p>
<p>MbN made his first confirmed public appearance since then at the funeral for Prince Mansour bin Muqrin, deputy governor of Asir province, who was killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday. No cause has been given for the crash.</p>
<p>A photo shared online by a state media photographer showed MbN greeting another royal at the first major family gathering since the anti-corruption sweep began.</p>
<p>The crackdown removed any remaining political counterweights to the crown prince, according to Steffen Hertog, a Saudi scholar at the London School of Economics.</p>
<p>“This allows for fast decision-making and reduces costly involvement of princes in state contracts, but also potentially reduces internal criticism and review of new policy initiatives,” he said.</p>
<p>A former senior U.S. intelligence official cautioned that given the National Guard’s loyalties, Prince Mohammed could face a backlash. “I find it difficult to believe that it (National Guard) will simply roll over and accept the imposition of new leadership in such an arbitrary fashion,” he said.</p>
<p>But the purge may go some way to soothing public disgust over financial abuses by the powerful, some Saudis say.</p>
<p>“There is no doubt that it (the detentions) soothes the anger of the regular citizen who felt that such names and senior leaders who appeared in the list were immune from legal accountability,” said Saudi-based political analyst Mansour al-Ameer.</p>
<p>“Its spread to the general population is evidence that no one is excluded from legal accountability, and this will eventually benefit the citizen and (national) development.”</p> | false | 1 | katie paul stephen kalin riyadh reuters major gulf stock markets slid tuesday jitters saudi arabias sweeping antigraft purge campaign seen critics populist power grab ordinary saudis overdue attack sleaze moneyed ultraelite us president donald trump endorsed crackdown saying arrested milking saudi arabia years western officials expressed unease possible reaction riyadhs opaque tribal royal politics authorities detained dozens top saudis including billionaire prince alwaleed bin talal move widely seen attempt crown prince mohammed bin salman neuter opposition lightening ascent pinnacle power admirers see assault endemic theft public funds worlds top oil exporter absolute monarchy state ruling family intertwined corruption fought long time ago corruption delays societys development riyadh resident hussein aldosari told reuters god willing everything happened beginning planned said faisal bin ali adding wanted see correcting mistakes correcting ministries correcting injustices general population analysts see arrests latest string moves shifting power consensusbased system dispersing authority among ruling al saud governing structure centred around 32yearold prince mohammed investors worry campaign corruption involving arrests kingdoms internationally known businessmen could see ownership businesses assets become vulnerable unpredictable policy shifts saudi banks frozen 1200 accounts belonging individuals companies kingdom number keeps rising bankers lawyers said authorities sought reassure business community late tuesday central bank saying freezing suspects personal bank accounts request attorney general suspending operations companies words corporate businesses remain unaffected business usual banks corporates bank said statement adding restrictions money transfers proper banking channels separate statement said prince mohammed directed powerful ministerial committee council economic affairs development ensure national multinational companies including wholly partly owned individuals investigation disrupted council recognized importance companies national economy importance ensuring investors could operate confidence saudi arabia state news agency spa said washington us state department said informed advance saudi crackdown reassured riyadh prosecutions suspects would undertaken fair transparent manner investor nerves saudi stock index tasi sank 07 percent heavy trade led shares companies linked people detained investigation market 31 percent one stage would finished much lower without apparent buying governmentlinked funds seeking prevent panic fund managers said mass pullout foreign funds apparent among companies prince alwaleeds kingdom holding se plunged 10 percent daily limit bringing losses three days since investigation announced 21 percent fall wiped 2 billion fortune previously estimated forbes magazine 17 billion dubai saudis significant investors index slipped 18 percent index abu dhabi less exposed saudi money fell 04 percent kuwait continued slide index losing 28 percent show investor nerves coincided sharply heightened strains riyadh tehran reflected fresh denunciation adversary iran prince mohammed role yemen continuing mutual acrimony political turmoil lebanon another cockpit iraniansaudi rivalry displaying apparently undimmed taste navigating several challenges simultaneously prince mohammed said irans supply rockets militias yemen act direct military aggression could act war speaking phone call british foreign minister saudi forces intercepted ballistic missile said fired toward riyadh saturday houthis saudiled coalition backs yemens internationallyrecognized government targeting houthis war killed 10000 people triggered humanitarian disaster one regions poorest countries iran denied behind missile launch rejecting saudi us statements condemning tehran destructive provocative slanders coincidence heightened saudiiranian tensions saudi domestic political upheaval stirred unease among western governments analysts emergence impromptu policymaking style prince mohammed turmoil region traditionally seen stability seems pushing creation personalized system rule without checks balances typically characterized saudi system governance wrote marc lynch professor political science international affairs george washington university washington post domestic foreign affairs consistently undertaken sudden wideranging campaigns unclear reasons shatter prevailing norms pivotal power base among held antigraft purge prince miteb bin abdullah replaced minister national guard pivotal power base rooted kingdoms tribes recalled palace coup june ousted mohammed bin nayef known mbn heir throne mbn made first confirmed public appearance since funeral prince mansour bin muqrin deputy governor asir province killed helicopter crash sunday cause given crash photo shared online state media photographer showed mbn greeting another royal first major family gathering since anticorruption sweep began crackdown removed remaining political counterweights crown prince according steffen hertog saudi scholar london school economics allows fast decisionmaking reduces costly involvement princes state contracts also potentially reduces internal criticism review new policy initiatives said former senior us intelligence official cautioned given national guards loyalties prince mohammed could face backlash find difficult believe national guard simply roll accept imposition new leadership arbitrary fashion said purge may go way soothing public disgust financial abuses powerful saudis say doubt detentions soothes anger regular citizen felt names senior leaders appeared list immune legal accountability said saudibased political analyst mansour alameer spread general population evidence one excluded legal accountability eventually benefit citizen national development | 742 |
<p>This summer James Bowman is presenting on behalf of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and the Hudson Institute in Washington a series of six films on the general theme of “The Pursuit of Happiness.” The films are being shown at the Hudson Institute, 1015 15th Street N.W., Suite 600, and you can go to <a href="" type="internal">www.eppc.org/thepursuitofhappiness</a> for details or to register to attend. The series continued on Tuesday, June 29th with Christmas in July (1940) by Gregory La Cava, starring William Powell and Carole Lombard. Before showing the film, Mr. Bowman spoke for a few minutes about the movie as follows.</p>
<p>Last week, in Gregory La Cava's My Man Godfrey, we got a pretty good idea of at least one Depression-era American outlook on the question of the Pursuit of Happiness. The frenetic pleasure-seeking of the irresponsible rich was contrasted with the decency and dignity of “Forgotten Man” Godfrey Smith, played by William Powell, who has to teach the frivolous and self-absorbed Bullock family a better way to live and enjoy their money. But the fact that Godfrey turns out to be one of the blue-blooded Parkes of Boston and was himself brought up in wealth and privilege makes this rather a lesson in noblesse oblige, given by old money to new, than a practical approach to ambition and success designed for ordinary folks. Tonight's movie, Preston Sturges's comedy Christmas in July, based on his own play A Cup of Coffee, takes us down among what the BP chairman, Carl-Henric Svanberg, recently called <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/16/AR2010061605528.html" type="external">the “small people”</a> of the same era — but it turns out they are small people with big ideas.</p>
<p>This is typical of Sturges, who again and again came back to the theme of ambition and success and himself clearly had a lot of both. His best-known film, Sullivan's Travels, is about John L. Sullivan (Joel McCrea), a rich and privileged Hollywood director of comedies, like Sturges himself, who is determined to make a great and serious art film — to be called Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou? — about the poor and downtrodden of the earth and, like William Powell's Godfrey in My Man Godfrey, determines to go among them and live like one of them himself. But his experience is very different from Godfrey's. The poor in that film are not romanticized and sentimentalized as they are in La Cava's, and the brutality of their existence, both moral and material, finally convinces the hero that he should give up his high-falutin' artistic ambitions and stick to comedy. “There's a lot to be said for making people laugh,” he says in the end. “Did you know that that's all some people have? It isn't much, but it's better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan.”</p>
<p>Sullivan's original purpose in Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou? — not to be confused with the Coen brothers movie of the same name whose borrowing of it from Sturges was a typical post-modern joke — was meant to show “the problems that confront the average man,” but the average man was much less likely to be one of the tramps of Sullivan's Travels than someone like Dick Powell's Jimmy MacDonald in Christmas in July, a movie that had come out a year earlier, in 1940. Jimmy is a low-level book-keeper with the J.B. Baxter coffee company of New York and is engaged to be married to Betty Casey, played by Ellen Drew. Betty lives in the same tenement on the lower East Side, along with a rich ethnic mix of first and second-generation immigrants, and works in the same company uptown as a secretary. Together, their income totals $40 a week, we are told, but both have widowed mothers to look after and couldn't possibly afford to live on Jimmy's income alone if they married and Betty got pregnant, as of course they expect she would.</p>
<p>Though Jimmy tells Betty that men, unlike women, never think of anything but money, it is clear to us from the start that, to him as much as to her, it's not just money he is thinking about but what they used to call “a start in life” — the chance to marry and have a family — which was very far from being something that Mr Svanberg's “small people” could take for granted at the time. Jimmy is also in a hurry, however, because he believes in himself and his ability to succeed in business on a much grander scale than that necessary just to marry Betty. In particular, he believes that he can win a slogan contest being mounted by a rival coffee company, Maxford House (“Grand to the Last Gulp” is its current slogan) whose first prize is $25,000. Depending on how you calculate it, in terms of purchasing power, average income or per capita GDP, that would be worth somewhere between 15 and 40 times that amount in today's money, or between 375,000 and a million dollars.</p>
<p>There are also a host of lesser prizes, the whole list of which is lovingly recited by the Maxford House announcer, played by Franklin Pangborn — whom you will recognize as the master of ceremonies for the scavenger hunt from My Man Godfrey — at the beginning of the radio show to which Jimmy and Betty are eagerly listening in the opening scene on the roof of their tenement. The pleasure he takes in dreaming of so much “sugar,” as he puts it, stands for that of the two-million-plus contest entrants who, like Jimmy and Betty, are hoping to be made suddenly rich. In order for the plot to be set in motion, however, Preston Sturges takes a characteristic risk by unexpectedly and most implausibly delaying the highly anticipated announcement of the contest-winner, even when the radio show is already on the air, by making the jury, dominated by William Demarest's irascible holdout, Bildocker, proclaim itself to be deadlocked.</p>
<p>There is another risk in the feebleness of Jimmy's slogan — which is, “If you can't sleep at night, it isn't the coffee; it's the bunk” — and the fact that neither Betty nor his mother (Georgia Caine) nor Dr Maxford himself, played by the Sturges stalwart Raymond Walburn, can understand it. Sturges himself calls attention to the slogan's incomprehensibility again and again, and part of the joke is that Jimmy has been playing the intellectual. For coffee's supposed soporific qualities, he has taken some newspaper's version of the word of a Viennese doctor — the idea of which, based on Dr Freud, was itself a bit of a joke at the time — over the voice of common sense. This, as he is brutally reminded by Betty (“it's a well-known fact”) and his mother ( “everybody knows”) ought to have told him that coffee keeps you awake. The flim-flammery of advertising seems to be taken for granted here, but, rather touchingly, Jimmy seems really to believe not only in the prize-winning efficacy but also in the truth of his slogan.</p>
<p>I shall have more to say about this in a moment, but first let's consider the question of what is to be made of the following speech by Mr. E.L. Waterbury (Harry Hayden), Jimmy's immediate superior at the J.B. Baxter coffee company, who is reproving him for taking his attention away from his job and giving it instead to daydreaming about that $25,000. “I used to think about $25,000 too,” says Mr Waterbury, “and what I'd do with it.”</p>
<p>That I'd be a failure, if I didn't get a hold of it. And then one day I realized that I was never going to have $25,000, Mr. MacDonald. And then another day… uhh… a little bit later — considerably later — I realized something else, something I'm imparting to you now, Mr. MacDonald. I'm not a failure. I'm a success. You see, ambition is all right if it works. But no system could be right where only half of one per cent were successes and all the rest were failures. That wouldn't be right. I'm not a failure. I'm a success. And so are you, if you earn y our own living and pay your bills and look the world in the eye. I hope you win your $25,000, Mr. MacDonald. But if you shouldn't happen to, don't worry about it. Now get the heck back to your desk and try to improve your arithmetic.</p>
<p>In the context of the film, we might be tempted to look at this as ironic, like something that Sturges's moralizing director John L. Sullivan in Sullivan's Travels might have come up with. Sturges's well-known aversion to cant, to say nothing of his own earning power in Hollywood at the time, would never have allowed him to pretend that it was better to be poor than to be rich, but that's not quite what Mr Waterbury is saying, and there is a kind of open-hearted genuineness about Mr Waterbury's simple credo which disarms any attempt to sneer it away. It is also echoed in the climactic and unexpected speech of Betty Casey, Jimmy's long-suffering fiancée, to Mr Baxter (Ernest Truex) on Jimmy's behalf. Betty tells Baxter that Jimmy belongs in the new office he has mistakenly been given. This is just because, says Betty,</p>
<p>he thinks he has ideas. He belongs in here until he proves himself or fails and… then… someone else belongs in here until he proves himself or fails and somebody else after that and somebody else after him and so on and so on for always. Oh… I don't know how to… put it into words like Jimmy could, but… all he wanted, all any of them want is a — is a chance to show — to find out what they've got while they're still young and burning, like a short cut or a stepping stone. Oh, I know they're not going to succeed, at least most of them won't, they'll all be like Mr. Waterbury soon enough, most of them, anyway. But they won't mind it. They'll find something else, and they'll be happy, because they had their chance. Because it's one thing to muff a chance once you've had it… it's another thing never to have had a chance.</p>
<p>To my ear, this is the voice of the author speaking. Failure, he thinks, is irrelevant to happiness. So long as you've had your chance at the sort of spectacular success that that $25,000 represented to Jimmy. It ultimately doesn't matter if you've missed it if you can still be happy as Mr Waterbury is happy, just paying your bills and looking the world in the eye.</p>
<p>But let's not kid ourselves about how difficult it is to believe this. Jimmy's own success makes Mr Waterbury's and Betty's moral outlook appear just the tiniest bit sentimental and false. Moreover, the weakness of Jimmy's slogan as well as the one that Baxter's advertising men like better about their allegedly “blue-blooded” coffee, “It's bred in the bean,” makes it hard to escape the impression — and this is something common to the films of the period, including My Man Godfrey, which we saw last week, and Treasure of the Sierra Madre, which we will be seeing next week — that success, like wealth itself, is capricious and as likely to light upon the undeserving as the deserving. Yet it is also true that luck or “hap” is etymologically buried in the idea of happiness — something which we often forget nowadays when we take that notion so seriously but which, I think, Jefferson would have been at least dimly aware of when he first wrote the pursuit of it as an American entitlement into the Declaration of Independence.</p>
<p>And that's really the point being made by both Betty and Mr Waterbury. It's not enough to be clever and industrious; you've got to be lucky as well. That's why, even if good luck makes you a success, bad luck doesn't make you a failure. My favorite line in the picture comes when Jimmy and Betty are walking disconsolately back to their office after learning, as they think, that all their brightest hopes, recently raised so high, have suddenly been dashed and a black cat crosses their path. Quickly, they ask the janitor, a black man, who is the only person on the premises at that hour, if the cat represents good or bad luck. “That depends on what happens afterwards,” says he in a triumph for Sturgesian common sense.</p>
<p>The capricious nature of success is especially well represented by its association with advertising, as it will be again in the movie we'll see in two weeks' time, Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House. It's also part of the American way to take less of an interest in the product than the salesmanship. We believe in selling the sizzle and not the steak, which is what produces our ambivalent love-affair with the con artist and the flim-flam man. I wish I had the time and the opportunity to show one of those great musicals from the 1950s and 1960s, The Music Man or How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, so that we could look at that subject in more detail, but the Cliff's Notes version is that the American Dream always tends to make room for the salesman who believes in himself and his product — which very often is himself — even when, or especially when, it is hard for anybody else to believe.</p>
<p>Even when he thinks he has won the contest, Jimmy is pleased not only by the money, whose greatest pleasure comes from being given away to his friends and neighbors, but by the needful confirmation of his belief in himself. This is what he says to Dr Maxford: “You see, I used to think that maybe I had good ideas and was gonna get somewhere in the world, but now I know it. And that's what I want to thank you for, Dr. Maxford, even more than the money.” The same supposed confirmation of Jimmy's good ideas is what induces Mr Baxter to offer him his dream job when he thinks he has won. “They're still the same ideas, aren't they?” says Jimmy when he finds out that he hasn't. But Baxter, who thinks that winning the contest is proof that “you have a genuine talent for slogans” and thus a kind of “commercial insurance,” replies that “I didn't hang on to my father's money by backing my own judgment, you know.” It's a curious inversion of Jimmy's brash confidence. At least some guys who get rich, or stay rich, do so like Mr Baxter, by a lively sense of their own limitations.</p>
<p>I remember when I was teaching English in England and the number of argumentative essays or persuasive speeches one saw in the textbooks that were retailed with greater or less skill by the youthful essayists and speakers one taught on some such subject as “Advertising: a Force for Evil?” — with or without a question mark. It was widely supposed in Britain that advertising was a form of lying, only it was worse than lying because it didn't just deceive people. It forced them to spend money they didn't have for goods and services they didn't need, and all for the enrichment of some corporate fat cat who cared nothing for them except in their role as potential consumers. There was something disreputable about the very name, “consumers” — as if consuming things in general were like the specific act of consumption known as buying your own furniture: that is, something that only the lower orders and the nouveau riche would do.</p>
<p>Though the American educational system was worse than the British in many ways, I don't remember reading or writing those kinds of essays when I was at school, though maybe American children do now. The popularity of the TV series “Mad Men” is as great as it is partly because it reacquaints us with our sometimes reluctant but always passionate national love-affair with advertising, that magical, mystical art by which fortunes are made or broken and whose promise remains for us still what it was for Jimmy MacDonald: the key to happiness. Both the mysteriousness and the mysticism of Jon Hamm's Don Draper and his fabulous creativity on the TV show demonstrates a much more serious approach to the subject than Preston Sturges's in Christmas in July, but you can see the later attitude in embryo her e in 1940 in the idea shared by both these entertainments that the kind of creativity rewarded by the advertising business, even a creativity of mere sloganeering, is like John L. Sullivan's and Preston Sturges's light-hearted comedies, its own reward.</p>
<p>Ironically, perhaps, British advertising was and is some of the best in the world, and one of the plot lines of “Mad Men” has to do with how overwhelmed the new British head of the American firm, Sterling Cooper, feels by the superior social status he and his trade enjoy in America as compared with Britain. It drives a wedge between him and his wife, who retains the disdain of the British upper classes and those who would ape them for both her husband's business and his adopted country. He, by contrast, feels a sense of liberation which ultimately leads to his siding with his new American colleagues rather than the London head office when the former strike out on their own after major changes are proposed in the existing corporate structure. The pursuit of happiness for Americans always wants to go with being, in some sense, our own boss even when (like Jimmy) we remain locked into a corporate structure. Maybe that's just another way of saying that the American Dream really is a dream — an illusion — but it is also a dream like Jimmy's that, however improbably and paradoxically, we know will come true.</p> | false | 1 | summer james bowman presenting behalf ethics public policy center hudson institute washington series six films general theme pursuit happiness films shown hudson institute 1015 15th street nw suite 600 go wwweppcorgthepursuitofhappiness details register attend series continued tuesday june 29th christmas july 1940 gregory la cava starring william powell carole lombard showing film mr bowman spoke minutes movie follows last week gregory la cavas man godfrey got pretty good idea least one depressionera american outlook question pursuit happiness frenetic pleasureseeking irresponsible rich contrasted decency dignity forgotten man godfrey smith played william powell teach frivolous selfabsorbed bullock family better way live enjoy money fact godfrey turns one blueblooded parkes boston brought wealth privilege makes rather lesson noblesse oblige given old money new practical approach ambition success designed ordinary folks tonights movie preston sturgess comedy christmas july based play cup coffee takes us among bp chairman carlhenric svanberg recently called small people era turns small people big ideas typical sturges came back theme ambition success clearly lot bestknown film sullivans travels john l sullivan joel mccrea rich privileged hollywood director comedies like sturges determined make great serious art film called oh brother art thou poor downtrodden earth like william powells godfrey man godfrey determines go among live like one experience different godfreys poor film romanticized sentimentalized la cavas brutality existence moral material finally convinces hero give highfalutin artistic ambitions stick comedy theres lot said making people laugh says end know thats people isnt much better nothing cockeyed caravan sullivans original purpose oh brother art thou confused coen brothers movie name whose borrowing sturges typical postmodern joke meant show problems confront average man average man much less likely one tramps sullivans travels someone like dick powells jimmy macdonald christmas july movie come year earlier 1940 jimmy lowlevel bookkeeper jb baxter coffee company new york engaged married betty casey played ellen drew betty lives tenement lower east side along rich ethnic mix first secondgeneration immigrants works company uptown secretary together income totals 40 week told widowed mothers look couldnt possibly afford live jimmys income alone married betty got pregnant course expect would though jimmy tells betty men unlike women never think anything money clear us start much money thinking used call start life chance marry family far something mr svanbergs small people could take granted time jimmy also hurry however believes ability succeed business much grander scale necessary marry betty particular believes win slogan contest mounted rival coffee company maxford house grand last gulp current slogan whose first prize 25000 depending calculate terms purchasing power average income per capita gdp would worth somewhere 15 40 times amount todays money 375000 million dollars also host lesser prizes whole list lovingly recited maxford house announcer played franklin pangborn recognize master ceremonies scavenger hunt man godfrey beginning radio show jimmy betty eagerly listening opening scene roof tenement pleasure takes dreaming much sugar puts stands twomillionplus contest entrants like jimmy betty hoping made suddenly rich order plot set motion however preston sturges takes characteristic risk unexpectedly implausibly delaying highly anticipated announcement contestwinner even radio show already air making jury dominated william demarests irascible holdout bildocker proclaim deadlocked another risk feebleness jimmys slogan cant sleep night isnt coffee bunk fact neither betty mother georgia caine dr maxford played sturges stalwart raymond walburn understand sturges calls attention slogans incomprehensibility part joke jimmy playing intellectual coffees supposed soporific qualities taken newspapers version word viennese doctor idea based dr freud bit joke time voice common sense brutally reminded betty wellknown fact mother everybody knows ought told coffee keeps awake flimflammery advertising seems taken granted rather touchingly jimmy seems really believe prizewinning efficacy also truth slogan shall say moment first lets consider question made following speech mr el waterbury harry hayden jimmys immediate superior jb baxter coffee company reproving taking attention away job giving instead daydreaming 25000 used think 25000 says mr waterbury id id failure didnt get hold one day realized never going 25000 mr macdonald another day uhh little bit later considerably later realized something else something im imparting mr macdonald im failure im success see ambition right works system could right half one per cent successes rest failures wouldnt right im failure im success earn living pay bills look world eye hope win 25000 mr macdonald shouldnt happen dont worry get heck back desk try improve arithmetic context film might tempted look ironic like something sturgess moralizing director john l sullivan sullivans travels might come sturgess wellknown aversion cant say nothing earning power hollywood time would never allowed pretend better poor rich thats quite mr waterbury saying kind openhearted genuineness mr waterburys simple credo disarms attempt sneer away also echoed climactic unexpected speech betty casey jimmys longsuffering fiancée mr baxter ernest truex jimmys behalf betty tells baxter jimmy belongs new office mistakenly given says betty thinks ideas belongs proves fails someone else belongs proves fails somebody else somebody else always oh dont know put words like jimmy could wanted want chance show find theyve got theyre still young burning like short cut stepping stone oh know theyre going succeed least wont theyll like mr waterbury soon enough anyway wont mind theyll find something else theyll happy chance one thing muff chance youve another thing never chance ear voice author speaking failure thinks irrelevant happiness long youve chance sort spectacular success 25000 represented jimmy ultimately doesnt matter youve missed still happy mr waterbury happy paying bills looking world eye lets kid difficult believe jimmys success makes mr waterburys bettys moral outlook appear tiniest bit sentimental false moreover weakness jimmys slogan well one baxters advertising men like better allegedly blueblooded coffee bred bean makes hard escape impression something common films period including man godfrey saw last week treasure sierra madre seeing next week success like wealth capricious likely light upon undeserving deserving yet also true luck hap etymologically buried idea happiness something often forget nowadays take notion seriously think jefferson would least dimly aware first wrote pursuit american entitlement declaration independence thats really point made betty mr waterbury enough clever industrious youve got lucky well thats even good luck makes success bad luck doesnt make failure favorite line picture comes jimmy betty walking disconsolately back office learning think brightest hopes recently raised high suddenly dashed black cat crosses path quickly ask janitor black man person premises hour cat represents good bad luck depends happens afterwards says triumph sturgesian common sense capricious nature success especially well represented association advertising movie well see two weeks time mr blandings builds dream house also part american way take less interest product salesmanship believe selling sizzle steak produces ambivalent loveaffair con artist flimflam man wish time opportunity show one great musicals 1950s 1960s music man succeed business without really trying could look subject detail cliffs notes version american dream always tends make room salesman believes product often even especially hard anybody else believe even thinks contest jimmy pleased money whose greatest pleasure comes given away friends neighbors needful confirmation belief says dr maxford see used think maybe good ideas gon na get somewhere world know thats want thank dr maxford even money supposed confirmation jimmys good ideas induces mr baxter offer dream job thinks theyre still ideas arent says jimmy finds hasnt baxter thinks winning contest proof genuine talent slogans thus kind commercial insurance replies didnt hang fathers money backing judgment know curious inversion jimmys brash confidence least guys get rich stay rich like mr baxter lively sense limitations remember teaching english england number argumentative essays persuasive speeches one saw textbooks retailed greater less skill youthful essayists speakers one taught subject advertising force evil without question mark widely supposed britain advertising form lying worse lying didnt deceive people forced spend money didnt goods services didnt need enrichment corporate fat cat cared nothing except role potential consumers something disreputable name consumers consuming things general like specific act consumption known buying furniture something lower orders nouveau riche would though american educational system worse british many ways dont remember reading writing kinds essays school though maybe american children popularity tv series mad men great partly reacquaints us sometimes reluctant always passionate national loveaffair advertising magical mystical art fortunes made broken whose promise remains us still jimmy macdonald key happiness mysteriousness mysticism jon hamms draper fabulous creativity tv show demonstrates much serious approach subject preston sturgess christmas july see later attitude embryo e 1940 idea shared entertainments kind creativity rewarded advertising business even creativity mere sloganeering like john l sullivans preston sturgess lighthearted comedies reward ironically perhaps british advertising best world one plot lines mad men overwhelmed new british head american firm sterling cooper feels superior social status trade enjoy america compared britain drives wedge wife retains disdain british upper classes would ape husbands business adopted country contrast feels sense liberation ultimately leads siding new american colleagues rather london head office former strike major changes proposed existing corporate structure pursuit happiness americans always wants go sense boss even like jimmy remain locked corporate structure maybe thats another way saying american dream really dream illusion also dream like jimmys however improbably paradoxically know come true | 1,502 |
<p>BUY THE BOOK: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/082942332X/ref=ase_wwweppcorg-20/103-2866330-6687807?s=books&amp;v=glance&amp;n=283155&amp;tagActionCode=wwweppcorg-20" type="external">Click here to purchase Things As They Are from Amazon.com</a></p>
<p>Although my years at Baltimore’s St. Paul Latin High School coincided with the cultural meltdown of the Age of Aquarius, I was happily spared the kind of English-class reading lists with which students (and parents) are now afflicted. It’s virtually impossible to escape any high school today without having been compelled to read Kurt Vonnegut’s vastly overrated Slaughterhouse-Five or Mitch Albom’s treacly Tuesdays with Morrie; worse, it’s entirely possible to spend four years in a Catholic high school without ever having heard of, much less read, the great twentieth-century authors whose fiction reflects the Catholic sacramental imagination: Graham Greene and Evelyn Waugh, Flannery O’Connor and Walker Percy, to name just the all-stars. There’s some serious cheating going on here.</p>
<p>Things were rather different in 1967, 1968, and 1969, when my English teacher was Father W. Vincent Bechtel: a holy terror, as my classmates and I thought of him then, but a man whose memory I now revere. Why? Because he threw me into the deep end of the pool of Anglo-American literature and told me, in so many words, to start swimming.</p>
<p>Father Bechtel had occasional intellectual quirks. A summer program at the Johns Hopkins University English department got him transiently infatuated with Freudian literary analysis, which, as I recall, led to some odd readings of Herman Melville (who is odd enough in his own right). But even that crotchet of Father Bechtel’s was to my ultimate benefit, for the memory of it caused me to laugh out loud years later at Frederick Crews’s send-up of the Freudians in his masterful parody of trendy literary criticism, The Pooh Perplex. In the main, though, Father Bechtel was a classicist. He knew, as a matter of self-evident truth, that there was an Anglo-American literary canon. He believed that educated people should have read it, or should at least have read seriously in it. And he somehow planted in me the seed of the conviction that knowing and learning to appreciate the canon is part of becoming the trustee of a civilization. These days, kids may read two or three novels over the summer and another one or two during the school year. Under Father Bechtel’s tutelage (as I remember it now) or reign of terror (as I thought of it then), we read five or six novels during the summer and at least another half-dozen during the school year, not to mention plays, poetry, and short stories.</p>
<p>Please don’t get the impression that Father Bechtel was a stick-in-the-mud, though. He had us read Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye and the canonical American moderns: Faulkner, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Sherwood Anderson, Eugene O’Neill, Tennessee Williams. At the same time, though, we were baptized by immersion into Jane Austen, the Brontës, Conrad, Dickens, Hardy, Hawthorne, Henry James, the aforementioned Melville, Shakespeare, and Mark Twain. All of which leads to the thought, hardly original, that everyone really ought to do high school English twice: the second time, when we’re old enough to appreciate it.</p>
<p>Paul Horgan, whom almost no one remembers today, was one of the modern American writers to whom Father Bechtel introduced me. It was an introduction for which I’ve been grateful for the past forty years, for, in his day, Horgan was the embodiment of that seemingly now-extinct species, the “man of letters.” He won the Pulitzer and Bancroft Prizes in history for his epic study of four cultures in the American Southwest, Great River: The Rio Grande in North American History. Twenty-one years later, in 1976, he won the Pulitzer again, this time for Lamy of Santa Fe, a magisterial biography of the émigré French prelate and pioneer who was Willa Cather’s model in Death Comes for the Archbishop. (In preparing his Lamy biography, Horgan was allowed unprecedented access to the Secret Archives of the Vatican, thanks to a personal intervention by Pope John XXIII; the tale is nicely told in Tracings, a 1993 collection of some of Horgan’s more memorable occasional pieces.) Horgan wrote sparkling, insightful essays and autobiographical reminiscences of events and people, including such literary giants as Somerset Maugham, T.S. Eliot, and Edmund Wilson; the devastatingly acerbic but nonetheless charming Washington hostess, Alice Roosevelt Longworth; and his friend Igor Stravinsky, the Russian composer. All in all, he published fifteen novels, seven books of short stories, eighteen volumes of essays, a volume of clerihews, a book of watercolors and drawings, and the libretto for a folk opera.</p>
<p>Born in Buffalo in 1903, he moved with his Irish-German family in 1915 to New Mexico, where the climate was thought to be better for his father’s health. He was a cadet at the New Mexico Military Institute from 1919 to 1921, and then from 1922 to 1923. There, he met his lifelong friend, the prominent Southwestern artist Peter Hurd; and there he would work as librarian until joining the U.S. Army in World War II. The New Mexico years stuck with Paul Horgan in various senses of the term. Thus, insofar as Horgan figures in American literary studies today, it is as a “regional” writer: a literary craftsman who drew his materials from the Southwest and whose writing reflects a certain regional cast of mind. The first part of which is, at least in part, true enough, for many of Horgan’s short stories and several of his novels are set in west Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, and both his histories and his fiction reflect a fascination with the interaction of Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo-American cultures in that unique, and uniquely beautiful, corner of the United States. Thus the first Horgan novel Father Bechtel had us read was set in Arizona at the end of the U.S. cavalry’s struggle to pacify the territory; A Distant Trumpet is a just and fair portrait of the virtues and vices of Apaches, cavalrymen, and settlers, and a moving study of the meaning of manliness and leadership (it’s been one of my standard confirmation/bar mitzvah gifts for years).</p>
<p>On the other hand, Paul Horgan’s literary sensibility and the distinctive cast of mind that shapes his work can’t be captured in regional terms alone. By his own testimony, he was a product of the culture to which his family of writers, artists, and musicians had first introduced him in the Northeast before their move to Albuquerque: as he once wrote, “I…derived most of my education informally from the cultural expressions best exemplified in the intellectual and artistic life of the East and of Europe, and I have been concerned with people without regard…to the ‘typical’ character imposed on either [the] eastern or western environment by other writers and observers.” The interaction of cultures that he experienced in his own life and that he explored in his histories and his novels gave Horgan an insight into the universality of certain human affairs, temptations, and virtues. And, of course, another word for “universal” is “catholic” – as in “Catholic.”</p>
<p>Paul Horgan did not wear his faith on his literary sleeve, so to speak. But it is impossible to read Things As They Are without quickly recognizing the Catholic sensibility that permeates the book. At the most obvious level, Richard (the protagonist whose experiences mirror the young Horgan’s) and his parents are manifestly Catholic in their belief and practice. Structurally, the book resembles Death Comes for the Archbishop, another “collection” of medieval-type vignettes that still holds together as a coherent novel (call those vignettes “miracle stories,” if you’ve a broad understanding of the miraculous). But the Catholicity of Horgan’s creation in this exquisitely crafted book is more than a matter of certain characteristics with which he invests his principal characters, or the literary structure of the work. It’s a matter of a sensibility, an angle of vision, a way of seeing things – of seeing “things as they are,” because that is the only way to see the extraordinary things that lie just on the far side of the ordinary. Seeing “things as they are” is, in other words, the way to detect the divine at work in the human and the mundane.</p>
<p>Horgan’s literary style is about as far away from Flannery O’Connor’s as can be imagined. Yet much of Horgan’s fiction, and especially Things As They Are, is an expression of O’Connor’s “habit of being:” that spiritual intuition that allows us to see life, not simply as one damn thing after another, but as a dramatic arena of temptation and fortitude, creation and redemption, sinfulness and grace – a cosmic drama being played out here and now, a drama in which God is producer, scriptwriter, director, and, ultimately, protagonist. Like O’Connor (and despite the fact that he grew up in a time of saccharine devotional piety), Paul Horgan knew that there is nothing less sentimental than Catholicism, because Catholicism is realism. And he knew the reason why Catholicism is realism: because it is through the Incarnation, a real event at a real time in a real place, that God’s unsentimental, cleansing, and all-powerful love is decisively revealed – the divine mercy that is, according to the parable of the Prodigal Son, the defining characteristic of God’s interaction with the world. Catholic realism doesn’t deny “things as they are.” Catholic realism doesn’t deny the temptations of what an older generation called “the world, the flesh, and the devil.” Catholic realism confronts the world, the flesh, and the devil in the confidence that, as Christ has conquered, so, by the divine mercy and grace, may the people who are Christ’s Body in history.</p>
<p>Those confrontations, as experienced in the life of a sensitive and intelligent boy, set the narrative rhythm of Things As They Are. Childhood, Paul Horgan understands, is anything but carefree; “guilt,” as he puts it, is the “first knowledge,” as remembering is the beginning of the stirrings of conscience. Thus young Richard confronts the classic temptations – of power, of ego, of false pride, of self-delusion, of ambition, of sex, of an overwrought piety that seeks to force God’s hand – not in rollicking adventures like Tom Sawyer’s or Huck Finn’s, but in his utterly unremarkable and ordinary encounters with his parents and relatives, his friends, his pets, his parish and his priests, the tradesmen who come to his home and the families in his neighborhood. There is nothing sentimental or cloying here. There is, on the contrary, an acute, unsparing, yet sympathetic spiritual excavation of the process of growing up – a process that, as Horgan demonstrates in the two novels that continue the Richard Trilogy (Everything To Live For and The Thin Mountain Air), continues long after childhood.</p>
<p>In a letter to a friend, Flannery O’Connor once reflected on her own literary experience and that of the Catholic convert and novelist, Carolyn Gordon Tate: “I have never had the sense that being a Catholic is a limit to the freedom of the writer, but just the reverse. Mrs. Tate told me that after she became a Catholic, she felt she could use her eyes and accept what she saw for the first time, [that] she didn’t have to make a new universe for each book but could take the one she found.” I’ve no idea whether Paul Horgan knew Carolyn Gordon Tate, but the ten episodes in Things As They Are demonstrate a cradle-Catholic’s complete agreement with a convert-Catholic’s experience: there is no need to “invent a universe” in fiction, for an invented universe typically becomes an author’s sandbox or playpen. The real universe – what we see and hear and feel and taste and experience – is adventure enough. It was adventure enough for the God who created it, redeemed it, and continually sanctifies it; it should be adventure enough for us, because amid the seemingly quotidian there are cosmic contests underway.</p>
<p>Prior to his death in 1995 at age 93 (he had left the Southwest in 1959 to teach and write at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut), Paul Horgan was never known as a “Catholic writer,” in the sense that J.F. Powers (Morte D’Urban) was known as a “Catholic writer” or Chaim Potok (The Chosen, The Promise, My Name Is Asher Lev) was thought of as a “Jewish writer.” Yet an argument can be made that Paul Horgan was the most accomplished “Catholic man of letters” in mid-twentieth century America. Not because his fiction and his historical studies dealt over and over again with “Catholic” characters and situations (which they didn’t) but because his remarkably wide-ranging corpus of work is shaped, sometimes overtly and sometimes subtly, by an unmistakably Catholic sensibility: a sacramental sensibility convinced that the ordinary things of this world are the vehicles of grace and the materials of a divinely scripted drama. Paul Horgan was too gifted a writer to beat you over the head with that message. It was almost always there, though, as this gifted, learned, and deeply humane novelist, essayist, and historian kept reminding his readers that seeing things as they are is the index of human maturity – and thus of Christian maturity.</p>
<p>George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of Washington’s Ethics and Public Policy Center, where he holds the William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies.</p> | false | 1 | buy book click purchase things amazoncom although years baltimores st paul latin high school coincided cultural meltdown age aquarius happily spared kind englishclass reading lists students parents afflicted virtually impossible escape high school today without compelled read kurt vonneguts vastly overrated slaughterhousefive mitch alboms treacly tuesdays morrie worse entirely possible spend four years catholic high school without ever heard much less read great twentiethcentury authors whose fiction reflects catholic sacramental imagination graham greene evelyn waugh flannery oconnor walker percy name allstars theres serious cheating going things rather different 1967 1968 1969 english teacher father w vincent bechtel holy terror classmates thought man whose memory revere threw deep end pool angloamerican literature told many words start swimming father bechtel occasional intellectual quirks summer program johns hopkins university english department got transiently infatuated freudian literary analysis recall led odd readings herman melville odd enough right even crotchet father bechtels ultimate benefit memory caused laugh loud years later frederick crewss sendup freudians masterful parody trendy literary criticism pooh perplex main though father bechtel classicist knew matter selfevident truth angloamerican literary canon believed educated people read least read seriously somehow planted seed conviction knowing learning appreciate canon part becoming trustee civilization days kids may read two three novels summer another one two school year father bechtels tutelage remember reign terror thought read five six novels summer least another halfdozen school year mention plays poetry short stories please dont get impression father bechtel stickinthemud though us read salingers catcher rye canonical american moderns faulkner fitzgerald hemingway sherwood anderson eugene oneill tennessee williams time though baptized immersion jane austen brontës conrad dickens hardy hawthorne henry james aforementioned melville shakespeare mark twain leads thought hardly original everyone really ought high school english twice second time old enough appreciate paul horgan almost one remembers today one modern american writers father bechtel introduced introduction ive grateful past forty years day horgan embodiment seemingly nowextinct species man letters pulitzer bancroft prizes history epic study four cultures american southwest great river rio grande north american history twentyone years later 1976 pulitzer time lamy santa fe magisterial biography émigré french prelate pioneer willa cathers model death comes archbishop preparing lamy biography horgan allowed unprecedented access secret archives vatican thanks personal intervention pope john xxiii tale nicely told tracings 1993 collection horgans memorable occasional pieces horgan wrote sparkling insightful essays autobiographical reminiscences events people including literary giants somerset maugham ts eliot edmund wilson devastatingly acerbic nonetheless charming washington hostess alice roosevelt longworth friend igor stravinsky russian composer published fifteen novels seven books short stories eighteen volumes essays volume clerihews book watercolors drawings libretto folk opera born buffalo 1903 moved irishgerman family 1915 new mexico climate thought better fathers health cadet new mexico military institute 1919 1921 1922 1923 met lifelong friend prominent southwestern artist peter hurd would work librarian joining us army world war ii new mexico years stuck paul horgan various senses term thus insofar horgan figures american literary studies today regional writer literary craftsman drew materials southwest whose writing reflects certain regional cast mind first part least part true enough many horgans short stories several novels set west texas new mexico arizona histories fiction reflect fascination interaction native american spanish mexican angloamerican cultures unique uniquely beautiful corner united states thus first horgan novel father bechtel us read set arizona end us cavalrys struggle pacify territory distant trumpet fair portrait virtues vices apaches cavalrymen settlers moving study meaning manliness leadership one standard confirmationbar mitzvah gifts years hand paul horgans literary sensibility distinctive cast mind shapes work cant captured regional terms alone testimony product culture family writers artists musicians first introduced northeast move albuquerque wrote iderived education informally cultural expressions best exemplified intellectual artistic life east europe concerned people without regardto typical character imposed either eastern western environment writers observers interaction cultures experienced life explored histories novels gave horgan insight universality certain human affairs temptations virtues course another word universal catholic catholic paul horgan wear faith literary sleeve speak impossible read things without quickly recognizing catholic sensibility permeates book obvious level richard protagonist whose experiences mirror young horgans parents manifestly catholic belief practice structurally book resembles death comes archbishop another collection medievaltype vignettes still holds together coherent novel call vignettes miracle stories youve broad understanding miraculous catholicity horgans creation exquisitely crafted book matter certain characteristics invests principal characters literary structure work matter sensibility angle vision way seeing things seeing things way see extraordinary things lie far side ordinary seeing things words way detect divine work human mundane horgans literary style far away flannery oconnors imagined yet much horgans fiction especially things expression oconnors habit spiritual intuition allows us see life simply one damn thing another dramatic arena temptation fortitude creation redemption sinfulness grace cosmic drama played drama god producer scriptwriter director ultimately protagonist like oconnor despite fact grew time saccharine devotional piety paul horgan knew nothing less sentimental catholicism catholicism realism knew reason catholicism realism incarnation real event real time real place gods unsentimental cleansing allpowerful love decisively revealed divine mercy according parable prodigal son defining characteristic gods interaction world catholic realism doesnt deny things catholic realism doesnt deny temptations older generation called world flesh devil catholic realism confronts world flesh devil confidence christ conquered divine mercy grace may people christs body history confrontations experienced life sensitive intelligent boy set narrative rhythm things childhood paul horgan understands anything carefree guilt puts first knowledge remembering beginning stirrings conscience thus young richard confronts classic temptations power ego false pride selfdelusion ambition sex overwrought piety seeks force gods hand rollicking adventures like tom sawyers huck finns utterly unremarkable ordinary encounters parents relatives friends pets parish priests tradesmen come home families neighborhood nothing sentimental cloying contrary acute unsparing yet sympathetic spiritual excavation process growing process horgan demonstrates two novels continue richard trilogy everything live thin mountain air continues long childhood letter friend flannery oconnor reflected literary experience catholic convert novelist carolyn gordon tate never sense catholic limit freedom writer reverse mrs tate told became catholic felt could use eyes accept saw first time didnt make new universe book could take one found ive idea whether paul horgan knew carolyn gordon tate ten episodes things demonstrate cradlecatholics complete agreement convertcatholics experience need invent universe fiction invented universe typically becomes authors sandbox playpen real universe see hear feel taste experience adventure enough adventure enough god created redeemed continually sanctifies adventure enough us amid seemingly quotidian cosmic contests underway prior death 1995 age 93 left southwest 1959 teach write wesleyan university middletown connecticut paul horgan never known catholic writer sense jf powers morte durban known catholic writer chaim potok chosen promise name asher lev thought jewish writer yet argument made paul horgan accomplished catholic man letters midtwentieth century america fiction historical studies dealt catholic characters situations didnt remarkably wideranging corpus work shaped sometimes overtly sometimes subtly unmistakably catholic sensibility sacramental sensibility convinced ordinary things world vehicles grace materials divinely scripted drama paul horgan gifted writer beat head message almost always though gifted learned deeply humane novelist essayist historian kept reminding readers seeing things index human maturity thus christian maturity george weigel distinguished senior fellow washingtons ethics public policy center holds william e simon chair catholic studies | 1,186 |
<p>[On June 20, 2004, EPPC Senior Fellow George Weigel delivered the commencement address&#160;for the Religious Studies Division of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, Pennsylvania.]</p>
<p>Your Eminence, Cardinal Rigali; Bishop Burbidge; Father Prior; Father Costa; Dr. Chapp; distinguished members of the board of trustees; members of the faculty; graduates, students, families, and friends: Thank you for inviting me to share this commencement with you this evening, and for honoring my work with the gift of a degree.</p>
<p>My first words must be of congratulation to you, my fellow-members of the class of 2004 of the Religious Studies Division of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Over the past several years you have become participants in a conversation — the living dialogue of theology and the related disciplines of religious studies —&#160;that has shaped the civilization of the West, and indeed the civilization of the entire world, for millennia. Too much of our contemporary high culture has forgotten its debt to theology. This forgetfulness, and theology’s occasional acquiescence in it, seem to me profound misreadings of the role that the life of the mind plays in the Church and in our culture. Catholic intellectual life has many missions, but its most important mission is evangelical. Since Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, and Ignatius of Lyons, the Church has fostered the life of the mind in order to teach the world that salvation history, the story of God’s action in history, does not run parallel to world history; salvation history is the world’s history, the world’s story, read in its depth and against its proper, transcendent horizon. Thus your task, in the years ahead, is to put what you have learned to work, in order to help the world understand its true story — the story whose chapter headings are Creation, Fall, Promise, Prophecy, Incarnation, Redemption, Sanctification, and Glorification.</p>
<p>In that story is found the path to genuine human flourishing.</p>
<p>In that story lies the fulfillment of the human aspiration to freedom.</p>
<p>In that story is the satisfaction of the human longing for the truth.</p>
<p>In the fall of 1995, shortly after his pilgrimage to New York, Brooklyn, and Baltimore, Pope John Paul II asked me what the reaction to his visit had been. I told him that a friend, a native of Texas and a high-ranking figure in the Southern Baptist Convention, had said to me, “Down where I come from, we say, ‘You folks have finally got yourself a pope who knows how to pope.’” For once, the polyglot John Paul, who speaks eight languages fluently, was utterly baffled — until I explained that in Texan, a unique form of English, “pope” was both a verb and a noun. And then we both laughed.</p>
<p>My Southern Baptist friend was on to something here, of course. We have all seen many, many ways in which this Pope “knows how to pope”: to be an agent of evangelization, a catalyst for change, a voice of justice for the voiceless, a bridge across chasms of historic misunderstanding and distrust, a witness to hope. The question my friend’s remark specifically poses for us here today is, what does this Pope who knows “how to pope” have to teach us about the vocation of theology&#160;— which I take to be the heart of religious studies&#160;— in the 21st century?</p>
<p>Let me suggest there are four lessons that we can all glean for our future work from the pontificate of John Paul II.</p>
<p>The first lesson is that doctrine is liberating.</p>
<p>In the biblical view of reality, truth binds and frees at the same time. This is a difficult notion for our contemporary culture to grasp. For the better part of two generations now, our culture has been dominated by the idea of freedom as personal autonomy — “I did it my way,” as Frank Sinatra sang, in the theme-song of this ultimately degrading concept of freedom. If we are to help the world recover its true story, we must help the world enlarge its concept of freedom, linking freedom to the liberating power of the truth.</p>
<p>And this means reminding ourselves of the liberating power of doctrine.</p>
<p>It has been said thousands of times before, but it bears saying again: too much of today’s theological debate is conducted through the essentially political and analytically sterile categories of “liberal” and “conservative” approaches to doctrine. These are, we must insist, wholly inappropriate categories for thinking through ancient and complex religious traditions. No one asks whether the Dalai Lama is a “liberal” or a “conservative” Buddhist. Why? Because we instinctively understand that these are the wrong categories to apply to this subtle, learned man and the tradition he represents. The same self-denying ordinance should be applied to contemporary Christian life and the nature of Christian doctrine.</p>
<p>The issue here is not simply one of semantic hygiene. Theology parsed according to these defective criteria — theology that asks whether a given position is “liberal” and “conservative” — distorts the very thing it tries to grasp, for it misses the relationship between tradition and innovation, the static and the dynamic, in the life of the Church. What can seem static in the Great Tradition of Christianity in fact reflects the Church’s internal dynamism and creates the impetus for the unfolding of new, dynamic elements in Christian life. What can seem dead tradition is in fact the engine of development and innovation. Let me take three examples.</p>
<p>The first is Holy Scripture. We know that the canon of Scripture is fixed and that new books are not going to be added to the Old or New Testaments. But the fact that the Church does not add new books to the canon of Scripture does not make Scripture a dead letter. Rather, the canon insures that what is truly the Word of God can be received freshly and in its integrity by every generation of believers, inviting them to a deeper faith through the mediation of the Bible.</p>
<p>Then there is the Church’s sacramental system. The sacraments are not simply traditional rituals, performed because previous generations performed them before us. Rather, the sacraments enable each new generation of Christians to experience the great mysteries of faith — the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord — anew. Every day, the sacraments remind each generation of Christians that just on the far side of the ordinary — water, salt, and oil; bread and wine; marital love and fidelity — lies the extraordinary reality of a God who so loved the world he created that he entered that world, in his son, to redirect the world’s history back toward its true destiny, which is eternal life within the light and love of the Trinity.</p>
<p>Finally, there is the matter of authority. The Church does not have structures of pastoral authority in order to impede human creativity. Rather, authority in the Church exists to insure that Christians do not settle for mediocrity. Authority in the Church is meant to help all of us hold ourselves accountable to the one supreme criterion of faith, the living Christ. This is the great service that pastoral authority does for theology and other forms of Catholic intellectual life, and it should be acknowledged as such.1</p>
<p>All of which means that one of your tasks, as you take up “life after Borromeo,” will be to retrieve and renew the concept of tradition. In the distinctively Christian understanding of the term, “tradition,” which from its Latin root, traditio, means “handing on,” begins inside the very life of God the Holy Trinity.2 That “handing-on” — that radical self-giving that mysteriously enhances both giver and receiver — took flesh in the life of Christ and continues in the Church through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thus a venerable formula distinguishes between tradition, the living faith of the dead, and traditionalism, the dead faith of the living. In the theological creativity of John Paul II — in his groundbreaking “theology of the body,” in his social doctrine, in his concept of the “Marian Church” of disciples that makes possible and makes sense of the Petrine Church of jurisdiction and office, in his analysis of the life issues crucial for the human future — we may see at work innovative and compelling teaching, rooted in tradition, reminding the world of the story it too often forgets and creating the foundations for a springtime of evangelization.</p>
<p>Thus the first lesson we might well learn from John Paul II is that we ought to grasp, welcome, and convey to our contemporaries the liberating power of doctrine. Doctrine is not excess baggage weighing us down on our journey of faith. Doctrine is the vehicle that enables the journey to take place.</p>
<p>The second lesson for theology and for the Catholic intellectual life from this Pope who knows “how to pope” is that we must learn once again to think on our knees, not simply at our desks or in our libraries.</p>
<p>During his fourteen years as archbishop of Kraków, Karol Wojtyla did his intellectual work in the chapel of his residence, at a table set up before the Blessed Sacrament. It was a habit he brought with him to Rome. For more than a quarter-century, John Paul II has done much of his intellectual work in the chapel of the papal apartment. That is where he crafts his homilies, his audience addresses, his magisterium. That, he believes, is where Christian thinking is best done, for Christian intellectual life, rightly understood, is another way to “practice the presence.”</p>
<p>Given the circumstances of our lives, not all of us can do our intellectual work&#160;— our study, our writing, our class-preparation, and so forth&#160;— before the Blessed Sacrament. But we can always do that work, quite self-consciously, in the presence of the Lord. If we are to do this, though, we must recognize another ancient truth: namely, that theology&#160;— the heart of Christian intellectual life&#160;— does not take a neutral standpoint, looking at the Church and its tradition from “outside,” as if examining a specimen through a microscope. Theology in the proper vocational sense of the term is always done within the community of faith. And while theology may have multiple audiences, including the world of secular scholarship, theology’s primary audience must always be the community of believers, the Church.</p>
<p>To do theology “on our knees,” to “practice the presence” while doing our Catholic intellectual work, does not mean abandoning critical intelligence. Rather, it means grasping again, like the doctors of the Church, that true wisdom emerges from a dialectic between critical intelligence and a reverent reception of the Great Tradition. The resolution of that dialectic, under grace, is wisdom.</p>
<p>To participate in this dialectic requires that we understand the tradition before we begin critically analyzing it. In an important address to the faculty and students of the Pontifical Gregorian University on December 15, 1979, John Paul II enthusiastically welcomed theology’s new dialogue with contemporary science and modern philosophy, arguing that the signature phrase of his pontificate — “Be not afraid!” — applied to what he termed “the great movements of contemporary thought.” Whatever deepened our understanding of the “whole truth” about humanity and its world, deepens our understanding of Christ, the redeemer of the world, he suggested. Yet genuine theological development in dialogue with modernity, the Pope continued, had to be based on a “responsible assimilation of the patrimony” of Christian wisdom. A good theological education, he implied, does not begin with dismantling the tradition. It begins with learning the tradition. The same can be said of good religious education.</p>
<p>To insist on this ongoing, prayerful dialogue with the Lord as an essential part of your work is more than a methodological consideration. Our times have given us too many examples of what happens when the dialectic between a reverent, prayerful reception of tradition and critical intelligence breaks down, and the tradition is regarded as simply another tool in the theologian’s kit-box, of no greater importance than any other . One of the most frightening of those examples is that of the Deutschechristen, those German Christians who sold the birthright of the Great Tradition for the lethal mess of pottage that was Nazi ideology. As a Deutschechristen pastor once put it, “For us, what Jesus said is not decisive. And Church councils, too, err and have erred. We gladly let ourselves be labeled heretics for this knowledge, for it has always been heretics that have saved the Church’s life.” In plain fact, of course, it was not the Deutschechristen who “saved” the Church during the Third Reich, but theologically astute witnesses like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Edith Stein who exemplified the dialectic of the Great Tradition and critical, contemporary intelligence. And if that suggests that part of the Christian intellectual’s vocation must always be the risk of martyrdom, of giving full and public witness to the truths of the faith, however uncomfortable they may be, then that, too, is something to reflect upon this afternoon.</p>
<p>The third thing we learn from this Pope who “knows how to pope” is that the Catholic life of the mind today must be ecumenical in its sensibility. I use the word “ecumenical” here in several senses.</p>
<p>Theologians and other Catholic religious educators must practice what the great Russian Orthodox theologian, Father Georges Florovsky, once called the “ecumenism of time.” The Catholic conversation today must include, as honored partners, the master theologians of the past. For truth is not confined by the boundaries of chronology, and there is much to be learned today from those who have practiced the vocation of theology in the past, including the very distant past. As the Second Vatican Council understood well, aggiornamento, “updating,” must always proceed from ressourcement, a return to the sources of Christian wisdom in Scripture, the Fathers, and the medieval masters. The ecumenism of time promotes a truly open theological conversation that is prof against the cult of the contemporary.</p>
<p>As Pope John Paul II has demonstrated time and again, most poignantly during his epic pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Catholic theology today, and Catholic religious education today, must also take account of the Church’s roots in the revelation of God contained in Hebrew Bible, as we must take account of Christianity’s common moral border with the Jewish people and of Christianity’s divinely-mandated engagement with living Judaism, the people of the covenant.</p>
<p>And Catholic thinkers today must also be in active conversation with followers of other great world religions, in the confidence that all truths point to the one Truth, who is God. The world doubts that the most deeply-held convictions of human beings can be put into genuine conversation; the world suspects that the encounter between those convictions can only lead to conflict. Catholics in the 21st century must demonstrate how a commitment to the truth is also and always a commitment to an open and respectful conversation with others. In doing so, you will be doing far more than observing the academic proprieties; you will be helping the world recover a crucial lost part of its story.</p>
<p>Finally, we learn from John Paul II that the Christian intellectual life is a vocation to holiness. True theology, the Pope told the Gregorian University in 1979, is an encounter with Christ, and genuine theological teaching is a way to “convey to the young a living experience of him.” That is true of any authentically Christian form of teaching. Theology and the other disciplines you have studied here do not, in other words, exist for themselves; they exist for the Church and for the “formation of Christians.” What we ought to love, the Pope concluded, is not our own skills, formidable as they may or may not be, but what St. Thomas Aquinas called the “excellence of truth.” That is the path to sanctity for all Christian teachers, who share in the universal call to holiness and who are charged with the responsibility of helping lead others to holiness.</p>
<p>In reminding the Church of the liberating nature of doctrine, you will both serve the household of faith and enable our society to understand that genuine freedom is always ordered to truth and finds its fulfillment in genuine human flourishing.</p>
<p>In doing your intellectual work “on your knees,” you will emulate the Master who came not to be served but to serve; and you will remind the world that self-giving, not self-assertion, is the royal road to human happiness.</p>
<p>In pursuing the ecumenism of time, the Christian ecumenical dialogue, the essential conversation with living Judaism and the encounter with the other great world religions, you will remind that world that tolerance means the engagement of differences in respectful dialogue, not the avoidance of differences or the acceptance of a public arena shorn of religiously-grounded moral convictions.</p>
<p>And in pursuing your work as a vocation to holiness, you will sanctify both the Church and the world. The world may have forgotten its story. But it remains, nonetheless, a world that is, in the words of Gerard Manley Hopkins, “charged with the grandeur of God” — a world that is yearning for the truth that the followers of Christ are uniquely positioned to offer it.</p>
<p>My fellow-alumni of St. Charles Borromeo seminary, let us be messengers and servants of that truth.</p>
<p>Godspeed on your vocational journey.</p>
<p>George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. and holds EPPC’s William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies.</p>
<p>_________________</p>
<p>NOTES</p>
<p>1 On these points, see Hans Urs von Balthasar, In the Fullness of Faith: On the Centrality of the Distinctively Catholic (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1988), pp. 55-57.</p>
<p>2 See Hans Urs von Balthasar, Theo-Drama IV: The Action (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1994), pp. 92-93.</p> | false | 1 | june 20 2004 eppc senior fellow george weigel delivered commencement address160for religious studies division st charles borromeo seminary overbrook pennsylvania eminence cardinal rigali bishop burbidge father prior father costa dr chapp distinguished members board trustees members faculty graduates students families friends thank inviting share commencement evening honoring work gift degree first words must congratulation fellowmembers class 2004 religious studies division st charles borromeo seminary past several years become participants conversation living dialogue theology related disciplines religious studies 160that shaped civilization west indeed civilization entire world millennia much contemporary high culture forgotten debt theology forgetfulness theologys occasional acquiescence seem profound misreadings role life mind plays church culture catholic intellectual life many missions important mission evangelical since justin martyr clement alexandria ignatius lyons church fostered life mind order teach world salvation history story gods action history run parallel world history salvation history worlds history worlds story read depth proper transcendent horizon thus task years ahead put learned work order help world understand true story story whose chapter headings creation fall promise prophecy incarnation redemption sanctification glorification story found path genuine human flourishing story lies fulfillment human aspiration freedom story satisfaction human longing truth fall 1995 shortly pilgrimage new york brooklyn baltimore pope john paul ii asked reaction visit told friend native texas highranking figure southern baptist convention said come say folks finally got pope knows pope polyglot john paul speaks eight languages fluently utterly baffled explained texan unique form english pope verb noun laughed southern baptist friend something course seen many many ways pope knows pope agent evangelization catalyst change voice justice voiceless bridge across chasms historic misunderstanding distrust witness hope question friends remark specifically poses us today pope knows pope teach us vocation theology160 take heart religious studies160 21st century let suggest four lessons glean future work pontificate john paul ii first lesson doctrine liberating biblical view reality truth binds frees time difficult notion contemporary culture grasp better part two generations culture dominated idea freedom personal autonomy way frank sinatra sang themesong ultimately degrading concept freedom help world recover true story must help world enlarge concept freedom linking freedom liberating power truth means reminding liberating power doctrine said thousands times bears saying much todays theological debate conducted essentially political analytically sterile categories liberal conservative approaches doctrine must insist wholly inappropriate categories thinking ancient complex religious traditions one asks whether dalai lama liberal conservative buddhist instinctively understand wrong categories apply subtle learned man tradition represents selfdenying ordinance applied contemporary christian life nature christian doctrine issue simply one semantic hygiene theology parsed according defective criteria theology asks whether given position liberal conservative distorts thing tries grasp misses relationship tradition innovation static dynamic life church seem static great tradition christianity fact reflects churchs internal dynamism creates impetus unfolding new dynamic elements christian life seem dead tradition fact engine development innovation let take three examples first holy scripture know canon scripture fixed new books going added old new testaments fact church add new books canon scripture make scripture dead letter rather canon insures truly word god received freshly integrity every generation believers inviting deeper faith mediation bible churchs sacramental system sacraments simply traditional rituals performed previous generations performed us rather sacraments enable new generation christians experience great mysteries faith life death resurrection lord anew every day sacraments remind generation christians far side ordinary water salt oil bread wine marital love fidelity lies extraordinary reality god loved world created entered world son redirect worlds history back toward true destiny eternal life within light love trinity finally matter authority church structures pastoral authority order impede human creativity rather authority church exists insure christians settle mediocrity authority church meant help us hold accountable one supreme criterion faith living christ great service pastoral authority theology forms catholic intellectual life acknowledged such1 means one tasks take life borromeo retrieve renew concept tradition distinctively christian understanding term tradition latin root traditio means handing begins inside life god holy trinity2 handingon radical selfgiving mysteriously enhances giver receiver took flesh life christ continues church gift holy spirit thus venerable formula distinguishes tradition living faith dead traditionalism dead faith living theological creativity john paul ii groundbreaking theology body social doctrine concept marian church disciples makes possible makes sense petrine church jurisdiction office analysis life issues crucial human future may see work innovative compelling teaching rooted tradition reminding world story often forgets creating foundations springtime evangelization thus first lesson might well learn john paul ii ought grasp welcome convey contemporaries liberating power doctrine doctrine excess baggage weighing us journey faith doctrine vehicle enables journey take place second lesson theology catholic intellectual life pope knows pope must learn think knees simply desks libraries fourteen years archbishop kraków karol wojtyla intellectual work chapel residence table set blessed sacrament habit brought rome quartercentury john paul ii done much intellectual work chapel papal apartment crafts homilies audience addresses magisterium believes christian thinking best done christian intellectual life rightly understood another way practice presence given circumstances lives us intellectual work160 study writing classpreparation forth160 blessed sacrament always work quite selfconsciously presence lord though must recognize another ancient truth namely theology160 heart christian intellectual life160 take neutral standpoint looking church tradition outside examining specimen microscope theology proper vocational sense term always done within community faith theology may multiple audiences including world secular scholarship theologys primary audience must always community believers church theology knees practice presence catholic intellectual work mean abandoning critical intelligence rather means grasping like doctors church true wisdom emerges dialectic critical intelligence reverent reception great tradition resolution dialectic grace wisdom participate dialectic requires understand tradition begin critically analyzing important address faculty students pontifical gregorian university december 15 1979 john paul ii enthusiastically welcomed theologys new dialogue contemporary science modern philosophy arguing signature phrase pontificate afraid applied termed great movements contemporary thought whatever deepened understanding whole truth humanity world deepens understanding christ redeemer world suggested yet genuine theological development dialogue modernity pope continued based responsible assimilation patrimony christian wisdom good theological education implied begin dismantling tradition begins learning tradition said good religious education insist ongoing prayerful dialogue lord essential part work methodological consideration times given us many examples happens dialectic reverent prayerful reception tradition critical intelligence breaks tradition regarded simply another tool theologians kitbox greater importance one frightening examples deutschechristen german christians sold birthright great tradition lethal mess pottage nazi ideology deutschechristen pastor put us jesus said decisive church councils err erred gladly let labeled heretics knowledge always heretics saved churchs life plain fact course deutschechristen saved church third reich theologically astute witnesses like dietrich bonhoeffer edith stein exemplified dialectic great tradition critical contemporary intelligence suggests part christian intellectuals vocation must always risk martyrdom giving full public witness truths faith however uncomfortable may something reflect upon afternoon third thing learn pope knows pope catholic life mind today must ecumenical sensibility use word ecumenical several senses theologians catholic religious educators must practice great russian orthodox theologian father georges florovsky called ecumenism time catholic conversation today must include honored partners master theologians past truth confined boundaries chronology much learned today practiced vocation theology past including distant past second vatican council understood well aggiornamento updating must always proceed ressourcement return sources christian wisdom scripture fathers medieval masters ecumenism time promotes truly open theological conversation prof cult contemporary pope john paul ii demonstrated time poignantly epic pilgrimage holy land catholic theology today catholic religious education today must also take account churchs roots revelation god contained hebrew bible must take account christianitys common moral border jewish people christianitys divinelymandated engagement living judaism people covenant catholic thinkers today must also active conversation followers great world religions confidence truths point one truth god world doubts deeplyheld convictions human beings put genuine conversation world suspects encounter convictions lead conflict catholics 21st century must demonstrate commitment truth also always commitment open respectful conversation others far observing academic proprieties helping world recover crucial lost part story finally learn john paul ii christian intellectual life vocation holiness true theology pope told gregorian university 1979 encounter christ genuine theological teaching way convey young living experience true authentically christian form teaching theology disciplines studied words exist exist church formation christians ought love pope concluded skills formidable may may st thomas aquinas called excellence truth path sanctity christian teachers share universal call holiness charged responsibility helping lead others holiness reminding church liberating nature doctrine serve household faith enable society understand genuine freedom always ordered truth finds fulfillment genuine human flourishing intellectual work knees emulate master came served serve remind world selfgiving selfassertion royal road human happiness pursuing ecumenism time christian ecumenical dialogue essential conversation living judaism encounter great world religions remind world tolerance means engagement differences respectful dialogue avoidance differences acceptance public arena shorn religiouslygrounded moral convictions pursuing work vocation holiness sanctify church world world may forgotten story remains nonetheless world words gerard manley hopkins charged grandeur god world yearning truth followers christ uniquely positioned offer fellowalumni st charles borromeo seminary let us messengers servants truth godspeed vocational journey george weigel distinguished senior fellow ethics public policy center washington dc holds eppcs william e simon chair catholic studies _________________ notes 1 points see hans urs von balthasar fullness faith centrality distinctively catholic san francisco ignatius press 1988 pp 5557 2 see hans urs von balthasar theodrama iv action san francisco ignatius press 1994 pp 9293 | 1,531 |
<p>Review:</p>
<p>Patience and Fortitude: Power, Real Estate and the Fight to Save a Public Library By Scott Sherman Melville House, 256pp</p>
<p>Recently, the New York Public Library (NYPL), one of the world’s great repositories of human knowledge, suffered a near-death experience. How this happened, and the struggle to rescue the century-old institution from its own trustees, is the subject of Scott Sherman’s sprightly Patience and Fortitude&#160;(“Patience” and “Fortitude” are the stone lions guarding the NYPL’s building on Fifth Avenue). At stake was nothing less than the future not only of this Manhattan landmark but of its vast collection of books, rare manuscripts, artifacts, and ephemera.</p>
<p>A journalist, Sherman writes battlefield reportage, not history calmly studied from afar, and in this slim, quick-paced volume he paints a fascinating, but often unlovely, picture of politics, people, power, and protest in today’s New York City.</p>
<p>The man most responsible for the NYPL, as Sherman recounts, was its first director, John Shaw Billings, who was hired in 1895 to oversee the massive structure planned for Fifth Avenue. The polymath Billings had served as a battlefield surgeon during the American Civil War but his interests and skills, honed as director of what is now called the National Library of Medicine in Washington, DC, were in what today we would call information technology.</p>
<p>Billings put these skills to good use as he planned the new library needed to house and order the tsunami of books and journals flowing from new high-speed printing presses. He devised a brilliant masterplan, the heart of which was a monumental, light-filled, frescoed, book-lined neo-renaissance reading room, now known as the Rose Main Reading Room.</p>
<p>Underlying and supporting this enormous hall was a marvel of early 20th-century engineering: seven storeys of ingeniously designed and fabricated iron and steel book stacks.</p>
<p>The architects John Merven Carrère and Thomas Hastings won the contract for the new library mainly because Billings and his trustees knew they could best turn his ideas into iron and stone. They were not to be disappointed. When it was completed in 1911, their Beaux Arts wonder housed more than a million books in a building that still works well a century later. Unfortunately, Carrère never lived to see his most famous building in use; he was killed in a car accident a few months before the official opening.</p>
<p>From the start the NYPL, funded by a combination of city and private money, frequently faced financial difficulties. Occasionally its board of trustees sold objects from its extensive collection, but in 2005 it raised eyebrows by auctioning off a much-loved painting, Asher Durand’s 1849 Kindred Spirits, bought by Wal-Mart heiress Alice Walton for $35 million. The trustees claimed that the proceeds went to its endowment. Many New Yorkers protested that they were selling off the city’s patrimony.</p>
<p>But trouble really started in 2008 with the announcement of the Central Library Plan (CLP). This ill-conceived scheme was blessed by the then director Paul LeClerc and supported by the board of trustees: a varied group of philanthropists, bankers, real estate brokers, public intellectuals and academics, among others. The real power of the board, however, rests with the members of its executive committee, the movers and shakers of finance and real estate, who, Sherman says, hatched the CLP.</p>
<p>The plan, devised with the advice of national consulting firms with little experience outside the private sector and with scant public input, was to sell two branch libraries: the heavily-used Mid-Manhattan circulating library (also on Fifth Avenue) and the Science, Industry, and Business Library, built in the 1990s. With the projected proceeds from these sales, plus $150 million in capital funds pledged by the then mayor, Michael Bloomberg, the plan could reshape the NYPL, or so the trustees believed.</p>
<p>The cornerstone of the CLP was the construction of a new circulating library, made necessary by the sale of the popular Mid-Manhattan. This new library was to be housed in the 100,000 square foot space underneath Billings’s reading room. To make space for this, the seven storeys of stacks would be gutted, and three million of the books they shelved shipped to a remote storage facility in Princeton, New Jersey, 60 miles away.</p>
<p>This, the Library explained, was necessary because the stacks lacked proper climate control. It also cited a 60 per cent decrease in use of the collections (obviously the result of the digitisation of books and periodicals now available online) and the fact that only 6 per cent of the specialised books were being used in a year. Scholars and researchers, who must consult important but esoteric material that may not have been requested for decades, found these number-crunching explanations bizarre.</p>
<p>The commission for the circulating library was awarded to Norman Foster. His design — a cavernous, galleried hall, looking like something between a suburban shopping mall and an airport terminal — would have clashed with and dwarfed Carrère and Hastings’s beautifully calibrated, elegant spaces. Lord Foster called it “the greatest project ever”. Not to be outdone, LeClerc boasted that the CLP would create “the biggest comprehensive library in human history”.&#160; Hyperbole abounded.</p>
<p>In 2011, LeClerc left the NYPL for Columbia University’s Europe Global Center in Paris, to be succeeded by Tony Marx, the former president of Amherst College. Marx too defended the CLP, inexplicably claiming that it would make the Library (already freely accessible to anyone) more democratic. He called Foster’s proposed design the rather Soviet-sounding “people’s palace”, but many New Yorkers who were already protesting against these radical changes weren’t mollified.</p>
<p>Opposition intensified as critics, some of them spoiling for a fight against the financiers on the NYPL board of trustees, filed lawsuits. A petition was eventually signed by 3,000 people, including many writers, academics and public intellectuals.</p>
<p>In 2012 Ada Louise Huxtable, the Wall Street Journal’s esteemed architectural critic, published a devastating article. Early the next year, an eye-opening lecture (posted to YouTube) by Charles Warren, an expert on Carrère and Hastings, showing how the integrity of the building would be compromised by the Foster design, galvanised more protest. The early trickle of disapproval became a wave of dissent.</p>
<p>In November 2013, Bill de Blasio, who had previously blasted the CLP in a campaign speech on the steps of the NYPL, was elected mayor. Some of his closest advisors wrote a public letter urging&#160; him to “save the New York Public Library from its trustees’ misguided plan” that would rob the city’s smaller branch libraries and hurt students, seniors and immigrants. Seemingly de Blasio met Marx and pressured him to back down. The CLP was halted in its tracks.</p>
<p>In May 2014, Marx stated that the NYPL had jettisoned the CLP for financial reasons. “When the facts change,” he said, “the only right thing to do as a public-serving institution is to take a look with fresh eyes and see if there is a way to improve the plans and to stay on budget.” It’s estimated that the Foster plan would have cost at least $300 million.</p>
<p>Sherman’s book ends with an autopsy of the CLP and a discussion of the future of the research library in the age of digitisation. He says that the NYPL “needs government regulation”, and quotes a former NYPL director, arguing that it “deserves today federal support for its national and international role”, but exactly why taxpayers outside New York should support a municipal institution located in one of the world’s wealthiest cities is unclear.</p>
<p>Patience and Fortitude is a New York story, but much of what it describes is symptomatic of a larger pathology: the relationship between “starchitects” and their clients. The NYPL trustees, like many of their counterparts elsewhere, are more compliant than their forerunners who worked with John Shaw Billings. In those days trustees told architects, even the most famous of them, what they wanted and made sure it got built to their specifications and budget. Now, patrons, eager to prove their hipness, too often allow celebrity architects — such as Frank Gehry, Renzo Piano, Daniel Libeskind and Norman Foster — to tell them what they need.</p>
<p>The results are often acts of vandalism, such as Foster’s planned defilement of the NYPL and his grotesque remaking of the British Museum’s Round Reading Room,&#160; Libeskind’s giant glass shard stuck in the neo-classical façade of the Bundeswehr Military History Museum, Dresden, or the blighting of Charles McKim’s graceful Italianate Morgan Library, also in New York, by Renzo Piano’s steel and glass box.</p>
<p>That these starchitects will continue to design new buildings that are monuments to their and their votaries’ egos is regrettable, but probably inevitable. That they are paid to wreak havoc with great historic fabrics like the NYPL is inexcusable.</p>
<p>Bruce Cole is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>This piece <a href="http://www.afr.com/lifestyle/arts-and-entertainment/books/new-york-public-library-a-story-of-trustees-star-architects-and-ego-20150911-gjked4" type="external">also appeared in the&#160;Australian Financial Review on September 17, 2015.</a></p> | false | 1 | review patience fortitude power real estate fight save public library scott sherman melville house 256pp recently new york public library nypl one worlds great repositories human knowledge suffered neardeath experience happened struggle rescue centuryold institution trustees subject scott shermans sprightly patience fortitude160patience fortitude stone lions guarding nypls building fifth avenue stake nothing less future manhattan landmark vast collection books rare manuscripts artifacts ephemera journalist sherman writes battlefield reportage history calmly studied afar slim quickpaced volume paints fascinating often unlovely picture politics people power protest todays new york city man responsible nypl sherman recounts first director john shaw billings hired 1895 oversee massive structure planned fifth avenue polymath billings served battlefield surgeon american civil war interests skills honed director called national library medicine washington dc today would call information technology billings put skills good use planned new library needed house order tsunami books journals flowing new highspeed printing presses devised brilliant masterplan heart monumental lightfilled frescoed booklined neorenaissance reading room known rose main reading room underlying supporting enormous hall marvel early 20thcentury engineering seven storeys ingeniously designed fabricated iron steel book stacks architects john merven carrère thomas hastings contract new library mainly billings trustees knew could best turn ideas iron stone disappointed completed 1911 beaux arts wonder housed million books building still works well century later unfortunately carrère never lived see famous building use killed car accident months official opening start nypl funded combination city private money frequently faced financial difficulties occasionally board trustees sold objects extensive collection 2005 raised eyebrows auctioning muchloved painting asher durands 1849 kindred spirits bought walmart heiress alice walton 35 million trustees claimed proceeds went endowment many new yorkers protested selling citys patrimony trouble really started 2008 announcement central library plan clp illconceived scheme blessed director paul leclerc supported board trustees varied group philanthropists bankers real estate brokers public intellectuals academics among others real power board however rests members executive committee movers shakers finance real estate sherman says hatched clp plan devised advice national consulting firms little experience outside private sector scant public input sell two branch libraries heavilyused midmanhattan circulating library also fifth avenue science industry business library built 1990s projected proceeds sales plus 150 million capital funds pledged mayor michael bloomberg plan could reshape nypl trustees believed cornerstone clp construction new circulating library made necessary sale popular midmanhattan new library housed 100000 square foot space underneath billingss reading room make space seven storeys stacks would gutted three million books shelved shipped remote storage facility princeton new jersey 60 miles away library explained necessary stacks lacked proper climate control also cited 60 per cent decrease use collections obviously result digitisation books periodicals available online fact 6 per cent specialised books used year scholars researchers must consult important esoteric material may requested decades found numbercrunching explanations bizarre commission circulating library awarded norman foster design cavernous galleried hall looking like something suburban shopping mall airport terminal would clashed dwarfed carrère hastingss beautifully calibrated elegant spaces lord foster called greatest project ever outdone leclerc boasted clp would create biggest comprehensive library human history160 hyperbole abounded 2011 leclerc left nypl columbia universitys europe global center paris succeeded tony marx former president amherst college marx defended clp inexplicably claiming would make library already freely accessible anyone democratic called fosters proposed design rather sovietsounding peoples palace many new yorkers already protesting radical changes werent mollified opposition intensified critics spoiling fight financiers nypl board trustees filed lawsuits petition eventually signed 3000 people including many writers academics public intellectuals 2012 ada louise huxtable wall street journals esteemed architectural critic published devastating article early next year eyeopening lecture posted youtube charles warren expert carrère hastings showing integrity building would compromised foster design galvanised protest early trickle disapproval became wave dissent november 2013 bill de blasio previously blasted clp campaign speech steps nypl elected mayor closest advisors wrote public letter urging160 save new york public library trustees misguided plan would rob citys smaller branch libraries hurt students seniors immigrants seemingly de blasio met marx pressured back clp halted tracks may 2014 marx stated nypl jettisoned clp financial reasons facts change said right thing publicserving institution take look fresh eyes see way improve plans stay budget estimated foster plan would cost least 300 million shermans book ends autopsy clp discussion future research library age digitisation says nypl needs government regulation quotes former nypl director arguing deserves today federal support national international role exactly taxpayers outside new york support municipal institution located one worlds wealthiest cities unclear patience fortitude new york story much describes symptomatic larger pathology relationship starchitects clients nypl trustees like many counterparts elsewhere compliant forerunners worked john shaw billings days trustees told architects even famous wanted made sure got built specifications budget patrons eager prove hipness often allow celebrity architects frank gehry renzo piano daniel libeskind norman foster tell need results often acts vandalism fosters planned defilement nypl grotesque remaking british museums round reading room160 libeskinds giant glass shard stuck neoclassical façade bundeswehr military history museum dresden blighting charles mckims graceful italianate morgan library also new york renzo pianos steel glass box starchitects continue design new buildings monuments votaries egos regrettable probably inevitable paid wreak havoc great historic fabrics like nypl inexcusable bruce cole senior fellow ethics public policy center 160 piece also appeared the160australian financial review september 17 2015 | 876 |
<p>By Helen Reid</p>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) – Shares reacted much more violently than usual to surprises in company results in the latest quarterly reporting season as investors put a laser-like focus on earnings, generously rewarding winners but mercilessly punishing laggards.</p>
<p>It’s a phenomenon that runs counter to the generally depressed levels of volatility at the stock index level, and presents opportunities for investors in derivatives trading as well as in traditional stock-picking.</p>
<p>Stock markets around the world have surged to a succession of record highs this year, but, far from a rising tide lifting all boats, the gap between winners and losers is widening.</p>
<p>Earnings day price moves have been the most extreme on record, Goldman Sachs (NYSE:) strategists said, with stocks notching up 3.6 times the average daily move after results.</p>
<p>The sharp swings show investors are focusing strongly on individual company performance and underline the crucial importance of strong earnings.</p>
<p>“We have something like record low index volatility, but individual stock volatility is not low at all and we have seen a spike up in individual stock vol(atility),” Luke Ellis, CEO of Man Group, told Reuters at an investment summit.</p>
<p>The stock market’s verdict on individual companies differed sharply, providing a “fantastic opportunity” for stock pickers to beat the index, he said.</p>
<p>This results season has seen blue-chip companies like General Electric (N:) in the United States sink 13 percent, while European investors punished both EDF (PA:) and Burberry (L:) to the tune of one-tenth of their market value and Nokia (HE:) by 18 percent on earnings day.</p>
<p>Companies with strong earnings have also been rewarded more than usual, correcting the negative skew seen last quarter where earnings misses were punished more severely than beats were celebrated.</p>
<p>“If the big move is coming from earnings then it’s telling you there’s a lot of exuberance about earnings growing,” said Amit Khanna, head of equity research at QuantInsight.</p>
<p>“And if that’s not the case and a company misses, you will have a lot of disappointment.”</p>
<p>As Eric Moore, income fund manager at Miton Group put it: “When companies disappoint they’re getting properly spanked. The market is in an unforgiving mood.”</p>
<p>HEIGHTENED SENSITIVITY</p>
<p>Part of investors’ heightened sensitivity is because earnings have been the driving force behind stock markets’ stellar gains this year – and are expected to drive risk appetite through 2018.</p>
<p>“2018 is going to be a perfectly decent year for risk assets, on the assumption we get another decent year of profit growth,” Standard Life’s head of global strategy, Andrew Milligan, told Reuters last week. “Profits are still the be-all and end-all for the coming year.”</p>
<p>The majority of returns in equities this year have been driven by earnings rather than by the value of a company growing through improved performance, Credit Suisse (SIX:) figures showed.</p>
<p>In Europe year-to-date, gains have been almost entirely earnings-led – with 85 percent of returns driven by growth in earnings per share. In emerging markets that figure is 70 percent while the United States owes 50 percent of its returns to earnings, the Credit Suisse figures show.</p>
<p>Knowing that returns are so highly dependent on companies’ bottom line, investors have been ruthless. While the shares of tantalizingly fast-growing companies have skyrocketed this year,&#160;investors’ patience with mediocre results has run thin.</p>
<p>The phenomenon could also be linked to investors piling into equities, NN Investment Partners CIO Valentijn van Niewenhuijzen said.</p>
<p>Global investors’ allocation to equities rose to a net 49 percent overweight in November, the highest since April 2015, Bank of America (NYSE:) Merrill Lynch’s (BAML) fund manager survey showed.</p>
<p>Higher stock volatility has not translated into greater average index volatility, partly because the large earnings-day moves were often corrected the following day.</p>
<p>“Investors have been very, very quick to buy the dip and that’s equivalent to fading the volatility spikes, which therefore have not been very long-lived,” said Abhinandan Deb, EMEA head of equity derivatives at BAML.</p>
<p>(Earnings drive lion’s share of returns across markets: http://reut.rs/2zZWsZr)</p>
<p>Confidence in the underlying economic growth driving the market put the brakes on any drawn-out sell-offs in stocks.</p>
<p>All of this adds up to a perfect environment for stock-picking, a boon for active managers fighting to win back flows which have been pouring into exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other passive vehicles this year.</p>
<p>“The opportunity set for making money from stock-picking is higher than it’s been before,” said Deb.</p>
<p>SIGN OF STRAIN?</p>
<p>Goldman Sachs strategists, who observed this pattern in Europe and the United States, said skittishness in stocks on earnings days, combined with generally calmer moves outside of results, was a sign of increased uncertainty under the surface.</p>
<p>Data from the bank’s U.S. strategists shows a rise in single stock volatility is generally associated with a decline in equity returns.</p>
<p>“While they do not believe this is a reason to sell the market (or buy (the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index)) it is certainly a trend to be monitoring closely,” Goldman strategists wrote.</p>
<p>Rather than worrying about volatility affecting returns, some investors have taken advantage of the phenomenon to reap returns in derivatives markets.</p>
<p>Investors piled into a “dispersion trade” this year, buying stock volatility and selling index volatility. This relative trade bets on stock correlations falling while hedging against the possibility that volatility might remain low.</p>
<p>“This strategy has been very popular this year, with strong volumes traded on the EuroSTOXX 50 and the by hedge funds and asset managers,” said Kokou Agbo-Bloua, global head of flow strategy at Societe Generale (PA:).</p>
<p>It is also a less costly strategy than being outright long volatility, Agbo-Bloua added.</p>
<p>As market volatility starts to show signs of life, investment vehicles tracking lower volatility stocks have also been performing better. Fidelity’s low volatility factor ETF (K:) made its strongest gains in nine months in November.</p>
<p>“In a rising volatility environment, there is likely to be demand for low volatility assets (which become scarcer),” Goldman strategists said.</p> | false | 1 | helen reid london reuters shares reacted much violently usual surprises company results latest quarterly reporting season investors put laserlike focus earnings generously rewarding winners mercilessly punishing laggards phenomenon runs counter generally depressed levels volatility stock index level presents opportunities investors derivatives trading well traditional stockpicking stock markets around world surged succession record highs year far rising tide lifting boats gap winners losers widening earnings day price moves extreme record goldman sachs nyse strategists said stocks notching 36 times average daily move results sharp swings show investors focusing strongly individual company performance underline crucial importance strong earnings something like record low index volatility individual stock volatility low seen spike individual stock volatility luke ellis ceo man group told reuters investment summit stock markets verdict individual companies differed sharply providing fantastic opportunity stock pickers beat index said results season seen bluechip companies like general electric n united states sink 13 percent european investors punished edf pa burberry l tune onetenth market value nokia 18 percent earnings day companies strong earnings also rewarded usual correcting negative skew seen last quarter earnings misses punished severely beats celebrated big move coming earnings telling theres lot exuberance earnings growing said amit khanna head equity research quantinsight thats case company misses lot disappointment eric moore income fund manager miton group put companies disappoint theyre getting properly spanked market unforgiving mood heightened sensitivity part investors heightened sensitivity earnings driving force behind stock markets stellar gains year expected drive risk appetite 2018 2018 going perfectly decent year risk assets assumption get another decent year profit growth standard lifes head global strategy andrew milligan told reuters last week profits still beall endall coming year majority returns equities year driven earnings rather value company growing improved performance credit suisse six figures showed europe yeartodate gains almost entirely earningsled 85 percent returns driven growth earnings per share emerging markets figure 70 percent united states owes 50 percent returns earnings credit suisse figures show knowing returns highly dependent companies bottom line investors ruthless shares tantalizingly fastgrowing companies skyrocketed year160investors patience mediocre results run thin phenomenon could also linked investors piling equities nn investment partners cio valentijn van niewenhuijzen said global investors allocation equities rose net 49 percent overweight november highest since april 2015 bank america nyse merrill lynchs baml fund manager survey showed higher stock volatility translated greater average index volatility partly large earningsday moves often corrected following day investors quick buy dip thats equivalent fading volatility spikes therefore longlived said abhinandan deb emea head equity derivatives baml earnings drive lions share returns across markets httpreutrs2zzwszr confidence underlying economic growth driving market put brakes drawnout selloffs stocks adds perfect environment stockpicking boon active managers fighting win back flows pouring exchangetraded funds etfs passive vehicles year opportunity set making money stockpicking higher said deb sign strain goldman sachs strategists observed pattern europe united states said skittishness stocks earnings days combined generally calmer moves outside results sign increased uncertainty surface data banks us strategists shows rise single stock volatility generally associated decline equity returns believe reason sell market buy chicago board options exchange volatility index certainly trend monitoring closely goldman strategists wrote rather worrying volatility affecting returns investors taken advantage phenomenon reap returns derivatives markets investors piled dispersion trade year buying stock volatility selling index volatility relative trade bets stock correlations falling hedging possibility volatility might remain low strategy popular year strong volumes traded eurostoxx 50 hedge funds asset managers said kokou agbobloua global head flow strategy societe generale pa also less costly strategy outright long volatility agbobloua added market volatility starts show signs life investment vehicles tracking lower volatility stocks also performing better fidelitys low volatility factor etf k made strongest gains nine months november rising volatility environment likely demand low volatility assets become scarcer goldman strategists said | 624 |
<p />
<p>At three months since the beginning of the Kiev government military operation against anti-government rebels in Ukraine's south-east, Europe appears to be acting to the detriment of its reputation as a peace and rule-of-law project, as well as its broader economic and trade interests and political goals in the region.&#160; The expansion of restrictive measures against the Russian Federation adopted July 17 and 29 by the European Council is meant to put further pressure on Moscow which Brussels holds responsible for the outbreak of separatism in Ukraine.&#160; Yet, by continuing to focus on the outcome of armed resistance rather than root causes of secessionist movement in Donetsk and Lugansk, Europe may unwillingly contribute to the perpetuation of violence in Ukraine, meaning that a ceasefire will become ever more distant and more victims among innocent civilians are yet to come.</p>
<p>While the West is contemplating further pressure, the news from the civil war zone in south-eastern Ukraine relate casualties among civilians on a daily basis.&#160; Since the beginning of the Kiev government military operation against the secessionists, there have been numerous reports of the violations of the methods of war allowed by international law (jus in bello), such as indiscriminate shelling of residential areas resulting in the killing of civilian population, the use of forbidden weapons producing indiscriminate shelling, preventing civilians from leaving the war zone to a safe heaven, killing and abduction of civilians and journalists, and other - all of which require an impartial international probe and bringing the culpable to justice.&#160; The Odessa massacre stands out as a distinct yet not less tragic episode in this crisis.&#160; By mid-July, the refugee and IDPs flight from the conflict zone has gone up to hundreds thousands, as confirmed by the UN.</p>
<p>These developments make procrastination on achieving a ceasefire - which Western sanctions tantamount to - an irrelevant policy tool as running counter to Europe's values of peace, security and rule of law.&#160; What is warranted instead an immediate diplomatic intervention of urging a dialogue between the warring parties that would bring to a halt the continued bloodshed in Ukraine.</p>
<p>The daily death toll in Ukraine war zone is not dramatically different from that in Gaza (the latter having population density twice as high) where the international community has been inclined to focus on the humanitarian component of the crisis by urging a ceasefire.&#160; Yet, in Ukraine, the West has preferred to engage in a politics of blame game, looking for evidence of ostensible Russian military support for the rebels.</p>
<p>In the aftermath of the Crimea annexation, in its interpretation of the crisis Europe appears to be driven by inertia of the annexation stage.&#160; What may have been an appropriate policy option at the stage of Crimea annexation may be largely obsolete with respect to the ongoing armed stand-off between Kiev fighters and the pro-Russia separatists in Lugansk and Donetsk.&#160; Given that Moscow didn't quite get it right in terms of international law (is anything wrong after Kosovo recognition?), Western move to adopt sanctions against Russia over Crimea annexation seemed to be not without reasoning.</p>
<p>It nevertheless is a misstatement that Moscow is responsible for the outbreak of separatism in Ukraine's south-eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.&#160; Indeed, Western justification of sanctions against Moscow is poorly substantiated.&#160; The assumption underlying the policy of sanctions produced in Washington and picked up in the cabinets of European bureaucrats is that counter-Kiev movement in south-eastern Ukraine is the product of Moscow's meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs.&#160; As it turns out, such assumption is false.</p>
<p>In its blame game against Russia the West is misplacing cause and effect.&#160; The current crisis was preceded by a number of strategic miscalculations or benchmark events.&#160; First, the repealing by the Ukrainian legislature on 25th February of the tolerant minority language law that granted Russian along with other languages the status of lingua franca used in the public sphere - produced by the rise to power of ultra-nationalist and extremist neo-Nazi groups in Ukraine following the overthrow of elected President Victor Yanukovitch - served to exacerbate the situation in the country.</p>
<p>Further, what triggered the ongoing crisis and precipitated a secessionist move by Ukraine's south-east regions was the Kiev administration embarking on the course of rapprochement with the EU in disregard of the geopolitical preferences of about one half of Ukrainians who regard Russia as their point of reference and the subsequent U.S. and EU endorsement of the new Kiev administration as legitimate while it did not enjoy support in eastern regions of the country.</p>
<p>The current crisis is therefore nothing but a direct byproduct of foreign policy miscalculation by Kiev and Western bureaucrats.&#160; Once Kiev moved toward Brussels by signing the free trade and association deal with the EU, secession by Ukraine's south-east regions traditionally supportive of a pro-Russia course was a foregone conclusion. &#160;&#160;It is therefore a major misplacement of blame when Europe is imposing sanctions against Russia over "undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity" as Moscow, even if Western claims that Moscow is providing support for the rebels ultimately proved substantiated, would be merely a reacting party to the story.</p>
<p>Neither is the expansion of sanctions against Russia or threat thereof well justified as based on the assumption of Russia being directly manipulative of the separatists in Eastern Ukraine at the current stage of the crisis: Moscow may have an indirect political benefit in a secessionist pro-Russian movement in the east of Ukraine - not to confuse with bloodshed - but this does not stand as evidence of it being directly instigating from behind the scene; the most immediate counterfactual is that the separatists have been spiraling out of Moscow's control on a few occasions. &#160;The alleged supply of weapons to the separatists by Moscow has not been a subject of an independent and impartial probe as of yet.</p>
<p>In exerting its pressure on Russia, Europe apparently is motivated by a sole immediate goal - to avoid the emergence of another pro-Moscow secessionist enclave along Russian borders - in the footsteps of the freshly Moscow-forged Crimea scenario.&#160; Perhaps even a more decisive determinant of this European drive toward sanctions is the existence in the region of the longtime secessionist entities of Transnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.&#160; &#160;&#160;</p>
<p>As the Soviet Union was falling apart, republics on the periphery saw a rise of nationalism in their corresponding metropolises.&#160; This in turn triggered secessionism by Slavic-dominated and pro-Soviet regions like Transnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. &#160;As EU and NATO made eastward advances - the latter apparently contrary to the promises made to Moscow at the time of the disintegration of the Soviet Union - Russia began to strengthen its support for the secessionist entities along its south-eastern and southern borders.&#160; By cementing separatism in Moldova and Georgia ever since, Moscow de facto was able to secure a comfortable status quo in the region - these states' non-adherence to Western blocs of EU and NATO.&#160; In its rationale of preventing another Transnistria emerge in its Eastern Neighbourhood, Brussels is therefore poised to prevent the emergence of another pro-Russian enclave serving Moscow's geopolitical goals in the Near Abroad.</p>
<p>Upon scrutiny, Europe may discover that the point of no-return on federalization of Ukraine has been passed.&#160; While the dashing of the Russian language from the public sphere may have been a stage in the crisis where things were still repairable and Ukraine's territorial integrity and existent territorial-administrative system were unquestionable propositions, following the commencement of the military operation by Kiev and the prolonged bloodshed that ensued, the bargaining position of the south-east has been strengthened.&#160; It is difficult to imagine the attackers and the attacked co-exist in the same state again - at least at this point in time.&#160; Federalization in the form of a broad autonomy is the maximum Kiev can count on following yet-to-be-started negotiations with Donetsk and Lugansk.</p>
<p>The current policy of blame and sanctions imposition produces nothing but a vicious circle in which the West fails to exercise its influence over Kiev to stop its military operation against the rebels with Moscow thus having no reason to follow suit with the rebels in the secessionist quarters.&#160; Such policy is counter-productive, unreasoned and unsubstantiated, driving this tragedy into a deadlock.&#160; Moscow will not back down given what it sees as the unfair blame game being waged against it by the West.&#160; By refraining from exercising influence on Kiev as a party that initiated the armed stage of the conflict - to force it into a ceasefire - and offering unconditional support for Ukrainian actions, the West de facto becomes an accomplice in this tragedy in Ukraine.</p>
<p>In this crisis it is imperative to switch priorities from political or geopolitical agenda to humanitarian one, meaning the parties to the conflict should be called upon to stop fighting and engage in a meaningful dialogue.&#160; The crash on July 17 of the Malaysian passenger plane in the conflict zone leading to the death of 298 people that were on board may be a serious enough reason to do so.&#160; Although, following Europe's turning a blind eye on daily casualties among innocent civilians within a course of three months on its doorstep, the situation now becomes reminiscent of the famous line of General Radlov from Nikita Mikhalkov's "The Barber of Siberia" - "it depends whose life it is."&#160; Europe should demonstrate that it is able to let values based on which it was founded - that of human rights and the right to life in the first place - prevail over politics in its decision making.&#160; The people of Donetsk and Lugansk and other residential areas affected by fighting have the same right to life as the late passengers of MH17 or the residents of Amsterdam, London or Paris.</p>
<p>Based on the lessons from Transnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the only and the best thing that the West can do given the fait accompli of the bloodshed - if it really wants to avoid another grey zone a la Transnistria on Europe's map - is to prevent Russian monopoly on peacekeeping in the area in the post-conflict stage of the Ukraine peace process, disarm all irregulars and help the warring parties embark on a democratic dialogue that will focus on a devolution of powers while making sure the new administration in Donetsk and Lugansk are truly representative of the local people, not Moscow-sponsored stooges doing Moscow's bidding in the region. Although it begs the question whether Donetsk and Lugansk would now ever accept any Western peacekeepers on their soil after the West's failure to stop the party that had taken away so many of their innocent civilian lives.</p>
<p>Brussels and Washington have had secessionist conflicts resolution in Transnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia as part of their peace agenda in Europe's Eastern Neighbourhood over the past decade and a half but, embarking on a competition approach with Moscow as opposed to cooperation and dismissing geopolitical preferences of a larger portion of Ukraine's public, they may just as well have forged a new one.&#160; All that matters now is whether the cost of this policy faux pas in terms of loss of human life will not be too high.</p> | false | 1 | three months since beginning kiev government military operation antigovernment rebels ukraines southeast europe appears acting detriment reputation peace ruleoflaw project well broader economic trade interests political goals region160 expansion restrictive measures russian federation adopted july 17 29 european council meant put pressure moscow brussels holds responsible outbreak separatism ukraine160 yet continuing focus outcome armed resistance rather root causes secessionist movement donetsk lugansk europe may unwillingly contribute perpetuation violence ukraine meaning ceasefire become ever distant victims among innocent civilians yet come west contemplating pressure news civil war zone southeastern ukraine relate casualties among civilians daily basis160 since beginning kiev government military operation secessionists numerous reports violations methods war allowed international law jus bello indiscriminate shelling residential areas resulting killing civilian population use forbidden weapons producing indiscriminate shelling preventing civilians leaving war zone safe heaven killing abduction civilians journalists require impartial international probe bringing culpable justice160 odessa massacre stands distinct yet less tragic episode crisis160 midjuly refugee idps flight conflict zone gone hundreds thousands confirmed un developments make procrastination achieving ceasefire western sanctions tantamount irrelevant policy tool running counter europes values peace security rule law160 warranted instead immediate diplomatic intervention urging dialogue warring parties would bring halt continued bloodshed ukraine daily death toll ukraine war zone dramatically different gaza latter population density twice high international community inclined focus humanitarian component crisis urging ceasefire160 yet ukraine west preferred engage politics blame game looking evidence ostensible russian military support rebels aftermath crimea annexation interpretation crisis europe appears driven inertia annexation stage160 may appropriate policy option stage crimea annexation may largely obsolete respect ongoing armed standoff kiev fighters prorussia separatists lugansk donetsk160 given moscow didnt quite get right terms international law anything wrong kosovo recognition western move adopt sanctions russia crimea annexation seemed without reasoning nevertheless misstatement moscow responsible outbreak separatism ukraines southeastern regions donetsk lugansk160 indeed western justification sanctions moscow poorly substantiated160 assumption underlying policy sanctions produced washington picked cabinets european bureaucrats counterkiev movement southeastern ukraine product moscows meddling ukraines internal affairs160 turns assumption false blame game russia west misplacing cause effect160 current crisis preceded number strategic miscalculations benchmark events160 first repealing ukrainian legislature 25th february tolerant minority language law granted russian along languages status lingua franca used public sphere produced rise power ultranationalist extremist neonazi groups ukraine following overthrow elected president victor yanukovitch served exacerbate situation country triggered ongoing crisis precipitated secessionist move ukraines southeast regions kiev administration embarking course rapprochement eu disregard geopolitical preferences one half ukrainians regard russia point reference subsequent us eu endorsement new kiev administration legitimate enjoy support eastern regions country current crisis therefore nothing direct byproduct foreign policy miscalculation kiev western bureaucrats160 kiev moved toward brussels signing free trade association deal eu secession ukraines southeast regions traditionally supportive prorussia course foregone conclusion 160160it therefore major misplacement blame europe imposing sanctions russia undermining ukraines territorial integrity moscow even western claims moscow providing support rebels ultimately proved substantiated would merely reacting party story neither expansion sanctions russia threat thereof well justified based assumption russia directly manipulative separatists eastern ukraine current stage crisis moscow may indirect political benefit secessionist prorussian movement east ukraine confuse bloodshed stand evidence directly instigating behind scene immediate counterfactual separatists spiraling moscows control occasions 160the alleged supply weapons separatists moscow subject independent impartial probe yet exerting pressure russia europe apparently motivated sole immediate goal avoid emergence another promoscow secessionist enclave along russian borders footsteps freshly moscowforged crimea scenario160 perhaps even decisive determinant european drive toward sanctions existence region longtime secessionist entities transnistria abkhazia south ossetia160 160160 soviet union falling apart republics periphery saw rise nationalism corresponding metropolises160 turn triggered secessionism slavicdominated prosoviet regions like transnistria abkhazia south ossetia 160as eu nato made eastward advances latter apparently contrary promises made moscow time disintegration soviet union russia began strengthen support secessionist entities along southeastern southern borders160 cementing separatism moldova georgia ever since moscow de facto able secure comfortable status quo region states nonadherence western blocs eu nato160 rationale preventing another transnistria emerge eastern neighbourhood brussels therefore poised prevent emergence another prorussian enclave serving moscows geopolitical goals near abroad upon scrutiny europe may discover point noreturn federalization ukraine passed160 dashing russian language public sphere may stage crisis things still repairable ukraines territorial integrity existent territorialadministrative system unquestionable propositions following commencement military operation kiev prolonged bloodshed ensued bargaining position southeast strengthened160 difficult imagine attackers attacked coexist state least point time160 federalization form broad autonomy maximum kiev count following yettobestarted negotiations donetsk lugansk current policy blame sanctions imposition produces nothing vicious circle west fails exercise influence kiev stop military operation rebels moscow thus reason follow suit rebels secessionist quarters160 policy counterproductive unreasoned unsubstantiated driving tragedy deadlock160 moscow back given sees unfair blame game waged west160 refraining exercising influence kiev party initiated armed stage conflict force ceasefire offering unconditional support ukrainian actions west de facto becomes accomplice tragedy ukraine crisis imperative switch priorities political geopolitical agenda humanitarian one meaning parties conflict called upon stop fighting engage meaningful dialogue160 crash july 17 malaysian passenger plane conflict zone leading death 298 people board may serious enough reason so160 although following europes turning blind eye daily casualties among innocent civilians within course three months doorstep situation becomes reminiscent famous line general radlov nikita mikhalkovs barber siberia depends whose life is160 europe demonstrate able let values based founded human rights right life first place prevail politics decision making160 people donetsk lugansk residential areas affected fighting right life late passengers mh17 residents amsterdam london paris based lessons transnistria abkhazia south ossetia best thing west given fait accompli bloodshed really wants avoid another grey zone la transnistria europes map prevent russian monopoly peacekeeping area postconflict stage ukraine peace process disarm irregulars help warring parties embark democratic dialogue focus devolution powers making sure new administration donetsk lugansk truly representative local people moscowsponsored stooges moscows bidding region although begs question whether donetsk lugansk would ever accept western peacekeepers soil wests failure stop party taken away many innocent civilian lives brussels washington secessionist conflicts resolution transnistria abkhazia south ossetia part peace agenda europes eastern neighbourhood past decade half embarking competition approach moscow opposed cooperation dismissing geopolitical preferences larger portion ukraines public may well forged new one160 matters whether cost policy faux pas terms loss human life high | 1,025 |
<p>Review:</p>
<p>MY DEAR BB . . . Edited by Robert Cumming Yale, 583 pages, $45</p>
<p>In September 1925, the future art historian Kenneth Clark, then 22, met Bernard Berenson, the eminent connoisseur, then 60. Clark was visiting Poggio Gherardo, the Florentine home of Janet Ross, a formidable Victorian character (Clark called her a “well-known terrifier”) who in her youth knew Dickens and Thackeray.</p>
<p>She took him to I Tatti, the beautiful villa owned by her friend Berenson. After lunch, Berenson told Clark: “I’m very impulsive, my dear boy, and I have only known you for a few minutes, but I would like you to come and work with me to help me prepare a new edition of my Florentine Drawings.”</p>
<p>Clark was stunned by the surprise offer. “It was,” he later recalled, “the most golden egg that the world of art had to offer, and I would be a goose to refuse it,” although, as he wrote to Berenson at the time, his parents were “very strongly opposed to my working in Florence &amp; giving up all thought of a business or political career for the, to them, narrower field of art.” They later relented.</p>
<p>For the next three decades, Berenson (1865-1959) and Clark (1903-1983) exchanged hundreds of letters. These, along with others by Clark’s wife, Jane, and Berenson’s wife, Mary, are collected in “My Dear BB . . . ,” edited by Robert Cumming, an adjunct professor at Boston University. Divided into chronological sections, each prefaced with a helpful introductory essay about the period, the letters touch on many topics: friendship, travel, books, health, work and people. But art and attribution are the primary subjects. Clark is a master letter writer, Berenson less so.</p>
<p>In age, background, social standing and temperament, Clark and Berenson were as opposite as chalk and cheese. Berenson was the son of a poor Jewish family that immigrated to Boston in 1875. To rise in often anti-Semitic Brahmin Boston, Berenson shed his religion and humble past. A bright student, he went to Boston Latin School and then on to Harvard. After graduation he traveled throughout Italy studying paintings in museums, churches and private collections. Using his extraordinary visual memory, he was able to identify the essential stylistic characteristics of artists and compile accurate lists of their works. The lists, published in four volumes from 1894 to 1907, cover the major schools of Italian Renaissance painting and are preceded by introductory essays embodying Berenson’s principles of connoisseurship.</p>
<p>Remarkable for their breadth and accuracy, the books furnished the foundation for subsequent scholarship on Italian Renaissance painting. The “Four Gospels,” as the lists were sometimes called, made Berenson the high priest of attributions. Dealers sought, and feared, his judgment of their wares because the difference between a Basaiti and a Bellini meant big money. Berenson’s groundbreaking work in connoisseurship was finished by the time he met Clark in 1925, but he could still make or break the careers of fledgling scholars and critics.</p>
<p>Bright, talented and born to considerable position and wealth (his family made its fortune by perfecting the wooden thread spool), the posh and diffident Clark was just the sort of gilded young man that the snobbish Berenson was eager to advance.</p>
<p>And advance Clark did. In 1929, with almost no experience, he was asked to catalog the Leonardo da Vinci drawings at Windsor Castle. This was followed in 1931 by an appointment as Keeper of Fine Art at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum.</p>
<p>Berenson thought Clark could “do better” by “getting away from the newspaperial attitude toward art.” He could, Berenson suggested, become “a student of art as a realm, of being with a formative influence upon the humanization of that fascinating biped man.”</p>
<p>In 1933, Clark was able to do just that when he got the biggest, most glittering museum prize of them all: the directorship of London’s National Gallery. After his appointment, Clark and his wife became stars of London high society. Jane, whose letters are the most gossipy and lively in Mr. Cumming’s edition, writes in 1939 about a luncheon they held for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The king, Jane says, “would not be interesting unless he were King.” The queen, whom she thought charming, “enjoyed the pictures especially oddly enough, the late blue Cezannes.” The following day the Clarks had lunch with Neville Chamberlain, where they “drank very good hock” from Germany.</p>
<p>But Clark was more than a social celebrity and a successful museum administrator. He was a superb critic who from his first books, a groundbreaking study of the Gothic Revival and a masterly monograph on Leonardo, produced a stream of volumes, articles and lectures that in themselves are works of literary art.</p>
<p>In these publications, he moved steadily away from Berenson’s focus on style toward a broader, more comprehensive vision of art in its historical and intellectual contexts. “The Nude” (1956), a brilliant example of this approach, found favor with Berenson, and not just because the book is dedicated to him. He says that it goes “beyond expectation” and that it unfurls the “subject to its vastest horizons” and fills “it with details so perfectly communicated . . . that it is a delight to read and read and read.”</p>
<p>Surprisingly, the patrician Clark was a great believer in the popularization of art; he is best remembered for “Civilization” (1969), his hit TV series. The highbrow Berenson was much more of an elitist who was uninterested in a large lay audience.</p>
<p>But no matter how far he strayed from Berenson, Clark never forgot what he owed the older man. This gratitude is seen throughout their correspondence but never more clearly, and poignantly, than in a birthday wish Clark sent to Berenson in 1955, 30 years after they first met at I Tatti.</p>
<p>His first and greatest debt to Berenson, he says, “is emancipation from the various intellectual fashions of the time.” Clark adds that if he had never gone to I Tatti, “I should certainly have been bound apprentice to Bloomsbury—or perhaps never moved beyond Oxford.” After meeting Berenson, Clark writes, his children told him that “they have discovered the origin of this or that turn of thought or behaviour which I had supposed to be my own. In all these ways I am truly your son.”</p>
<p>“My Dear BB . . .” has a several defects. Most of the hundreds of footnotes that Mr. Cumming appends are helpful, but many are stuffed with extraneous detail. He also states, puzzlingly, that the letters are “edited” but gives no explanation as to precisely how. Finally, while the correspondence is often entertaining and instructive, one has to question how much it adds to our understandings of Berenson and Clark beyond the already published biographies of both men and the three previous collections of Berenson’s letters.</p>
<p>Today both Berenson and Clark are largely ignored. Their work sprang from a close observation of style, an approach that is seen as hopelessly outdated in the contemporary art historical world, which focuses on art as social documentation. As an antidote to all of this, read Clark’s insightful, gracefully written books—“Leonardo da Vinci,” “The Romantic Rebellion” or the companion book to “Civilization,” which sold over a million copies—or Berenson’s gimlet-eyed introductory essays to “The Italian Painters of the Renaissance.” For a deeper understanding of the two men than that found in Mr. Cumming’s edition, see Clark’s wonderful, self-effacing autobiography or Berenson’s more troubled and darker diaries and “Sketch for a Self-Portrait,” written when he was in his 80s. Most of these books are long out of print, but for the general reader searching for incisive, illuminating writing, they’re well worth the effort.</p>
<p>—Mr. Cole, a former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.</p> | false | 1 | review dear bb edited robert cumming yale 583 pages 45 september 1925 future art historian kenneth clark 22 met bernard berenson eminent connoisseur 60 clark visiting poggio gherardo florentine home janet ross formidable victorian character clark called wellknown terrifier youth knew dickens thackeray took tatti beautiful villa owned friend berenson lunch berenson told clark im impulsive dear boy known minutes would like come work help prepare new edition florentine drawings clark stunned surprise offer later recalled golden egg world art offer would goose refuse although wrote berenson time parents strongly opposed working florence amp giving thought business political career narrower field art later relented next three decades berenson 18651959 clark 19031983 exchanged hundreds letters along others clarks wife jane berensons wife mary collected dear bb edited robert cumming adjunct professor boston university divided chronological sections prefaced helpful introductory essay period letters touch many topics friendship travel books health work people art attribution primary subjects clark master letter writer berenson less age background social standing temperament clark berenson opposite chalk cheese berenson son poor jewish family immigrated boston 1875 rise often antisemitic brahmin boston berenson shed religion humble past bright student went boston latin school harvard graduation traveled throughout italy studying paintings museums churches private collections using extraordinary visual memory able identify essential stylistic characteristics artists compile accurate lists works lists published four volumes 1894 1907 cover major schools italian renaissance painting preceded introductory essays embodying berensons principles connoisseurship remarkable breadth accuracy books furnished foundation subsequent scholarship italian renaissance painting four gospels lists sometimes called made berenson high priest attributions dealers sought feared judgment wares difference basaiti bellini meant big money berensons groundbreaking work connoisseurship finished time met clark 1925 could still make break careers fledgling scholars critics bright talented born considerable position wealth family made fortune perfecting wooden thread spool posh diffident clark sort gilded young man snobbish berenson eager advance advance clark 1929 almost experience asked catalog leonardo da vinci drawings windsor castle followed 1931 appointment keeper fine art oxfords ashmolean museum berenson thought clark could better getting away newspaperial attitude toward art could berenson suggested become student art realm formative influence upon humanization fascinating biped man 1933 clark able got biggest glittering museum prize directorship londons national gallery appointment clark wife became stars london high society jane whose letters gossipy lively mr cummings edition writes 1939 luncheon held king george vi queen elizabeth king jane says would interesting unless king queen thought charming enjoyed pictures especially oddly enough late blue cezannes following day clarks lunch neville chamberlain drank good hock germany clark social celebrity successful museum administrator superb critic first books groundbreaking study gothic revival masterly monograph leonardo produced stream volumes articles lectures works literary art publications moved steadily away berensons focus style toward broader comprehensive vision art historical intellectual contexts nude 1956 brilliant example approach found favor berenson book dedicated says goes beyond expectation unfurls subject vastest horizons fills details perfectly communicated delight read read read surprisingly patrician clark great believer popularization art best remembered civilization 1969 hit tv series highbrow berenson much elitist uninterested large lay audience matter far strayed berenson clark never forgot owed older man gratitude seen throughout correspondence never clearly poignantly birthday wish clark sent berenson 1955 30 years first met tatti first greatest debt berenson says emancipation various intellectual fashions time clark adds never gone tatti certainly bound apprentice bloomsburyor perhaps never moved beyond oxford meeting berenson clark writes children told discovered origin turn thought behaviour supposed ways truly son dear bb several defects hundreds footnotes mr cumming appends helpful many stuffed extraneous detail also states puzzlingly letters edited gives explanation precisely finally correspondence often entertaining instructive one question much adds understandings berenson clark beyond already published biographies men three previous collections berensons letters today berenson clark largely ignored work sprang close observation style approach seen hopelessly outdated contemporary art historical world focuses art social documentation antidote read clarks insightful gracefully written booksleonardo da vinci romantic rebellion companion book civilization sold million copiesor berensons gimleteyed introductory essays italian painters renaissance deeper understanding two men found mr cummings edition see clarks wonderful selfeffacing autobiography berensons troubled darker diaries sketch selfportrait written 80s books long print general reader searching incisive illuminating writing theyre well worth effort mr cole former chairman national endowment humanities senior fellow ethics public policy center | 715 |
<p>The press material for The Four Feathers, Shekhar Kapur’s remake, 63 years on from the last remake, of A.E.W. Mason’s tale of derring do in the British Sudan of the 1880s and 90s, claims that it is “a look at man’s indomitable spirit to survive.” Unfortunately this is true. The original, you may be dimly aware, was not about man’s spirit to survive at all but rather man’s spirit to put others ahead of his own survival, which used to be known as courage. Or perhaps honor. So far as it goes, Kapur’s version is not a completely contemptible re-telling, but like his Elizabeth (1998), it withdraws its characters from their historical context, adds more than a dollop of political correctness, and so makes a nonsense of the thing.</p>
<p>The story of The Four Feathers was immensely popular in its day — that is from the time the novel was written just 100 years ago until the fifth movie adaptation (though the first sound version) in 1939 — but it looks hopelessly old fashioned today. No wonder Mr Kapur felt he had to make it more contemporary. For what could be more primitive to our advanced ways of thinking than a story about a man, Harry Faversham (Heath Ledger), whose refusal to fight in an obviously imperialistic and racist war induces three of his closest friends and his fiancée to send him white feathers, the symbol of cowardice, which he then feels he has to redeem by performing extraordinary feats of bravery?</p>
<p>Shekhar implicitly acknowledges the difficulty by having Harry’s father, played by Tim Piggott-Smith, begin his toast at a regimental dinner by mangling Dr. Johnson’s famous quotation about how “every man thinks but meanly of himself for never having been a soldier or never having been to sea” — and then saying, rather absurdly, that no one among those present need concern himself about that. The point is clearly to elicit, if possible, some sort of responsive chord in the non-military movie audience, which will then begin to have an understanding of why a man might feel meanly about himself, as Harry does, for having resigned his commission on the eve of being sent to war in the Sudan.</p>
<p>It is a happy thought, thus to suggest that Dr. Johnson may have put his finger on something permanent in human nature, something which, unlike heroic tales of the British Raj, never dates. But the film has little more to say of the matter than this. When Harry is explaining to his fiancée, Ethne (Kate Hudson) that he only joined the army to please his father, she quietly replies: “Do you think people will let us forget this?”</p>
<p>“I don’t care what people think. I just care about us.”</p>
<p>“It’s not just about us,” she says, most implausibly, in the language of our own time. What it is “about” is explored no further, at least not by this Ethne, who is subsequently more remorseful about having sent the feather than she was disappointed in Harry when she sent it. Here, for the record, is what the 1939 version of her character (June Duprez) — who also later regrets having sent the feather, but not so effusively — says at this point, after Harry (John Clements) claims to be free to leave off soldiering: “Others may be free, but we’re not free. We were born into a tradition, a code that we must obey even if we do not believe. And we must obey, Harry, because the pride and happiness of everyone around us depends on our obedience.”</p>
<p>A little more elegant, as well as being a little more in period, I think you will agree, than “It’s not just about us.” Made on the eve of Britain’s entry into the Second World War, the earlier film is an interesting historical document, apart from anything else, and Ethne’s words here express what was probably the most widespread opinion there, at least among the intellectual classes, at the time. It was unacceptably old-fashioned, very “pre-war” (the 1914-18 war, that is), to “believe” in any great cause which was at stake in the war against Hitler (how strange&#160;that seems now, looking back on it!), but somehow the “tradition” or the “code” which required them to take up arms became a convenient way to speak of the sense of solidarity, the concern for “the happiness of everyone around us,” that people did feel, and respond to as Ethne would have wished.</p>
<p>Nowadays, Harry’s behavior is more of a mystery. True, Kapur has him make an attempt later on to explain why he feels so bad about what he has done: “Something like this happens and you’re lost; you don’t know who you are any more and what you’re capable of. This is how people will always remember me” — holding up one of the feathers — “and how I will always see myself, a coward.” That is why “I have to believe that this time I will face up to my fears and prove myself not a coward.” Though not exactly compelling and rather murkily psychological, this is&#160;a fair basic statement of what the story is about. But its vagueness and unfamiliarity proves too much for Kapur, who thereafter loses all focus on what ought to be this basic theme. Instead, he finds a much more congenial subject in treating, and trying to defuse criticism of, the implied racism and imperialism in his material.</p>
<p>Imperialism? Does anyone doubt that the Sudan — the scene of a savage civil war that has been raging for 19 years and has been described by the Washington Post as “possibly the greatest humanitarian disaster on earth” — would be infinitely better off if the British had never left? But sooner than identify himself and his film with the troops of the British empire, Kapur leaves out everything but a brief mention of the politics of the Sudan campaigns of the 1880s and 1890s — this even though the enemy of the British, the Mahdi, might easily be seen as the direct ancestor of Osama bin Laden. The fall of Khartoum happens offstage, and the Battle of Omdurman, including the seemingly irresistibly cinematic subject of the last cavalry charge of the British army, is left out altogether.</p>
<p>The lack of a sense of history tells in other ways — for instance in the portrayal of the British in the Sudan as such simple-minded racists that they won’t even take a warning of impending disaster from a black man. One of Harry’s friends orders the well-spoken Abou Fatma (Djimon Hounsou) not to speak English (why?) and then instructs his interpreter to “tell him a British garrison would never fall to the Mahdi’s savages” and “I’m not going to waste the colonel’s time by sending some half naked savage to him with a tall tale.” This, mind you, in the immediate aftermath of the fall of Khartoum, which is what has brought these troops out to the Sudan in the first place! Kipling’s version of the British attitude towards the natives seems much more likely to be accurate:</p>
<p>So ’ere’s to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your ’ome in the Soudan; You’re a pore benighted ’eathen but a first-class fightin’ man.</p>
<p>Likewise, Harry’s musing before resigning his commission — “I sometimes wonder what a godforsaken desert in the middle of nowhere has to do with Her Majesty the Queen” — sounds suspiciously like a Vietnam-era draft resister.</p>
<p>But the worst of the movie’s historical sins is also an aesthetic one, and it lies in introducing into the story the character of Abou and making him into Harry’s Wise Black Counselor, a man of the superior and mystic spirituality with which, a century later, we associate what the Victorians would have called primitive peoples. In other words, he is a variation on the romantic notion of the Noble Savage that has been around for at least three centuries and that makes him a Jim to Harry’s Huck or a Tonto to his Lone Ranger only more so. He is the real hero of the film, and Harry’s little difficulty about the feathers begins to seem more and more remote. Even the direct link in the novel and the earlier films between each of the feathers and Harry’s acts of courage as he saves the life of each of those who sent them in turn, is forgotten.</p>
<p>There is a moment near the end when Harry’s best friend, Jack Durrance (Wes Bentley) (who in this version does not send one of the feathers, so as presumably to retain more of our sympathy than he otherwise might) proposes a toast that almost redeems the picture as an exploration of the idea of courage. “In the heat of battle it ceases to be an idea for which we fight, or a flag. Rather we fight for the man on our left and the man on our right. . .And when the empire has fallen away, all that remains is the memory of those precious moments that we spent side by side.” True, all true, but for the watchers of this movie it is rather the memory of the Wise Black Counselor fading in the sunset that remains — together with the mystery of what the British army was doing in that godforsaken desert in the first place.</p> | false | 1 | press material four feathers shekhar kapurs remake 63 years last remake aew masons tale derring british sudan 1880s 90s claims look mans indomitable spirit survive unfortunately true original may dimly aware mans spirit survive rather mans spirit put others ahead survival used known courage perhaps honor far goes kapurs version completely contemptible retelling like elizabeth 1998 withdraws characters historical context adds dollop political correctness makes nonsense thing story four feathers immensely popular day time novel written 100 years ago fifth movie adaptation though first sound version 1939 looks hopelessly old fashioned today wonder mr kapur felt make contemporary could primitive advanced ways thinking story man harry faversham heath ledger whose refusal fight obviously imperialistic racist war induces three closest friends fiancée send white feathers symbol cowardice feels redeem performing extraordinary feats bravery shekhar implicitly acknowledges difficulty harrys father played tim piggottsmith begin toast regimental dinner mangling dr johnsons famous quotation every man thinks meanly never soldier never sea saying rather absurdly one among present need concern point clearly elicit possible sort responsive chord nonmilitary movie audience begin understanding man might feel meanly harry resigned commission eve sent war sudan happy thought thus suggest dr johnson may put finger something permanent human nature something unlike heroic tales british raj never dates film little say matter harry explaining fiancée ethne kate hudson joined army please father quietly replies think people let us forget dont care people think care us us says implausibly language time explored least ethne subsequently remorseful sent feather disappointed harry sent record 1939 version character june duprez also later regrets sent feather effusively says point harry john clements claims free leave soldiering others may free free born tradition code must obey even believe must obey harry pride happiness everyone around us depends obedience little elegant well little period think agree us made eve britains entry second world war earlier film interesting historical document apart anything else ethnes words express probably widespread opinion least among intellectual classes time unacceptably oldfashioned prewar 191418 war believe great cause stake war hitler strange160that seems looking back somehow tradition code required take arms became convenient way speak sense solidarity concern happiness everyone around us people feel respond ethne would wished nowadays harrys behavior mystery true kapur make attempt later explain feels bad done something like happens youre lost dont know youre capable people always remember holding one feathers always see coward believe time face fears prove coward though exactly compelling rather murkily psychological is160a fair basic statement story vagueness unfamiliarity proves much kapur thereafter loses focus ought basic theme instead finds much congenial subject treating trying defuse criticism implied racism imperialism material imperialism anyone doubt sudan scene savage civil war raging 19 years described washington post possibly greatest humanitarian disaster earth would infinitely better british never left sooner identify film troops british empire kapur leaves everything brief mention politics sudan campaigns 1880s 1890s even though enemy british mahdi might easily seen direct ancestor osama bin laden fall khartoum happens offstage battle omdurman including seemingly irresistibly cinematic subject last cavalry charge british army left altogether lack sense history tells ways instance portrayal british sudan simpleminded racists wont even take warning impending disaster black man one harrys friends orders wellspoken abou fatma djimon hounsou speak english instructs interpreter tell british garrison would never fall mahdis savages im going waste colonels time sending half naked savage tall tale mind immediate aftermath fall khartoum brought troops sudan first place kiplings version british attitude towards natives seems much likely accurate eres fuzzywuzzy ome soudan youre pore benighted eathen firstclass fightin man likewise harrys musing resigning commission sometimes wonder godforsaken desert middle nowhere majesty queen sounds suspiciously like vietnamera draft resister worst movies historical sins also aesthetic one lies introducing story character abou making harrys wise black counselor man superior mystic spirituality century later associate victorians would called primitive peoples words variation romantic notion noble savage around least three centuries makes jim harrys huck tonto lone ranger real hero film harrys little difficulty feathers begins seem remote even direct link novel earlier films feathers harrys acts courage saves life sent turn forgotten moment near end harrys best friend jack durrance wes bentley version send one feathers presumably retain sympathy otherwise might proposes toast almost redeems picture exploration idea courage heat battle ceases idea fight flag rather fight man left man right empire fallen away remains memory precious moments spent side side true true watchers movie rather memory wise black counselor fading sunset remains together mystery british army godforsaken desert first place | 751 |
<p>Do Americans and the world need yet another reminder that the United States is a leading practitioner of torture? Yes.</p>
<p>In 1964, the Brazilian military, in a US-designed coup, overthrew a liberal (not more to the left than that) government and proceeded to rule with an iron fist for the next 21 years. In 1979 the military regime passed an amnesty law blocking the prosecution of its members for torture and other crimes. The amnesty still holds.</p>
<p>That’s how they handle such matters in what used to be called The Third World. In the First World, however, they have no need for such legal niceties. In the United States, military torturers and their political godfathers are granted amnesty automatically, simply for being American, solely for belonging to the “Good Guys Club”.</p>
<p>So now, with the release of the Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA torture, we have further depressing revelations about US foreign policy. But do Americans and the world need yet another reminder that the United States is a leading practitioner of torture? Yes. The message can not be broadcast too often because the indoctrination of the American people and Americophiles all around the world is so deeply embedded that it takes repeated shocks to the system to dislodge it. No one does brainwashing like the good ol’ Yankee inventors of advertising and public relations. And there is always a new generation just coming of age with stars (and stripes) in their eyes.</p>
<p>The public also has to be reminded yet again that – contrary to what most of the media and Mr. Obama would have us all believe – the president has never actually banned torture per se, despite saying recently that he had “unequivocally banned torture” after taking office.</p>
<p>Shortly after Obama’s first inauguration, both he and Leon Panetta, the new Director of the CIA, explicitly stated that “rendition” was not being ended. As the Los Angeles Times reported at the time: “Under executive orders issued by Obama recently, the CIA still has authority to carry out what are known as renditions, secret abductions and transfers of prisoners to countries that cooperate with the United States.”</p>
<p>The English translation of “cooperate” is “torture”. Rendition is simply outsourcing torture. There was no other reason to take prisoners to Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Somalia, Kosovo, or the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, amongst other torture centers employed by the United States. Kosovo and Diego Garcia – both of which house large and very secretive American military bases – if not some of the other locations, may well still be open for torture business, as is the Guantánamo Base in Cuba.</p>
<p>Moreover, the key Executive Order referred to, number 13491, issued January 22, 2009, “Ensuring Lawful Interrogations”, leaves a major loophole. It states repeatedly that humane treatment, including the absence of torture, is applicable only to prisoners detained in an “armed conflict”. Thus, torture by Americans outside an environment of “armed conflict” is not explicitly prohibited. But what about torture within an environment of “counter-terrorism”?</p>
<p>The Executive Order required the CIA to use only the interrogation methods outlined in a revised Army Field Manual. However, using the Army Field Manual as a guide to prisoner treatment and interrogation still allows solitary confinement, perceptual or sensory deprivation, sensory overload, sleep deprivation, the induction of fear and hopelessness, mind-altering drugs, environmental manipulation such as temperature and noise, and stress positions, amongst other charming examples of American Exceptionalism.</p>
<p>After Panetta was questioned by a Senate panel, the New York Times wrote that he had “left open the possibility that the agency could seek permission to use interrogation methods more aggressive than the limited menu that President Obama authorized under new rules … Mr. Panetta also said the agency would continue the Bush administration practice of ‘rendition’ … But he said the agency would refuse to deliver a suspect into the hands of a country known for torture or other actions ‘that violate our human values’.”</p>
<p>The last sentence is of course childishly absurd. The countries chosen to receive rendition prisoners were chosen precisely and solely because they were willing and able to torture them.</p>
<p>Four months after Obama and Panetta took office, the New York Times could report that renditions had reached new heights.</p>
<p>The present news reports indicate that Washington’s obsession with torture stems from 9/11, to prevent a repetition. The president speaks of “the fearful excesses of the post-9/11 era”. There’s something to that idea, but not a great deal. Torture in America is actually as old as the country. What government has been intimately involved with that horror more than the United States? Teaching it, supplying the manuals, supplying the equipment, creation of international torture centers, kidnaping people to these places, solitary confinement, forced feeding, Guantánamo, Abu Ghraib, Bagram, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Chicago … Lord forgive us!</p>
<p>In 2011, Brazil instituted a National Truth Commission to officially investigate the crimes of the military government, which came to an end in 1985. But Mr. Obama has in fact rejected calls for a truth commission concerning CIA torture. On June 17 of this year, however, when Vice President Joseph Biden was in Brazil, he gave the Truth Commission 43 State Department cables and reports concerning the Brazilian military regime, including one entitled “Widespread Arrests and Psychophysical Interrogation of Suspected Subversives.”</p>
<p>Thus it is that once again the United States of America will not be subjected to any accountability for having broken US laws, international laws, and the fundamental laws of human decency. Obama can expect the same kindness from his successor as he has extended to George W.</p>
<p>And if that pile of hypocrisy is not big enough or smelly enough, try adding to it Bidens’ remark re his visit to Brazil: “I hope that in taking steps to come to grips with our past we can find a way to focus on the immense promise of the future.”</p>
<p>If the torturers of the Bush and Obama administrations are not held accountable in the United States, they must be pursued internationally under the principles of universal jurisdiction.</p>
<p>In 1984, an historic step was taken by the United Nations with the drafting of the “Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment” (came into force in 1987, ratified by the United States in 1994). Article 2, section 2 of the Convention states: “No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.”</p>
<p>Such marvelously clear, unequivocal, and principled language, to set a single standard for a world that makes it increasingly difficult for one to feel proud of humanity. We cannot slide back. If today it’s deemed acceptable to torture the person who supposedly has the vital “ticking-bomb” information needed to save lives, tomorrow it will be acceptable to torture him to learn the identities of his alleged co-conspirators. Would we allow slavery to resume for just a short while to serve some “national emergency” or some other “higher purpose”?</p>
<p>If you open the window of torture, even just a crack, the cold air of the Dark Ages will fill the whole room.</p>
<p>This article was originally published at&#160; <a href="http://williamblum.org/aer/read/135" type="external">WilliamBlum.org</a>&#160;and has been used here with permission.</p> | false | 1 | americans world need yet another reminder united states leading practitioner torture yes 1964 brazilian military usdesigned coup overthrew liberal left government proceeded rule iron fist next 21 years 1979 military regime passed amnesty law blocking prosecution members torture crimes amnesty still holds thats handle matters used called third world first world however need legal niceties united states military torturers political godfathers granted amnesty automatically simply american solely belonging good guys club release senate intelligence committee report cia torture depressing revelations us foreign policy americans world need yet another reminder united states leading practitioner torture yes message broadcast often indoctrination american people americophiles around world deeply embedded takes repeated shocks system dislodge one brainwashing like good ol yankee inventors advertising public relations always new generation coming age stars stripes eyes public also reminded yet contrary media mr obama would us believe president never actually banned torture per se despite saying recently unequivocally banned torture taking office shortly obamas first inauguration leon panetta new director cia explicitly stated rendition ended los angeles times reported time executive orders issued obama recently cia still authority carry known renditions secret abductions transfers prisoners countries cooperate united states english translation cooperate torture rendition simply outsourcing torture reason take prisoners lithuania poland romania egypt jordan kenya somalia kosovo indian ocean island diego garcia amongst torture centers employed united states kosovo diego garcia house large secretive american military bases locations may well still open torture business guantánamo base cuba moreover key executive order referred number 13491 issued january 22 2009 ensuring lawful interrogations leaves major loophole states repeatedly humane treatment including absence torture applicable prisoners detained armed conflict thus torture americans outside environment armed conflict explicitly prohibited torture within environment counterterrorism executive order required cia use interrogation methods outlined revised army field manual however using army field manual guide prisoner treatment interrogation still allows solitary confinement perceptual sensory deprivation sensory overload sleep deprivation induction fear hopelessness mindaltering drugs environmental manipulation temperature noise stress positions amongst charming examples american exceptionalism panetta questioned senate panel new york times wrote left open possibility agency could seek permission use interrogation methods aggressive limited menu president obama authorized new rules mr panetta also said agency would continue bush administration practice rendition said agency would refuse deliver suspect hands country known torture actions violate human values last sentence course childishly absurd countries chosen receive rendition prisoners chosen precisely solely willing able torture four months obama panetta took office new york times could report renditions reached new heights present news reports indicate washingtons obsession torture stems 911 prevent repetition president speaks fearful excesses post911 era theres something idea great deal torture america actually old country government intimately involved horror united states teaching supplying manuals supplying equipment creation international torture centers kidnaping people places solitary confinement forced feeding guantánamo abu ghraib bagram chile brazil argentina chicago lord forgive us 2011 brazil instituted national truth commission officially investigate crimes military government came end 1985 mr obama fact rejected calls truth commission concerning cia torture june 17 year however vice president joseph biden brazil gave truth commission 43 state department cables reports concerning brazilian military regime including one entitled widespread arrests psychophysical interrogation suspected subversives thus united states america subjected accountability broken us laws international laws fundamental laws human decency obama expect kindness successor extended george w pile hypocrisy big enough smelly enough try adding bidens remark visit brazil hope taking steps come grips past find way focus immense promise future torturers bush obama administrations held accountable united states must pursued internationally principles universal jurisdiction 1984 historic step taken united nations drafting convention torture cruel inhuman degrading treatment punishment came force 1987 ratified united states 1994 article 2 section 2 convention states exceptional circumstances whatsoever whether state war threat war internal political instability public emergency may invoked justification torture marvelously clear unequivocal principled language set single standard world makes increasingly difficult one feel proud humanity slide back today deemed acceptable torture person supposedly vital tickingbomb information needed save lives tomorrow acceptable torture learn identities alleged coconspirators would allow slavery resume short serve national emergency higher purpose open window torture even crack cold air dark ages fill whole room article originally published at160 williamblumorg160and used permission | 697 |
<p>Our major political parties have durable images, both positive and negative. Over the last several decades certain impressions — fairly or not — have taken hold, like barnacles on the hull of a ship.</p>
<p>On the positive side for Republicans is that they have been widely seen as defenders of traditional values and institutions; strong on national defense and in confronting America's adversaries; in favor of limited government and low taxes; and champions of free-market capitalism. On the down side, Republicans have been viewed as indifferent to the plight of the poor; insensitive on race and harsh toward immigrants; judgmental and censorious on moral issues; uncaring about the environment; and beholden to the rich and to Wall Street.</p>
<p>This list is not exhaustive and, depending on your point of view, these images may be more caricatures than fact. But they exist and so they cannot be ignored.</p>
<p>What is true for Republicans is also true of Democrats. They, too, have created impressions in the public's imagination, both favorable and unfavorable. And the political task of politicians, and especially of presidents (who after all are the leaders of the parties), is to strengthen the public's confidence on issues where the party is viewed favorably and mitigate, and even alter, people's impressions on issues where the party is seen as vulnerable.</p>
<p>The only successful Democratic president since the early 1960s, Bill Clinton, did this fairly well. When he ran for the presidency in 1992, the Democratic Party was still scarred because of the chaotic events of the 1968 Convention and the nomination of George McGovern in 1972. It was viewed, in the memorable phrase Thomas Eagleton gave to journalist Robert Novak, as the party of “amnesty, abortion, and acid.” The 1980s weren't a whole lot better, as Democrats were perceived by many voters as untrustworthy when it came to confronting the Soviet threat abroad, enamored of big government and high taxes at home, and culturally permissive.</p>
<p>Bill Clinton understood this, which is why he ran as a centrist and a reformer, an advocate for a “third way” approach to American politics, a man who emphasized personal responsibility, a “new covenant,” and cultural conservatism. While it's too simplistic to reduce the Clinton presidency — or any presidency, for that matter — in order to fit our neat, sweeping theories, I think it's fair to say that his presidency ran into problems when he was viewed as liberal. This perception accompanied his administration's effort to nationalize health care, his reversal on a campaign pledge to cut taxes for the middle class, and when he got crosswise with Colin Powell, Sam Nunn, and the armed forces' brass on existing policies toward gays in the military. And his presidency was a political success, in part, because he offered a powerful counternarrative, whether by championing welfare reform and free trade, by showing he was an internationalist rather than an isolationist who was willing to use force to advance American interests, or pushing for more cops on the streets.</p>
<p>At some point the right set of polices — some substantive and some symbolic — congeal, and discrete issues create a story line. Many factors go into the success or failure of a presidency, but Clinton (and Dick Morris) understood the power and importance of dealing with durable party images. Which brings us to Barack Obama.</p>
<p>Obama won the presidency in large part because he created the impression that he was a cure to some of the worst tendencies of his party, that he was a centrist and pragmatist. He mocked those who raised concerns about his past associations and liberal voting record. He was an empirical man, results-oriented, the antithesis of an ideologue. That is the image he presented, and it's one much of the country believed.</p>
<p>Yet almost 15 months into his presidency, Obama has governed in a very different manner. While he has for the most part been careful to avoid kicking cultural tripwires, he has, on the most important issues of the day, reinforced the worst impressions of the Democratic Party: profligate to the point of recklessness, enamored with big government, interested in centralized control and empowering the bureaucracy, a demonizer of the business world and the profit motive, and a person who believes in higher taxes and the redistribution of wealth.</p>
<p>It turns out Barack Obama is Lyndon Johnson on steroids.</p>
<p>Facing an unprecedented fiscal crisis, the president passed a huge new entitlement program which, when it is fully implemented, will cost several trillion dollars over the next 10 years. And, according to the Congressional Budget Office, our publicly held debt, which has increased by almost $2 trillion since Obama took office, will reach $20 trillion in 2020, a figure equal to 90 percent of the estimated Gross Domestic Product that year — an unsustainable ratio. In the process, Obama's politics will create a previously unknown level of dependency on the government.</p>
<p />
<p>And while Obama has acted admirably when it comes to the counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan and our use of drones in Pakistan, as well as keeping in place several elements of President Bush's anti-terrorism policies, he has also developed some troubling habits, from bullying and criticizing American allies, to downplaying human rights in our foreign policy, to criticizing the United States on foreign soil for sins real and imagined (including, but not limited to, “torture” and unilateralism, Hiroshima and Guantanamo Bay, disrespecting Europe and not showing sufficient respect to the Muslim world). Obama's administration has pushed for civilian trials for Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and decimated the morale of the CIA. He is underfunding our defenses and revamping American nuclear strategy to substantially narrow the conditions under which the United States would use nuclear weapons, even if we are attacked with biological and chemical weapons.</p>
<p>Obama has added to his troubles by shattering one of his core campaign commitments, which was that he was the embodiment of a new kind of politics, uplifting, high-minded, transparent and transpartisan.</p>
<p>In politics it usually requires a lot more time and effort to undo damaging impressions than it does to create them. Bill Clinton spent much of his presidency trying to rebalance his party, much as Tony Blair did in Great Britain. Blair succeeded more than Clinton did — but Clinton did well enough. Now along comes Barack Obama who, in a year, has washed away much of the good that had been done. We are back to the future. His party is back to the 1970s and 1980s.</p>
<p>By virtually every measure — recent election results, generic congressional ballot comparisons, voter intensity, which party the voters trust on the most important issues, the public's confidence in government, and the depth of anti-incumbent sentiments — the Democratic Party is now in a state of disrepair. But the full extent of this won't be known until the first Tuesday in November. My guess is that by the first Wednesday in November, Democrats will begin to come to grips with just how much harm Obama has done to them and to their party. And then the question will become whether this most ideological of presidents will, like Bill Clinton before him, pivot toward the center. There are several acts yet to play out before we get to that point in this political drama. But get to it we will.</p>
<p>Pete Wehner is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. He served in the Bush White House as director of the office of strategic initiative.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | false | 1 | major political parties durable images positive negative last several decades certain impressions fairly taken hold like barnacles hull ship positive side republicans widely seen defenders traditional values institutions strong national defense confronting americas adversaries favor limited government low taxes champions freemarket capitalism side republicans viewed indifferent plight poor insensitive race harsh toward immigrants judgmental censorious moral issues uncaring environment beholden rich wall street list exhaustive depending point view images may caricatures fact exist ignored true republicans also true democrats created impressions publics imagination favorable unfavorable political task politicians especially presidents leaders parties strengthen publics confidence issues party viewed favorably mitigate even alter peoples impressions issues party seen vulnerable successful democratic president since early 1960s bill clinton fairly well ran presidency 1992 democratic party still scarred chaotic events 1968 convention nomination george mcgovern 1972 viewed memorable phrase thomas eagleton gave journalist robert novak party amnesty abortion acid 1980s werent whole lot better democrats perceived many voters untrustworthy came confronting soviet threat abroad enamored big government high taxes home culturally permissive bill clinton understood ran centrist reformer advocate third way approach american politics man emphasized personal responsibility new covenant cultural conservatism simplistic reduce clinton presidency presidency matter order fit neat sweeping theories think fair say presidency ran problems viewed liberal perception accompanied administrations effort nationalize health care reversal campaign pledge cut taxes middle class got crosswise colin powell sam nunn armed forces brass existing policies toward gays military presidency political success part offered powerful counternarrative whether championing welfare reform free trade showing internationalist rather isolationist willing use force advance american interests pushing cops streets point right set polices substantive symbolic congeal discrete issues create story line many factors go success failure presidency clinton dick morris understood power importance dealing durable party images brings us barack obama obama presidency large part created impression cure worst tendencies party centrist pragmatist mocked raised concerns past associations liberal voting record empirical man resultsoriented antithesis ideologue image presented one much country believed yet almost 15 months presidency obama governed different manner part careful avoid kicking cultural tripwires important issues day reinforced worst impressions democratic party profligate point recklessness enamored big government interested centralized control empowering bureaucracy demonizer business world profit motive person believes higher taxes redistribution wealth turns barack obama lyndon johnson steroids facing unprecedented fiscal crisis president passed huge new entitlement program fully implemented cost several trillion dollars next 10 years according congressional budget office publicly held debt increased almost 2 trillion since obama took office reach 20 trillion 2020 figure equal 90 percent estimated gross domestic product year unsustainable ratio process obamas politics create previously unknown level dependency government obama acted admirably comes counterinsurgency strategy afghanistan use drones pakistan well keeping place several elements president bushs antiterrorism policies also developed troubling habits bullying criticizing american allies downplaying human rights foreign policy criticizing united states foreign soil sins real imagined including limited torture unilateralism hiroshima guantanamo bay disrespecting europe showing sufficient respect muslim world obamas administration pushed civilian trials khalid sheikh mohammad decimated morale cia underfunding defenses revamping american nuclear strategy substantially narrow conditions united states would use nuclear weapons even attacked biological chemical weapons obama added troubles shattering one core campaign commitments embodiment new kind politics uplifting highminded transparent transpartisan politics usually requires lot time effort undo damaging impressions create bill clinton spent much presidency trying rebalance party much tony blair great britain blair succeeded clinton clinton well enough along comes barack obama year washed away much good done back future party back 1970s 1980s virtually every measure recent election results generic congressional ballot comparisons voter intensity party voters trust important issues publics confidence government depth antiincumbent sentiments democratic party state disrepair full extent wont known first tuesday november guess first wednesday november democrats begin come grips much harm obama done party question become whether ideological presidents like bill clinton pivot toward center several acts yet play get point political drama get pete wehner senior fellow ethics public policy center washington dc served bush white house director office strategic initiative 160 | 666 |
<p>In South Africa, a book that sells 5,000 copies is thought a considerable success. Since March 1986, sales of South Africa: The Solution have topped the 30,000 mark. Frances Kendall and Leon Louw’s volume has now been published in the United States under a slightly different title, After Apartheid: The Solution for South Africa; and while dust jacket blurbs shouldn’t be taken as the final authority on a book’s possible merits, it is intriguing to note that Winnie Mandela of the African National Congress (ANC), Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi of the Zulus and Inkatha, and white liberal novelist Alan Paton appear in tandem on the back of the Kendall/Louw collaboration. These three crucial figures in the South African drama are not regularly espied on the same side of the what-to-do-about-South-Africa argument, beyond their common rejection of apartheid. And yet Mrs. Mandela thinks (or at least says) that “Here lies hope for a shattered nation.” Chief Buthelezi thinks (or at least says) that “… The Solution may prove to be a rational, workable answer to South Africa’s unique problems.” And Alan Paton is “… pleased that people are taking this book seriously.” What gives?</p>
<p>What gives is, in essence, a Swiss solution to the South African dilemma. Kendall and Louw are liberatarians on matters political and economic, and their solution to the problem of who rules in a post-apartheid South Africa is, “everybody rules.” That is,</p>
<p>South Africa’s highly centralized national government should be drastically weakened, and a loose federation of 300 or so cantons created. The cantons would be non-racial. The national government would be responsible only for national defense, finance, and foreign relations. A new national constitution would include a bill of rights “… listing certain fundamental and inviolable rights of citizens and cantons.” Amendments to the bill of rights would “… require unanimous agreement by all canton governments and an 80 percent majority of voters in a compulsory national referendum.” And everything else-local government structure, economic system, social and infrastructure services-would be left to the individual cantons. Those who wanted a one-party canton with a state-run economy could form the canton of their choice. Those who wanted a democratic canton with an entrepreneurial, free-market economy could have what they wanted.</p>
<p>The “crucial ingredient” in the mix, write Kendall and Louw, is “. . . complete freedom of movement for people and wealth. . . .If AZAPO-ruled cantons were to introduce full-blown Marxism with disastrous consequences, people would be able simply to move or seek jobs in cantons with greater wealth and freedom. Conversely, if Marxism were to provide the level of welfare and benefits it promises, Marxist cantons would attract more people, and other cantons would follow their example.” This “demonstration effect,” the authors believe, would allow both a wide range of social and economic experiments among South Africa’s diverse peoples-and it would permit the cream to rise to the top, as it were, of the cantonal system. Cantons that didn’t work would simply have to change or disappear. But everyone would have a specific political and existential say in the kind of socio-economic-political system under which they lived. People would vote with their ballots at the cantonal and federal levels, and with their feet.</p>
<p>The solution for South Africa, in other words, is to create 300 plus South Africas, loosely federated.</p>
<p>It is an intriguing proposal and not just because of the surprisingly wide support it has drawn. Perhaps the greatest contribution that Kendall and Louw make is to force the South African debate to the question of politics while facing squarely the irreducible pluralism of the country. There is no solution for South Africa that does not end apartheid and give its black majority effective political and economic power. But that black majority is itself widely diverse and badly split on basic questions of polity and economy: some are statists, others are democrats; some are socialists, others are capitalists. And then there are the sundry white tribes of South Africa, with their own distinctive ethnic and political heritages. There will be no peace, freedom, security, or prosperity in South</p>
<p>Africa unless a plurality of moral and political claims can be somehow met minimally.</p>
<p>Kendall and Louw opt for a minimalist solution at the national level and a free-wheeling, pick ’em approach-at the canton level. The solution doesn’t require the conversion of all South African souls; it requires, on the Kendall/Louw argument, a minimum of agreement on letting everyone have their druthers. The results of those choices, the authors argue, should be allowed to determine the political, social, and economic future of South Africa.</p>
<p>H. L. Mencken used to say that for every problem there was a solution that was simple, obvious, direct-and usually wrong. Some questions can indeed be raised about the Kendall/Louw solution. Does it accurately measure the ideological commitments that move the most violent elements in the African National Congress? That is, why should a long-time communist like the white ANC chieftain Joe Slovo trade Leninism for libertarianism? And if he should, as a tactical matter, accept the solution in order to get “his kind” of canton, what is to stop him from violently exporting his political and economic preferences to other cantons? The same question would apply, of course, to Afrikaner extremists like Eugene Terre Blanche. How will the federal government enforce freedom of movement across the cantons if things get out of hand between these mini-states? Is there sufficient agreement in South Africa today on even the minimalist bill of rights that Kendall and Louw envision as the guarantor of freedom in a new South African federation?</p>
<p>Kendall and Louw hope that answers to some of these questions will come into focus through the work of their new grassroots organization, Groundswell, which now has hundreds of chapters across South Africa. Leon Louw envisions a two- or three-year education campaign, creating a climate of public opinion that will force politicians to start thinking along the lines of the cantonal solution. There would then be a period of behind-the-scenes negotiations, following a third party, mediated dialogue between the current white government and the ANC. After the negotiations, there would be an implementation phase of two years or so. In all, “We’re talking about a minimum of</p>
<p>5 years, but more realistically 7 to 10,” says Mr. Louw.</p>
<p>Whether The Solution turns out to be the solution is a matter for the future. Frances Kendall and Leon Louw have, at the very least, nudged the South African debate away from high-voltage moral posturing and onto the tough questions of politics and economics. Their libertarianism may yet founder when it abuts the hard rock of late twentieth-century ideological commitment. But Kendall and Louw remind us that the South African dilemma is, in a metaphorical sense, the world dilemma; and thus the resolution of the South African drama may have not a little to do with the shape of other things to come. Their book closes with the imaginary report of a U.N. Secretary-General who visits South Africa in 1999 and writes:</p>
<p>“The mistake we all made was to believe that a single political system would solve South Africa’s problems. But the solution proved to be many different systems working simultaneously. We thought there should be one popular leader, but now there are many popular leaders working side by side.</p>
<p>“We thought a demagogue would preside over central government. Now a relatively unknown person does. We demanded ‘one person, one vote’ in a unitary state. South Africa chose ‘one person, many votes’ in a cantonized state.</p>
<p>“We wanted single citizenship for all South Africans. Now they each have three citizenships-of their country, their canton, and their community. . . .</p>
<p>“With her newfound diversity added to her heterogeneity, resources, beauty, and history, South Africa has truly become ‘the world within one country.’ ”</p>
<p>George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. and holds EPPC’s William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies.</p> | false | 1 | south africa book sells 5000 copies thought considerable success since march 1986 sales south africa solution topped 30000 mark frances kendall leon louws volume published united states slightly different title apartheid solution south africa dust jacket blurbs shouldnt taken final authority books possible merits intriguing note winnie mandela african national congress anc chief mangosuthu buthelezi zulus inkatha white liberal novelist alan paton appear tandem back kendalllouw collaboration three crucial figures south african drama regularly espied side whattodoaboutsouthafrica argument beyond common rejection apartheid yet mrs mandela thinks least says lies hope shattered nation chief buthelezi thinks least says solution may prove rational workable answer south africas unique problems alan paton pleased people taking book seriously gives gives essence swiss solution south african dilemma kendall louw liberatarians matters political economic solution problem rules postapartheid south africa everybody rules south africas highly centralized national government drastically weakened loose federation 300 cantons created cantons would nonracial national government would responsible national defense finance foreign relations new national constitution would include bill rights listing certain fundamental inviolable rights citizens cantons amendments bill rights would require unanimous agreement canton governments 80 percent majority voters compulsory national referendum everything elselocal government structure economic system social infrastructure serviceswould left individual cantons wanted oneparty canton staterun economy could form canton choice wanted democratic canton entrepreneurial freemarket economy could wanted crucial ingredient mix write kendall louw complete freedom movement people wealth azaporuled cantons introduce fullblown marxism disastrous consequences people would able simply move seek jobs cantons greater wealth freedom conversely marxism provide level welfare benefits promises marxist cantons would attract people cantons would follow example demonstration effect authors believe would allow wide range social economic experiments among south africas diverse peoplesand would permit cream rise top cantonal system cantons didnt work would simply change disappear everyone would specific political existential say kind socioeconomicpolitical system lived people would vote ballots cantonal federal levels feet solution south africa words create 300 plus south africas loosely federated intriguing proposal surprisingly wide support drawn perhaps greatest contribution kendall louw make force south african debate question politics facing squarely irreducible pluralism country solution south africa end apartheid give black majority effective political economic power black majority widely diverse badly split basic questions polity economy statists others democrats socialists others capitalists sundry white tribes south africa distinctive ethnic political heritages peace freedom security prosperity south africa unless plurality moral political claims somehow met minimally kendall louw opt minimalist solution national level freewheeling pick em approachat canton level solution doesnt require conversion south african souls requires kendalllouw argument minimum agreement letting everyone druthers results choices authors argue allowed determine political social economic future south africa h l mencken used say every problem solution simple obvious directand usually wrong questions indeed raised kendalllouw solution accurately measure ideological commitments move violent elements african national congress longtime communist like white anc chieftain joe slovo trade leninism libertarianism tactical matter accept solution order get kind canton stop violently exporting political economic preferences cantons question would apply course afrikaner extremists like eugene terre blanche federal government enforce freedom movement across cantons things get hand ministates sufficient agreement south africa today even minimalist bill rights kendall louw envision guarantor freedom new south african federation kendall louw hope answers questions come focus work new grassroots organization groundswell hundreds chapters across south africa leon louw envisions two threeyear education campaign creating climate public opinion force politicians start thinking along lines cantonal solution would period behindthescenes negotiations following third party mediated dialogue current white government anc negotiations would implementation phase two years talking minimum 5 years realistically 7 10 says mr louw whether solution turns solution matter future frances kendall leon louw least nudged south african debate away highvoltage moral posturing onto tough questions politics economics libertarianism may yet founder abuts hard rock late twentiethcentury ideological commitment kendall louw remind us south african dilemma metaphorical sense world dilemma thus resolution south african drama may little shape things come book closes imaginary report un secretarygeneral visits south africa 1999 writes mistake made believe single political system would solve south africas problems solution proved many different systems working simultaneously thought one popular leader many popular leaders working side side thought demagogue would preside central government relatively unknown person demanded one person one vote unitary state south africa chose one person many votes cantonized state wanted single citizenship south africans three citizenshipsof country canton community newfound diversity added heterogeneity resources beauty history south africa truly become world within one country george weigel distinguished senior fellow ethics public policy center washington dc holds eppcs william e simon chair catholic studies | 760 |
<p>Democrats eager to get Obamacare out of the headlines will soon have their opportunity. The House–Senate conference committee about the national farm bill is underway, and the most contentious issue is whether to cut the Food Stamps program by up to $40 billion over ten years. This fight will get national media attention because it plays into the conventional wisdom that conservative Republicans don’t care about average people.</p>
<p>Conservatives rightly complain that this notion is an inaccurate canard, but its prevalence across many decades cannot be so lightly ignored. Conservatives themselves must be doing something that reinforces the notion that they care more about money than about life: An oft-repeated lie simply will not be believed if there is no evidence that seems to corroborate it. Introspective conservatives looking for a reason why many people believe the canard need look no further than the food stamps debate, where the conservatives’ own argument gives more fodder to the left’s cannons than fuel to the right’s forces.</p>
<p>Virtually any argument from movement conservative institutions about food stamps starts with one indisputable fact: The program has grown a lot in recent years, both in the money spent (nearly $80 billion in 2013) and in the number of people receiving benefits (an average of forty-seven million people a month). From this, and the fact that the rolls and cost were growing prior to the recession (although at a much slower rate), some conservatives draw the conclusion that the program must be serving people who don’t deserve or need the benefits. And from that conclusion they contend that their proposed reform—apply a work test to able-bodied adults without dependents that limits their ability to receive benefits for more than three months—will primarily root out waste and fraud rather than cut benefits to genuinely needy people.</p>
<p>Rocket scientists are in short supply on Capitol Hill, but it does not take one to see that the conclusion need not flow from the premise. There are a host of reasons why the rolls and cost could be growing quickly. University of Chicago economist Casey Mulligan estimates that the recession caused a third of the growth in food stamps’ cost since 2007, while two Harvard economists pegged that share at about two-thirds. More importantly, it does not follow that the size of the program alone indicates inappropriate receipt of benefits, even if program rule changes that make it easier to receive benefits have caused a large share of the growth.</p>
<p>Is it possible that in these hard times some people who might have been considered underserving before might be worthy of public support? Millions of low-skilled people have lost jobs and have been out of the workforce for months, if not years, since 2008. In prior recessions they might have been able to find new jobs more quickly than they can today. Liberals often raise the current economic conditions as an argument for minimal changes to the program; conservative counter-arguments rarely engage this point at any degree of depth.</p>
<p>The conservative argument does make some sense if you adopt some unstated premises about the desirable role of the federal role in giving food aid to its citizens. If you believe, from either libertarian or strict Constitutionalist principles, that the desirable federal role is zero, then you can find these arguments quite logical. If the federal government ought not to be providing food aid at all, then it is easy to believe that any increase in the program is de facto illegitimate&#160;since any receipt of program benefits is itself illegitimate.</p>
<p>Writing this premise into the background of the argument also serves to explain why and how some conservatives unwittingly contribute to the propagation of the liberal canard that conservatives don’t care. For a conservative of this bent, government provision of benefits of this type is unavoidably harmful to the recipient’s soul. It is a temptation, an apple handed to a worried Adam fearful for his future. The bite will nourish him, but it runs the risk of reducing his freedom and thereby reducing his potential to pursue happiness. To talk about program cost for these conservatives is to talk about caring about the recipient: The cost merely quantifies the number of people subject to the temptation and hence accurately describes the scope of the problem.</p>
<p>Conservatives’ political problem stems from the fact that the vast majority of Americans do not agree with this argument. They believe that people are capable of resisting temptation, that they can take the help they need and remain just as free and capable of forming their own lives. They are not naïve: They know some people can become addicted to government checks as much as they can become addicted to alcohol, but they do not simply see a program’s cost as an indication of a program’s propensity to corrupt.</p>
<p>Conservatives rightly revere Ronald Reagan,&#160;and, as usual, recurrence to his thought provides a way out of this dilemma. In his epic 1964 speech endorsing Barry Goldwater, Reagan noted that liberals often contend that conservatives are against things. He went on to state what conservatives were for in the fields of Social Security and Medicare, sanctioning limited government programs to help the truly needy while opposing larger, indiscriminate programs. Note that Reagan places conservatives in line with rather than in opposition to public sentiment. He empathizes with people who, through no fault of their own, fell on hard times or found themselves in poverty. Government action to help them is OK: They will not fall prey to the temptation because their ability to do better than what is offered is already compromised. Others who can provide for themselves might be tempted to fall in line for “the soup kitchen of the welfare state” and programs of this sort must be resisted.</p>
<p>Making this sort of argument first requires establishing a clear rationale for who deserves government support. In the context of the food stamps debate, it requires conservatives to say who they are&#160;for&#160;getting aid before saying who they are&#160;againstreceiving it.</p>
<p>Here the analogy to the mid-1990s welfare reform effort is apropos. Conservatives spent years decrying the large number of people on welfare (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) and the high program cost. These cries fell on deaf ears because most people believed some Americans were unfortunate or so poor that they deserved our help. When conservatives in the 1990s started to talk more about the recipient and less about program cost, public opinion came around. By redefining the issue as one of need rather than one of temptation, conservatives persuaded the public to back reforms that installed time limits, work tests, and other unprecedented restrictions that reduced program caseloads and program costs.</p>
<p>Adopting this tack requires conservatives to implicitly abandon libertarian principle because it sanctions continued involuntary, coerced transfer of resources from one citizen to another. It conflicts with some versions of conservative Constitutional interpretation because it authorizes political reform of a program whose Constitutional authority appears to rest on post–New Deal Constitutional principles. This will undoubtedly rest uneasily with some on the right, but doing this is indispensable to winning the political argument in today’s America and certainly comports with what most ordinary conservatives actually believe.</p>
<p>If conservatives want to show people they care, they must show people they care more about them than they do about doctrine. That requires talking less about government power as a proxy for justice, and talking more directly about justice and the proper way to live a free and happy life itself.</p>
<p>In this context, the mooted conservative reform to food stamps could pass public muster. For all the hullaballo, the proposed conservative reform does two simple things. First, it requires recipients of food stamps to show they are eligible for the food stamp program: It eliminates a recent change that allows people to qualify for food stamps if they have received another means tested benefit. Second, it requires able-bodied adults without dependents between eighteen and fifteen to either work more than twenty hours a week or enroll in a job training program to continue to receive food stamps after an initial three month period. Both proposals are intended to ensure that recipients meet eligibility requirements and are not relying on public assistance to avoid helping themselves.</p>
<p>The latter proposal in particular would likely be considered reasonable if better presented. Liberal scholar William Galston recently blasted the conservative critique of food stamps in the&#160;Wall Street Journal, but agreed that “critics have a point” when it comes to the significant rise after 2008 in the number of able-bodied adults without dependents receiving food stamps. He said the government should consider reinstating the prior work requirements and even toughening them—not very different from what the Eric Cantor–sponsored proposal actually does. Some conservatives might argue my focus on rhetoric is a minor point, a distinction without a difference. Quite the contrary: It is a distinction that makes all the difference for conservatives who hope to limit the growth of the state.</p>
<p>For decades polls have shown that the public prefers liberals to conservatives when it comes to running the core functions of modern government: education, health care, and retirement pensions. Short of a neo-libertarian revival, any change in the direction of the state will be incremental rather than revolutionary. That means conservatives will have to run the state in order to reform and limit the state. And if they are not trusted to reform major programs because people believe they will not do so with current recipients in mind, then conservatives who win elections will do so only at the cost of promising to maintain current programs intact. That is in fact what conservatives have been doing for decades, and it is the major contributing factor to the growth in government regardless of who wields power. Reversing this trend, the whipsawing between the Scylla of repealing the welfare state and the Charbydis of maintaining it,&#160;is&#160;the conservative political challenge of our time.</p>
<p>The food stamp debate, then, will be a good test for whether many conservatives can meet that challenge. Can they see that continuing to talk about people’s lives in the context of saving dollars contributes to what the late Jack Kemp called “the GOP green eyeshade mentality,” an attitude that convinces the majority of the public that conservatives do not care what happens to real people? Or will they finally take to heart Kemp’s admonition that “people won’t care what you show until you show that you care”?</p>
<p>Henry Olsen is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.</p> | false | 1 | democrats eager get obamacare headlines soon opportunity housesenate conference committee national farm bill underway contentious issue whether cut food stamps program 40 billion ten years fight get national media attention plays conventional wisdom conservative republicans dont care average people conservatives rightly complain notion inaccurate canard prevalence across many decades lightly ignored conservatives must something reinforces notion care money life oftrepeated lie simply believed evidence seems corroborate introspective conservatives looking reason many people believe canard need look food stamps debate conservatives argument gives fodder lefts cannons fuel rights forces virtually argument movement conservative institutions food stamps starts one indisputable fact program grown lot recent years money spent nearly 80 billion 2013 number people receiving benefits average fortyseven million people month fact rolls cost growing prior recession although much slower rate conservatives draw conclusion program must serving people dont deserve need benefits conclusion contend proposed reformapply work test ablebodied adults without dependents limits ability receive benefits three monthswill primarily root waste fraud rather cut benefits genuinely needy people rocket scientists short supply capitol hill take one see conclusion need flow premise host reasons rolls cost could growing quickly university chicago economist casey mulligan estimates recession caused third growth food stamps cost since 2007 two harvard economists pegged share twothirds importantly follow size program alone indicates inappropriate receipt benefits even program rule changes make easier receive benefits caused large share growth possible hard times people might considered underserving might worthy public support millions lowskilled people lost jobs workforce months years since 2008 prior recessions might able find new jobs quickly today liberals often raise current economic conditions argument minimal changes program conservative counterarguments rarely engage point degree depth conservative argument make sense adopt unstated premises desirable role federal role giving food aid citizens believe either libertarian strict constitutionalist principles desirable federal role zero find arguments quite logical federal government ought providing food aid easy believe increase program de facto illegitimate160since receipt program benefits illegitimate writing premise background argument also serves explain conservatives unwittingly contribute propagation liberal canard conservatives dont care conservative bent government provision benefits type unavoidably harmful recipients soul temptation apple handed worried adam fearful future bite nourish runs risk reducing freedom thereby reducing potential pursue happiness talk program cost conservatives talk caring recipient cost merely quantifies number people subject temptation hence accurately describes scope problem conservatives political problem stems fact vast majority americans agree argument believe people capable resisting temptation take help need remain free capable forming lives naïve know people become addicted government checks much become addicted alcohol simply see programs cost indication programs propensity corrupt conservatives rightly revere ronald reagan160and usual recurrence thought provides way dilemma epic 1964 speech endorsing barry goldwater reagan noted liberals often contend conservatives things went state conservatives fields social security medicare sanctioning limited government programs help truly needy opposing larger indiscriminate programs note reagan places conservatives line rather opposition public sentiment empathizes people fault fell hard times found poverty government action help ok fall prey temptation ability better offered already compromised others provide might tempted fall line soup kitchen welfare state programs sort must resisted making sort argument first requires establishing clear rationale deserves government support context food stamps debate requires conservatives say are160for160getting aid saying are160againstreceiving analogy mid1990s welfare reform effort apropos conservatives spent years decrying large number people welfare aid families dependent children high program cost cries fell deaf ears people believed americans unfortunate poor deserved help conservatives 1990s started talk recipient less program cost public opinion came around redefining issue one need rather one temptation conservatives persuaded public back reforms installed time limits work tests unprecedented restrictions reduced program caseloads program costs adopting tack requires conservatives implicitly abandon libertarian principle sanctions continued involuntary coerced transfer resources one citizen another conflicts versions conservative constitutional interpretation authorizes political reform program whose constitutional authority appears rest postnew deal constitutional principles undoubtedly rest uneasily right indispensable winning political argument todays america certainly comports ordinary conservatives actually believe conservatives want show people care must show people care doctrine requires talking less government power proxy justice talking directly justice proper way live free happy life context mooted conservative reform food stamps could pass public muster hullaballo proposed conservative reform two simple things first requires recipients food stamps show eligible food stamp program eliminates recent change allows people qualify food stamps received another means tested benefit second requires ablebodied adults without dependents eighteen fifteen either work twenty hours week enroll job training program continue receive food stamps initial three month period proposals intended ensure recipients meet eligibility requirements relying public assistance avoid helping latter proposal particular would likely considered reasonable better presented liberal scholar william galston recently blasted conservative critique food stamps the160wall street journal agreed critics point comes significant rise 2008 number ablebodied adults without dependents receiving food stamps said government consider reinstating prior work requirements even toughening themnot different eric cantorsponsored proposal actually conservatives might argue focus rhetoric minor point distinction without difference quite contrary distinction makes difference conservatives hope limit growth state decades polls shown public prefers liberals conservatives comes running core functions modern government education health care retirement pensions short neolibertarian revival change direction state incremental rather revolutionary means conservatives run state order reform limit state trusted reform major programs people believe current recipients mind conservatives win elections cost promising maintain current programs intact fact conservatives decades major contributing factor growth government regardless wields power reversing trend whipsawing scylla repealing welfare state charbydis maintaining it160is160the conservative political challenge time food stamp debate good test whether many conservatives meet challenge see continuing talk peoples lives context saving dollars contributes late jack kemp called gop green eyeshade mentality attitude convinces majority public conservatives care happens real people finally take heart kemps admonition people wont care show show care henry olsen senior fellow ethics public policy center | 960 |
<p />
<p>Americans will soon be locked into an unaccountable police state unless US Representatives and Senators find the courage to ask questions and to sanction the executive branch officials who break the law, violate the Constitution, withhold information from Congress, and give false information about their crimes against law, the Constitution, the American people, and those in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Guantanamo, and elsewhere.&#160; Congress needs to use the impeachment power that the Constitution provides and cease being subservient to the lawless executive branch. The US faces no threat that justifies the lawlessness and abuse of police powers that characterize the executive branch in the 21st century.</p>
<p>Impeachment is the most important power of Congress. Impeachment is what protects the citizens, the Constitution, and the other branches of government from abuse by the executive branch. If the power to remove abusive executive branch officials is not used, the power ceases to exist.&#160; An unused power is like a dead letter law.&#160; Its authority disappears.&#160; By acquiescing to executive branch lawlessness, Congress has allowed the executive branch to place itself above law and to escape accountability for its violations of law and the Constitution.</p>
<p>National Intelligence Director James R. Clapper blatantly lied to Congress and remains in office. Keith B. Alexander, Director of the National Security Agency, has also misled Congress, and he remains in office.&#160; Attorney General Holder avoids telling Congress the truth on just about every subject, and he also remains in office.&#160; The same can be said for President Obama, one of the great deceivers of our time, who is so adverse to truth that truth seldom finds its way out of his mouth.</p>
<p>If an American citizen lies to a federal investigator, even if not under oath, the citizen can be arrested, prosecuted, and sent to prison.&#160; Yet, these same federal personnel can lie to Congress and to citizens with impunity.&#160; Whatever the American political system is, it has nothing whatsoever to do with accountable government.&#160; In Amerika no one is accountable but citizens, who are accountable not only to law but also to unaccountable charges for which no evidence is required.</p>
<p>Congress has the power to impeach any presidential appointee as well as the president.</p>
<p>In the 1970s, Congress was going to impeach President Richard Nixon simply because he lied about when he learned of the Watergate burglary.&#160; To avoid impeachment, Nixon resigned.&#160; In the 1990s, the House impeached President Bill Clinton for lying about his sexual affair with a White House intern. The Senate failed to convict, no doubt as many had sexual affairs of their own and didn’t want to be held accountable themselves.</p>
<p>In the 1970s, when I was on the Senate staff, corporate lobbyists would send attractive women to seduce Senators so that the interest groups could blackmail the Senators to do their bidding. Don’t be surprised if the NSA has adopted this corporate practice.</p>
<p>The improprieties of Nixon and Clinton were minor, indeed of little consequence, when compared to the crimes of George W. Bush and Obama, their vice presidents, and the bulk of their presidential appointees.&#160; Yet, impeachment is “off the table,” as Nancy Pelosi <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/cq/2006/11/08/cq_1916.html" type="external">infamously declared</a>. Why do Californian voters send a person to Congress who refuses to protect them from an unaccountable executive branch? Who does Nancy Pelosi serve? Certainly not the people of California. Most certainly not the US Constitution. Pelosi is in total violation of her oath of office. Will Californians re-elect her yet again? Little wonder America is failing.</p>
<p>The question demanding to be asked is:&#160; What is the purpose of the domestic surveillance of all Americans?&#160; This is surveillance out of all proportion to the alleged terrorist threat.&#160; The US Constitution is being ignored and domestic law violated.&#160; Why?</p>
<p>Does the US government have an undeclared agenda for which the “terrorist threat” is a cover?</p>
<p>What is this agenda? Whose agenda is more important than the US Constitution and the accountability of government to law?&#160; No citizen is secure unless government is accountable to the Constitution and to law. It is an absurd idea that any American is more threatened by terrorism than by unaccountable government that can execute them, torture them, and throw them in prison for life without due process or any accountability whatsoever. Under Bush/Obama, the US has returned to the unaccountable power of caesars, czars, and autocrats.</p>
<p>In the famous play, “A Man For All Seasons,” Sir Thomas More, Chancellor of England, asks: So, you would have me to cut down the law in order to chase after devils?&#160; And what will we do, with the law cut down, when the devil turns on us?</p>
<p>This is the most important legal question ever asked, and it is seldom asked today, not in our law schools, not by our bar associations, and most certainly not by the Justice (sic) Department or US Attorneys.</p>
<p>American conservatives regard civil liberties as mere excuses for liberal judges to coddle criminals and terrorists. Never expect a conservative Republican, or more than two or three of them, to defend your civil liberty. Republicans simply do not believe in civil liberty. Democrats cannot conceive that Obama—the first black president in office, a member of an oppressed minority—would not defend civil liberty. This combination of disinterest and denial is why the US has become a police state.</p>
<p>Civil liberty has few friends in government, the political parties, law schools, bar associations, or the federal judiciary. Consequently, no citizen is secure. Recently, a housewife researched online for pressure cookers looking for the best deal. Her husband was searching for a backpack. <a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/08/government-knocking-doors-because-google-searches/67864/" type="external">The result</a> was that a fully armed SWAT team appeared at the door demanding to search the premises and to have questions answered.</p>
<p>I am always amazed when someone says: “I haven’t done anything wrong. I have nothing to fear.” If you have nothing to fear from the government, why did the Founding Fathers put the protections in the Constitution that Bush and Obama have stripped out?</p>
<p>Unlike the Founding Fathers who designed our government to protect the citizens, the American sheeple trust the government to their own demise.</p>
<p>Glenn Greenwald recently <a href="http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article35773.htm" type="external">explained</a> how the mass of data that is being accumulated on every American is being mined for any signs of non-terrorist-related criminal behavior. As such warrantless searches are illegal evidence in a criminal trial, the authorities disguise the illegal way in which the evidence is obtained in order to secure conviction based on illegally obtained evidence.</p>
<p>In other words, the use of the surveillance justified by the “war on terror” has already spread into prosecutions of ordinary criminals where it has corrupted legal safeguards and the integrity, if any, of the criminal court system, prosecutors and judges.</p>
<p>This is just one of the many ways in which you have much to fear, whether you think you are doing anything wrong or not. You can be framed for crimes based on inferences drawn from your Internet activity and jokes with friends on social media. Jurors made paranoid by the “terrorist threat” will convict you.</p>
<p>We should be very suspicious of the motive behind the universal spying on US citizens. The authorities are aware that the terrorist threat does not justify the unconstitutional and illegal spying. There have been hardly any real terrorist events in the US, which is why the FBI has to find clueless people around whom to organize an FBI orchestrated plot in order to keep the “terrorist threat” alive in the public’s mind.&#160; At last count, there have been 150 “sting operations” in which the FBI recruits people, who are out of touch with reality, to engage in a well-paid FBI designed plot.&#160; Once the dupes agree, they are arrested as terrorists and the plot revealed, always with the accompanying statement that the public was never in any danger as the FBI was in control.</p>
<p>When 99 percent of all terrorism is organized by the FBI, why do we need NSA spying on every communication of every American and people in the rest of the world?</p>
<p>Terrorism seldom comes from outside. The source almost always is the government in power. The Czarist secret police set off bombs in order to blame and arrest labor agitators. The Nazis burned down the Reichstag in order to decimate the communists and assume unaccountable power in the name of “public safety.”&#160; An alleged terrorist threat is a way of using fear to block popular objection to the exercise of arbitrary government power.</p>
<p />
<p /> | false | 1 | americans soon locked unaccountable police state unless us representatives senators find courage ask questions sanction executive branch officials break law violate constitution withhold information congress give false information crimes law constitution american people afghanistan pakistan yemen iraq libya syria somalia guantanamo elsewhere160 congress needs use impeachment power constitution provides cease subservient lawless executive branch us faces threat justifies lawlessness abuse police powers characterize executive branch 21st century impeachment important power congress impeachment protects citizens constitution branches government abuse executive branch power remove abusive executive branch officials used power ceases exist160 unused power like dead letter law160 authority disappears160 acquiescing executive branch lawlessness congress allowed executive branch place law escape accountability violations law constitution national intelligence director james r clapper blatantly lied congress remains office keith b alexander director national security agency also misled congress remains office160 attorney general holder avoids telling congress truth every subject also remains office160 said president obama one great deceivers time adverse truth truth seldom finds way mouth american citizen lies federal investigator even oath citizen arrested prosecuted sent prison160 yet federal personnel lie congress citizens impunity160 whatever american political system nothing whatsoever accountable government160 amerika one accountable citizens accountable law also unaccountable charges evidence required congress power impeach presidential appointee well president 1970s congress going impeach president richard nixon simply lied learned watergate burglary160 avoid impeachment nixon resigned160 1990s house impeached president bill clinton lying sexual affair white house intern senate failed convict doubt many sexual affairs didnt want held accountable 1970s senate staff corporate lobbyists would send attractive women seduce senators interest groups could blackmail senators bidding dont surprised nsa adopted corporate practice improprieties nixon clinton minor indeed little consequence compared crimes george w bush obama vice presidents bulk presidential appointees160 yet impeachment table nancy pelosi infamously declared californian voters send person congress refuses protect unaccountable executive branch nancy pelosi serve certainly people california certainly us constitution pelosi total violation oath office californians reelect yet little wonder america failing question demanding asked is160 purpose domestic surveillance americans160 surveillance proportion alleged terrorist threat160 us constitution ignored domestic law violated160 us government undeclared agenda terrorist threat cover agenda whose agenda important us constitution accountability government law160 citizen secure unless government accountable constitution law absurd idea american threatened terrorism unaccountable government execute torture throw prison life without due process accountability whatsoever bushobama us returned unaccountable power caesars czars autocrats famous play man seasons sir thomas chancellor england asks would cut law order chase devils160 law cut devil turns us important legal question ever asked seldom asked today law schools bar associations certainly justice sic department us attorneys american conservatives regard civil liberties mere excuses liberal judges coddle criminals terrorists never expect conservative republican two three defend civil liberty republicans simply believe civil liberty democrats conceive obamathe first black president office member oppressed minoritywould defend civil liberty combination disinterest denial us become police state civil liberty friends government political parties law schools bar associations federal judiciary consequently citizen secure recently housewife researched online pressure cookers looking best deal husband searching backpack result fully armed swat team appeared door demanding search premises questions answered always amazed someone says havent done anything wrong nothing fear nothing fear government founding fathers put protections constitution bush obama stripped unlike founding fathers designed government protect citizens american sheeple trust government demise glenn greenwald recently explained mass data accumulated every american mined signs nonterroristrelated criminal behavior warrantless searches illegal evidence criminal trial authorities disguise illegal way evidence obtained order secure conviction based illegally obtained evidence words use surveillance justified war terror already spread prosecutions ordinary criminals corrupted legal safeguards integrity criminal court system prosecutors judges one many ways much fear whether think anything wrong framed crimes based inferences drawn internet activity jokes friends social media jurors made paranoid terrorist threat convict suspicious motive behind universal spying us citizens authorities aware terrorist threat justify unconstitutional illegal spying hardly real terrorist events us fbi find clueless people around organize fbi orchestrated plot order keep terrorist threat alive publics mind160 last count 150 sting operations fbi recruits people touch reality engage wellpaid fbi designed plot160 dupes agree arrested terrorists plot revealed always accompanying statement public never danger fbi control 99 percent terrorism organized fbi need nsa spying every communication every american people rest world terrorism seldom comes outside source almost always government power czarist secret police set bombs order blame arrest labor agitators nazis burned reichstag order decimate communists assume unaccountable power name public safety160 alleged terrorist threat way using fear block popular objection exercise arbitrary government power | 751 |
<p>Aug. 25 (UPI) — President <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Donald_Trump/" type="external">Donald Trump</a> on Friday signed a presidential disaster declaration to make federal funds available to Texas as Hurricane Harvey bears down on the coast.</p>
<p>The president issued the declaration in response to a request by Texas Gov. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Greg_Abbott/" type="external">Greg Abbott</a>, saying it “unleashes the full force of government help!”</p>
<p>“This is going to be a major disaster,” Abbott said during a briefing hours before the Category 4 hurricane was expected to make landfall near Corpus Christi. “My goal is to make it through this storm in a way that we lose no lives.”</p>
<p><a href="https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-requests-presidential-disaster-declaration-in-anticipation-" type="external">The declaration</a> would more quickly make federal money available to respond to any damage the hurricane may cause, a statement from Abbott’s office said.</p>
<p>“I spoke with President Trump yesterday and am confident that he will move quickly to grant this request and provide the people of Texas with everything they need to recover from this storm. I want to continue to encourage Texans to take this threat seriously, heed warnings from local officials, and do all they can to prepare as the state of Texas works to ensure we are in the best position to respond to urgent needs following this storm,” Abbott said.</p>
<p>Sens. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/U.S._Sen._John_Cornyn/" type="external">John Cornyn</a> and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ted_Cruz/" type="external">Ted Cruz</a> of Texas issued a <a href="https://www.tedcruz.org/press-releases/cruz-cornyn-support-abbott-request-major-disaster-declaration-ahead-harvey-landfall/" type="external">joint statement</a> in support of Abbott’s request.</p>
<p>“Given the potential catastrophic impact that the hurricane may have on Texas communities, we strongly support this request and urge you to provide any and all emergency protective measures available by a major disaster declaration,” the senators wrote.</p>
<p>“We have been encouraged thus far by the work and strong coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to deploy assistance to state and local officials on the ground in Texas. We stand ready and willing to assist in any way possible to ensure prompt evaluation of this request.”</p>
<p>Trump said Friday he is watching the situation closely.</p>
<p>“I have spoken w/ @GovAbbott of Texas and @LouisianaGov [John Bel] Edwards. Closely monitoring #HurricaneHarvey developments &amp; here to assist as needed,” <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/901108572041433089" type="external">he tweeted</a> in the morning.</p>
<p>Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/901112569322237952" type="external">briefed the president</a> on the status of the hurricane Friday morning.</p>
<p>Later in the afternoon, he encouraged residents in the path to heed the advice and orders of their local and state officials, and said the “federal government is on site and ready to respond.”</p>
<p>As the hurricane fast approached the Texas coast Friday evening, residents boarded windows, laid sandbags and cleared store shelves to prepare for what’s expected to be the state’s first major hurricane in nine years.</p>
<p>Officials in Texas ordered mandatory evacuations in a number of locations near where the eye of the Category 3 storm is expected to arrive, including Aransas Pass, parts of Brazoria and Matagorda counties, all of Calhoun County and the city of Freeport.</p>
<p>Abbott pre-emptively declared a state of disaster in 30 counties where wind, heavy rain and flooding could cause damage. The Texas Army and Air National Guard also have been activated ahead of the storm.</p>
<p>Sitting in the bull’s eye is the city of Corpus Christi — the coastal population center closest to where <a href="https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/08/25/Harvey-strengthens-to-Category-2-hurricane-aims-for-Texas/9361503491207/" type="external">forecasters predict</a> Harvey’s eye will hit.</p>
<p>Despite mandatory evacuation orders elsewhere, Corpus Christi Mayor Joe McComb did not issue one for his city, though he has strongly encouraged residents in low-lying areas to leave due to potentially deadly flooding.</p>
<p>“We could mandate it, but people need to make a decision of their own. I’m not going to risk our police and fire people going to try and drag somebody out of the house if they don’t want to go,” <a href="https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/harvey-texas-louisiana-preps-impacts" type="external">McComb told The Weather Channel</a>. “Because our fire and police, they’re fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles. They’ve got relatives and they’ve got family, and we don’t want to put them in harm’s way because someone just wanted to stay.”</p>
<p>Farther north in Houston, officials canceled what was supposed to have been the first day of school on Monday, meaning 200,000 schoolchildren and thousands of teachers and support staff will remain home to ride out the storm.</p>
<p>A Coldplay concert scheduled for Houston’s NRG Stadium on Friday night <a href="http://abc13.com/entertainment/coldplay-show-at-nrg-stadium-scheduled-to-move-forward/2339133/" type="external">was scheduled to go on as planned.</a></p>
<p>Houston residents stood in long lines at grocery stores and cleared out shelves of staple foods and bottled water, <a href="https://twitter.com/KPRC2/status/900683938242473984" type="external">KPRC-TV reported</a>. Grocer Kroger sent an additional 80 truckloads of bottled water to its stores in the area.</p>
<p>Houston’s <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/George_Bush/" type="external">George Bush</a> Intercontinental Airport is not expected to close, but officials say flight cancellations are likely as Harvey strengthens. Most airlines offered waivers or dropped change fees for travelers scheduled to fly in or out over the weekend.</p>
<p>Hurricanes are a part of life in the coastal South, but the last major storm — Category 3 or higher — to hit the Texas coast was Hurricane Ike in 2008, which caused nearly $30 billion in damage.</p>
<p>Residents on Galveston Island, where Ike made landfall, greeted the prospect of a less damaging Hurricane Harvey with a shrug.</p>
<p>Paul Murdoch, owner of Marina Bar and Grill on the Galveston waterfront said his restaurant would stay open all weekend. He had even declined to cancel his Saturday night band.</p>
<p>“What storm?” Murdoch <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/Galveston-residents-visitors-stay-calm-as-11956753.php" type="external">asked the Houston Chronicle</a>. “It’s just business as normal.”</p>
<p>Others are taking the warnings more seriously.</p>
<p>Surfside Beach resident Randy Ramirez told KTRK he and his family were packing up.</p>
<p>“We were here for Ike, so we lost quite a bit in the wake of it,” he said. “We didn’t know what the water damage was going to be, so we evacuated, and by then it was too late to grab anything, so we lost quite a bit.”</p> | false | 1 | aug 25 upi president donald trump friday signed presidential disaster declaration make federal funds available texas hurricane harvey bears coast president issued declaration response request texas gov greg abbott saying unleashes full force government help going major disaster abbott said briefing hours category 4 hurricane expected make landfall near corpus christi goal make storm way lose lives declaration would quickly make federal money available respond damage hurricane may cause statement abbotts office said spoke president trump yesterday confident move quickly grant request provide people texas everything need recover storm want continue encourage texans take threat seriously heed warnings local officials prepare state texas works ensure best position respond urgent needs following storm abbott said sens john cornyn ted cruz texas issued joint statement support abbotts request given potential catastrophic impact hurricane may texas communities strongly support request urge provide emergency protective measures available major disaster declaration senators wrote encouraged thus far work strong coordination federal emergency management agency deploy assistance state local officials ground texas stand ready willing assist way possible ensure prompt evaluation request trump said friday watching situation closely spoken w govabbott texas louisianagov john bel edwards closely monitoring hurricaneharvey developments amp assist needed tweeted morning department homeland security federal emergency management agency officials briefed president status hurricane friday morning later afternoon encouraged residents path heed advice orders local state officials said federal government site ready respond hurricane fast approached texas coast friday evening residents boarded windows laid sandbags cleared store shelves prepare whats expected states first major hurricane nine years officials texas ordered mandatory evacuations number locations near eye category 3 storm expected arrive including aransas pass parts brazoria matagorda counties calhoun county city freeport abbott preemptively declared state disaster 30 counties wind heavy rain flooding could cause damage texas army air national guard also activated ahead storm sitting bulls eye city corpus christi coastal population center closest forecasters predict harveys eye hit despite mandatory evacuation orders elsewhere corpus christi mayor joe mccomb issue one city though strongly encouraged residents lowlying areas leave due potentially deadly flooding could mandate people need make decision im going risk police fire people going try drag somebody house dont want go mccomb told weather channel fire police theyre fathers mothers brothers sisters uncles theyve got relatives theyve got family dont want put harms way someone wanted stay farther north houston officials canceled supposed first day school monday meaning 200000 schoolchildren thousands teachers support staff remain home ride storm coldplay concert scheduled houstons nrg stadium friday night scheduled go planned houston residents stood long lines grocery stores cleared shelves staple foods bottled water kprctv reported grocer kroger sent additional 80 truckloads bottled water stores area houstons george bush intercontinental airport expected close officials say flight cancellations likely harvey strengthens airlines offered waivers dropped change fees travelers scheduled fly weekend hurricanes part life coastal south last major storm category 3 higher hit texas coast hurricane ike 2008 caused nearly 30 billion damage residents galveston island ike made landfall greeted prospect less damaging hurricane harvey shrug paul murdoch owner marina bar grill galveston waterfront said restaurant would stay open weekend even declined cancel saturday night band storm murdoch asked houston chronicle business normal others taking warnings seriously surfside beach resident randy ramirez told ktrk family packing ike lost quite bit wake said didnt know water damage going evacuated late grab anything lost quite bit | 560 |
<p>[In his capacity as <a href="" type="internal">a member of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom</a>, EPPC Vice President Michael Cromartie testified on May 19, 2005 on Capitol Hill before the <a href="http://www.csce.gov/" type="external">United States Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe</a> (known as the “Helsinki Commission”). His testimony related to the recent tragic events in Uzbekistan, the policy options for Washington and Tashkent, the causes of the current crisis, the history of the regime, including its record of human rights abuses, and the regime’s relationship to the United States.]</p>
<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>As you know, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is an independent government agency that was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The commission monitors religious freedom in other countries and advises the president and secretary of state and Congress on how to best advance religious freedom abroad.</p>
<p>In October of last year, the commission visited Uzbekistan and met with government officials, human rights activists, religious leaders and former prisoners in the Fergana Valley, including in Andijan as well as Tashkent and Samarkand.</p>
<p>The commission notes that many of the Uzbek government policies toward religious groups and individuals foreshadowed the tragedy in Andijan. In April 2005, the commission found the government of Uzbekistan to be responsible for severe human rights violations, including freedom of thought, freedom of conscience and religion, and recommended to the secretary of state that Uzbekistan be named a country of particular concern.</p>
<p>Uzbekistan has a highly restrictive law on religion that severely limits the ability of religious communities to function and that criminalizes all unregistered religious activity.</p>
<p>The 1998 Uzbek law on religion is used by government officials to deny registration of various religious groups, particularly minority religious communities, resulting in an effective ban on activities of these groups. At present, some 100 unregistered religious communities of all faiths are seeking registration.</p>
<p>The Uzbek government also exercises a high degree of control over the manner in which the Islamic faith is practiced. There are very few outlets for Muslims to learn about or practice their faith, other than those provided by the government via the Muslim Spiritual Board.</p>
<p>After 1998, the Uzbek government authorities closed 3,000 of the reported 5,000 functioning mosques in the country. The commission delegation in Uzbekistan experienced directly the government’s determination to monitor the activities of Muslim leaders.</p>
<p>Certain officials from the Uzbek interior ministry insisted on being present at the commission’s meetings with local imams in Samarkand and in cities in the Fergana Valley. Even more heavily handed tactics were used in the city of Farg’ona, where Uzbek security agents made overt efforts to disrupt the commission delegation’s meeting with Uzbek human rights activists, former prisoners and other victims of repression.</p>
<p>Government authorities crack down harshly on Muslim individuals, groups and mosques that do not conform to government prescribed practices or that the government claims are associated with extremist political programs. This crackdown has resulted in the imprisonment of thousands of persons in recent years, many of whom are denied the right to due process.</p>
<p>There are also credible reports that many of those arrested continue to be tortured or beaten in detention. There are, according to the 2004 State Department Human Rights Report, approximately 5,500 prisoners in Uzbekistan who have been convicted because they chose to exercise their faith outside the state’s control or the government claims are associated with extremist groups.</p>
<p>Confessions are the main evidence used to convict persons accused of membership in suspect organizations. Such confessions are often obtained before the accused has gained access to a lawyer or doctor, and frequently result from ill treatment or torture.</p>
<p>A defendant’s lawyer frequently is denied access to his or her client until after a confession has been obtained, although such access should be granted within 24 hours under Uzbek law.</p>
<p>There is also a widespread reliance on guilt by association. Members of the same family are arrested and sentenced for alleged involvement with proscribed religious organizations. Any outward display of piety can arouse suspicion and may lead to sanctions, including possible arrest.</p>
<p>Now security threats do exist in Uzbekistan, including from members&#160;of Hizb-ut-Tahrir (H.T.) and other groups that claim a religious linkage. But these threats do not excuse or justify the scope and harshness of the government’s ill treatment of religious believers.</p>
<p>Because the Uzbek criminal justice system is not transparent, it is impossible to know fully the basis on which people have been detained or convicted. Nonetheless, the State Department, as well as domestic and international human rights organizations, concluded that many of these prisoners have been convicted on charges that relate to their religious beliefs or alleged association, not on specific evidence or advocacy of acts of violence.</p>
<p>I should note that the commission’s recommendation that Uzbekistan be designated a CPC should not — should not — in any way be construed as a defense of H.T., an extremist and highly intolerant organization that promotes hatred against moderate Muslims, the West, Jews and others.</p>
<p>The strict governmental control over the content and character of Islamic teaching, worship, and practices results in the aspiration on the part of some in Uzbekistan to seek alternative voices and sources of religious authority. The commission delegation heard from many people that the absence of permitted religious alternatives only serves to generate — it only serves to generate more support for underground groups, including H.T.</p>
<p>The U.N. special rapporteur on torture concluded in his February 2003 report on Uzbekistan that, and I quote, “Torture or similar ill treatment is systematic,” unquote. Uzbek human rights activists and relatives of prisoners confirmed these findings to the commission delegation.</p>
<p>Prisoner’s relatives are also often denied access to the trials of their family members. Uzbek human rights activists told the commission delegation that even after the publication of the report on U.N. special rapporteur on torture, reliance on the use of torture in detention has not decreased, indeed one Uzbek human rights lawyer said the methods of torture have become more advanced.</p>
<p>Now the recent tragic events occurred as a result of public protest over the trial of 23 local businessmen who reportedly employed thousands of people in an impoverished region. The Uzbek government claims that the charitable activities of these 23 businessmen are criminal and extremist and linked to H.T.</p>
<p>Given the nature of the Uzbek judicial system along with the Uzbek practice of convicting persons solely for their alleged membership in banned organizations, it is impossible to ascertain the veracity of such official claims. The commission joins those who are calling for an international investigation, possibly by the OSCE which has on the ground presence in Uzbekistan, to clarify the tragic course of events in Andijan.</p>
<p>Now I would like to highlight some of the policy recommendations made by the commission to the U.S. government. And I would also like to request that the full set of the commission’s recommendations in its 2005 annual report [ <a href="http://www.uscirf.gov/countries/publications/currentreport/2005annualRpt.pdf#page=1" type="external">available here in PDF format</a>] section on Uzbekistan be included in the record.</p>
<p>First, the U.S. government should ensure that it speaks in a unified voice in its relations with the Uzbek government. This has not always been the case. For example, last year the State Department refused to provide funding for the Uzbek government due to its human rights violations. Yet, one month later, the Defense Department granted funds to the Uzbek government.</p>
<p>U.S. statements and actions should be coordinated across agencies to ensure that U.S. concerns about human rights conditions in Uzbekistan are reflected in all dealings with the Uzbek government.</p>
<p>Second, U.S. assistance to the Uzbek government, with the exception of assistance to improve humanitarian conditions and advance human rights, should be made contingent upon establishing and implementing a specific timetable for the government to take concrete actions to improve conditions of freedom of religion and observe international human rights standards.</p>
<p>Initial steps by the Uzbek government should include ending reliance on convictions based solely on confessions; halting the detention and imprisonment of persons on account of their religious beliefs; establishing a mechanism to review the cases of persons previously detained under suspicion or charged with religious, political or security offenses; implementing the recommendations of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe Panel of Experts on Religion and Belief to revise the 1988 law on freedom of worship in religious organization to bring it in accordance with international standards; registering religious groups that comply with the legal requirements; and ensuring that every religious prisoner has access to his or her family, adequate medical care, and a lawyer, as specified in international human rights instruments.</p>
<p>Third, the U.S. government should reinstate the Uzbek language radio broadcasts at Voice of America and should use VOA and other appropriate avenues of public diplomacy to explain to the people why religious freedom is an important element of U.S. foreign policy, as well as specific concerns about religious freedom in their country.</p>
<p>Fourthly, the U.S. government should advocate greater involvement of the OSCE center in Tashkent, including the collection of monitoring data on religious freedom and hiring a staff member in the OSCE center in Tashkent for monitoring these activities. The staff member should report to the OSCE tolerance unit in the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in Warsaw.</p>
<p>And finally, the U.S. government should urge the Uzbek government to agree to a visit by U.N. special rapporteurs on freedom of religion of belief and the independence of the judiciary and provide the full and necessary conditions for such a visit.</p>
<p>Thank you, Mr. Chairman.</p> | false | 1 | capacity member united states commission international religious freedom eppc vice president michael cromartie testified may 19 2005 capitol hill united states commission security cooperation europe known helsinki commission testimony related recent tragic events uzbekistan policy options washington tashkent causes current crisis history regime including record human rights abuses regimes relationship united states know us commission international religious freedom independent government agency created international religious freedom act 1998 commission monitors religious freedom countries advises president secretary state congress best advance religious freedom abroad october last year commission visited uzbekistan met government officials human rights activists religious leaders former prisoners fergana valley including andijan well tashkent samarkand commission notes many uzbek government policies toward religious groups individuals foreshadowed tragedy andijan april 2005 commission found government uzbekistan responsible severe human rights violations including freedom thought freedom conscience religion recommended secretary state uzbekistan named country particular concern uzbekistan highly restrictive law religion severely limits ability religious communities function criminalizes unregistered religious activity 1998 uzbek law religion used government officials deny registration various religious groups particularly minority religious communities resulting effective ban activities groups present 100 unregistered religious communities faiths seeking registration uzbek government also exercises high degree control manner islamic faith practiced outlets muslims learn practice faith provided government via muslim spiritual board 1998 uzbek government authorities closed 3000 reported 5000 functioning mosques country commission delegation uzbekistan experienced directly governments determination monitor activities muslim leaders certain officials uzbek interior ministry insisted present commissions meetings local imams samarkand cities fergana valley even heavily handed tactics used city fargona uzbek security agents made overt efforts disrupt commission delegations meeting uzbek human rights activists former prisoners victims repression government authorities crack harshly muslim individuals groups mosques conform government prescribed practices government claims associated extremist political programs crackdown resulted imprisonment thousands persons recent years many denied right due process also credible reports many arrested continue tortured beaten detention according 2004 state department human rights report approximately 5500 prisoners uzbekistan convicted chose exercise faith outside states control government claims associated extremist groups confessions main evidence used convict persons accused membership suspect organizations confessions often obtained accused gained access lawyer doctor frequently result ill treatment torture defendants lawyer frequently denied access client confession obtained although access granted within 24 hours uzbek law also widespread reliance guilt association members family arrested sentenced alleged involvement proscribed religious organizations outward display piety arouse suspicion may lead sanctions including possible arrest security threats exist uzbekistan including members160of hizbuttahrir ht groups claim religious linkage threats excuse justify scope harshness governments ill treatment religious believers uzbek criminal justice system transparent impossible know fully basis people detained convicted nonetheless state department well domestic international human rights organizations concluded many prisoners convicted charges relate religious beliefs alleged association specific evidence advocacy acts violence note commissions recommendation uzbekistan designated cpc way construed defense ht extremist highly intolerant organization promotes hatred moderate muslims west jews others strict governmental control content character islamic teaching worship practices results aspiration part uzbekistan seek alternative voices sources religious authority commission delegation heard many people absence permitted religious alternatives serves generate serves generate support underground groups including ht un special rapporteur torture concluded february 2003 report uzbekistan quote torture similar ill treatment systematic unquote uzbek human rights activists relatives prisoners confirmed findings commission delegation prisoners relatives also often denied access trials family members uzbek human rights activists told commission delegation even publication report un special rapporteur torture reliance use torture detention decreased indeed one uzbek human rights lawyer said methods torture become advanced recent tragic events occurred result public protest trial 23 local businessmen reportedly employed thousands people impoverished region uzbek government claims charitable activities 23 businessmen criminal extremist linked ht given nature uzbek judicial system along uzbek practice convicting persons solely alleged membership banned organizations impossible ascertain veracity official claims commission joins calling international investigation possibly osce ground presence uzbekistan clarify tragic course events andijan would like highlight policy recommendations made commission us government would also like request full set commissions recommendations 2005 annual report available pdf format section uzbekistan included record first us government ensure speaks unified voice relations uzbek government always case example last year state department refused provide funding uzbek government due human rights violations yet one month later defense department granted funds uzbek government us statements actions coordinated across agencies ensure us concerns human rights conditions uzbekistan reflected dealings uzbek government second us assistance uzbek government exception assistance improve humanitarian conditions advance human rights made contingent upon establishing implementing specific timetable government take concrete actions improve conditions freedom religion observe international human rights standards initial steps uzbek government include ending reliance convictions based solely confessions halting detention imprisonment persons account religious beliefs establishing mechanism review cases persons previously detained suspicion charged religious political security offenses implementing recommendations organization security cooperation europe panel experts religion belief revise 1988 law freedom worship religious organization bring accordance international standards registering religious groups comply legal requirements ensuring every religious prisoner access family adequate medical care lawyer specified international human rights instruments third us government reinstate uzbek language radio broadcasts voice america use voa appropriate avenues public diplomacy explain people religious freedom important element us foreign policy well specific concerns religious freedom country fourthly us government advocate greater involvement osce center tashkent including collection monitoring data religious freedom hiring staff member osce center tashkent monitoring activities staff member report osce tolerance unit office democratic institutions human rights warsaw finally us government urge uzbek government agree visit un special rapporteurs freedom religion belief independence judiciary provide full necessary conditions visit thank mr chairman | 917 |
<p>By Ulf Laessing and Tarek Amara</p>
<p>TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia plans to launch long-awaited reforms to reduce its chronic budget deficit, but the measures could harm investment if the government imposes new taxes and resists cutting the bloated public sector in order to avoid social unrest.</p>
<p>The International Monetary Fund is in Tunis this week to review the government’s efforts to fix an economy in turmoil since President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali was ousted in the first of the Arab Spring rebellions in 2011.</p>
<p>Tunisia has been praised as the only democratic success among the Arab Spring nations. But economic performance has lagged, with phosphate exports hit by strikes and tourism suffering from Islamist attacks.</p>
<p>Hoping to secure further IMF finance to fund the 2018 budget, Economic Reforms Minister Taoufik Rajhi said the government would launch “unprecedented reforms” to cut the deficit to 4.9 percent in 2018 from 6 percent this year.</p>
<p>Tunisia wants to reduce the public workforce by 20,000 from 800,000, overhaul loss-making state firms, and increase taxes and social security contributions, Rajhi told Reuters.</p>
<p>Rajhi said the government is serious about reforms this time, but analysts say Prime Minister Youssef Chahed is likely to amend the proposals in order to calm social tensions.</p>
<p>That would put Tunisia at odds with its lenders. Since 2011, nine governments have failed to cut the deficit and the country needs $3 billion in foreign loans next year alone.</p>
<p>“The government is heavily reliant on financial assistance from multilateral lenders – such as the IMF – which are putting pressure and conditioning their support on the implementation of structural reforms, notably on the fiscal front, (and) job cuts in the public sector in particular,” said Raphaele Auberty, Tunisia analyst at BMI Research.</p>
<p>On the other hand, “risks of social instability in the country are limiting the scope for fiscal consolidation without triggering large-scale protests”, she said.</p>
<p>Under pressure from unions, officials have agreed to increase public sector salaries in 2018 and avoid compulsory lay-offs which could provoke protests.</p>
<p>The government wants to cut the public sector wage bill to 12.5 percent of GDP in 2020 from 15 percent by offering voluntary redundancies, although that would be expensive.</p>
<p>A spokesman for the IMF said the fund and Tunisia agreed urgent reforms were needed, “including tax reforms and measures to limit the further growth of the public wage bill that risks becoming unaffordable and is among the highest in the world.”</p>
<p>JOBS</p>
<p>Tunisian officials also want to raise taxes on bank profits to 40 percent from 35 percent. Tax on real estate deals will rise to 19 percent from 6 percent, which businesses say will undermine their competitiveness.</p>
<p>“Taxes kill investors’ desire to come here,” said Nafaa Naifer of the business association UTICA, which says companies will close if the tax plan goes ahead.</p>
<p>“We cannot&#160;tolerate more sacrifices if our sacrifices only go to boost the public sector salaries ,” he said.</p>
<p>Last year, the government imposed a temporary 7-percent tax on companies to help finance the budget, 45 percent of which is spent on public sector salaries.</p>
<p>Western countries are keen that Tunisia should attract investment because high unemployment has forced many young Tunisians to go abroad in search of better fortune or even war.</p>
<p>The number of boats smuggling migrants to Italy has risen sharply, while Tunisia has produced the largest number of jihadists heading for battlefields in Iraq, Syria and Libya.</p>
<p>In April, the IMF agreed to pay out a delayed $320 million second tranche of a $2.8 billion loan to Tunisia after complaining about lack of progress in cutting the public sector.</p>
<p>Chahed is walking a tightrope, presiding over a coalition of secularists and Islamists who have repeatedly clashed over the country’s transition since 2011.</p>
<p>He especially needs to listen to the powerful labor union UGTT, which mediated in 2013 when tensions between Islamists and secular forces were threatening Tunisia’s stability.</p>
<p>The UGTT opposes deep cuts, saying people are worse off than before the revolution due to inflation of around 5.8 percent.</p>
<p>The dinar has fallen by 35 percent since 2011 as tourists have stayed away. Two big militant attacks almost killed off the sector in 2015.</p>
<p>Tunisia lost nearly $2 billion due to a drop in phosphate exports when jobless youths blocked rail tracks near the mines.&#160;</p>
<p>The IMF wants to cut subsidies on bread, petrol and other goods but the government plans to keep the bill stable at the equivalent of $1.4 billion next year.</p>
<p>The sensitivity of the issue was apparent when a minister told Reuters recently that bread prices would rise by a few cents because the government could not absorb the cost of an increase in global wheat prices.</p>
<p>Local media jumped on the story and the UGTT leader met Chahed to press him to keep prices stable.</p>
<p>PROTESTS?</p>
<p>Opposition parties expect the reforms to cause protests.</p>
<p>“These measures are painful and 2018 will be the most difficult year for Tunisians. I don’t think it will go without a popular reaction,” said Jilani Hammami, an official in the left-leaning Popular Front movement.</p>
<p>The government plan calls for an overhaul of overstaffed state firms but avoids any mention of layoffs.</p>
<p>“We will determine what should be kept entirely under the state and what should be a partnership between the public and private sectors, and what&#160;should privatized,” said Rajhi, the reform minister, without elaborating.</p>
<p>The UGTT’s opposition to privatizations has alarmed investors.</p>
<p>Dubai Holding sold its 35 percent stake in Tunisie Telecom after labor unions forced the state cellphone operator to cancel listing plans which would have meant job cuts.</p>
<p>There are other problems too. Restrictions on the availability of hard currency to pay for imports, imposed by the government to support the dinar, could spell trouble with the IMF, London-based Capital Economics said.</p>
<p>Investors also dislike Tunisia’s “inefficient bureaucracy, high-level&#160;corruption&#160;and favoritism toward well-established firms”, said Charlene Rahall at Arabia Monitor Economic Research &amp; Strategy.</p> | false | 1 | ulf laessing tarek amara tunis reuters tunisia plans launch longawaited reforms reduce chronic budget deficit measures could harm investment government imposes new taxes resists cutting bloated public sector order avoid social unrest international monetary fund tunis week review governments efforts fix economy turmoil since president zine elabidine ben ali ousted first arab spring rebellions 2011 tunisia praised democratic success among arab spring nations economic performance lagged phosphate exports hit strikes tourism suffering islamist attacks hoping secure imf finance fund 2018 budget economic reforms minister taoufik rajhi said government would launch unprecedented reforms cut deficit 49 percent 2018 6 percent year tunisia wants reduce public workforce 20000 800000 overhaul lossmaking state firms increase taxes social security contributions rajhi told reuters rajhi said government serious reforms time analysts say prime minister youssef chahed likely amend proposals order calm social tensions would put tunisia odds lenders since 2011 nine governments failed cut deficit country needs 3 billion foreign loans next year alone government heavily reliant financial assistance multilateral lenders imf putting pressure conditioning support implementation structural reforms notably fiscal front job cuts public sector particular said raphaele auberty tunisia analyst bmi research hand risks social instability country limiting scope fiscal consolidation without triggering largescale protests said pressure unions officials agreed increase public sector salaries 2018 avoid compulsory layoffs could provoke protests government wants cut public sector wage bill 125 percent gdp 2020 15 percent offering voluntary redundancies although would expensive spokesman imf said fund tunisia agreed urgent reforms needed including tax reforms measures limit growth public wage bill risks becoming unaffordable among highest world jobs tunisian officials also want raise taxes bank profits 40 percent 35 percent tax real estate deals rise 19 percent 6 percent businesses say undermine competitiveness taxes kill investors desire come said nafaa naifer business association utica says companies close tax plan goes ahead cannot160tolerate sacrifices sacrifices go boost public sector salaries said last year government imposed temporary 7percent tax companies help finance budget 45 percent spent public sector salaries western countries keen tunisia attract investment high unemployment forced many young tunisians go abroad search better fortune even war number boats smuggling migrants italy risen sharply tunisia produced largest number jihadists heading battlefields iraq syria libya april imf agreed pay delayed 320 million second tranche 28 billion loan tunisia complaining lack progress cutting public sector chahed walking tightrope presiding coalition secularists islamists repeatedly clashed countrys transition since 2011 especially needs listen powerful labor union ugtt mediated 2013 tensions islamists secular forces threatening tunisias stability ugtt opposes deep cuts saying people worse revolution due inflation around 58 percent dinar fallen 35 percent since 2011 tourists stayed away two big militant attacks almost killed sector 2015 tunisia lost nearly 2 billion due drop phosphate exports jobless youths blocked rail tracks near mines160 imf wants cut subsidies bread petrol goods government plans keep bill stable equivalent 14 billion next year sensitivity issue apparent minister told reuters recently bread prices would rise cents government could absorb cost increase global wheat prices local media jumped story ugtt leader met chahed press keep prices stable protests opposition parties expect reforms cause protests measures painful 2018 difficult year tunisians dont think go without popular reaction said jilani hammami official leftleaning popular front movement government plan calls overhaul overstaffed state firms avoids mention layoffs determine kept entirely state partnership public private sectors what160should privatized said rajhi reform minister without elaborating ugtts opposition privatizations alarmed investors dubai holding sold 35 percent stake tunisie telecom labor unions forced state cellphone operator cancel listing plans would meant job cuts problems restrictions availability hard currency pay imports imposed government support dinar could spell trouble imf londonbased capital economics said investors also dislike tunisias inefficient bureaucracy highlevel160corruption160and favoritism toward wellestablished firms said charlene rahall arabia monitor economic research amp strategy | 628 |
<p>FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Ron_Rivera/" type="external">Ron Rivera</a> had a message for his team after Sunday’s dramatic win over the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/New_England_Patriots/" type="external">New England Patriots</a>.</p>
<p>“We expected this!” the Carolina head coach screamed after Graham Gano drilled a 46-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Panthers a 33-30 upset of the defending NFL champions on Sunday.</p>
<p>But the underdog and battered Panthers almost didn’t hang on, blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter before a costly holding penalty on New England cornerback Stephen Gilmore kept a final drive going. Then, Gano, making up for missing an earlier extra point, came through on the final play of the game.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Cam_Newton/" type="external">Cam Newton</a>, overcoming a poor passing start to his season, threw for three touchdowns, ran for another and became the all-time winningest quarterback in franchise history with his 54th win.</p>
<p>“I feel like this was a breakthrough game for us offensively,” Newton said.</p>
<p>The Panthers are 3-1, but veteran defensive end <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Julius_Peppers/" type="external">Julius Peppers</a>, who played despite having his injured right shoulder in a brace and had two sacks after bouncing back from an early knee injury, wanted to calm things down.</p>
<p>“That was the 2016 Patriots that won the Super Bowl. This is the 2017 <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Carolina_Panthers/" type="external">Carolina Panthers</a>,” he said.</p>
<p>“It was nice. I thought we did a good job battling through a little bit of adverse conditions. We showed a little bit of character. You could call this a character win.”</p>
<p>Newton torched the shaky Patriots defense for 316 yards, going 22 of 29, and picked up 44 more yards on the ground.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jonathan_Stewart/" type="external">Jonathan Stewart</a>, who became the team’s all-time leading rusher, had a huge 15-yard run on the final drive, also making up for an earlier miscue — a fumble at the Patriots’ 9. The run, then another Patriots penalty and two runs by Newton into the line, set up the kick.</p>
<p>“I’m fully confident,” Gano said. “I’m having a good year. Devin Funchess came to me when the Patriots went down and scored the touchdown and said to me, ‘We’ll get you in range, don’t even worry.’ I said, ‘I’m not, you get me in range and I’ll put it through.'”</p>
<p>Funchess, fighting through leg cramps late, had seven catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns as Carolina became the fourth straight team to pass for over 300 yards against the Patriots, who came in the lowest-rated defense in the NFL.</p>
<p>“It’s not where it needs to be,” cornerback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Malcolm-Butler/" type="external">Malcolm Butler</a>, who had a first-half interception, said of the defense. “We’ve got to play better. We’re beating ourselves. We lost the game ourselves. It was nothing Carolina was doing. Basically, we beat ourselves (with) penalties.”</p>
<p>The Patriots have allowed 128 points in the first four games. Last year, they yielded 61 in going 3-1 in the first four.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tom_Brady/" type="external">Tom Brady</a>, recording his 79th 300-yard game, was 11 of 14 in the two scoring drives that tied the game — <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Dion-Lewis/" type="external">Dion Lewis</a> running 8 yards for one score and then <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Danny-Amendola/" type="external">Danny Amendola</a> catching a 1-yard TD pass that tied it with 3:09 remaining.</p>
<p>Brady finished 32 of 45 for 307 yards with two touchdowns, with running back <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/James_White/" type="external">James White</a> catching 10 but for just 47 yards.</p>
<p>It was the first time since 2012 that Brady lost two games at home in a season. The loss kept Brady from tying <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Brett_Favre/" type="external">Brett Favre</a> and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Peyton_Manning/" type="external">Peyton Manning</a> for the most regular-season wins by a quarterback — 168.</p>
<p>“There’s no guarantees and every year is different,” said Brady, who engineered a comeback against Houston that pulled out a 36-33 win the previous week. “We just haven’t done a good job at home.”</p>
<p><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Stephen_Gostkowski/" type="external">Stephen Gostkowski</a> kicked a Patriots-record 58-yard field goal at the end of the first half while tight end <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Rob_Gronkowski/" type="external">Rob Gronkowski</a>‘s 80 yards on four catches made him the all-time leader in catching Brady passes.</p>
<p>Unlike last week, when 16 Patriots kneeled and Carolina’s Julius Peppers remained in the locker room during the national anthem, there were no protests during this national anthem. Patriots owner <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Robert_Kraft/" type="external">Robert Kraft</a> joined his team on the sideline, where the players had their right hands on their hearts and their left on a teammate’s shoulder.</p>
<p>“I thought it was very well-thought out and I’m happy we responded that way,” Brady said.</p>
<p>Two Panthers — Stewart and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Thomas_Davis/" type="external">Thomas Davis</a> — appeared to be in prayer during the song. Then they won the game, which again showed the world how talented and productive Newton can be.</p>
<p>“He knew he was up against one of the all-time great QBs,” Rivera said. “He wanted to prove he could play with him.”</p>
<p>NOTES: Patriots LB Dont’a Hightower, who missed the first four games of the season with a knee injury, returned and had a big fourth-quarter sack. Head coach <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Bill_Belichick/" type="external">Bill Belichick</a> wouldn’t comment on Hightower’s play, but said, “It’s good to have him back.” … The record-setting 58-yard field goal by Patriots K Stephen Gostkowski was a yard longer than kicks made both by him and <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Adam_Vinatieri/" type="external">Adam Vinatieri</a> … The already banged-up Panthers lost S <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Kurt-Coleman/" type="external">Kurt Coleman</a> (knee) and WR Damiere Byrd (forearm) in the first half. Byrd said after the game he broke his arm. … Carolina, which opened a stretch of four of five games on the road, visits the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Detroit-Lions/" type="external">Detroit Lions</a> next Sunday while the Patriots are at the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers/" type="external">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> on Thursday night. “It’s a quick turnaround and everyone’s going to deal with it at some point this year,” Patriots QB Tom Brady said.</p> | false | 1 | foxborough mass ron rivera message team sundays dramatic win new england patriots expected carolina head coach screamed graham gano drilled 46yard field goal time expired giving panthers 3330 upset defending nfl champions sunday underdog battered panthers almost didnt hang blowing 14point lead fourth quarter costly holding penalty new england cornerback stephen gilmore kept final drive going gano making missing earlier extra point came final play game cam newton overcoming poor passing start season threw three touchdowns ran another became alltime winningest quarterback franchise history 54th win feel like breakthrough game us offensively newton said panthers 31 veteran defensive end julius peppers played despite injured right shoulder brace two sacks bouncing back early knee injury wanted calm things 2016 patriots super bowl 2017 carolina panthers said nice thought good job battling little bit adverse conditions showed little bit character could call character win newton torched shaky patriots defense 316 yards going 22 29 picked 44 yards ground jonathan stewart became teams alltime leading rusher huge 15yard run final drive also making earlier miscue fumble patriots 9 run another patriots penalty two runs newton line set kick im fully confident gano said im good year devin funchess came patriots went scored touchdown said well get range dont even worry said im get range ill put funchess fighting leg cramps late seven catches 70 yards two touchdowns carolina became fourth straight team pass 300 yards patriots came lowestrated defense nfl needs cornerback malcolm butler firsthalf interception said defense weve got play better beating lost game nothing carolina basically beat penalties patriots allowed 128 points first four games last year yielded 61 going 31 first four tom brady recording 79th 300yard game 11 14 two scoring drives tied game dion lewis running 8 yards one score danny amendola catching 1yard td pass tied 309 remaining brady finished 32 45 307 yards two touchdowns running back james white catching 10 47 yards first time since 2012 brady lost two games home season loss kept brady tying brett favre peyton manning regularseason wins quarterback 168 theres guarantees every year different said brady engineered comeback houston pulled 3633 win previous week havent done good job home stephen gostkowski kicked patriotsrecord 58yard field goal end first half tight end rob gronkowskis 80 yards four catches made alltime leader catching brady passes unlike last week 16 patriots kneeled carolinas julius peppers remained locker room national anthem protests national anthem patriots owner robert kraft joined team sideline players right hands hearts left teammates shoulder thought wellthought im happy responded way brady said two panthers stewart thomas davis appeared prayer song game showed world talented productive newton knew one alltime great qbs rivera said wanted prove could play notes patriots lb donta hightower missed first four games season knee injury returned big fourthquarter sack head coach bill belichick wouldnt comment hightowers play said good back recordsetting 58yard field goal patriots k stephen gostkowski yard longer kicks made adam vinatieri already bangedup panthers lost kurt coleman knee wr damiere byrd forearm first half byrd said game broke arm carolina opened stretch four five games road visits detroit lions next sunday patriots tampa bay buccaneers thursday night quick turnaround everyones going deal point year patriots qb tom brady said | 536 |
<p>By: Lauren Mckinnon</p>
<p>As citizens and individuals in this country, we have a bucket load of rights- fun things we get to do (or not do) if we want. And ye ol’ gubment can’t tell us otherwise. So let’s start with the basics: The Bill of Rights. A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, a bunch of pretty cool dudes got together and were all “#BREXIT!” before it was cool. Once independence had been established and everyone was done high-fiving, they all stood around a looked at each other and said “Now what?” Here are the basics: James Madison drafted 19 amendments and proposed them to the guys over some brews (pretty sure it was Yeungling). After narrowing it down American Idol Style from 19&#160;to 12, then ultimately the top&#160;10, the Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791 and officially became part of our Constitution. Let’s take a look:</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Amendment I</p>
<p>Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>So what does this mean for us? It means we get to practice whatever religion we want, or not. If you want to call yourself a Pastafarian and sing praises to The Flying Spaghetti Monster and be touched by his noodley appendage… um… go for it? You might get some funny looks, but the government can’t stop you! You also get to say, write, and publish whatever you want. This doesn’t mean that if you write something mean about someone that they won’t come bangin’ on your door and call you mean names (also their right to do so). This amendment also allows you to get together and protest whatever you think is unjust, even the government, so long as no one gets hurt, so just play it cool.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Amendment II</p>
<p>A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>This is a fan favorite. The PEW PEW amendment! This means we can have guns to protect ourselves, not just from bad guys roaming the neighborhood, but from a tyrannical government too! (Uh oh… did I just say that?) Yep! It’s true! Notice there are no caveats here. Nowhere in the amendment does it say “Unless” or “Except in the case of…” So get armed if you want. Or don’t. It’s up to you! And all the people said… “Muh guns!”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Amendment III</p>
<p>No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>This is an interesting one. This says the government cannot force you to let a soldier to just crash at your pad and be a couch surfer. There is an exception, however. IF we were to go to war and soldiers need housing, congress first has to pass a law that makes that happen. So far, so good.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Amendment IV</p>
<p>The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Amendment 4 has been in the hot seat quite a bit since 9/11, with “Big Brother” stepping all over this one and seemingly watching our every move. (Thank you Mr. Snowden for the heads-up!)&#160;This amendment strictly states that NO ONE can search our bodies, our property, or our communications&#160;(home, car, papers, phone calls,&#160;emails, social media, etc.) without a warrant, and that warrants can only be issued if there is reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed. This amendment clearly lays out that we are a free people who should not be subjected to living in a police state. Again, I do not see an “unless we are scared of terrorists” anywhere in there, do you? No? Didn’t think so.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Amendment V</p>
<p>No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Here’s a doozy. Ok, if you do break the law (capital crimes, rape, murder, etc.) then you cannot be tried without a Grand Jury meeting first to decide if there is even enough evidence to go to trial. Then if the trial jury finds you NOT guilty, the government can’t try you again with another jury in hopes of getting a different result. You get to keep your mouth shut if you don’t want to say anything and they cannot force you to speak or potentially incriminate yourself. You are innocent until proven guilty, therefore they cannot kill you, jail you, or fine you, unless a jury convicts you of a crime. And to top it off, the government cannot take your stuff. Not your house, your farm, your car, or any property without paying you for it. So, show me the money, gubment, or get outta my face.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Amendment VI</p>
<p>In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>If you do get arrested, there shall be no pussy-footing around. You get to go to trial ASAP so you aren’t rotting in prison without being convicted.&#160;They can’t keep you locked up and not give you a trial. And your jury should consist of average joes just like you. Your trial has to be public, so everyone knows what is going on. This is to keep things transparent and avoid letting a corrupt government just lock people away and throw away the key for no good reason. You also get to see and hear the people who are witnessing against you. The government also has to help you attain a lawyer if you cannot afford one and get witnesses on your side, as well.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Amendment VII</p>
<p>In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>You also have the right to a jury trial for civil cases. So if your neighbor sues you for $10,000 for emotional distress caused by you letting your dog poop on their lawn, you get to ask for a jury. Because what sensible people would award someone $10,000 for a dog turd… really.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Amendment VIII</p>
<p>Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Great news! You cannot be waterboarded! Nor can the government make you pay crazy fines. If you do get fined for any sort of infraction, it has to be reasonable. So you cannot be fined $15,000 for jay-walking. That’s just ridiculous.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Amendment IX</p>
<p>The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Ah, amendment 9. This says that just because these rights are listed in the Constitution, it does not mean that these are all the rights we have. The Constitution and its amendments are not simply a list of what rights we have as citizens, but also outlines the limitations of power that the government has over the people. So, basically… Don’t Tread on Me!</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Amendment X</p>
<p>The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>If it’s not in the Constitution, then it is up to us, the state, WE THE PEOPLE! Get it? Got it. Good.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | false | 1 | lauren mckinnon citizens individuals country bucket load rights fun things get want ye ol gubment cant tell us otherwise lets start basics bill rights long time ago galaxy far away bunch pretty cool dudes got together brexit cool independence established everyone done highfiving stood around looked said basics james madison drafted 19 amendments proposed guys brews pretty sure yeungling narrowing american idol style 19160to 12 ultimately top16010 bill rights ratified december 15 1791 officially became part constitution lets take look 160 amendment congress shall make law respecting establishment religion prohibiting free exercise thereof abridging freedom speech press right people peaceably assemble petition government redress grievances mean us means get practice whatever religion want want call pastafarian sing praises flying spaghetti monster touched noodley appendage um go might get funny looks government cant stop also get say write publish whatever want doesnt mean write something mean someone wont come bangin door call mean names also right amendment also allows get together protest whatever think unjust even government long one gets hurt play cool 160 amendment ii wellregulated militia necessary security free state right people keep bear arms shall infringed fan favorite pew pew amendment means guns protect bad guys roaming neighborhood tyrannical government uh oh say yep true notice caveats nowhere amendment say unless except case get armed want dont people said muh guns 160 amendment iii soldier shall time peace quartered house without consent owner time war manner prescribed law interesting one says government force let soldier crash pad couch surfer exception however go war soldiers need housing congress first pass law makes happen far good 160 amendment iv right people secure persons houses papers effects unreasonable searches seizures shall violated warrants shall issue upon probable cause supported oath affirmation particularly describing place searched persons things seized amendment 4 hot seat quite bit since 911 big brother stepping one seemingly watching every move thank mr snowden headsup160this amendment strictly states one search bodies property communications160home car papers phone calls160emails social media etc without warrant warrants issued reasonable suspicion crime committed amendment clearly lays free people subjected living police state see unless scared terrorists anywhere didnt think 160 amendment v person shall held answer capital otherwise infamous crime unless presentment indictment grand jury except cases arising land naval forces militia actual service time war public danger shall person subject offense twice put jeopardy life limb shall compelled criminal case witness deprived life liberty property without due process law shall private property taken public use without compensation heres doozy ok break law capital crimes rape murder etc tried without grand jury meeting first decide even enough evidence go trial trial jury finds guilty government cant try another jury hopes getting different result get keep mouth shut dont want say anything force speak potentially incriminate innocent proven guilty therefore kill jail fine unless jury convicts crime top government take stuff house farm car property without paying show money gubment get outta face 160 amendment vi criminal prosecutions accused shall enjoy right speedy public trial impartial jury state district wherein crime shall committed district shall previously ascertained law informed nature cause accusation confronted witnesses compulsory process obtaining witnesses favor assistance counsel defense 160 get arrested shall pussyfooting around get go trial asap arent rotting prison without convicted160they cant keep locked give trial jury consist average joes like trial public everyone knows going keep things transparent avoid letting corrupt government lock people away throw away key good reason also get see hear people witnessing government also help attain lawyer afford one get witnesses side well 160 amendment vii suits common law value controversy shall exceed twenty dollars right trial jury shall preserved fact tried jury shall otherwise reexamined court united states according rules common law also right jury trial civil cases neighbor sues 10000 emotional distress caused letting dog poop lawn get ask jury sensible people would award someone 10000 dog turd really 160 amendment viii excessive bail shall required excessive fines imposed cruel unusual punishments inflicted great news waterboarded government make pay crazy fines get fined sort infraction reasonable fined 15000 jaywalking thats ridiculous 160 amendment ix enumeration constitution certain rights shall construed deny disparage others retained people ah amendment 9 says rights listed constitution mean rights constitution amendments simply list rights citizens also outlines limitations power government people basically dont tread 160 amendment x powers delegated united states constitution prohibited states reserved states respectively people constitution us state people get got good 160 160 160 | 742 |
<p>A decade ago, Steve Jobs held up the first <a href="http://variety.com/t/iphone/" type="external">iPhone</a> on stage at the Macworld conference. Since then, the company has built a multibillion-dollar empire with an annual succession of shiny new smartphone models — hyped with superlatives — to keep iPhone devotees on a continuous cycle of coveting the latest and greatest upgrade.</p>
<p><a href="http://variety.com/t/apple/" type="external">Apple</a> is expected to unveil the <a href="http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/apple-iphone-x-1202554082/" type="external">latest in the flagship line, the iPhone X,</a> on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Here’s a look back at the evolution of the product that transformed Apple into the biggest tech company in the world.</p>
<p>January 2007:&#160;Apple described the very first iPhone as melding three products in one: a phone, an iPod, and an internet-communications device. Quaintly, it boasted of its “stunning 3.5-inch widescreen display.” “iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone,” Jobs said at time. Price: $499 (4 GB model), $599 (8 GB model).</p>
<p>June 2008, iPhone 3G:&#160;Just a year after shipping the first one, Apple launched a second-gen model that was&#160;twice as fast and had double the storage — for half the price.&#160;Price:&#160;$199 (8 GB), $299 (16 GB) with two-year AT&amp;T contract.</p>
<p>June 2009, iPhone 3GS: Billed as twice as fast as the iPhone 3G, with longer battery life, a 3-megapixel camera and more. Apple sold more than 1 million the first weekend it went on sale. The 3GS again doubled capacity for the same price as the prior-generation model. Price: $199 (16 GB), $299 (32 GB) with two-year AT&amp;T contract.</p>
<p />
<p>July 2009: App Store exceeds 1.5 billion downloads in first year; Apple touts 65,000+ apps from 100,000+ developers.</p>
<p>June 2010, iPhone 4:&#160;The model that introduced FaceTime, the fourth-generation iPhone was much thinner (at 9.3 millimeters) and included a 5-megapixel camera and HD video recording. After users complained of reception issues, Apple blamed the problem on an error in how it calculated signal strength and issued a software update. The white iPhone 4 was delayed until April 2011.&#160;Price: $199 (16 GB), $299 (32 GB) with two-year AT&amp;T contract</p>
<p>February 2011:&#160;iPhone 4 becomes available on Verizon Wireless.</p>
<p>August 2011: Jobs steps down as CEO; Tim Cook, formerly Apple’s COO, is named new chief executive.</p>
<p>October 2011, iPhone 4S:&#160;Hyped as “the most amazing iPhone yet,” it’s the model that introduced the Siri voice assistant and iCloud. Price: $199 (16 GB), $299 (32 GB), $399 (64 GB) with two-year wireless contract.</p>
<p>September 2012, iPhone 5:&#160;The model featured a 4-inch display and skinnied down to a thickness of 7.6 millimeters. The 5 also introduced the Lightning connector instead of the 32-pin dongle, and had an 8-megapixel camera. Apple sold&#160;over 5 million iPhone 5 units the first weekend.&#160;Price: Same as iPhone 4S.</p>
<p>September 2013, iPhone 5s and 5c:&#160;The 5s introduced the Touch ID fingerprint scanner — which the iPhone X reportedly will not include — and came in gold, silver or space gray. The 5c cheaper multicolored line was available in five colors: blue, green, pink, yellow and white.&#160;Price: 5s — $199 (16 GB), $299 (32 GB), $399 (64 GB); 5c — $99 (16 GB), $199 (32 GB) with qualifying wireless contract.</p>
<p />
<p>September 2014, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus:&#160;The sixth generation featured bigger screens, at 4.7 inches with 1 million+ pixels for the baseline model, and a 5.5-inch, 2 million+ pixel displays for the 6 Plus. Apple sold more than 10 million of the devices (Cook: “the biggest advancements in iPhone history”) over the first weekend. The company also launched Apple Pay.&#160;Price: 6 — $199 (16 GB), $299 (64 GB), $399 (128 GB); 6 Plus — $299 (16 GB), $399 (64 GB), $499 (128 GB) with qualifying two-year wireless contract.</p>
<p>September 2015, iPhone 6s and 6s Plus:&#160;Same screen sizes as the prior year’s models, while adding&#160; <a href="http://variety.com/2015/digital/news/apple-iphone-6s-iphone-6s-plus-with-3d-touch-1201589014/" type="external">a new “3D Touch” feature</a>&#160;to let users “peek” at items like an email message using fingertip pressure, and a 12-megapixel camera capable of capturing 4K Ultra HD video. Pricing: Same as iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.&#160;</p>
<p>September 2016, iPhone 7 and 7 Plus:&#160;Touted as the first water- and dust-resistant iPhone, last year’s models <a href="http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/apple-iphone-7-launch-1201853808/" type="external">eliminated the standard headphone jack</a> to use Lightning-based headphones or Apple’s new AirPods (wireless earbuds sold separately for $159) which <a href="http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/apple-airpods-shipping-wireless-delay-1201940659/" type="external">encountered shipping delays</a>.&#160;Pricing: 7 — $649 (32 GB), $749 (128 GB), $849 (256 GB); 7 Plus:&#160;$769 (32 GB), $869 (128 GB), $969 (256 GB)</p>
<p />
<p>June 2017:&#160;App Store users have downloaded&#160;more than 180&#160;billion&#160;apps to date, and Apple says it’s <a href="http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/apple-70-billion-app-store-developers-1202450354/" type="external">paid more than $70 billion to app developers</a> since 2008.</p> | false | 1 | decade ago steve jobs held first iphone stage macworld conference since company built multibilliondollar empire annual succession shiny new smartphone models hyped superlatives keep iphone devotees continuous cycle coveting latest greatest upgrade apple expected unveil latest flagship line iphone x tuesday sept 12 heres look back evolution product transformed apple biggest tech company world january 2007160apple described first iphone melding three products one phone ipod internetcommunications device quaintly boasted stunning 35inch widescreen display iphone revolutionary magical product literally five years ahead mobile phone jobs said time price 499 4 gb model 599 8 gb model june 2008 iphone 3g160just year shipping first one apple launched secondgen model was160twice fast double storage half price160price160199 8 gb 299 16 gb twoyear atampt contract june 2009 iphone 3gs billed twice fast iphone 3g longer battery life 3megapixel camera apple sold 1 million first weekend went sale 3gs doubled capacity price priorgeneration model price 199 16 gb 299 32 gb twoyear atampt contract july 2009 app store exceeds 15 billion downloads first year apple touts 65000 apps 100000 developers june 2010 iphone 4160the model introduced facetime fourthgeneration iphone much thinner 93 millimeters included 5megapixel camera hd video recording users complained reception issues apple blamed problem error calculated signal strength issued software update white iphone 4 delayed april 2011160price 199 16 gb 299 32 gb twoyear atampt contract february 2011160iphone 4 becomes available verizon wireless august 2011 jobs steps ceo tim cook formerly apples coo named new chief executive october 2011 iphone 4s160hyped amazing iphone yet model introduced siri voice assistant icloud price 199 16 gb 299 32 gb 399 64 gb twoyear wireless contract september 2012 iphone 5160the model featured 4inch display skinnied thickness 76 millimeters 5 also introduced lightning connector instead 32pin dongle 8megapixel camera apple sold160over 5 million iphone 5 units first weekend160price iphone 4s september 2013 iphone 5s 5c160the 5s introduced touch id fingerprint scanner iphone x reportedly include came gold silver space gray 5c cheaper multicolored line available five colors blue green pink yellow white160price 5s 199 16 gb 299 32 gb 399 64 gb 5c 99 16 gb 199 32 gb qualifying wireless contract september 2014 iphone 6 6 plus160the sixth generation featured bigger screens 47 inches 1 million pixels baseline model 55inch 2 million pixel displays 6 plus apple sold 10 million devices cook biggest advancements iphone history first weekend company also launched apple pay160price 6 199 16 gb 299 64 gb 399 128 gb 6 plus 299 16 gb 399 64 gb 499 128 gb qualifying twoyear wireless contract september 2015 iphone 6s 6s plus160same screen sizes prior years models adding160 new 3d touch feature160to let users peek items like email message using fingertip pressure 12megapixel camera capable capturing 4k ultra hd video pricing iphone 6 6 plus160 september 2016 iphone 7 7 plus160touted first water dustresistant iphone last years models eliminated standard headphone jack use lightningbased headphones apples new airpods wireless earbuds sold separately 159 encountered shipping delays160pricing 7 649 32 gb 749 128 gb 849 256 gb 7 plus160769 32 gb 869 128 gb 969 256 gb june 2017160app store users downloaded160more 180160billion160apps date apple says paid 70 billion app developers since 2008 | 528 |
<p>The other day I ran across an old book with an enduring message — a nation without patriots cannot long endure. The 400-page volume, Manual of Patriotism, with an American flag on the cover was published 1n 1900 by the New York State department of schools.</p>
<p>At that time, New York, indeed all America, was receiving tens of thousands of European immigrants and the major institution for teaching them English and American history was the public school system.</p>
<p>Many of the immigrants were inspired by the words of Emma Lazarus inscribed on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>PATRIOTISM IN 1900</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>In 1900, our flag had only 45 stars; Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, and Hawaii had not yet entered the Union. Two years before, Admiral George Dewey had humbled the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay and Teddy Roosevelt had marched his Rough Riders up San Juan Hill in Cuba. America was flexing its muscles as a new great power and the great majority of its citizens were unashamedly patriotic. This was especially true of our public school teachers.</p>
<p>The Manual of Patriotism, addressed to those teachers, abounds with suggestions for fostering love of country. The public schools were expected to teach respect for America’s Founders, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the brave heroes who had died in their country’s wars. Solid patriotism, said the Superintendent of Schools, could best be fostered by teaching pupils to respect the flag and to learn about American history. The Manual reflected the unashamed patriotism of the famous McGuffey Readers that were widely used from 1880 to 1910.</p>
<p>Specifically, the Manual urged teachers to open the school day with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and the singing of a patriotic song. Pupils should be taught to revere the flag, commit to memory patriotic quotations, and study the lives of great American patriots</p>
<p>Young Americans should also observe patriotic events, including Lincoln’s birthday (February 12), Washington’s birthday (February 22), Flag Day (June 14), Independence Day (July 4), and memorial events for those who died in American wars. Teachers were encouraged to take their pupils to historic places such as Bunker Hill, Valley Forge, and Gettysburg. (Teachers in those days would be shocked to learn that less than a century later the national holidays given Washington and Lincoln by act of Congress would be merged into one Presidents’ Day.)</p>
<p>Understandably, the Manual, sensitive to “the separation of church and state,” did not address religion directly. But among the patriotic songs it recommended, several mentioned God: “America” (better known as “My Country, ’Tis of Thee”) refers to God as “the author of liberty”; “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” repeatedly exalts “Our God is marching on”; and “The Star-Spangled Banner” says “in God is our trust!”</p>
<p>A century ago patriotism, morality, and God seemed to coexist comfortably in our schools and in society generally. America is bigger than any sect, interest, or faction. Our nation, as Lincoln said in his first inaugural address on the eve of the Civil War, consists of “the mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, [that] will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as they surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>HOW MUCH HAVE THINGS CHANGED?</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>For the first half of the 20th century, patriotism and respect for the flag were held in high esteem by virtually all Americans. Of course there were cynics and those drawn by alien ideologies who scoffed at visible expressions of patriotism.</p>
<p>When I was an elementary pupil in York, Pennsylvania, in the early 1930s, the school day began with a pledge of allegiance to the flag, recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, and the reading of ten verses from the Old or New Testament by the teacher — with no comment. This respect for God and country drew no public protest.</p>
<p>But in the following decades, America became more diverse and more secular. Some intellectuals asserted that the schools had no right to “teach religion,” and some made light of conspicuous examples of patriotism.</p>
<p>To counter these pressures, the words “under God” were added to the Pledge of Allegiance on Flag Day, June 14, 1954. This acknowledgment of a higher power has been controversial ever since, though there is little objection to “In God We Trust” on our coins.</p>
<p>By the time my two sons went to elementary school in Chevy Chase, Maryland, in the 1950s, things had changed. The school day was opened with the pledge, each pupil holding his right hand over his heart, but the Lord’s Prayer was not recited and certainly no one read from the Bible. Their teachers, of course, taught virtues such as honesty and good citizenship.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>TODAY’S SCHOOLS</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Since the rebellious 1960s, many traditional American virtues have been questioned by radical college students, some of whom even referred to their country as “Amerika.” Other radicals blamed violence and poverty in the Third World on “American militarism, imperialism, and greed.”</p>
<p>These “new barbarians,” as former Librarian of Congress Daniel Boorstin, called them, spawned a generation of radical professors in our colleges. And on a broader canvas a kind of “political correctness” that scoffed at Middle American virtues has permeated our universities and the elite media. For many of these cynics, patriotism seems to be “the last refuge of a scoundrel,” to quote Samuel Johnson.</p>
<p>This virus of excessive self-criticism has also affected our public schools. Some pupils refuse to recite the pledge or salute the flag. Many American history text have been distorted to reflect current trends and fashionable causes, such as extreme feminism.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>VETERANS ARE TRUE PATRIOTS</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Perhaps the segment of American society least affected by “political correctness” are the brave and patriotic veterans of all our wars. What a contrast they are to the mood in many of today’s public schools, to say nothing of our colleges, where the visible symbols of patriotism are slighted, shunted aside, or even ridiculed.</p>
<p>Of course, patriotism cannot be measured by the number of flags billowing in the breeze, the fervor of military parades, or the wearing of a lapel flag. Patriotism lies much deeper, in the heart. It often finds expression in quiet deeds of our veterans, who are custodians of patriotic devotion that reaches beyond parades and public ceremonies.</p>
<p>Last October, for example, true patriotism was demonstrated by a group of elderly veterans in Greenville, South Carolina. For months, they worked as volunteers to clear the tangled underbrush from an abandoned cemetery that held fallen heroes from World Wars I and II and of the Korean War. The veterans involved the community by persuading Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and local landscapers to donate tools, lumber, and sod to renovate the sacred site.</p>
<p>In my darker moments, I am sometimes tempted to think of American veterans as the last bastion of patriotism. They are certainly patriotic in all the important ways — from revering the flag to being good citizens. Their very lives have validated courage and love of country.</p>
<p>Fortunately, veterans are not the only true American patriots. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, revealed the vast reservoir of patriotism across the land. Flags by the thousands sprouted from every hamlet and city across the land. That was over two years ago. There are fewer flags now, but one can only hope that the love of this country by its citizens young and old will never die.</p>
<p>True patriotism, of course, acknowledges America’s virtues as well as its imperfections. In “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies,” we sing, “America, America, God mend thine every flaw.”</p> | false | 1 | day ran across old book enduring message nation without patriots long endure 400page volume manual patriotism american flag cover published 1n 1900 new york state department schools time new york indeed america receiving tens thousands european immigrants major institution teaching english american history public school system many immigrants inspired words emma lazarus inscribed statue liberty give tired poor huddled masses yearning breathe free 160 patriotism 1900 160 1900 flag 45 stars oklahoma new mexico arizona alaska hawaii yet entered union two years admiral george dewey humbled spanish fleet manila bay teddy roosevelt marched rough riders san juan hill cuba america flexing muscles new great power great majority citizens unashamedly patriotic especially true public school teachers manual patriotism addressed teachers abounds suggestions fostering love country public schools expected teach respect americas founders declaration independence constitution brave heroes died countrys wars solid patriotism said superintendent schools could best fostered teaching pupils respect flag learn american history manual reflected unashamed patriotism famous mcguffey readers widely used 1880 1910 specifically manual urged teachers open school day pledge allegiance flag singing patriotic song pupils taught revere flag commit memory patriotic quotations study lives great american patriots young americans also observe patriotic events including lincolns birthday february 12 washingtons birthday february 22 flag day june 14 independence day july 4 memorial events died american wars teachers encouraged take pupils historic places bunker hill valley forge gettysburg teachers days would shocked learn less century later national holidays given washington lincoln act congress would merged one presidents day understandably manual sensitive separation church state address religion directly among patriotic songs recommended several mentioned god america better known country tis thee refers god author liberty battle hymn republic repeatedly exalts god marching starspangled banner says god trust century ago patriotism morality god seemed coexist comfortably schools society generally america bigger sect interest faction nation lincoln said first inaugural address eve civil war consists mystic chords memory stretching every battlefield patriot grave every living heart hearthstone broad land yet swell chorus union touched surely better angels nature 160 much things changed 160 first half 20th century patriotism respect flag held high esteem virtually americans course cynics drawn alien ideologies scoffed visible expressions patriotism elementary pupil york pennsylvania early 1930s school day began pledge allegiance flag recitation lords prayer reading ten verses old new testament teacher comment respect god country drew public protest following decades america became diverse secular intellectuals asserted schools right teach religion made light conspicuous examples patriotism counter pressures words god added pledge allegiance flag day june 14 1954 acknowledgment higher power controversial ever since though little objection god trust coins time two sons went elementary school chevy chase maryland 1950s things changed school day opened pledge pupil holding right hand heart lords prayer recited certainly one read bible teachers course taught virtues honesty good citizenship 160 todays schools 160 since rebellious 1960s many traditional american virtues questioned radical college students even referred country amerika radicals blamed violence poverty third world american militarism imperialism greed new barbarians former librarian congress daniel boorstin called spawned generation radical professors colleges broader canvas kind political correctness scoffed middle american virtues permeated universities elite media many cynics patriotism seems last refuge scoundrel quote samuel johnson virus excessive selfcriticism also affected public schools pupils refuse recite pledge salute flag many american history text distorted reflect current trends fashionable causes extreme feminism 160 veterans true patriots 160 perhaps segment american society least affected political correctness brave patriotic veterans wars contrast mood many todays public schools say nothing colleges visible symbols patriotism slighted shunted aside even ridiculed course patriotism measured number flags billowing breeze fervor military parades wearing lapel flag patriotism lies much deeper heart often finds expression quiet deeds veterans custodians patriotic devotion reaches beyond parades public ceremonies last october example true patriotism demonstrated group elderly veterans greenville south carolina months worked volunteers clear tangled underbrush abandoned cemetery held fallen heroes world wars ii korean war veterans involved community persuading walmart home depot local landscapers donate tools lumber sod renovate sacred site darker moments sometimes tempted think american veterans last bastion patriotism certainly patriotic important ways revering flag good citizens lives validated courage love country fortunately veterans true american patriots terrorist attacks september 11 2001 revealed vast reservoir patriotism across land flags thousands sprouted every hamlet city across land two years ago fewer flags one hope love country citizens young old never die true patriotism course acknowledges americas virtues well imperfections beautiful spacious skies sing america america god mend thine every flaw | 748 |
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Written by Heather Gwynn</p>
<p>Follow Heather on Twitter at @starlasworld</p>
<p>Tony D’Orazio was born and raised in Enfield, Connecticut. &#160;For the past 20 years, he has resided in East Rochester, New York. &#160;He is an IT Manager and in college studied both Math &amp; Spanish Literature. &#160;Tony originally joined the National Libertarian Party in the 90s, and he rejoined formally last year. &#160;He is also a member of the LP of New York, and the Greater Rochester Libertarian Party. &#160;Tony was the Libertarian candidate for Congress in the 25th Congressional District of New York in 2016.</p>
<p>Tony is married to his second wife, who he says is a saint, and he has two daughters from his previous marriage. &#160;In his spare time, Tony enjoys the ice sport, curling.</p>
<p>LV (Liberty Viral): &#160;How did you get introduced to the liberty movement, and when did you get actively involved?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;I tell people that I first discovered libertarianism in 1996 with Harry Browne, after an hours-long phone conversation with then-LPNY vice chair Dottie Lou Brokaw. And yes, that was influential, but I first discovered libertarianism in 1994, when Howard Stern was running for NY Governor. He’s not the greatest introduction to the party, but he opened the door, and ideologically, I haven’t left since.</p>
<p>I became actively involved in 2016, after many years of putting it off.&#160; My divorce was finally behind me, my second marriage was solid, and this was something I had wanted to do for a very long time.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;What cause is most important to you within the movement?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;There isn’t just one. In general, reducing the federal government to the minimum level to meet Constitutional requirements is the goal.&#160; We won’t get there in a day.</p>
<p>On social issues,&#160; I believe in ending the drug war.&#160; On foreign policy, I believe in the least intervention possible.</p>
<p>LV: &#160;Who is your liberty role model and why?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;Harry Browne, and it ain’t close. He was the first one to explain how to reduce government in terms I could understand. He knew his ideas would scare the hell out of people, and they did scare the hell out of me,&#160; but after reading his book Why Government Doesn’t Work, &#160;I got it. He was somewhat anarchist, but knew we weren’t getting there overnight. He was a pragmatic anarchist, I suppose.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;In your opinion, which active Libertarian is most influential, and why?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;Most influential? Probably Larry Sharpe. It’s not that he has great new ideas –&#160; I think he’s going to be the first to admit he does not.&#160; Rather, he articulates libertarian ideals in a humble, easy-to-understand manner. The man is charismatic and has a sense of humor. He’s human.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;How would you approach someone who is showing an initial interest in Libertarianism?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;Gently. It’s important in this situations to remember that we are a big tent. I, myself, came from the Democrats. I was embraced openly, especially with saw that my personal views aligned well with self-ownership and non-aggression. I approach people considering us in the same way –&#160; embrace and frame their viewpoints. Most people really ARE kind of libertarian.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;What is the first book you would tell someone who is interested in the LP to read?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;Something by Harry Browne, either Why Government Doesn’t Work or How I Found Freedom In An Unfree World.&#160; His books are easy reads with a clear libertarian path.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;What do you like most about being involved in the LP?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;Far and away, it’s the people. I’ve gotten to meet some of the oddest (mostly in a good way), generous (with time and money), hardest-working people I’ve ever met, and I’ve gotten to work with them. It’s been a fantastic experience.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;If you could eliminate one Government agency, which would it be and why?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;It would be not one, but several. Our federal government has dozens of police agencies, most of whom do redundant work in siloed jurisdictions. The Department of Treasury alone has four separate law enforcement agencies. If we could collapse these redundant agencies into just a smaller number, with better jurisdictional transparency, we would literally save billions.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;What plans do you have to to grow the party in 2017?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;I intend to work to get local candidates in the Rochester area on the ballot. I also plan to start working on Larry Sharpe’s potential gubernatorial run for 2018.</p>
<p>LV: &#160;What words of advice would you give to other Libertarians on how to get involved in the party, locally and nationally?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;Go to a meeting and meet libertarians locally before you jump into anything on a grander scale. This will offer a better education than anything you can read in a book or a Facebook echo chamber.</p>
<p>Or talk to me.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV:&#160; Alright Tony,&#160;let’s switch the direction up a bit and have you answer some random questions.</p>
<p>TD: &#160;Don’t tell me what to do.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;What is your favorite book?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;The Catcher In the Rye. Or maybe Brave New World. I can’t decide.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;What is the last book you read?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;I Grow Upby Juliana Hatfield.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;What is your favorite genre of music?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;Anything not named jazz.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV:&#160;What&#160;band do you think has the most libertarian message?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;There is an artist out of Rhode Island named Kristin Hersh,&#160; who has both a solo career and was the lead vocalist of one of my favorite bands, Throwing Muses. She has a condition as a result of a childhood accident that has been diagnosed as PTSD, paranoid schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder,&#160; but it was this accident at age 16 that caused her to start hearing the voices that brought her music to her. More importantly, as it became harder for her to work in a traditional record label environment, she came up with a way to crowdfund and create her own music, which has led to a lot more output from her than ever before. This is a woman who once said, “As far as I’m concerned, music is not a commodity. It’s something that people have earned by being human. They have a right to hear it, and a right to share it, as they always have… ” To that end,&#160; she founded CASH Music, a subscription-based service in 2007 that was able to fund several albums by her and her bands, as well as several other artists, without the interference of labels. . She turned her back on the music industry and became more successful than ever, carrying others with her.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;If you could spend an hour with any human to ever exist, alive or dead, who would it be and why?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;Federico Garcia Lorca. Any poet who has lived an interesting enough life to be assassinated has to have something to say.&#160; More to the point,&#160; I admire his revolutionary existence.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;If you were to get rid of one state in the U.S., which would it be and why?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;Wisconsin, because I got an unjust speeding ticket there once. No,&#160; seriously, I want us to adopt Quebec. We would embrace Montreal like they deserve.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are 3 things you would want with you, and why?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;I don’t know.&#160; A flare gun, a lot of Crystal Pepsi, and a good knife. However,&#160; there was a lady named VirJiny Provost, who ran for MP in Mégantic-L’Érable, in Quebec, as a member of the Bloc Quebecois party, who gave the best answer ever to this question when she campaigned in 2015 –&#160; “Un cell, un pénis et ben des chips”.&#160; I can’t beat that.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;How do you define success and how do you measure it?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;If I have earned the respect of my peers and my opponents, I have obtained success.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;How do you feel about safe spaces?</p>
<p>TD: &#160;Any organization is free to establish whatever they see fit. I don’t need one, though.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>LV: &#160;What are your thoughts on “The Pussification of America?”</p>
<p>TD: &#160;What a crock of shit. It isn’t actually happening any more than it ever has. We just have such short news cycles that any whiner who looks halfway interesting is going to get camera time.</p>
<p /> | false | 1 | written heather gwynn follow heather twitter starlasworld tony dorazio born raised enfield connecticut 160for past 20 years resided east rochester new york 160he manager college studied math amp spanish literature 160tony originally joined national libertarian party 90s rejoined formally last year 160he also member lp new york greater rochester libertarian party 160tony libertarian candidate congress 25th congressional district new york 2016 tony married second wife says saint two daughters previous marriage 160in spare time tony enjoys ice sport curling lv liberty viral 160how get introduced liberty movement get actively involved td 160i tell people first discovered libertarianism 1996 harry browne hourslong phone conversation thenlpny vice chair dottie lou brokaw yes influential first discovered libertarianism 1994 howard stern running ny governor hes greatest introduction party opened door ideologically havent left since became actively involved 2016 many years putting off160 divorce finally behind second marriage solid something wanted long time 160 lv 160what cause important within movement td 160there isnt one general reducing federal government minimum level meet constitutional requirements goal160 wont get day social issues160 believe ending drug war160 foreign policy believe least intervention possible lv 160who liberty role model td 160harry browne aint close first one explain reduce government terms could understand knew ideas would scare hell people scare hell me160 reading book government doesnt work 160i got somewhat anarchist knew werent getting overnight pragmatic anarchist suppose 160 lv 160in opinion active libertarian influential td 160most influential probably larry sharpe great new ideas 160 think hes going first admit not160 rather articulates libertarian ideals humble easytounderstand manner man charismatic sense humor hes human 160 lv 160how would approach someone showing initial interest libertarianism td 160gently important situations remember big tent came democrats embraced openly especially saw personal views aligned well selfownership nonaggression approach people considering us way 160 embrace frame viewpoints people really kind libertarian 160 lv 160what first book would tell someone interested lp read td 160something harry browne either government doesnt work found freedom unfree world160 books easy reads clear libertarian path 160 lv 160what like involved lp td 160far away people ive gotten meet oddest mostly good way generous time money hardestworking people ive ever met ive gotten work fantastic experience 160 lv 160if could eliminate one government agency would td 160it would one several federal government dozens police agencies redundant work siloed jurisdictions department treasury alone four separate law enforcement agencies could collapse redundant agencies smaller number better jurisdictional transparency would literally save billions 160 lv 160what plans grow party 2017 td 160i intend work get local candidates rochester area ballot also plan start working larry sharpes potential gubernatorial run 2018 lv 160what words advice would give libertarians get involved party locally nationally td 160go meeting meet libertarians locally jump anything grander scale offer better education anything read book facebook echo chamber talk 160 lv160 alright tony160lets switch direction bit answer random questions td 160dont tell 160 lv 160what favorite book td 160the catcher rye maybe brave new world cant decide 160 lv 160what last book read td 160i grow upby juliana hatfield 160 lv 160what favorite genre music td 160anything named jazz 160 lv160what160band think libertarian message td 160there artist rhode island named kristin hersh160 solo career lead vocalist one favorite bands throwing muses condition result childhood accident diagnosed ptsd paranoid schizophrenia bipolar disorder160 accident age 16 caused start hearing voices brought music importantly became harder work traditional record label environment came way crowdfund create music led lot output ever woman said far im concerned music commodity something people earned human right hear right share always end160 founded cash music subscriptionbased service 2007 able fund several albums bands well several artists without interference labels turned back music industry became successful ever carrying others 160 lv 160if could spend hour human ever exist alive dead would td 160federico garcia lorca poet lived interesting enough life assassinated something say160 point160 admire revolutionary existence 160 lv 160if get rid one state us would td 160wisconsin got unjust speeding ticket no160 seriously want us adopt quebec would embrace montreal like deserve 160 lv 160if stranded deserted island 3 things would want td 160i dont know160 flare gun lot crystal pepsi good knife however160 lady named virjiny provost ran mp méganticlÉrable quebec member bloc quebecois party gave best answer ever question campaigned 2015 160 un cell un pénis et ben des chips160 cant beat 160 lv 160how define success measure td 160if earned respect peers opponents obtained success 160 lv 160how feel safe spaces td 160any organization free establish whatever see fit dont need one though 160 lv 160what thoughts pussification america td 160what crock shit isnt actually happening ever short news cycles whiner looks halfway interesting going get camera time | 781 |
<p>By Liz Hampton</p>
<p>MIDLAND, Texas (Reuters) – When Joe Forsythe returned to the West Texas oilfields last year after a stint in a drug rehab facility, he figured he had beaten his addiction to methamphetamine.</p>
<p>The 32-year-old rig worker and equipment handler lasted about a year before relapsing.</p>
<p>“It’s easy to get back into that mentality,” said Forsythe, of Midland, Texas, who said he no longer uses drugs after several stints in rehab since 2015. “I’d work 24 hours … I was just plagued with fatigue and needed something to improve my work ethic.”</p>
<p>Forsythe’s experience and others like it reflect a painful flipside of the nation’s shale oil boom – a parallel increase in substance abuse, drug crime and related social ills.</p>
<p>While drug use is a problem among industrial workers nationwide, it raises particular concern in the oil patch as U.S. production surges to record levels in what is already one of the nation’s most dangerous sectors – with a fatality rate about three times the average for other industries, according to 2015 federal statistics.</p>
<p>Drug use is a significant factor in workplace injuries and crimes involving oilfield workers, according to drug counselors, hospital and police officials and court records in West Texas, the epicenter of the U.S. shale sector.</p>
<p>As the shale revolution has spawned waves of hiring here since 2010, law enforcement authorities have tracked a boom in drug trafficking and related crime. In Midland and Ector counties, home to many Permian Basin oil workers, state and local police in 2016 seized more than 95 pounds of methamphetamine – up from less than four pounds in 2010.</p>
<p>Meth and cocaine are stimulants of choice in the oil patch to get though long oilfield shifts, but alcohol and pain killers such as opioids are also widely abused – often to soften the crash after taking stimulants, drug addicts and counselors said.</p>
<p>Drug charges in the industry town of Midland more than doubled between 2012 and 2016, to 942 from 491, according to police data. In neighboring Odessa, total drug arrests doubled between 2010 and 2016, to 1291 from 756, according to Odessa Police Department data.</p>
<p>The increase in drug crime stretched through two boom periods in the West Texas oil patch, before and after a crude price crash that hit in 2014.</p>
<p>Oil companies typically drug test job applicants and often conduct additional random tests on employees. For truck drivers and those involved with hazardous materials, tests are also conducted under federal programs run by the U.S. Department of Transportation.</p>
<p>Several oil firms with major operations in the Permian Basin declined to discuss how they handle drugs in the oil patch or did not respond to inquiries.</p>
<p>Schlumberger NV (N:), Halliburton Co (N:) and Exxon Mobil Corp (N:) declined to comment. Exxon referred Reuters to its alcohol and drug policy.</p>
<p>Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (N:) and ConocoPhillips (N:) did not respond to requests for comment.</p>
<p>The American Petroleum Institute, an industry trade group, declined to comment.</p>
<p>LONG HOURS – ON METH</p>
<p>Despite corporate and regulatory efforts to curb drug abuse, many oilfield workers regularly use stimulants on long shifts of grueling work for relatively high pay, said drug counselors, local law enforcement officials and oil field workers recovering from addictions.</p>
<p>More than a third of clients at Midland’s Springboard drug rehabilitation center are currently involved in the oil and gas industry, said Executive Director Steve Thomason.</p>
<p>Rising oil prices have brought more admissions for methamphetamine abuse, Thomason said.</p>
<p>“People say they can work on it for 24 hours straight,” he said.</p>
<p>Long shifts are common in the oil industry because expensive drilling equipment, often leased at high daily rates, runs through the night, and workers often have to commute to wells in remote locations. Most oil producers subcontract oilfield services to smaller companies that are not unionized.</p>
<p>Springboard’s admissions of methamphetamine users went up 20 percent in the first six months of this year compared with the last half of 2016, he said. The number of rigs operating in the Permian Basin increased more than 38 percent during the same period, according to data from energy services firm Baker Hughes (N:).</p>
<p>Corporal Steve LeSueur, a spokesman for the Odessa police, said the influx of drugs in the oil patch is stretching police resources.</p>
<p>“The jail has been full,” he said. “A lot of crimes that are committed are drug-related – simple property crimes, forgeries to feed their drug habits.”</p>
<p>METH AND MURDER</p>
<p>Some offenses are more severe.</p>
<p>In 2016, Shawn Pinson, an employee of a well construction company, was convicted of murdering an acquaintance following a drug-related dispute.</p>
<p>The murder occurred around the same time he was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, police records show. The victim tested positive for meth at the time of the murder, according to an autopsy.</p>
<p>At his trial, witnesses close to Pinson testified he had become addicted to methamphetamine while working in the oilfield, according to a prosecutor and a defense attorney involved in the case.</p>
<p>Pinson did not respond to a letter seeking comment and his current attorney, Michele Greene, did not respond to a request for comment.</p>
<p>When oil jobs are plentiful, companies desperate for labor sometimes will disregard signs of substance abuse, said three recovering drug addicts who worked in the oilfield.</p>
<p>“These oilfield bosses – they party, too,” Forsythe said. “As long as you’re getting the job done and not making a scene, they won’t drug test you.”</p>
<p>One recovering addict, who declined to use his name because he still works in the industry, said he was often high during long-haul trips driving trucks transporting oil.</p>
<p>“I could do a little coke and speed and it would give me the extra stretch,” he said. “It ended up running me to the ground.”</p>
<p>For a graphic on illegal drugs shadow oil boom, click: http://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/rngs/USA-OIL-DRUGS/0100507G0H5/index.html</p> | false | 1 | liz hampton midland texas reuters joe forsythe returned west texas oilfields last year stint drug rehab facility figured beaten addiction methamphetamine 32yearold rig worker equipment handler lasted year relapsing easy get back mentality said forsythe midland texas said longer uses drugs several stints rehab since 2015 id work 24 hours plagued fatigue needed something improve work ethic forsythes experience others like reflect painful flipside nations shale oil boom parallel increase substance abuse drug crime related social ills drug use problem among industrial workers nationwide raises particular concern oil patch us production surges record levels already one nations dangerous sectors fatality rate three times average industries according 2015 federal statistics drug use significant factor workplace injuries crimes involving oilfield workers according drug counselors hospital police officials court records west texas epicenter us shale sector shale revolution spawned waves hiring since 2010 law enforcement authorities tracked boom drug trafficking related crime midland ector counties home many permian basin oil workers state local police 2016 seized 95 pounds methamphetamine less four pounds 2010 meth cocaine stimulants choice oil patch get though long oilfield shifts alcohol pain killers opioids also widely abused often soften crash taking stimulants drug addicts counselors said drug charges industry town midland doubled 2012 2016 942 491 according police data neighboring odessa total drug arrests doubled 2010 2016 1291 756 according odessa police department data increase drug crime stretched two boom periods west texas oil patch crude price crash hit 2014 oil companies typically drug test job applicants often conduct additional random tests employees truck drivers involved hazardous materials tests also conducted federal programs run us department transportation several oil firms major operations permian basin declined discuss handle drugs oil patch respond inquiries schlumberger nv n halliburton co n exxon mobil corp n declined comment exxon referred reuters alcohol drug policy pioneer natural resources co n conocophillips n respond requests comment american petroleum institute industry trade group declined comment long hours meth despite corporate regulatory efforts curb drug abuse many oilfield workers regularly use stimulants long shifts grueling work relatively high pay said drug counselors local law enforcement officials oil field workers recovering addictions third clients midlands springboard drug rehabilitation center currently involved oil gas industry said executive director steve thomason rising oil prices brought admissions methamphetamine abuse thomason said people say work 24 hours straight said long shifts common oil industry expensive drilling equipment often leased high daily rates runs night workers often commute wells remote locations oil producers subcontract oilfield services smaller companies unionized springboards admissions methamphetamine users went 20 percent first six months year compared last half 2016 said number rigs operating permian basin increased 38 percent period according data energy services firm baker hughes n corporal steve lesueur spokesman odessa police said influx drugs oil patch stretching police resources jail full said lot crimes committed drugrelated simple property crimes forgeries feed drug habits meth murder offenses severe 2016 shawn pinson employee well construction company convicted murdering acquaintance following drugrelated dispute murder occurred around time arrested possession methamphetamine police records show victim tested positive meth time murder according autopsy trial witnesses close pinson testified become addicted methamphetamine working oilfield according prosecutor defense attorney involved case pinson respond letter seeking comment current attorney michele greene respond request comment oil jobs plentiful companies desperate labor sometimes disregard signs substance abuse said three recovering drug addicts worked oilfield oilfield bosses party forsythe said long youre getting job done making scene wont drug test one recovering addict declined use name still works industry said often high longhaul trips driving trucks transporting oil could little coke speed would give extra stretch said ended running ground graphic illegal drugs shadow oil boom click httpfingfxthomsonreuterscomgfxrngsusaoildrugs0100507g0h5indexhtml | 611 |
<p>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and congressional leaders called for unity Wednesday <a href="" type="internal">after a gunman attacked an American tradition — the congressional baseball game</a> — in a deadly ambush on the Republican team’s practice that stunned the nation’s capital.</p>
<p>Congress suspended daily activities and Trump cancelled afternoon events as officials paused to focus on the victims of the shooting by an Illinois man who was shot in an exchange of gunfire with U.S. Capitol Police and later died of his injuries.</p>
<p>“We are united in our shock. We are united in our anguish,” House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said in an emotional speech to lawmakers after a prayer for those hurt in the hail of gunfire.</p>
<p>“An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us,” Ryan said, prompting a standing ovation from Republican and Democratic lawmakers.</p>
<p>At the White House, Trump responded quickly with a call for unity.</p>
<p>“We may have our differences, but we do well in times like these to remember that everyone who serves in our nation’s capital is here because, above all, they love our country,” Trump said.</p>
<p>House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., echoed Ryan’s call for harmony and offered prayers to House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., and the other victims: two Capitol Police officers, a House staffer and a lobbyist. &lt;img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/stephens-media/image/upload/v1497487816/web_Congressman-Shot-Ap-Jun15-17.jpg" style="margin: 1em 0; width:100%; max-width: 640px" alt="(AP)" /&gt;</p>
<p>Pelosi called it an “injury in the family.”</p>
<p>She decried the shooting, which took place at a practice for the annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity, which began in 1909 and has evolved into event that raises funds for disadvantaged kids.</p>
<p>“Sports really brings us together,” Pelosi said. “People come together.”</p>
<p>Democrats’ practice</p>
<p>Capitol Police were at the practice as a protective detail to Scalise, who was shot in the hip near second base. Scalise was recovering in a Washington hospital.</p>
<p>Democrats were practicing miles away in Washington, at Gallaudet University, for the charity game that will be played Thursday at Nationals Park.</p>
<p>There were no protective guards at the Democrats’ practice, and lawmakers taking batting practice and shagging balls were unaware of the surreal events taking place across the Potomac River until their coach assembled them about 7:30 a.m.</p>
<p>“We warmed up and started hitting some balls, and about 30 minutes into the practice the coaches called us into the dugout,” said Rep. Ruben Kihuen, D-Nev., who plays “right bench” and is a pinch base runner on the Democratic baseball team.</p>
<p>“We were in shock. We couldn’t believe it. We weren’t sure if a member had been shot. We didn’t know what was going on,” Kihuen said in an interview with the Review-Journal.</p>
<p>“Just the fact that we heard there was a shooting at the baseball practice put us in shock,” he said.</p>
<p>The freshman Nevada lawmaker snapped a picture on his cellphone of the Democrats praying for their Republican colleagues. The players then went to the Capitol for a briefing.</p>
<p>Kihuen said Ryan’s speech to the House struck the right tone, and the sight of Republicans and Democrats giving a standing ovation “is a sight we should see more often.”</p>
<p>“This is the type of unity Americans want to see moving forward,” Kihuen said.</p>
<p />
<p>Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., is a former member of the GOP team. He is not playing this year and wasn’t at the practice.</p>
<p>But Amodei took to social media immediately after the shooting to say he was keeping his colleagues and the injured “in my thoughts.”</p>
<p>“As always — thankful for a swift response by Capitol Police,” Amodei said.</p>
<p>‘Shaken by the shooting’</p>
<p>Even those not involved in the games were stunned by the violence.</p>
<p>“I am shaken by the shooting at the Republican baseball practice,” said Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., who wished the victims a quick recovery.</p>
<p>Rep. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., said she was “horrified,” and Nevada’s two senators, Dean Heller, a Republican, and Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat, offered prayers to the victims.</p>
<p>The Republican team manager, Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, was with his 10-year-old son when the shooting broke out.</p>
<p>Barton, wearing a red uniform, and his son, wearing a blue ball cap, were at the Capitol for the briefing and spoke to reporters.</p>
<p>The Dallas lawmaker praised the Capitol Police, saying their actions “saved many, many lives.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">The shooter James Hodgkinson, 66, of</a> <a href="" type="internal">Illinois</a>, was armed with a rifle and and opened up on the GOP baseball practice on a suburban field in a residential neighborhood just south of the Pentagon.</p>
<p>The Capitol Police officers were injured, but returned fire, striking Hodgkinson in the chest multiple times.</p>
<p>A social media website for Hodgkinson contained numerous anti-Trump posts. He called the president “a traitor.” Hodgkinson also had served as a volunteer for Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination.</p>
<p>A visibly shaken Sanders took the Senate floor to condemn the attack.</p>
<p>“I am sickened by this despicable act,” Sanders said.</p>
<p>The shooting occurred as the nation finds itself deeply divided over political and philosophical differences exposed in the 2016 presidential election.</p>
<p>Cortez Masto said that regardless of political affiliation, “we all share common goals to better our nation and we must show that despite efforts to divide us, we stand as one.”</p>
<p>“There is no doubt the country is divided,” said Kihuen, who agreed that the tone of political discourse has turned toxic.</p>
<p>Kihuen also backed the decision to continue with the baseball game Thursday night. “We need to send the message that we stand together.”</p>
<p>Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, who was at the practice when gunfire erupted, was shaken hours later when he recalled the terror of diving into a third-base dugout to avoid being hit by bullets.</p>
<p>Despite ankle injuries from escaping the gunman, Rogers said he planned to take the field.</p>
<p>“We need to play this baseball game,” Rogers said.</p>
<p>Contact Gary Martin at 202-662-7390 or [email protected]. Follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/@garymartindc" type="external">@garymartindc</a> on Twitter.</p> | false | 1 | washington president donald trump congressional leaders called unity wednesday gunman attacked american tradition congressional baseball game deadly ambush republican teams practice stunned nations capital congress suspended daily activities trump cancelled afternoon events officials paused focus victims shooting illinois man shot exchange gunfire us capitol police later died injuries united shock united anguish house speaker paul ryan rwis said emotional speech lawmakers prayer hurt hail gunfire attack one us attack us ryan said prompting standing ovation republican democratic lawmakers white house trump responded quickly call unity may differences well times like remember everyone serves nations capital love country trump said house democratic leader nancy pelosi dcalif echoed ryans call harmony offered prayers house majority whip steve scalise rla victims two capitol police officers house staffer lobbyist ltimg srchttpsrescloudinarycomstephensmediaimageuploadv1497487816web_congressmanshotapjun1517jpg stylemargin 1em 0 width100 maxwidth 640px altap gt pelosi called injury family decried shooting took place practice annual congressional baseball game charity began 1909 evolved event raises funds disadvantaged kids sports really brings us together pelosi said people come together democrats practice capitol police practice protective detail scalise shot hip near second base scalise recovering washington hospital democrats practicing miles away washington gallaudet university charity game played thursday nationals park protective guards democrats practice lawmakers taking batting practice shagging balls unaware surreal events taking place across potomac river coach assembled 730 warmed started hitting balls 30 minutes practice coaches called us dugout said rep ruben kihuen dnev plays right bench pinch base runner democratic baseball team shock couldnt believe werent sure member shot didnt know going kihuen said interview reviewjournal fact heard shooting baseball practice put us shock said freshman nevada lawmaker snapped picture cellphone democrats praying republican colleagues players went capitol briefing kihuen said ryans speech house struck right tone sight republicans democrats giving standing ovation sight see often type unity americans want see moving forward kihuen said rep mark amodei rnev former member gop team playing year wasnt practice amodei took social media immediately shooting say keeping colleagues injured thoughts always thankful swift response capitol police amodei said shaken shooting even involved games stunned violence shaken shooting republican baseball practice said rep dina titus dnev wished victims quick recovery rep jacky rosen dnev said horrified nevadas two senators dean heller republican catherine cortez masto democrat offered prayers victims republican team manager rep joe barton rtexas 10yearold son shooting broke barton wearing red uniform son wearing blue ball cap capitol briefing spoke reporters dallas lawmaker praised capitol police saying actions saved many many lives shooter james hodgkinson 66 illinois armed rifle opened gop baseball practice suburban field residential neighborhood south pentagon capitol police officers injured returned fire striking hodgkinson chest multiple times social media website hodgkinson contained numerous antitrump posts called president traitor hodgkinson also served volunteer sen bernie sanders ivt ran democratic presidential nomination visibly shaken sanders took senate floor condemn attack sickened despicable act sanders said shooting occurred nation finds deeply divided political philosophical differences exposed 2016 presidential election cortez masto said regardless political affiliation share common goals better nation must show despite efforts divide us stand one doubt country divided said kihuen agreed tone political discourse turned toxic kihuen also backed decision continue baseball game thursday night need send message stand together rep roger williams rtexas practice gunfire erupted shaken hours later recalled terror diving thirdbase dugout avoid hit bullets despite ankle injuries escaping gunman rogers said planned take field need play baseball game rogers said contact gary martin 2026627390 gmartinreviewjournalcom follow garymartindc twitter | 575 |
<p>A petition urging the US government to recognize Black Lives Matter as a terrorist organization has now gathered more than 100,000 signatures.</p>
<p>The calls to have Black Lives Matter (BLM) <a href="https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/formally-recognize-black-lives-matter-terrorist-organization" type="external">registered as a terrorist organization</a> gained momentum as five police officers were shot dead by snipers during a BLM protest in Dallas on July 7—and one of the alleged gunmen, Micah Johnson, <a href="http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/officer-shot-by-dallas-sniper-while-helping-victims-recounts-deadly-horror-1569949" type="external">was killed</a> during a standoff after police used a robot to detonate an improvised explosive device.</p>
<p>The creator of the petition, identified only as ‘Y.S,’ wrote that “terrorism is defined as ‘the use of violence and intimidation in pursuit of political aims’. This definition is the same definition used to declare ISIS and other groups as terrorist organizations. Black Lives Matter has earned this title due to its actions in Ferguson, Baltimore, and even at a Bernie Sanders rally.”</p>
<p>What Y.S. fails to note is that state-led organized violence in pursuit of a variety of aims is also worthy of classification as ‘terrorist’ behavior. The United States is a nation plagued by institutional criminality and racism, demonstrated best by the comprehensive fraud of its debt-based monetary system and the prison-industrial complex.</p>
<p>People of color in the United States have an entire sub-culture of wiles dedicated to the successful navigation of a racist society; and ideas such as ‘do exactly what the officer tells you’ and ‘do so immediately without the faintest suggestion of resistance’ have become standard rites of passage for young black American males.</p>
<p>Governments do indeed have a legal monopoly when it comes to killing people; though in truth, this Mafioso style of pseudo-democratic dictatorship mixed with corporate oligarchy is as illegitimate as it is possible for institutions to be: with one simple example of such essential corruption being demonstrable <a href="https://thefrontliner.net/2016/03/28/in-syria-militias-armed-by-the-pentagon-fight-those-armed-by-the-cia/" type="external">United States government ties</a> to hyper-violent terror organizations such as Fursan al-Haq and the infamous Al-Nusra Front—an organization which for the life of the State Department can’t be determined as either moderate or not-moderate—leaving the careful observer in a no-man’s-land of perpetual uncertainty: is Al-Nusra a terrorist organization? Or is it a moderate band of merry-rebels? <a href="https://landdestroyer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/syrias-moderate-rebels-are-not-moderate.html" type="external">The reader shall have to decide</a>.</p>
<p>Probably a petition should be launched to hold State Department officials, along with the CIA and the broader American establishment, to fully account for their various campaigns of violent intrigue in Middle-Eastern nations and further afield.</p>
<p>Innocent and unarmed men, women, and children the world over have fallen victim to the lethal and remorseless brutality of the American planners, in whose psychopathic narratives such deaths are seen as either a necessary evil or even perhaps even a stimulating turn of events. After all, these people who rule over us are not what one might refer to as sane and balanced individuals, and if we were to travel down the sinister road of sadistic-abuse and its use as a weapon of political blackmail, we might be forgiven for suggesting that many of our presumptive rulers are in fact themselves ruined children: intellectual and emotional adolescents at best, who are stifled in a toxic state of perpetual arrested development and sadly exercise their wretchedness on the poor of the world according to an endless assortment of dastardly pretexts determined by their hyper-sociopathic and schizo-paranoiac divinations of ‘realist’ foreign-policy imperatives, apparently drawn from some mythical well of human degradation long lost to the chasms of time.</p>
<p>Overseas operations conducted by the United Snakes have tarnished and torn countries in the Middle East, throughout Africa, and elsewhere, with a trail of inconceivable destruction and sorrow: all the while paving the way for American transnationals to pillage and plunder under the guise of nation-building; whilst networks of immortal crime and corruption syndicates flourish uninhibited just as in the direst straits of that most pitiful of raped nations, the baleful <a href="https://thefrontliner.net/2016/03/02/kosovo-a-nest-of-crime-fugitives-in-europe/" type="external">Kosovo</a>.</p>
<p>Urging the Pentagon to classify Black Lives Matter as a terrorist group alike to ISIS or Al-Qaeda [of which Al-Nusra is the Syrian franchise] is an exercise in absurdity, and it demonstrates a patent disregard for the American historical and social context of systemic and profoundly deep-rooted racism. Lest we forget the sordid history of evil American race-science that provided the very inspiration for the Nazi European project [which in turn became the European Union] via the provision of a vast base of scholarly works and discourse characterized by social Darwinism and pseudo-scientific notions of inferior human beings—this is where the term subhuman takes its primary relevance, from the nightmarish worldviews of eugenicist psychopaths hell bent on social-engineering themselves a super-race of some sort. Preferences have varied, though of course Hitler and his cohorts were after the Aryan ideal.</p>
<p>Another act of terrorism which targets universal values, human rights, freedom, and even democracy itself is the last thing anyone needs within a picture of global escalation. Since January this year, racial brutality by American police forces has killed a total of over nine hundred darker-skinned residents of the United States. At least 1,134 young black men were killed by US police in 2015 alone, and since January of this year race-based police aggressions have continued apace, killing nearly one thousand already with only just over half of the year behind us.</p>
<p>Well, this is what happens when the full force of the domestic state-terrorism apparatus sets itself against the innocent and frequently impoverished citizens of color that mistakenly chose to be born in the world’s self-acclaimedly freest and most prosperous nation: aka the Home of the Brave and Land of the Free.</p>
<p>The Greatest Nation on Earth…?</p>
<p>Unarmed and unprotected men, women and children have been killed. And more are set to die; yet as I draw comparisons, from years of experience as a war reporter, across the very breadth of Middle Eastern deserts, I cannot help but see the glaring similarities between this kind of oppression at home, and that practiced abroad. For whilst we see States commit violence against their own citizens, that same violence from these very same states is frequently visited upon the innocent subjects of other states across the face of the entire miraculous Earth.</p>
<p>I’ve seen with my very own eyes the sheer bestiality of dictatorial regimes supported by overt and covert US funding—dictators who were massively involved in the systematic ending of innocent lives, for no better cause than their being in the wrong place at the right time—whilst racism within the US is steeped in much the same type of crimes against humanity; and therefore it is the Washington administration and the elite caste in control of the American alphabet agencies that ought to be considered for the latest bout of regime change that is currently sweeping the dawning decades of the twenty-first century; and it is these controllers and financiers that must be held to full account for their seemingly endless violence.</p>
<p>As a white skinned male, I stand in full support of Black Lives Matter.</p>
<p>I do so because of its essentially humanitarian raison d’être. And as its scope and power increase with each passing month and well over a thousand demonstrations within the past two years alone, I am optimistic that some real reformation of the US race-machine might finally be envisioned, and that the whole apparatus of violation shall at long last be dismantled once and for all—if only through the compassionate force of persistent intention and determined civic-actions designed to specifically earn attention in a Media-savvy way that effectively demonstrates all of the vital ethical points surrounding the realities of living in a race-perception-world.</p>
<p>BLM protests are spreading across Europe also—protesting in solidarity against the latest American racial atrocities—whilst the end of June and beginning of July last saw hundreds of people in Amsterdam, London and Berlin take to the streets with the refrain: ‘No Justice – No Peace!’</p>
<p>Awakenings in nations such as the UK give us something to go by: where marches for peace have been held in solidarity with the endless victims of US state-violence; and whilst this just force of international recognition is promising; it must expand itself into an all-encompassing philosophy of peaceful resistance versus the soulless transnational architecture of systemic violence and exploitation, or else be lost entire.</p>
<p>For the ninety-nine percent are real people, with lives and children and loves and woes; they think, feel and love as we do, within the broadest parameters of the infinite human landscape. And if we harbor any illusions that our lives in Britain or Japan for instance are worth any more than those of the impoverished nations that are so brutally laid waste before our eyes over coffee each morning, then it is sure to come as a nasty shock when the secret police inevitably arrive at our very own door for no reason better than that we allowed a malignant tumor of totalitarian evil to take root and even then to thrive whilst we got busily about that business which somehow seemed more pressing and yet which sowed the very seeds of our irrepressible destruction with a persistent criminal negligence defined by its astounding indifference to suffering in the lives of others; ceaseless miseries whose stage is the so distant tides of forgotten elsewheres forsaken to the crimes of Man.</p>
<p>Call it karma, call it what you will; but the effects of our actions are inescapable, and this system of world tyranny will leave no life untouched before all is said and done.</p>
<p>To return to the specifics of this particular issue though, on the very same day of the Dallas shootings this grim terror-petition <a href="http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/dallas-sniper-shootings-thousands-call-black-lives-matter-be-recognised-terror-group-1569636" type="external">reached 4,000 signatures</a> out of what might be referred to as well intentioned sympathy for police officers who lost their lives.</p>
<p>It is sad enough that any police officer loses his or her life to an event of unjust actions or circumstance—yet having now already lost their lives, still they are used as&#160; fodder in a broader front of social conflict, manipulated and seized in generation of a distasteful reactionary-act responding to an event of pure provocation; the latter of which is itself likely tied as with the rest of the contemporary transnational terror-theatrics we have come to so blindly expect from the ‘News,’ to all of the usual covert forces of supranational subterfuge and standard international intrigue; and all this with a petition that began before the shooting took place, a fact which shall be treated here as an unequivocal coincidence naturally emergent without any prior knowledge or intention and entirely off limits to all questions within ‘polite circles’.</p>
<p>The ignorance of Americans is a trope of long humor to citizens all over the world, though as we know their portrayal in this way has been part of a systematic attack of what was once a strong intellectual culture founded on old moral traditions out of Europe and combined with the adventurous rigor of settling a new world, without putting the atrocities of that age aside or failing to acknowledge the sheer injustices of the past, the point stands that Americans are much like the other peoples of this world, and once again it is the ruling classes we must look to for answers when it comes to the sources of all these inconceivable and so relentless human sufferings.</p>
<p>The invasion of Iraq was a terrible error for United States’ prestige, and what was once a bounty of world-sympathy following the attacks at the turn of the new-millennium has plummeted to new depths as foreign adventures and crimes have been conducted elsewhere throughout the Middle East and the rest of the known world.</p>
<p>Massive civilian casualties are a common recurrence within the parameters of the American empire; with the killing of unarmed men, women and children a regular feature in the Western press; whilst our favorite brand of Washington hypocrisy is served time and again with the worthless mantras of ‘lessons learned’ and ‘condolences to families.’ Such brazen lies are a manifest sickness on this earth.</p>
<p>An administration of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-echochambers-27074746" type="external">oligarchs</a> rules the day in America, it is no democracy. And though the nation may subscribe in hollow speech to human rights, it has failed to sign the relevant international conventions that enshrine those very principles.</p>
<p>President Obama ‘embraced the ‘Black Lives Matter’ [Mythos of] a racist war [conducted] by white [police] officers against black civilians,’ or at least so says Rush Limbaugh, in whose deranged psyche BLM is ‘a terrorist group [in wild perpetration of] hate-crimes,’ within the broader context of a ‘war on cops,’ no less.</p>
<p>The corporate beast is avid that dissension is quelled and a controlled unrest is stirred across the western-style-nations allowed a relative measure of prosperity; and the reason for this managed theatre of carefully dealt terror and privilege is one of astute political nous and remarkable illiteracy; with our purpose on this planet being prosperity and peace, these idiots have sown wars and tactless distractions, with their ambitions limited and defined by a poverty of vision that plagues their every waking hour; it is no longer enough to watch voyeuristically from the sidelines or through a newspaper-article-window into the broader horrors of the wider world: this is the time for every self-respecting human being to walk out into their community every morning with the spirit of ‘I am sick to death of this—and it ends now.’</p> | false | 1 | petition urging us government recognize black lives matter terrorist organization gathered 100000 signatures calls black lives matter blm registered terrorist organization gained momentum five police officers shot dead snipers blm protest dallas july 7and one alleged gunmen micah johnson killed standoff police used robot detonate improvised explosive device creator petition identified ys wrote terrorism defined use violence intimidation pursuit political aims definition definition used declare isis groups terrorist organizations black lives matter earned title due actions ferguson baltimore even bernie sanders rally ys fails note stateled organized violence pursuit variety aims also worthy classification terrorist behavior united states nation plagued institutional criminality racism demonstrated best comprehensive fraud debtbased monetary system prisonindustrial complex people color united states entire subculture wiles dedicated successful navigation racist society ideas exactly officer tells immediately without faintest suggestion resistance become standard rites passage young black american males governments indeed legal monopoly comes killing people though truth mafioso style pseudodemocratic dictatorship mixed corporate oligarchy illegitimate possible institutions one simple example essential corruption demonstrable united states government ties hyperviolent terror organizations fursan alhaq infamous alnusra frontan organization life state department cant determined either moderate notmoderateleaving careful observer nomansland perpetual uncertainty alnusra terrorist organization moderate band merryrebels reader shall decide probably petition launched hold state department officials along cia broader american establishment fully account various campaigns violent intrigue middleeastern nations afield innocent unarmed men women children world fallen victim lethal remorseless brutality american planners whose psychopathic narratives deaths seen either necessary evil even perhaps even stimulating turn events people rule us one might refer sane balanced individuals travel sinister road sadisticabuse use weapon political blackmail might forgiven suggesting many presumptive rulers fact ruined children intellectual emotional adolescents best stifled toxic state perpetual arrested development sadly exercise wretchedness poor world according endless assortment dastardly pretexts determined hypersociopathic schizoparanoiac divinations realist foreignpolicy imperatives apparently drawn mythical well human degradation long lost chasms time overseas operations conducted united snakes tarnished torn countries middle east throughout africa elsewhere trail inconceivable destruction sorrow paving way american transnationals pillage plunder guise nationbuilding whilst networks immortal crime corruption syndicates flourish uninhibited direst straits pitiful raped nations baleful kosovo urging pentagon classify black lives matter terrorist group alike isis alqaeda alnusra syrian franchise exercise absurdity demonstrates patent disregard american historical social context systemic profoundly deeprooted racism lest forget sordid history evil american racescience provided inspiration nazi european project turn became european union via provision vast base scholarly works discourse characterized social darwinism pseudoscientific notions inferior human beingsthis term subhuman takes primary relevance nightmarish worldviews eugenicist psychopaths hell bent socialengineering superrace sort preferences varied though course hitler cohorts aryan ideal another act terrorism targets universal values human rights freedom even democracy last thing anyone needs within picture global escalation since january year racial brutality american police forces killed total nine hundred darkerskinned residents united states least 1134 young black men killed us police 2015 alone since january year racebased police aggressions continued apace killing nearly one thousand already half year behind us well happens full force domestic stateterrorism apparatus sets innocent frequently impoverished citizens color mistakenly chose born worlds selfacclaimedly freest prosperous nation aka home brave land free greatest nation earth unarmed unprotected men women children killed set die yet draw comparisons years experience war reporter across breadth middle eastern deserts help see glaring similarities kind oppression home practiced abroad whilst see states commit violence citizens violence states frequently visited upon innocent subjects states across face entire miraculous earth ive seen eyes sheer bestiality dictatorial regimes supported overt covert us fundingdictators massively involved systematic ending innocent lives better cause wrong place right timewhilst racism within us steeped much type crimes humanity therefore washington administration elite caste control american alphabet agencies ought considered latest bout regime change currently sweeping dawning decades twentyfirst century controllers financiers must held full account seemingly endless violence white skinned male stand full support black lives matter essentially humanitarian raison dêtre scope power increase passing month well thousand demonstrations within past two years alone optimistic real reformation us racemachine might finally envisioned whole apparatus violation shall long last dismantled allif compassionate force persistent intention determined civicactions designed specifically earn attention mediasavvy way effectively demonstrates vital ethical points surrounding realities living raceperceptionworld blm protests spreading across europe alsoprotesting solidarity latest american racial atrocitieswhilst end june beginning july last saw hundreds people amsterdam london berlin take streets refrain justice peace awakenings nations uk give us something go marches peace held solidarity endless victims us stateviolence whilst force international recognition promising must expand allencompassing philosophy peaceful resistance versus soulless transnational architecture systemic violence exploitation else lost entire ninetynine percent real people lives children loves woes think feel love within broadest parameters infinite human landscape harbor illusions lives britain japan instance worth impoverished nations brutally laid waste eyes coffee morning sure come nasty shock secret police inevitably arrive door reason better allowed malignant tumor totalitarian evil take root even thrive whilst got busily business somehow seemed pressing yet sowed seeds irrepressible destruction persistent criminal negligence defined astounding indifference suffering lives others ceaseless miseries whose stage distant tides forgotten elsewheres forsaken crimes man call karma call effects actions inescapable system world tyranny leave life untouched said done return specifics particular issue though day dallas shootings grim terrorpetition reached 4000 signatures might referred well intentioned sympathy police officers lost lives sad enough police officer loses life event unjust actions circumstanceyet already lost lives still used as160 fodder broader front social conflict manipulated seized generation distasteful reactionaryact responding event pure provocation latter likely tied rest contemporary transnational terrortheatrics come blindly expect news usual covert forces supranational subterfuge standard international intrigue petition began shooting took place fact shall treated unequivocal coincidence naturally emergent without prior knowledge intention entirely limits questions within polite circles ignorance americans trope long humor citizens world though know portrayal way part systematic attack strong intellectual culture founded old moral traditions europe combined adventurous rigor settling new world without putting atrocities age aside failing acknowledge sheer injustices past point stands americans much like peoples world ruling classes must look answers comes sources inconceivable relentless human sufferings invasion iraq terrible error united states prestige bounty worldsympathy following attacks turn newmillennium plummeted new depths foreign adventures crimes conducted elsewhere throughout middle east rest known world massive civilian casualties common recurrence within parameters american empire killing unarmed men women children regular feature western press whilst favorite brand washington hypocrisy served time worthless mantras lessons learned condolences families brazen lies manifest sickness earth administration oligarchs rules day america democracy though nation may subscribe hollow speech human rights failed sign relevant international conventions enshrine principles president obama embraced black lives matter mythos racist war conducted white police officers black civilians least says rush limbaugh whose deranged psyche blm terrorist group wild perpetration hatecrimes within broader context war cops less corporate beast avid dissension quelled controlled unrest stirred across westernstylenations allowed relative measure prosperity reason managed theatre carefully dealt terror privilege one astute political nous remarkable illiteracy purpose planet prosperity peace idiots sown wars tactless distractions ambitions limited defined poverty vision plagues every waking hour longer enough watch voyeuristically sidelines newspaperarticlewindow broader horrors wider world time every selfrespecting human walk community every morning spirit sick death thisand ends | 1,192 |
<p>By Patturaja Murugaboopathy</p>
<p>(Reuters) – Dividend payouts by Asia’s biggest companies are poised for their biggest increase in six years as profits surge and pressure grows on firms to be more generous with their shareholders.</p>
<p>Across Asia, dividend payouts in 2017 are expected to grow by 12 percent year-on-year, a Reuters analysis showed, marking the largest increase in payouts since 2011.</p>
<p>That corporate generosity, driven to some extent by improving economic growth, is only partly reflected in the share price, analysts say. If, as consensus forecasts show, earnings growth stays strong into next year and 2019, there is plenty of room for Asian stock markets to rally beyond current multi-year highs.</p>
<p>“2017 is the year when earnings finally recover after five years of disappointing growth in Asia,” said Frank Benzimra, head of Asia equity strategy at Societe Generale (PA:) in Hong Kong.</p>
<p>“Accordingly, we see dividends rising, in line with earnings growth.”</p>
<p>The numbers, compiled from Thomson Reuters earnings data, show technology companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Corp (TWO:), Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (KS:) and Sony Corp (T:) are expecting record profits and higher dividends this year as the launch of new smartphones drives up demand of memory chips and image sensors.</p>
<p>Malaysia’s CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (KL:), which announced its second best quarterly earnings in four years in the June quarter, issued an interim dividend of 1.18 billion ringgit ($281.96 million), translating to a dividend payout ratio of 51.6 percent of first-half profits.</p>
<p>The analysis covered 1,571 Asian companies each with a market capitalization of at least $1 billion across 12 markets for which Thomson Reuters has available data on dividend estimates. Dividends grew between 0.5 percent and 9 percent between 2012 and 2016.</p>
<p>Across the region, corporate profits are climbing owing to higher commodity prices, a revival in global demand for consumer products and an improvement in bank profits as loan growth soars even as funding costs stay low.</p>
<p>The markets have priced in some expectations of these bumper returns but analysts expect earnings and therefore dividends growth to stay strong even in 2018 and 2019, said Benzimra.</p>
<p>“I don’t think this is really priced into the market,” he said. “If we indeed have this kind of earnings growth, that could lift the market.”</p>
<p>MSCI’s Asia ex-Japan index () has risen about 30 percent this year and is at its highest since 2007.</p>
<p>Grace Tam, a senior market strategist at HSBC Global Asset Management based in Hong Kong, said free cash flows are higher among Asian companies and investors might find themselves surprised by future payouts.</p>
<p>Thomson Reuters data on the same set of companies showed their total free cash flows for 2017 are estimated at $374 billion- the highest in at least a decade.</p>
<p>NOT FULLY IN THE PRICE</p>
<p>Asian shares arguably have more room to grow than developed markets such as the United States, based on forward dividend yields, the ratio of estimated dividend payments over the next 12 months to share price.</p>
<p>Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand have forward dividend yields in excess of 3 percent, much higher than United States’ 1.9 percent. Asia’s average yield stood at 2.4 percent.</p>
<p>Yet, Asia’s price-to-earnings ratios are lower, ranging from South Korea’s 9.6 to China’s 13.5, against the global average of 15.4.</p>
<p>The ability of Asian companies to pay dividends has never been in doubt, but their desire to sit on large cash piles has traditionally affected shareholder returns.</p>
<p>Asia’s dividend payout ratio stood at 34 percent over the last 12 months, less than Europe’s 45 percent and North America’s 43 percent, despite Asian profit growth exceeding the other two regions.</p>
<p>Analysts said Asia’s dividend culture is likely to change, as government pressure on companies grows.</p>
<p>China, where the securities regulator has vowed to penalize companies that do not pay cash dividends, is seeing rising payouts. Coal miner Shenhua Energy Co (SS:) proposed a special dividend worth 50 billion yuan ($7.53 billion) earlier this year.</p>
<p>Japan introduced the corporate governance act in 2015, aimed at protecting shareholder rights and enriching their returns. Since its inception, more companies have started to comply with it.</p>
<p>Japan, as well as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand, have introduced stewardship codes aimed at institutional investors agitating for better governance and returns on their investment.</p>
<p>South Korea is expected to adopt the stewardship code this year and has strong backing from new President Moon Jae-in.</p>
<p>Samsung last month said it would double dividends next year to 9.6 trillion won and keep them at that level until 2020, as it responds to investor pressure to share its vast cash reserves.</p> | false | 1 | patturaja murugaboopathy reuters dividend payouts asias biggest companies poised biggest increase six years profits surge pressure grows firms generous shareholders across asia dividend payouts 2017 expected grow 12 percent yearonyear reuters analysis showed marking largest increase payouts since 2011 corporate generosity driven extent improving economic growth partly reflected share price analysts say consensus forecasts show earnings growth stays strong next year 2019 plenty room asian stock markets rally beyond current multiyear highs 2017 year earnings finally recover five years disappointing growth asia said frank benzimra head asia equity strategy societe generale pa hong kong accordingly see dividends rising line earnings growth numbers compiled thomson reuters earnings data show technology companies taiwan semiconductor corp two samsung electronics co ltd ks sony corp expecting record profits higher dividends year launch new smartphones drives demand memory chips image sensors malaysias cimb group holdings bhd kl announced second best quarterly earnings four years june quarter issued interim dividend 118 billion ringgit 28196 million translating dividend payout ratio 516 percent firsthalf profits analysis covered 1571 asian companies market capitalization least 1 billion across 12 markets thomson reuters available data dividend estimates dividends grew 05 percent 9 percent 2012 2016 across region corporate profits climbing owing higher commodity prices revival global demand consumer products improvement bank profits loan growth soars even funding costs stay low markets priced expectations bumper returns analysts expect earnings therefore dividends growth stay strong even 2018 2019 said benzimra dont think really priced market said indeed kind earnings growth could lift market mscis asia exjapan index risen 30 percent year highest since 2007 grace tam senior market strategist hsbc global asset management based hong kong said free cash flows higher among asian companies investors might find surprised future payouts thomson reuters data set companies showed total free cash flows 2017 estimated 374 billion highest least decade fully price asian shares arguably room grow developed markets united states based forward dividend yields ratio estimated dividend payments next 12 months share price taiwan hong kong singapore malaysia thailand forward dividend yields excess 3 percent much higher united states 19 percent asias average yield stood 24 percent yet asias pricetoearnings ratios lower ranging south koreas 96 chinas 135 global average 154 ability asian companies pay dividends never doubt desire sit large cash piles traditionally affected shareholder returns asias dividend payout ratio stood 34 percent last 12 months less europes 45 percent north americas 43 percent despite asian profit growth exceeding two regions analysts said asias dividend culture likely change government pressure companies grows china securities regulator vowed penalize companies pay cash dividends seeing rising payouts coal miner shenhua energy co ss proposed special dividend worth 50 billion yuan 753 billion earlier year japan introduced corporate governance act 2015 aimed protecting shareholder rights enriching returns since inception companies started comply japan well hong kong malaysia taiwan thailand introduced stewardship codes aimed institutional investors agitating better governance returns investment south korea expected adopt stewardship code year strong backing new president moon jaein samsung last month said would double dividends next year 96 trillion keep level 2020 responds investor pressure share vast cash reserves | 516 |
<p>A release of documents reveals former FBI Director James Comey’s draft statement on the Hillary Clinton email probe was edited several times before he went public with his findings in the case. Comey stated it was “reasonably likely” Clinton was hacked.</p>
<p>FBI documents obtained by Fox News on Thursday show that one of several edits to Comey’s original draft statement written in advance of his interview with former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Comey initially wrote that Clinton and her colleagues’ handling of classified information was&#160;“grossly negligent.”&#160;This was later changed to say&#160;“extremely careless,”&#160;in relation to how Clinton handled the information while she used a private email server during her tenure as the top US diplomat.</p>
<p>According to the Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), the documents also reveal that Comey emailed a draft statement &#160;to a top FBI official, clearing Clinton of any wrongdoing two months prior to his official conclusion in the case.</p>
<p>In an early draft of his statement, Comey said that it was&#160;“reasonably likely”&#160;that&#160;“hostile actors”&#160;gained access to Clinton’s private email server. That was later altered in the final statement to say it was “possible” the hostile actors gained access, Fox News reported.</p>
<p>Read more</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/usa/412927-trump-russia-fbi-text-messages/" type="external" /></p>
<p>The documents also show that Comey’s final statement removed a reference to the&#160;“sheer volume”&#160;of classified information discussed on Clinton’s private email server, according to Fox News.</p>
<p>Senator Johnson referred to these same documents when he sent a letter to FBI Director Chris Wray on Thursday, inquiring about the edits to Comey’s initial draft statement.</p>
<p>In Johnson’s letter to Wray, he said:&#160;“While the precise dates of the edits and identities of the editors are not apparent from the documents, the edits appear to change the tone and substance of Director Comey’s statement in at least three respects.”</p>
<p>Johnson also mentioned to Wray the legal ramifications related to the edits of Comey’s draft statement in the Clinton probe.</p>
<p>The language Comey used when he determined gross negligence&#160;“could be read as a finding of criminality in Secretary Clinton’s handling of classified material,”&#160;Johnson said, according to Fox News.&#160;“The edited statement deleted the reference to gross negligence – a legal threshold for mishandling classified material – and instead replaced it with an exculpatory sentence.”</p>
<p>Further edits showed that references to specific potential violations of statutes on&#160;“gross negligence”&#160;regarding classified information and&#160;“misdemeanor handling,”&#160;had also been removed before Comey’s final statement concluding the investigation.</p>
<p>Johnson noted&#160;“repeated edits to reduce Secretary Clinton’s culpability in mishandling classified information.”</p>
<p>Johnson also raised concerns to Wray about text messages from 2016, showing discontent for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, exchanged between former FBI agent, Peter Strzok, who had worked on both Comey’s Clinton probe, and Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into alleged ties between Trump and Russia, and former FBI lawyer Lisa Page. Page had also worked on both Mueller and Comey’s probes.</p>
<p>Strzok was the individual who changed the language in Comey’s draft statement from&#160;“grossly negligent”&#160;to&#160;“extremely careless,”&#160;Fox News reported.</p>
<p>Strzok exchanged the messages with Page while he was working on the Mueller probe, but it should be noted that at the time of the text exchange, Page was not working on Mueller’s probe with Strzok.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/usa/412592-mueller-clinton-links-revelation/" type="external">READ MORE:&#160;‘Clinton fan club’: More links between ‘Russiagate’ probe team &amp; Hillary surface</a></p>
<p>“This effort, seen in light of the personal animus toward then-candidate Trump by senior FBI agents leading the Clinton investigation and their apparent desire to create an ‘insurance policy’ against Mr. Trump’s election, raise profound questions about the FBI’s role and possible interference in the 2016 presidential election,”&#160;Johnson wrote, according to Fox News.</p>
<p>The Republican senator also mentioned the time frame in which the edits were made to Comey’s statement.</p>
<p>“In summary, the edits to Director Comey’s public statement, made months prior to the conclusion of the FBI’s investigation of Secretary Clinton’s conduct, had a significant impact on the FBI’s public evaluation of the implications of her actions,”&#160;according to Fox News.</p>
<p>Johnson also mentioned to Wray his claim that Comey emailed a draft statement to a top FBI official, clearing Clinton of criminal wrongdoing in May of 2016, two months ahead of the completion of two dozen interviews the FBI had to finish in relation to the probe, including with Clinton herself.</p>
<p>The documents show that the at the top of Comey’s May 2016 email, he wrote:&#160;“I’ve been trying to imagine what it would look like if I decided to do an FBI only press event to close out our work and hand the matter to the DOJ,”&#160;according to Fox News.</p>
<p>The former FBI director continued the email:&#160;“To help shape our discussions of whether that, or something different, makes sense, I have spent some time crafting what I would say, which follows. In my imagination, I don’t see me taking any questions. Here is what it might look like.”</p>
<p>The Johnson-led Senate Homeland Security Committee is overseeing the Justice Department’s Office of Special Counsel’s probe into whether Comey violated the Hatch Act with his July 2016 statement. The purpose of the Hatch Act is to limit the political activities of federal employees.</p>
<p>[embedded content]</p> | false | 1 | release documents reveals former fbi director james comeys draft statement hillary clinton email probe edited several times went public findings case comey stated reasonably likely clinton hacked fbi documents obtained fox news thursday show one several edits comeys original draft statement written advance interview former us secretary state hillary clinton comey initially wrote clinton colleagues handling classified information was160grossly negligent160this later changed say160extremely careless160in relation clinton handled information used private email server tenure top us diplomat according chairman senate homeland security committee senator ron johnson rwisconsin documents also reveal comey emailed draft statement 160to top fbi official clearing clinton wrongdoing two months prior official conclusion case early draft statement comey said was160reasonably likely160that160hostile actors160gained access clintons private email server later altered final statement say possible hostile actors gained access fox news reported read documents also show comeys final statement removed reference the160sheer volume160of classified information discussed clintons private email server according fox news senator johnson referred documents sent letter fbi director chris wray thursday inquiring edits comeys initial draft statement johnsons letter wray said160while precise dates edits identities editors apparent documents edits appear change tone substance director comeys statement least three respects johnson also mentioned wray legal ramifications related edits comeys draft statement clinton probe language comey used determined gross negligence160could read finding criminality secretary clintons handling classified material160johnson said according fox news160the edited statement deleted reference gross negligence legal threshold mishandling classified material instead replaced exculpatory sentence edits showed references specific potential violations statutes on160gross negligence160regarding classified information and160misdemeanor handling160had also removed comeys final statement concluding investigation johnson noted160repeated edits reduce secretary clintons culpability mishandling classified information johnson also raised concerns wray text messages 2016 showing discontent thenpresidential candidate donald trump exchanged former fbi agent peter strzok worked comeys clinton probe special counsel robert muellers probe alleged ties trump russia former fbi lawyer lisa page page also worked mueller comeys probes strzok individual changed language comeys draft statement from160grossly negligent160to160extremely careless160fox news reported strzok exchanged messages page working mueller probe noted time text exchange page working muellers probe strzok read more160clinton fan club links russiagate probe team amp hillary surface effort seen light personal animus toward thencandidate trump senior fbi agents leading clinton investigation apparent desire create insurance policy mr trumps election raise profound questions fbis role possible interference 2016 presidential election160johnson wrote according fox news republican senator also mentioned time frame edits made comeys statement summary edits director comeys public statement made months prior conclusion fbis investigation secretary clintons conduct significant impact fbis public evaluation implications actions160according fox news johnson also mentioned wray claim comey emailed draft statement top fbi official clearing clinton criminal wrongdoing may 2016 two months ahead completion two dozen interviews fbi finish relation probe including clinton documents show top comeys may 2016 email wrote160ive trying imagine would look like decided fbi press event close work hand matter doj160according fox news former fbi director continued email160to help shape discussions whether something different makes sense spent time crafting would say follows imagination dont see taking questions might look like johnsonled senate homeland security committee overseeing justice departments office special counsels probe whether comey violated hatch act july 2016 statement purpose hatch act limit political activities federal employees embedded content | 533 |
<p>When Kathia Sotelo Calderon found out that the lump on her neck was thyroid cancer, she wondered how she’d pay for treatment.</p>
<p>The 19-year-old undocumented immigrant from Mexico, who was brought to the U.S. by her parents when she was 7, had no health insurance. As a noncitizen, she didn’t think she was eligible for Medicaid, and she couldn’t buy a plan on the state or federal health care exchanges.</p>
<p>So the UNLV junior majoring in political science, now 22, did what many undocumented immigrants facing major health problems do: She got creative with fundraising and solicited family members for loans to cover the $25,000 surgery and follow-up care that she credits with saving her life.</p>
<p>“It’s crazy to think you could have actual cancer and not receive help,” said Sotelo Calderon, who has a scar across her neck that serves as a daily reminder of her so-far successful battle with the disease.</p>
<p />
<p>Health care netherworld</p>
<p>As lawmakers debate the best way to make health insurance affordable and available to as many Americans as possible, undocumented immigrants continue to inhabit a netherworld where health care is generally limited to emergency services and nonprofit-run clinics.</p>
<p>While the 2010 Affordable Care Act substantially reduced the number of Americans without health insurance — from nearly 50 million in 2010 to 28.8 million in 2017, estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed Friday — it specifically excluded undocumented immigrants from participating.</p>
<p>As a result, estimates by the Commonwealth Fund and the Kaiser Family Foundation now suggest that 13.5 to 26 percent of the remaining uninsured, from 3.9 million up to 7 million individuals, are foreign-born and likely undocumented.</p>
<p>“While the number of uninsured Latinos has fallen dramatically because of the ACA, (the undocumented) now comprise a greater share of the remaining number of uninsured adults,” according to Michelle Doty, vice president of survey research and evaluation at the Commonwealth Fund, who has studied the issue extensively.</p>
<p>Undocumented immigrants can legally purchase private health plans, but the expense rules that out for many. Because they aren’t eligible for ACA subsidies, the least expensive, minimum-coverage private plan a Nevadan could buy would cost more than $9,000 annually including premiums and deductibles.</p>
<p>There are costs to leaving a large slice of the populace without insurance.</p>
<p>Uninsured immigrants are often turned away by private doctors or urgent care clinics, which fear that their lack of insurance means they won’t be able to pay their bills. That means they frequently end up in hospital emergency rooms.</p>
<p>When they can’t pay their bills, a fairly frequent occurrence given that many undocumented people have low incomes, their treatment is generally uncompensated. That means hospital operators absorb some of the cost but pass on the rest to patients and insurers.</p>
<p>&lt;img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/stephens-media/image/upload/v1511169658/uninsuredcoveragegraphic.jpg" alt="" width="100%" height="auto /"&gt;</p>
<p>Some support available</p>
<p>Governments and taxpayers also bear some of the burden.</p>
<p>A Wall Street Journal survey of the 25 U.S. counties with the largest unauthorized immigrant populations in 2016 found that 20 of them, including Clark County, have programs that pay for the low-income uninsured to have doctor visits, shots, prescription drugs, lab tests and surgeries through local providers. The services usually are inexpensive or free to residents, who are told their immigration status doesn’t matter, it said.</p>
<p>In some states, including Nevada, undocumented individuals also are eligible for Medicaid coverage when they’re pregnant or have a life-threatening emergency. State health officials estimate that Nevada spent $39.6 million in 2015 providing such emergency Medicaid assistance to undocumented immigrants, 23 percent in state funding and the rest from the federal government.</p>
<p>But the government can be fickle when determining what constitutes an emergency, as Sotelo Calderon discovered when the lump on her neck began bothering her. She qualified for Medicaid emergency coverage for the tests that led to her diagnosis, but the cancer surgery wasn’t considered an emergency under Medicaid’s provisions and, as a result, wasn’t covered.</p>
<p>“They were telling me, ‘This cancer you have in your body isn’t an emergency,’” she recalled. “I was just kind of disgusted with the health care system.”</p>
<p>Instead, she turned to her community for help. With her family, Sotelo Calderon hosted a “kermes,” or festival, a 12-hour cookout in her case. That raised $4,000. Other fundraisers and borrowing eventually enabled her to pay for the operation and follow-up care.</p>
<p>“You never realize how big your Mexican family is until you ask for help,” she said.</p>
<p>Medicaid expense</p>
<p>About $2 billion was spent nationally on medical assistance for undocumented individuals in 2015, less than half a percent of the nation’s total health care spending of $526.7 billion that year, according to statistics from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.</p>
<p>“For sure it is the case that some undocumented immigrants are getting services,” said Leighton Ku, director of the Center for Health Policy Research at George Washington University. “It’s not free; $2 billion is something. On the other hand, as a share of all Medicaid expenditures it’s pretty darn small.”</p>
<p>The cost of adding undocumented immigrants to the U.S. public health care system has pre-empted any political solution being put forward. But just what that cost would be is open to debate.</p>
<p>The Center for Immigration Studies, a nonprofit that supports lower levels of legal immigration, estimated in 2010 that it would cost $8.1 billion a year to cover the 3.1 million undocumented immigrants that it calculated would be eligible for Medicaid at the time.</p>
<p>Ku, however, said that estimate is likely “way too high.” It assumes 100 percent Medicaid participation, which is unrealistic even among citizens, it doesn’t count the $2 billion already being spent, and it estimates per capita costs based on Medicaid enrollees, though research shows immigrants’ health costs per capita fall below those of U.S. citizens.</p>
<p>Wendy Parmet, a law professor at Northeastern University in Boston and director of the Center for Health Policy and Law there, said it’s important for lawmakers to devise a solution to bring at least DACA participants into the health care system.</p>
<p>Doing so could even help stabilize the Affordable Care Act’s health care exchanges, said Ku. If undocumented immigrants were given access to the insurance exchange sans subsidies, that could bring down costs for citizens purchasing off the marketplace, he said.</p>
<p>Funding at risk</p>
<p>For now, the undocumented population as part of the uninsured faces a more immediate threat: an uncertain future for the nonprofit community health centers, which provide about 28 percent of care nationwide to uninsured individuals, according to the National Association of Community Health Centers. Federal funding ran out Sept. 30 and has not yet been renewed.</p>
<p>Sotelo Calderon is one of the millions of undocumented immigrants nervously watching events unfold in Washington.</p>
<p>Her health care situation has improved since her health crisis. Being able to participate in DACA provided her with employer-sponsored health care when she landed a full-time job in August. But with the Trump administration’s subsequent decision to rescind DACA as of March 2018, she’s not sure what she’ll do from there if no political solution emerges.</p>
<p>“There comes a point in time when you’re going to need (health insurance), and life is really scary when you find out how important it is,” Sotelo Calderon said.</p>
<p>Contact Jessie Bekker at <a href="" type="internal">[email protected]</a> or 702-380-4563. Follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jessiebekks" type="external">@jessiebekks</a> on Twitter.</p>
<p>Public insurance available in some states</p>
<p>Some states, including California and New York, make public health insurance available to DACA participants and undocumented individuals, though Nevada does not.</p>
<p>Under California’s state Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, DACA participants with qualifying incomes can receive full coverage. Those who are undocumented and have qualifying incomes also can get limited or emergency Medi-Cal.</p>
<p /> | false | 1 | kathia sotelo calderon found lump neck thyroid cancer wondered shed pay treatment 19yearold undocumented immigrant mexico brought us parents 7 health insurance noncitizen didnt think eligible medicaid couldnt buy plan state federal health care exchanges unlv junior majoring political science 22 many undocumented immigrants facing major health problems got creative fundraising solicited family members loans cover 25000 surgery followup care credits saving life crazy think could actual cancer receive help said sotelo calderon scar across neck serves daily reminder sofar successful battle disease health care netherworld lawmakers debate best way make health insurance affordable available many americans possible undocumented immigrants continue inhabit netherworld health care generally limited emergency services nonprofitrun clinics 2010 affordable care act substantially reduced number americans without health insurance nearly 50 million 2010 288 million 2017 estimates centers disease control prevention showed friday specifically excluded undocumented immigrants participating result estimates commonwealth fund kaiser family foundation suggest 135 26 percent remaining uninsured 39 million 7 million individuals foreignborn likely undocumented number uninsured latinos fallen dramatically aca undocumented comprise greater share remaining number uninsured adults according michelle doty vice president survey research evaluation commonwealth fund studied issue extensively undocumented immigrants legally purchase private health plans expense rules many arent eligible aca subsidies least expensive minimumcoverage private plan nevadan could buy would cost 9000 annually including premiums deductibles costs leaving large slice populace without insurance uninsured immigrants often turned away private doctors urgent care clinics fear lack insurance means wont able pay bills means frequently end hospital emergency rooms cant pay bills fairly frequent occurrence given many undocumented people low incomes treatment generally uncompensated means hospital operators absorb cost pass rest patients insurers ltimg srchttpsrescloudinarycomstephensmediaimageuploadv1511169658uninsuredcoveragegraphicjpg alt width100 heightauto gt support available governments taxpayers also bear burden wall street journal survey 25 us counties largest unauthorized immigrant populations 2016 found 20 including clark county programs pay lowincome uninsured doctor visits shots prescription drugs lab tests surgeries local providers services usually inexpensive free residents told immigration status doesnt matter said states including nevada undocumented individuals also eligible medicaid coverage theyre pregnant lifethreatening emergency state health officials estimate nevada spent 396 million 2015 providing emergency medicaid assistance undocumented immigrants 23 percent state funding rest federal government government fickle determining constitutes emergency sotelo calderon discovered lump neck began bothering qualified medicaid emergency coverage tests led diagnosis cancer surgery wasnt considered emergency medicaids provisions result wasnt covered telling cancer body isnt emergency recalled kind disgusted health care system instead turned community help family sotelo calderon hosted kermes festival 12hour cookout case raised 4000 fundraisers borrowing eventually enabled pay operation followup care never realize big mexican family ask help said medicaid expense 2 billion spent nationally medical assistance undocumented individuals 2015 less half percent nations total health care spending 5267 billion year according statistics centers medicare medicaid services sure case undocumented immigrants getting services said leighton ku director center health policy research george washington university free 2 billion something hand share medicaid expenditures pretty darn small cost adding undocumented immigrants us public health care system preempted political solution put forward cost would open debate center immigration studies nonprofit supports lower levels legal immigration estimated 2010 would cost 81 billion year cover 31 million undocumented immigrants calculated would eligible medicaid time ku however said estimate likely way high assumes 100 percent medicaid participation unrealistic even among citizens doesnt count 2 billion already spent estimates per capita costs based medicaid enrollees though research shows immigrants health costs per capita fall us citizens wendy parmet law professor northeastern university boston director center health policy law said important lawmakers devise solution bring least daca participants health care system could even help stabilize affordable care acts health care exchanges said ku undocumented immigrants given access insurance exchange sans subsidies could bring costs citizens purchasing marketplace said funding risk undocumented population part uninsured faces immediate threat uncertain future nonprofit community health centers provide 28 percent care nationwide uninsured individuals according national association community health centers federal funding ran sept 30 yet renewed sotelo calderon one millions undocumented immigrants nervously watching events unfold washington health care situation improved since health crisis able participate daca provided employersponsored health care landed fulltime job august trump administrations subsequent decision rescind daca march 2018 shes sure shell political solution emerges comes point time youre going need health insurance life really scary find important sotelo calderon said contact jessie bekker jbekkerreviewjournalcom 7023804563 follow jessiebekks twitter public insurance available states states including california new york make public health insurance available daca participants undocumented individuals though nevada californias state medicaid program medical daca participants qualifying incomes receive full coverage undocumented qualifying incomes also get limited emergency medical | 767 |
<p>The first time I ever saw the words Littera scripta manet, they were inscribed on an exquisite little poster hanging beside the desk of a typographer employed by one of the last letterpress printers in North America. The meaning in English is “The written word remains,” a declaration that had an immediate appeal for me. Attributed to the Roman poet Horace, and embraced by the great English printer William Caxton, this ancient saying bespeaks a quiet pride in the weight and dignity of the written text, and especially in the permanence, fixity, and distilled authority of fine printing. The spoken word depends upon the flickering and inconstant flame of oral transmission for its survival. Not so the written word. The page on which it appears is a tangible thing, an embodied thing, one that occupies an enduring place in the world, a distinct niche in space and time, a home on one’s bookshelf. As such, the written word is more fully in the world, even as it shows a greater capacity to transcend the world, to raise our gaze above the immediate, replacing the world’s ephemera with enduring objects of contemplation.</p>
<p>But all this needs to be re-thought in the age of the Internet, and of the digitization of all knowledge and communications. For if there is one thing we know, or are coming to understand, it is that the things posted on the Internet—the digital word, or image, or song, or video—also remain, whether we like it or not, and irrespective of their importance. This omnivorous, placeless, and decontextualized permanence of the Internet contrasts sharply, even jarringly, with the ephemeral and whimsical and personal and intimate character—some of it potentially embarrassing and even damaging—of so many of the things we are posting on it. The millions who expend so much of their time and energy on social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and the like are largely unconcerned (to put it mildly) that today’s words might be overheard by their contemporaries. But neither are these social-media devotees thinking much about the likelihood that today’s words will be overheard twenty or more years from now, by their prospective employers or their own children, or by their political, professional, or personal rivals, words that will then be shorn of any friendly or explanatory context. Behind this wonderfully empowering technology, which seems to inspire so much fancy and froth and expressive creativity, there is also a relentless and remorseless capture of experience, which feeds an elephant that never forgets.</p>
<p>This is a price some are unwilling to pay. One of the reasons we value the right of privacy is that we value the right to conceal or withhold, and thereby to have some say over the terms of our engagement with the larger world. Every one of us has done and said things we wish could be forgotten, and in the fullness of time they generally are. Or so it used to be.</p>
<p>That erasure is far harder to be assured of in a world in which the elephant that never forgets also never sleeps, and in which the digitally stored word remains, and remains, and remains. Which is why the top court of the European Union has ruled that its existing data protection law guarantees “the right to be forgotten,” enabling citizens to compel “data controllers” such as Google to delete certain private information after a certain time. While this “right” remains contested, and is so far generally confined to the deletion of public access to unwanted and outdated online data about oneself, it could eventually be construed to extend far beyond that, to almost any imaginable data that could affect one’s reputation and self-presentation.</p>
<p>The impulse behind such rights talk is understandable. No one can blame the victim of a false arrest or wayward prosecution for wanting the record expunged. And the decontextualized and disaggregated character of information on the Internet lends itself to all kinds of abuses, providing factoid fodder for the kind of gotcha journalism and political opposition research—not to mention sheer character assassination—we already have in such abundance. Such practices not only coarsen our public discourse and frighten worthy people away from the ordeal of public service, but also render rational discussion of public issues almost impossible. And on a personal level, do we want to be judged and forever found wanting because of the time we posted something injudicious, or said something uncharitable, or did something impulsive or wrongheaded or exuberantly imprudent?</p>
<p>I fear especially in this regard for the young, who feed the elephant with unrestrained candor, and seem heedless of the possibility that they may be thereby compiling the elements of a future brief against themselves. It seems lamentable that one should have to counsel caution in these matters. Whatever happened to the prerogatives of youth? During the presidential campaign of 2000, George W. Bush deflected persistent charges relating to his reputation for youthful misbehavior with the following statement: “When I was young and foolish, I was…young and foolish.” An evasive answer, possibly, but I think, in retrospect, a good one, in that it reflects the ecology of mind we need to keep in view. Young people need to be able to be young, to live out the exuberance and callowness of youth, to make their own missteps, and to be able to count on some measure of erasure and forgiveness of all that as they move forward into adulthood. But the unsleeping digital beast they love so much may make that more difficult in the years to come.</p>
<p>This should not be read as a call for the wanton erasure of memory. On the contrary. Memory is the very core of our personal identity, and it is most powerful when it is purposeful, and selective. Above all, it requires that we possess stories and narratives—contexts—that link facts in ways that are both meaningful and true, rather than treat them as a mass of disaggregated data, to be exploited as we, or others, might wish. What makes for intelligent and discerning memory is not the mere capacity for massive retention, but a certain balance and order in the mental economy of remembering and forgetting. In other words, memory takes an active role in thinning out the mental trees so that the forests can be discerned. We need to retain less if we are to remember more. In so doing, we may rediscover the enduring virtues of ink on paper, of scripta that remain in one place, as the vehicle for a new kind of samizdat, one that eschews the digital grid altogether.</p>
<p>— Wilfred M. McClay is a senior fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center.</p> | false | 1 | first time ever saw words littera scripta manet inscribed exquisite little poster hanging beside desk typographer employed one last letterpress printers north america meaning english written word remains declaration immediate appeal attributed roman poet horace embraced great english printer william caxton ancient saying bespeaks quiet pride weight dignity written text especially permanence fixity distilled authority fine printing spoken word depends upon flickering inconstant flame oral transmission survival written word page appears tangible thing embodied thing one occupies enduring place world distinct niche space time home ones bookshelf written word fully world even shows greater capacity transcend world raise gaze immediate replacing worlds ephemera enduring objects contemplation needs rethought age internet digitization knowledge communications one thing know coming understand things posted internetthe digital word image song videoalso remain whether like irrespective importance omnivorous placeless decontextualized permanence internet contrasts sharply even jarringly ephemeral whimsical personal intimate charactersome potentially embarrassing even damagingof many things posting millions expend much time energy social media twitter facebook instagram tumblr like largely unconcerned put mildly todays words might overheard contemporaries neither socialmedia devotees thinking much likelihood todays words overheard twenty years prospective employers children political professional personal rivals words shorn friendly explanatory context behind wonderfully empowering technology seems inspire much fancy froth expressive creativity also relentless remorseless capture experience feeds elephant never forgets price unwilling pay one reasons value right privacy value right conceal withhold thereby say terms engagement larger world every one us done said things wish could forgotten fullness time generally used erasure far harder assured world elephant never forgets also never sleeps digitally stored word remains remains remains top court european union ruled existing data protection law guarantees right forgotten enabling citizens compel data controllers google delete certain private information certain time right remains contested far generally confined deletion public access unwanted outdated online data oneself could eventually construed extend far beyond almost imaginable data could affect ones reputation selfpresentation impulse behind rights talk understandable one blame victim false arrest wayward prosecution wanting record expunged decontextualized disaggregated character information internet lends kinds abuses providing factoid fodder kind gotcha journalism political opposition researchnot mention sheer character assassinationwe already abundance practices coarsen public discourse frighten worthy people away ordeal public service also render rational discussion public issues almost impossible personal level want judged forever found wanting time posted something injudicious said something uncharitable something impulsive wrongheaded exuberantly imprudent fear especially regard young feed elephant unrestrained candor seem heedless possibility may thereby compiling elements future brief seems lamentable one counsel caution matters whatever happened prerogatives youth presidential campaign 2000 george w bush deflected persistent charges relating reputation youthful misbehavior following statement young foolish wasyoung foolish evasive answer possibly think retrospect good one reflects ecology mind need keep view young people need able young live exuberance callowness youth make missteps able count measure erasure forgiveness move forward adulthood unsleeping digital beast love much may make difficult years come read call wanton erasure memory contrary memory core personal identity powerful purposeful selective requires possess stories narrativescontextsthat link facts ways meaningful true rather treat mass disaggregated data exploited others might wish makes intelligent discerning memory mere capacity massive retention certain balance order mental economy remembering forgetting words memory takes active role thinning mental trees forests discerned need retain less remember may rediscover enduring virtues ink paper scripta remain one place vehicle new kind samizdat one eschews digital grid altogether wilfred mcclay senior fellow ethics public policy center | 567 |
<p />
<p>The US government pretends to live under the rule of law, to respect human rights, and to provide freedom and democracy to citizens. Washington’s pretense and the stark reality are diametrically opposed.</p>
<p>US government officials routinely criticize other governments for being undemocratic and for violating human rights. Yet, no other country except Israel sends bombs, missiles, and drones into sovereign countries to murder civilian populations. The torture prisons of Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and CIA secret rendition sites are the contributions of the Bush/Obama regimes to human rights.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">&lt;img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-14896" style="margin: 5px;" title="Roberts Paul1 ps022305" src="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Paul-Craig-Roberts.jpg" alt="Paul Craig Roberts" width="256" height="180" srcset="https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Paul-Craig-Roberts.jpg 256w, https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Paul-Craig-Roberts-150x105.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px" /&gt;</a>Washington violates the human rights of its own citizens. Washington has suspended the civil liberties guaranteed in the US Constitution and declared its intention to detain US citizens indefinitely without due process of law.&#160; President Obama has announced that he, at his discretion, can murder US citizens whom he regards as a threat to the US.</p>
<p>Congress did not respond to these extraordinary announcements with impeachment proceedings. There was no uproar from the federal courts, law schools, or bar associations. <a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/04/08/u_s_filmmaker_repeatedly_detained_at_border/singleton/" type="external">Glenn Greenwald reports</a> that the Department of Homeland Security harasses journalists who refuse to be presstitutes,&#160; and we have seen videos of the brutal police oppression of peaceful OWS protestors.&#160; <a href="http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31057.htm" type="external">Chris Floyd describes</a> the torture-perverts who rule the US.</p>
<p>Now Washington is forcing as much of the world as it can to overthrow international treaties and international law.&#160; Washington has issued a ukase that its word alone is international law. Any country, except those who receive Washington’s dispensation, that engages in trade with Iran or purchases Iran’s oil will be sanctioned by the US. These countries will be cut off from US markets, and their banking systems will&#160;not be able to use banks that process international payments.&#160; In other words, Washington’s “sanctions against Iran” apply not to Iran but to countries that defy Washington and meet their energy needs with Iranian oil.</p>
<p>According to the Christian Science Monitor, so far Washington has granted special privileges to Japan and 10 European Union countries to continue purchasing Iranian oil. Requiring countries to shut down their economies in order to comply with Washington’s vendetta against Iran, a vendetta that has been ongoing ever since the Iranians overthrew the Washington-installed puppet, the Shah of Iran, more than three decades ago, was more than Washington could get away with. Washington has permitted Japan to keep importing between 78-85% of its normal oil imports from Iran.</p>
<p>Washington’s dispensations, however, are arbitrary. Dispensations have not been granted to China, India, Turkey, and South Korea.&#160; India and China are the largest importers of Iranian oil, and Turkey and South Korea are among the top ten importers.&#160;Before looking at possible unintended consequences of Washington’s vendetta against Iran, what is Washington’s case against Iran?</p>
<p>Frankly, Washington has no case.&#160; It is the hoax of “weapons of mass destruction” all over again. Iran, unlike Israel, signed the non-proliferation treaty. All countries that sign the treaty have the right to nuclear energy. Washington claims that Iran is violating the treaty by developing a nuclear weapon.&#160; There is no evidence whatsoever for Washington’s assertion.&#160; Washington’s own 16 intelligence agencies are unanimous that Iran has had no nuclear weapon’s program since 2003.&#160; Moreover, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s weapons inspectors are in Iran and have reported consistently that there is no diversion of nuclear material from the energy program to a weapons program.</p>
<p>On the rare occasion when Washington is reminded of the facts, Washington makes a different case. Washington asserts that Iran’s rights under the non-proliferation treaty notwithstanding, Iran cannot have a nuclear energy program, because Iran would then have learned enough to be able at some future time to make a bomb.&#160; The world’s hegemon has unilaterally decided that the possibility that Iran might one day decide to make a nuke is too great a risk to take. It is better, Washington says, to drive up the oil price, disrupt the world economy, violate international law, and risk a major war than to have to worry that a future Iranian government will make a nuclear weapon. This is the Jeremy Bentham tyrannical approach to law that was repudiated by the Anglo-American legal system.</p>
<p>It is difficult to characterize Washington’s position as one of good judgment.&#160; Moreover, Washington has never explained the huge risk Washington sees in the possibility of an Iranian nuke.&#160; Why is this risk so much greater than the risk associated with Soviet nukes or with the nukes of the US, Russia, China, Israel, Pakistan, India, and North Korea today?&#160; Iran is a relatively small country.&#160; It does not have Washington’s world hegemonic ambitions. Unlike Washington, Iran is not at war with a half dozen countries. Why is Washington destroying America’s reputation as a country that respects law and risking a major war and economic dislocation over some possible future development, the probability of which is unknown?</p>
<p>There is no good answer to this question. Lacking evidence for a case against Iran, Washington and Israel have substituted demonization. The lie has been established as truth that the current president of Iran intends to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.</p>
<p>This lie has succeeded as propaganda even though numerous language experts have proven that the intention attributed to the Iranian president by American-Israeli propaganda is a gross mistranslation of what the president of Iran said. Once again, for Washington and its presstitutes, facts do not count. The agenda is all that counts, and any lie will be used to advance the agenda.</p>
<p>Washington’s sanctions could end up biting Washington harder than they bite Iran.</p>
<p>What will Washington do if India, China, Turkey and South Korea do not succumb to Washington’s threats?</p>
<p>According to recent news reports, India and China are not inclined to inconvenience themselves and to harm their economic development in order to support Washington’s vendetta against Iran. Having watched China’s rapid rise and having observed North Korea’s immunity to American attack, South Korea might be wondering how much longer it intends to remain Washington’s puppet state.&#160; Turkey, where the civilian and somewhat Islamist government has managed to become independent of the US-controlled Turkish military, appears to be slowly coming to the realization that Washington and NATO have Turkey in a “service role” in which Turkey is Washington’s agent against its own kind. The Turkish government appears to be reassessing the benefits of being Washington’s pawn.</p>
<p>What Turkey and South Korea decide is basically a decision whether the countries will be independent countries or be subsumed within Washington’s empire.&#160; The success of the American-Israeli assault on Iran’s independence depends on India and China.</p>
<p>If India and China give the bird to Washington, what can Washington do?&#160; Absolutely nothing.&#160; What if Washington, drowning in its gigantic hubris, announced sanctions against India and China?</p>
<p>Wal-Mart’s shelves would be empty, and America’s largest retailer would be hammering on the White House door.</p>
<p>Apple Computer and innumerable powerful US corporations, which have offshored their production for the American market to China, would see their profits evaporate. Together with their Wall Street allies, these powerful corporations would assault the fool in the White House with more force than the Red Army.&#160; The Chinese trade surplus would cease to flow into US Treasury debt. The offshored-to-India back office operations of banks, credit card companies, and customer service departments of utilities throughout the US would cease to function.</p>
<p>In America, chaos would reign. Such are the rewards to the Empire of the globalism that the empire has fostered.</p>
<p>The White House moron and the neoconservative and Israeli warmongers who urge him on to more wars do not understand that the US is no longer an independent country. America is owned by offshoring corporations and the foreign countries in which the corporations have located their production for US markets. Sanctions on China and India (and South Korea) mean sanctions on US corporations. Sanctions on Turkey mean sanctions on a NATO ally.</p>
<p>Do China, India, South Korea and Turkey realize that they hold the winning cards? Do they understand that they can give the bird to the American Empire and bring it down in collapse, or are they brainwashed like Europe and the rest of the world that the powerful Americans cannot be resisted?</p>
<p>Will China and India exercise their power over the US, or will the two countries fudge the issue and adopt a pose that saves face for Washington while they continue to purchase Iranian oil?</p>
<p>The answer to this question is:&#160; how much will Washington pay China and India in secret concessions, such as eviction of the US from the South China Sea, for their pretense that China and India acknowledge Washington’s dictatorial powers over the rest of the world?</p>
<p>Without concession to China and India, Washington is likely to be ignored while it watches its power evaporate. A country that cannot produce industrial and manufactured goods, but can only print debt instruments and money is not a powerful country. It is a washed-up two-bit punk that can continue to strut around until the proverbial boy says:&#160; “the Emperor has no clothes”.</p>
<p>This article was originally published at <a href="http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/" type="external">PaulCraigRoberts.org</a> and has been used here with permission.</p> | false | 1 | us government pretends live rule law respect human rights provide freedom democracy citizens washingtons pretense stark reality diametrically opposed us government officials routinely criticize governments undemocratic violating human rights yet country except israel sends bombs missiles drones sovereign countries murder civilian populations torture prisons abu ghraib guantanamo cia secret rendition sites contributions bushobama regimes human rights ltimg classalignleft sizefull wpimage14896 stylemargin 5px titleroberts paul1 ps022305 srchttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201204paulcraigrobertsjpg altpaul craig roberts width256 height180 srcsethttpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201204paulcraigrobertsjpg 256w httpswwwforeignpolicyjournalcomwpcontentuploads201204paulcraigroberts150x105jpg 150w sizesmaxwidth 256px 100vw 256px gtwashington violates human rights citizens washington suspended civil liberties guaranteed us constitution declared intention detain us citizens indefinitely without due process law160 president obama announced discretion murder us citizens regards threat us congress respond extraordinary announcements impeachment proceedings uproar federal courts law schools bar associations glenn greenwald reports department homeland security harasses journalists refuse presstitutes160 seen videos brutal police oppression peaceful ows protestors160 chris floyd describes tortureperverts rule us washington forcing much world overthrow international treaties international law160 washington issued ukase word alone international law country except receive washingtons dispensation engages trade iran purchases irans oil sanctioned us countries cut us markets banking systems will160not able use banks process international payments160 words washingtons sanctions iran apply iran countries defy washington meet energy needs iranian oil according christian science monitor far washington granted special privileges japan 10 european union countries continue purchasing iranian oil requiring countries shut economies order comply washingtons vendetta iran vendetta ongoing ever since iranians overthrew washingtoninstalled puppet shah iran three decades ago washington could get away washington permitted japan keep importing 7885 normal oil imports iran washingtons dispensations however arbitrary dispensations granted china india turkey south korea160 india china largest importers iranian oil turkey south korea among top ten importers160before looking possible unintended consequences washingtons vendetta iran washingtons case iran frankly washington case160 hoax weapons mass destruction iran unlike israel signed nonproliferation treaty countries sign treaty right nuclear energy washington claims iran violating treaty developing nuclear weapon160 evidence whatsoever washingtons assertion160 washingtons 16 intelligence agencies unanimous iran nuclear weapons program since 2003160 moreover international atomic energy agencys weapons inspectors iran reported consistently diversion nuclear material energy program weapons program rare occasion washington reminded facts washington makes different case washington asserts irans rights nonproliferation treaty notwithstanding iran nuclear energy program iran would learned enough able future time make bomb160 worlds hegemon unilaterally decided possibility iran might one day decide make nuke great risk take better washington says drive oil price disrupt world economy violate international law risk major war worry future iranian government make nuclear weapon jeremy bentham tyrannical approach law repudiated angloamerican legal system difficult characterize washingtons position one good judgment160 moreover washington never explained huge risk washington sees possibility iranian nuke160 risk much greater risk associated soviet nukes nukes us russia china israel pakistan india north korea today160 iran relatively small country160 washingtons world hegemonic ambitions unlike washington iran war half dozen countries washington destroying americas reputation country respects law risking major war economic dislocation possible future development probability unknown good answer question lacking evidence case iran washington israel substituted demonization lie established truth current president iran intends wipe israel face earth lie succeeded propaganda even though numerous language experts proven intention attributed iranian president americanisraeli propaganda gross mistranslation president iran said washington presstitutes facts count agenda counts lie used advance agenda washingtons sanctions could end biting washington harder bite iran washington india china turkey south korea succumb washingtons threats according recent news reports india china inclined inconvenience harm economic development order support washingtons vendetta iran watched chinas rapid rise observed north koreas immunity american attack south korea might wondering much longer intends remain washingtons puppet state160 turkey civilian somewhat islamist government managed become independent uscontrolled turkish military appears slowly coming realization washington nato turkey service role turkey washingtons agent kind turkish government appears reassessing benefits washingtons pawn turkey south korea decide basically decision whether countries independent countries subsumed within washingtons empire160 success americanisraeli assault irans independence depends india china india china give bird washington washington do160 absolutely nothing160 washington drowning gigantic hubris announced sanctions india china walmarts shelves would empty americas largest retailer would hammering white house door apple computer innumerable powerful us corporations offshored production american market china would see profits evaporate together wall street allies powerful corporations would assault fool white house force red army160 chinese trade surplus would cease flow us treasury debt offshoredtoindia back office operations banks credit card companies customer service departments utilities throughout us would cease function america chaos would reign rewards empire globalism empire fostered white house moron neoconservative israeli warmongers urge wars understand us longer independent country america owned offshoring corporations foreign countries corporations located production us markets sanctions china india south korea mean sanctions us corporations sanctions turkey mean sanctions nato ally china india south korea turkey realize hold winning cards understand give bird american empire bring collapse brainwashed like europe rest world powerful americans resisted china india exercise power us two countries fudge issue adopt pose saves face washington continue purchase iranian oil answer question is160 much washington pay china india secret concessions eviction us south china sea pretense china india acknowledge washingtons dictatorial powers rest world without concession china india washington likely ignored watches power evaporate country produce industrial manufactured goods print debt instruments money powerful country washedup twobit punk continue strut around proverbial boy says160 emperor clothes article originally published paulcraigrobertsorg used permission | 889 |
<p>Christina D. Romer, the former chairwoman of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, has penned <a href="http://eppc.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=be333e74ea841be93db60da61&amp;id=d03d5e514b&amp;e=4de8d3b2b6" type="external">the latest in a long series of columns</a> by ObamaCare apologists touting the supposed cost-control virtues of the new law.</p>
<p>Her argument is that ObamaCare was a good start, but its provisions need to be strengthened and tightened by Congress to slow the pace of rising costs even more in coming years.</p>
<p>Romer is right that rapidly rising health costs is the most serious threat to the nation’s long-term prosperity. Already, the rapid run-up in federal health entitlement spending is putting tremendous pressure on the federal budget. Between 1972 and 2011, federal spending on Medicare and Medicaid rose from 1.1 percent of GDP to 5.5 percent, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). CBO’s <a href="http://eppc.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=be333e74ea841be93db60da61&amp;id=c38f3ed115&amp;e=4de8d3b2b6" type="external">latest projections</a> indicate that spending on these programs, plus ObamaCare’s new entitlement spending, will push total health entitlement spending up to at least 8.4 percent of GDP by 2030. That’s a jump in spending of nearly 3 percentage points of GDP compared to today’s level—or the equivalent of another $500 billion in budget outlays.</p>
<p>But although Romer is right about the severity of the problem, she is dead wrong about ObamaCare’s role in addressing it. ObamaCare did not lay the foundation for sensible cost control, and did not partially ease budgetary pressures, as she asserts. Quite the contrary, ObamaCare will pour an ocean of gasoline on the health entitlement fire, and the supposed cost-control mechanisms are a mirage.</p>
<p>Let’s start with Romer’s assertion that CBO has confirmed that ObamaCare will reduce the deficit by “$1 trillion” in its second decade. For starters, what CBO has said is that the law would reduce the projected federal budget deficit in the “broad range” of one-half of one percent of GDP. There’s no mention of $1 trillion in CBO’s analyses for the very reason that the number implies an entirely false precision.</p>
<p>More importantly, CBO only came to the tentative conclusion that the law would reduce future deficits because of provisions that provide an entirely artificial sense of budget discipline. First, the law imposes a massive tax hike that will grow over time because of “bracket creep.” The new tax hikes associated with the Medicare payroll tax—a new tax on earnings and capital income for certain households—was supposedly limited to individuals with incomes above $200,000 per year and families with incomes above $250,000 per year. But those income thresholds are not indexed for inflation. So, as wages rise in future years with consumer prices, more and more families will cross these thresholds and pay the taxes. Indeed, contrary to the president’s assertions, these taxes represent a major financial burden on the middle class. CBO projects that ObamaCare’s revenue hikes will add just under one percentage point in revenue in 2037 compared to 2012, largely because of this “bracket creep.” It’s obvious that this kind of tax hike has nothing to do with slowing down health care cost inflation. Moreover, these taxes are terrible tax policy as they collect increasing amounts of revenue from working Americans without forcing Congress ever having to take a vote.</p>
<p>Similarly, ObamaCare imposes what is called a “productivity adjustment factor” in the Medicare program. This productivity factor reduces the annual inflation updates for paying a large number of medical service providers, including inpatient hospital facilities. So, for instance, instead of getting a 3 percent increase in Medicare payments for services, these providers will get a 2.6 percent increase. And not just once. This type of cut will occur every year in perpetuity. Over time, the compounding effect of piling new cuts each year on the savings occurring from prior years’ cuts is substantial. On paper at least, this kind of cut is enough to eliminate trillions of dollars in Medicare liabilities.</p>
<p>The problem of course is that these kinds of across-the-board cuts do not produce greater efficiency in the health sector, nor do they reward the higher-quality providers. All providers are cut equally, regardless of how well or badly they treat their patients. In time, these cuts will drive Medicare’s reimbursement rates so low that they will fall below what Medicaid pays, which is so low that Medicaid patients often have trouble accessing care. By 2030, some 25 percent of all hospitals would be forced to stop admitting Medicare patients to limit their red ink. This is why the Chief Actuary for the program considers the “productivity adjustment factor” completely unrealistic over the medium and longer term.</p>
<p>Without the “bracket creep” in the tax provisions and the unrealistic Medicare cuts from artificial cuts in reimbursement rates, even CBO would have found ObamaCare to be a major budget buster.</p>
<p>It gets worse. The authors of ObamaCare not only used dubious cuts in Medicare to grease the way for a massive new entitlement program, they also double-counted the savings. The same cuts in Medicare that are supposedly paying for ObamaCare are also used to replenish the Medicare trust fund and pay future Medicare claims. <a href="http://eppc.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=be333e74ea841be93db60da61&amp;id=9f7f643490&amp;e=4de8d3b2b6" type="external">As Charles Blahous has explained</a>, when this double-counting is removed from ObamaCare’s accounting, the law adds at least $340 billion to the deficit over its first ten years, <a href="http://eppc.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=be333e74ea841be93db60da61&amp;id=2d4accb68e&amp;e=4de8d3b2b6" type="external">and trillions more over the long-term</a>.</p>
<p>Like other defenders of ObamaCare, Romer tries to create the impression that the law has set in motion other changes to improve the efficiency of American medical care. This is nothing more than wishful thinking, with zero evidence to support it. For instance, Romer points to the new office in HHS that is charged with testing out new cost-savings ideas in Medicare. But CBO <a href="http://eppc.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=be333e74ea841be93db60da61&amp;id=926e87244e&amp;e=4de8d3b2b6" type="external">has already issued a report</a> documenting that years and years of previous efforts by the bureaucracy to engineer more cost-effective health care failed to produce any significant savings. Accordingly, CBO assigned almost no cost savings to the provisions in ObamaCare that Romer suggests hold so much hope for slowing down escalation.</p>
<p>Romer also touts ObamaCare’s Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) as an effective cost-cutting tool. The IPAB is the unaccountable and unelected fifteen-member board that is charged with enforcing a new spending cap on the Medicare program. IPAB’s authority, however, is limited to imposing even deeper cuts in reimbursement rates, which will only exacerbate the quality and access problems imposed by ObamaCare’s other Medicare cuts.</p>
<p>Romer’s enthusiasm for IPAB betrays the kind of thinking that animated the drafting and passage of ObamaCare in Congress. The supporters of the law believe that the federal government, perhaps embodied in a bureaucratic panel like IPAB, has the knowledge and capacity to re-engineer American health care for the better. This belief is dangerous and completely misguided. The federal government has demonstrated in its management of Medicare and Medicaid over the past half century that it has no capacity whatsoever to make prudent resource-allocation decisions in health care. Instead, to hit budget targets, the federal government always resorts to blunt, across-the-board cost cutting that harms the quality of patient care and reduces medical innovation.</p>
<p>To control costs, as Romer rightly says is necessary, what’s needed in American health care is the discipline and accountability that comes with a functioning marketplace. That means empowering consumers, not bureaucrats, to make sound decisions for themselves. With consumers in the driver’s seat, those providing medical services to them will have strong incentives to reorganize their business practices to deliver better care at less cost.</p>
<p>That’s the only way to slow the pace of rising costs while maintaining or even improving the quality of care provided to patients. And moving in this direction will of course require repealing and replacing ObamaCare, not building upon it as Romer suggests.</p>
<p>James C. Capretta is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. He was an associate director at the Office of Management and Budget from 2001 to 2004.</p> | false | 1 | christina romer former chairwoman president obamas council economic advisers penned latest long series columns obamacare apologists touting supposed costcontrol virtues new law argument obamacare good start provisions need strengthened tightened congress slow pace rising costs even coming years romer right rapidly rising health costs serious threat nations longterm prosperity already rapid runup federal health entitlement spending putting tremendous pressure federal budget 1972 2011 federal spending medicare medicaid rose 11 percent gdp 55 percent according congressional budget office cbo cbos latest projections indicate spending programs plus obamacares new entitlement spending push total health entitlement spending least 84 percent gdp 2030 thats jump spending nearly 3 percentage points gdp compared todays levelor equivalent another 500 billion budget outlays although romer right severity problem dead wrong obamacares role addressing obamacare lay foundation sensible cost control partially ease budgetary pressures asserts quite contrary obamacare pour ocean gasoline health entitlement fire supposed costcontrol mechanisms mirage lets start romers assertion cbo confirmed obamacare reduce deficit 1 trillion second decade starters cbo said law would reduce projected federal budget deficit broad range onehalf one percent gdp theres mention 1 trillion cbos analyses reason number implies entirely false precision importantly cbo came tentative conclusion law would reduce future deficits provisions provide entirely artificial sense budget discipline first law imposes massive tax hike grow time bracket creep new tax hikes associated medicare payroll taxa new tax earnings capital income certain householdswas supposedly limited individuals incomes 200000 per year families incomes 250000 per year income thresholds indexed inflation wages rise future years consumer prices families cross thresholds pay taxes indeed contrary presidents assertions taxes represent major financial burden middle class cbo projects obamacares revenue hikes add one percentage point revenue 2037 compared 2012 largely bracket creep obvious kind tax hike nothing slowing health care cost inflation moreover taxes terrible tax policy collect increasing amounts revenue working americans without forcing congress ever take vote similarly obamacare imposes called productivity adjustment factor medicare program productivity factor reduces annual inflation updates paying large number medical service providers including inpatient hospital facilities instance instead getting 3 percent increase medicare payments services providers get 26 percent increase type cut occur every year perpetuity time compounding effect piling new cuts year savings occurring prior years cuts substantial paper least kind cut enough eliminate trillions dollars medicare liabilities problem course kinds acrosstheboard cuts produce greater efficiency health sector reward higherquality providers providers cut equally regardless well badly treat patients time cuts drive medicares reimbursement rates low fall medicaid pays low medicaid patients often trouble accessing care 2030 25 percent hospitals would forced stop admitting medicare patients limit red ink chief actuary program considers productivity adjustment factor completely unrealistic medium longer term without bracket creep tax provisions unrealistic medicare cuts artificial cuts reimbursement rates even cbo would found obamacare major budget buster gets worse authors obamacare used dubious cuts medicare grease way massive new entitlement program also doublecounted savings cuts medicare supposedly paying obamacare also used replenish medicare trust fund pay future medicare claims charles blahous explained doublecounting removed obamacares accounting law adds least 340 billion deficit first ten years trillions longterm like defenders obamacare romer tries create impression law set motion changes improve efficiency american medical care nothing wishful thinking zero evidence support instance romer points new office hhs charged testing new costsavings ideas medicare cbo already issued report documenting years years previous efforts bureaucracy engineer costeffective health care failed produce significant savings accordingly cbo assigned almost cost savings provisions obamacare romer suggests hold much hope slowing escalation romer also touts obamacares independent payment advisory board ipab effective costcutting tool ipab unaccountable unelected fifteenmember board charged enforcing new spending cap medicare program ipabs authority however limited imposing even deeper cuts reimbursement rates exacerbate quality access problems imposed obamacares medicare cuts romers enthusiasm ipab betrays kind thinking animated drafting passage obamacare congress supporters law believe federal government perhaps embodied bureaucratic panel like ipab knowledge capacity reengineer american health care better belief dangerous completely misguided federal government demonstrated management medicare medicaid past half century capacity whatsoever make prudent resourceallocation decisions health care instead hit budget targets federal government always resorts blunt acrosstheboard cost cutting harms quality patient care reduces medical innovation control costs romer rightly says necessary whats needed american health care discipline accountability comes functioning marketplace means empowering consumers bureaucrats make sound decisions consumers drivers seat providing medical services strong incentives reorganize business practices deliver better care less cost thats way slow pace rising costs maintaining even improving quality care provided patients moving direction course require repealing replacing obamacare building upon romer suggests james c capretta fellow ethics public policy center associate director office management budget 2001 2004 | 770 |
<p>The New Year began in Britain with an initiative from the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, designed to combat what many Britons see as an epidemic of anti-social behavior, particularly on the part of young people. Titled “Respect Action Plan” or RAP&#160;— the usefulness of the acronym will become apparent presently&#160;— it proposed increased police powers and on-the-spot fines for anti-social behavior, more social and “outreach” workers for “problem families” and classes in parenting, all in the name of increasing the sum-total of “respect” in British society. The example of its absence cited by Mr. Blair was of someone “spitting at an old lady on her way to the shops”&#160;— something which, to be sure, is already an offense but which is almost never prosecuted. This is because, he said, the cost of doing so and obtaining a conviction resulting in a small fine has seemed too great. Now the fine can be levied on the spot&#160;— assuming that there’s a policeman around who saw it happen.</p>
<p>That seems a bit unlikely, frankly. Would the spitting yobbo&#160;— the picturesque British word for the class of loutish youths most likely to behave anti-socially&#160;— have spat in the first place if a policeman was about? And why would he be spitting at an old lady anyway? I can understand snatching her purse, but spitting seems a gesture more likely to be reserved for a rival yobbo with whom he is fighting, or trying to pick a fight, or over whom he seeks to proclaim his dominance in a particularly insulting way&#160;— like yobboesque Sean Taylor of the Washington Redskins who was fined $17,000 for spitting in the face of Michael Pittman of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a National Football League playoff game at about the same time that Mr. Blair was making his announcement. No one thought that even that sanction was likely to increase respectful behavior in the NFL, and the Respect Action Plan’s fines were likely to be considerably less than $17,000.</p>
<p>Anyway, the Prime Minister himself didn’t receive much respect in the rough handling the Plan got from the British press and public&#160;— and even from his own cabinet, which forced a cut in its funding from £90 million to £25 million. The opinion was widespread that the whole business was a mere gimmick, an exercise in spin and public relations. And, indeed, it did rather seem like an attempt by the government to look busy on a matter of public concern about which it could do little but look busy. Even the devoutest believer in the state’s power to do good might hesitate to claim that people can be made to behave respectfully towards each other at the bidding of Parliament. Yet who among us, even in the USA where yobboes are if not confined to the NFL comparatively thin on the ground, would not applaud the idea, supposing that there were even the smallest likelihood that it might contribute to better manners among the young or more civil behavior in any class of society?</p>
<p>When it was first raised in the wake of his party’s election victory last May, Mr. Blair had been at some pains to distinguish his chosen word “respect” from one which some people with long memories might otherwise have been tempted to confuse it, namely “deference.” Respect good, deference bad, was Mr. Blair’s message in a nut-shell, and it was easy to see why. The Labour Party, at least by its own and proudly rendered accounting, had had its origins a century ago in the grand refusal by a hitherto subservient working class to pay customary deference to industrial bosses, who were mostly Liberals, or country squires and parsons, who were mostly Conservatives. The Prime Minister was having enough trouble reining in his increasingly restive and almost invariably more left-leaning back-benchers without giving them any further excuse to think of himself as lacking in respect for the party’s radical traditions.</p>
<p>Moreover, unlike “deference”, “respect” could be used to lend just a hint of street-cred&#160;— to use a term you’re unlikely to hear from anyone who actually has it&#160;— to the initiative. The rap and hip-hop divisions of the popular culture alluded to in the acronymic title of Mr. Blair’s initiative have made poetical and musical demands for respect, usually with veiled or not-so veiled menaces, a familiar theme among the young people at whom they have been directed. The hope was obviously that they would thus be able to make an easy transition from admiration for the macho posturings of rapping outlaws and bad-boys to an enthusiasm for good manners and decorous behavior towards everybody, including old ladies, because the idea of respect is common to both. I don’t know, but something about this idea doesn’t seem quite well thought through to me.</p>
<p>In fact, I think that the two kinds of respect are antithetical to each other. He who demands respect almost invariably does so because he is not entitled to it and would not receive it without the energetic aggressiveness of the demand itself&#160;— which is also, of course, necessarily lacking in respect towards those of whom it is made. Mr. Blair assumes on the part of the yobboes a commitment to Enlightenment principles, such as that he who asks for respect must therefore naturally be prepared to give it, that is I fear unwarranted. His thinking may have been shaped, however, by the fact that politicians are a major exception to the rule that those who are entitled to respect normally receive it without having to ask for it. This is because, partly on account of the Labour Party’s glorious history, they inhabit a political culture so terrified of deference that it has become almost a point of honor not to show even basic respect to those who, up until only a generation ago, would have been thought by left and right alike to have been among the first of those with a natural claim on it.</p>
<p>The media have of course led the way in promoting this respect-less culture, in Britain as in America, on the principle recently enunciated by Jeremy Paxman, a well-known British interviewer of politicians on television, who claimed that, whenever he sat down with one for an interview, he was constantly asking himself: “Why is this lying bastard lying to me?” Small wonder, then, that Tony Blair&#160;— who, like his American counterpart, George W. Bush, has for some years now been branded a liar almost routinely in the press of both countries&#160;— should be found pleading for everyone to show more respect for everyone else. There was more than a hint of his self identification with the anonymous old lady at whom drunken yobboes have allegedly been spitting.</p>
<p>Unpleasant though they are, the yobboes may in some ways have the truer notion of what respect entails, and above all its close relationship to fear. For all the power of his office, the politician of today has scarcely more power to compel respect than the old lady, and where respect cannot be compelled it is unlikely to grow spontaneously. Yet what kept it in place in the old culture of deference was only rarely the threat of violence. Much more typically the social sanction of being thought unworthy a place among the social élites&#160;— either the socially ambitious bourgeoisie or the “respectable” working classes&#160;— was enough to intimidate those who might otherwise have been tempted into boorish behavior. It wasn’t fear of the old lady that kept our grandfathers from spitting at her&#160;— if, indeed, they had to be kept from it&#160;— but a fear of being thought ungentlemanly or lacking in common decency. For that is what people would have thought who had been raised in an honor culture based on the principle that gentlemanliness and decency both demanded a condescending respect by the strong for the weak.</p>
<p>You only have to look at what has happened to the word “condescending”&#160;— “condescending respect” is now, of course, an oxymoron&#160;— to see what happened to the world of respectability and deference where respect once dwelt at its ease and without having to make a fuss about itself, either in the form of rap or of RAP. Mr. Blair should have known better than anybody, or better than anybody but Mr. Bush, how small a part respect now plays in our public life. How were the yobboes to be impressed with the social necessity of being respectful towards old ladies by politicians and journalists who have so little respect for each other?</p>
<p>Also at the same time of the RAP announcement in London, Senate confirmation hearings were beginning in Washington on Judge Samuel Alito’s nomination to the Supreme Court, and they were being conducted, at least on the Democratic side, rather in the spirit of Mr. Paxman. Not only was Mr. Alito assumed, in questioning by some of the Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, notably Senator Edward Kennedy, to be lying, but he was forced to deny that he was a bigot or a right-wing nut as well.</p>
<p>The most interesting line of questioning, however, had to do with his support, in opinions he wrote as a Federal Appeals Court judge, for executive power. One of the witnesses called by the Democrats to testify against his confirmation, an assistant professor of law at Berkeley called Goodwin Liu, cited it as a disqualification for service on the Supreme Court that the nominee had ruled too often for the executive in his previous opinions. “In the contested cases, Judge Alito agreed with the government over 90 percent of the time, far more often than other appellate judges in similar cases, even those appointed by Republican presidents,” claimed Assistant Professor Liu. In the Democratic view, apparently, the job of judges, like that of journalists, is to seek out and punish misbehavior on the part of government officials, and it is obviously a blot on their record if they don’t find enough of it.</p>
<p>According to the Washington Post, during his confirmation hearings more questions were asked of Judge Alito about his attitude towards presidential power than on any other subject and far more than were asked of Chief Justice John Roberts during his confirmation hearings only a few months before. The reason was not far to seek, for in December the New York Times had revealed that the National Security Agency had been listening in to conversations between people in America, some of them American citizens, and people overseas without obtaining a warrant from the special magistrates empowered to grant such warrants in cases involving suspected terrorist activity. Democrats were particularly interested in presenting for Judge Alito’s consideration the opinion of Justice Robert Jackson in the case of Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company v. Sawyer of 1952 when he concurred with the majority of the court that President Harry Truman could not use his exercise of war powers during the Korean War to avert a labor dispute in the steel industry. As Adam Liptak forecast in the Times, “Whether and how Justice Jackson’s analysis should apply to broadly similar recent assertions by the Bush administration, notably concerning its domestic surveillance program, will plainly be a central theme when questioning of Judge Alito begins.”</p>
<p>“Broadly similar” was certainly getting a broad use out of “broadly,” but in the Times’s case it had long since been plain that it would take the same approach as the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee to Judge Alito and pick up any available stick to beat the administration with. In revealing the NSA surveillance, the paper and its (inevitably) anonymous source showed no more respect for the office of the presidency, whose prestige as well as its power was thus brought into play, than could have been expected. The Times, indeed, by sitting on the information for a year (by its own account) may have shown a certain respect for national security&#160;— or for the damage to its own reputation in being thought to be unconcerned with same&#160;— but the President himself and his pleas against publication got no more respect than Mr. Blair’s sputum-dabbled old lady. The Times and the rest of the media have their own reputation to keep up, after all, and they want us to respect it. It is the reputation born of the Watergate affair of the media as the scourges of governmental wrong-doing, the exposers of scandals and the brave refusers of deference to the wielders of the civil and military powers in their country.</p>
<p>Thus as I write we have had for a month or more yet another spate of eager speculation by columnists and pundits as to how far their fervent hopes for a new Watergate might yet be gratified. For some, like Frank Rich of The Times, this begins to look to anyone who doesn’t share those hopes like a form of columnar masturbation, a deliberate self-titillation with delicious fantasies of scandalous behavior yet to be revealed.</p>
<p>Given (he writes) that the reporters on the Times story, James Risen and Eric Lichtblau, wrote that nearly a dozen current and former officials had served as their sources, there may be more leaks to come, and not just to The Times. Sooner or later we’ll find out what the White House is really so defensive about. Perhaps it’s the obvious: the errant spying ensnared Americans talking to Americans, not just Americans talking to jihadists in Afghanistan. In a raw interview transcript posted on MSNBC’s Web site last week&#160;— and quickly seized on by John Aravosis of AmericaBlog&#160;— the NBC News foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell asked Mr. Risen if he knew whether the CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour might have been wiretapped. (Mr. Risen said, “I hadn’t heard that.”) Surely a pro like Ms. Mitchell wasn’t speculating idly. NBC News, which did not broadcast this exchange and later edited it out of the Web transcript, said Friday it was still pursuing the story. If the Bush administration did indeed eavesdrop on American journalists and political opponents (Ms. Amanpour’s husband, Jamie Rubin, was a foreign policy adviser to the Kerry campaign), it’s déjà Watergate all over again.</p>
<p>What a lot of ifs and maybes and perhapses! Oh if only! Yet what the would-be scandal lacked was any obvious appeal to public opinion, not to mention the problem that the same people have been crying “scandal” steadily for nearly three years now and are less and less likely to be listened to. The more the NSA eavesdropping has been sold as a scandal, the more it has had to be sold as a scandal, and the more it has had to be sold as a scandal the more remote the would-be scandal became from the world inhabited by the rest of us&#160;— those of us, that is, without a professional interest in drumming up scandal. In that world people are not uninterested in questions of civil liberties but they’re just not very interested in the civil liberties of terrorists or even those who might be terrorists. This is because they are much more afraid of terrorists&#160;— not unreasonably, it may seem to some&#160;— than they are of being treated like terrorists themselves. Most people don’t make any foreign phone calls. Or receive any either. And if a certain proportion, even a very small proportion, of those who do are talking to terrorists, why not listen to all of them?</p>
<p>But whatever the legal status of the eavesdropping, surely there is more than a case to be made for keeping discussion about it confined to government and opposition leaders with security clearances rather than airing it in the public prints and across the airwaves. In fact, the only reason for not doing so is the undimmed hope of media and less responsible members of that opposition&#160;— evident for nearly three years now in the treatment of the missing WMD and other matters&#160;— of finding a scandal to use against the administration for political purposes. The principal lesson of Watergate, we are often told, was that no one is above the law. Judge Alito was moved to offer up a ritual obeisance to the maxim when he volunteered in his opening statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee that “no person in this country, no matter how high or powerful, is above the law, and no person in this country is beneath the law.” Admirable sentiments, no doubt, yet self-evidently untrue. For those who administer the laws must be in some important sense above them, if only by wielding the responsibility for deciding which laws shall be administered in what circumstances. And when, brought low by scandal or the loss of power and popular or political support, those who administer the laws themselves become subject to them at last, it only means that someone else, like a special prosecutor or judge, has taken their place in the enviable position of being above the law.</p>
<p>Or, to put it another way, at some point in any system not based on the sheer exercise of force, trust is necessary It used to be thought that the executive occupied the principal place of trust as of right. Since Watergate, that assumption has changed. Now those who are entitled to ask us to trust them, and who are thus supposed to be above the law, are judges and the media themselves&#160;— which is why the Times thought itself privileged to publish classified information without paying any price for doing so, or being compelled to reveal the identity of the source who broke the law in order to supply it with that information. The same assumptions were at work in the debate over torture&#160;— which was not really about torture so much as who is entitled to decide what torture is. The outrage in the media over what the media naturally represented as the administration’s willingness to engage in the barbaric treatment of terror-suspects arose out of the assumption that only judges and the media could be trusted to decide when the frontier between permissible and civilized restraint and torture had been crossed.</p>
<p>There are obvious attractions for the media in the idea of reposing ultimate trust in a class of educated and enlightened mandarins like themselves rather than elected officials, but the anti-democratic impulse is exposed for what it is the moment there is a breach in the unanimity of opinion as to what educated and enlightened standards consist of. Hence the anxiety and hostility betrayed by Judge Alito’s questioners, and their eagerness to find some way of portraying him as being “outside the mainstream”&#160;— either in his willingness to defer to the executive or in his membership of a society, the Concerned Alumni of Princeton, some members of which may or may not have been racists. Whether they were or no, the case for regarding Judge Alito himself as one was exiguous to the point of non-existence, yet the Democrats overwhelmingly opposed him anyway because on the Supreme Court he would be a standing reproach to their most treasured belief, that decency and humanity speak with one voice and on behalf of the liberal media consensus. On the Court, he will not be so easy to ignore as those of us who toil in the ghettos of the right-wing press and vainly ask for a little respect from the “mainstream”&#160;— or the politicians who don’t even bother to ask anymore except, rather pathetically, on behalf of old ladies.</p> | false | 1 | new year began britain initiative prime minister tony blair designed combat many britons see epidemic antisocial behavior particularly part young people titled respect action plan rap160 usefulness acronym become apparent presently160 proposed increased police powers onthespot fines antisocial behavior social outreach workers problem families classes parenting name increasing sumtotal respect british society example absence cited mr blair someone spitting old lady way shops160 something sure already offense almost never prosecuted said cost obtaining conviction resulting small fine seemed great fine levied spot160 assuming theres policeman around saw happen seems bit unlikely frankly would spitting yobbo160 picturesque british word class loutish youths likely behave antisocially160 spat first place policeman would spitting old lady anyway understand snatching purse spitting seems gesture likely reserved rival yobbo fighting trying pick fight seeks proclaim dominance particularly insulting way160 like yobboesque sean taylor washington redskins fined 17000 spitting face michael pittman tampa bay buccaneers national football league playoff game time mr blair making announcement one thought even sanction likely increase respectful behavior nfl respect action plans fines likely considerably less 17000 anyway prime minister didnt receive much respect rough handling plan got british press public160 even cabinet forced cut funding 90 million 25 million opinion widespread whole business mere gimmick exercise spin public relations indeed rather seem like attempt government look busy matter public concern could little look busy even devoutest believer states power good might hesitate claim people made behave respectfully towards bidding parliament yet among us even usa yobboes confined nfl comparatively thin ground would applaud idea supposing even smallest likelihood might contribute better manners among young civil behavior class society first raised wake partys election victory last may mr blair pains distinguish chosen word respect one people long memories might otherwise tempted confuse namely deference respect good deference bad mr blairs message nutshell easy see labour party least proudly rendered accounting origins century ago grand refusal hitherto subservient working class pay customary deference industrial bosses mostly liberals country squires parsons mostly conservatives prime minister enough trouble reining increasingly restive almost invariably leftleaning backbenchers without giving excuse think lacking respect partys radical traditions moreover unlike deference respect could used lend hint streetcred160 use term youre unlikely hear anyone actually it160 initiative rap hiphop divisions popular culture alluded acronymic title mr blairs initiative made poetical musical demands respect usually veiled notso veiled menaces familiar theme among young people directed hope obviously would thus able make easy transition admiration macho posturings rapping outlaws badboys enthusiasm good manners decorous behavior towards everybody including old ladies idea respect common dont know something idea doesnt seem quite well thought fact think two kinds respect antithetical demands respect almost invariably entitled would receive without energetic aggressiveness demand itself160 also course necessarily lacking respect towards made mr blair assumes part yobboes commitment enlightenment principles asks respect must therefore naturally prepared give fear unwarranted thinking may shaped however fact politicians major exception rule entitled respect normally receive without ask partly account labour partys glorious history inhabit political culture terrified deference become almost point honor show even basic respect generation ago would thought left right alike among first natural claim media course led way promoting respectless culture britain america principle recently enunciated jeremy paxman wellknown british interviewer politicians television claimed whenever sat one interview constantly asking lying bastard lying small wonder tony blair160 like american counterpart george w bush years branded liar almost routinely press countries160 found pleading everyone show respect everyone else hint self identification anonymous old lady drunken yobboes allegedly spitting unpleasant though yobboes may ways truer notion respect entails close relationship fear power office politician today scarcely power compel respect old lady respect compelled unlikely grow spontaneously yet kept place old culture deference rarely threat violence much typically social sanction thought unworthy place among social élites160 either socially ambitious bourgeoisie respectable working classes160 enough intimidate might otherwise tempted boorish behavior wasnt fear old lady kept grandfathers spitting her160 indeed kept it160 fear thought ungentlemanly lacking common decency people would thought raised honor culture based principle gentlemanliness decency demanded condescending respect strong weak look happened word condescending160 condescending respect course oxymoron160 see happened world respectability deference respect dwelt ease without make fuss either form rap rap mr blair known better anybody better anybody mr bush small part respect plays public life yobboes impressed social necessity respectful towards old ladies politicians journalists little respect also time rap announcement london senate confirmation hearings beginning washington judge samuel alitos nomination supreme court conducted least democratic side rather spirit mr paxman mr alito assumed questioning democrats judiciary committee notably senator edward kennedy lying forced deny bigot rightwing nut well interesting line questioning however support opinions wrote federal appeals court judge executive power one witnesses called democrats testify confirmation assistant professor law berkeley called goodwin liu cited disqualification service supreme court nominee ruled often executive previous opinions contested cases judge alito agreed government 90 percent time far often appellate judges similar cases even appointed republican presidents claimed assistant professor liu democratic view apparently job judges like journalists seek punish misbehavior part government officials obviously blot record dont find enough according washington post confirmation hearings questions asked judge alito attitude towards presidential power subject far asked chief justice john roberts confirmation hearings months reason far seek december new york times revealed national security agency listening conversations people america american citizens people overseas without obtaining warrant special magistrates empowered grant warrants cases involving suspected terrorist activity democrats particularly interested presenting judge alitos consideration opinion justice robert jackson case youngstown sheet tube company v sawyer 1952 concurred majority court president harry truman could use exercise war powers korean war avert labor dispute steel industry adam liptak forecast times whether justice jacksons analysis apply broadly similar recent assertions bush administration notably concerning domestic surveillance program plainly central theme questioning judge alito begins broadly similar certainly getting broad use broadly timess case long since plain would take approach democrats senate judiciary committee judge alito pick available stick beat administration revealing nsa surveillance paper inevitably anonymous source showed respect office presidency whose prestige well power thus brought play could expected times indeed sitting information year account may shown certain respect national security160 damage reputation thought unconcerned same160 president pleas publication got respect mr blairs sputumdabbled old lady times rest media reputation keep want us respect reputation born watergate affair media scourges governmental wrongdoing exposers scandals brave refusers deference wielders civil military powers country thus write month yet another spate eager speculation columnists pundits far fervent hopes new watergate might yet gratified like frank rich times begins look anyone doesnt share hopes like form columnar masturbation deliberate selftitillation delicious fantasies scandalous behavior yet revealed given writes reporters times story james risen eric lichtblau wrote nearly dozen current former officials served sources may leaks come times sooner later well find white house really defensive perhaps obvious errant spying ensnared americans talking americans americans talking jihadists afghanistan raw interview transcript posted msnbcs web site last week160 quickly seized john aravosis americablog160 nbc news foreign affairs correspondent andrea mitchell asked mr risen knew whether cnn correspondent christiane amanpour might wiretapped mr risen said hadnt heard surely pro like ms mitchell wasnt speculating idly nbc news broadcast exchange later edited web transcript said friday still pursuing story bush administration indeed eavesdrop american journalists political opponents ms amanpours husband jamie rubin foreign policy adviser kerry campaign déjà watergate lot ifs maybes perhapses oh yet wouldbe scandal lacked obvious appeal public opinion mention problem people crying scandal steadily nearly three years less less likely listened nsa eavesdropping sold scandal sold scandal sold scandal remote wouldbe scandal became world inhabited rest us160 us without professional interest drumming scandal world people uninterested questions civil liberties theyre interested civil liberties terrorists even might terrorists much afraid terrorists160 unreasonably may seem some160 treated like terrorists people dont make foreign phone calls receive either certain proportion even small proportion talking terrorists listen whatever legal status eavesdropping surely case made keeping discussion confined government opposition leaders security clearances rather airing public prints across airwaves fact reason undimmed hope media less responsible members opposition160 evident nearly three years treatment missing wmd matters160 finding scandal use administration political purposes principal lesson watergate often told one law judge alito moved offer ritual obeisance maxim volunteered opening statement senate judiciary committee person country matter high powerful law person country beneath law admirable sentiments doubt yet selfevidently untrue administer laws must important sense wielding responsibility deciding laws shall administered circumstances brought low scandal loss power popular political support administer laws become subject last means someone else like special prosecutor judge taken place enviable position law put another way point system based sheer exercise force trust necessary used thought executive occupied principal place trust right since watergate assumption changed entitled ask us trust thus supposed law judges media themselves160 times thought privileged publish classified information without paying price compelled reveal identity source broke law order supply information assumptions work debate torture160 really torture much entitled decide torture outrage media media naturally represented administrations willingness engage barbaric treatment terrorsuspects arose assumption judges media could trusted decide frontier permissible civilized restraint torture crossed obvious attractions media idea reposing ultimate trust class educated enlightened mandarins like rather elected officials antidemocratic impulse exposed moment breach unanimity opinion educated enlightened standards consist hence anxiety hostility betrayed judge alitos questioners eagerness find way portraying outside mainstream160 either willingness defer executive membership society concerned alumni princeton members may may racists whether case regarding judge alito one exiguous point nonexistence yet democrats overwhelmingly opposed anyway supreme court would standing reproach treasured belief decency humanity speak one voice behalf liberal media consensus court easy ignore us toil ghettos rightwing press vainly ask little respect mainstream160 politicians dont even bother ask anymore except rather pathetically behalf old ladies | 1,617 |
<p>Rhonda Collins appreciates her family’s government-provided housing, but after 11 years she can recite its shortcomings.</p>
<p>To name a few: Her four-bedroom apartment at Jones Garden has no dishwasher. The other appliances are dated and often need repairs. Collins won’t let her children play outside because of violent crime in the neighborhood.</p>
<p>“I wouldn’t imagine ever paying $1,200 (a month) to live here,” she said of the 30-year-old apartment complex near the intersection of Marion Drive and East Owens Avenue.</p>
<p>But that’s approximately how much Jones Garden’s highest-income residents will begin paying in 2018. The rent ceiling for the complex’s four-bedroom apartments will increase by more than $200 per month come Jan. 1.</p>
<p>At five more public housing developments across the Las Vegas Valley, the rent ceiling for three-bedroom and four-bedroom apartments will see larger rent increases, the most being $302 more a month.</p>
<p>&lt;img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/stephens-media/image/upload/v1509861195/rentceilingsgraphic.jpg" alt="(Las Vegas Review-Journal)"&gt;</p>
<p>Federal policy, local effects</p>
<p>The surges in rent are part of a nationwide, three-year-old federal law aimed at stretching the budget of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.</p>
<p>HUD previously allowed local pubic housing agencies to decide the maximum rent that tenants of government-owned apartments should pay, but since June 2014 the rent ceiling has been based on “fair market rent.”</p>
<p>Generally, fair market rent is an average of rental prices across an entire metropolitan area for an apartment based on its number of bedrooms. Federal law states the rent ceiling for public housing must be no less than 80 percent of the area’s fair market rent.</p>
<p>This has caused a sudden rise in rent ceilings for some Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority apartments as they catch up to the fair market rent.</p>
<p>Typically, apartments with fewer bedrooms are seeing smaller increases in rent ceilings. But at some three- and four-bedroom apartments the rent ceiling is increasing by as much as 35 percent a year, the maximum the law allows.</p>
<p>HUD spokesman Ed Cabrera said the rent ceilings are a safeguard for public housing residents. Most residents pay 30 percent of their income for rent, but the ceiling eventually caps that at a flat rate.</p>
<p>“The last thing we want to do is disincentivize someone from taking a higher-paying job or becoming employed if they’re worried their new income levels would cause a large increase in rent,” he said. “A flat rent rate affords them some stability.”</p>
<p>Rent almost doubling</p>
<p>The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority told the Review-Journal that about 1 percent of families currently living in public housing in Clark County will be affected by the rent ceiling increase in 2018.</p>
<p>Still, for those affected the rent increases have added up quickly.</p>
<p>Before rent ceilings were tied to fair market rent in 2014, renting a four-bedroom apartment at Marble Manor in historic west Las Vegas cost $655 a month. Next year it will be nearly $1,275, and it will likely increase again in 2019.</p>
<p>This kind of rapid rent increase drew criticism from Deborah Thrope, supervising attorney at the National Housing Law Project.</p>
<p>&lt;img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/stephens-media/image/upload/v1509861026/rentzipcodegraphic.jpg" alt="(Las Vegas Review-Journal)"&gt;</p>
<p>“I can’t imagine a scenario where someone’s rent is doubling could have a positive impact on a family,” she said. “Generally they’ll be spending more money on rent and less money on other life necessities. It will come out of their food budget, transportation budget or their kids’ school supply budget. That’s the bottom line.”</p>
<p>And it appears likely that the fair market rent for the Las Vegas Valley will continue climbing for some time.</p>
<p>Apartment-complex broker Spencer Ballif of CBRE Group said he expects rates for privately owned apartments to continue increasing for years to come as Las Vegas bounces back from the Great Recession.</p>
<p>“From an overall market perspective we just passed the peak rents of 2007 in the first quarter of this year. That’s far slower than the majority of the country,” he said. “We feel the market itself has a lot of runway left.”</p>
<p>Contact Michael Scott Davidson at <a href="" type="internal">[email protected]</a> or 702-477-3861. Follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/davidsonlvrj" type="external">@davidsonlvrj</a> on Twitter.</p>
<p />
<p>Lower rent ceilings available</p>
<p>The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has provided public housing agencies a way to better correlate rent ceilings to hyperlocal markets, HUD spokesman Ed Cabrera said.</p>
<p>Instead of setting a rent ceiling at 80 percent of the average “fair market rent” for an entire metropolitan area, Cabrera said public housing agencies can set them at 80 percent of “small area fair market rents” that establish rates by ZIP code.</p>
<p>Ed Gramlich, a senior advisor at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said using small area fair market rents would “help mitigate some of the sting of those increases in flat rents.”</p>
<p>“It’s common sense to establish a base flat rent on what comparable unassisted units in the vicinity of where the public housing development is as opposed to having an inflated base that reflects the rents for an entire metropolitan area.”</p>
<p>An analysis by the Review-Journal showed that using the ZIP code-based method would create lower rent ceilings at every public housing development in Clark County.</p>
<p>But the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority does not use this method. Executive administrative assistant Laure Raposa wrote in an email that it would be “more difficult” for SNRHA to manage the small area fair market rents.</p>
<p>“If clients have enough income to pay the flat rent, based on the current (fair market rent) schedule, it is our hope that they have gained sufficient stability to move out of public housing and make room for others who need assistance,” Raposa wrote.</p>
<p /> | false | 1 | rhonda collins appreciates familys governmentprovided housing 11 years recite shortcomings name fourbedroom apartment jones garden dishwasher appliances dated often need repairs collins wont let children play outside violent crime neighborhood wouldnt imagine ever paying 1200 month live said 30yearold apartment complex near intersection marion drive east owens avenue thats approximately much jones gardens highestincome residents begin paying 2018 rent ceiling complexs fourbedroom apartments increase 200 per month come jan 1 five public housing developments across las vegas valley rent ceiling threebedroom fourbedroom apartments see larger rent increases 302 month ltimg srchttpsrescloudinarycomstephensmediaimageuploadv1509861195rentceilingsgraphicjpg altlas vegas reviewjournalgt federal policy local effects surges rent part nationwide threeyearold federal law aimed stretching budget us department housing urban development hud previously allowed local pubic housing agencies decide maximum rent tenants governmentowned apartments pay since june 2014 rent ceiling based fair market rent generally fair market rent average rental prices across entire metropolitan area apartment based number bedrooms federal law states rent ceiling public housing must less 80 percent areas fair market rent caused sudden rise rent ceilings southern nevada regional housing authority apartments catch fair market rent typically apartments fewer bedrooms seeing smaller increases rent ceilings three fourbedroom apartments rent ceiling increasing much 35 percent year maximum law allows hud spokesman ed cabrera said rent ceilings safeguard public housing residents residents pay 30 percent income rent ceiling eventually caps flat rate last thing want disincentivize someone taking higherpaying job becoming employed theyre worried new income levels would cause large increase rent said flat rent rate affords stability rent almost doubling southern nevada regional housing authority told reviewjournal 1 percent families currently living public housing clark county affected rent ceiling increase 2018 still affected rent increases added quickly rent ceilings tied fair market rent 2014 renting fourbedroom apartment marble manor historic west las vegas cost 655 month next year nearly 1275 likely increase 2019 kind rapid rent increase drew criticism deborah thrope supervising attorney national housing law project ltimg srchttpsrescloudinarycomstephensmediaimageuploadv1509861026rentzipcodegraphicjpg altlas vegas reviewjournalgt cant imagine scenario someones rent doubling could positive impact family said generally theyll spending money rent less money life necessities come food budget transportation budget kids school supply budget thats bottom line appears likely fair market rent las vegas valley continue climbing time apartmentcomplex broker spencer ballif cbre group said expects rates privately owned apartments continue increasing years come las vegas bounces back great recession overall market perspective passed peak rents 2007 first quarter year thats far slower majority country said feel market lot runway left contact michael scott davidson sdavidsonreviewjournalcom 7024773861 follow davidsonlvrj twitter lower rent ceilings available us department housing urban development provided public housing agencies way better correlate rent ceilings hyperlocal markets hud spokesman ed cabrera said instead setting rent ceiling 80 percent average fair market rent entire metropolitan area cabrera said public housing agencies set 80 percent small area fair market rents establish rates zip code ed gramlich senior advisor national low income housing coalition said using small area fair market rents would help mitigate sting increases flat rents common sense establish base flat rent comparable unassisted units vicinity public housing development opposed inflated base reflects rents entire metropolitan area analysis reviewjournal showed using zip codebased method would create lower rent ceilings every public housing development clark county southern nevada regional housing authority use method executive administrative assistant laure raposa wrote email would difficult snrha manage small area fair market rents clients enough income pay flat rent based current fair market rent schedule hope gained sufficient stability move public housing make room others need assistance raposa wrote | 587 |
<p>There are two basic theories about how Sept. 11 will change U.S. politics and culture.</p>
<p>The first one contends that the terrorist attacks have transformed everything. Old debates and loyalties are now irrelevant. The red-and-blue divide of the 2000 elections is obsolete. The culture wars are over–or at least on permanent hold. The frivolousness of the 1990s–the age of Clintonism, stock options and reality TV–has given way to a new sense of reality, seriousness and national unity. Politics have been replaced by patriotism. The second theory holds that Sept. 11 and the war against terrorism will bring old divides into sharper focus. The fault lines within conservatism and liberalism, and within the divided culture as a whole, will grow. Foreign-policy disputes that once seemed abstract and insignificant when peace and prosperity were taken for granted will suddenly matter a great deal.</p>
<p>Which of the two theories is correct is impossible to say, but both suggest a new political moment, even a new chapter in American history.</p>
<p>It is certainly a paradoxical moment. More and more Americans are turning to God and religion for guidance in this time of crisis, yet there is a renewed sense that religion has only a limited place in public life, that what separates America from the Taliban is our nation’s tradition of tolerance for different beliefs and different worldviews. Even as Americans reflect on the dark side of modern technology and its powers of destruction, they demand more military technology and more Cipro, better weapons and better vaccines. And while Americans are embracing an expanded role for the federal government, they cannot ignore the unpleasant fact that the government is at least partly responsible for the nation’s lack of readiness in the first place, and that its performance, so far, in the anthrax scare does not inspire great confidence for the future. At the same time, those on the right and left, who for different reasons have spent the last decades calling America immoral or unjust, must now become born-again patriots or become politically obsolete.</p>
<p>At least this much seems likely: As the war against terrorism abroad heats up, and especially if the international anti-terrorism coalition grows unstable or if U.S. soldiers suffer significant casualties, unity at home will begin to fracture. Already, there are fights over federalizing airport security. There will be fights about military strategy and military goals; fights about what constitutes victory and success; fights about how much additional power the federal government should have and how that power should be used; and fights about the justice of America’s cause.</p>
<p>The exact shape of these disagreements and the coalitions that will grow out of them is hard to say. But at least four political constituencies can be envisioned:</p>
<p>* Attack-and-confront unilateralists: This group believes that the U.S. must greatly intensify the war effort by sending ground troops into Afghanistan, facing off with Iraq and hiking the military budget far beyond what President Bush has called for. It believes America should act alone if necessary, and that some of our supposed coalition partners are themselves terrorist-harboring states. It is willing to expand government as needed and sacrifice civil liberties for the sake of national security. And it believes America’s role in the world is “just hegemony,” which means not only winning the war in Afghanistan, but also forcing regime changes in states that threaten the U.S. and that deny basic human rights to their own people.</p>
<p>This group’s leading figures are Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz, intellectuals and former government officials Richard N. Perle and William Kristol, and Sen. John McCain.</p>
<p>* Bomb-and-retreat isolationists: This group believes America should bomb whomever it needs to in the Middle East and the Asian subcontinent, then get out of that part of the world entirely. It wants to erect a “fortress America” and build a foreign policy that lets nations like India and Pakistan, or Israel and the Palestinians, fight among themselves. So far, this group has remained politically quiet. But it is alive on conservative television and talk radio, and could emerge as a political force if America is attacked again.</p>
<p>* Cautious internationalists: This is, for now, the policy of the Bush administration, despite the declaration of a battle between good and evil and about a permanent war against international terrorism. This group proceeds slowly and diplomatically. It tailors its military missions to the needs of its allies. It resists using more than small deployments of ground troops. It seeks to avoid direct confrontation with states like Iraq, preferring instead to use indirect pressure like sanctions and inspections. This group has different strands–with Bush more unilateralist and more willing to use force, and most Democrats more cautious and more committed to diplomacy. This divide is most evident on the issue of national missile defense. Moreover, if the war continues to no apparent conclusion, some cautious internationalists could quickly become advocates for an American cease-fire. But, for the most part, this group agrees on the general purpose and strategy of the war, and gives Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, the leading figure in this group, the highest praise.</p>
<p>* Anti-American dissidents: This really isn’t a group. Rather, it’s assorted right-wing and left-wing anti-Americanists. Those on the left believe America has no claim to justice; that American capitalism and imperialism are what led our enemies to attack us; and that the war should be stopped. Those on the right believe America deserves its fate, because it has become a godless and immoral nation. Both kinds of anti-Americanists generally retreat from the burdens of public life in favor of their own imagined moral purity. They hate each other, but hate America more.</p>
<p>Predicting the future is perilous. As Alexis de Tocqueville, perhaps the greatest social forecaster in history, put it: “In any vision of the future, chance always forms a blind spot which the mind’s eye can never penetrate.” That we are entering a new political moment seems obvious; what it will look like is not.</p>
<p>But it would be foolish to believe that old beliefs, old loyalties and old habits of mind will not significantly shape what comes next. In the long run, if this is true, America will fare well. Its history is basically a story of rising to the occasion when the moment demands it. But it is also a story of disagreement, confusion and dissent along the way. That, too, cannot be forgotten–especially by the nation’s leaders, who may at some point have to act in ways that are necessary but unpopular.</p>
<p>Source Notes Copyright: 2001 Los Angeles Times</p> | false | 1 | two basic theories sept 11 change us politics culture first one contends terrorist attacks transformed everything old debates loyalties irrelevant redandblue divide 2000 elections obsolete culture wars overor least permanent hold frivolousness 1990sthe age clintonism stock options reality tvhas given way new sense reality seriousness national unity politics replaced patriotism second theory holds sept 11 war terrorism bring old divides sharper focus fault lines within conservatism liberalism within divided culture whole grow foreignpolicy disputes seemed abstract insignificant peace prosperity taken granted suddenly matter great deal two theories correct impossible say suggest new political moment even new chapter american history certainly paradoxical moment americans turning god religion guidance time crisis yet renewed sense religion limited place public life separates america taliban nations tradition tolerance different beliefs different worldviews even americans reflect dark side modern technology powers destruction demand military technology cipro better weapons better vaccines americans embracing expanded role federal government ignore unpleasant fact government least partly responsible nations lack readiness first place performance far anthrax scare inspire great confidence future time right left different reasons spent last decades calling america immoral unjust must become bornagain patriots become politically obsolete least much seems likely war terrorism abroad heats especially international antiterrorism coalition grows unstable us soldiers suffer significant casualties unity home begin fracture already fights federalizing airport security fights military strategy military goals fights constitutes victory success fights much additional power federal government power used fights justice americas cause exact shape disagreements coalitions grow hard say least four political constituencies envisioned attackandconfront unilateralists group believes us must greatly intensify war effort sending ground troops afghanistan facing iraq hiking military budget far beyond president bush called believes america act alone necessary supposed coalition partners terroristharboring states willing expand government needed sacrifice civil liberties sake national security believes americas role world hegemony means winning war afghanistan also forcing regime changes states threaten us deny basic human rights people groups leading figures deputy defense secretary paul wolfowitz intellectuals former government officials richard n perle william kristol sen john mccain bombandretreat isolationists group believes america bomb whomever needs middle east asian subcontinent get part world entirely wants erect fortress america build foreign policy lets nations like india pakistan israel palestinians fight among far group remained politically quiet alive conservative television talk radio could emerge political force america attacked cautious internationalists policy bush administration despite declaration battle good evil permanent war international terrorism group proceeds slowly diplomatically tailors military missions needs allies resists using small deployments ground troops seeks avoid direct confrontation states like iraq preferring instead use indirect pressure like sanctions inspections group different strandswith bush unilateralist willing use force democrats cautious committed diplomacy divide evident issue national missile defense moreover war continues apparent conclusion cautious internationalists could quickly become advocates american ceasefire part group agrees general purpose strategy war gives secretary state colin l powell leading figure group highest praise antiamerican dissidents really isnt group rather assorted rightwing leftwing antiamericanists left believe america claim justice american capitalism imperialism led enemies attack us war stopped right believe america deserves fate become godless immoral nation kinds antiamericanists generally retreat burdens public life favor imagined moral purity hate hate america predicting future perilous alexis de tocqueville perhaps greatest social forecaster history put vision future chance always forms blind spot minds eye never penetrate entering new political moment seems obvious look like would foolish believe old beliefs old loyalties old habits mind significantly shape comes next long run true america fare well history basically story rising occasion moment demands also story disagreement confusion dissent along way forgottenespecially nations leaders may point act ways necessary unpopular source notes copyright 2001 los angeles times | 604 |
<p>This article appears in the Spring&#160;2015 issue of the Intercollegiate Review. Check out the rest of the issue <a href="http://issuu.com/intercollegiatestudiesinstitute/docs/ir_spring2015_issuu?e=10713723/11024414" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>The question of secularization—or how it is that societies once markedly religious become less so, particularly the societies of what’s known as Western civilization—has been much studied in modern times. Urbanization, rationalism, higher education, industrialization, feminism: these are just some of the possible causal agents debated by sociologists when they try to figure out why some people stop going to church.</p>
<p>Yet one highly significant social fact that rather obviously bears on the question of secularization has gone unnoticed. That is the relationship between the well-documented decline in Western churchgoing, especially among Millennials, and the simultaneous rise of a toxic public force on campuses across the Western world: the new intolerance.</p>
<p>“The new intolerance” is shorthand for the chilled public atmosphere in which religious believers now operate. Many people of faith face unique burdens that would have been unthinkable even a couple of decades ago: burdens of ostracism, of losing the good opinion of their neighbors, of being trash-talked in the public square. Some even face the loss of livelihood or the constant threat and reality of litigation; for a primer, see the hounding last spring of Mozilla CEO Brandon Eich for his donation years earlier on behalf of traditional marriage.</p>
<p>Although this new intolerance has begun to attract attention and debate, the connection between that phenomenon and the rise in unbelief among twenty-somethings remains to be explored. And the scrutiny is overdue. It is well known, and well documented by social science, that many students, not only in America but all over, lose their religion in college. The interesting question is why.</p>
<p>An atheist or other nonbeliever might say students lose religion because college is where they learn higher reasoning, and higher reasoning drives out the superstition of faith. That kind of answer might seem to make perfect sense—except that it’s refuted by the facts. In fact, social science points to theopposite conclusion: better-educated people are actually more likely than those with less education to be found in church. (See my book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599474662/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1599474662&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=intercstudiei-20&amp;linkId=WL3CYSXQTQ5BXRWP" type="external">How the West Really Lost God</a>&#160;for a roundup of the empirical evidence demonstrating this pattern across a range of societies, from Victorian England to the modern-day United States.) So the answer from sophistication just doesn’t hold up as an explanation for what happens to religious commitment during the college years.</p>
<p>No, something else is going on in the numbers about faith and people in their teens and twenties. For starters, we might focus in on this fact: the campus these days is ground zero of the new intolerance.</p>
<p>Exhibit A, to start with an example from across the pond, is what happened at Christ Church College, Oxford, in November 2014—or more precisely, what didn’t happen. A scheduled debate on the subject of whether “abortion culture” hurts Britain, between two journalists who write for theTelegraph, was canceled for reasons that seemed to be read aloud from a totalitarian playbook: because of last-minute “concerns” on the part of the college.</p>
<p>Translation: a feminist group incited protest via social media aimed at disrupting the event, and did so in terms vehement enough to frighten the authorities. That this travesty of the principle of free speech played out in the college once attended by none other than John Locke is beyond ironic.</p>
<p>The Oxford shout-down is no isolated example, as everyone within reach of a computer already knows. So much could be written about the new intolerance on campus that it would fill not one essay but several books. In the United States, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) recently filed four free-speech lawsuits against four colleges in a single day. One suit defended the rights of a student whose university forbade him from wearing a T-shirt saying, “We get you off for free.” The shirt—­promoting a student group that provides free assistance to students accused of campus disciplinary offenses—was judged to run afoul of ever-­changing speech codes about women.</p>
<p>To mention just a few other examples of the punitive new code, columnist George Will—one of the most distinguished public intellectuals in the entire Anglosphere—was treated to protests in the fall upon speaking at Miami University, Ohio, again for the ostensible charge of violating what is allowed to be said of women. Last spring, a number of prominent speakers backed down from giving commencement addresses—or worse, had their invitations rescinded—when threatened with protests. (Ironically, several of them were female.)</p>
<p>It does not detract from the importance of free-speech cases in themselves to point out something new here: the same forces that are intimidating the intellectual expression of students can also be expected to intimidate their religious expression.</p>
<p>Rather obviously, it is not only the humanities, and not only intellectual life itself, that are threatened by the rise of Robespierrian speech codes. No, so too are actual students—in the sense that the intimidation of the new intolerance cannot help but envelope them in college, from that first good-bye at the hugging tree to that last party celebrating commencement.</p>
<p>The intimidation varies from one campus to another, from one department to another, and from one protest to another. But while the decibels of ferocity may change, the negative posture toward religious believers ­themselves—or for that matter toward anyone who finds anything of value in the Judeo-Christian tradition and bothers to defend it—remains the same. And once more, Occam’s razor would suggest a causal connection here.</p>
<p>Students, like any other human beings, cannot help being sensitive to atmospherics. Let’s think again of the new force that drives a CEO out of his post for having donated to defend traditional marriage. If the new intolerance can penalize an “alpha” like him so dramatically, how much more menacing must it be to people just starting out, whose futures and livelihoods depend so heavily on the opinion of their peers? Sometimes, interestingly enough, the very incivility of the new intolerance backfires.</p>
<p>A friend with a son at an overwhelmingly progressive college said recently that the experience of sitting through one particular class had turned that student toward conservatism. Why? Because as a white male known also to be heterosexual, he was singled out repeatedly for second-class social treatment by the ­professor—no matter what his bona fides otherwise. He has become, in virtue of the new intolerance, what might be called a political counter-convert.</p>
<p>Other anecdotal cases like his come to mind. In a book I edited a few years ago called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416528563/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1416528563&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=intercstudiei-20&amp;linkId=LJX4PFX6XJG2HQ5R" type="external">Why I Turned Right: Leading Baby Boom Conservatives Chronicle Their Political Journeys</a>, several authors traced their own conversions similarly, as reactions to the obnoxiousness of radicalism on campus. Another friend serves as inadvertent witness to the power of political correctness: he was so appalled by what he saw on his Ivy League campus that he abandoned his own secular background, converted to Catholicism, and eventually entered the priesthood.</p>
<p>Even so, contrarian-minded students like these, it seems safe to guess, are outliers possessed of unusual courage or cussedness (or both). Many others faced with the gale winds of political correctness, one guesses, succumb to the blast in one way or another, including by religious self-censorship.</p>
<p>It’s time to air the idea that college students do not stay out of church or synagogue because their education leads them to enlightened conclusions about the big questions. No, the more likely dynamic is that thanks to the new intolerance, the social and other costs of being a known believer in the public square mount by the year—and students take note. Hence intimidation on the quad, multiplied over many years and campuses, is an unseen engine of secularization.</p>
<p>Mary Eberstadt is a senior fellow with the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., and author of several books, including, most recently, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599474662/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1599474662&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=intercstudiei-20&amp;linkId=WL3CYSXQTQ5BXRWP" type="external">How the West Really Lost God: A New Theory of Secularization</a>.</p> | false | 1 | article appears spring1602015 issue intercollegiate review check rest issue question secularizationor societies markedly religious become less particularly societies whats known western civilizationhas much studied modern times urbanization rationalism higher education industrialization feminism possible causal agents debated sociologists try figure people stop going church yet one highly significant social fact rather obviously bears question secularization gone unnoticed relationship welldocumented decline western churchgoing especially among millennials simultaneous rise toxic public force campuses across western world new intolerance new intolerance shorthand chilled public atmosphere religious believers operate many people faith face unique burdens would unthinkable even couple decades ago burdens ostracism losing good opinion neighbors trashtalked public square even face loss livelihood constant threat reality litigation primer see hounding last spring mozilla ceo brandon eich donation years earlier behalf traditional marriage although new intolerance begun attract attention debate connection phenomenon rise unbelief among twentysomethings remains explored scrutiny overdue well known well documented social science many students america lose religion college interesting question atheist nonbeliever might say students lose religion college learn higher reasoning higher reasoning drives superstition faith kind answer might seem make perfect senseexcept refuted facts fact social science points theopposite conclusion bettereducated people actually likely less education found church see book west really lost god160for roundup empirical evidence demonstrating pattern across range societies victorian england modernday united states answer sophistication doesnt hold explanation happens religious commitment college years something else going numbers faith people teens twenties starters might focus fact campus days ground zero new intolerance exhibit start example across pond happened christ church college oxford november 2014or precisely didnt happen scheduled debate subject whether abortion culture hurts britain two journalists write thetelegraph canceled reasons seemed read aloud totalitarian playbook lastminute concerns part college translation feminist group incited protest via social media aimed disrupting event terms vehement enough frighten authorities travesty principle free speech played college attended none john locke beyond ironic oxford shoutdown isolated example everyone within reach computer already knows much could written new intolerance campus would fill one essay several books united states foundation individual rights education fire recently filed four freespeech lawsuits four colleges single day one suit defended rights student whose university forbade wearing tshirt saying get free shirtpromoting student group provides free assistance students accused campus disciplinary offenseswas judged run afoul everchanging speech codes women mention examples punitive new code columnist george willone distinguished public intellectuals entire anglospherewas treated protests fall upon speaking miami university ohio ostensible charge violating allowed said women last spring number prominent speakers backed giving commencement addressesor worse invitations rescindedwhen threatened protests ironically several female detract importance freespeech cases point something new forces intimidating intellectual expression students also expected intimidate religious expression rather obviously humanities intellectual life threatened rise robespierrian speech codes actual studentsin sense intimidation new intolerance help envelope college first goodbye hugging tree last party celebrating commencement intimidation varies one campus another one department another one protest another decibels ferocity may change negative posture toward religious believers themselvesor matter toward anyone finds anything value judeochristian tradition bothers defend itremains occams razor would suggest causal connection students like human beings help sensitive atmospherics lets think new force drives ceo post donated defend traditional marriage new intolerance penalize alpha like dramatically much menacing must people starting whose futures livelihoods depend heavily opinion peers sometimes interestingly enough incivility new intolerance backfires friend son overwhelmingly progressive college said recently experience sitting one particular class turned student toward conservatism white male known also heterosexual singled repeatedly secondclass social treatment professorno matter bona fides otherwise become virtue new intolerance might called political counterconvert anecdotal cases like come mind book edited years ago called turned right leading baby boom conservatives chronicle political journeys several authors traced conversions similarly reactions obnoxiousness radicalism campus another friend serves inadvertent witness power political correctness appalled saw ivy league campus abandoned secular background converted catholicism eventually entered priesthood even contrarianminded students like seems safe guess outliers possessed unusual courage cussedness many others faced gale winds political correctness one guesses succumb blast one way another including religious selfcensorship time air idea college students stay church synagogue education leads enlightened conclusions big questions likely dynamic thanks new intolerance social costs known believer public square mount yearand students take note hence intimidation quad multiplied many years campuses unseen engine secularization mary eberstadt senior fellow ethics public policy center washington dc author several books including recently west really lost god new theory secularization | 728 |
<p>There it sits, rusting away on a base of weed-infested gravel, dwarfed by tall trees masking its silhouette and blocking any view from afar. A worse setting would be hard to imagine. Adding insult to injury, it’s filthy, strewn with trash, defaced with graffiti, and colonized by bird nests.</p>
<p>Alexander Calder’s Gwenfritz (named after its socialite patron Gwendolyn Cafritz) was designed for the Constitution Avenue entrance of the Washington’s National Museum of American History (NMAH). Moved years ago from its original location to an obscure corner of the museum’s grounds, the thirty-five-ton sculpture has morphed over time into a metaphor for the museum itself: disordered, tired, and decrepit.</p>
<p>The NMAH, a branch of the Smithsonian Institution, is the most visited history museum in the United States. Over four million people pass through its doors annually. Most are bewildered. Hordes of school groups seeing the sites in the nation’s capitol, vacationers from all over the United States, and waves of foreign tourists are equally lost in its dark maze where little knowledge is gained, confusion abounds, and inspiration is in short supply.</p>
<p>The NMAH opened in 1964, on the eve of LBJ’s New Society with all its optimistic, if misplaced, faith in the beneficial role the federal government could play in shaping the nation’s culture. The National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts were chartered in the following year.</p>
<p>The first of the Mall’s post-war Brutalist behemoths, the NMAH is the progeny of a period that saw an enormous lapse of taste, both in the District’s federal buildings and in its acres of undistinguished commercial office structures, mainly concrete and mostly dull.</p>
<p>Located between the Mall and Constitution Avenue, the NMAH is the last gasp of the once noble office of McKim, Mead &amp; White, the firm that initiated the Classical Revival on the Mall with its 1910 Beaux Arts Museum of Natural History. Walker Cain, the principal architect of the NMAH, claimed, without a hint of irony, that his building was “so disarmingly simple that . . . it sits in well with neo-classical buildings all around it” and that it was “classical in definition and the details modern.”</p>
<p>Untrue. The NMAH is an overpowering, intimidating, and unwelcoming marble eyesore, an undistinguished box of Tennessee marble occupying an entire city block, its blank enormousness barely relieved by a façade of gigantic bays and lintels; it fails utterly in its architect’s desire to harmonize it with its classically inspired, finely detailed New Deal neighbors. Unlike these carefully designed structures, its architectural DNA is seriously flawed.</p>
<p>Its problems begin at the front door. Like the Mall’s National Gallery, designed by the brilliant but unjustly forgotten John Russell Pope, NMAH visitors can enter either from the on-grade Mall entrance or from the below-grade Constitution Avenue entrance (a walled terrace bridges the differing heights). The National Gallery’s Mall ingress is defined by columns and a pediment, but, more importantly, entered by monumental stairs leading the visitor upward, creating a sense of the significance of the building he is about to enter–it’s obvious that this is the front and principal door. But at the NMAH the entrances are minuscule apertures in the vast building. There is no architectural differentiation between the Mall and Constitution Avenue doors; neither furnishes a sense of grandeur or importance, nor a fitting entrance to a museum built to tell America’s story.</p>
<p>There is even confusion about the name of the NMAH. Two titles appear above its doors: the National Museum of American History and the Kenneth E. Behring Center. The latter stems from a controversial $80 million gift from Behring in 2001. Critics charged that Behring’s money gave him control over the content of exhibitions and programing, and they opposed the renaming of the museum. Regardless, it’s not clear what the world “center” means. The visitor wonders if the museum is the Behring Center or is an actual Behring Center inside the museum? There isn’t.</p>
<p>A comparable renaming is found at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, a recent rebranding of the National Museum of American Art and National Portrait Gallery. Unable to change their original federally chartered designations, but obliged to recognize a major donor lavishly, both institutions were forced to resort to this awkward and confusing dodge.</p>
<p>Whatever its name, it’s clear that the NMAH’s exterior is flawed, but its interior is even worse. At its opening, the Secretary of the Smithsonian called the museum “a great exhibition machine.” He, of course meant that as a compliment, but he unwittingly put his finger on a colossal design failure, which continues to plague the museum: a lack ofdefinition and order.</p>
<p>The architects of the NMAH deliberately planned the building with little idea how it would serve to order and display its vast and diverse collections. Their idea was to construct an enormous unarticulated interior of 200,00 square feet, a container, for exhibition spaces not defined by fixed walls and ceilings, a void allowing for “flexible” and easily changed displays which created a sense of impermanence that continues to bedevil the museum decades after it was opened. Without a sequential, logical pattern established by rooms and corridors, the visitor meanders aimlessly from one space to another.</p>
<p>Effective museums are built around ideas and planned around the objects they hold and how best to convey their meanings. Good museum design creates architectural spaces that help visitors make sense of what they see. Not so with the NMAH, which is an undifferentiated vessel of three H-shaped floors with a central axis leading to exhibition space on either side.</p>
<p>Because the architects wanted to emphasize the vast expanse of the nearly featureless façade, illumination was furnished only by narrow strips of windows (now bricked up to control temperature) at the ends of each bay. Bereft of even that limited natural light and with few views of the Mall or Constitution Avenue, the interior is gloomy, even with the recent remodeling of its atrium (more on that below).</p>
<p>The visitor entering from Constitution Avenue sees a long entrance hall, which, like many other areas of the building, is poorly illuminated and dispiriting. Dimly lit glass display cases called “Artifact Walls” line either side of the hall, each crammed with hundreds of random objects, big and small. One, for example, displays a steam ship model, a peace sign, a cash register, an Elvis record cover, a shopping cart, a Korean war medical kit, a pitcher dated 1804, and a sugar cane knife, but it’s unclear both why these particular objects have been selected and why they are grouped together. Here, and throughout the museum, ephemeral items of pop culture are venerated as objects of major historical importance.</p>
<p>The cases of the “Artifact Wall” look like the contents of an attic where things have been piled randomly over centuries. The arbitrariness of the entrance hall is a microcosm of the entire museum’s lack of an overall physical and intellectual cohesion.</p>
<p>A few examples from the first floor will illustrate this. Off the entrance hall are galleries that give the impression of casually arranged temporary displays, but with the NMAH one is never sure. The “Hall of Invention” is a large room sparsely furnished with a jukebox, a Howdy Doody puppet, and a pink Patsy Cline costume, objects that do not necessarily bring the word “invention” to mind. There are also some children’s games set up on tables, probably to represent a “hands on” experience, but what any of this has to do with innovation is never explained nor self-evident. The rock and roll music continually blasting from overhead is annoying and pointless like most of the other piped-in sounds heard throughout the museum.</p>
<p>The nearby “Science in American Life,” like many other exhibitions, is temporarily closed. A nearby sign proclaims optimistically, “We’re getting the cobwebs out.”</p>
<p>There are three more exhibitions on the first floor: “Stories on Money,” “Lighting a Revolution,” and “America on the Move.” These, like the “Artifact Walls,” tell no continuous story and lack interconnection; they are discrete entities with no obvious relation to each other, like the objects in the entrance hall cases. Each says something about American history, but is fragmented and disconnected, the parts never forming a connected whole.</p>
<p>“Stories on Money,” housed in a small room, is one of the better displays. It comprehensibly traces the historical and aesthetic evolution of US banknotes and coinage–the NMAH has a large and distinguished numismatic collection, only a fraction of which can ever be shown. Here, although the curators have skillfully culled the collection, it is not made clear how the numismatic history of the US relates to the museum’s other exhibitions or to the larger story of America.</p>
<p>In the adjoining “Lighting a Revolution,” one sees another of the major NMAH weaknesses: confusing exhibition design. The electrification of the United States is, of course, an important and fascinating subject. Many of the objects on display are of interest, especially those produced in the workshop of Thomas Edison whose story is told in detail (although curiously the rear of the gallery is devoted, without obvious explanation, to steam and water power).</p>
<p>Yet “Lighting a Revolution” is more about invention and technology than it is about history; the reason for this lies in the origins of the museum’s collection. When the NMAH opened, it was called the National Museum of History and Technology. Much of its collection came from the Mall’s dilapidated 1881 Victorian Arts and Industry Building that was built to house the US National Museum, an important but randomly accumulated Victorian collection of objects including a “working coal mine and a live beehive.” The scientific and historical objects of the National Museum became the property of the NMAH, which was planned not by an historian, but by an engineering curator who became the museum’s first director.</p>
<p>Although it was renamed the National Museum of American History in 1980, the shotgun marriage between technology and history is still evident. Items of mainly technical and scientific interest–light bulb filaments, telescopes, and a giant Foucault pendulum among many others–coexist uneasily with military uniforms, manuscripts, and other historical objects. And, as late as 1995, the museum accepted a gift to establish a <a href="http://invention.smithsonian.org/about/" type="external">Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation</a>, further muddling its already schizophrenic mission.</p>
<p>The quality of exhibition design in “Lighting a Revolution,” like the majority of the displays throughout the NMAH, is depressingly bad. Instead of telling stories simply, using only the necessary objects, the dated and amateurish design overwhelms the visitors with an onslaught of items confusingly subdivided by numerous partitions. There are literally thousands of things in this gallery ranging from a light bulb to a huge generating station, far too many to be absorbed by the average one-time visitor with limited time and patience.</p>
<p>A series of badly designed, explanatory boards with corny graphics and hard to follow texts attempts, unsuccessfully, to explain what the visitor is looking at. There’s a sense of impermanence here that resembles a high school science fair, as though this is a temporary exhibition that could be dismantled at any time. This, as has been noted, is also true of many of the other galleries, partly because they exist in the undefined, wall-less space of the museum and partly because they seem so casually assembled.</p>
<p>There is no direct connection from “Lighting a Revolution” to one of the NMAH’s largest exhibitions. “America on the Move” is a voluminous collection of the many and varied forms of transportation from the horse-drawn cart, through the early years of the automobile, to the electric car (which gets three labels extoling its ecological virtues, although the Chevy Volt is not yet on display). Here one also finds buses, trollies, and railroad locomotives, including a gigantic 1930’s steam engine. Many of the objects are rare, fascinating, and important, but the subdivision of the space and the two levels of the exhibition create an episodic experience at the expense of a coherent story about the history of transportation.</p>
<p>There are two better exhibits on the second floor: the “Star-Spangled Banner,” a dramatic if simplistic showcasing of the battered flag which inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the lyrics to the National Anthem during the War of 1812; and an effective minimalist presentation of the lunch counter from the Woolworth’s store in Greensboro, North Carolina–the site of the famous 1960 sit-in, an important event in the struggle for civil rights. The presentation of these icons is the high point of this floor, which otherwise contains a series of the same sort of lackluster displays seen elsewhere in the NMAH.</p>
<p>If the visitor hopes for something better on the third floor, he will be disappointed. The “Price of Freedom,” part of Behring’s gift, is laudable for its attempt to tell the story of America’s armed forces and the wars they fought (especially in such a politically correct museum), but it is unfortunately marred by the same sort of baffling design which is the trademark of the NMAH.</p>
<p>The first part of the “Price of Freedom,” devoted to the American Revolution, is the museum’s cheesiest display, designed to entertain not enlighten. A plastic reproduction of a Liberty Tree takes center stage while General George Washington’s uniform, one of the great treasures of American history, is relegated to a corner. Costumed mannequins (a regrettable feature of modern exhibition design) dressed as soldiers are placed before a grainy film depicting Revolutionary War re-enactors marching to and fro as cannon blasts fill the air. This dumbed-down, cringe-inducing faux history is inexcusable anywhere, but especially in a museum with such major holdings from the period. The adjoining exhibit, “The American Presidency” is filled with major items, such as Jefferson’s desk and Lincoln’s top hat, and some not so major items, such as Warren Harding’s silk pajamas, but it suffers from the same type of overloaded, sloppy, fragmented display that so characterizes nearly every part of the museum.</p>
<p>Nearby, obscured in a dark, seldom visited gallery is one of the museum’s most compelling objects: the Revolutionary War gunboat Philadelphia, sunk during the Battle of Valcour Island in Lake Champlain and recovered in the 1940s with its contents intact, including bones, shoes, tools, and the cannon ball that sent it to the bottom in 1776.</p>
<p>Other aspects of the museum could be described, but at this point one needs to step back and ask: Why is the NMAH, supposedly the most important history museum in the country and certainly the most visited, in such a sorry state? The museum’s ill-conceived architecture is certainly responsible for part of the problem, but nearly a half century has passed since its opening and the design flaws still have not been fixed. And, why haven’t the tired grab-bag displays been replaced by more rational, comprehensible, and informative visitor-friendly designs?</p>
<p>The answer lies partially in the ossified nature of the Smithsonian’s bureaucracy which makes innovation and change difficult, especially in agencies where professional staff have federal life tenure, and partially in the fact that the NMAH has had a series of directors and acting directors over the last decade making continuity and long-range planning difficult.</p>
<p>But the major impediment to the museum’s improvement lies in the model of American history eagerly embraced by academics and museum curators around the time NMAH was planned.</p>
<p>This interpretation sees the American past not as a coherent, continuous account but rather as a mosaic of “contested” stories, a hodgepodge of competing interpretations each of equal importance. It precludes any sense of American identity and agreement on what events, people, places, or objects are more significant than others. And it prohibits a unified, chronological presentation of the history of the United States in the only national museum dedicated to explaining this country’s past.</p>
<p>Numerous academic historians and museum curators disdain the idea of the grand sweep of history with its high and low points, heroes and villains, the now outmoded narrative history that so interests most of those who visit the NMAH. Instead, professionals burrow into increasingly narrow, disjointed, and frequently inconsequential fragments of the American saga, often concentrating on race, class, and gender, the holy trinity of much contemporary scholarship which focuses on the oppression of various groups in order to promote “social justice” and advance political agendas. The baleful results of this are seen everywhere in NMAH, from the choice of objects, often of marginal historic importance, to the explanatory texts which accompany them.</p>
<p>In 2001, aware of the unsatisfactory state of the NMAH, the Regents of the Smithsonian appointed a Blue Ribbon Commission of historians, curators, and public figures to address the museum’s shortcomings. The committee’s lengthy report contained many sensible suggestions for improving of the museum’s space–including opening its central core–and its displays, although ideas for new content naturally reflected the fractured and divided nature of the American history establishment.</p>
<p>In 2002 the Commission submitted its recommendations. A new director, Brent Glass, was hired the same year. Four years later, the NMAH closed for two years while the central core of the building was given an $85 million renovation ($46 million came from Congress and the rest from donors).</p>
<p>The major modification was the construction of a naturally lit central atrium which brightens the heart of the building but does nothing to improve the orientation of the visitor who is now confronted by a shiny, story-high “digital abstract flag” made of polycarbonate. There is little else in this vast new space, aside from more dreary “Artifact Walls.” Thus, the opportunity offered to reorient the NMAH was detoured in favor of a glitzy, but meaningless, display.</p>
<p>A large Guatemalan “sawdust carpet,” which the label says is “ephemeral art, meant to be enjoyed for the moment,” currently covers the area in front of the “digital flag.” As no further explanation is offered, one is pressed to ponder why this contemporary folk art object from Central America occupies space in one of the most prominent areas of a museum dedicated to the history of the United States. This is mission bewilderment at its worst.</p>
<p>Over a decade has passed since the Blue Ribbon Commission made its recommendations and, aside from the renovation of the building’s core, little has changed. The museum, which has requested $22 million from Congress for 2013, claims that a number of new exhibitions are imminent–including a $20 million history of business display, which one hopes will not be just another isolated subdivision, but the problems of the NMAH are so profound and so systematic that a piecemeal approach won’t work.</p>
<p>To fulfill its mission as the nation’s history museum, the NMAH must clearly tell the whole American story, including its peaks and valleys, in a way that instructs. More importantly, it must not be afraid to describe an American identity and inspire its visitors with the greatness of this country.</p>
<p>To do this will require the leadership of the Smithsonian and the NMAH to admit that the museum has failed our citizens and that it needs a top to bottom overhaul. This will require vision and courage. In 2010, Brent Glass resigned. After a long search, a new director was appointed. John Gray, who started last July, made the Autry Museum in Los Angeles a success. Maybe he can do the same for the NMAH. In any case, he’s got important work cut out for him.</p>
<p>Bruce Cole is a Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.</p> | false | 1 | sits rusting away base weedinfested gravel dwarfed tall trees masking silhouette blocking view afar worse setting would hard imagine adding insult injury filthy strewn trash defaced graffiti colonized bird nests alexander calders gwenfritz named socialite patron gwendolyn cafritz designed constitution avenue entrance washingtons national museum american history nmah moved years ago original location obscure corner museums grounds thirtyfiveton sculpture morphed time metaphor museum disordered tired decrepit nmah branch smithsonian institution visited history museum united states four million people pass doors annually bewildered hordes school groups seeing sites nations capitol vacationers united states waves foreign tourists equally lost dark maze little knowledge gained confusion abounds inspiration short supply nmah opened 1964 eve lbjs new society optimistic misplaced faith beneficial role federal government could play shaping nations culture national endowment humanities national endowment arts chartered following year first malls postwar brutalist behemoths nmah progeny period saw enormous lapse taste districts federal buildings acres undistinguished commercial office structures mainly concrete mostly dull located mall constitution avenue nmah last gasp noble office mckim mead amp white firm initiated classical revival mall 1910 beaux arts museum natural history walker cain principal architect nmah claimed without hint irony building disarmingly simple sits well neoclassical buildings around classical definition details modern untrue nmah overpowering intimidating unwelcoming marble eyesore undistinguished box tennessee marble occupying entire city block blank enormousness barely relieved façade gigantic bays lintels fails utterly architects desire harmonize classically inspired finely detailed new deal neighbors unlike carefully designed structures architectural dna seriously flawed problems begin front door like malls national gallery designed brilliant unjustly forgotten john russell pope nmah visitors enter either ongrade mall entrance belowgrade constitution avenue entrance walled terrace bridges differing heights national gallerys mall ingress defined columns pediment importantly entered monumental stairs leading visitor upward creating sense significance building enterits obvious front principal door nmah entrances minuscule apertures vast building architectural differentiation mall constitution avenue doors neither furnishes sense grandeur importance fitting entrance museum built tell americas story even confusion name nmah two titles appear doors national museum american history kenneth e behring center latter stems controversial 80 million gift behring 2001 critics charged behrings money gave control content exhibitions programing opposed renaming museum regardless clear world center means visitor wonders museum behring center actual behring center inside museum isnt comparable renaming found donald w reynolds center american art portraiture recent rebranding national museum american art national portrait gallery unable change original federally chartered designations obliged recognize major donor lavishly institutions forced resort awkward confusing dodge whatever name clear nmahs exterior flawed interior even worse opening secretary smithsonian called museum great exhibition machine course meant compliment unwittingly put finger colossal design failure continues plague museum lack ofdefinition order architects nmah deliberately planned building little idea would serve order display vast diverse collections idea construct enormous unarticulated interior 20000 square feet container exhibition spaces defined fixed walls ceilings void allowing flexible easily changed displays created sense impermanence continues bedevil museum decades opened without sequential logical pattern established rooms corridors visitor meanders aimlessly one space another effective museums built around ideas planned around objects hold best convey meanings good museum design creates architectural spaces help visitors make sense see nmah undifferentiated vessel three hshaped floors central axis leading exhibition space either side architects wanted emphasize vast expanse nearly featureless façade illumination furnished narrow strips windows bricked control temperature ends bay bereft even limited natural light views mall constitution avenue interior gloomy even recent remodeling atrium visitor entering constitution avenue sees long entrance hall like many areas building poorly illuminated dispiriting dimly lit glass display cases called artifact walls line either side hall crammed hundreds random objects big small one example displays steam ship model peace sign cash register elvis record cover shopping cart korean war medical kit pitcher dated 1804 sugar cane knife unclear particular objects selected grouped together throughout museum ephemeral items pop culture venerated objects major historical importance cases artifact wall look like contents attic things piled randomly centuries arbitrariness entrance hall microcosm entire museums lack overall physical intellectual cohesion examples first floor illustrate entrance hall galleries give impression casually arranged temporary displays nmah one never sure hall invention large room sparsely furnished jukebox howdy doody puppet pink patsy cline costume objects necessarily bring word invention mind also childrens games set tables probably represent hands experience innovation never explained selfevident rock roll music continually blasting overhead annoying pointless like pipedin sounds heard throughout museum nearby science american life like many exhibitions temporarily closed nearby sign proclaims optimistically getting cobwebs three exhibitions first floor stories money lighting revolution america move like artifact walls tell continuous story lack interconnection discrete entities obvious relation like objects entrance hall cases says something american history fragmented disconnected parts never forming connected whole stories money housed small room one better displays comprehensibly traces historical aesthetic evolution us banknotes coinagethe nmah large distinguished numismatic collection fraction ever shown although curators skillfully culled collection made clear numismatic history us relates museums exhibitions larger story america adjoining lighting revolution one sees another major nmah weaknesses confusing exhibition design electrification united states course important fascinating subject many objects display interest especially produced workshop thomas edison whose story told detail although curiously rear gallery devoted without obvious explanation steam water power yet lighting revolution invention technology history reason lies origins museums collection nmah opened called national museum history technology much collection came malls dilapidated 1881 victorian arts industry building built house us national museum important randomly accumulated victorian collection objects including working coal mine live beehive scientific historical objects national museum became property nmah planned historian engineering curator became museums first director although renamed national museum american history 1980 shotgun marriage technology history still evident items mainly technical scientific interestlight bulb filaments telescopes giant foucault pendulum among many otherscoexist uneasily military uniforms manuscripts historical objects late 1995 museum accepted gift establish center study invention innovation muddling already schizophrenic mission quality exhibition design lighting revolution like majority displays throughout nmah depressingly bad instead telling stories simply using necessary objects dated amateurish design overwhelms visitors onslaught items confusingly subdivided numerous partitions literally thousands things gallery ranging light bulb huge generating station far many absorbed average onetime visitor limited time patience series badly designed explanatory boards corny graphics hard follow texts attempts unsuccessfully explain visitor looking theres sense impermanence resembles high school science fair though temporary exhibition could dismantled time noted also true many galleries partly exist undefined wallless space museum partly seem casually assembled direct connection lighting revolution one nmahs largest exhibitions america move voluminous collection many varied forms transportation horsedrawn cart early years automobile electric car gets three labels extoling ecological virtues although chevy volt yet display one also finds buses trollies railroad locomotives including gigantic 1930s steam engine many objects rare fascinating important subdivision space two levels exhibition create episodic experience expense coherent story history transportation two better exhibits second floor starspangled banner dramatic simplistic showcasing battered flag inspired francis scott key pen lyrics national anthem war 1812 effective minimalist presentation lunch counter woolworths store greensboro north carolinathe site famous 1960 sitin important event struggle civil rights presentation icons high point floor otherwise contains series sort lackluster displays seen elsewhere nmah visitor hopes something better third floor disappointed price freedom part behrings gift laudable attempt tell story americas armed forces wars fought especially politically correct museum unfortunately marred sort baffling design trademark nmah first part price freedom devoted american revolution museums cheesiest display designed entertain enlighten plastic reproduction liberty tree takes center stage general george washingtons uniform one great treasures american history relegated corner costumed mannequins regrettable feature modern exhibition design dressed soldiers placed grainy film depicting revolutionary war reenactors marching fro cannon blasts fill air dumbeddown cringeinducing faux history inexcusable anywhere especially museum major holdings period adjoining exhibit american presidency filled major items jeffersons desk lincolns top hat major items warren hardings silk pajamas suffers type overloaded sloppy fragmented display characterizes nearly every part museum nearby obscured dark seldom visited gallery one museums compelling objects revolutionary war gunboat philadelphia sunk battle valcour island lake champlain recovered 1940s contents intact including bones shoes tools cannon ball sent bottom 1776 aspects museum could described point one needs step back ask nmah supposedly important history museum country certainly visited sorry state museums illconceived architecture certainly responsible part problem nearly half century passed since opening design flaws still fixed havent tired grabbag displays replaced rational comprehensible informative visitorfriendly designs answer lies partially ossified nature smithsonians bureaucracy makes innovation change difficult especially agencies professional staff federal life tenure partially fact nmah series directors acting directors last decade making continuity longrange planning difficult major impediment museums improvement lies model american history eagerly embraced academics museum curators around time nmah planned interpretation sees american past coherent continuous account rather mosaic contested stories hodgepodge competing interpretations equal importance precludes sense american identity agreement events people places objects significant others prohibits unified chronological presentation history united states national museum dedicated explaining countrys past numerous academic historians museum curators disdain idea grand sweep history high low points heroes villains outmoded narrative history interests visit nmah instead professionals burrow increasingly narrow disjointed frequently inconsequential fragments american saga often concentrating race class gender holy trinity much contemporary scholarship focuses oppression various groups order promote social justice advance political agendas baleful results seen everywhere nmah choice objects often marginal historic importance explanatory texts accompany 2001 aware unsatisfactory state nmah regents smithsonian appointed blue ribbon commission historians curators public figures address museums shortcomings committees lengthy report contained many sensible suggestions improving museums spaceincluding opening central coreand displays although ideas new content naturally reflected fractured divided nature american history establishment 2002 commission submitted recommendations new director brent glass hired year four years later nmah closed two years central core building given 85 million renovation 46 million came congress rest donors major modification construction naturally lit central atrium brightens heart building nothing improve orientation visitor confronted shiny storyhigh digital abstract flag made polycarbonate little else vast new space aside dreary artifact walls thus opportunity offered reorient nmah detoured favor glitzy meaningless display large guatemalan sawdust carpet label says ephemeral art meant enjoyed moment currently covers area front digital flag explanation offered one pressed ponder contemporary folk art object central america occupies space one prominent areas museum dedicated history united states mission bewilderment worst decade passed since blue ribbon commission made recommendations aside renovation buildings core little changed museum requested 22 million congress 2013 claims number new exhibitions imminentincluding 20 million history business display one hopes another isolated subdivision problems nmah profound systematic piecemeal approach wont work fulfill mission nations history museum nmah must clearly tell whole american story including peaks valleys way instructs importantly must afraid describe american identity inspire visitors greatness country require leadership smithsonian nmah admit museum failed citizens needs top bottom overhaul require vision courage 2010 brent glass resigned long search new director appointed john gray started last july made autry museum los angeles success maybe nmah case hes got important work cut bruce cole senior fellow ethics public policy center | 1,825 |
<p>Why does the US continue to rhetorically advocate the two-state solution while acting&#160;to ensure that it is never realized?</p>
<p>Long before December 28, when Secretary of State, <a href="https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2016/12/266119.htm" type="external">John Kerry took the podium</a> at the Dean Acheson Auditorium in Washington DC to pontificate on the uncertain future of the two-state solution and the need to save Israel from itself, the subject of a Palestinian state has been paramount.</p>
<p>In fact, unlike common belief, the push to establish a Palestinian and a Jewish state side-by-side goes back years before the passing of United Nations Resolution 181 in November 1947. That infamous resolution had called for the partitioning of Palestine into three entities: a Jewish state, a Palestinian state, and an international regime to govern Jerusalem.</p>
<p>A more thorough reading of history can pinpoint multiple references to the Palestinian (or Arab state) between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.</p>
<p>The idea of two states is western par excellence. No Palestinian party or leader had ever thought that partitioning the holy land was ever an option. Then, such an idea seemed preposterous, partly because, as Ilan Pappe’s <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ethnic-Cleansing-Palestine-Ilan-Pappe/dp/1851685553" type="external">Ethnic Cleaning of Palestine</a> shows, “almost all of the cultivated land in Palestine was held by the indigenous population (while) only 5.8% percent was in Jewish ownership in 1947.”</p>
<p>An earlier, but equally important reference to a Palestinian state was made in the Peel Commission, a British commission of inquiry, led by Lord Peel that was sent to Palestine to investigate the reasons behind the popular strike, uprising and later armed rebellion that began in 1936 and lasted for nearly three years.</p>
<p>The “underlying causes of the disturbances” were two, <a href="http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/peel1.html" type="external">resolved the commission</a>: Palestinian desire for independence, and the “hatred and fear of the establishment of the Jewish national home.” The latter was promised by the British government to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland in 1917 which became known as the ‘Balfour Declaration.’</p>
<p>The Peel Commission recommended the partition of Palestine into a Jewish state and a Palestinian state, which would be incorporated into Transjordan, with enclaves reserved for the British Mandate government.</p>
<p>In the time between that recommendation eighty years ago, and Kerry’s warning that the two-state solution is “in serious jeopardy,” little has been done in terms of practical steps to establish a Palestinian state. Worse, the US has used its veto power in the UN repeatedly to impede the establishment of a Palestinian state, as well as utilizing its political and economic might to intimidate others from recognizing (although symbolically) a Palestinian state. It has further played a key role in funding illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem—all of which rendered the existence of a Palestinian state virtually impossible.</p>
<p>The issue now is: why does the West continue to use the two-state solution as <a href="" type="internal">their political parameter for a resolution</a> to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while, at the same time ensuring that their own prescription for conflict resolution is never to become a reality?</p>
<p>The answer, partly, lies in the fact the two-state solution was never devised for implementation to begin with. Like the ‘peace process’ and other pretenses, it aimed to promote among Palestinians and Arabs the idea that there is a goal worth striving for, despite being unattainable.</p>
<p>But even that goal was itself conditioned on a set of demands that were unrealistic to begin with. Historically, Palestinians had to renounce violence (their armed resistance to Israel’s military occupation), consent to various UN resolutions (even if Israel still reject those resolutions), accept Israel’s ‘right’ to exist as a Jewish state, and so on. That yet-to-be-established Palestinian state was also meant to be demilitarized, divided between the West Bank and Gaza, and excluding most of Occupied East Jerusalem.</p>
<p>Many new ‘creative’ solutions were also offered to alleviate any Israeli fears that the nonexistent Palestinian state, in case of its establishment, never pose a threat to Israel. At times, discussions were afoot about a confederation between Palestine and Jordan, and other times, as in the <a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170105-when-lieberman-turns-into-a-moderate/" type="external">most recent proposal by the head of Jewish Home Party</a>, Israeli Minister Naftali Bennett, making Gaza a state of its own and annexing to Israel 60 percent of the West Bank.</p>
<p>And when Israel’s allies, frustrated by the rise of the rightwing in Israel and the <a href="http://www.salon.com/2016/12/30/kerry-vs-netanyahu-for-a-liberal-zionist-the-death-of-the-two-state-solution-is-deeply-painful/" type="external">obstinacy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>, insist that time is running out for a two-state solution, they express their worries in the form of tough love. Israel’s settlement activity is “increasingly cementing an irreversible one-state reality,” said Kerry in his major policy speech last month.</p>
<p>Such a reality would force Israel to either compromise on the Jewish identity of the state (as if having religious/ethnic identities of a modern democratic state is a common precondition) or having to contend with being an Apartheid state (as if such reality doesn’t exist anyway.)</p>
<p>Kerry warned Israel that it will eventually be left with the option of placing Palestinians “under a permanent military occupation that deprives them of the most basic freedoms,” thus paving the ground for a “separate and unequal” scenario.</p>
<p>Yet while warnings that a two-state solution possibility is disintegrating, few bothered to try to understand the reality from a Palestinian perspective.</p>
<p>For Palestinians, the debate on Israel having to choose between being democratic and Jewish is ludicrous. For them, Israel’s democracy applies fully to its Jewish citizens and no one else, while Palestinians have subsisted for decades behind walls, fences, prisons and besieged enclaves, like the Gaza Strip.</p>
<p>And with two separate laws, rules and realities applying to two separate groups in the same land, Kerry’s ‘separate but unequal’ <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/a-special-place-in-hell/1.671538" type="external">Apartheid scenario</a> had taken place the moment Israel was established in 1948.</p>
<p>Fed up by the illusions of their own failed leadership, <a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/221681" type="external">according to a recent poll</a>, two thirds of Palestinians now agree that a two-state solution is not possible. And that margin keeps on growing as fast as the massive illegal settlement enterprise dotting the Occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.</p>
<p>This is not an argument against the two-state solution; for the latter merely existed as a ruse to pacify Palestinians, buy time and demarcate the conflict with a mirage-like political horizon. If the US was indeed keen on a two-state solution, it would have fought vehemently to make it a reality, decades ago.</p>
<p>To say that <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.762347" type="external">the two-state solution is now dead</a> is to subscribe to the illusion that it was once alive and possible.</p>
<p>That said, it behooves everyone to understand that co-existence in a one democratic state is not a dark scenario that spells doom for the region.</p>
<p>It is time to abandon unattainable illusions and focus all energies to foster co-existence, based on equality and justice for all.</p>
<p>Indeed, there can be one state between the river and the sea, and that is a democratic state for all of its people, regardless of their ethnicity or religious beliefs.</p> | false | 1 | us continue rhetorically advocate twostate solution acting160to ensure never realized long december 28 secretary state john kerry took podium dean acheson auditorium washington dc pontificate uncertain future twostate solution need save israel subject palestinian state paramount fact unlike common belief push establish palestinian jewish state sidebyside goes back years passing united nations resolution 181 november 1947 infamous resolution called partitioning palestine three entities jewish state palestinian state international regime govern jerusalem thorough reading history pinpoint multiple references palestinian arab state jordan river mediterranean sea idea two states western par excellence palestinian party leader ever thought partitioning holy land ever option idea seemed preposterous partly ilan pappes ethnic cleaning palestine shows almost cultivated land palestine held indigenous population 58 percent jewish ownership 1947 earlier equally important reference palestinian state made peel commission british commission inquiry led lord peel sent palestine investigate reasons behind popular strike uprising later armed rebellion began 1936 lasted nearly three years underlying causes disturbances two resolved commission palestinian desire independence hatred fear establishment jewish national home latter promised british government zionist federation great britain ireland 1917 became known balfour declaration peel commission recommended partition palestine jewish state palestinian state would incorporated transjordan enclaves reserved british mandate government time recommendation eighty years ago kerrys warning twostate solution serious jeopardy little done terms practical steps establish palestinian state worse us used veto power un repeatedly impede establishment palestinian state well utilizing political economic might intimidate others recognizing although symbolically palestinian state played key role funding illegal jewish settlements west bank jerusalemall rendered existence palestinian state virtually impossible issue west continue use twostate solution political parameter resolution israelipalestinian conflict time ensuring prescription conflict resolution never become reality answer partly lies fact twostate solution never devised implementation begin like peace process pretenses aimed promote among palestinians arabs idea goal worth striving despite unattainable even goal conditioned set demands unrealistic begin historically palestinians renounce violence armed resistance israels military occupation consent various un resolutions even israel still reject resolutions accept israels right exist jewish state yettobeestablished palestinian state also meant demilitarized divided west bank gaza excluding occupied east jerusalem many new creative solutions also offered alleviate israeli fears nonexistent palestinian state case establishment never pose threat israel times discussions afoot confederation palestine jordan times recent proposal head jewish home party israeli minister naftali bennett making gaza state annexing israel 60 percent west bank israels allies frustrated rise rightwing israel obstinacy prime minister benjamin netanyahu insist time running twostate solution express worries form tough love israels settlement activity increasingly cementing irreversible onestate reality said kerry major policy speech last month reality would force israel either compromise jewish identity state religiousethnic identities modern democratic state common precondition contend apartheid state reality doesnt exist anyway kerry warned israel eventually left option placing palestinians permanent military occupation deprives basic freedoms thus paving ground separate unequal scenario yet warnings twostate solution possibility disintegrating bothered try understand reality palestinian perspective palestinians debate israel choose democratic jewish ludicrous israels democracy applies fully jewish citizens one else palestinians subsisted decades behind walls fences prisons besieged enclaves like gaza strip two separate laws rules realities applying two separate groups land kerrys separate unequal apartheid scenario taken place moment israel established 1948 fed illusions failed leadership according recent poll two thirds palestinians agree twostate solution possible margin keeps growing fast massive illegal settlement enterprise dotting occupied west bank jerusalem argument twostate solution latter merely existed ruse pacify palestinians buy time demarcate conflict miragelike political horizon us indeed keen twostate solution would fought vehemently make reality decades ago say twostate solution dead subscribe illusion alive possible said behooves everyone understand coexistence one democratic state dark scenario spells doom region time abandon unattainable illusions focus energies foster coexistence based equality justice indeed one state river sea democratic state people regardless ethnicity religious beliefs | 629 |
<p>We don’t know what decision the Supreme Court will announce tomorrow, and the peculiar overconfidence on both the left and the right that the justices will strike down some portion of Obamacare seems to me not well founded. They might, or they might not, and the case for either outcome is about as strong as ever. This week’s Arizona decision (and of course countless other cases over decades) should teach us that there is no necessary relationship between Justice Kennedy’s attitude in oral argument and his ultimate view, and the same surely holds for other justices in many cases. It certainly seems to me that if there is any limit at all on the Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause then the individual mandate as articulated in Obamacare lies beyond that limit, but then I have never been able to find a right to kill unborn children in the Constitution, so clearly I’m not a very careful reader. We’ll just have to see what the justices find.</p>
<p>However the court rules, though, the decision will be followed by a rekindling of the health-care debate. If the justices uphold the law, then of course the case against its many grave failings and its fundamentally misguided approach to health economics will need to be sustained so that a president and Congress intent on repealing and replacing it might be elected in November. But even if the Court overturns some or all of Obamacare, essentially the same case will need to be made in the buildup to the election. A decision finding the individual mandate to be beyond the pale would be a major turning point in American constitutional law—perhaps the most important move in decades to recover some of the meaning of the Commerce Clause and so to reinforce the capacity of our constitutional order to shape the bounds of state authority and therefore of our public life. But it would be a less significant turning point in the long-running dispute over American health economics.</p>
<p>The Court has not been asked (nor could or should it have been) to somehow take up the premises that informed the design of Obamacare—that economic efficiency (and therefore higher quality at lower cost) can be best achieved by centralized command and control and that the inefficiencies of our health-care system should therefore be addressed by making the federal government even more of a buyer, provider, regulator, and price controller in American health care and making the system even less responsive to consumer pressures and price signals. It has not been asked to reflect on the premises that inform the views and proposals of opponents of Obamacare—that economic efficiency (and therefore higher quality at lower cost) can be best achieved by intense and decentralized competition for consumer dollars among providers who are free to innovate and that the inefficiencies of our health-care system should therefore be addressed by using the government’s leverage and public resources to give consumers numerous options and the means to choose among them.</p>
<p>As a matter of policy substance, the individual mandate is peripheral, not central, to the Left’s approach to health-care reform. It is necessary to the system envisioned by Obamacare precisely because that larger system is at odds with basic economics. Left to itself, the system would quickly self-destruct, since it would create strong incentives for people to remain uninsured until they were sick. That should serve as a warning sign to its champions, but instead it served to invite the creation of a new legal requirement for living in America, enforced with a modest penalty. If they are denied recourse to that particular penalty, it would not be hard for people committed to a command-and-control approach to health-care financing to find another way. They could, for instance, create a new health-care tax (set at the same level as Obamacare’s mandate) and exempt from it anyone who has government-approved health insurance. This would have roughly the same effect, imposing a penalty on anyone not covered in an approved way, but would not raise the same constitutional questions.</p>
<p>Of course, the politics of such a tax, and indeed the politics of trying to reconstitute Obamacare if the Court strikes down some or all of it, would be very difficult for the Left. And that’s just the point. Whatever the Court announces tomorrow, it is the political fight over how to fix our health-care system that must be fought and won. That fight is really about the two visions of health care—and the two visions of economics, freedom, and American life—espoused in general terms by the Left and the Right. The Obamacare fiasco has severely damaged the Left’s ability to make its case: Liberals have had their chance to push through their version of health-care reform and they produced an incoherent and unpopular monstrosity. This gives conservatives a real opportunity, but seizing that opportunity will require more than just hoping that Obamacare is undone by the Court, and more even than repealing that odious law in the Congress. It will require a forthright case about what is wrong with our health-care system (and how a series of grossly misguided federal policies have been at the heart of the problem) and how it can be fixed through a series of discrete, targeted reforms aimed at actually addressing the problem rather than desperately struggling to vindicate the shallow vision of solidarity underlying a dying social-democratic dream.</p>
<p>The conservative alternative is not a secret. At its core, it involves turning today’s health-care entitlements (including the tax preference for employer-based coverage) into a system of premium-support subsidies to be used in a regulated but highly competitive private insurance market in which insurers and health-care providers have broad latitude to experiment with different avenues to efficiency and quality. Its key components, in various forms, have been laid out in recent years by <a href="http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/02/20070223-4.html" type="external">the last Republican president</a>, the <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080902125630/http:/www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2edb527cf.htm" type="external">last Republican presidential candidate</a>, the leading <a href="http://budget.house.gov/uploadedfiles/pathtoprosperity2013.pdf" type="external">policy</a>&#160; <a href="http://www.coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&amp;File_id=d2f94455-368c-45b5-8d56-fc195a833884" type="external">thinkers</a>&#160;among Congressional Republicans, assorted <a href="http://www.aei.org/files/2010/12/07/Defined-Contribution-Route-to-Health-Care-Choice.pdf" type="external">conservative</a>&#160; <a href="http://www.nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/how-to-replace-obamacare" type="external">health-care</a>&#160; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1598130838/theindepeende-20" type="external">wonks</a>, and the <a href="http://www.mittromney.com/issues/health-care" type="external">prospective Republican nominee</a>. There is no excuse for pretending it doesn’t exist, as much of the Left has sought to do. But there is also no excuse for imagining that such an alternative is not necessary, or need not be argued for, as some Republican leaders and evidently some in the Romney campaign now seem inclined to think.</p>
<p>The Court’s decision tomorrow will surely clarify the parameters of the coming debate. If the Court upholds the mandate, the focus will shift from Constitutional questions back to the sheer unpopularity of many of Obamacare’s provisions (including the mandate), and the argument will find itself roughly where it was a year ago. If the Court overturns some part of Obamacare, then the case for health-care solutions that both address the problem and respect the integrity and character of our constitutional system will surely be strengthened. But either way, the basic argument about what is wrong with America’s health-care financing system and what a better system would look like will go on. It will be, as it always has been, a debate that conservatives must win the old-f ashioned way: in the political arena, by persuasion and proof.</p>
<p>Yuval Levin is Hertog fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and editor of National Affairs.</p> | false | 1 | dont know decision supreme court announce tomorrow peculiar overconfidence left right justices strike portion obamacare seems well founded might might case either outcome strong ever weeks arizona decision course countless cases decades teach us necessary relationship justice kennedys attitude oral argument ultimate view surely holds justices many cases certainly seems limit congresss power commerce clause individual mandate articulated obamacare lies beyond limit never able find right kill unborn children constitution clearly im careful reader well see justices find however court rules though decision followed rekindling healthcare debate justices uphold law course case many grave failings fundamentally misguided approach health economics need sustained president congress intent repealing replacing might elected november even court overturns obamacare essentially case need made buildup election decision finding individual mandate beyond pale would major turning point american constitutional lawperhaps important move decades recover meaning commerce clause reinforce capacity constitutional order shape bounds state authority therefore public life would less significant turning point longrunning dispute american health economics court asked could somehow take premises informed design obamacarethat economic efficiency therefore higher quality lower cost best achieved centralized command control inefficiencies healthcare system therefore addressed making federal government even buyer provider regulator price controller american health care making system even less responsive consumer pressures price signals asked reflect premises inform views proposals opponents obamacarethat economic efficiency therefore higher quality lower cost best achieved intense decentralized competition consumer dollars among providers free innovate inefficiencies healthcare system therefore addressed using governments leverage public resources give consumers numerous options means choose among matter policy substance individual mandate peripheral central lefts approach healthcare reform necessary system envisioned obamacare precisely larger system odds basic economics left system would quickly selfdestruct since would create strong incentives people remain uninsured sick serve warning sign champions instead served invite creation new legal requirement living america enforced modest penalty denied recourse particular penalty would hard people committed commandandcontrol approach healthcare financing find another way could instance create new healthcare tax set level obamacares mandate exempt anyone governmentapproved health insurance would roughly effect imposing penalty anyone covered approved way would raise constitutional questions course politics tax indeed politics trying reconstitute obamacare court strikes would difficult left thats point whatever court announces tomorrow political fight fix healthcare system must fought fight really two visions health careand two visions economics freedom american lifeespoused general terms left right obamacare fiasco severely damaged lefts ability make case liberals chance push version healthcare reform produced incoherent unpopular monstrosity gives conservatives real opportunity seizing opportunity require hoping obamacare undone court even repealing odious law congress require forthright case wrong healthcare system series grossly misguided federal policies heart problem fixed series discrete targeted reforms aimed actually addressing problem rather desperately struggling vindicate shallow vision solidarity underlying dying socialdemocratic dream conservative alternative secret core involves turning todays healthcare entitlements including tax preference employerbased coverage system premiumsupport subsidies used regulated highly competitive private insurance market insurers healthcare providers broad latitude experiment different avenues efficiency quality key components various forms laid recent years last republican president last republican presidential candidate leading policy160 thinkers160among congressional republicans assorted conservative160 healthcare160 wonks prospective republican nominee excuse pretending doesnt exist much left sought also excuse imagining alternative necessary need argued republican leaders evidently romney campaign seem inclined think courts decision tomorrow surely clarify parameters coming debate court upholds mandate focus shift constitutional questions back sheer unpopularity many obamacares provisions including mandate argument find roughly year ago court overturns part obamacare case healthcare solutions address problem respect integrity character constitutional system surely strengthened either way basic argument wrong americas healthcare financing system better system would look like go always debate conservatives must win oldf ashioned way political arena persuasion proof yuval levin hertog fellow ethics public policy center editor national affairs | 618 |
<p>How is it that Hillary Clinton's habits of secrecy themselves attract more interest than the secrets already exposed?</p>
<p>There are dozens of <a href="http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/0wA/ni0YAA/t.1rg/Y6NWDstHSEmXnzCQ5kZ82A/h0/OCyNDn9i98-2BOopV0K0WrPhwPv51MlZjOHjKfwnY2g4Y-2BHkZQhSPrLzZim0u-2B-2FfQGMgUB99iGO5H44uWO7Tg-2B7LWiSt-2FYijlIjQFLaPaOmUo6ZKihUSuESAGjfUaYXuql2mzAlJ1rgAKRTdH-2Fv6zf8mws7QQf5GcIUsT0UQ9GFrDyXgJghUUS6SI88eNYqNIOKFx1iWZRqMMkInHz7TCdgg-3D-3D" type="external">Hillary Clinton scandals</a> that I have no wish to minimize. But how is it that her habits of secrecy themselves attract more interest than the secrets already exposed?</p>
<p>Here is someone who has allowed shipments of weapons to countries that effectively paid her bribes. Last May the International Business Times published an article by David Sirota and Andrew Perez with the headline “ <a href="http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/0wA/ni0YAA/t.1rg/Y6NWDstHSEmXnzCQ5kZ82A/h1/iadoQp7swV9DkSEL9EBiYL-2B74xeBislBAdgaVX1J5AVWjnUh6W3BDkU-2BFXSGL5GyDXw4VljLedoWUWSNroBP-2FC6Se-2BJhXGStc9ExMo2gvaq1ta-2BtgAiLShzgx0lmFDB7-2FutdMLDSkirz2EtfKnEU2Ek32-2Bhit2o3-2BZTVPAO2R0F2vnFBlT70H72hKpzU3WFuf3ldNPdDiC8ZmQaZnsnDf6EnWQSPpF-2FwbLI-2FrJSjXYleJYC-2BjhX0saXLmfXoT0u5JJifACi0jMQqq2UPipVXowoGRtr-2BeYMaGp2W2jZdVWbVZlODGUTbvc8wI-2FsVQdUM" type="external">Clinton Foundation Donors Got Weapons Deals From Hillary Clinton’s State Department</a>.”</p>
<p>As the article recounts, Clinton approved a massive weapons sale to Saudi Arabia, almost certainly involving weapons since used to bomb innocent families in Yemen, despite official State Department positions on Saudi Arabia and, I might add, in apparent violation of the Arms Export Control Act.</p>
<p>“In the years before Hillary Clinton became secretary of state, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia contributed at least $10 million to the Clinton Foundation, the philanthropic enterprise she has overseen with her husband, former president Bill Clinton. Just two months before the deal was finalized, Boeing—the defense contractor that manufactures one of the fighter jets the Saudis were especially keen to acquire, the F-15— <a href="http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/0wA/ni0YAA/t.1rg/Y6NWDstHSEmXnzCQ5kZ82A/h2/-2BgG2Axp9Q5O6CwaCfGvIKpiNTTl164gFxrbUCrEJ8XK0s8Jkd16ftHgAe46FpdjaPXeRcKoGmvtc9y1xd7i9Q3NU7N9uxMBUJVgV5H3CwBDgtJc67F0pAEuDEn6Z5nYMB8EvRujGtA04HseLQ-2BBP5WIXwuxLdiH5ZqY-2BUkYF7jQdWW8aSPIekHaHM9z2HAO17kPr2oEgnb0I4FoDgP1OptZZEA24DA53y5coLe51Ig9ZZ8f2rrDHDKklqzOeLeZUtq9u7iXhN2l2n0p2O7tIOBc5Z3-2B-2FzUHF9uYus5VCGRuK0W2oNeTwIyN1QG-2BZmTeJbx2rxjU-2Bzj7ydV-2FDSMZvuDzwDNaw4uKNrkyEVHYwaUE-3D" type="external">contributed</a> $900,000 to the Clinton Foundation, according to a company press release.</p>
<p>“The Saudi deal was one of dozens of arms sales approved by Hillary Clinton’s State Department that placed weapons in the hands of governments that had also donated money to the Clinton family philanthropic empire, an International Business Times investigation has found.</p>
<p>“. . . American [military] contractors also donated to the Clinton Foundation while Hillary Clinton was secretary of state and in some cases made personal payments to Bill Clinton for speaking engagements.”</p>
<p>Among the nations that the State Department itself criticized for abusive actions (and most of which Clinton herself criticized for funding terrorism) but which donated to the Clinton Foundation and gained clearance for U.S. weapons purchases from Clinton’s State Department were: Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain. In 2010 the State Department criticized Algeria, Algeria donated to the Clinton Foundation, and . . .</p>
<p>“Clinton’s State Department the next year approved a one-year 70 percent increase in military export authorizations to the country. The increase included authorizations of almost 50,000 items classified as ‘toxicological agents, including chemical agents, biological agents and associated equipment’ after the State Department did not authorize the export of any of such items to Algeria in the prior year.”</p>
<p>Also, “The Clinton Foundation did not <a href="http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/0wA/ni0YAA/t.1rg/Y6NWDstHSEmXnzCQ5kZ82A/h3/-2BgG2Axp9Q5O6CwaCfGvIKpiNTTl164gFxrbUCrEJ8XL-2FSKZTrEDo44be9kQWgm2pK04aVh49une7XrjZqUEYgNKptZi6-2FsVZa3HgtixG2ZGqm89x1W-2Bwc-2F7L-2BDSfb1Xrm5MMwD6wGmTqs4kylP-2BAlp8GcoUY06oOcuCga8O3-2FBKDvxmCznDHReafCcJ-2Fnc8CLVSvP4nDV29tvYX08pFZyzwHrBX0QXOKQXpaJ-2FjmDvvoIzqsZBzNIokPGXkYG8kPjpWmQkF67KuB3oY1dKLFfLNpcF3T5Z0vZl9ZHknlIfbAC6-2BtZKbH8Rm-2B4jQwR7695Cexfw0Du-2FoRoUnNcIZeJZCReI6RRBdKZQ7xGWC6TOJ-2Bcl03KNvkr18ITxnRTFZTcUJoasY-2BXsZLTu7ieWr9uw-3D-3D" type="external">disclose</a> Algeria’s donation until this year—a violation of the ethics agreement it entered into with the Obama administration.”</p>
<p>Companies whose weapons sales Clinton’s State Department approved to nations it had previously refused included these donors to the Clinton Foundation: Boeing, General Electric, Goldman Sachs (Hawker Beechcraft), Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, and United Technologies.</p>
<p>Clinton’s State Department, we can observe in the WikiLeaks cables, spent a great deal of time pushing foreign nations of all sorts to buy weapons from the above companies. Here’s <a href="http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/0wA/ni0YAA/t.1rg/Y6NWDstHSEmXnzCQ5kZ82A/h4/RgFvoxDE8yuiGVSejHzmYCDu24Zwk17IJ9sbSGB3xNVPn8O4WtCQ-2BurQQ3aygo0Uv2KLz-2FxSjTtnZHxpp1QdeUM-2F5mOLAWK-2BfrorNT8NBJMwmV3vSthTVNhPBII-2FN4LO-2F9TXYn6BZWTVG7z-2FOepDsibuD1xF3Vb6hOOIeAnX2dZqDGsVOD4pKMKLyodFz0ci-2F34oMswurCBAFNcp72-2FSOd3-2FWDGPOaB3-2FO4Uq-2BiHuqzwbXsSVrMXTFfvuS1qiOSszzouOveIZHz3W4lCBVn5Og1DXZbxVq81GMMA1ogHMPI-3D" type="external">Fortune</a> magazine in 2011:</p>
<p>“Perhaps the most striking account of arms advocacy . . . is a December 2008 cable from Oslo that recaps the embassy’s push to persuade Norway to buy Lockheed Martin’s Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) instead of the Gripen, a fighter jet made by Sweden’s Saab. The cable reads like a Lockheed sales manual. ‘The country team has been living and breathing JSF for over a year, following a road to success that was full of heart-stopping ups and downs,’ wrote the American official. He lists helpful suggestions for other diplomats looking to promote weapons: work ‘with Lockheed Martin to determine which aspects of the purchase to highlight’; ‘jointly develop a press strategy with Lockheed Martin’; ‘create opportunities to talk about the aircraft.’ ‘Promoting economic security and prosperity at home and abroad is critical to America’s national security, and thus central to the Department of State’s mission,’ the department spokesman wrote in an e-mail.”</p>
<p>The Washington Post <a href="http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/0wA/ni0YAA/t.1rg/Y6NWDstHSEmXnzCQ5kZ82A/h5/mb-2FqhNwiPwHg26xxrzU0i6sX6KG5czYraUN3UD2Q9weAw2y3YF1Twy9CVC5JUlxAiISddAwGjyPryCMhxKopBXLg3w6EOgIeocEjyYPiJQLRlnI4FencQUVhSAAONOmkWMGP7ozObPBh-2F0gMnYiz6hnKfoXb6LTlpgKjxF6VjCCBsz6s31E7vDnPz3bFxguZWGv9TkdCkn0-2BQJpV1HYm-2FTNIZ2udpmDIGHCQsbrRF8yZrF6yj7qzXBoLyxOQ6aUTMbAcHxmjxrOLmHudZPUo78sr27TScgdpAvsM4CZEe7AUj41J4Dp7kAggOwgCf-2BS6-2BcEdoMOtHfzxSWUR90wRrmheLHM8UqLOpNSIGuUNXDWMUDwZZPiFsX5R-2BZ5YdbjJ" type="external">reported</a> in April of last year:</p>
<p>“On a trip to Moscow early in her tenure as secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton played the role of international saleswoman, pressing Russian government officials to sign a multibillion-dollar deal to buy dozens of aircraft from Boeing. A month later, Clinton was in China, where she jubilantly announced that the aerospace giant would be writing a generous check to help resuscitate floundering U.S. efforts to host a pavilion at the upcoming World’s Fair. Boeing, <a href="http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/0wA/ni0YAA/t.1rg/Y6NWDstHSEmXnzCQ5kZ82A/h6/47WwWY8uMC8QGbIvZ8l31GYBz1-2FnkV6gmxogN0Qks2qhA8aRgjXFMLhd6Tk0cd86GS3xVuYnsNLAReyZhAmk3bFycDtOmVgG7QgvzTutesZhCZCrbMZXLDEGk59oIgSfN6zjOE00DfG5ea9Oz3M7Cnw-2F-2BIk8eqnGgQDyOM7Hx98AIZphi43aMLuyY6-2BYofmoHlq3JVuQ-2FlOjzqsK5XgTTT2jd0XO5irdP5UckoGmGSD3-2BiPUiKtUKjRoh5sY-2FnFW" type="external">she said</a>, ‘has just agreed to double its contribution to $2 million.’ Clinton did not point out that, to secure the donation, the State Department had set aside ethics guidelines that first prohibited solicitations of Boeing and then later permitted only a $1 million gift from the company. Boeing had been included on a list of firms to be avoided because of its frequent reliance on the government for help negotiating overseas business and concern that a donation could be seen as an attempt to curry favor with U.S. officials.”</p>
<p>Secretary of State Clinton dramatically increased U.S. weapons sales to the Middle East. Between 2008 and 2011, according to the <a href="http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/0wA/ni0YAA/t.1rg/Y6NWDstHSEmXnzCQ5kZ82A/h7/7CBW3QOYpmFsnSfOK5kPeM5DGjXzr1QMJ2v8eCX6J1f9Q9E40AFfptC9IWmkVXnCG3a4X6iu5ep2Is-2FXcaiiVZsoyQ6jS-2F7YXK4qBn6N0u5sWWP2DFz9ROyfAF-2FY-2F-2F5RdqO6d5dNAaB5QvVzoVohS2-2FklsK-2BXX-2FXgZo1PdEIc5Z53PKq2ynjJGjhVmQ8ywRZ0-2FiRbX8CP9KzgkqQNC4kuDRPoQu2EDWIiaO3SiK2l4lZyzTqB1057FXYn1WxxMId7SVJOT-2B-2FMlVgaW0Eunab3w-3D-3D" type="external">Congressional Research Service</a>, 79% of weapons shipments to the Middle East were from the United States.</p>
<p>Fun as it might be to watch long hours of Congress members asking Clinton why she destroyed emails or how an ambassador bringing peace, love, and happiness to Libya (and Syria) ended up dead, wouldn’t it make more sense to ask her something like this:</p>
<p>Secretary Clinton, the Pope recently asked a joint session of this Congress to end the arms trade, and we gave him a standing ovation. Granted, we’re a bunch of hypocritical creeps, but my God woman, look at your record! Is there any amount of human life you wouldn’t sacrifice for a buck? Can you think of anything that could be found in anyone’s secret emails that would be worse than what we already know about you? There is a precedent for impeaching high officials after retirement. They can be stripped of the Secret Service and of the right to run for any federal office. If an intern were to crawl under that table we’d impeach you by Friday. What in the world are we waiting for?</p>
<p>All right. All right! We’re a bunch of partisan jack asses who will just get you elected if we try any such thing, and we’d gum it all up anyway. But we’re going to keep you here until you answer us this question: how did you get THAT kind of money out of these nasty foreign dictatorships? I mean, seriously, can your people sit down with my staff one day next week? Also, what about drinks, just you, me, and a few of the top people at Boeing? Is that too much to ask?</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>This article was originally published at <a href="http://davidswanson.org/node/4955" type="external">DavidSwanson.org</a> and has been used here with permission.</p> | false | 1 | hillary clintons habits secrecy attract interest secrets already exposed dozens hillary clinton scandals wish minimize habits secrecy attract interest secrets already exposed someone allowed shipments weapons countries effectively paid bribes last may international business times published article david sirota andrew perez headline clinton foundation donors got weapons deals hillary clintons state department article recounts clinton approved massive weapons sale saudi arabia almost certainly involving weapons since used bomb innocent families yemen despite official state department positions saudi arabia might add apparent violation arms export control act years hillary clinton became secretary state kingdom saudi arabia contributed least 10 million clinton foundation philanthropic enterprise overseen husband former president bill clinton two months deal finalized boeingthe defense contractor manufactures one fighter jets saudis especially keen acquire f15 contributed 900000 clinton foundation according company press release saudi deal one dozens arms sales approved hillary clintons state department placed weapons hands governments also donated money clinton family philanthropic empire international business times investigation found american military contractors also donated clinton foundation hillary clinton secretary state cases made personal payments bill clinton speaking engagements among nations state department criticized abusive actions clinton criticized funding terrorism donated clinton foundation gained clearance us weapons purchases clintons state department algeria saudi arabia kuwait united arab emirates oman qatar bahrain 2010 state department criticized algeria algeria donated clinton foundation clintons state department next year approved oneyear 70 percent increase military export authorizations country increase included authorizations almost 50000 items classified toxicological agents including chemical agents biological agents associated equipment state department authorize export items algeria prior year also clinton foundation disclose algerias donation yeara violation ethics agreement entered obama administration companies whose weapons sales clintons state department approved nations previously refused included donors clinton foundation boeing general electric goldman sachs hawker beechcraft honeywell lockheed martin united technologies clintons state department observe wikileaks cables spent great deal time pushing foreign nations sorts buy weapons companies heres fortune magazine 2011 perhaps striking account arms advocacy december 2008 cable oslo recaps embassys push persuade norway buy lockheed martins joint strike fighter jsf instead gripen fighter jet made swedens saab cable reads like lockheed sales manual country team living breathing jsf year following road success full heartstopping ups downs wrote american official lists helpful suggestions diplomats looking promote weapons work lockheed martin determine aspects purchase highlight jointly develop press strategy lockheed martin create opportunities talk aircraft promoting economic security prosperity home abroad critical americas national security thus central department states mission department spokesman wrote email washington post reported april last year trip moscow early tenure secretary state hillary rodham clinton played role international saleswoman pressing russian government officials sign multibilliondollar deal buy dozens aircraft boeing month later clinton china jubilantly announced aerospace giant would writing generous check help resuscitate floundering us efforts host pavilion upcoming worlds fair boeing said agreed double contribution 2 million clinton point secure donation state department set aside ethics guidelines first prohibited solicitations boeing later permitted 1 million gift company boeing included list firms avoided frequent reliance government help negotiating overseas business concern donation could seen attempt curry favor us officials secretary state clinton dramatically increased us weapons sales middle east 2008 2011 according congressional research service 79 weapons shipments middle east united states fun might watch long hours congress members asking clinton destroyed emails ambassador bringing peace love happiness libya syria ended dead wouldnt make sense ask something like secretary clinton pope recently asked joint session congress end arms trade gave standing ovation granted bunch hypocritical creeps god woman look record amount human life wouldnt sacrifice buck think anything could found anyones secret emails would worse already know precedent impeaching high officials retirement stripped secret service right run federal office intern crawl table wed impeach friday world waiting right right bunch partisan jack asses get elected try thing wed gum anyway going keep answer us question get kind money nasty foreign dictatorships mean seriously people sit staff one day next week also drinks top people boeing much ask article originally published davidswansonorg used permission | 666 |
<p>WASHINGTON — A congressional battle was renewed Wednesday when a House panel held its first hearing this year on reviving the mothballed Yucca Mountain nuclear repository in Nevada.</p>
<p>The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on environment called on experts who said that obstacles to opening the Yucca Mountain site, defunded and closed in 2012, were difficult but could be overcome and urged Congress to begin the licensing process on the Nevada site.</p>
<p>Funding, water rights, transportation of spent nuclear fuel, and fierce political opposition by state officials were all listed as some of the concerns that plagued continuation of developing the site as a permanent geologic location for storage.</p>
<p>Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., the subcommittee chairman, called the hearing a success and said draft legislation would now move forward.</p>
<p>He said he has spoken to Energy Secretary Rick Perry, and noted that President Donald Trump’s budget blueprint for 2018 includes $120 million to kick-start the licensing process on Yucca Mountain with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.</p>
<p />
<p>Shimkus called the Trump budget a strong signal that development of Yucca Mountain would continue.</p>
<p>“I think we have an administration that wants to comply with the law,” Shimkus told reporters. “I have no doubt that the DOE is fully on board.”</p>
<p>The hearing included emotional testimony from Nevada’s congressional delegation.</p>
<p>‘Heavy-handed’ proposal</p>
<p>Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., called Shimkus’ draft legislation “a heavy-handed, federal government-only proposal to reinstate Yucca Mountain while making false promises to the residents of Nevada.”</p>
<p>Nevada has contributed to the development of nuclear energy, said Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., “and we continue to carry those scars decades after the mushroom clouds dissipated.”</p>
<p>Rep. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and the American Gaming Association, in a letter, said transporting waste to Yucca Mountain would take it through Las Vegas, a national tourist destination that attracts 43 million people annually.</p>
<p>The Yucca Mountain site is located in Nye County, about 90 miles north of Las Vegas. Nye and several rural counties want the licensing process to continue.</p>
<p>Nye County Commission Chairman Dan Schinhofen said in a statement that the licensing process is the way to “determine if Yucca Mountain is a secure site for the nation’s nuclear spent fuel. Today was a big step in that direction.”</p>
<p>But Rep. Ruben Kihuen, D-Nev., whose congressional district includes the Yucca Mountain site, told the hearing that the state produces no nuclear waste and should not be the nation’s dumping ground.</p>
<p>“Let’s find a place your district,” Kihuen said.</p>
<p>There are 121 communities in 39 states that are grappling with nuclear waste produced from generating plants, said Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C. He said those communities are waiting for the federal government to fulfill its obligation to store the waste at Yucca Mountain, which was designated by Congress in 1987 as the permanent storage site.</p>
<p>The Nuclear Energy Waste Policy Act was first passed in 1982, making it a federal responsibility to dispose of waste from non-military generators. It was amended in 1987 when Yucca Mountain was designated as the permanent site, based on studies then.</p>
<p>President Barack Obama defunded development of Yucca Mountain in 2012, and his administration shuttered the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management at DOE.</p>
<p>Proposed legislation</p>
<p>The draft legislation by Shimkus would re-establish that office. It also provides a legal framework to establish interim storage sites and seeks access to funding to develop Yucca Mountain and complete licensing, said Steven Nesbit with the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council and a policy director at Duke Energy Corp.</p>
<p>Duke Energy produces nuclear-generated energy in the Carolinas.</p>
<p>Edward Sproat, former director of the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, said the first priority for the government would be to get funding, upwards of $2.5 billion a year, to build the repository.</p>
<p>He said the licensing process with the NRC could take as many as four years because Nevada has filed over 200 contentions that must be addressed.</p>
<p>Although Nevada has denied water to the development of the site, Sproat said Congress could declare the need for water to be in the public’s best interest. He said it could also be obtained through an administrative decision by Perry.</p>
<p>Congress would also have to seek a permanent land withdrawal for the site — 147,000 acres excluded for any future public use.</p>
<p>When asked by Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, whether a new site selection for a permanent disposal would identify alternative locations, Sproat said no. He further said that even with willing host communities, like Nye County, there would likely be political opposition from neighboring communities.</p>
<p>There are 79,000 tons of spent fuel being stored temporarily and subject to environmental disasters and terrorist attacks, said Mark McManus, general president of the United Association Union of Plumbers, Pipefitters, Welders and Service Techs.</p>
<p>Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval warned the subcommittee in a letter that the state would fight congressional attempts to revive the shuttered site.</p>
<p>The governor was in Washington on Wednesday and met with members of the Trump Cabinet.</p>
<p>Sandoval has urged the federal government to find an alternative permanent storage site for nuclear wastes.</p>
<p>Two private contractors in Texas and New Mexico are seeking a license with the NRC to temporarily store the backlog of waste being produced. Neither is considered a permanent storage site.</p>
<p>Contact Gary Martin at [email protected] or 202-662-7390. Follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/garymartindc" type="external">@garymartindc</a> on Twitter.</p> | false | 1 | washington congressional battle renewed wednesday house panel held first hearing year reviving mothballed yucca mountain nuclear repository nevada house energy commerce subcommittee environment called experts said obstacles opening yucca mountain site defunded closed 2012 difficult could overcome urged congress begin licensing process nevada site funding water rights transportation spent nuclear fuel fierce political opposition state officials listed concerns plagued continuation developing site permanent geologic location storage rep john shimkus rill subcommittee chairman called hearing success said draft legislation would move forward said spoken energy secretary rick perry noted president donald trumps budget blueprint 2018 includes 120 million kickstart licensing process yucca mountain nuclear regulatory commission shimkus called trump budget strong signal development yucca mountain would continue think administration wants comply law shimkus told reporters doubt doe fully board hearing included emotional testimony nevadas congressional delegation heavyhanded proposal sen dean heller rnev called shimkus draft legislation heavyhanded federal governmentonly proposal reinstate yucca mountain making false promises residents nevada nevada contributed development nuclear energy said rep dina titus dnev continue carry scars decades mushroom clouds dissipated rep jacky rosen dnev american gaming association letter said transporting waste yucca mountain would take las vegas national tourist destination attracts 43 million people annually yucca mountain site located nye county 90 miles north las vegas nye several rural counties want licensing process continue nye county commission chairman dan schinhofen said statement licensing process way determine yucca mountain secure site nations nuclear spent fuel today big step direction rep ruben kihuen dnev whose congressional district includes yucca mountain site told hearing state produces nuclear waste nations dumping ground lets find place district kihuen said 121 communities 39 states grappling nuclear waste produced generating plants said rep joe wilson rsc said communities waiting federal government fulfill obligation store waste yucca mountain designated congress 1987 permanent storage site nuclear energy waste policy act first passed 1982 making federal responsibility dispose waste nonmilitary generators amended 1987 yucca mountain designated permanent site based studies president barack obama defunded development yucca mountain 2012 administration shuttered office civilian radioactive waste management doe proposed legislation draft legislation shimkus would reestablish office also provides legal framework establish interim storage sites seeks access funding develop yucca mountain complete licensing said steven nesbit us nuclear infrastructure council policy director duke energy corp duke energy produces nucleargenerated energy carolinas edward sproat former director office civilian radioactive waste management said first priority government would get funding upwards 25 billion year build repository said licensing process nrc could take many four years nevada filed 200 contentions must addressed although nevada denied water development site sproat said congress could declare need water publics best interest said could also obtained administrative decision perry congress would also seek permanent land withdrawal site 147000 acres excluded future public use asked rep joe barton rtexas whether new site selection permanent disposal would identify alternative locations sproat said said even willing host communities like nye county would likely political opposition neighboring communities 79000 tons spent fuel stored temporarily subject environmental disasters terrorist attacks said mark mcmanus general president united association union plumbers pipefitters welders service techs nevada gov brian sandoval warned subcommittee letter state would fight congressional attempts revive shuttered site governor washington wednesday met members trump cabinet sandoval urged federal government find alternative permanent storage site nuclear wastes two private contractors texas new mexico seeking license nrc temporarily store backlog waste produced neither considered permanent storage site contact gary martin gmartinreviewjournalcom 2026627390 follow garymartindc twitter | 571 |
<p />
<p>In the apartment complex where I live, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, there is a Cantonese speaking woman who seems to know everyone. She walks the halls and hangs out in the cafés all day, getting to know all of the building’s residents. Then she helps them find rentals, acts as a real-estate broker, or hooks them up with whatever they need, and, I assume, earns a commission on each transaction.</p>
<p>When I asked her I wanted to find a school to study Bahasa Melayu, the official language of the country, she said, “You don’t need to go to school. Tell me the words you want to know and I will teach them to you.”</p>
<p>Being an ALG (Automatic Language Growth) proponent, I believe in studying language, in context and for the purpose of communicating meaningfully, and with the goal of approaching native speaker fluency. So, if you ask me which words I want to learn, it’s all of them.</p>
<p>Rather than make a list, I was going to toss the dictionary on the table in front of her. “I would like to learn those words.” I would say. “Please teach them to me.” But then, since the dictionary already has English translations, I guess her job was done for her.</p>
<p>In actuality, one of the major concepts of ALG is that words are not the key to a language, meaning is. You could memorize 5,000 words from a dictionary and not be able to string a sentence together or express yourself in any meaningful way.</p>
<p>Mark Twain may have had a vocabulary that was 10% or even 30% larger than the average college graduate. But he wrote works that the average college graduate couldn’t. And it wasn’t because he had more words. Clearly there is much more to language and communication than words.? (What is the writer trying to say here?)</p>
<p>Many of us don’t know much about nuclear physics or how to run a nuclear reactor. But then, most of us don’t have a reactor and don’t need to run one. So, it works out in the end. But we all speak language. And some people have two or three native tongues, and yet the average person seems to be completely clueless about what it is that makes a language and especially, people seem to be lost on the subject of how to teach or learn a language.</p>
<p>Nearly 100% of people who graduate from a medical school can work as doctors. Nearly zero percent of people who graduate with a four year degree in a foreign language can speak at anything approaching fluency.</p>
<p>Another Malay friend was trying to encourage me in my study of Malay language. “I know a British woman who has been here for ten years. She married a Malay man, and now she speaks excellent Pasar Malay.”</p>
<p>Pasar in Malay means market, I assume it comes form the same Persian root as the English word bazaar. Pasar Malay is basically a pigeon language, which was historically spoken by foreign traders. Basically, what my friend was telling me was that, if I remain in Malaysia for ten years, and marry a Malay man, I would be able to speak grammatically incorrect sentences and converse at the level of a kitchen servant.</p>
<p>First of all, it’s not even legal for me to marry a Malay man. In fact, in Malaysia I can’t even marry a Malay woman without converting my religion. So, step one is already out. But the end result, talking like an uneducated person… That isn’t really a goal I have ever striven for. I worked hard to educate myself in my native tongue, why would I want to talk like a moron in a foreign language?</p>
<p>There is clearly a flaw in our understanding of how language is acquired which is causing us to get terrible results in this particular area of education. Even the goals that people set out for themselves seem flawed. When I began learning Khmer, in Cambodia, the first time I ordered my own food in the presence of my Khmer friends, one of them smiled approvingly. “If you stay here three years I bet you will be able to speak Khmer.” Three years? I was planning to learn the language in six months to one year. If you are studying full time you should be able to achieve conversational fluency in two years in most Asian languages (category 3 languages) and academic fluency in a European language or other category 1 languages.</p>
<p>The US Foreign Service Institute and Defense Language Institute rates languages according to the difficulty in learning them. Mandarin and Arabic are category 3 languages, whereas Italian and Spanish are category 1. Malay is in its own category is basically between 1 and 2. The reason is probably because Malay is actually a pretty easy language, but culturally Malaysia is very different from America. Cultural differences often make language learning more difficult. For someone who has been living in Southeast Asia for a long time and speaks other Asian languages, the difficulty in learning Malay probably drops to category one.</p>
<p>For all of the years I have been studying Asian languages, I have heard from linguist friends and also confirmed through research that Bahasa Melayu is the easiest Asian language to learn (In this article I am only talking about “major languages”, languages which are the official language of a country. I am not talking about tribal or minority languages.). Bahasa Malay is considered easy because it’s not tonal. It has a very simple grammar. It is written with the Latin script. And, it has more native speakers than any other Southeast Asian language. Counting Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Southern Thailand and parts of the Philippines, there are 180 million native speakers, but if we include Thai, Indonesian and Philippine dialects which are close to or heavily influenced by Malay, the number could almost double.</p>
<p>Working with a film crew, I mentioned to my assistant that I needed to learn Bahasa but didn’t had time or money to organize classes. “You don’t need to go to school,” she insisted. “Bahasa is so easy.”</p>
<p>No matter how easy a language is, you have to study it in order to learn it. “Just talk to us in Bahasa when you see us.” By us, she meant the rest of the crew.</p>
<p>That advice made very little sense to me. How am I going to talk to them in Bahasa if I didn’t speak Bahasa? I explained to her that it’s the same like me telling her that if she spoke to me in Italian, which she doesn’t speak a word of, she would reach fluency in just a few short months.</p>
<p>She didn’t buy it, though. She explained the value of practicing your language with native speakers and how this was superior to going to school. She then said the phrase that makes me cringe. “It’s the best way to learn a language.”</p>
<p>In my expert opinion – a person with four years of advanced study in applied linguistic; years of working as a translator; having studied ten languages; and having learned eight to some degree of fluency; thirteen years of classroom teaching experience; author of a couple of hundred articles on language acquisition; and creator of numerous videos on the same subject, plus a bunch of other qualifications:</p>
<p>If you don’t speak a particular language at all, practicing with a native speaker would be the absolute dumbest way to try and learn it.</p>
<p>First off, practice suggests you already know something and you want to get better at it. If you don’t know it at all, you can’t practice it. What if you never had a karate lesson in your life? If I locked you in a room alone, and told you to practice, would you emerge ten years later as an expert?</p> | false | 1 | apartment complex live outside kuala lumpur malaysia cantonese speaking woman seems know everyone walks halls hangs cafés day getting know buildings residents helps find rentals acts realestate broker hooks whatever need assume earns commission transaction asked wanted find school study bahasa melayu official language country said dont need go school tell words want know teach alg automatic language growth proponent believe studying language context purpose communicating meaningfully goal approaching native speaker fluency ask words want learn rather make list going toss dictionary table front would like learn words would say please teach since dictionary already english translations guess job done actuality one major concepts alg words key language meaning could memorize 5000 words dictionary able string sentence together express meaningful way mark twain may vocabulary 10 even 30 larger average college graduate wrote works average college graduate couldnt wasnt words clearly much language communication words writer trying say many us dont know much nuclear physics run nuclear reactor us dont reactor dont need run one works end speak language people two three native tongues yet average person seems completely clueless makes language especially people seem lost subject teach learn language nearly 100 people graduate medical school work doctors nearly zero percent people graduate four year degree foreign language speak anything approaching fluency another malay friend trying encourage study malay language know british woman ten years married malay man speaks excellent pasar malay pasar malay means market assume comes form persian root english word bazaar pasar malay basically pigeon language historically spoken foreign traders basically friend telling remain malaysia ten years marry malay man would able speak grammatically incorrect sentences converse level kitchen servant first even legal marry malay man fact malaysia cant even marry malay woman without converting religion step one already end result talking like uneducated person isnt really goal ever striven worked hard educate native tongue would want talk like moron foreign language clearly flaw understanding language acquired causing us get terrible results particular area education even goals people set seem flawed began learning khmer cambodia first time ordered food presence khmer friends one smiled approvingly stay three years bet able speak khmer three years planning learn language six months one year studying full time able achieve conversational fluency two years asian languages category 3 languages academic fluency european language category 1 languages us foreign service institute defense language institute rates languages according difficulty learning mandarin arabic category 3 languages whereas italian spanish category 1 malay category basically 1 2 reason probably malay actually pretty easy language culturally malaysia different america cultural differences often make language learning difficult someone living southeast asia long time speaks asian languages difficulty learning malay probably drops category one years studying asian languages heard linguist friends also confirmed research bahasa melayu easiest asian language learn article talking major languages languages official language country talking tribal minority languages bahasa malay considered easy tonal simple grammar written latin script native speakers southeast asian language counting malaysia indonesia singapore brunei southern thailand parts philippines 180 million native speakers include thai indonesian philippine dialects close heavily influenced malay number could almost double working film crew mentioned assistant needed learn bahasa didnt time money organize classes dont need go school insisted bahasa easy matter easy language study order learn talk us bahasa see us us meant rest crew advice made little sense going talk bahasa didnt speak bahasa explained like telling spoke italian doesnt speak word would reach fluency short months didnt buy though explained value practicing language native speakers superior going school said phrase makes cringe best way learn language expert opinion person four years advanced study applied linguistic years working translator studied ten languages learned eight degree fluency thirteen years classroom teaching experience author couple hundred articles language acquisition creator numerous videos subject plus bunch qualifications dont speak particular language practicing native speaker would absolute dumbest way try learn first practice suggests already know something want get better dont know cant practice never karate lesson life locked room alone told practice would emerge ten years later expert | 671 |
<p>TEMPE, Ariz. — <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Carson_Palmer/" type="external">Carson Palmer</a>‘s cast has been removed from his surgically-repaired broken left arm.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Drew_Stanton/" type="external">Drew Stanton</a> was healthy enough to dress as the team’s backup despite nursing a sprained right knee.</p>
<p>And <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Blaine_Gabbert/" type="external">Blaine Gabbert</a> is coming off a career-high three touchdown performance in his first action and start of the year.</p>
<p>So what are the stumbling <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Arizona-Cardinals/" type="external">Arizona Cardinals</a> prepared to do at quarterback moving forward this season?</p>
<p>Palmer, who turns 38 on Dec. 27, is presently on injured reserve but can be activated off that list and return for the team’s final two games of the regular season. He’s also under contract for the 2018 season, but there are no guarantees he will decide to return until he’s had time to think more about his future.</p>
<p>Stanton, 33, is 7-4 as a starter in Arizona when replacing the injured Palmer and played well in all three of his starts this season before getting hurt by a low hit from the Seahawks’ <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Sheldon-Richardson/" type="external">Sheldon Richardson</a> in Week 10 during a 22-16 loss. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent after joining the Cardinals in 2013.</p>
<p>Gabbert, 28, signed a one-year deal with the team in May and was inactive for each of Arizona’s first nine games until getting pressed into starting duties Sunday in Houston against the Texans.</p>
<p>“I thought Blaine played his ass off,” Cardinals head coach <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Bruce-Arians/" type="external">Bruce Arians</a> said after Gabbert completed 22 of 34 passes for 257 yards and the three touchdowns.</p>
<p>Gabbert, however, also threw two fourth-quarter interceptions, which helped flip the game in the Texans’ favor and led to a 31-21 Houston victory, sending the Cardinals to their second straight loss for the first time in 2017. It dropped them to 4-6, which basically means they have to win each of their remaining six games to have a realistic shot at making the playoffs.</p>
<p>So does Arians stick with Gabbert this Sunday against the quarterback’s original team, the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Jacksonville-Jaguars/" type="external">Jacksonville Jaguars</a>, or does he turn back to Stanton if Stanton’s knee is stable enough to let him start?</p>
<p>“Drew is going to be healthier; he’s still not as healthy as he was before,” Arians said, “but we’ll stick with Blaine and watch Drew get healthy and then make a decision as we move forward. But we’ll stick with the way it is right now.”</p>
<p>As for Palmer and whether the Cardinals plan to ultimately activate him, Arians wasn’t sure what will happen.</p>
<p>He does know this: He’s already seen enough of Gabbert to know Gabbert can play quarterback in the NFL and be a starter – whether it’s for the Cardinals or someone else.</p>
<p>“I think I’ve known that all along,” Arians said. “I don’t think I have to find anything else out.”</p>
<p>Doesn’t he need to see Gabbert in more game action to fully determine Gabbert’s future if it’s going to include Arizona or not? Until recently, all the work Gabbert was getting in practices was with the scout team.</p>
<p>“What I saw is exactly what I thought I’d see,” Arians said, “and I just think it’ll get better the more he throws to Larry – he’s rarely ever thrown to Larry and those starting guys. So if he gets a little more timing with them, I think he’ll just get better.”</p>
<p>–Running back Andre Ellington was released on Monday, a day after he was a healthy scratch for Sunday’s game in Houston. The team signed running back Bronson Hill, who entered the league in 2015 as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Michigan, to the practice squad.</p>
<p>–Wide receiver <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Larry_Fitzgerald/" type="external">Larry Fitzgerald</a> would not discuss the one-year contract extension he signed Friday with the club following the Cardinals’ 31-21 loss on the road Sunday to the Texans.</p>
<p>Asked for the first time publicly if the extension meant he definitely will play in 2018, Fitzgerald would only say: “I’m only focused on (next week’s game against) Jacksonville. We lost a tough one today. We’ve got a really, really, really good defense coming in at home this weekend and two good defenses following them (in the Rams and Titans). We’ve got to focus on that and that’s where all my attention is focused.”</p>
<p>Asked if that meant he hasn’t yet fully made a decision about playing in 2018, Fitzgerald again dodged the question.</p>
<p>“That means I’m focused on the next game,” he said. “We’re in the midst of the season. It’s a team game. It’s not about any one individual, what they’re doing or not doing. That’s where I’m going to keep the focus.”</p>
<p>Fitzgerald caught nine passes for 91 yards and a touchdown against the Texans, in the process passing tight end <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tony_Gonzalez/" type="external">Tony Gonzalez</a> (15,127) for fifth place on the NFL’s all-time receiving yards list. He is now 51 yards shy of moving past <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Isaac_Bruce/" type="external">Isaac Bruce</a> (15,208) for fourth all-time.</p>
<p>–Head coach Bruce Arians was disappointed for a second straight week with his receivers not named Larry Fitzgerald, pointing out a rash of dropped passes once again and threatening changes next week when the team meets visiting Jacksonville.</p>
<p>“We’ll be looking at some different receivers next week,” he vowed, adding when asked specifically what he didn’t like. “You’d have to ask them because the balls hit them right in the face and then they drop them. Like I said, it’s time to look somewhere else.”</p>
<p>One receiver who could start getting more playing time is rookie Chad Williams, the team’s third-round pick who has been mostly inactive this season on game days.</p>
<p>“He’s going to get his shot,” Arians said.</p>
<p>–“Very simple, I cost our team the game. Trust is a funny thing sometimes. When you can’t gain a foot, you deserve to lose, especially when you make the decision I made, the play I called. There’s your headline. You can write it. … It comes down to that call. In retrospect, should have punted.” – Head coach Bruce Arians after the game on his decision to go for it one fourth-and-1 from the Cardinals’ 35-yard line with 6:30 remaining against the Texans only for <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Adrian_Peterson/" type="external">Adrian Peterson</a> to get snuffed for a 1-yard loss and then see Houston score on the ensuing play for a game-clinching touchdown.</p>
<p>–“The fourth down call, I take all that (stuff) back I said yesterday,” Arians said Monday. “That was a damn good call, and we busted an assignment at the point of attack. That was an easy pickup. Goody (offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin) had a hell of a play designed, we called it and we busted an assignment. They did not whoop us up there. We just turned them loose, the interior of our offensive line. So, I take everything I said back.”</p>
<p>–The one-on-one matchup between Cardinals’ All-Pro cornerback <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Patrick-Peterson/" type="external">Patrick Peterson</a> and Texans star wide receiver <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/DeAndre-Hopkins/" type="external">DeAndre Hopkins</a> played up to its hype as both players had their moments against the other. Peterson came up with a one-handed interception on a tipped pass and twice prevented Hopkins from hauling in passes in the end zone. Hopkins, meanwhile, had two long completions against Peterson, including a 28-yarder for a touchdown.</p>
<p>“It was a great matchup,” Peterson said. “Might have to call it a draw because we both made plays all day. He scored, I got a pick. The balls he didn’t catch I was knocking down. I got a couple (pass breakups), so I’ve just got to continue grinding.”</p>
<p>NOTES: RB Adrian Peterson is averaging less than two yards per carry over his past two games, gaining just 53 yards on 35 attempts. … RB Andre Ellington, who typically plays as the team’s third-down back, was a healthy scratch on Sunday against the Texans. He was replaced as the third-down back by second-year pro D.J. Foster, who finished with two receptions for 26 yards in his first action of the season. He did not have a rushing attempt. The Arizona State product won a Super Bowl last season as a member of the Patriots. Ellington was waived Monday. … SS Budda Baker, the team’s rookie second-round pick out of Washington, made his first start of the season in place of the injured Tyvon Branch, and didn’t disappoint in the loss to Houston. He finished with 13 tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup. “Throughout the week I got all the (first-team) reps so that helped a lot,” Baker said. “Once it’s game time, you just get to play.”</p>
<p>Head coach Bruce Arians was impressed, saying, “I thought Budda played his tail off. Just from the sideline, making the plays he made. He’s going to be a heck of a player.” … TE Ricky Seals-Jones, moving up to No. 3 on the depth chart following a season-ending ankle injury to Ifeanyi Momah, didn’t have a catch in the NFL until Sunday’s game against the Texans. The undrafted rookie free agent out of Texans A&amp;M had three receptions for 56 yards and two touchdowns, however, in a 31-21 loss at Houston just some 50 miles from his hometown. “Ricky has really been impressive in practice against our defense,” head coach Bruce Arians said. “Just put some plays in for him and he responded really well.” Said Seals-Jones, “It was memorable. It’s very good to make the last name on my back proud.” … CB Patrick Peterson now has 21 career interceptions, which is tied for the ninth-most in Cardinals’ history and is tied for the third-most among active players since the start of the 2011 season. … WR Larry Fitzgerald has caught at least one touchdown pass from 14 quarterbacks during his career with the Cardinals. The list, after catching his first TD from Blaine Gabbert on Sunday vs. the Texans, looks like this: <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Kurt_Warner/" type="external">Kurt Warner</a> (39), Carson Palmer (28), <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Josh_McCown/" type="external">Josh McCown</a> (12), <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/John_Skelton/" type="external">John Skelton</a> (7), <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Kevin_Kolb/" type="external">Kevin Kolb</a> (5), <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Matt_Leinart/" type="external">Matt Leinart</a> (5), <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Derek_Anderson/" type="external">Derek Anderson</a> (4), Drew Stanton (2), <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Max_Hall/" type="external">Max Hall</a> (1), Rich Bartel (1), John Navarre (1), Shaun King (1), <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Brian_St._Pierre/" type="external">Brian St. Pierre</a> (1) and now Gabbert (1).</p>
<p>REPORT CARD VS. TEXANS</p>
<p>–PASSING OFFENSE: C-plus – Blaine Gabbert passed for a career-high three touchdowns, but he also threw two costly fourth-quarter interceptions that flipped the game for the Texans. The Cardinals were just 3-for-10 on third down after starting the game 0-for-5. Larry Fitzgerald (nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown) and rookie tight end Ricky Seals-Jones (two touchdown receptions) were really the only two bright spots.</p>
<p>–RUSHING OFFENSE: D-minus – Once again, the Cardinals proved they couldn’t generate anything on the ground. Adrian Peterson was held to just 26 yards on 14 carries and has been stuffed each of his past two games. Gabbert ran for 13 yards on three keepers and Arizona finished with just 48 rushing yards overall. That’s just not going to cut it.</p>
<p>–PASS DEFENSE: C-minus – The pass rush only got to <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Tom-Savage/" type="external">Tom Savage</a> once for a sack, which was shocking. The Cardinals did get an interception, but allowed two touchdown passes and eight third-down conversions. Rookie safety Budda Baker had a whale of a game in his first start with 13 tackles, including a strip-sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.</p>
<p>–RUSH DEFENSE: D – Houston rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns against this group, including a game-breaking 34-yarder in the fourth quarter by D’Onta Foreman, who finished with a game-high 65 yards on 10 carries. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Lamar-Miller/" type="external">Lamar Miller</a> added 61 yards on 22 carries and caught a touchdown pass in the second quarter.</p>
<p>–SPECIAL TEAMS: D – Punter Andy Lee was super, placing all six of his kicks inside the Texans’ 20-yard line. <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Phil_Dawson/" type="external">Phil Dawson</a> made all three extra-point attempts. Other than that, it was another huge disappointment by the special teams units. They were penalized three times: One on the punt team for holding, another for obstructing the long snapper on an extra-point attempt, and an illegal block in the back on the punt return team. Meanwhile, the return game never really netted anything.</p>
<p>–COACHING: D – It was the wrong decision by head coach Bruce Arians to decide to go for it on fourth-and-1 from his own 35 with six-plus minutes left to go in a three-point game. The way Lee was punting, he should have made him boot the ball away. Instead, Peterson got stuffed for a 1-yard loss and Foreman ripped off a long touchdown run on the ensuing play. You also have to put a lot of blame on the coaching staff as a whole for the Cardinals’ 10 accepted penalties for 90 yards.</p> | false | 1 | tempe ariz carson palmers cast removed surgicallyrepaired broken left arm drew stanton healthy enough dress teams backup despite nursing sprained right knee blaine gabbert coming careerhigh three touchdown performance first action start year stumbling arizona cardinals prepared quarterback moving forward season palmer turns 38 dec 27 presently injured reserve activated list return teams final two games regular season hes also contract 2018 season guarantees decide return hes time think future stanton 33 74 starter arizona replacing injured palmer played well three starts season getting hurt low hit seahawks sheldon richardson week 10 2216 loss set become unrestricted free agent joining cardinals 2013 gabbert 28 signed oneyear deal team may inactive arizonas first nine games getting pressed starting duties sunday houston texans thought blaine played ass cardinals head coach bruce arians said gabbert completed 22 34 passes 257 yards three touchdowns gabbert however also threw two fourthquarter interceptions helped flip game texans favor led 3121 houston victory sending cardinals second straight loss first time 2017 dropped 46 basically means win remaining six games realistic shot making playoffs arians stick gabbert sunday quarterbacks original team jacksonville jaguars turn back stanton stantons knee stable enough let start drew going healthier hes still healthy arians said well stick blaine watch drew get healthy make decision move forward well stick way right palmer whether cardinals plan ultimately activate arians wasnt sure happen know hes already seen enough gabbert know gabbert play quarterback nfl starter whether cardinals someone else think ive known along arians said dont think find anything else doesnt need see gabbert game action fully determine gabberts future going include arizona recently work gabbert getting practices scout team saw exactly thought id see arians said think itll get better throws larry hes rarely ever thrown larry starting guys gets little timing think hell get better running back andre ellington released monday day healthy scratch sundays game houston team signed running back bronson hill entered league 2015 undrafted free agent eastern michigan practice squad wide receiver larry fitzgerald would discuss oneyear contract extension signed friday club following cardinals 3121 loss road sunday texans asked first time publicly extension meant definitely play 2018 fitzgerald would say im focused next weeks game jacksonville lost tough one today weve got really really really good defense coming home weekend two good defenses following rams titans weve got focus thats attention focused asked meant hasnt yet fully made decision playing 2018 fitzgerald dodged question means im focused next game said midst season team game one individual theyre thats im going keep focus fitzgerald caught nine passes 91 yards touchdown texans process passing tight end tony gonzalez 15127 fifth place nfls alltime receiving yards list 51 yards shy moving past isaac bruce 15208 fourth alltime head coach bruce arians disappointed second straight week receivers named larry fitzgerald pointing rash dropped passes threatening changes next week team meets visiting jacksonville well looking different receivers next week vowed adding asked specifically didnt like youd ask balls hit right face drop like said time look somewhere else one receiver could start getting playing time rookie chad williams teams thirdround pick mostly inactive season game days hes going get shot arians said simple cost team game trust funny thing sometimes cant gain foot deserve lose especially make decision made play called theres headline write comes call retrospect punted head coach bruce arians game decision go one fourthand1 cardinals 35yard line 630 remaining texans adrian peterson get snuffed 1yard loss see houston score ensuing play gameclinching touchdown fourth call take stuff back said yesterday arians said monday damn good call busted assignment point attack easy pickup goody offensive coordinator harold goodwin hell play designed called busted assignment whoop us turned loose interior offensive line take everything said back oneonone matchup cardinals allpro cornerback patrick peterson texans star wide receiver deandre hopkins played hype players moments peterson came onehanded interception tipped pass twice prevented hopkins hauling passes end zone hopkins meanwhile two long completions peterson including 28yarder touchdown great matchup peterson said might call draw made plays day scored got pick balls didnt catch knocking got couple pass breakups ive got continue grinding notes rb adrian peterson averaging less two yards per carry past two games gaining 53 yards 35 attempts rb andre ellington typically plays teams thirddown back healthy scratch sunday texans replaced thirddown back secondyear pro dj foster finished two receptions 26 yards first action season rushing attempt arizona state product super bowl last season member patriots ellington waived monday ss budda baker teams rookie secondround pick washington made first start season place injured tyvon branch didnt disappoint loss houston finished 13 tackles sack two forced fumbles fumble recovery pass breakup throughout week got firstteam reps helped lot baker said game time get play head coach bruce arians impressed saying thought budda played tail sideline making plays made hes going heck player te ricky sealsjones moving 3 depth chart following seasonending ankle injury ifeanyi momah didnt catch nfl sundays game texans undrafted rookie free agent texans aampm three receptions 56 yards two touchdowns however 3121 loss houston 50 miles hometown ricky really impressive practice defense head coach bruce arians said put plays responded really well said sealsjones memorable good make last name back proud cb patrick peterson 21 career interceptions tied ninthmost cardinals history tied thirdmost among active players since start 2011 season wr larry fitzgerald caught least one touchdown pass 14 quarterbacks career cardinals list catching first td blaine gabbert sunday vs texans looks like kurt warner 39 carson palmer 28 josh mccown 12 john skelton 7 kevin kolb 5 matt leinart 5 derek anderson 4 drew stanton 2 max hall 1 rich bartel 1 john navarre 1 shaun king 1 brian st pierre 1 gabbert 1 report card vs texans passing offense cplus blaine gabbert passed careerhigh three touchdowns also threw two costly fourthquarter interceptions flipped game texans cardinals 3for10 third starting game 0for5 larry fitzgerald nine catches 91 yards touchdown rookie tight end ricky sealsjones two touchdown receptions really two bright spots rushing offense dminus cardinals proved couldnt generate anything ground adrian peterson held 26 yards 14 carries stuffed past two games gabbert ran 13 yards three keepers arizona finished 48 rushing yards overall thats going cut pass defense cminus pass rush got tom savage sack shocking cardinals get interception allowed two touchdown passes eight thirddown conversions rookie safety budda baker whale game first start 13 tackles including stripsack two forced fumbles fumble recovery rush defense houston rushed 134 yards two touchdowns group including gamebreaking 34yarder fourth quarter donta foreman finished gamehigh 65 yards 10 carries lamar miller added 61 yards 22 carries caught touchdown pass second quarter special teams punter andy lee super placing six kicks inside texans 20yard line phil dawson made three extrapoint attempts another huge disappointment special teams units penalized three times one punt team holding another obstructing long snapper extrapoint attempt illegal block back punt return team meanwhile return game never really netted anything coaching wrong decision head coach bruce arians decide go fourthand1 35 sixplus minutes left go threepoint game way lee punting made boot ball away instead peterson got stuffed 1yard loss foreman ripped long touchdown run ensuing play also put lot blame coaching staff whole cardinals 10 accepted penalties 90 yards | 1,207 |
<p>By Polina Ivanova and Abhinav Ramnarayan</p>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) – Even though Catalonia’s bid for independence may be Spain’s worst political crisis in decades, it has been no Grexit, Brexit or even Frexit for foreign investors.</p>
<p>Overseas holders of Spanish stocks and bonds — and indeed owners of euro zone assets in general — have been quick to dismiss comparisons with a succession of rolling sovereign debt crises that hit the euro zone between 2010 and 2012.</p>
<p>Even though Spain’s wealthiest region has a bigger economy than Greece, Portugal and Finland, relatively unfazed Spanish and Catalonian assets to date shows markets are treating the crisis ovr Catalonia as a largely domestic issue with few if any systemic sovereign, banking or euro wide threats.</p>
<p>While Spain’s blue-chip IBEX () equity index is about 7 percent off the year’s highs, it is still up more than 10 percent for 2017 as a whole. The Spanish government’s 10-year borrowing costs as well as their risk premium over German equivalents are lower than where they started the year. The euro exchange rate has barely budged.</p>
<p>On one level the scale of financial risk more than gross domestic output of the area is of a different order.</p>
<p>Catalonia’s debt level — at around 77 billion euros — is around quarter that of Greece.</p>
<p>In addition, 52.5 billion euros of that — just over two-thirds — is owed to Spain, a further 8.175 billion euros to resident financial institutions, 6.018 billion euros to the rest of the world and 10.035 billion euros to others, according to the data from the Spanish central bank.</p>
<p>The international exposure is too small to create ripples across the euro zone even in the event of a Catalonian default, and the effect on Spain would also be limited. Catalonia’s total debt to the center represents just 4.75 percent of the Spain’s total debt as of the end of 2016.</p>
<p>Independence on its own would neither lead to a sovereign default nor to an exit of a existing euro zone member, which caused consternation earlier in the decade given fears of sovereign redenomination risk, related banking stress and legal precedents that seeped across the bloc.</p>
<p>Economic confidence and business risk for Spanish firms and households may be an issue at the margins for equity investors, but this is largely cushioned at the moment by a booming world economy and the fastest economic expansion in the euro zone in more than six years.</p>
<p>The chances of secession itself were always slim. One of the leading investors in Catalonian bonds believes the region’s bid for independence was always legally doubtful.</p>
<p>“Greece was a very different story -– the very existence of Greece as part of the monetary union was called into question. In Catalonia, independence was never constitutional, there was no legal basis,” said Mark Dowding, senior portfolio manager at BlueBay Asset Management, which has been a long term investor in Catalonian debt.</p>
<p>If ultimately Catalonia’s independence was always unlikely, the rest was just a “storm in a teacup” for financial markets, Dowding said.</p>
<p>Markets did attempt to re-price different elements of the Spanish financial world — but few of these moves were durable.</p>
<p>The gap between Catalonian and Spanish bonds widened rapidly to its highest level in over a year after the banned Oct. 1 independence referendum, as investors fled from the troubled region’s debt.</p>
<p>But now it has not only erased those losses but shrunk to its smallest since mid-July, at 250 basis points.</p>
<p>Spanish banks that had been based in Catalonia, Banco de Sabadell (MC:) and Caixa Bank (MC:), took outsize hits during the worst of the crisis but both since moved their headquarters out of the region and their stock prices are still up more than 20 percent year-to-date.</p>
<p>“This is very different from other crises the euro zone has faced recently,” said Nadia Gharbi, an economist at Pictet Wealth Management. “This is very much an internal issue and a national question for Spain. We don’t think that, as things stand, it will lead to a systemic crisis.”</p>
<p>“Spanish equities have been the category that is most affected; Spanish bonds have seen a relatively modest impact and the euro has been mostly affected by the ECB,” said Nicola Mai, an analyst and portfolio manager at Pimco, the world’s largest bond investor and an owner of Catalonian debt.</p>
<p>The European Central Bank’s ongoing monetary stimulus and bond-buying program helped to subdue some potential volatility.</p>
<p>All South European government debt — seen as major beneficiaries of the ECB largesse — have been in demand since and Spain’s 10-year borrowing costs are a good 13 basis points below the level before the Oct. 1. referendum.</p>
<p>“As investors you’re in an environment which frankly looks pretty benign from a volatility perspective,” said Andrew Mulliner, portfolio manager at asset manager Henderson.</p>
<p>The main European volatility index is close to its lowest since well before the 2008 financial crisis. ()</p>
<p>Spain was one of the countries that suffered during the euro zone debt crisis of 2010-2012, seeing its debt level jump from 29 percent of GDP to 99 percent currently after having to accept a bailout from the European Union to rescue its banks.</p>
<p>It went through years of recession to come out the other end as one of the bloc’s fastest growing countries currently.</p>
<p>It is expected to grow at 2.4 percent for 2018, according to the European Commission, well above the euro zone average of 1.8 percent.</p> | false | 1 | polina ivanova abhinav ramnarayan london reuters even though catalonias bid independence may spains worst political crisis decades grexit brexit even frexit foreign investors overseas holders spanish stocks bonds indeed owners euro zone assets general quick dismiss comparisons succession rolling sovereign debt crises hit euro zone 2010 2012 even though spains wealthiest region bigger economy greece portugal finland relatively unfazed spanish catalonian assets date shows markets treating crisis ovr catalonia largely domestic issue systemic sovereign banking euro wide threats spains bluechip ibex equity index 7 percent years highs still 10 percent 2017 whole spanish governments 10year borrowing costs well risk premium german equivalents lower started year euro exchange rate barely budged one level scale financial risk gross domestic output area different order catalonias debt level around 77 billion euros around quarter greece addition 525 billion euros twothirds owed spain 8175 billion euros resident financial institutions 6018 billion euros rest world 10035 billion euros others according data spanish central bank international exposure small create ripples across euro zone even event catalonian default effect spain would also limited catalonias total debt center represents 475 percent spains total debt end 2016 independence would neither lead sovereign default exit existing euro zone member caused consternation earlier decade given fears sovereign redenomination risk related banking stress legal precedents seeped across bloc economic confidence business risk spanish firms households may issue margins equity investors largely cushioned moment booming world economy fastest economic expansion euro zone six years chances secession always slim one leading investors catalonian bonds believes regions bid independence always legally doubtful greece different story existence greece part monetary union called question catalonia independence never constitutional legal basis said mark dowding senior portfolio manager bluebay asset management long term investor catalonian debt ultimately catalonias independence always unlikely rest storm teacup financial markets dowding said markets attempt reprice different elements spanish financial world moves durable gap catalonian spanish bonds widened rapidly highest level year banned oct 1 independence referendum investors fled troubled regions debt erased losses shrunk smallest since midjuly 250 basis points spanish banks based catalonia banco de sabadell mc caixa bank mc took outsize hits worst crisis since moved headquarters region stock prices still 20 percent yeartodate different crises euro zone faced recently said nadia gharbi economist pictet wealth management much internal issue national question spain dont think things stand lead systemic crisis spanish equities category affected spanish bonds seen relatively modest impact euro mostly affected ecb said nicola mai analyst portfolio manager pimco worlds largest bond investor owner catalonian debt european central banks ongoing monetary stimulus bondbuying program helped subdue potential volatility south european government debt seen major beneficiaries ecb largesse demand since spains 10year borrowing costs good 13 basis points level oct 1 referendum investors youre environment frankly looks pretty benign volatility perspective said andrew mulliner portfolio manager asset manager henderson main european volatility index close lowest since well 2008 financial crisis spain one countries suffered euro zone debt crisis 20102012 seeing debt level jump 29 percent gdp 99 percent currently accept bailout european union rescue banks went years recession come end one blocs fastest growing countries currently expected grow 24 percent 2018 according european commission well euro zone average 18 percent | 529 |
<p>At one poignant moment in Chaim Potok’s novel The Promise, Abraham Gordon, a distinguished Jewish scholar with a skeptical cast of mind, muses on one of modernity’s discontents while walking through Central Park with Reuven Malter, a brilliant, Orthodox rabbinical student: “Of course, that’s the problem … How can we teach others to regard the tradition critically and with love? I grew up loving it, and then learned to look at it critically. That’s everyone’s problem today. How to love and respect what you are being taught to dissect.” In that elegiac passage, written almost forty years ago, Potok defined precisely the problem that Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, addresses in his new book, Jesus of Nazareth. “Everything” in Christianity, the Pope writes, depends on building an “intimate friendship with Jesus.” That was true in first-century Galilee; it is just as true in the twenty-first century. But twenty-first century believers have a problem that their forebears didn’t face: the many issues posed by modern methods of reading ancient texts. Now, after two centuries of reading the Bible according to the historical-critical method-“dissecting” the biblical text, as the fictional Abraham Gordon might put it-many Christians are “in danger of clutching at thin air” in seeking this friendship with their Lord. Or so the Pope worries.</p>
<p>And not without good reason. Caricatures notwithstanding, Benedict XVI is no reactive anti-modern. He readily and gratefully acknowledges that, thanks to historical-critical scholarship, we know much more, today, about the different literary genres of the Bible; about the ways in which a Gospel writer’s intent affected his portrait of Jesus; about the theological struggles within early Christianity that shaped a particular Christian community’s memory of its Lord. The difficulty is that, amidst all the knowledge gained in the biblical dissecting room, the Jesus of the Gospels has tended to disappear, to be replaced by a given scholar’s reconstruction from the bits and pieces left on the dissecting room floor. And that makes “intimate friendship with Jesus” much more difficult, not just for scholars, but for everyone.</p>
<p>Joseph Ratzinger was a world-class theologian long before he became the Roman Curia’s official defender of Catholic doctrine, and then the pope. In Jesus of Nazareth, Ratzinger reveals the core of his personality as he invites his readers into the classroom of a master teacher — one who has absorbed the best that modern biblical scholarship has to offer and has yet emerged from that encounter with his faith intact and enriched. At the outset, Ratzinger asks us to join him and to “trust the Gospels,” to read them both critically and with love. Both attitudes are necessary, he suggests, if twenty-first century readers are to understand how each Gospel writer (and the Christian community from which and to which he wrote) explains the Church’s Easter faith: the conviction that “Jesus really did explode all existing cate gories and [can] only be understood in the light of the mystery of God.”</p>
<p>Reading the New Testament through a lens ground by decades of study and reflection, Ratzinger shows us how texts that may have become dulled by familiarity can regain their edge. There are, for instance, the well-known stories of Jesus’s temptations in the desert, read throughout Christendom on the First Sunday of Lent, every year. How many preachers explain these temptations as dramatic variations on the perennial human temptation to utopianism, to a self-sufficiency that “pushes God off the stage”? That utopianism, Pope Benedict writes, comes at a great spiritual cost, for the “arrogance that would make God an object and impose our laboratory conditions upon him” renders us incapable of finding the God we seek. The human costs of self-constructed self-sufficiency are also steep. The tempter asks Jesus to make himself superior to God; Jesus’s rejection of that temptation, Ratzinger suggests, reminds us that “to do that is to abase not only God, but the world and oneself, too”-a suggestion confirmed by the murderous depredations of those twentieth-century totalitarians who made ultramundane gods out of themselves.</p>
<p>Then there are the Beatitudes: When was the last time you heard a sermon in which these eight familiar injunctions were described as “a sort of veiled interior biography of Jesus, a kind of portrait of his figure” — and thus “a roadmap for the Church, a model of what she herself should be”? Here, as throughout the book, Benedict XVI unpacks the New Testament with the help of his profound knowledge of the Hebrew Bible. Why is it the meek to whom the Beatitudes promise the inheritance of “the land”? Because, explains Ratzinger, drawing on the imagery of the Exodus, “the land was given [to the people of Israel] as a space for obedience, a realm of openness to God that was to be freed from the abomination of idolatry.” Why is it the pure of heart who will see God? Because, as the Old Testament psalms teach, “the organ for seeing God is the heart. The intellect alone is not enough … ”</p>
<p>In Jesus of Nazareth, Benedict-the-theologian also shows himself to be a man of deep prayer, which has the interesting effect of making his book an invitation to Christians to pray more intelligently. One of the book’s finest sections is a lengthy exposition of the Lord’s Prayer. There, the Pope asks us to consider why Jesus taught us to pray to “Our Father” rather than to “My Father.” The answer, he suggests, touches both the uniqueness of Jesus and the indispensability of the Church for the Christian life: “Jesus alone was fully entitled to say ‘my Father’ because he alone is truly God’s only-begotten Son … Only within the ‘we’ of the disciples can we call God ‘Father,’ because only through communion with Jesus Christ do we truly become ‘children of God.’ In that sense, the word our is really rather demanding: It requires that we step out of the closed circle of our ‘I’. It requires that we surrender ourselves to communion with the other children of God. It requires, then, that we strip ourselves of what is merely our own, of what divides. It requires that we accept the other, the others — that we open our ear and our heart to them. When we say the word our, we say ‘yes’ to the living Church in which the Lord wanted to gather his new family.”</p>
<p>These are themes that Joseph Ratzinger has been developing for almost half a century. In that sense, Jesus of Nazareth (and its promised successor volume) is a great summing-up of a lifetime of learning, refined into insight and understanding by a lifetime of praying the New Testament as well as studying it. If, amidst some familiar Ratzingerian themes, there is a new chord struck with particular force, it is Benedict XVI’s insistence, repeated several times, that a Christian Church faithful to its Lord cannot be a Church of power. Benedict does not quite describe Christianity’s alliance with state power as a Babylonian captivity. Still, he comes very close when he writes that “the temptation to use power to secure the faith has arisen again and again in various forms throughout the centuries, and again and again faith has risked being suffocated in the embrace of power. The struggle for the freedom of the Church, the struggle to avoid identifying Jesus’ Kingdom with any political structure, is one that has to be fought century after century. For the fusion of faith and political power always comes at a price: faith becomes the servant of power and must bend to its criteria.”</p>
<p>Those words are a sharp challenge to those Catholics who still seek a confessional state, either along the lines of the old regimes in Europe or according to a more contemporary, liberation theology model. It is also, if subtly, a summons to a new dialogue with Islam on the necessity of separating religious and political authority, precisely for the sake of acts of faith freely offered to the God of Abraham.</p>
<p>For almost two thousand years, as Benedict XVI writes, Christianity has claimed that Jesus “explodes all the categories.” Yet that claim, as it emerges from the stories and teachings of Jesus in the New Testament, has been obscured in recent centuries by an approach to biblical interpretation that so stressed dissection that an encounter with the category-exploding meaning embedded in the biblical text became more difficult. Joseph Ratzinger tries to lift that veil of obscurity in this very personal search for what he terms “the face of the Lord.” He now shares that search with the world through a book in which he returns time and again to the theme of his first encyclical as pope, the plenitude of God’s love. Scholars argue about the historicity of the miracle of the wedding feast at Cana; Benedict XVI puts the edge back on the story by proposing what the story means: through his action on behalf of an embarrassed host, Jesus is telling us that the sign of God’s presence in history is “overflowing generosity.” The overflowing water-made-wine, this “superabundance of Cana,” is the first signal that “God’s feast with humanity, his self-giving for men, has begun.”</p>
<p>The extraordinary comes to us through the ordinary. The Gospels, read both critically and with love, show us “reality’s translucence to God.” That is the claim of Jesus of Nazareth, posed with conviction and compassion by a pope writing very much as the teacher he always wanted to be.</p>
<p>George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. and holds EPPC’s William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies.</p> | false | 1 | one poignant moment chaim potoks novel promise abraham gordon distinguished jewish scholar skeptical cast mind muses one modernitys discontents walking central park reuven malter brilliant orthodox rabbinical student course thats problem teach others regard tradition critically love grew loving learned look critically thats everyones problem today love respect taught dissect elegiac passage written almost forty years ago potok defined precisely problem joseph ratzinger pope benedict xvi addresses new book jesus nazareth everything christianity pope writes depends building intimate friendship jesus true firstcentury galilee true twentyfirst century twentyfirst century believers problem forebears didnt face many issues posed modern methods reading ancient texts two centuries reading bible according historicalcritical methoddissecting biblical text fictional abraham gordon might put itmany christians danger clutching thin air seeking friendship lord pope worries without good reason caricatures notwithstanding benedict xvi reactive antimodern readily gratefully acknowledges thanks historicalcritical scholarship know much today different literary genres bible ways gospel writers intent affected portrait jesus theological struggles within early christianity shaped particular christian communitys memory lord difficulty amidst knowledge gained biblical dissecting room jesus gospels tended disappear replaced given scholars reconstruction bits pieces left dissecting room floor makes intimate friendship jesus much difficult scholars everyone joseph ratzinger worldclass theologian long became roman curias official defender catholic doctrine pope jesus nazareth ratzinger reveals core personality invites readers classroom master teacher one absorbed best modern biblical scholarship offer yet emerged encounter faith intact enriched outset ratzinger asks us join trust gospels read critically love attitudes necessary suggests twentyfirst century readers understand gospel writer christian community wrote explains churchs easter faith conviction jesus really explode existing cate gories understood light mystery god reading new testament lens ground decades study reflection ratzinger shows us texts may become dulled familiarity regain edge instance wellknown stories jesuss temptations desert read throughout christendom first sunday lent every year many preachers explain temptations dramatic variations perennial human temptation utopianism selfsufficiency pushes god stage utopianism pope benedict writes comes great spiritual cost arrogance would make god object impose laboratory conditions upon renders us incapable finding god seek human costs selfconstructed selfsufficiency also steep tempter asks jesus make superior god jesuss rejection temptation ratzinger suggests reminds us abase god world oneself tooa suggestion confirmed murderous depredations twentiethcentury totalitarians made ultramundane gods beatitudes last time heard sermon eight familiar injunctions described sort veiled interior biography jesus kind portrait figure thus roadmap church model throughout book benedict xvi unpacks new testament help profound knowledge hebrew bible meek beatitudes promise inheritance land explains ratzinger drawing imagery exodus land given people israel space obedience realm openness god freed abomination idolatry pure heart see god old testament psalms teach organ seeing god heart intellect alone enough jesus nazareth benedictthetheologian also shows man deep prayer interesting effect making book invitation christians pray intelligently one books finest sections lengthy exposition lords prayer pope asks us consider jesus taught us pray father rather father answer suggests touches uniqueness jesus indispensability church christian life jesus alone fully entitled say father alone truly gods onlybegotten son within disciples call god father communion jesus christ truly become children god sense word really rather demanding requires step closed circle requires surrender communion children god requires strip merely divides requires accept others open ear heart say word say yes living church lord wanted gather new family themes joseph ratzinger developing almost half century sense jesus nazareth promised successor volume great summingup lifetime learning refined insight understanding lifetime praying new testament well studying amidst familiar ratzingerian themes new chord struck particular force benedict xvis insistence repeated several times christian church faithful lord church power benedict quite describe christianitys alliance state power babylonian captivity still comes close writes temptation use power secure faith arisen various forms throughout centuries faith risked suffocated embrace power struggle freedom church struggle avoid identifying jesus kingdom political structure one fought century century fusion faith political power always comes price faith becomes servant power must bend criteria words sharp challenge catholics still seek confessional state either along lines old regimes europe according contemporary liberation theology model also subtly summons new dialogue islam necessity separating religious political authority precisely sake acts faith freely offered god abraham almost two thousand years benedict xvi writes christianity claimed jesus explodes categories yet claim emerges stories teachings jesus new testament obscured recent centuries approach biblical interpretation stressed dissection encounter categoryexploding meaning embedded biblical text became difficult joseph ratzinger tries lift veil obscurity personal search terms face lord shares search world book returns time theme first encyclical pope plenitude gods love scholars argue historicity miracle wedding feast cana benedict xvi puts edge back story proposing story means action behalf embarrassed host jesus telling us sign gods presence history overflowing generosity overflowing watermadewine superabundance cana first signal gods feast humanity selfgiving men begun extraordinary comes us ordinary gospels read critically love show us realitys translucence god claim jesus nazareth posed conviction compassion pope writing much teacher always wanted george weigel distinguished senior fellow ethics public policy center washington dc holds eppcs william e simon chair catholic studies | 829 |
<p>WASHINGTON — In July, a commission appointed by President Donald Trump to study drug addiction made an urgent recommendation that he declare the opioid epidemic a national emergency, similar to the declaration made after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.</p>
<p>The drug epidemic takes some 142 lives each day, the commission noted, a sum “equal to September 11th every three weeks.,” .</p>
<p>On Tuesday, Trump held an off-camera meeting at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey on the opioid crisis – where he fell short of his commission’s urgent request. The president did not announce any new policy, but vowed to work with health professionals and law enforcement on the crisis.</p>
<p>During a press briefing after the meeting, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said that presidents usually reserve the title of national emergency for “a time-limited problem — either an infectious disease or a specific threat to public health. The two most recent that come to mind are the Zika outbreak and Hurricane Sandy.”</p>
<p>Still, Price said, “The president certainly believes that we will treat it as an emergency — and it is an emergency.” He added that 52,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2015, some 33,000 of which died from opioids.</p>
<p>“The numbers in 2016 are no better, and the numbers in 2017 are even worse than 2016,” he said.</p>
<p>“No state has been spared and no demographic group has gone untouched,” added Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, who also attended Tuesday’s meeting. According to the National Institutes of Health, a baby is born every 25 minutes addicted to opioids. Instances of military veterans treated for substance disorders addiction have climbed more than 50 percent since 1995.</p>
<p>While Trump is committed to fighting the crisis, Conway acknowledged, “we full-on know that most of the great work is being done on the state and local levels. Those who are closest to those in need know best how to help them.” She recognized local officials who are working to reduce the number of pills and days of use when doctors prescribe painkillers.</p>
<p>While Price and Conway focused on treatment regimes to prevent patients from developing addictions, Trump simply warned young people to stay away from drugs. “The best way to prevent drug addiction is to prevent people from abusing drugs in the first place. If they don’t start, they won’t have a problem,” Trump said. “If they do start, it’s awfully tough to get off.”</p>
<p>The president also argued, “strong law enforcement is absolutely vital to having a drug-free society.”</p>
<p>“At the end of 2016, there were 23 percent fewer federal prosecutions than in 2011, so they looked at this scourge and they let it go by,” Trump said. “We’re not letting it go by.”</p>
<p>The president’s emphasis on law enforcement was a departure from the 10-page interim report issued by his commission, headed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. The commission focused on preventive measures, such as making sure Naloxone, a treatment that can save users who overdose, is in the hands of every law enforcement enforcer. The draft also supported “911 drug immunity laws” to encourage addicts to call for medical help when a fellow user overdoses. The commission also suggested that government medical programs cover methadone treatments.</p>
<p>Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval signed legislation to increase access to Naloxone and reduce penalties for those who report overdoses in 2015.</p>
<p>“The commission didn’t call for more crackdowns. It didn’t talk about mandatory sentences. For something coming out of the White House in 2017, pretty good, very good,” said Eric Sterling of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation, which has been critical of federal drug sentences. That was before Trump’s comments at the opioid meeting.</p>
<p>Last week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who did not attend the Bedminster meeting, announced the formation of an Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection unit dedicated to using data to detect health care fraud and prosecute prescription abuse. The pilot program includes funding for 12 assistant U.S. attorneys, including one in Nevada, to investigate and prosecute pill mills and pharmacies that dispense prescription opioids for illegitimate purposes.</p>
<p>Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre said he has assigned “an experienced prosecutor to focus solely on investigating and prosecuting opioid-related health care fraud cases” in Nevada. The prosecutor “will target and prosecute doctors, pharmacies, and medical providers who unlawfully divert or dispense opioids.”</p>
<p>First Lady Melania Trump attended the meeting, Chief of Staff General John Kelly and Jared Kushner, a top Trump adviser and son-in-law, also attended the session.</p>
<p>The meeting was held at the golf clubhouse – a building that used to be the home of famed automaker John Z. DeLorean. Federal prosecutors charged DeLorean for participating in a drug deal involving 55 pounds of cocaine. In 1985 jurors found DeLorean “not guilty” on all charges. The DeLorean Motor Company already had been shuttered. In 2000, the carmaker was forced to sell his Bedminster home. Trump bought the property in 2002.</p>
<p>Contact Debra J. Saunders at [email protected] or 202-662-7391. Follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/@DebraJSaunders" type="external">@DebraJSaunders</a> on Twitter.</p> | false | 1 | washington july commission appointed president donald trump study drug addiction made urgent recommendation declare opioid epidemic national emergency similar declaration made sept 11 terrorist attacks drug epidemic takes 142 lives day commission noted sum equal september 11th every three weeks tuesday trump held offcamera meeting trump national golf club bedminster new jersey opioid crisis fell short commissions urgent request president announce new policy vowed work health professionals law enforcement crisis press briefing meeting health human services secretary tom price said presidents usually reserve title national emergency timelimited problem either infectious disease specific threat public health two recent come mind zika outbreak hurricane sandy still price said president certainly believes treat emergency emergency added 52000 americans died drug overdoses 2015 33000 died opioids numbers 2016 better numbers 2017 even worse 2016 said state spared demographic group gone untouched added counselor president kellyanne conway also attended tuesdays meeting according national institutes health baby born every 25 minutes addicted opioids instances military veterans treated substance disorders addiction climbed 50 percent since 1995 trump committed fighting crisis conway acknowledged fullon know great work done state local levels closest need know best help recognized local officials working reduce number pills days use doctors prescribe painkillers price conway focused treatment regimes prevent patients developing addictions trump simply warned young people stay away drugs best way prevent drug addiction prevent people abusing drugs first place dont start wont problem trump said start awfully tough get president also argued strong law enforcement absolutely vital drugfree society end 2016 23 percent fewer federal prosecutions 2011 looked scourge let go trump said letting go presidents emphasis law enforcement departure 10page interim report issued commission headed new jersey gov chris christie commission focused preventive measures making sure naloxone treatment save users overdose hands every law enforcement enforcer draft also supported 911 drug immunity laws encourage addicts call medical help fellow user overdoses commission also suggested government medical programs cover methadone treatments nevada gov brian sandoval signed legislation increase access naloxone reduce penalties report overdoses 2015 commission didnt call crackdowns didnt talk mandatory sentences something coming white house 2017 pretty good good said eric sterling criminal justice policy foundation critical federal drug sentences trumps comments opioid meeting last week attorney general jeff sessions attend bedminster meeting announced formation opioid fraud abuse detection unit dedicated using data detect health care fraud prosecute prescription abuse pilot program includes funding 12 assistant us attorneys including one nevada investigate prosecute pill mills pharmacies dispense prescription opioids illegitimate purposes acting us attorney steven w myhre said assigned experienced prosecutor focus solely investigating prosecuting opioidrelated health care fraud cases nevada prosecutor target prosecute doctors pharmacies medical providers unlawfully divert dispense opioids first lady melania trump attended meeting chief staff general john kelly jared kushner top trump adviser soninlaw also attended session meeting held golf clubhouse building used home famed automaker john z delorean federal prosecutors charged delorean participating drug deal involving 55 pounds cocaine 1985 jurors found delorean guilty charges delorean motor company already shuttered 2000 carmaker forced sell bedminster home trump bought property 2002 contact debra j saunders dsaundersreviewjournalcom 2026627391 follow debrajsaunders twitter | 516 |
<p>Among the abundant luxuries available in our cities today, none is more richly pleasing to the addict or more cheaply obtained than culture. Take London. In the National Gallery you can stand – without paying a penny – before some of the most beautiful works of art ever created. In the Albert Hall, for a few pounds and a bit of queuing, you can listen during the season of Promenade concerts to the greatest orchestras from all over the world. At Covent Garden and the English National Opera you can attend, for a fraction of the real cost, the most extravagant productions of the operatic masterpieces, emerging with your senses so saturated that the champagne supper afterwards tastes of nothing.</p>
<p>But what exactly is culture? Those for whom culture has been a long-term emotional investment feel they know what true culture is, and know that it is a thing of supreme value. But when we try to define it we end up like the poet Matthew Arnold who, in a celebrated essay, Culture and Anarchy, published in 1865, wrote of culture as ‘the best that has been thought and said’. To which the obvious response is: in what respect and in comparison with what? And what’s wrong with second best?</p>
<p>We cannot lay down a law for popular taste or forbid people to enjoy what appeals to them – not unless we can find some serious moral argument that would justify censorship. But there are certain general principles that everyone can assent to. For example, we all recognise the difference between means and ends. We know that we choose the means to our ends, but also that we choose our ends. We are active guardians of our own lives, aiming not just to hit the target that we have chosen, but also to choose the right target. How do we learn to do that? The answer is culture – both the culture of everyday life and the ‘high’ culture, as it is sometimes called, in which life becomes fully conscious of itself as an object of judgment. The arts form the core of high culture: it is why we teach them, and why we encourage people to take an interest in them. They are doors into the examined life and, as Socrates famously said, ‘the unexamined life is not a life for a human being’.</p>
<p>By everyday culture I mean the customs, interests and ways&#160;of behaving that we spontaneously share – manners, meal-times, ways of dressing; popular songs and TV soaps; festivals and holidays. These form the web of society, the many threads of which we hardly notice in peace-time, though they pull together in war, which is why so many of those who experienced the last war look back on it with nostalgia, as a time of togetherness and trust.</p>
<p>High culture is not like that: it is an elaborate artefact. It depends upon leisure – both the leisure of those who produce it and the leisure of those who enjoy it. Great artists, writers and composers are people with an urge to create. And they make sacrifices in order to do so. But, in every period of history, benefactors have stepped in to make those sacrifices possible. The Florence of Botticelli, Lippi and Donatello was made possible by the patronage of the Medici dukes; our musical tradition has depended at every moment on aristocratic and ecclesiastical commissions. Monarchs not only take an interest in poets and painters but also employ them or offer them pensions, as King George III offered a pension to Dr Johnson. To think that a high culture could really exist without patronage of that kind is to ignore the hard work and dedication required by any serious work of art. Of course, there are artists and writers who subsidise themselves – as Wallace Stevens subsidised writing poetry through his work as director of an insurance company or Matthew Arnold, for that matter, through his work as inspector of schools. But they are the exceptions.</p>
<p>Still, what does high culture do for us? We can see the point of scientific and medical advances, since they offer knowledge that will benefit us all, even if we do not understand it. But how does the person with no ear benefit from an expensive symphony orchestra, or a person with no feeling for verse benefit from an obscure poetry festival that survives from an Arts Council grant? Why is it good that such things exist, even for those who are not interested in them?</p>
<p>Scientific and technical knowledge may confer collective mastery over the means to our ends. But it will not bring us any nearer to the ends themselves. It will not tell us which goals to pursue or which things to value. Shakespeare portrays, in the character of King Lear, the slow crumbling of a vain old man as he discovers the difference between real and fake devotion. Shakespeare does not merely awaken our&#160;sympathy. He shows how the fault and its remedy lie deep within ourselves. He is helping us to know our own emotions, and to distinguish the ones that raise us up from those that drag us down.</p>
<p>Similar things can be said about all great works of art, and those who are moved by them have a beauty and completion in their lives that is hard to obtain in any other way. Art makes us conscious of what we are and what we can hope to be, and it does so through moments of revelation in which all our being is aroused. Surely, we are tempted to think, it is better that the world contains people who are in that way alert to their condition. Certainly Shakespeare thought so:</p>
<p>The man that hath no music in himself,</p>
<p>Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,</p>
<p>Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.</p>
<p>The motions of his spirit are dull as night,</p>
<p>And his affections dark as Erebus.</p>
<p>Let no such man be&#160;trusted.&#160;</p>
<p>(from The Merchant of Venice)</p>
<p>I grew up in a household without music. It was only by chance that we acquired a piano and a wind-up gramophone. I might have gone through life without ever discovering this art form that cast an enchantment over my days that has been equalled by little else. Aged 14, quite by accident, I discovered the soul of Mozart. It was soon obvious to me that Mozart’s music contained a kind of knowledge that could never be obtained from a psychology textbook or even from a prayer book or sacred text. I made this knowledge my own – even though I could not tell you what it is, but only play it to you on the piano. But this knowledge guides me through life. Were the ability to respond to Mozart to be forgotten, I know that the world would be a much poorer place. We would have lost one avenue to the ‘knowledge of ends’. Those that have this knowledge will do whatever they can to perpetuate it. They will teach it to their children; they will put pressure on schools and universities to do the same. They will do this not for their own good but for the common good, knowing that something necessary to human life is at stake.</p>
<p>What is that necessary thing? We can take a lesson here from the Jewish idea of the Sabbath. The book of Genesis tells us that, on the seventh day of creation, God rested, observed the result of his labours, and saw that it was good. This, the Jews say, we should all do – put aside a day in the week when we rest from our labours and stop being merely busy about our purposes, but learn to reflect on them and judge between them. If we do not do this then our life remains one of means without meaning, endless technological mastery, but without a goal beyond the technique.</p>
<p>High culture is the Sabbath of busy people, the moment of sitting down and listening, seeing, thinking, so that meaning can dawn. As long as places and times exist where this can be done there is hope in the world. Wordsworth wrote that ‘getting and spending, we lay waste our powers’. But when we stand back from the mill of consumption and look on the turbulent waters with the eye of an artist, we are rested in our hearts and our powers are restored. People who do this are the friends of order in a world of entropy, for they see, in the depths of the swirling pool, the still point where meaning lies. They cannot describe what they see, and that is why the highest forms of art exist – not to describe the meaning, but to reveal it, as the loveliness of the world was revealed on that first imagined Sabbath.</p>
<p>So culture – which at first sight may seem to be a luxury – turns out, after all, to be an all-time necessity.</p>
<p>Roger Scruton is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.</p> | false | 1 | among abundant luxuries available cities today none richly pleasing addict cheaply obtained culture take london national gallery stand without paying penny beautiful works art ever created albert hall pounds bit queuing listen season promenade concerts greatest orchestras world covent garden english national opera attend fraction real cost extravagant productions operatic masterpieces emerging senses saturated champagne supper afterwards tastes nothing exactly culture culture longterm emotional investment feel know true culture know thing supreme value try define end like poet matthew arnold celebrated essay culture anarchy published 1865 wrote culture best thought said obvious response respect comparison whats wrong second best lay law popular taste forbid people enjoy appeals unless find serious moral argument would justify censorship certain general principles everyone assent example recognise difference means ends know choose means ends also choose ends active guardians lives aiming hit target chosen also choose right target learn answer culture culture everyday life high culture sometimes called life becomes fully conscious object judgment arts form core high culture teach encourage people take interest doors examined life socrates famously said unexamined life life human everyday culture mean customs interests ways160of behaving spontaneously share manners mealtimes ways dressing popular songs tv soaps festivals holidays form web society many threads hardly notice peacetime though pull together war many experienced last war look back nostalgia time togetherness trust high culture like elaborate artefact depends upon leisure leisure produce leisure enjoy great artists writers composers people urge create make sacrifices order every period history benefactors stepped make sacrifices possible florence botticelli lippi donatello made possible patronage medici dukes musical tradition depended every moment aristocratic ecclesiastical commissions monarchs take interest poets painters also employ offer pensions king george iii offered pension dr johnson think high culture could really exist without patronage kind ignore hard work dedication required serious work art course artists writers subsidise wallace stevens subsidised writing poetry work director insurance company matthew arnold matter work inspector schools exceptions still high culture us see point scientific medical advances since offer knowledge benefit us even understand person ear benefit expensive symphony orchestra person feeling verse benefit obscure poetry festival survives arts council grant good things exist even interested scientific technical knowledge may confer collective mastery means ends bring us nearer ends tell us goals pursue things value shakespeare portrays character king lear slow crumbling vain old man discovers difference real fake devotion shakespeare merely awaken our160sympathy shows fault remedy lie deep within helping us know emotions distinguish ones raise us drag us similar things said great works art moved beauty completion lives hard obtain way art makes us conscious hope moments revelation aroused surely tempted think better world contains people way alert condition certainly shakespeare thought man hath music moved concord sweet sounds fit treasons stratagems spoils motions spirit dull night affections dark erebus let man be160trusted160 merchant venice grew household without music chance acquired piano windup gramophone might gone life without ever discovering art form cast enchantment days equalled little else aged 14 quite accident discovered soul mozart soon obvious mozarts music contained kind knowledge could never obtained psychology textbook even prayer book sacred text made knowledge even though could tell play piano knowledge guides life ability respond mozart forgotten know world would much poorer place would lost one avenue knowledge ends knowledge whatever perpetuate teach children put pressure schools universities good common good knowing something necessary human life stake necessary thing take lesson jewish idea sabbath book genesis tells us seventh day creation god rested observed result labours saw good jews say put aside day week rest labours stop merely busy purposes learn reflect judge life remains one means without meaning endless technological mastery without goal beyond technique high culture sabbath busy people moment sitting listening seeing thinking meaning dawn long places times exist done hope world wordsworth wrote getting spending lay waste powers stand back mill consumption look turbulent waters eye artist rested hearts powers restored people friends order world entropy see depths swirling pool still point meaning lies describe see highest forms art exist describe meaning reveal loveliness world revealed first imagined sabbath culture first sight may seem luxury turns alltime necessity roger scruton senior fellow ethics public policy center | 694 |
<p>In Poland, they have a saying: A pessimist is someone who says, “Things can’t possibly get any worse!” An optimist is someone who says, “Oh, yes they can!” Here are five reasons for optimism.</p>
<p>Item 1: The national debt today exceeds $16 trillion. President Obama’s most recent budget would raise that to around $20 trillion by the end of his second term (a growth rate of about $2 million per minute) while running permanent deficits in excess of $600 billion dollars. According to his own budget, President Obama will leave office having added more than $8 trillion to the national debt in 8 years.</p>
<p>The cost of interest on that debt will more than double between 2013 and 2017, which means that by the time the Forty-fifth President of the United States is sworn in, our debt service costs alone will exceed $550 billion per year. By comparison, direct spending on the Iraq War — all eight+ years of it combined — was about $800 billion.</p>
<p>Item 2: The primary drivers of all this debt are our entitlement programs, especially health care entitlements. Last summer, President Obama said this about the impending Medicare crisis: “If you look at the numbers then Medicare in particular will run out of money and we will not be able to sustain that program no matter how much taxes go up.”</p>
<p>During the campaign, President Obama blasted his opponents for wanting to “end Medicare as we know it.” Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that in a little more than a decade, federal spending on health entitlements, social security, and debt service will consume 100 percent of federal revenues. Given the path the president has kept us on, it seems that a lot more than “Medicare as we know it” is going to end.</p>
<p>Item 3: The economy stinks. This isn’t news, but what people might not realize is that it’s getting worse — the economy has slowed each of the last two years. A new recession in the next twelve months is not unlikely. Unemployment continues to hover around 8 percent, while labor force participation is trending downward toward record lows. Real wages continue to fall.</p>
<p>As Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan said over and over again, this is not what a real recovery looks like. But you don’t have to take their word for it: here’s a telling chart from the Congressional Budget Office that demonstrates the point rather succinctly.</p>
<p />
<p>Historically, the average recovery is more than twice as robust as our current recovery. You might say that in the three years since the recession ended, the Obama economy has managed to fall two full years behind schedule.</p>
<p>Item 4: The birth rate in this country recently hit an all-time low (34.3 births per 1,000 females per year) and the total fertility rate — the number of births per woman per lifetime — fell to 1.9, below replacement level and a record low.</p>
<p>Our largest entitlement programs are funded by payroll taxes. Medicare and Social Security are basically massive transfers of wealth from young workers to older retirees. This would be unconscionable except that the young eventually get old themselves, at which point the wealth of new working youngsters gets transferred to the “new” old folks. Generation A is subsidized by Generation B, Generation B is subsidized by Generation C, and so on. But what if Generation D is too small to cover the costs of Generation C’s entitlements? If Greece is the canary in the coalmine, there are reasons to worry.</p>
<p>Item 5: Speaking of demographics, some 53 million children have been legally aborted in this country since 1973. Almost no one mentions this, but one of the reasons we face an entitlement crisis today is that we’re missing a few dozen million young people.</p>
<p>And of course, if a nation is willing to kill its unborn children by the millions, what qualms could it possibly have about bequeathing ruinous debt and diminished liberty to whatever’s left of the next generation?</p>
<p>One last point: While President Obama has aggravated many of these problems, and will no doubt continue to do so, they all have roots going back decades and were evident long before he was elected president. And while there was some hope that they might have altered our national course for the better while there was still time, it is unlikely that a Romney-Ryan administration would have been able to satisfactorily resolve these challenges.</p>
<p>Back in July, when the Supreme Court upheld Obamacare, Chief Justice John Roberts offered this warning: “It is not [this Court’s] job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices.”</p>
<p>In the face of staggering challenges, this nation has not chosen to throw our leaders out of office, but to keep them. The question now on the minds of many is whether that decision reflects a fundamental shift in the character and values of the American people away from both our Judeo-Christian heritage and the Founders’ understanding, and towards a self-destructive hedonism in our moral lives and a progressive understanding of the state? Or does the election reveal a house deeply divided culturally — and not simply split about the means to a common end, but about the ends of government?</p>
<p>If it’s the latter, then there is great deal of work to do. If it’s the former, then perhaps H.L. Mencken was right when he suggested democracy was the theory that the people “know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.”</p>
<p>Stephen P. White is a fellow in Catholic Studies at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, DC and coordinator of the Tertio Millennio Seminar on the Free Society.</p>
<p>This article first appeared on “The Catholic Thing” (www.thecatholicthing.org), copyright 2012, all rights reserved.</p> | false | 1 | poland saying pessimist someone says things cant possibly get worse optimist someone says oh yes five reasons optimism item 1 national debt today exceeds 16 trillion president obamas recent budget would raise around 20 trillion end second term growth rate 2 million per minute running permanent deficits excess 600 billion dollars according budget president obama leave office added 8 trillion national debt 8 years cost interest debt double 2013 2017 means time fortyfifth president united states sworn debt service costs alone exceed 550 billion per year comparison direct spending iraq war eight years combined 800 billion item 2 primary drivers debt entitlement programs especially health care entitlements last summer president obama said impending medicare crisis look numbers medicare particular run money able sustain program matter much taxes go campaign president obama blasted opponents wanting end medicare know meanwhile congressional budget office estimates little decade federal spending health entitlements social security debt service consume 100 percent federal revenues given path president kept us seems lot medicare know going end item 3 economy stinks isnt news people might realize getting worse economy slowed last two years new recession next twelve months unlikely unemployment continues hover around 8 percent labor force participation trending downward toward record lows real wages continue fall mitt romney paul ryan said real recovery looks like dont take word heres telling chart congressional budget office demonstrates point rather succinctly historically average recovery twice robust current recovery might say three years since recession ended obama economy managed fall two full years behind schedule item 4 birth rate country recently hit alltime low 343 births per 1000 females per year total fertility rate number births per woman per lifetime fell 19 replacement level record low largest entitlement programs funded payroll taxes medicare social security basically massive transfers wealth young workers older retirees would unconscionable except young eventually get old point wealth new working youngsters gets transferred new old folks generation subsidized generation b generation b subsidized generation c generation small cover costs generation cs entitlements greece canary coalmine reasons worry item 5 speaking demographics 53 million children legally aborted country since 1973 almost one mentions one reasons face entitlement crisis today missing dozen million young people course nation willing kill unborn children millions qualms could possibly bequeathing ruinous debt diminished liberty whatevers left next generation one last point president obama aggravated many problems doubt continue roots going back decades evident long elected president hope might altered national course better still time unlikely romneyryan administration would able satisfactorily resolve challenges back july supreme court upheld obamacare chief justice john roberts offered warning courts job protect people consequences political choices face staggering challenges nation chosen throw leaders office keep question minds many whether decision reflects fundamental shift character values american people away judeochristian heritage founders understanding towards selfdestructive hedonism moral lives progressive understanding state election reveal house deeply divided culturally simply split means common end ends government latter great deal work former perhaps hl mencken right suggested democracy theory people know want deserve get good hard stephen p white fellow catholic studies ethics public policy center washington dc coordinator tertio millennio seminar free society article first appeared catholic thing wwwthecatholicthingorg copyright 2012 rights reserved | 531 |
<p>The effect of the Israeli occupation on Gaza’s fishermen and its cost in lives, injuries, and great losses for Gaza’s economy.&#160;</p>
<p>Suhail Fadel and his three sons were extremely tired and sweating profusely when they finished their morning fishing shift, which lasted for six hours, from 5 am to 11 am. I was shocked when I had a look at their basket; they caught only 8 kilograms of fish after all that effort from the very early morning.</p>
<p>Suhail’s younger son quickly splashed the fish with cold water before taking it to the market to sell. “Oh, if they would just let us advance to more than a half mile to fish more. Getting only eight kilograms of fish after six hours in the sea will not even cover the price of the fuel that my boat consumed this time,” Suhail said to his shipmates on the shore.</p>
<p>Gaza fishermen are not allowed to travel out even to six nautical miles, a fact that is particularly astonishing given that <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Outline-of-Protective-Edge-cease-fire-agreement-with-Hamas-372560" type="external">under the ceasefire agreement</a> reached last year following Israel’s offensive military operation in Gaza, “Operation Defensive Edge”, Israel committed to extending the distance Gaza’s fishermen would be allowed to travel from shore from three to six nautical miles (the enforcement of which limit would itself still violate Palestine’s territorial waters, which under international law extends to twelve nautical miles). &#160;“Practically, we are talking about 5 nautical miles that we can sail within in our daily attempt of fishing,” Suhail said. “Otherwise we may be shot at by the Israeli navy, like what happened with some of our fellows. Therefore, we fish in an overfished area.”</p>
<p>Palestinian fishermen do this risky job, even though they know they will gain only meager incomes.</p>
<p>Mohammed Zeyad, 32, was injured while out in his fishing boat on January 2, 2015. The Israeli navy fired at him, directly targeting his ship. His boat was terribly riddled by the Israeli bullets, and he sustained a hip fracture injury which hampers him from the practice of fishing.</p>
<p>“They sabotaged my only ship, and no one compensated me for this great loss. I cannot make ends meet for my young children,” Mohammed told me while we were walking to see his badly damaged boat.</p>
<p>Notable in Zeyad’s case is that the destructive Israeli attack on his vessel made him a new burden on the Palestinian national economy. Unable to earn money from his occupation, he looks to financial support from charities.</p>
<p>The continuous tight restrictions on Palestinian fishermen damage the livelihoods of thousands of Palestinian families.</p>
<p>Yet, what attracted my attention about Zeyad was that, even after his injury, he comes every day to the Gaza port where he used to fish. “I cannot imagine myself away from sea,” he said. “I walk along the beach every early morning to recall my past fishing memories. I look forward to being completely recovered from my injury and compensated with a new fishing boat to turn back to sea.”</p>
<p>Zeyad is not alone. So far, the Israeli naval forces have killed one fisherman (three months ago) and injured seventeen others.</p>
<p>The fishing sector is the second largest productive sector in terms of contribution to the Palestinian national economy, but because of the continuous Israeli violations, its productivity has fallen dramatically.</p>
<p>Nezar Aish, the head of the Gaza Fishermen’s Syndicate, said that the total loss to the fishing sector from last summer’s war is estimated at about $6 million.</p>
<p>“We sustain huge losses incurred by the continuous intolerable Israeli breaches,” Aish said. “We documented so far after the last war about 1,320 Israeli violations. They’ve confiscated 27 fishing boats, putting their owners out of work.”</p>
<p>In the center of Gaza harbor, you can find a partially damaged building that is used as a base where the fishermen meet each other to discuss their concerns. I met Meflh Rialh there. He introduced himself to me as a fisherman and a member in the Fishermen’s Syndicate. He talked with me for more than half an hour about how precarious their work conditions are.</p>
<p>“The devastatingly profound effects of the Israeli occupation and its relentless siege are apparent in every aspect in the fishing sector,” Rialh said. “They suffer from the scarcity of the highly needed fishing equipment and the high price of the fuel for their motors.”</p>
<p>“For more than three years,” Rialh told me, “Israel has denied us access to fiberglass, which is very important to repair the fishing ships from time to time. We are not allowed to import motors or spare parts for fishing boats.”</p>
<p>That explained the huge number of partially or completely damaged ships at the port. You can imagine that the Gazan fisherman, instead of being able to repair his ship for a few hundred dollars, would have to sustain the price of a new one at $30,000 or more. The dire circumstances make the fishing environment “repellent” to young people considering joining this sector.</p>
<p>“There have been some prospects of projects presented by charity organizations to develop the practice of fishing in our port, but Israel rejected any move in this regard without an international surveillance,” Rialah said.</p>
<p>Fish production is about 1,500 tons annually since the siege was implemented following Hamas’s 2006 election victory, while the number was about 4,500 tons before the policy of suffocating the Gazan community.</p>
<p>Khader Baker, 34, was taken along with his boat, his father, his two brothers, and a young boy by the Israeli naval forces to Ashdod city two years ago. “They fired at our boat asking us to surrender,” Baker said. “Then they approached us and headed our boat to Ashdod coast. They interrogated us for an hour while we were tightly tied, completely stripped naked. Next morning, they told us that we can turn home as they dropped us off at Erez crossing. They dispossessed us of our boat.”</p>
<p>For more than a year and a half, Baker remained without a fishing boat. “I kept moving from the government, to the charity organizations, to the UN, looking for any side which can help me to buy a new boat. An organization secured for me part of the money, along with all my savings and debts from friends and relatives. I got a new ship in the end,” he said.</p>
<p>Baker was happy to have it, after all; but, still, he had to wait until he got a motor to operate it. After four more months, the Agriculture Ministry finally secured a motor for his small ship.</p>
<p>Baker’s three-story home was completely demolished in last summer’s war, and his father was killed in the Israeli operation as well. The home used to accommodate more than twenty-two people in his extended family. “All what I want is to fish more to make situations better to my family, which lives now in one small flat,” Baker said.</p>
<p>I left Gaza Harbor after staying there for more than three hours. I used to see this place as the most prominent landmark in Gaza, and a typical rendezvous for people who look for inspiring scenery on the coast to paint or simply to have a refreshing breath of air. I never thought of this place, decorated with its fishing ships, as a store of tragic stories, which increase with every single vessel that sails across the port.</p>
<p>Photos courtesy of the author.</p> | false | 1 | effect israeli occupation gazas fishermen cost lives injuries great losses gazas economy160 suhail fadel three sons extremely tired sweating profusely finished morning fishing shift lasted six hours 5 11 shocked look basket caught 8 kilograms fish effort early morning suhails younger son quickly splashed fish cold water taking market sell oh would let us advance half mile fish getting eight kilograms fish six hours sea even cover price fuel boat consumed time suhail said shipmates shore gaza fishermen allowed travel even six nautical miles fact particularly astonishing given ceasefire agreement reached last year following israels offensive military operation gaza operation defensive edge israel committed extending distance gazas fishermen would allowed travel shore three six nautical miles enforcement limit would still violate palestines territorial waters international law extends twelve nautical miles 160practically talking 5 nautical miles sail within daily attempt fishing suhail said otherwise may shot israeli navy like happened fellows therefore fish overfished area palestinian fishermen risky job even though know gain meager incomes mohammed zeyad 32 injured fishing boat january 2 2015 israeli navy fired directly targeting ship boat terribly riddled israeli bullets sustained hip fracture injury hampers practice fishing sabotaged ship one compensated great loss make ends meet young children mohammed told walking see badly damaged boat notable zeyads case destructive israeli attack vessel made new burden palestinian national economy unable earn money occupation looks financial support charities continuous tight restrictions palestinian fishermen damage livelihoods thousands palestinian families yet attracted attention zeyad even injury comes every day gaza port used fish imagine away sea said walk along beach every early morning recall past fishing memories look forward completely recovered injury compensated new fishing boat turn back sea zeyad alone far israeli naval forces killed one fisherman three months ago injured seventeen others fishing sector second largest productive sector terms contribution palestinian national economy continuous israeli violations productivity fallen dramatically nezar aish head gaza fishermens syndicate said total loss fishing sector last summers war estimated 6 million sustain huge losses incurred continuous intolerable israeli breaches aish said documented far last war 1320 israeli violations theyve confiscated 27 fishing boats putting owners work center gaza harbor find partially damaged building used base fishermen meet discuss concerns met meflh rialh introduced fisherman member fishermens syndicate talked half hour precarious work conditions devastatingly profound effects israeli occupation relentless siege apparent every aspect fishing sector rialh said suffer scarcity highly needed fishing equipment high price fuel motors three years rialh told israel denied us access fiberglass important repair fishing ships time time allowed import motors spare parts fishing boats explained huge number partially completely damaged ships port imagine gazan fisherman instead able repair ship hundred dollars would sustain price new one 30000 dire circumstances make fishing environment repellent young people considering joining sector prospects projects presented charity organizations develop practice fishing port israel rejected move regard without international surveillance rialah said fish production 1500 tons annually since siege implemented following hamass 2006 election victory number 4500 tons policy suffocating gazan community khader baker 34 taken along boat father two brothers young boy israeli naval forces ashdod city two years ago fired boat asking us surrender baker said approached us headed boat ashdod coast interrogated us hour tightly tied completely stripped naked next morning told us turn home dropped us erez crossing dispossessed us boat year half baker remained without fishing boat kept moving government charity organizations un looking side help buy new boat organization secured part money along savings debts friends relatives got new ship end said baker happy still wait got motor operate four months agriculture ministry finally secured motor small ship bakers threestory home completely demolished last summers war father killed israeli operation well home used accommodate twentytwo people extended family want fish make situations better family lives one small flat baker said left gaza harbor staying three hours used see place prominent landmark gaza typical rendezvous people look inspiring scenery coast paint simply refreshing breath air never thought place decorated fishing ships store tragic stories increase every single vessel sails across port photos courtesy author | 675 |
<p />
<p>In 1962, when Nelson Mandela was given a life sentence for his attempts to free his country from oppression, few thought he would become the President of South Africa after twenty-seven years of imprisonment. When Dr Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, who would have dared to hope that a black man would one day be President of the United States? Similarly, in today’s Middle East, the possibility of a Kurdish guerrilla leader ever becoming the President of say, Iraq, also seems remote, but not impossible.</p>
<p>However, potential changes in the political leadership of nearby Turkey are much more likely. Apart from the proposition that current Turkish President Abdullah Gül is prepared to co-operate with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s long held Presidential ambitions by switching jobs with him, political pundits and voters would do well to consider Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan as the most likely Prime Ministerial candidate to bring Turkey true peace.</p>
<p>Left field answers are needed to solve the range of problems in the Middle East. The previously troublesome relations between the Turks and the Kurds of Turkey could be vastly improved by the election of Abdullah Öcalan to the position of Prime Minister of this divided nation.</p>
<p>A brief survey of Ocalan’s personal and political history, including his participation in the struggle to unite Kurdish people within the Turkish, Iranian, Iraqi and Syrian territories of their Ancient Median ancestors, explains the recent recognition by middle power Turkey of his considerable influence and value as a potential peace maker and promoter of stability in the region.</p>
<p>As a child of poor parents Abdullah Ocalan was born in Omerli, a village in the Halfeti-District, Province of Urfa, in the Kurdish Southeast of Turkey in 1949. Leaving his village after secondary school, he studied Political Sciences at the University of Ankara. He successfully completed his studies and entered the civil service in Diyarbakir.</p>
<p>Rejecting the unacceptable treatment of the Kurdish people, who were denied the right to live their own identity and culture by the Turkish state, Abdullah Ocalan became an active member of the Democratic Cultural Associations of the East, an organization supporting the Kurdish people’s demands. After the military coup in 1971 he progressively investigated the Kurdish question.</p>
<p>In 1978 the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, was founded with Ocalan as party leader, a post he retains until today. Besides numerous works on culture and the general situation of his people, Mr. Ocalan has explored subjects like philosophy, matters of faith, gender and environmental issues in plenty of lectures and books.</p>
<p>In response to continuing persecution, the Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK launched an armed struggle against the Turkish central government in 1984. Their aim was to exercise the right of the Kurdish people to self-determination. During this war approximately 40,000 people lost their lives.</p>
<p>When Israeli commandos raided Nairobi fourteen years ago, Kurdish leader Ocalan was ‘coincidentally’ tracked down to Kenya and captured by the Israeli Mossad in a spy drama worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster movie.</p>
<p>The six travelers arriving at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport looked like any other tourists on safari. They were casually dressed and carried huge jungle green backpacks.</p>
<p>Nothing betrayed the fact that this party of five men and a woman were Mossad agents whose mission in the country would thrust Kenya into the international spotlight, expose its close ties to Israeli security services and cause a diplomatic row that saw then Foreign Affairs minister Bonaya Godana order all Kenyan embassies closed for a day.</p>
<p>The Israelis came to town 14 years ago last month because of the presence in Nairobi of Abdullah ‘Apo’ Ocalan, at the time one of the world’s most wanted men.</p>
<p>Turkey’s secret services with US and Israeli co-operation kidnapped Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan and returned him to Turkey to be humiliated on a TV show and then sentenced to death, which was later, commuted to life imprisonment.</p>
<p>Today, in a significant turnaround, Turkey is negotiating with imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan to bring peace for the Kurds in Turkey.</p>
<p>The success of these efforts depends substantially on the willingness of the people of Turkey to acknowledge the historical and cultural origins of the Kurdish people living amongst them and to respect their deep connections to the roots of their Aryan civilization.</p>
<p>The large numbers of extremist Turks in the ‘Gray Wolf’ organization would be well advised to avoid a clash with the Kurdish Kangal, the giant shepherd dog who prefers peace to war, but will not allow his flock to be mauled by wild beasts. Wolves that are tamed become intelligent and co-operative companions for humans, protecting the pack from attacks and ensuring its survival. Turkish leaders could learn valuable lessons from the animal world.</p>
<p>One way of justly sharing the resources traditionally owned by the Airyanem Vaejah people in the Aryan Lands from Pakistan to Turkey and from Kurdistan to the countries of the former Soviet Union is the establishment of a Middle Eastern Economic Union. This proposed solution would allow each ethnic or national group such as Turks, Kurds, Persians and others to have their own independent country within an economic union similar to the EU of Europe. Considering the ongoing threats to the integrity of the European Economic Union, the establishment of a Middle Eastern counterpart may well be the solution to the persistent global financial crisis, creating another economic power house to shore up endemic weaknesses.</p>
<p>A seasoned problem solver with and open mind, as Prime Minister of Turkey Abdullah Öcalan is ably suited to negotiate and lead the discussion and development of such a vision for the future. He promotes the proposal in the interests of peace and stability, but whether the other major regional players such as the US, EU, Israel, and Russia will be prepared to examine its feasibility and inestimable benefits in the face of the present suffering, destruction and hopelessness currently besetting the Middle East is yet to be seen. However emerging economic powers such as India and China might well be inclined to welcome its potential for economic expansion and partnerships.</p>
<p>Now a potential Prime Minister, Abdullah Öcalan started his political life with a small group determined to fight for justice in Turkey and now he has millions of followers in the region. An enduring organizer and motivator of those willing to work indefinitely for peace and stability, like other modern political trailblazers he has survived war, incarceration, and violent opposition to emerge as one of the Middle East’s foremost champions of human rights, democracy, and the peaceful resolution of the multiple conflicts plaguing the region.</p>
<p>Note: In an effort to examine the origins of the Kurdish conflict with Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, the conflict between the Palestinians and Israel, and the Arab-Persian conflict, we have launched a series of historical novels to develop better understanding between the Aryan and other peoples now living in the Middle East. The first, Vashti, Queen of the Ancient Medes provides insights into the life of this little known and oft maligned Queen, whilst throwing significant light on the true historical place of the subject of the second novel, Esther, Mystery Queen of the Medes, well known for her role in the establishment of the Jewish Purim festival. These ancient tales of personal power ploys, harems, conspiracies and inter-imperial power machinations reveal unique insights into an almost forgotten but rich continuous culture paralleling the most influential of past and present civilizations.</p> | false | 1 | 1962 nelson mandela given life sentence attempts free country oppression thought would become president south africa twentyseven years imprisonment dr martin luther king jr assassinated 1968 would dared hope black man would one day president united states similarly todays middle east possibility kurdish guerrilla leader ever becoming president say iraq also seems remote impossible however potential changes political leadership nearby turkey much likely apart proposition current turkish president abdullah gül prepared cooperate prime minister recep tayyip erdoğans long held presidential ambitions switching jobs political pundits voters would well consider kurdish leader abdullah Öcalan likely prime ministerial candidate bring turkey true peace left field answers needed solve range problems middle east previously troublesome relations turks kurds turkey could vastly improved election abdullah Öcalan position prime minister divided nation brief survey ocalans personal political history including participation struggle unite kurdish people within turkish iranian iraqi syrian territories ancient median ancestors explains recent recognition middle power turkey considerable influence value potential peace maker promoter stability region child poor parents abdullah ocalan born omerli village halfetidistrict province urfa kurdish southeast turkey 1949 leaving village secondary school studied political sciences university ankara successfully completed studies entered civil service diyarbakir rejecting unacceptable treatment kurdish people denied right live identity culture turkish state abdullah ocalan became active member democratic cultural associations east organization supporting kurdish peoples demands military coup 1971 progressively investigated kurdish question 1978 kurdistan workers party pkk founded ocalan party leader post retains today besides numerous works culture general situation people mr ocalan explored subjects like philosophy matters faith gender environmental issues plenty lectures books response continuing persecution kurdistan workers party pkk launched armed struggle turkish central government 1984 aim exercise right kurdish people selfdetermination war approximately 40000 people lost lives israeli commandos raided nairobi fourteen years ago kurdish leader ocalan coincidentally tracked kenya captured israeli mossad spy drama worthy hollywood blockbuster movie six travelers arriving nairobis jomo kenyatta international airport looked like tourists safari casually dressed carried huge jungle green backpacks nothing betrayed fact party five men woman mossad agents whose mission country would thrust kenya international spotlight expose close ties israeli security services cause diplomatic row saw foreign affairs minister bonaya godana order kenyan embassies closed day israelis came town 14 years ago last month presence nairobi abdullah apo ocalan time one worlds wanted men turkeys secret services us israeli cooperation kidnapped kurdish leader abdullah ocalan returned turkey humiliated tv show sentenced death later commuted life imprisonment today significant turnaround turkey negotiating imprisoned kurdish leader abdullah ocalan bring peace kurds turkey success efforts depends substantially willingness people turkey acknowledge historical cultural origins kurdish people living amongst respect deep connections roots aryan civilization large numbers extremist turks gray wolf organization would well advised avoid clash kurdish kangal giant shepherd dog prefers peace war allow flock mauled wild beasts wolves tamed become intelligent cooperative companions humans protecting pack attacks ensuring survival turkish leaders could learn valuable lessons animal world one way justly sharing resources traditionally owned airyanem vaejah people aryan lands pakistan turkey kurdistan countries former soviet union establishment middle eastern economic union proposed solution would allow ethnic national group turks kurds persians others independent country within economic union similar eu europe considering ongoing threats integrity european economic union establishment middle eastern counterpart may well solution persistent global financial crisis creating another economic power house shore endemic weaknesses seasoned problem solver open mind prime minister turkey abdullah Öcalan ably suited negotiate lead discussion development vision future promotes proposal interests peace stability whether major regional players us eu israel russia prepared examine feasibility inestimable benefits face present suffering destruction hopelessness currently besetting middle east yet seen however emerging economic powers india china might well inclined welcome potential economic expansion partnerships potential prime minister abdullah Öcalan started political life small group determined fight justice turkey millions followers region enduring organizer motivator willing work indefinitely peace stability like modern political trailblazers survived war incarceration violent opposition emerge one middle easts foremost champions human rights democracy peaceful resolution multiple conflicts plaguing region note effort examine origins kurdish conflict turkey iran iraq syria conflict palestinians israel arabpersian conflict launched series historical novels develop better understanding aryan peoples living middle east first vashti queen ancient medes provides insights life little known oft maligned queen whilst throwing significant light true historical place subject second novel esther mystery queen medes well known role establishment jewish purim festival ancient tales personal power ploys harems conspiracies interimperial power machinations reveal unique insights almost forgotten rich continuous culture paralleling influential past present civilizations | 747 |
<p>To view or download a PDF of the full study authored by Mr. Capretta and Mr. Antos, <a href="" type="internal">click here</a>.</p>
<p>The Obama administration was able to push the Affordable Care Act — Obamacare — through Congress in part because the Congressional Budget Office said it would modestly reduce future federal budget deficits.</p>
<p>The claim of deficit reduction rests on a shaky foundation. It depends entirely on the uninterrupted implementation of four carefully constructed “indexing” provisions. These provisions, which make annual adjustments to key spending and tax parameters of the law (or specify that such adjustments will not be made), were written with the clear intention of making the ACA look better financially as time passed. <a href="http://mercatus.org/publication/indexing-affordable-care-act-impact-federal-budget" type="external">Our new study, published by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University</a>, shows that these budgetary manipulations are no more likely to survive mounting political pressure than did income-tax “bracket creep” in the 1970s or across-the-board cuts in Medicare physician fees over the past 15 years.</p>
<p>Each of the four provisions has an impact on consumers, who will face higher insurance costs, shrinking access to essential services, and higher tax payments. They are:</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>1. The productivity adjustment factor.</p>
<p>Medicare payments to hospitals and other facilities are increased annually to account for inflation. The ACA permanently lowered those annual increases based on a “productivity adjustment” — an estimate of productivity improvement in the overall economy. The reduction, expected to average 1.1 percentage points annually, is taken regardless of whether a facility is able to achieve such productivity growth.</p>
<p>The cumulative effect of the adjustment is a massive cut: a 56 percent reduction in what Medicare pays for services at the end of 75 years, and a reduction in overall payments to hospital and other facilities of at least $4 trillion over the same period, in present-value terms.</p>
<p>Such cuts have real consequences. The Medicare actuaries <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/ReportsTrustFunds/Downloads/2015TRAlternativeScenario.pdf" type="external">estimate</a> that, without changes to the law, by 2040 half of all hospitals, 70 percent of skilled nursing facilities, and 90 percent of home health agencies will be losing money every year due to the cumulative effect of the productivity adjustment factor. The actuaries believe that “in practice, providers could not sustain continuing negative margins and, absent legislative changes, may have to withdraw from providing services to Medicare beneficiaries” or take actions to shift the cost of Medicare patients to other payers.</p>
<p>2. Taxes on “high-income” households.</p>
<p>The ACA instituted taxes designed to look as if they will be paid only by those with high incomes. MIT professor Jonathan Gruber <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/11/07/243584170/how-the-affordable-care-act-pays-for-insurance-subsidies" type="external">asserts</a> that a new Medicare payroll tax in the ACA is “a tax increase on the wealthiest Americans.” The Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) tax rate is increased from 1.45 percent to 2.35 percent on earnings over $200,000 for individual taxpayers and $250,000 for married couples. In addition, a new 3.8 percent tax is imposed on net investment income for those with incomes exceeding those levels.</p>
<p>The income thresholds for assessing these taxes are not indexed to inflation or wage growth. Consequently, many Americans not considered rich will eventually be required to pay them. The $200,000 threshold will move down to about $140,000 in today’s dollars by 2030 — and will continue to drop — because of the failure to account for inflation.</p>
<p>3. The “Cadillac tax.”</p>
<p>Job-based health insurance has long received a special tax break. Employer and employee contributions are excluded, without limit, from both income and payroll taxes. While this open-ended tax break has made workplace health insurance affordable, it has promoted overly generous insurance (dubbed Cadillac coverage) and fueled the rapid growth of health spending.</p>
<p>The ACA imposed a 40 percent excise tax on high-cost, job-based insurance starting in 2018. Health benefits costing more than $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for family coverage will be subject to the tax. These thresholds are to be increased by the consumer price index (CPI) plus 1 percentage point in 2019 and just with the CPI thereafter. The tax will be levied on the employer, who will pass the cost along to employees in the form of higher employee premiums, higher deductibles, and less generous benefits.</p>
<p>Health-care costs and insurance premiums are expected to rise much more rapidly than the CPI, pushing more health plans over the Cadillac thresholds. By 2025 the average-cost plan, indexed to historical spending trends, will exceed the Cadillac-tax threshold.</p>
<p>4. Premium credits.</p>
<p>The foundation of the ACA is the premium credit provided to low-income families purchasing insurance on the exchanges. The credit is available to families with incomes between one and four times the federal poverty level (FPL), unless they are eligible for Medicaid. A cap that depends on the household’s income and the cost of the insurance limits the amount they must pay for coverage. In 2014, for example, a family with income equal to 300 percent of the FPL was required to pay as much as 9.5 percent of its income toward coverage. A family of four with an income of $71,550 (three times the <a type="external" href="">2014 FPL</a>) was liable for as much as $566 in monthly premium payments last year. Those buying cheaper coverage paid less.</p>
<p>Because total premiums are expected to rise faster than incomes, an adjustment was made in the ACA’s premium-credit calculation to avoid rapid increases in federal cost. A complicated indexing arrangement holds the federal share of the credit constant, which pushes up the percentages of income that households must pay each year. As a result, households with incomes at 300 percent of the FPL are expected to pay as much as 9.56 percent of their incomes towards coverage in 2015. That percentage will keep rising in the future.</p>
<p>The ACA also put a cap on the total amount of exchange subsidies (including premium credits and cost-sharing subsidies) that the federal government would pay out each year, beginning in 2019. The cap is set at 0.504 percent of GDP. If officials expect the cap to be exceeded, the amounts families must pay are further increased to make up the difference.</p>
<p>The unusual and complex indexing provisions for exchange subsidies are designed to limit the federal government’s financial risk. The result is that lower-income households will face ever-increasing costs for their health insurance.</p>
<p>Political pressure will surely increase to ease up on these provisions. If Congress were to allow payments to hospitals and other facilities to follow historical trends, and to limit the revenue from the “high-income” and Cadillac taxes at fixed, rather than rising, levels of GDP, we estimate that, by 2040, the law would increase the federal budget deficit by 0.4 percent of GDP rather than reduce it. The added deficits from the law would then grow rapidly in the following years.</p>
<p>The ACA’s new entitlements may eventually become politically untouchable, like other federal benefit programs. But the same is not likely to be true for the law’s key indexing provisions, which impose ever-increasing burdens on taxpayers and beneficiaries. It would not take much backtracking on these provisions to turn the ACA into a massive, permanent drain on the federal treasury.</p>
<p>James C. Capretta is a <a href="" type="internal">senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center</a> and <a type="external" href="">a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute</a>. Joseph R. Antos is <a type="external" href="">the Wilson H. Taylor scholar in health care and retirement policy at the American Enterprise Institute</a>. They are the authors of <a href="http://mercatus.org/publication/indexing-affordable-care-act-impact-federal-budget" type="external">“Indexing in the Affordable Care Act: The Impact on the Federal Budget,”</a>published this month by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.</p> | false | 1 | view download pdf full study authored mr capretta mr antos click obama administration able push affordable care act obamacare congress part congressional budget office said would modestly reduce future federal budget deficits claim deficit reduction rests shaky foundation depends entirely uninterrupted implementation four carefully constructed indexing provisions provisions make annual adjustments key spending tax parameters law specify adjustments made written clear intention making aca look better financially time passed new study published mercatus center george mason university shows budgetary manipulations likely survive mounting political pressure incometax bracket creep 1970s acrosstheboard cuts medicare physician fees past 15 years four provisions impact consumers face higher insurance costs shrinking access essential services higher tax payments 160 1 productivity adjustment factor medicare payments hospitals facilities increased annually account inflation aca permanently lowered annual increases based productivity adjustment estimate productivity improvement overall economy reduction expected average 11 percentage points annually taken regardless whether facility able achieve productivity growth cumulative effect adjustment massive cut 56 percent reduction medicare pays services end 75 years reduction overall payments hospital facilities least 4 trillion period presentvalue terms cuts real consequences medicare actuaries estimate without changes law 2040 half hospitals 70 percent skilled nursing facilities 90 percent home health agencies losing money every year due cumulative effect productivity adjustment factor actuaries believe practice providers could sustain continuing negative margins absent legislative changes may withdraw providing services medicare beneficiaries take actions shift cost medicare patients payers 2 taxes highincome households aca instituted taxes designed look paid high incomes mit professor jonathan gruber asserts new medicare payroll tax aca tax increase wealthiest americans medicare hospital insurance hi tax rate increased 145 percent 235 percent earnings 200000 individual taxpayers 250000 married couples addition new 38 percent tax imposed net investment income incomes exceeding levels income thresholds assessing taxes indexed inflation wage growth consequently many americans considered rich eventually required pay 200000 threshold move 140000 todays dollars 2030 continue drop failure account inflation 3 cadillac tax jobbased health insurance long received special tax break employer employee contributions excluded without limit income payroll taxes openended tax break made workplace health insurance affordable promoted overly generous insurance dubbed cadillac coverage fueled rapid growth health spending aca imposed 40 percent excise tax highcost jobbased insurance starting 2018 health benefits costing 10200 individuals 27500 family coverage subject tax thresholds increased consumer price index cpi plus 1 percentage point 2019 cpi thereafter tax levied employer pass cost along employees form higher employee premiums higher deductibles less generous benefits healthcare costs insurance premiums expected rise much rapidly cpi pushing health plans cadillac thresholds 2025 averagecost plan indexed historical spending trends exceed cadillactax threshold 4 premium credits foundation aca premium credit provided lowincome families purchasing insurance exchanges credit available families incomes one four times federal poverty level fpl unless eligible medicaid cap depends households income cost insurance limits amount must pay coverage 2014 example family income equal 300 percent fpl required pay much 95 percent income toward coverage family four income 71550 three times 2014 fpl liable much 566 monthly premium payments last year buying cheaper coverage paid less total premiums expected rise faster incomes adjustment made acas premiumcredit calculation avoid rapid increases federal cost complicated indexing arrangement holds federal share credit constant pushes percentages income households must pay year result households incomes 300 percent fpl expected pay much 956 percent incomes towards coverage 2015 percentage keep rising future aca also put cap total amount exchange subsidies including premium credits costsharing subsidies federal government would pay year beginning 2019 cap set 0504 percent gdp officials expect cap exceeded amounts families must pay increased make difference unusual complex indexing provisions exchange subsidies designed limit federal governments financial risk result lowerincome households face everincreasing costs health insurance political pressure surely increase ease provisions congress allow payments hospitals facilities follow historical trends limit revenue highincome cadillac taxes fixed rather rising levels gdp estimate 2040 law would increase federal budget deficit 04 percent gdp rather reduce added deficits law would grow rapidly following years acas new entitlements may eventually become politically untouchable like federal benefit programs likely true laws key indexing provisions impose everincreasing burdens taxpayers beneficiaries would take much backtracking provisions turn aca massive permanent drain federal treasury james c capretta senior fellow ethics public policy center visiting fellow american enterprise institute joseph r antos wilson h taylor scholar health care retirement policy american enterprise institute authors indexing affordable care act impact federal budgetpublished month mercatus center george mason university | 736 |
<p>My heart practically stopped on several occasions while watching writer-director <a href="http://variety.com/t/xavier-legrand/" type="external">Xavier Legrand</a>’s “Just Before Losing Everything,” which depicts, practically in real time, the white-knuckle moments in which an abused wife manages to pry herself away from a dangerous and controlling husband. That film is just half an hour long, but it earned Legrand (a former child actor who played an anti-Semitic French student in “Au revoir les enfants”) his first Oscar nomination —&#160;I say his first because we will be seeing much more of this filmmaker in the years to come.</p>
<p>Legrand’s feature debut, “Custody,” continues the story of Miriam (Léa Drucker) and Antoine (Denis Ménochet), though one needn’t have seen the short to be fully invested in what happens when Antoine, using the leverage of the legal system, uses a court-decided shared-custody arrangement to force his way back into his ex’s life — although the slow-burn suspense will take much longer to build if you haven’t previously witnessed what the man is capable of. A smart distributor (or else savvy art-house and cinematheque programmers) will find opportunities to pair the two, so that audiences might witness the full scope of the story —&#160;and of Legrand’s incredible promise as an emerging director.</p>
<p>That potential was recently spotlighted at the <a href="http://variety.com/t/venice-film-festival/" type="external">Venice film festival</a>, where “Custody” won two significant prizes, best director and the “Lion of the Future” – Luigi De Laurentiis Award for best debut, both incredibly well-deserved honors for a film of modest scale with a significant message to impart —&#160;not that “Custody” could be mistaken for a traditional “message movie.” Rather, Legrand operates in the raw social realist tradition of such auteurs as Maurice Pialat and the Dardenne brothers, stripping away sentimentality in favor of direct, observational filmmaking.</p>
<p>It’s a much trickier technique to master than it looks, despite a lack of music or showy camera moves, and though the approach can sometimes feel unfiltered (that’s often the intent, anyway), it relies on meticulous scripting and rehearsal in order to appear so spontaneous —&#160;which speaks to the talent of his entire cast, but especially that of newcomer Thomas Gioria, who plays 12-year-old Julien, the couple’s traumatized blond son, whom Antoine cruelly manipulates in an attempt to restore his marriage.</p>
<p>Legrand is still finding his own style, and may be a bit too enamored of a certain icy, arm’s-length aesthetic, currently in vogue on the European art-cinema circuit (rewarded by selection in prestigious film festivals, such as Venice and Cannes, and subsequently adopted by directors hoping to be screened at such events themselves). Precious few filmmakers can pull off this clinically disinterested approach to their own characters, and it proves frustrating in “Custody’s” opening scene, as Legrand seems almost painfully disconnected from Miriam and Antoine as the couple attend a mediation session with a family law judge, accompanied by their lawyers.</p>
<p>But there is a point to this froideur, as it forces us into the same position of the presiding judge (Saadia Bentaïeb): She doesn’t know the truth about their history, but must decide whether to believe Miriam’s claims of domestic abuse, or to give Antoine the benefit of the doubt —&#160;and by extension, shared custody. In this setting, as is frequently the case in the real world, the man asserts his privilege, and Miriam falls silent, trusting the system to protect her. It doesn’t. The judge grants Antoine weekend visitation of Julien. (His older sister Joséphine, played by Mathilde Auneveux, is nearly 18 and relieved of the indignity —&#160;though Legrand uses this character to reveal insights into how children of abusive households often seek independence by rushing into unhealthy relationships of their own.)</p>
<p>That chilly distance between the filmmaker and his subject thaws as the film progresses, unfolding like a slow-motion thriller, albeit one entirely devoid of the musical spikes and shock tactics genre movies use to indicate that danger is brewing. But the suspense builds all the same, reaching a nearly unbearable crescendo in the climactic scene, when we find ourselves wondering whether emergency services (the French equivalent of 911) can possibly arrive in time to avert a full-scale tragedy.</p>
<p>Legrand is infinitely subtler, seeding subtle clues that allow intuitive audiences to put together Antoine’s potential for combustible, truly terrifying violence. For example, when Antoine comes to collect Julien for the first time, he does so at his maternal grandparents’ home, but Miriam isn’t there. In time, we come to understand that, following the dramatic escape of “Just Before Losing Everything,” she’s doing everything she can to hide where she now lives from Antoine. And yet, using his influence as a father — and a willingness to harm his own son —&#160;Antoine can still find her.</p>
<p>Like so many abusive partners, Antoine has an impressive capacity for charm as well, which makes Ménochet an excellent choice to portray him. He appears genuinely penitent about his past mistakes, and of course, there once was love between him and Drucker’s character —&#160;which he shrewdly manipulates to get what he wants, playing on this weakness in attempt to repair a relationship he refuses to acknowledge as permanently broken. Because of these lingering emotions, we can’t trust Miriam to identify what’s best, and yet, Legrand provides all the warnings we need in the way other characters (Julien, Joséphine, Miraim’s sister, Antoine’s presence) respond to the escalating situation. That’s the power of subtext, but he also plays on instinct, trusting us to intuit what words cannot say about the age-old problem.</p>
<p>If “Just Before Losing Everything” ended with the deep sigh of relief that Miriam had finally broken free of his control, “Custody” (not so much a sequel as a continuation) raises the very real issue that abuses women in our society cannot simply run away from the problem. The solution is far more complex —&#160;which might explain why, for more than a decade, Hollywood movies featuring characters like Antoine’s ended with the abuser decapitated, impaled or gruesomely murdered, because only then is the victim truly safe. Reality, it seems, can be far scarier, and Legrand’s achievement — his integrity, one might say —&#160;is that he’s managed to cut to the marrow of the situation while remaining keenly sensitive to how such things play out in the real world.</p>
<p>Reviewed at Toronto Film Festival (Platform), Sept. 9, 2017. (Also in Venice, San Sebastian film festivals.) Running time: 94 MIN. (Original title: “Jusqu’à la garde”)</p>
<p>(France) A Haut and Court (in France) release of a KG Prods. presentation, produced with France 3 Cinéma, with the participation of Le Centre National du Cinéma, Canal Plus, France Télévisions, Ciné Plus, Haut and Court Distribution, with the support of La Région Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Procirep. (International sales: Celluloid Dreams, Paris.) Producer: Alexandre Gavras.</p>
<p>Director, writer: Xavier Legrand. Camera (color, widescreen): Nathalie Durand. Editor: Yorgos Lamprinos.</p>
<p>Denis Ménochet, Léa Drucker, Thomas Gioria, Mathilde Auneveux, Mathilde Saïkaly, Florence Janas, Saadia Bentaïeb, Sophie Pincemaille, Émilie Incerti-Formentini, Jérome Care-Aulanier.</p> | false | 1 | heart practically stopped several occasions watching writerdirector xavier legrands losing everything depicts practically real time whiteknuckle moments abused wife manages pry away dangerous controlling husband film half hour long earned legrand former child actor played antisemitic french student au revoir les enfants first oscar nomination 160i say first seeing much filmmaker years come legrands feature debut custody continues story miriam léa drucker antoine denis ménochet though one neednt seen short fully invested happens antoine using leverage legal system uses courtdecided sharedcustody arrangement force way back exs life although slowburn suspense take much longer build havent previously witnessed man capable smart distributor else savvy arthouse cinematheque programmers find opportunities pair two audiences might witness full scope story 160and legrands incredible promise emerging director potential recently spotlighted venice film festival custody two significant prizes best director lion future luigi de laurentiis award best debut incredibly welldeserved honors film modest scale significant message impart 160not custody could mistaken traditional message movie rather legrand operates raw social realist tradition auteurs maurice pialat dardenne brothers stripping away sentimentality favor direct observational filmmaking much trickier technique master looks despite lack music showy camera moves though approach sometimes feel unfiltered thats often intent anyway relies meticulous scripting rehearsal order appear spontaneous 160which speaks talent entire cast especially newcomer thomas gioria plays 12yearold julien couples traumatized blond son antoine cruelly manipulates attempt restore marriage legrand still finding style may bit enamored certain icy armslength aesthetic currently vogue european artcinema circuit rewarded selection prestigious film festivals venice cannes subsequently adopted directors hoping screened events precious filmmakers pull clinically disinterested approach characters proves frustrating custodys opening scene legrand seems almost painfully disconnected miriam antoine couple attend mediation session family law judge accompanied lawyers point froideur forces us position presiding judge saadia bentaïeb doesnt know truth history must decide whether believe miriams claims domestic abuse give antoine benefit doubt 160and extension shared custody setting frequently case real world man asserts privilege miriam falls silent trusting system protect doesnt judge grants antoine weekend visitation julien older sister joséphine played mathilde auneveux nearly 18 relieved indignity 160though legrand uses character reveal insights children abusive households often seek independence rushing unhealthy relationships chilly distance filmmaker subject thaws film progresses unfolding like slowmotion thriller albeit one entirely devoid musical spikes shock tactics genre movies use indicate danger brewing suspense builds reaching nearly unbearable crescendo climactic scene find wondering whether emergency services french equivalent 911 possibly arrive time avert fullscale tragedy legrand infinitely subtler seeding subtle clues allow intuitive audiences put together antoines potential combustible truly terrifying violence example antoine comes collect julien first time maternal grandparents home miriam isnt time come understand following dramatic escape losing everything shes everything hide lives antoine yet using influence father willingness harm son 160antoine still find like many abusive partners antoine impressive capacity charm well makes ménochet excellent choice portray appears genuinely penitent past mistakes course love druckers character 160which shrewdly manipulates get wants playing weakness attempt repair relationship refuses acknowledge permanently broken lingering emotions cant trust miriam identify whats best yet legrand provides warnings need way characters julien joséphine miraims sister antoines presence respond escalating situation thats power subtext also plays instinct trusting us intuit words say ageold problem losing everything ended deep sigh relief miriam finally broken free control custody much sequel continuation raises real issue abuses women society simply run away problem solution far complex 160which might explain decade hollywood movies featuring characters like antoines ended abuser decapitated impaled gruesomely murdered victim truly safe reality seems far scarier legrands achievement integrity one might say 160is hes managed cut marrow situation remaining keenly sensitive things play real world reviewed toronto film festival platform sept 9 2017 also venice san sebastian film festivals running time 94 min original title jusquà la garde france haut court france release kg prods presentation produced france 3 cinema participation le centre national du cinema canal plus france televisions cine plus haut court distribution support la region bourgogne franchecomte procirep international sales celluloid dreams paris producer alexandre gavras director writer xavier legrand camera color widescreen nathalie durand editor yorgos lamprinos denis ménochet léa drucker thomas gioria mathilde auneveux mathilde saïkaly florence janas saadia bentaïeb sophie pincemaille Émilie incertiformentini jérome careaulanier | 697 |
<p />
<p>Finally, a parliamentary debate in Lebanon over the human rights of Palestinian refugees. What is unfortunate though, is that granting basic civil rights to over 400,000 Palestinians - 62 years after their expulsion from their historic homeland and the issuing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - has been a topic of "debate" in the first place. Equally regrettable is the fact that various "Christian" Lebanese political forces are fiercely opposing granting Palestinians their rights.</p>
<p>Most Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are second and third generation refugees. Impoverished camps are the only homes they have ever known. In Palestine, their real home, their villages were destroyed, their fields were burnt down and their culture was eradicated. An ongoing attempt at erasing every aspect of the Palestinian Arab identity in today's Israel continues unabated, strengthened by the right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who is recognized in many political circles as "fascist".</p>
<p>But what 62 years of dispossession, massacres and untold hardship failed to destroy - the memory and the belonging - will certainly not be eliminated now by some right-wing politicians and few parliamentary bills at the Israeli Knesset, including one that forbids Palestinians from commemorating their Nakba (Catastrophe of 1947-48).</p>
<p>The ongoing debate in the Lebanese parliament, however, is of a different nature. Lebanon is striving to settle many hanging political questions. Despite Israel's devastating wars, a more confident Lebanese populace is emerging. This was largely empowered by the success of the Lebanese military resistance to Israel. A country of law and order is replacing that of chaos and turmoil, and a level of political independence is making some promising appearances after decades of total political dependency and proxy civil wars.</p>
<p>However, there are those who want Lebanon to remain a country divided on sectarian lines, a characteristic that defined Lebanese society for generations. Only such a division could guarantee their survival at the helm of dismal clan-based, sectarian hierarchy that has long degraded the image of the country, and allowed outsiders, notwithstanding Israel, to manipulate the fragile structure for their own benefit.</p>
<p>The denial of rights for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon is an old subject that often resurfaces as a political ploy to serve immediate interests. This time, however, things seem to be different. Lebanon needs to move forward. Denying 400,000 people living a most wretched existence in scattered refugee camps, surrounding by mass graves, military checkpoints and no political horizon whatsoever is not conducive to the process of political and social progress.</p>
<p>Of course, those who dread the possibility of a modern Lebanon unified by one common identity - one that is not held hostage to sectarian allegiances or tribal affiliations - want Palestinian refugees to remain perpetual victims. The good news is that the bill is supported by who are otherwise political rivals in Lebanese politics - Saad Hariri, the Lebanese prime minister of the Future Movement, and Hezbollah and Amal, among others.</p>
<p>The bill, introduced by the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) on June 15 "would cancel prohibitions on property ownership and social security benefits for Palestinians, and ease restrictions on their right to work," according to Human Rights Watch. Nadim Houry, HRW director in Beirut, said, "Lebanon has marginalized Palestinian refugees for too long (and the) parliament should seize this opportunity to turn the page and end discrimination against Palestinians."</p>
<p>Indeed, it is an opportunity. But MPs from the Free Patriotic Movement, Phalange and Lebanese Forces are strongly opposing the measure. Phalange official Sami Gemayel, for example, has tried to delay the measure, hoping perhaps to deflate the strong movement that no longer tolerates denying Palestinian refugees their basic rights. "A matter that has created a number of crises for more than 60 years could not be tackled within three days," the Lebanese Daily Star quoted him as saying. Of course he could not help but infuse the same old tired mantra, stressing that "integrating the Palestinians in the Lebanese society would undermine their right of return and fulfill an Israeli demand."</p>
<p>Not one Lebanese could possibly believe that a Phalange official - whose party worked with Israeli forces in the summer of 1982 to orchestrate and carry out the killing of thousands of defenseless Palestinian refugees in the Sabra and Shatilla refugee camps - could truly be concerned about the Palestinian sense of belonging, identity and right of return. It is obvious that the measure could embolden refugees into demanding full integration into Lebanese society, which would completely undermine the foundation of the sectarian society that the Phalange official stalwartly champions.</p>
<p>But why should Palestinian refugees be humiliated for no fault of their own? Why should they live under the choice that they either suffer under draconian measures or risk losing their right of return? It's like repeatedly punishing the victim for "allowing" his victimhood. The fact is, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, like Palestinian refugees elsewhere are utterly clear regarding their right of return and their adherence to that right. They need not to be fined or jailed for adding a bedroom to their ramshackle homes in the refugee camps. They need not be treated like tenth class citizens to be reminded of their love for Palestine, the names of their destroyed villages, and the memories of their ancestors.</p>
<p>It is ironic how Mr. Gemayel found it implausible to reach a solution regarding the acknowledgment of Palestinian refugees basic rights in three days, while it was astoundingly achievable to butcher thousands of innocent civilians by Phalange forces in 36-48 hours in Sabra and Shatilla on September 16, 1982.</p>
<p>The survivors of those camps, and the rest don't wish to impede the "Christian" parties' bid for demographic and sectarian "balance" in Lebanon. Their home is Palestine and they cannot wait to return. But, until that day arrives, there is no need to deny them the most basic of rights and infringe upon their very dignity. One can only hope that Lebanon's new political development overpowers those who wish to keep the country fragmented, sectarian and forever hostage to the ghosts of its colonial past.</p> | false | 1 | finally parliamentary debate lebanon human rights palestinian refugees unfortunate though granting basic civil rights 400000 palestinians 62 years expulsion historic homeland issuing universal declaration human rights topic debate first place equally regrettable fact various christian lebanese political forces fiercely opposing granting palestinians rights palestinian refugees lebanon second third generation refugees impoverished camps homes ever known palestine real home villages destroyed fields burnt culture eradicated ongoing attempt erasing every aspect palestinian arab identity todays israel continues unabated strengthened rightwing government prime minister benjamin netanyahu foreign minister avigdor lieberman recognized many political circles fascist 62 years dispossession massacres untold hardship failed destroy memory belonging certainly eliminated rightwing politicians parliamentary bills israeli knesset including one forbids palestinians commemorating nakba catastrophe 194748 ongoing debate lebanese parliament however different nature lebanon striving settle many hanging political questions despite israels devastating wars confident lebanese populace emerging largely empowered success lebanese military resistance israel country law order replacing chaos turmoil level political independence making promising appearances decades total political dependency proxy civil wars however want lebanon remain country divided sectarian lines characteristic defined lebanese society generations division could guarantee survival helm dismal clanbased sectarian hierarchy long degraded image country allowed outsiders notwithstanding israel manipulate fragile structure benefit denial rights palestinian refugees lebanon old subject often resurfaces political ploy serve immediate interests time however things seem different lebanon needs move forward denying 400000 people living wretched existence scattered refugee camps surrounding mass graves military checkpoints political horizon whatsoever conducive process political social progress course dread possibility modern lebanon unified one common identity one held hostage sectarian allegiances tribal affiliations want palestinian refugees remain perpetual victims good news bill supported otherwise political rivals lebanese politics saad hariri lebanese prime minister future movement hezbollah amal among others bill introduced progressive socialist party psp june 15 would cancel prohibitions property ownership social security benefits palestinians ease restrictions right work according human rights watch nadim houry hrw director beirut said lebanon marginalized palestinian refugees long parliament seize opportunity turn page end discrimination palestinians indeed opportunity mps free patriotic movement phalange lebanese forces strongly opposing measure phalange official sami gemayel example tried delay measure hoping perhaps deflate strong movement longer tolerates denying palestinian refugees basic rights matter created number crises 60 years could tackled within three days lebanese daily star quoted saying course could help infuse old tired mantra stressing integrating palestinians lebanese society would undermine right return fulfill israeli demand one lebanese could possibly believe phalange official whose party worked israeli forces summer 1982 orchestrate carry killing thousands defenseless palestinian refugees sabra shatilla refugee camps could truly concerned palestinian sense belonging identity right return obvious measure could embolden refugees demanding full integration lebanese society would completely undermine foundation sectarian society phalange official stalwartly champions palestinian refugees humiliated fault live choice either suffer draconian measures risk losing right return like repeatedly punishing victim allowing victimhood fact palestinian refugees lebanon like palestinian refugees elsewhere utterly clear regarding right return adherence right need fined jailed adding bedroom ramshackle homes refugee camps need treated like tenth class citizens reminded love palestine names destroyed villages memories ancestors ironic mr gemayel found implausible reach solution regarding acknowledgment palestinian refugees basic rights three days astoundingly achievable butcher thousands innocent civilians phalange forces 3648 hours sabra shatilla september 16 1982 survivors camps rest dont wish impede christian parties bid demographic sectarian balance lebanon home palestine wait return day arrives need deny basic rights infringe upon dignity one hope lebanons new political development overpowers wish keep country fragmented sectarian forever hostage ghosts colonial past | 583 |
<p>My task is to serve as a springboard for discussion of the economic thought of John Paul II. Even apart from the fact that many people in this room are more qualified than I am, this is a lot to accomplish in 20 minutes. I plan only to touch on some broad themes, letting the Pope speak for himself as much as possible, and close by asking briefly how we might apply the ideas in our daily lives.</p>
<p>Pope John Paul II sees his own contribution as a “renewal” — that is, both a continuation and an updating — of the Church’s modern social thought [Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (SRS), NC Documentary Service, March 3, 1988, 643]. I think his main contributions are, first, a concise reformulation of the Church’s method of analysing social and economic questions, often with the satisfying feel of a well-driven nail; and second, a quickness and surefootedness in taking account of new developments, not only in economic and social conditions, but also in secular economic and social theory.</p>
<p>Historical context. It may seem that encyclicals on economics are abstract, but in fact they are always tied to an analysis of some concrete historical event. The first encyclical of the Church’s modern social thought, in 1891, was called Rerum Novarum — literally, “of new things.” In it, Pope Leo XIII dealt with the social and political problems raised by industrialization. While affirming the right of private property, and predicting the failure of communism, he insisted on the dignity and rights of workers and the need to protect the weakest, by government intervention if necessary. Several subsequent encyclicals further developed and applied this analysis as conditions changed.</p>
<p>In the 1960s, after the decolonization of much of Africa, Asia and Central and South America following the Second World War, the horizons of the Church’s social thought widened to embrace the emerging so-called “Third World.” Moved by the poverty he witnessed on his travels, Pope Paul VI argued in Populorum Progressio (“The Development of Peoples”) that “the social question has become worldwide.”</p>
<p>Leaving aside Laborem Exercens, his encyclical on the dignity and vocation of work, as proper to one of our other panels, Pope John Paul II has published two major encyclicals on economic matters. Both began by looking back at an earlier papal encyclical. Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (“The Church’s Social Concern”) was&#160; published on the 20th anniversary of Populorum Progressio, and was intended to fill “the need for a fuller and more nuanced concept of development” than had previously been put forward. In it, he argued that the terms “poverty” and “development” mean poverty or development of the whole person, not just the economic or political system.</p>
<p>Centesimus Annus, as the title indicates, was issued last year on the 100th anniversary of Rerum Novarum. In it, the pope looks back at what remains valid in the social thought begun in that encyclical, but also takes note of the “new things” which have emerged, such as changes in the nature of Western economies and the collapse of communism. Its particular merit is to bring both strains of the Church’s social thought into a single unified framework.</p>
<p>The flatworm problem. In discussing any encyclical — much less the economic thought of the pope or the Church — we immediately run into a problem. This problem is a symptom of the whole reason why the pope writes about economics in the first place — and why, whatever he writes, it will be widely misunderstood.</p>
<p>The best way I can describe this problem is to borrow an analogy from a physicist, Sir James Jean. Imagine a race of blind worms, limited to the two-dimensional surface of the earth. Such “flatworms” would be unable to explain a rainshower. All they would know is that, now and then, spots of the earth would become wet without any apparent pattern. We, who live in three dimensions, know that the pattern is uniquely determined by events which occur in all three dimensions. But “the worms, unconscious even of the existence of the third dimension…would only be able to discuss the wetness or dryness of minute areas in terms of probabilities, which they would be tempted to treat as ultimate truth” [The Mysterious Universe, 1930, 148].</p>
<p>This parable has been used to explain how we can reconcile modern physics with belief in divine providence. But it’s also a pretty good description of what happens every time the Pope opens his mouth on the subject of economics. Our first impulse is to reduce the latest encyclical to the terms of the current political debate and ask, Whose side is he on? In fact, economics and politics are usually discussed in one dimension — along a single line from Left to Right. Each papal pronouncement is immediately pounced upon to examine where it falls along this continuum.</p>
<p>Invariably, some people wind up quoting selectively to show that the latest encyclical supports their position. For example, Centesimus Annus [(CA) St. Paul Books and Media, 1991] can be quoted to point out that the Church defends the right to private property, the importance of free markets, the legitimacy of self-interest and profit, the importance of saving and investment, the dangers of a bloated welfare state and excessive government spending, and affirms the impossibility of a compromise between Christianity and Marxism.</p>
<p>On the other hand, equally selective quotation could point out that the Pope repeatedly emphasizes the role of trade unions, the Church’s “preferential option for the poor,” the need for government assistance programs and intervention, that he criticizes&#160; “structures of sin” in East and West, “consumerism” and “alienation” in Western society; that he applies to the Third World Pope Leo XIII’s phrase about poverty which is a “yoke little better than slavery itself”; calls for an increased role for the U.N., and “above all a change of lifestyles, of models of production and consumption, and of the established structures of power which today govern societies” [CA, 80].</p>
<p>Some people have thrown up their hands and concluded that the Church is all over the lot. For example, some argued that, in Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, the Pope was preaching the “moral equivalence” of Western democracies and communist dictatorships.</p>
<p>Over the past century, many other well-intentioned but misguided people have concluded that the Church plants itself squarely between extremes and advocates a “third way” — either some hybrid or else a uniquely Catholic brand of economics.</p>
<p>The problem with each of these interpretations is that they try to cram the Church’s social thought into a single dimension, when the whole point of the social doctrine is to insist that economic and political issues always have a moral and spiritual dimension.</p>
<p>In fact, Pope John Paul II has emphasized that “the church does not propose economic and political systems or programs nor does she show preference for one or the other, provided that human dignity is properly respected…. The Church’s social doctrine is not a ‘third way’ between liberal capitalism and Marxist collectivism nor even a possible alternative to other solutions less radically opposed to one another: Rather, it constitutes a category of its own” [SRS, 655].</p>
<p>What is the Pope saying? If I had to pick the three most important themes associated with John Paul II’s economic thought, they would be, first, “the person,” second, “solidarity,” and third, “true freedom.”</p>
<p>The person. The “sole purpose” of the Church’s social thought, the Pope wrote in Centesimus Annus, “has been the care and responsibility for the human person…. This, and this alone, is the principle which inspires the Church’s social doctrine” [CA, 75-6].</p>
<p>The human person is the only creature willed for his own sake, created in God’s image and likeness, whose end is God. From this dignity proceed fundamental rig hts and responsibilities, including certain rights in the economic sphere, such as the right to work to support one’s family, the right of economic initiative, the right to a just or living wage and the right to private property.</p>
<p>The essential difference between an “individual” and a “person” is the fact of relation to others. “According to Rerum Novarum and the whole social doctrine of the Church,” the Pope rights, “the social nature of man is not completely fulfilled in the state, but is realized in various intermediary groups, beginning with the family and including economic, political and cultural groups which stem from human nature itself and have their own autonomy, always with a view to the common good. This is what I have called the ‘subjectivity’ of society…” [CA, 21]. “It is in interrelationships on many levels that a person lives, and that society becomes ‘personalized'” [CA, 70].</p>
<p>Because they “stem from human nature itself,” the right to form groups like the family, trade unions, businesses, and charitable organizations is also fundamental and precedes the State.</p>
<p>Solidarity. Another important theme for John Paul II is “solidarity,” which he has repeatedly emphasized, particularly in Sollicitudo Rei Socialis. Solidarity is the virtue of steadfast commitment to the good of others, based on recognizing their dignity and our interdependence. The pope considers it complementary to subsidiarity. He put the relation between the two succinctly in an “Instruction on Christian Freedom and Liberation”:</p>
<p>“Intimately linked to the foundation, which is man’s dignity, are the principle of solidarity and the principle of subsidiarity.</p>
<p>“By virtue of the first [solidarity], man with his brothers is obliged to contribute to the common good of society at all levels. Hence the Church is opposed to all forms of political individualism.</p>
<p>“By virtue of the second [subsidiarity], neither the State nor any society must ever substitute itself for the initiative and responsibility of individuals and intermediate communities at the level on which they can function, nor must they take away the room necessary for their freedom. Hence the Church is opposed to all forms of collectivism” [Vatican Polyglot Press, 1986, sec. 73].</p>
<p>The government’s proper role is supposed to be “subsidiary” or “helping” to the more primary groups.&#160; But it does so in two ways: indirectly, by creating conditions in which those groups can prosper; and directly, through taxation, spending, regulation and other means.</p>
<p>Moral equivalence? A great deal of confusion has arisen over the years concerning the Church’s parallel criticism of individualism and collectivism. In its broadest sense, the criticism boils down to this: “The individual today is often suffocated between two poles represented by the State and the marketplace. At times it seems as though he exists only as a producer and consumer of goods, or as an object of state administration. People lose sight of the fact that life in society has neither the market nor the State as its final purpose, since life itself has a unique value which the State and the market must serve” [CA, 70-71].</p>
<p>The result is to empty the human person of his dignity. People are treated as means rather than ends, while the pursuit of power or profit becomes the end rather than means of human existence. The extremes would be Marxism or social Darwinism, but the tendency can be found even in the most favorable economic or political system.</p>
<p>“If we then inquire as to the source of this mistaken concept of the nature of the person and the ‘subjectivity’ of society,” the Pope says, “we must reply that its first cause is atheism” [CA 21]. At first glance, this is a surprising statement, coming in the middle of a discussion about economic and political systems. But when you think about it, any ideology which argues that either the State or the market should have no limits must start from the premise that man has no inherent dignity as a creature of God, beyond his political or economic function.</p>
<p>When he criticizes individualism or consumerism, the Pope explains in Centesimus Annus, “These criticisms are directed not so much against an economic system as against an ethical and cultural system. The economy in fact is only one aspect and one dimension of the whole of human activity. If economic life is absolutized, if the production and consumption of goods become the center of social life and society’s only value, not subject to any other value, the reason is to be found not so much in the economic system itself as in the fact that the entire socio-cultural system, by ignoring the ethical and religious dimension, has been weakened, and ends by limiting itself to the production of goods and services alone” [CA, 56-57].</p>
<p>In the same encyclical, the Pope clears up any misunderstanding by posing the question: “Can it perhaps be said that, after the failure of Communism, capitalism is the victorious social system, and that capitalism should be the goal of the countries now making efforts to rebuild their economy and society? Is this the model which ought to be proposed to the countries of the Third World which are searching for the path to true economic and civil progress?”</p>
<p>“The answer is obviously complex,” he continues. “If by ‘capitalism’ is meant an economic system which recognizes the fundamental and positive role of business, the market, private property and the resulting responsibility for the means of production, as well as free human creativity in the economic sector, then the answer is certainly in the affirmative, even though it would perhaps be more appropriate to speak of a ‘business economy,’ ‘market economy,’ or simply ‘free economy.’ But if by ‘capitalism’ is meant a system in which freedom in the economic sector is not circumscribed within a strong juridical framework which places it at the service of human freedom in its totality and sees it as a particular aspect of that freedom, the core of which is ethical and religious, then the reply is certainly negative” [60].</p>
<p>New things in economics. The Pope’s heavy emphasis on the human person has a parallel in recent economic theory, which recognizes that the economic success of a nation or a business today is determined not so much by mere physical quantities of natural resources, labor and capital, as by the technology, knowhow and skill of its people, sensitivity to the needs of employees and customers’ demands for quality, openness to new opportunities, and prevailing institutions and culture.</p>
<p>“Even in recent years it was thought that the poorest countries would develop by isolating themselves from the world market and by depending only on their own resources,” the Pope notes. “Recent experience has shown that countries which did this have suffered stagnation or recession, while the countries which experienced development were those which succeeded in taking part in the general interrelated activities at the international level. It seems therefore that the chief problem is that of gaining fair access to the international market, based not on the unilateral principle of the exploitation of the natural resources of those countries but on the proper use of human resources.” [CA, 48].</p>
<p>True freedom. A final theme of the Pope’s, especially concerning the United States, is his insistence on the connection between freedom and truth. On his two trips to this country, the Pope praised the “ordered freedom” of America’s institutions as conceived by the Founders — based on the idea that people are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.</p>
<p>But he warned against slipping into what he called a “practical atheism.” “In our own day,” he asked, “are we not perhaps witnesses of the fact that often in rich societies, where there is an abundance of material well-being, permissiveness and moral relativism find easy acceptance? And where the moral order is undermined, God is forgotten and questions of ultimate responsibility are set aside. In such situations a practical atheism pervades public and private living” [Homily at Monterey, Sept. 17, 1987].</p>
<p>“The only true freedom, the only freedom that can truly satisfy, is the freedom to do what we ought as human beings created by God according to his plan” [Address to President and Mrs. Reagan, Viscaya, September 10, 1987]. In a sense, he argues that the only true freedom is the freedom to serve others. He specifically mentioned, among others, the poor, homeless, jobless, refugees, migrants, minorities, women, the old, sick or handicapped, and “especially the weakest and most defenseless ones, those as yet unborn” [Farewell in Detroit, September 19, 1987].</p>
<p>The temptation for the United States as a nation, according to the Pope, is “to close in on yourselves, to enjoy the fruits of your own progress and to try to forget about the rest of the world” [Address on Social Justice Issues, Detroit, Sept. 19, 1987]. He suggested that the U.S. role would consist not only of traditional direct efforts like feeding the hungry, but especially “establishing a world order that will create the necessary economic and trade conditions for a more just relationship between all the nations of the world” [Address to President and Mrs. Reagan, Viscaya, September 10, 1987].</p>
<p>How can we apply the ideas? Rather than a party platform, the Church offers a way of thinking about social and economic problems. It does not relieve us of the responsibility of learning disciplines like economics or politics. “The Church has no models to present,” according to the Pope [CA, 61]. “The pre-eminent role…belongs to the laity,” he says, “by the way they live as individuals and as families, by the use of their resources, by their civic activity, by contributing to economic and political decisions and by personal commitment to national and international understandings” [SRS, 657-8].</p>
<p>For those of us who, now and again, have the chance to influence public policy, applying these insights does not involve an unwarranted injection of religion into politics — just as it is no mixing of Church and State to pass laws against stealing and murder, despite the fact that these are forbidden by the Ten Commandments.</p>
<p>And even if your field is not economics, it’s important to appreciate the interconnection of economic and social problems. To take just one example, I’m amazed that no one has drawn the connection between slower growth of the labor force and employment since 1989 and the legalization of abortion about 19 years earlier. (New York and other states legalized abortion in 1970, and Roe vs. Wade followed three years later.) Obviously, there are many other factors at work, too. But it’s equally clear that when we as a nation prevent up to 1-1/2 millions births a year, then 16 to 19 years later the labor force — as well as the number of consumers, savers and investors — will be that much smaller. To date, legalized abortion has guaranteed that our economy will be about 10 percent smaller than otherwise. This is not significant for deciding the question, but the outcome has a large cumulative effect on the economy.</p>
<p>Not all of us are routinely in the position to directly influence public policy, apart from voting and paying our taxes. So rather than push my own favorite policies here in election season, I will conclude by inquiring how an individual — one of us — could try to put these ideas into effect in our daily lives. I think we can get some hints by considering our relationship with others through the basic economic and social groups we mentioned earlier.</p>
<p>The first question we might ask ourselves, though it may seem strange, is whether we enjoy the things we own. The whole idea of property in the Church’s teaching is not just to pay the bills but to create a sphere of personal freedom. G.K. Chesterton once said that a person’s relation to his home or garden should be like an artist’s to his canvas. The paradox is that we spend so much effort acquiring things, which then become invisible to us because we don’t appreciate or take care of them.</p>
<p>Second, do we make choices which threaten our responsibility to support our family or even to make ourselves a burden on others? When a Michael Milken takes over a business with no money down, and expects to get bailed out by rising prices, we call it a leveraged buyout. When you or I buy a house on the same principle, it’s called the American Dream. The state of the economy is beyond our personal control, but at least most of the time, our personal finances are not.</p>
<p>The next level of meeting needs comes from charitable efforts. Government programs are sometimes necessary, but their great disadvantage is that, because they must treat everyone the same, they are impersonal. There’s no subsitute for knowing the person you want to help. Most of us have many opportunities to do just that: volunteering to help someone learn to read, make sandwiches or serve in a soup kitchen, be a phone volunteer for a senior citizens outreach program, take meals to the shut-in or blankets to the homeless, visit those in prison, and so on.</p>
<p>Even when this is hard to do — for example, for parents of small children — we can contribute our money. What about setting a goal of tithing? On average, Americans contribute about 2-1/2 percent to charitable organizations. Tithing would quadruple that, and the money would often be more efficiently used than if the same problems had to be solved by the government. A frequent rule of thumb is to give half of it to your church and the other half to various charitable organizations at home and abroad.</p>
<p>Finally, some of us have at least a partial role in running a business or other association. A business needs to turn a profit, or else it goes out of business. But it is also “a community of persons” who are trying to satisfy their basic needs by performing some service for others [CA, 50]. It is often possible to structure ownership, profit-sharing, or at least decisionmaking so that people can feel they have a full share in that community.</p>
<p>I’m sure we can come up with many more suggestions, and each of the points deserves a much fuller treatment than I have been able to give, but I hope this serves at least as a starting point for our discussion.</p> | false | 1 | task serve springboard discussion economic thought john paul ii even apart fact many people room qualified lot accomplish 20 minutes plan touch broad themes letting pope speak much possible close asking briefly might apply ideas daily lives pope john paul ii sees contribution renewal continuation updating churchs modern social thought sollicitudo rei socialis srs nc documentary service march 3 1988 643 think main contributions first concise reformulation churchs method analysing social economic questions often satisfying feel welldriven nail second quickness surefootedness taking account new developments economic social conditions also secular economic social theory historical context may seem encyclicals economics abstract fact always tied analysis concrete historical event first encyclical churchs modern social thought 1891 called rerum novarum literally new things pope leo xiii dealt social political problems raised industrialization affirming right private property predicting failure communism insisted dignity rights workers need protect weakest government intervention necessary several subsequent encyclicals developed applied analysis conditions changed 1960s decolonization much africa asia central south america following second world war horizons churchs social thought widened embrace emerging socalled third world moved poverty witnessed travels pope paul vi argued populorum progressio development peoples social question become worldwide leaving aside laborem exercens encyclical dignity vocation work proper one panels pope john paul ii published two major encyclicals economic matters began looking back earlier papal encyclical sollicitudo rei socialis churchs social concern was160 published 20th anniversary populorum progressio intended fill need fuller nuanced concept development previously put forward argued terms poverty development mean poverty development whole person economic political system centesimus annus title indicates issued last year 100th anniversary rerum novarum pope looks back remains valid social thought begun encyclical also takes note new things emerged changes nature western economies collapse communism particular merit bring strains churchs social thought single unified framework flatworm problem discussing encyclical much less economic thought pope church immediately run problem problem symptom whole reason pope writes economics first place whatever writes widely misunderstood best way describe problem borrow analogy physicist sir james jean imagine race blind worms limited twodimensional surface earth flatworms would unable explain rainshower would know spots earth would become wet without apparent pattern live three dimensions know pattern uniquely determined events occur three dimensions worms unconscious even existence third dimensionwould able discuss wetness dryness minute areas terms probabilities would tempted treat ultimate truth mysterious universe 1930 148 parable used explain reconcile modern physics belief divine providence also pretty good description happens every time pope opens mouth subject economics first impulse reduce latest encyclical terms current political debate ask whose side fact economics politics usually discussed one dimension along single line left right papal pronouncement immediately pounced upon examine falls along continuum invariably people wind quoting selectively show latest encyclical supports position example centesimus annus ca st paul books media 1991 quoted point church defends right private property importance free markets legitimacy selfinterest profit importance saving investment dangers bloated welfare state excessive government spending affirms impossibility compromise christianity marxism hand equally selective quotation could point pope repeatedly emphasizes role trade unions churchs preferential option poor need government assistance programs intervention criticizes160 structures sin east west consumerism alienation western society applies third world pope leo xiiis phrase poverty yoke little better slavery calls increased role un change lifestyles models production consumption established structures power today govern societies ca 80 people thrown hands concluded church lot example argued sollicitudo rei socialis pope preaching moral equivalence western democracies communist dictatorships past century many wellintentioned misguided people concluded church plants squarely extremes advocates third way either hybrid else uniquely catholic brand economics problem interpretations try cram churchs social thought single dimension whole point social doctrine insist economic political issues always moral spiritual dimension fact pope john paul ii emphasized church propose economic political systems programs show preference one provided human dignity properly respected churchs social doctrine third way liberal capitalism marxist collectivism even possible alternative solutions less radically opposed one another rather constitutes category srs 655 pope saying pick three important themes associated john paul iis economic thought would first person second solidarity third true freedom person sole purpose churchs social thought pope wrote centesimus annus care responsibility human person alone principle inspires churchs social doctrine ca 756 human person creature willed sake created gods image likeness whose end god dignity proceed fundamental rig hts responsibilities including certain rights economic sphere right work support ones family right economic initiative right living wage right private property essential difference individual person fact relation others according rerum novarum whole social doctrine church pope rights social nature man completely fulfilled state realized various intermediary groups beginning family including economic political cultural groups stem human nature autonomy always view common good called subjectivity society ca 21 interrelationships many levels person lives society becomes personalized ca 70 stem human nature right form groups like family trade unions businesses charitable organizations also fundamental precedes state solidarity another important theme john paul ii solidarity repeatedly emphasized particularly sollicitudo rei socialis solidarity virtue steadfast commitment good others based recognizing dignity interdependence pope considers complementary subsidiarity put relation two succinctly instruction christian freedom liberation intimately linked foundation mans dignity principle solidarity principle subsidiarity virtue first solidarity man brothers obliged contribute common good society levels hence church opposed forms political individualism virtue second subsidiarity neither state society must ever substitute initiative responsibility individuals intermediate communities level function must take away room necessary freedom hence church opposed forms collectivism vatican polyglot press 1986 sec 73 governments proper role supposed subsidiary helping primary groups160 two ways indirectly creating conditions groups prosper directly taxation spending regulation means moral equivalence great deal confusion arisen years concerning churchs parallel criticism individualism collectivism broadest sense criticism boils individual today often suffocated two poles represented state marketplace times seems though exists producer consumer goods object state administration people lose sight fact life society neither market state final purpose since life unique value state market must serve ca 7071 result empty human person dignity people treated means rather ends pursuit power profit becomes end rather means human existence extremes would marxism social darwinism tendency found even favorable economic political system inquire source mistaken concept nature person subjectivity society pope says must reply first cause atheism ca 21 first glance surprising statement coming middle discussion economic political systems think ideology argues either state market limits must start premise man inherent dignity creature god beyond political economic function criticizes individualism consumerism pope explains centesimus annus criticisms directed much economic system ethical cultural system economy fact one aspect one dimension whole human activity economic life absolutized production consumption goods become center social life societys value subject value reason found much economic system fact entire sociocultural system ignoring ethical religious dimension weakened ends limiting production goods services alone ca 5657 encyclical pope clears misunderstanding posing question perhaps said failure communism capitalism victorious social system capitalism goal countries making efforts rebuild economy society model ought proposed countries third world searching path true economic civil progress answer obviously complex continues capitalism meant economic system recognizes fundamental positive role business market private property resulting responsibility means production well free human creativity economic sector answer certainly affirmative even though would perhaps appropriate speak business economy market economy simply free economy capitalism meant system freedom economic sector circumscribed within strong juridical framework places service human freedom totality sees particular aspect freedom core ethical religious reply certainly negative 60 new things economics popes heavy emphasis human person parallel recent economic theory recognizes economic success nation business today determined much mere physical quantities natural resources labor capital technology knowhow skill people sensitivity needs employees customers demands quality openness new opportunities prevailing institutions culture even recent years thought poorest countries would develop isolating world market depending resources pope notes recent experience shown countries suffered stagnation recession countries experienced development succeeded taking part general interrelated activities international level seems therefore chief problem gaining fair access international market based unilateral principle exploitation natural resources countries proper use human resources ca 48 true freedom final theme popes especially concerning united states insistence connection freedom truth two trips country pope praised ordered freedom americas institutions conceived founders based idea people endowed creator certain inalienable rights warned slipping called practical atheism day asked perhaps witnesses fact often rich societies abundance material wellbeing permissiveness moral relativism find easy acceptance moral order undermined god forgotten questions ultimate responsibility set aside situations practical atheism pervades public private living homily monterey sept 17 1987 true freedom freedom truly satisfy freedom ought human beings created god according plan address president mrs reagan viscaya september 10 1987 sense argues true freedom freedom serve others specifically mentioned among others poor homeless jobless refugees migrants minorities women old sick handicapped especially weakest defenseless ones yet unborn farewell detroit september 19 1987 temptation united states nation according pope close enjoy fruits progress try forget rest world address social justice issues detroit sept 19 1987 suggested us role would consist traditional direct efforts like feeding hungry especially establishing world order create necessary economic trade conditions relationship nations world address president mrs reagan viscaya september 10 1987 apply ideas rather party platform church offers way thinking social economic problems relieve us responsibility learning disciplines like economics politics church models present according pope ca 61 preeminent rolebelongs laity says way live individuals families use resources civic activity contributing economic political decisions personal commitment national international understandings srs 6578 us chance influence public policy applying insights involve unwarranted injection religion politics mixing church state pass laws stealing murder despite fact forbidden ten commandments even field economics important appreciate interconnection economic social problems take one example im amazed one drawn connection slower growth labor force employment since 1989 legalization abortion 19 years earlier new york states legalized abortion 1970 roe vs wade followed three years later obviously many factors work equally clear nation prevent 112 millions births year 16 19 years later labor force well number consumers savers investors much smaller date legalized abortion guaranteed economy 10 percent smaller otherwise significant deciding question outcome large cumulative effect economy us routinely position directly influence public policy apart voting paying taxes rather push favorite policies election season conclude inquiring individual one us could try put ideas effect daily lives think get hints considering relationship others basic economic social groups mentioned earlier first question might ask though may seem strange whether enjoy things whole idea property churchs teaching pay bills create sphere personal freedom gk chesterton said persons relation home garden like artists canvas paradox spend much effort acquiring things become invisible us dont appreciate take care second make choices threaten responsibility support family even make burden others michael milken takes business money expects get bailed rising prices call leveraged buyout buy house principle called american dream state economy beyond personal control least time personal finances next level meeting needs comes charitable efforts government programs sometimes necessary great disadvantage must treat everyone impersonal theres subsitute knowing person want help us many opportunities volunteering help someone learn read make sandwiches serve soup kitchen phone volunteer senior citizens outreach program take meals shutin blankets homeless visit prison even hard example parents small children contribute money setting goal tithing average americans contribute 212 percent charitable organizations tithing would quadruple money would often efficiently used problems solved government frequent rule thumb give half church half various charitable organizations home abroad finally us least partial role running business association business needs turn profit else goes business also community persons trying satisfy basic needs performing service others ca 50 often possible structure ownership profitsharing least decisionmaking people feel full share community im sure come many suggestions points deserves much fuller treatment able give hope serves least starting point discussion | 1,926 |
<p>Here’s some rare insight into how the US corporate war machine invented Islam as the new Enemy</p>
<p>So this is how the cookie crumbles.&#160; From burning books to butchering babies, it seems everything is fair game as the victors near their tether. Four years after Barack Hussein Obama offered a “new way forward”, the gulf between America and world’s Muslims is at its widest.</p>
<p>The horrific details of the Panjwai massacre, with first person accounts recounting how brave US soldiers coolly went about raping women and killing sleeping children and later setting them on fire, have poured fuel over a land already ablaze.&#160; Obama has condemned the massacre but chose to describe it as “an isolated incident.”</p>
<p>Is it really now? Why do I feel we have been here before? From bombing wedding parties to striking funeral processions and even cemeteries, there’s been a long trail of such ‘isolated incidents.’</p>
<p>Interestingly, the latest in Yankee shenanigans coincides with a groundbreaking book that seeks to make sense of Uncle Sam’s worldview. Andrew Alexander’s <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006WV3CCE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=forepolijour-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B006WV3CCE" type="external">America and the Imperialism of Ignorance</a> is a damning critique of the US foreign policy over the past six decades and offers a cogent analysis of the military-industrial complex mindset that commands and dictates the actions of the most powerful nation on the planet.</p>
<p>Armed with facts and arguing from a historical perspective, the Daily Mail columnist elucidates how America and the West spent trillions of dollars in taxpayer’s money for decades in fighting—or pretending to fight—an enemy whose threat proportions, intentions, and capabilities were ludicrously exaggerated to justify the absurdly inflated defense budgets and militarization of the US and Europe.</p>
<p>During the Cold war, Europe and virtually the whole world was divided into two perpetually bickering camps with everyone being forced to take sides.&#160;&#160; Germany was split between the two camps with Berlin, divided by that obscene wall, becoming the theater of the proxy war and intrigues and machinations of the two superpowers.</p>
<p>The proxy war was only part of the story.&#160; For nearly half a century the world teetered on the edge of a nuclear catastrophe as the US-NATO and Soviet nuclear arsenals targeted each other, promising assured destruction of life on the planet in a matter of minutes.&#160;&#160; Scores of millions of soldiers and gigantic war machines on either side remained in perpetual battle mode, ever ready to annihilate each other.</p>
<p>Alexander argues that all that could have been avoided and was totally avoidable as the Russians never posed a serious threat to the West. For all his savagery towards his own people, sending tens of thousands of them to their death in Siberia, Stalin knew his limits and had no intentions of stepping out of eastern Europe to take on the West.</p>
<p>If it weren’t for America’s “imperial ignorance,” suggests Alexander, “coupled with its arrogance and immense naivety,” the world would have been a safer place and would never have witnessed the dangerous uncertainty that it did during the Cold war years, constantly living under the shadow of a nuclear cloud.</p>
<p>President Truman, the small town politician who found himself into the big shoes of the visionary Roosevelt on his death, ignored the close partnership of the US, Soviet Union and Britain during the World War II as they took on Hitler’s Germany, to conjure up a Soviet Armageddon and the fantasy of red tide flooding the world.&#160; (By the way, it was Truman who defying his advisers and global public opinion rushed to recognize the new state of Israel on the Palestinian land.)</p>
<p>So from the end of the World War II to the disintegration of Soviet Union and Eastern bloc, it was America’s awesome power coupled with its paranoia that made the world a much more dangerous place than it ought to have been, posits Alexander.</p>
<p>You would think this would have changed with the end of the Cold war and the elimination of the threat that the “evil empire” allegedly posed. But two decades after the Cold war ended, the US and Russia are yet to stand down and eliminate the deadly payload at their disposal, even a quarter of which is enough to destroy the planet many times over.</p>
<p>What is more, trillions of dollars in taxpayer’s money continue to be poured into the bottomless pit that is America’s all-consuming war machine, which now lords over the whole planet with military bases and presence in almost all parts of the world.&#160; America’s war hasn’t stopped for a moment since it stepped out of its borders to join the Great War.</p>
<p>First, it was Communism. Now the Enemy is Islam, or Islamist terrorism, as the euphemism goes. With the demise of the Soviet Union and the worldview that it represented, the military industrial complex and the gargantuan corporate war industry needed a new enemy and where none existed they had to invent one to justify their existence.&#160; Which Samuel Huntington promptly did it for them, fashioning Islam as the new enemy of the West.&#160; And the 9/11 attacks provided the ready excuse.</p>
<p>So as part of this constant tilting at the windmills, Washington had to invent Saddam Hussein’s Weapons of Mass Destruction. The tyrant who had to crawl into a hole to save himself when they came for him was painted as the greatest threat to the civilized world. And it’s no coincidence that soon after the ‘shock and awe’ of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the target shifted next door with the talk of Tehran’s mythical nukes targeting Europe and America’s allies in the Middle East.</p>
<p>Predictably, the first major deal that the free and democratic Iraq has clinched is the purchase of 36 F16 fighter jets from its benefactor at a cost of $6 billion dollars even as the war weary people are still yearning for luxuries like clean water, electricity, schools, hospitals and, above all, security. There will be more such business opportunities tomorrow if the much sanctioned Iran goes the Iraq way after Washington and Israel are done playing good cop-bad cop. Meanwhile, with the constant talk of Iran’s military ambitions, nervous neighbors are goaded into buying more and more military junk from you know who.</p>
<p>Alexander explains it all as the “imperial ignorance.” But is it ignorance? It’s more like imperial hubris combined with single-minded, old-fashioned pursuit of commerce. Uncle Sam, or the corporate military machine that drives him, knows full well what is going on. &#160;In the end, it all comes down to business.&#160; And there’s nothing like a good war in distant lands to drive your business and fill your coffers, consequences for the rest of the world be damned.</p>
<p>Most reasonable people, including those in the West, know that it’s not “Islamist terrorism” but unfair Western policies and wars that gave birth to groups like Al Qaeda and are the real threat and impediment to world peace.</p>
<p>“The American folk hero is the swaggering gunman. Let loose in the wider world, he is a threat to peace,” says the veteran British foreign affairs commentator, urging Britain and Europe to intervene. “It is our duty to warn him off this course, not trail along in his wake.”</p>
<p>You would think old Europe would do that after all that it lived through in the last century. However, instead of talking some sense into their Atlantic cousin, they joined in the fun.&#160; Clearly, the two disastrous Wars weren’t enough to teach the continent the right lessons.</p> | false | 1 | heres rare insight us corporate war machine invented islam new enemy cookie crumbles160 burning books butchering babies seems everything fair game victors near tether four years barack hussein obama offered new way forward gulf america worlds muslims widest horrific details panjwai massacre first person accounts recounting brave us soldiers coolly went raping women killing sleeping children later setting fire poured fuel land already ablaze160 obama condemned massacre chose describe isolated incident really feel bombing wedding parties striking funeral processions even cemeteries theres long trail isolated incidents interestingly latest yankee shenanigans coincides groundbreaking book seeks make sense uncle sams worldview andrew alexanders america imperialism ignorance damning critique us foreign policy past six decades offers cogent analysis militaryindustrial complex mindset commands dictates actions powerful nation planet armed facts arguing historical perspective daily mail columnist elucidates america west spent trillions dollars taxpayers money decades fightingor pretending fightan enemy whose threat proportions intentions capabilities ludicrously exaggerated justify absurdly inflated defense budgets militarization us europe cold war europe virtually whole world divided two perpetually bickering camps everyone forced take sides160160 germany split two camps berlin divided obscene wall becoming theater proxy war intrigues machinations two superpowers proxy war part story160 nearly half century world teetered edge nuclear catastrophe usnato soviet nuclear arsenals targeted promising assured destruction life planet matter minutes160160 scores millions soldiers gigantic war machines either side remained perpetual battle mode ever ready annihilate alexander argues could avoided totally avoidable russians never posed serious threat west savagery towards people sending tens thousands death siberia stalin knew limits intentions stepping eastern europe take west werent americas imperial ignorance suggests alexander coupled arrogance immense naivety world would safer place would never witnessed dangerous uncertainty cold war years constantly living shadow nuclear cloud president truman small town politician found big shoes visionary roosevelt death ignored close partnership us soviet union britain world war ii took hitlers germany conjure soviet armageddon fantasy red tide flooding world160 way truman defying advisers global public opinion rushed recognize new state israel palestinian land end world war ii disintegration soviet union eastern bloc americas awesome power coupled paranoia made world much dangerous place ought posits alexander would think would changed end cold war elimination threat evil empire allegedly posed two decades cold war ended us russia yet stand eliminate deadly payload disposal even quarter enough destroy planet many times trillions dollars taxpayers money continue poured bottomless pit americas allconsuming war machine lords whole planet military bases presence almost parts world160 americas war hasnt stopped moment since stepped borders join great war first communism enemy islam islamist terrorism euphemism goes demise soviet union worldview represented military industrial complex gargantuan corporate war industry needed new enemy none existed invent one justify existence160 samuel huntington promptly fashioning islam new enemy west160 911 attacks provided ready excuse part constant tilting windmills washington invent saddam husseins weapons mass destruction tyrant crawl hole save came painted greatest threat civilized world coincidence soon shock awe operation iraqi freedom target shifted next door talk tehrans mythical nukes targeting europe americas allies middle east predictably first major deal free democratic iraq clinched purchase 36 f16 fighter jets benefactor cost 6 billion dollars even war weary people still yearning luxuries like clean water electricity schools hospitals security business opportunities tomorrow much sanctioned iran goes iraq way washington israel done playing good copbad cop meanwhile constant talk irans military ambitions nervous neighbors goaded buying military junk know alexander explains imperial ignorance ignorance like imperial hubris combined singleminded oldfashioned pursuit commerce uncle sam corporate military machine drives knows full well going 160in end comes business160 theres nothing like good war distant lands drive business fill coffers consequences rest world damned reasonable people including west know islamist terrorism unfair western policies wars gave birth groups like al qaeda real threat impediment world peace american folk hero swaggering gunman let loose wider world threat peace says veteran british foreign affairs commentator urging britain europe intervene duty warn course trail along wake would think old europe would lived last century however instead talking sense atlantic cousin joined fun160 clearly two disastrous wars werent enough teach continent right lessons | 681 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.