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"Wincing at oft repeated lies": in memory of Dennis Bru…
Colin Penter "Always keep a Diamond in your mind" | December 31st 2009 by colin penter
"Somehow we survive and tenderness, frustrated does not wither. Investigating searchlights rake our naked unprotected contours... boots club the peeling door.But somehow we surviveseverance, deprivation, loss.Patrols uncoil along the asphalt darkhiss read more
Bible Forbids Charging Excessive Interest Rates
Kansas Free Press | December 31st 2009 by Everyday Citizen
GREAT BEND, Kan. - Sometimes something is right in front of your face, and you don't notice it. The Bible repeatedly warns against the sin of "usury" - of charging excessive interest rates. There was a historic consensus among Judaism, Christianity, read more
Inspiring people working for justice in 2009
Colin Penter "Always keep a Diamond in your mind" | December 31st 2009 by colin penter
In the UK Independent Johann Hari has written an uplifting piece about six of the most inspiring people of 2009. One of the people Hari writes about is Malalai Joya the youngest woman ever to be elected in Afghanistan, who I wrote about in an earlier read more
SCHMUCK OF YEAR AWARDS
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 31st 2009 by Fred Stopsky
Each year we award the accolade of being a grand Schmuck to those who performed as idiots during 2009. The Republican Party in Congress deserves a double Schmuck for its inability to offer a single constructive idea and being frozen in a “no read more
“Honor” Killing In Germany
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 31st 2009 by Fred Stopsky
There is something perverse about use of the word, “honor” to describe a father or brother or cousin who decides to kill a fellow family member because of some alleged horrible crime such as dating someone not of the group or getting marr read more
Human Rights Takes Xmas Vacation In Russia
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 31st 2009 by Fred Stopsky
Perhaps, our headline is not exactly correct in claiming human rights took a vacation during the Christmas holidays. A more accurate headline would state human rights has been on a long term vacation in Russia. The death of Sergei Magnitsky has arous read more
Further Gasps Of Reform Protests In Iran
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 31st 2009 by Fred Stopsky
Thousands gathered in the streets of Iranian cities to remember the storming of the American Embassy thirty years ago. Even as cries of “death to America” were heard, reform supporters chanted their own slogans of “down with the dic read more
Keystone Cops Run American Security
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 31st 2009 by Fred Stopsky
Anyone who has ever served in the military of any nation in the world quickly comes to understand that when people are placed in charge of securing the safety of a country, incompetence and stupidity will soon appear. The recent example of Nigerian F read more
Teaching Ethics To Soldiers- How To Do It?
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 31st 2009 by Fred Stopsky
Leaders of the American armed forces are rethinking military strategy, but they increasingly have become aware the most critical aspect of developing new approaches to fighting wars is to have those in command who are bound by ethical imperatives. T read more
Death In China Of A Disturbed Human
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 30th 2009 by Fred Stopsky
He was a man who had difficulty in dealing with life issues and most probably never dreamed his life would some day become a center of world wide controversy. Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued a strong condemnation of the execution of Akmail Shaikh, read more
Why Do Intelligent People Become Brain Dead In Office?
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 30th 2009 by Fred Stopsky
There is something about selecting a supposedly intelligent person to serve in the American government which elicits within their brain cells some rather hectic activity resulting in a form of brain paralysis. Director of Homeland Security Janet Napo read more
Xmas In Sweden- Hit The Rails, Walk, That Is
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 30th 2009 by Fred Stopsky
It was a winter day in Sweden when five young boys who had just been smuggled into the country from Afghanistan decided to get on a train and head some place where they might find safety and a place to sleep. A train agent inquired about their ticket read more
Yell “Terrorism” When Nothing Else Works!
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 30th 2009 by Fred Stopsky
I am an American who has spent eight years hearing the expression, “terrorist” used and abused by those in government who do not wish those with differing opinions to speak freely. An Ankara court has issued an order to four former member read more
Israel Wants Negotiations On Its Terms
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 30th 2009 by Fred Stopsky
The impasse on negotiations between Israel and Palestinians continues and attempts by the Egyptian government to jump start talks has failed. The bottom line is the Israel government wants to continue expanding settlements on the West Bank even as it read more
Greece Greases Road Of Corruption
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 30th 2009 by Fred Stopsky
The Greek government has followed an unusual path to economic success–be incompetent, allow corruption to flow, and bank on not the banks, but on the generosity of the European Union to bail out any effort to avoid governing in a responsible ma read more
Human Rights Activists Die Mysteriously In China
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 30th 2009 by Fred Stopsky
Four years ago a Hong Kong magazine displayed the photos of 14 Chinese human rights defenders and hailed them for their fight to establish the basis of human rights in Communist China. Instead of being hailed for their efforts, there has been an ongo read more
Afghan Civilian Deaths Increase -Due To Taliban
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 30th 2009 by Fred Stopsky
The American military and its Coalition allies have been preaching the necessity of avoiding the killing of civilians if the conflict in Afghanistan is to improve. Latest UN figures indicate this emphasis has finally impacted those in fighting areas. read more
Kurds Protest In Turkey
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 30th 2009 by Fred Stopsky
The ongoing saga of the fight by Kurds to be treated with respect in Turkey goes on and on without any semblance of reality on the part of the government. Hundreds of Kurds protested over the recent arrest of dozens of Kurds by the government on char read more
Government Taking
Pond'rings | December 30th 2009 by Russ White
This story has been circulating on the Internet for some time—I don’t know who originated it, but I found a copy over at Family Security Matters. Once upon a time, I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President. I a read more
Shalom Makers: Development in the Way of Christ – A More Human(…
Dream Awakener's New Blog | December 29th 2009
The New York Times on the New Art of Flickr Originally uploaded by Thomas Hawk You can check out the outline to connect to the previous sections of this essay. We are in the second section entitle A More Human(e) way. Living in Truth Wherever It read more
If You Want To Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation
Global Patriot | December 29th 2009 by Mark Lovett
I’m not Catholic by any stretch, and have often been quite critical of Rome’s actions over the centuries, but this message from Pope Benedict XVI, written in honor of the Celebration of the World Day of Peace, January 1st 2010, was impres read more
Shalom Makers: Development in the Way of Christ – A More Human(…
Dream Awakener's New Blog | December 29th 2009
The New York Times on the New Art of Flickr Originally uploaded by Thomas Hawk Check out the outline, introduction, the philosophical, ethical and practical reasons for separation first, and practical reasons for separation first, and then you w read more
HEADLINES FROM THE WORLD PRESS
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 29th 2009 by Fred Stopsky
Each day we offer a sample of headlines that appeared in the world press along with our comments. Copenhagen Post: “Busy Xmas Criminals” The Scrooge gang was very busy. Indonesia, Jakarta Post: “Canada Bans Carry On Luggage& read more
Want A High-Head For Czech Republic
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 29th 2009 by Fred Stopsky
There are nations which are uptight concerning the use of drugs, and there is the Czech Republic which desires people to enjoy themselves and live it up. Under new regulations those in the Czech Republic will be allowed to possess up to 15 grams of m read more
Religious Hatred Kills Dozens In Pakistan
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 29th 2009 by Fred Stopsky
It is about four hundred years since Christians engaged in slaughter of one another in the name of truth and God. Muslims today apparently have never learned anything from past religious conflict and prefer to kill one another in the name of truth an read more
It’s Not Gay To Be Gay In Malawi
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 29th 2009 by Fred Stopsky
Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza met one day and fell in love, but they live in the nation of Malawi which frowns on humans of the same gender falling in love, let alone deciding to get married. As Mr. Monjeza put it, “we met in church wh read more
Iranian Thugs Continue Assault On The Innocent
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 29th 2009 by Fred Stopsky
The totalitarian state only knows one way to deal with those who oppose its ideas– the batons of brutality. Iranian security forces arrested more than a dozen dissidents after demonstrations that left at least eight dead on the streets of Irani read more
Security Promises Of Xmas
The Impudent Observer - Global Liberal Issues | December 29th 2009 by Fred Stopsky
Eight long years ago, then President George Bush and the dynamic duo of Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld promised the American people they would capture Osama bin Laden, “Dead or Alive.” Of course, within a few weeks after making the bold cla read more
Stories that don't make it into the corporate media
Colin Penter "Always keep a Diamond in your mind" | December 28th 2009 by colin penter
Project Censored is a USA based media research program that investigates stories ignored by the mainstream media. It has recently published an investigative piece documenting how links between US media corporations and the defense industry shapes med read more
And Now For Something Completely Different: Traffic
Science & Soul | December 28th 2009
I decided to mix things up a bit around here. Instead of my normal news post, I will be writing a story. I hope you enjoy. We started this whole operation almost five years ago. We set up a front: a small exotic pet store which specialized in c read more
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