All The Monitor's View
Can honesty be rewarded at banks?One overlooked lesson from the Wells Fargo bank scandal needs more attention: Banks must hire, train, and encourage workers with high moral reasoning. In Wells Fargo, such workers were the real heroes.聽
New York terrorist attacks: 'Ground Zeal' againIn light of the Sept. 17 terrorist bombings in New York and New Jersey, as well as the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we are republishing this 2002 Monitor editorial on the 鈥渇orward step鈥� needed after such attacks.
The Outward Bound way to prevent police shootingsLong-time police reformer Bill Bratton called for empathy between Black Lives Matter and police advocates. In Baltimore, police and city youth are being taught just that 鈥� in trees.
When foreign leaders praise US bipartisanshipMyanmar鈥檚 Aung San Suu Kyi is the latest foreign leader to thank both Democrats and Republicans for their long support. Such gratitude from abroad can help remind Americans of the value of bipartisanship in foreign policy 鈥� and perhaps on domestic issues, too.
Syrian truce鈥檚 first goal: aiding civiliansA fragile truce in a brutal war was driven in large part by humanitarian concerns. That aim must remain, amid other motives, to help heal a broken Syria.
Income up. Inequality down. But what of rural folk?Median income in the US rose at its fastest rate last year while inequality shrank. Yet incomes outside metro areas fell. Rural Americans must be included in the 鈥榗ommunities of thinkers鈥� that are the nation鈥檚 cities
Germany's test of generosity and identityAfter welcoming 1 million fleeing people, Germans now struggle to integrate them. They are being forced to look deep at what binds their country.
An express lesson for Wells Fargo and other banksReform of the world financial system since 2008 has made it stronger, yet a massive scandal at Wells Fargo highlights the ongoing need to build ethical resilience into the industry.
A judge鈥檚 insight on how to care for studentsA Connecticut judge orders reform of the state鈥檚 public schools to help poor students. But unlike similar court rulings, he focuses less on money and more on how to achieve student success. Other states should take notice.
Reason to pause on pot legalizationIn Colorado, the first state to start selling legal marijuana, an anti-pot rebellion has begun in Pueblo County. Other states that will vote on legalization in November should take notice.
For those who paint dark futures, the past offers a different paletteNearly half of Americans see no hope of a better future, a mood that politicians easily prey on. Yet new books by scholars comb history to show why progress in ideas marches on.
A hard lesson for China鈥檚 soft powerAn election in Hong Kong shows how much Beijing must improve on being a power known for attractive ideals, not its coercion of others.
Poor democracies that aren't poor in demanding honestyIn ousting a president who symbolized a corrupt elite, Brazil joins many other developing nations whose citizens have demanded honesty in elected government. Brazil can take lessons from anti-graft successes in India, Indonesia, and Nigeria.
Goodnight, pre-K gapA study pops an inequality myth in finding American kids are not only better prepared for early schooling but those from lower-income or minority homes saw a reduced gap with white kids. One probable cause: better qualities of character.
Iraq鈥檚 opportunity in the battle for MosulAs Iraq prepares to retake its second-largest city from Islamic State, it can use the expected victory to renew efforts to restore an historic harmony between Sunnis and Shiites.
Europe鈥檚 post-Brexit identity searchA Sept. 16 summit of the remaining EU leaders must start a deep search for what binds the European Union other than economic convenience and preventing war and atrocities.聽
Britain鈥檚 audit of injusticeA society鈥檚 first step to reduce inequality is to make sure government provides services without bigotry. Britain鈥檚 new prime minister is trying a novel approach: an audit of government injustice.
How humility won Colombia鈥檚 peace dealAs Colombians prepare to vote on a carefully crafted peace proposal that would end a long war, they must remember how each side in the talks had to learn humility, helped along by a focus on those who suffered most in the war.
Muslims and Europe, swimming chic by chicBans in France on wearing 鈥榖urkini鈥� swimwear only alienates Muslims. Europe must find better ways to encourage integration, not feed into Islamic State鈥檚 playbook.
A jihadist鈥檚 cultural redemptionA former leader in an Al Qaeda affiliate admits guilt 鈥� and regret 鈥� in a world court for destroying ancient artifacts in Timbuktu, Mali. His advice to jihadists: Save all of humanity鈥檚 cherished culture rather than destroy it.
