Washington Post: "Kim Jong Il, the North Korean leader who threatened the world with his nuclear weapons ambitions and suppressed his own people with imprisonment and isolation, left in the wake of his death Saturday an antiquated country with a power vacuum."
Fond Farewells: Sargent Shriver
Mark Shriver: "For all the great things my father did — creating the Peace Corps; running the War on Poverty, including Head Start and other programs; helping my mother grow the Special Olympics; fighting in World War II and being wounded in battle; working for interracial justice — I was most amazed that he rarely … Continue reading Fond Farewells: Sargent Shriver
Christian Bale roughed up attempting to visit Chen Guangcheng
Daily Mail: "Hollywood actor Christian Bale was manhandled and roughed up by Chinese security guards as he tried to visit a blind legal activist whose detention has sparked international outcry. Bale, joined by a camera crew from CNN, was confronted by four men dressed in plain clothes as he tried to visit Chen Guangcheng who … Continue reading Christian Bale roughed up attempting to visit Chen Guangcheng
Syria's War Against Children
Max Fisher: "The violence in Syria has worsened dramatically and consistently since August. Shadia's story, typical of late summer and early fall violence there, was documented in a report by Human Rights Watch, one of several human rights reports that tell many such stories from the government's crackdown against civilians, often whether they are protesters … Continue reading Syria's War Against Children
HHS, Plan B & Scientism
Michael Sean Winters: "This is not science but scientism, the idea that philosophic questions of values, concern for the uniqueness of each individual and their familial and social circumstances, the ethical belief that there are things that can be done but which ought not to be done, all are swept away because some lab technician … Continue reading HHS, Plan B & Scientism
'Obamacare' to the rescue
Spike Dolomite Ward: "If you are fortunate enough to still be employed and have insurance through your employers, you may feel insulated from the sufferings of people like me right now. But things can change abruptly. If you still have a good job with insurance, that doesn't mean that you're better than me, more deserving … Continue reading 'Obamacare' to the rescue
Obama administration refuses to relax Plan B restrictions
Washington Post: "The Obama administration stunned women’s health advocates and abortion opponents alike Wednesday by rejecting a request to let anyone of any age buy the controversial morning-after pill Plan B directly off drugstore and supermarket shelves. For what the Food and Drug Administration thinks is the first time, the Department of Health and Human … Continue reading Obama administration refuses to relax Plan B restrictions
The Pope’s strong stance against the death penalty
Sister Helen Prejean: "Today, the Pope made one of his strongest statements in support of the elimination of the death penalty. He was addressing the members of the wonderful Catholic Sant’Egidio Community on the theme “No Justice Without Life”, when he said that he supports political actions around the world aimed at eliminating the death … Continue reading The Pope’s strong stance against the death penalty
No Retreat in the Fight Against AIDS
George W. Bush: "The creation of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis in 2002, and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) in 2003, tested the proposition that large-scale treatment, prevention and compassionate care could be done in nations with weak health systems. Some were skeptical, particularly about the possibility of … Continue reading No Retreat in the Fight Against AIDS
Group brings pro-life voice to Democratic Party
Michael Sean Winters: "Democrats for Life’s efforts work in two directions. On the one hand, it tries to convince the bigwigs in the Democratic Party to be more open to pro-life concerns. A 2009 Pew Survey indicated that 31 percent of all Democrats believe abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, and 57 … Continue reading Group brings pro-life voice to Democratic Party
The Whole Life Democrat 