All The Monitor's View
Christmas in Newtown: restoring childlike innocenceA big Christmas tree in Newtown, Conn., has become a memorial site for the Sandy Hook children killed at their elementary school. Many faiths use a Christmas-like embrace of an innocent child to help them in troubled times and restore the promise of purity.
What Kerry, Hagel would bring to Obama diplomacyReports of Sen. John Kerry becoming Secretary of State, and Republican Chuck Hagel being tapped for Defense, hint at a new attempt to use 'soft power' in Obama's second term. But will it work?
A bridge for action after Sandy Hook shootingsAmericans were united over the weekend on the need for solutions to mass shootings like that at Sandy Hook school in Newtown, Conn. Now they must also deal with their respective fears over the different solutions being proposed.
Newtown shootings: What to say to ourselvesThe Newtown shooting of 20 children and 7 adults may be the strongest reminder that each individual must find ways to help end these kinds of mass slaughter.
Putin's drive for Russian identityIn a big speech Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin said Russians lack 'spiritual braces.' He joins other world leaders who recently made similar warnings about their people. Should governments, especially those with weak democratic credentials, be promoting moral values?
Why a US-EU trade pact would be historicChina's model of state-run capitalism needs a massive challenge from the two giant market economies. Obama must win a US-EU trade pact in his second term.
Shaping the world of 2030A US intelligence report to the president on global trends to the year 2030 is generally upbeat. But like any futuristic study, its foresight needs hindsight in the reading.
Why latest failure of global warming talks may be a successThe weak outcome of the climate change talks in Doha only add to the momentum toward solutions at the local level, where values on the common good are more easily shared.
How to avoid revenge killings in post-Assad SyriaThe end appears near for the Assad regime in Syria. The opposition and world powers must do more to prevent the kind of post-conflict revenge 鈥� mainly against Alawites 鈥� that could ricochet in the Middle East.
Look to Lincoln to solve 'fiscal cliff'As the Spielberg movie 'Lincoln' and many books about Abraham Lincoln reveal, solving difficult standoffs in Washington takes more than savvy politics and horse-trading. Lincoln had to first turn to deeper ideals that then helped him win allies.
Making the world flat-out against corruptionThe latest ranking of perceived corruption among nations doesn't show much change. But other evidence points to a grassroots rebellion against graft in hopes of a culture of honesty.
Are Americans ready to deal with Syria's chemical weapons?On Monday, Obama strongly warned Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad not to use chemical weapons as rebels advance on Damascus. What is the national interest in threatening US action? Obama must sort out the moral purpose.
The holidays: extra shopping or extra kindness?Thanksgiving and Christmas are as far apart as they ever get. But instead of being a time for extra shopping how about a time for extra kindness?
An 'ethical vacuum' in Internet media?An official inquiry into the abuses of British newspapers calls for tougher regulation of journalist behavior. But it holds little hope for ethics in online media. This ignores the history of journalist ethics.
A parachute for Americans on their fiscal cliffThe hard decisions in the fiscal cliff negotiations between the GOP and Democrats would be easier if lawmakers could point to other nations that have seen the benefits of fiscal discipline in lifting an economy.
US pivot to Mexico?A new leader of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, takes office with enough hope of reform that it argues for the US to draw closer to its neighbor.
A case of Obamacare and religious libertyOn Monday, the Supreme Court ordered a lower court to decide on a case involving a clash between religious liberty and Obamacare. Government must tread lightly in defining religion as a way to achieve universal health care and increase access to contraceptives.
Cyber Monday's sales success fits one Internet trendThe more Internet phenomena like Cyber Monday shake up old ways, the more governments try to control the Internet. A meeting of global communications regulators in December will test such a government role.
Why the UN must respond to rebels splitting CongoBefore rebels known as M23 split up Congo any further, the United Nations must help this giant African nation find a unifying identity. The same goes for Rwanda.
Makings of a real Thanksgiving? Hospitality to strangers.Opening one's home at Thanksgiving to those less fortunate evokes the spirit of that first feast of gratitude between Pilgrims and Indians 鈥� a shared table of different peoples.