http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php opinion, editorial, religion, life en Copyright 2007 2007-12-17T16:34:01-08:00 http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/new_in_both_sides_now_and_whos_out_there_anyway/ http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/new_in_both_sides_now_and_whos_out_there_anyway/#When:16:34:01Z We have some new commentary in Both Sides Now and the opening of a (yes, yet another) new section of Human Beams, which I think will be pretty fun, with your help. I’ll tell about it towards the end of this post.  First the articles - Kuwait: The Sky’s Policy Amira Al Hussaini, of Global Voices Online, translates from Arabic an interesting and somewhat philosophical post by Kuwaiti blogger Ma6goog that deals with good and evil, childhood stories, beliefs in black and white, the Quran and more. Well worth reading (and, as an aside, isn’t Arabic a lovely written language? It seems one learns art from the cradle, simply by learning to write). Dave E. writes a Letter to the U.S. Congress, - he’s not just concerned about the last 6 years of horrendous policy, but at least the last 20. Using historical, international examples, he attempts to highlight what has worked in the past… and what has never worked, no matter who has tried it. An excellent, informative read and I commend the effort, but I’m fairly certain that most elected official’s concepts of past, present and future are only measured in distances between elections. Could It Be Africa’s Greatest Danger? The climate conference in Bali just ended BothSidesNow 2007-12-17T16:34:01-08:00 http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/kuwait_the_skys_policy/ http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/kuwait_the_skys_policy/#When:19:48:00Z Amira Al Hussaini, of Global Voices Online, gives us a look at Kuwaiti blogger Ma6goog (Ar), who she says “is looking for the grey areas in our perception of good and evil and the struggle between black and white. Is there an absolute good and evil? Or is it the fusion of both which makes people the way they are. Also, how are stories from our childhood shaping the ideologies of Kuwaitis today?” Articles & Commentary 2007-12-16T19:48:00-08:00 http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/could_it_be_africas_greatest_danger/ http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/could_it_be_africas_greatest_danger/#When:19:10:00Z Africa, the poorest continent and the least consumer, will suffer most due to Climate Change. Climate Change, which now, most scientists agree - has been in some ways, caused by the excesses and greed of the industrialised, rich world. Articles & Commentary 2007-12-16T19:10:00-08:00 http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/open_letter_to_congress/ http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/open_letter_to_congress/#When:15:53:00Z I am writing because of my deep concern over the course of American policy over the last six years especially and the last twenty in general that I feel have not been beneficial to the United States at large. I am neither a politician nor a soldier but a concerned citizen. Therefore, as this letter is informal, not academic work with citations. I would not take this as a statement of academic dishonesty so much as that I really am just a regular person with an agenda and a viewpoint - the long term benefit of our nation.  Articles & Commentary 2007-12-16T15:53:00-08:00 http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/bsn0707bernstein_ideals_of_justice_lost/ http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/bsn0707bernstein_ideals_of_justice_lost/#When:07:37:00Z It has been decades since the most privileged members of society — corporations, the wealthy, white people who want to attend school with other whites — have had such a successful Supreme Court term. Society’s have-nots were not the only losers. The basic ideals of American justice lost as well. Bernstein_Kenneth, BothSidesNow, Articles & Commentary 2007-07-09T07:37:00-08:00 http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/bsn0707laws_dinner_with_peter_singer/ http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/bsn0707laws_dinner_with_peter_singer/#When:07:31:01Z Recently, I had the opportunity to eat, drink and make moral calculations with philosopher Peter Singer. The average person might think hanging out with a philosopher—even a renowned and accomplished one—would be a non-event or cause a pain in the brain, as in the soreness that can develop after a college class of induction, deduction and cerebral gymnastics. But as a lifelong fiancée of philosophy, I was thrilled that Dr. Singer agreed to meet with me. Laws_Charlotte, BothSidesNow, Articles & Commentary 2007-07-09T07:31:01-08:00 http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/bsn0707miller_life_liberty_pursuit/ http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/bsn0707miller_life_liberty_pursuit/#When:07:21:01Z While it certainly was not his intent, Adams’ assertion serves to remind us of a truth revealed by vast oceans of tears, torrential rivers of blood, and formidable piles of human remains. Leaving murder, mayhem, and misery in its wake, America does “go abroad,” but not, as Adams noted, “in search of monsters to destroy.” What Adams failed to perceive, despite living in the midst of the Native American genocide and the abject evil of chattel slavery, is that America is the monster. Miller_Jason, BothSidesNow, Articles & Commentary 2007-07-09T07:21:01-08:00 http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/bsn0707shanikka_rewinding_warren_court/ http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/bsn0707shanikka_rewinding_warren_court/#When:06:39:00Z I’ve been wondering how long it would be before someone in the mainstream called a spade a spade, where this year’s Supreme Court term is concerned.  Finally, this morning, the New York Times almost hits the mark, in its editorial Justice Denied. Shanikka, BothSidesNow, Articles & Commentary 2007-07-09T06:39:00-08:00 http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/bsn1007guzman_anatomy_of_an_international_incident/ http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/bsn1007guzman_anatomy_of_an_international_incident/#When:18:52:00Z Over the past couple of weeks, several factors have been working in concert that have made me more nervous to live near la frontera than any other time that I can recall. It all began on January 5th when the first news reports began circulation on an incident near Sasabe, Arizona on January 3rd: BothSidesNow, Articles & Commentary 2007-02-01T18:52:00-08:00 http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/bsn1007laws_are_you_the_terrorist_next_door/ http://bothsides.humanbeams.com/index.php/bsn/comments/bsn1007laws_are_you_the_terrorist_next_door/#When:18:48:00Z I was an ordinary American until November 27, 2006 when I became a terrorist or, more accurately, what I call a “stand-by terrorist.” Perhaps I cannot truly own this newfound nickname until the government decides to prosecute me for word crimes, if that day ever arrives. Until then, I just think of myself as being on stand-by, just as are most--if not all--Americans, whether they realize it or not. Laws_Charlotte, BothSidesNow, Articles & Commentary 2007-02-01T18:48:00-08:00