All Editorials
Boston Marathon bombings won't define my first marathonAt mile 25.7, after already mentally penning my celebratory email, I hit a wall of dazed, shuffling athletes. I regret not finishing the Boston Marathon yesterday, but the bombings didn鈥檛 define my first marathon and they won鈥檛 mar this tradition.
The Monitor's ViewThe challenge in the Boston Marathon bombingThe act of terror in the Boston Marathon bombing was swiftly met by acts of help and comfort for victims and others. Such actions point to the need to affirm all of that which the bomber sought to destroy.
OpinionLong live the purity of seeds for broccoliThe majority of the world's seed for broccoli, cauliflower, and similar veggies is produced in Oregon's Willamette Valley. But the seeds can be easily contaminated by pollen from canola, which the state recently allowed in the valley. The legislature must ban the canola.
The Monitor's ViewAlternative currencies like bitcoin are a mirror of their usersThe e-currency bitcoin spiked and then fell last week, sowing doubts about alternative currencies, whether on the Internet or in local communities. Such experiments need a firm basis of trust.
OpinionImmigration reform needs flexibility on work visasThe US system for work visas hasn't changed much since 1965, despite fluctuations in the economy and in demand for foreign workers. Immigration reform must include more flexibility. One way is to create an independent body that regularly advises Congress on visa limits.
The Monitor's ViewLooking for Obama's agenda in SyriaAs killings in Syria worsen, more people look to Obama for action. But the mental preparation for action doesn't start with the White House.
The Monitor's ViewIs an end to war-time rape at a tipping point?The G8 nations agreed Thursday to a British plan to go after those who rape in war zones, hoping to end this atrocity as a weapon in conflicts. Perhaps this big-power move will mark a historic shift in ending a global problem.
OpinionOpponents of Medicaid expansion put politics over peopleThe rejection by several Republican-led states of the Affordable Care Act鈥檚 Medicaid expansion to provide health care access to millions of America鈥檚 poor isn鈥檛 just partisan politics; it鈥檚 immoral. It鈥檚 not too late to press state leaders to put people ahead of partisanship.
OpinionImmigration reform needs consensus on flow of foreign laborThe US must adjust the future flow of immigrants 鈥� low-skilled guest workers and educated foreigners alike. Immigration reform must include incentives for legal immigration, recognize the employment needs of US citizens, and create a flexible system that can adjust over time.
The Monitor's ViewA path to peace in land, resource disputesA Taiwan-Japan agreement on fisheries near the Senkaku islands sets a model for China in avoiding dangerous moves on island claims.
OpinionObama must throw North Korea a curve ball 鈥� a helping US handThe US can exploit Pyongyang and Kim Jong-un's pride by shelving the nuclear issue for now, engaging in talks, and offering substantial aid and investments that boost North Korea's economy and helps its people 'help themselves.' This can break the cycle of threats and blackmail.
OpinionSenate deal on background checks aside, outdated tracing system hurts gun controlThough Sens. Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey have reached a deal on background checks, a key piece of the White House鈥檚 gun control plan is still at risk of failure. The federal government is using 1960s era technology to trace guns used in crimes. The system must be updated.
The Monitor's ViewAre gun politics too complex? Simplicity would help.As the Newtown families plead for Congress to act, lawmakers 鈥� and President Obama 鈥� admit to the complexity of gun issues. Scholars on simplicity offer some ideas.
OpinionTo break the cycle of North Korea threats, US must put Kim on his heelsTo break the cycle of threats from North Korea, the United States must take a much more assertive stance. Leader Kim Jong-un must be put on the defensive by sending him a clear warning of preemptive action if America and its allies find themselves threatened.
OpinionEqual Pay Day: Raising minimum wage will help women 鈥� and the economyWomen 鈥� and their families 鈥� are disproportionately affected by the low US minimum wage.聽Equal Pay Day serves as a stark reminder of that reality.聽Raising the minimum wage would boost the economy, and it would help close the gender wage gap.
4 ways US can boost cyber securityThe US needs a proactive cyber foreign policy that goes beyond naming and shaming. Here are four steps the US can take to bolster its diplomatic efforts to address cybersecurity threats.
Global ViewpointGordon Brown: Girls' empowerment movement is a global game-changerGirls, not adults, are forming a liberation movement 鈥� demanding their rights, especially to education. They've organized child-marriage-free zones, demonstrations to support Malala Yousafzai, petitions against child labor, and a growing movement exposing child trafficking.- Global ViewpointGordon Brown: Girls' empowerment movement is a global game-changerGirls, not adults, are forming a liberation movement 鈥� demanding their rights, especially to education. They've organized child-marriage-free zones, demonstrations to support Malala Yousafzai, petitions against child labor, and a growing movement exposing child trafficking.
OpinionWhy it's no longer the chummy 1990s for Turkey, IsraelPresident Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry are working hard to repair relations between Turkey and Israel. They deserve credit for their efforts. But much has changed for both countries since they cooperated in the 1990s, and progress toward rapprochement will likely be slow.
The Monitor's ViewWhat made Margaret Thatcher special in her timeMargaret Thatcher's leadership qualities were essential for Britain and the world of the 1980s, but her failings also provide lessons for leaders today.
