The War Stampede

Disputes are raging within the Obama administration over how to continue the US war effort in Afghanistan. A new leak tells us that Washington's ambassador in Kabul, former four-star Gen. Karl Eikenberry, has cautioned against adding more troops while President Hamid Karzai keeps disappointing American policymakers. This is the extent of the current debate within the warfare state.

During a top-level meeting Wednesday afternoon in the White House, The Washington Post reports, President Obama

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Abortion Amendment May Sink Health Care Bill

An amendment prohibiting both private and public health insurance plans which accept government subsidies from offering abortions as part of basic coverage risks sinking the fragile health bill passed Saturday, as President Obama and numerous Democrats say they will not support its passage with the Stupak-Pitts amendment included.

House Democrats and advocates opposing the amendment fear it would put lower- and middle-income women, those most likely to use a public option and subsidized private plans,

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Religion and Economics

This essay was presented to the Claremont Democratic Club, May 8, 2009, but originally prepared for a talk at California State University at Northridge, California. Permission granted by the author.       

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Why Holocaust Denial Is on the Rise in the Arab World

What pushes Arabs to deny the existence of the Holocaust? How and why does Israel continue to instrumentalize the memory of the destruction of European Jewry? What was the attitude of Arab intellectuals during the Second World War? Why does Ahmadinejad incessantly brandish the denial weapon while Hamas and Hezbollah turn away from it? Mediapart published an exclusive extract from the book, "Les Arabes et la Shoah" [Arabs and the Holocaust] (éditions Actes Sud/Sindbad, 2009), that came out Wednesday, October 14.

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A Warming Trend Despite Maine's Icy Outcome

     Maine will go down in the history books as the gay heartbreaker of Election Day 2009: Voters vetoed gay marriage even though it had won the approval of their state legislature and governor.

    But elsewhere there were positive reminders of just how quickly the gay movement is progressing, even at the ballot box. This election also underscores how critical it is for those of us who are gay or gay-friendly to be out in all aspects of our lives -- not just with some relatives or a few colleagues.

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The False Choice

Boston - It was one of those small shocks that come unexpectedly in the wake of a death. Just days after the country had buried Ted Kennedy, Cardinal Sean O'Malley took to his blog to defend himself from critics attacking him for presiding over the funeral of a pro-choice senator.

The cardinal called for civility and then went on to explain how he'd used the occasion to lobby one of the mourners: the president of the United States. He told Barack Obama that, yes, the Catholic bishops wanted universal health care but "we will not support a plan that will include a provision for abortion or could open the way to abortions in the future."

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Fear and Loathing in the Wake of Fort Hood

It should not come as a surprise to us that a US Army psychiatrist, stationed at a military base where soldiers come and go to fight in irrational and pointless wars, [allegedly] killed 13 people and left 30 others wounded, as happened Thursday, November 5, at Fort Hood, Texas.

These wars themselves are insane, and the US military practice of plucking people from Hispanic, African-American, other minority and poor white communities to send them off to fight for "freedom," offering them the promise of a "brighter future," is abusive, offensive and harmful to the health of this nation and this world.

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The New Wall

Mother, do you think they'll drop the bomb?
Mother, do you think they'll like this song?
Mother, do you think they'll try to break my balls?
Mother, should I build the wall?

Mother, should I run for President?
Mother, should I trust the government?
Mother, will they put me in the firing line?
Is it just a waste of time?

- Pink Floyd

My eighteenth birthday fell on November 9, 1989. I woke that morning and came downstairs with three simple tasks to achieve: go to school, eat some birthday cake, and go to the Post Office to register for the Selective Service as required by law.

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Gay Rights Go Global

London - A new bill before the Ugandan parliament proposes the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” and “serial offenders.” A sentence of life imprisonment will be imposed for touching a person with homosexual intent. Membership in gay organizations, advocacy of gay human rights and the provision of condoms or safer sex advice to gay people will result in seven years jail for “promoting” homosexuality. Failing to report violators to the police within 24 hours would incur three years behind bars.

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When a Parent Is Away at War

In honor of Veterans Day.

Veterans Day is a time to honor those who have served our country. For clinicians at Children’s Hospital Boston, it’s also a time to think about the children whose parents are away from home, serving their country. What does having a parent at war mean for a child? We talked to Children’s psychiatrist Stuart Goldman, MD, about how to help a child cope with this stressful time.

What impact does having a parent away at war have on a child?

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