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Category Archives: United States
Jewish Identity in America
I occasionally pick up The Jerusalem Post at the famous out-of-town newspaper kiosk on Harvard Square (for ongoing news about the Middle East I rely on its very informative sister publication The Jerusalem Report). In the current international edition my … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Judaism, United States
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In Defense of a Commercialized Christmas
Many retail stores depend on Christmas shopping for their survival. Economists tell us that the current uptick of this seasonal shopping is good news for the recovery from the recession. Christian clergy and secular culture critics tend to have a … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, Culture, Europe, United States
5 Comments
Afrobeat on a London Stage
I was in London last week, for a reason totally unrelated to the topic of this blog entry. Dr. Johnson famously observed that, if you are tired of London, you are tired of life. I tend to agree. Part of … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Europe, Sociology, United States
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Interfaith Kumbaya?
A few days before Thanksgiving The New York Times carried a brief report about a pre-holiday interfaith breakfast in Westchester County, the affluent suburban area just north of New York City. It was convened by Rabbi Mark Sameth, known as … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Hinduism, Inter-faith Dialogue, United States
9 Comments
Another Limit to Freedom of Speech
The Supreme Court this week heard a case which raises the issue of possible limits to the freedom of speech in the sharpest possible way. I had not been aware of this case until I first read about it last … Continue reading
Posted in Morality, Religion, Secularism, United States
2 Comments
Three Cheers for Kansas
In 2004 Thomas Frank, a liberal journalist and writer, published a book entitled What’s the Matter with Kansas? He was trying to explain why some people, notably in Kansas, voted Republican in obvious defiance of reason and morality. In this … Continue reading
Posted in Religion, United States
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The Buddha and the Gallows
On August 28, 2010, The New York Times had a story about a tour for journalists of the major execution chamber in Tokyo. The tour was initiated by Keiko Chiba, the minister of justice, who is personally opposed to the … Continue reading
Posted in Asia, Europe, Morality, United States
4 Comments
