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Human Rights and Religion The Highest Possible Stakes

Human rights: what are they? Americans, at least, will immediately think of Jefferson’s words in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…” There is a connection between God and human rights, beginning with the right to religious freedom. (It is the First Amendment that addresses this right, after all.)
On March 2, 2012, the new Cardinal of New York, Timothy Dolan, wrote a public letter to his fellow bishops of the US Catholic Conference, calling for a struggle to preserve a fundamental human right, religious freedom. He wrote, “Brothers, we know so very well that religious freedom is our heritage, our legacy and our firm belief, both as loyal Catholics and Americans. There have been many threats to religious freedom over the decades and years, but these often came from without (continue reading…)

The Sad Silly Idea of Religion for Atheists

There are two kinds of atheists.
There are the fire-breathing, venom-filled religion haters, who pour out their contempt on religious believers and who delight in talking about the extremism that is to be found in the history of all the great religious traditions.
And then there are those who reject religious belief and dismiss the idea of religious truth but who acknowledge, a bit grudgingly perhaps, that much of what religion has done has value.
Alain de Botton is in the latter category. In his book, “Religion for Atheists: A Non-Believer’s Guide to the Uses of Religion,” de Botton recognizes the worthy purposes of religion. He doesn’t believe himself, to be sure, and the premise of his book is that religious beliefs are nonsense. But he admits that religious institutions assist humankind to build community, overcome loneliness, cope with pain and engender morality.
Yet, instead of recommending religion to others, perhaps with reservations, de Botton proposes the creation of a secularized religion — a “religion for atheists.” This is hardly a new idea (continue reading…)

Is Birth Control Coverage Motivated by Religious Freedom or Religious Bullying

Even though Rush Limbaugh apologized to Sandra Fluke, the birth control controversy isn’t over. While the Obama administration continues negotiations with Catholic bishops, the New Hampshire House of Representatives passed a law to exempt employers from providing contraception on religious grounds to their employees.
Supporters of this bill — or of the Marco Rubio bill that went before the Senate recently — argue this debate is about religious freedom. Chicago Archbishop Cardinal Francis George, for instance, wrote a letter to be read in every Chicago Catholic congregation in which he told his people that: “the Administration seemingly ignored the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty.”
But is religious freedom really the issue?
Imagine the following parallel universe: In it, there is a country called the United States. In this country, there are Roman Catholics (continue reading…)

Public Kitchen Bar Food for the People

Water. Although it’s the predominant substance on the surface of the earth and within our own bodies, most of us (in America, anyway) probably don’t spend too much time thinking about it. We may prefer it from the tap, the bottle or a filtration system. We may make that choice for reasons of taste, environmental factors or convenience, but rarely do those three factors align so that our choice is the best of all possible worlds.
I mention this because I recently attended a water tasting (you heard me), and learned that there is a way to get the best-tasting water which is both environmentally sustainable and as convenient as tap water (continue reading…)

In Defense of Optimism in Education

Last year I published A Chance To Make History to share my reflections on what I’ve learned from our teachers, alumni, and colleagues in urban and rural communities since launching Teach For America twenty years ago. My determination to end educational inequality and optimism that it can be done has only grown stronger over the years as we’ve seen more examples of what is possible. But my experiences have also deepened my appreciation of the magnitude of the problem and led to a nuanced vision for change. It was disappointing to see the views expressed in the book flagrantly misrepresented in a recent article in the New York Review of Books by Diane Ravitch (continue reading…)

Apocalypse on the Set 9 Incredible Movie Disasters

What happens when high-stakes gambles like those made on feature films goes wrong? Just how much can the production of a movie unravel and what does it mean for those involved? My new book Apocalypse on the Set from The Overlook Press explores these questions and more. Each chapter reveals the chain of events that escalated the disasters on the set of some well-known films like The Crow, The Abyss, Apocalypse Now and Waterworld, and other lesser-known flicks like Fitzcarraldo and Pulgasari.
When strung together, these provide a kaleidoscopic exploration of the unique nature of the movie business. The eras, genres and people that make up each film highlight the common struggle of embattled filmmakers. The nature of the struggle changesfrom one film to another, but there is a common fortitude among those who labored so tenaciously to see their projects through to the end.
While the stories of these productions represent extreme misfortune they also reveal the uncomfortably tenuous control all directors have over their pictures (continue reading…)

Selection Monday The Final Rose

They always say it’s the “most dramatic season ever,” and each season, we all believe it. The only dramatic thing about this season was Courtney. Ironic, since she made it very clear she was drama-free. Ha.
The finale started off with a monster of a clich (monumental mountain [Matterhorn]; monumental moment [choosing a fianc]) (continue reading…)

The Life Out Loud Sing Your Heart Out

“The most important thing in life is being true to myself and the art I’m making. When that happens, it’s a good thing that makes me smile,” says petite, pale-skinned, wide-eyed Meganne Stepka. The Cleveland-born and based musician of the band Glass Audrey looks and sounds like a fairy princess. Her airy voice and the group’s ethereal melodies combine to make spine-tingling music (continue reading…)

Why the Long Primary Slog is so much Worse for GOP in 2012 than for Democrats in 2008

As the Republican primary season soldiers on, you periodically hear pundits argue that in the end it will “strengthen” Mitt Romney – or whomever the ultimate winner turns out to be. That, they say, was what happened in 2008 and that is what will happen this year as well. After all, they say, the 2008 Democratic Primary battle didn’t really end until early June.
While there is a case to be made that the long Democratic 2008 Primary battle actually benefited the ultimate Democratic nominee, Barack Obama, there are four reasons why this year’s battle will inflict lasting damage on this fall’s GOP contender.
1) (continue reading…)

Kick the Can

It’s time to start naming names. So, here goes: Beyonc, Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Elton John, Lebron James, David Beckham and Michael Jordan. These are just a few of the athletes and singers who’ve recently lent (well, OK, sold) their name, cachet, and influence to promote soda, a product that’s a key culprit in making our kids sick (continue reading…)

The Southern Food Renaissance

On our way through South Carolina, we cooked and collaborated on a multi-course dinner with Sean Brock (of Husk and McCrady’s) consisting entirely of grains from Anson Mills — the seminal grits and rice producer in the United States. But before we embarked on dishes like sweet bread and red fife ravioli, we spent a day with the brains and passion behind the Southern Food Renaissance: Glenn Roberts.
read full news from www.huffingtonpost.com

In Afghanistan Between Plague and Cholera Theres Dr Abdullah

It’s been ten years, almost to the day, since I returned from Afghanistan with the “Report” Jacques Chirac, Lionel Jospin and Hubert Vdrine had commissioned, in which I described the possible contribution of France to the political, civic, cultural and military reconstruction of this country ruined by decades of dictatorship, war, and massacres.
Obviously, I shall not go into the details here of the recommendations I made then.
Nor shall I dwell on the long series of errors committed by an international community that never should have blindly depended upon the corrupt government of Hamid Karzai; nor negotiated with the fascist Taliban it had come to combat and, in principle, exclude from power; nor, finally — undoubtedly the most blatant error — announced so soon, with great fanfare, the date when it would withdraw its troops, in 2014.
Today, what is most important is the result.
And it must be said, the result is increasingly catastrophic.

The business of the Korans that were burnt in the rubbish collection site of Bagram Air Base, north of Kabul.
The criminal spree of this American soldier who cold-bloodedly murdered sixteen people, including nine children, in three villages of the Panjwai district, near Kandahar.

This ‘Kurtz syndrome’ that seems to threaten a however clearly small number of soldiers, driven, like Conrad’s hero in Heart of Darkness, to the end of their tether by this war without a front or a visible enemy, whose stakes are elusive, and in which yesterday’s friend can, without warning, become today’s or tomorrow’s enemy.

And, at the end of the day, the terrible paradox of an army of liberation, increasingly hated by the very people it wished to liberate.
Or, worse still: this growing fringe of the population who — occupation for occupation — may well end up preferring the “home made” occupation of the Taliban.
And, instead of a pacified country on the path to democracy we dreamed of leaving to the Afghans, a tragic situation, literally and figuratively, where all solutions — as in Hegel’s definition of the Tragic in his meditation on Antigone — prove equally disastrous.

Leave there, immediately, even before the end of 2014, the projected date? An admission of failure and impotence. Ten years of sacrifice, ending in a farce. And the quasi-certainty of seeing Mullah Omar’s men return as soon as we leave.

Stay? Prolong our presence beyond the deadline of 2014? Difficult, considering the human cost in the ranks of the Coalition of a war that has, after all, claimed the lives of over a thousand Americans, 404 Englishmen, 52 Germans, 36 Italians and 29 Frenchmen (continue reading…)

Insider Tips On Austin For SXSW Attendees PHOTOS

Headed down (or already at SXSW) this week? Fortnighter has collaborated with our Lone Star correspondents on a free itinerary highlighting the best of locals only Austin.
While your friends might be standing in line for a subpar breakfast taco, we’ll be steering you to early morning BBQ, an animatronic Lyndon Johnson, a 13,000 square foot BYOB pinball arcade (see below) and more.
And we don’t expect you to hashtag a darn thing, just click here to download the free Fortnighter guide to Austin (PDF) and enjoy.
For future giveaways, be sure to follow us at twitter.com/fortnighter.
Pinballz Arcade, Austin
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read full news from www.huffingtonpost.com

Missing The Boat On First Class Airline Food

Why is it that airlines think all rich people eat caviar and foie gras and lobster and filet mignon for every meal? Aren’t these people human? Don’t they crave mac and cheese or meatloaf sometimes like the rest of us?
Don’t get me wrong: I love a good fillet. And don’t get me wrong again: I’m no Warren Buffett. But I do find myself in the first and business class cabins at 30,000 feet more often than not, and I’m always struck by the peculiar culinary choices we have at the fore of our friendly skies.
Airline food has a bad reputation, but the first- and business-class cabins are supposed to be one place where those cost-cutting measures have yet to reach (continue reading…)

Meditation The Pearl in the Oyster

An oyster may not like that irritating grain of sand in its shell, but it manages to transform it into a precious pearl. That’s quite a feat. Just like beautiful roses growing out of smelly manure, a delicate butterfly emerging out of a caterpillar or muddy water turning into sweet coconut milk.
It’s a process of transformation and, luckily, meditation does exactly the same thing for us, as through it we awaken to the exquisiteness of our own true nature. By sitting quietly with awareness of whatever is going on in our life, however irritating or challenging it may be, we gain a greater insight by seeing round it, through it, and beyond it (continue reading…)

SoulTalk You Dont Have to Be an Addict to Recover

Do you know anyone suffering from some kind of addiction or addictive behavior? While most of us think about addiction in the more common uses of the term, such as alcohol or drug addiction, people can also become addicted to emotional patterns, food abuse, or simply to their own self-appointed sense of righteous indignation and intellectual superiority (Rush Limbaugh, anyone?).
If you or someone you know is struggling with addictive behaviors, then you might want to pay close attention to a few of the concepts contained within this post. To be clear, I am not holding myself out to be an expert on addiction or recovery in the clinical sense; however, I do wish to point out some relatively small issues that, if addressed properly, can make a world of difference.
Could the most sensitive be the most prone to addictive behavior?
Not only are those who enter into drug and alcohol abuse the most sensitive people around, but also those who have not developed skills or abilities to deal with their sensitivity. Sensitivity is often looked upon by traditional society as a form of weakness or vulnerability. The more sensitive amongst us often struggle with how to survive, let alone thrive, in a world of criticism (continue reading…)

Momentary Mindfulness

For years I believed that the only way I could manage stress and stay spiritually grounded was to run three miles a day and meditate for an hour in the morning and an hour at night. That’s about three hours a day — more if you count getting dressed to run, showering, organizing the kids and the household so I could disappear to meditate. I’ve never had that much time to focus on personal activities — not when my kids were young, and not now.
At best I can do one thing a day, and I’ll almost always choose running. That’s because I like to run more than I like to meditate (continue reading…)

Bethenny Ever After Recap A Dream Team Situation

It was a little terrifying (in a good way) watching Bethenny Frankel’s “Run for Your Life” side in full force last week. Popping veins, bulging eyes and high-pitched screeching all came together for a frightening trifecta of freakshow. And it was amazing. Bravo promised another episode of calamity on “Bethenny Ever After,” and knowing Queen B, there’s no doubt in my mind (continue reading…)

The Bachelor Finale Recap The Most Controversial Season In The History Of Never

SPOILER ALERT!
It’s been a whirlwind 10 weeks as members of ‘Bachelor’ Nation tried their hardest to keep it under wraps that Ben chose Courtney to be his vineyard bride. Too bad most of us missed the “After the Final Rose” because our DVRs didn’t recognize that the episode was part of the same “The Bachelor” franchise (as if any of us watch this live). Along with the actual finale, a few controversial moments reared their ugly heads during the extra bonus hour of Our Host Chris Harrison asking the same variation of one question at least 12 different ways. He’s truly a master.
But let’s start with the actual finale (continue reading…)

Pretty Little Liars Recap Most Frightening Episode Ever

This was easily the scariest hour of television I’ve watched in a long time. And I watched part of “The Walking Dead” last night … and part of the fourth hour of the “Today” show with Kathie Lee and Hoda this morning.
Seriously, I am still a little shaken up (continue reading…)

The Voice Recap Battle Rounds Part 2

Though we were largely underwhelmed by last week’s Battle Rounds on “The Voice,” the second installment this week certainly made up for it. (Note: Speaking of making things up, henceforth, the judges/coaches will be referred to as coadges. It’ll catch on.)
But Battle Rounds, Week 2 also brought two competitive duets that tore our hearts out because we loved both contestants so much. Who’s moving on after adorable family band singer Whitney Myers and Chaka Khan doppleganger Kim Yarbrough took on some Mary J (continue reading…)

Oakland Is Fine for the As If the Owners Would Try

When you are a baseball fan, spring is a time of hope and delusion. This year, if you are an Oakland A’s fan, you can imagine that the A’s will be fun to watch, if not a contender against the loaded Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Despite a fire sale of pitchers over the winter, there are still some creditable arms, and the acquisition of Manny Ramirez (who will be available after he serves his most recent 50 game drug suspension) and Cuban refugee Yoenis Cespedes, who homered in his first exhibition game, could provide some pop.
I am looking forward to out season ticket draft and to going to some games. Unfortunately, after a concerted five year campaign by the existing owners to degrade the experience at the Oakland Coliseum and discourage people from attending, I will be pretty lonely and feeling a bit like a chump.
Attendance has declined every year under the present ownership of John Fisher and front man Lew Wolff. During the five years before Fisher-Wolff bought the A’s, the average annual attendance was about 2.1 million (continue reading…)

Holy Rollers

The Salvation Army is reported to have had a saying in its early days: “Take the Devil’s money to do God’s work.” Now a group of 20- and 30-somethings based in the Seattle area has taken that philosophy to a new level, and their story is told in a just-released documentary that examines the phenomenon of card-counters who use their profits to fund their members’ church-related activities. I was able to screen the film Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card-Counting Christians, a while back and found it compelling and riveting.
read full news from www.huffingtonpost.com

Are Female Voters to Blame for the Failure of Female Candidates

During her remarks at this year’s Newsweek/Daily Beast Women in the World Summit, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright reiterated one of her favorite maxims: “There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”
According to a new study, it looks like the ladies’ room in hell will be quite crowded.
Just in time for International Women’s Day, which was March 8, London-based company Business Environment released a study of 1,000 women, and let’s just say the results didn’t exactly scream, “Girl power!” The study found that 25 percent of female managers expressed reluctance to hire a woman who has children or is of a child-bearing age, while 72 percent admitted to judging female coworkers for what they deemed inappropriate dress, compared with just 60 percent of men.
The findings seem to confirm earlier data, including a 2010 study from the Workplace Bullying Institute, that found that when women are accused of workplace bullying, the targets are almost always other women, in numbers that outpace the number of men accused of bullying other men.
So why should we care if a few women engage in a bit of Mean Girls behavior around the office water cooler? Because the long-term ramifications for all women are much greater than just a few hurt feelings. The bullying directed by some women in the workplace appears to rear its ugly head in the voting booth (continue reading…)