All Editorials
The Monitor's ViewCan the Senate's negotiating style save the day?Two sets of secret talks seeking a 'grand bargain' 鈥� between Israelis and Palestinians and between Obama and the GOP on fiscal issues 鈥� involve current and former US senators. Can that chamber's style bring solutions?
OpinionCongress should not oppose biofuels. They create jobs and help the environment.No fuel at scale today comes close to equaling ethanol鈥檚 ability to prevent American cars and trucks from spewing pollutants from their tailpipes. Unfortunately, one of the most important incentives for the growth of biofuels is now under attack by misguided lawmakers and Big Oil.
OpinionWhy Israel must make bold move to secure Palestinian peace talks 鈥� and Israel's futureAs preliminary peace talks with Israeli and Palestinian representatives begin in Washington, Israel must make a bold move to push negotiations forward and protect its security: declaring it has no sovereignty claims to key West Bank areas and facilitating voluntary relocation of Jewish settlers.
The Monitor's ViewChina tries a 'good Samaritan' lawThe Chinese city of Shenzhen joins other governments around the world in passing a law that tries to remove the fear of legal liability in helping others in emergency distress. Rescuing others out of universal love shouldn't be held back by fear.- Readers RespondReaders Write: US must not arm Syria's rebelsLetters to the Editor for the July 29, 2013 weekly print issue:聽The Sunnis fighting against the Assad regime are backed by Islamist jihadist groups. If the US arms the opposition, it will be, in effect, helping Al Qaeda. The best thing for America to do is stay out of Syria's civil war completely.Did intervention make Iraq a better place? Unseat Bashar al-Assad so Islamists can make further inroads? Arming the rebels will only amplify the firestorm.
OpinionHow US, Russia can agree on missile defenseUS and Russia relations are in a nosedive over Eric Snowden, Syria, and Iran. One way to reverse that is for Presidents Putin and Obama to agree on missile defense at a planned summit in September. US-Russian cooperation in space can serve as a model.
Tolerance: The Nile's age-old lessonTo share the resources of the great river in the desert has always required one thing above all else: tolerance. In today's Egypt, that fundamental condition has been severely shaken.
The Monitor's ViewAfter Zimbabwe election, Mugabe needs a way outThe Zimbabwe election on July 31 appears rigged and could lead to a repeat crisis like that after a 2008 vote. The African nation needs a peaceful transition through some form of forgiveness.
Global ViewpointSnooping vs. privacy 鈥� lessons for an age of transparencyIt's not possible to stop a Bradley Manning or Edward Snowden. They reflect society's push for individualism, suspicion of authority, and digital transparency. Instead, the NSA, FBI, and others must embrace openness, and face greater oversight.- Global ViewpointSnooping vs. privacy 鈥� lessons for an age of transparencyIt's not possible to stop a Bradley Manning or Edward Snowden. They reflect society's push for individualism, suspicion of authority, and digital transparency. Instead, the NSA, FBI, and others must embrace openness, and face greater oversight.
The Monitor's ViewStep up solutions for Syrian war's symptoms: refugeesAs the rate of Syrians fleeing the war rises, so must the global response. The war's causes may not yet be solvable 鈥� killings now top 100,000. But its symptoms can be.
OpinionTo end Syria civil war, West must guarantee minorities' safety with peacekeeping forceMinorities in Syria support the Assad regime because they fear the alternative. To erode Bashar al-Assad's base of support, Western leaders should offer meaningful security reassurances to Syria's minorities, including the promise of an international peacekeeping force.
The Monitor's ViewHow 'play ball' can also mean 'play fair'After Major League Baseball suspended Brewers' star outfielder Ryan Braun for violating drug rules, other MLB players and the players union reacted with surprising support for restoring integrity to pro ball. That's a welcome shift for honest sport.
OpinionTo cut entitlements, US can look to one of Europe's welfare statesThe mounting cost of entitlements will only grow larger as baby boomers age. Four senators have proposed bipartisan legislation to fix one part of the mess, but more is needed. Congress should look to an unlikely model 鈥� Sweden's bipartisan pension reform of the 90s.
Readers respond: How well did the media cover the Zimmerman trial?Public reaction remains strong to the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin. In a recent Monitor op-ed, Doug Spero decried what he saw as biased coverage of the case. Monitor readers on Facebook had strong views on the topic, too.
The Monitor's ViewWhat will drive Israelis, Palestinians to talksWith Secretary John Kerry confident of talks starting soon, the new imperatives in the US and Middle East can help drive a peace deal between Israel and Palestinian leaders.
OpinionObama's proposal to tax municipal bonds will hurt states, cities, and AmericansA proposal to impose a federal tax on revenues from municipal bonds would be a destructive and unconstitutional way for profligate Washington to raise funds. The tax would deter investors and squeeze cash-strapped states and cities like Detroit. Americans would pay the price.
The Monitor's ViewSaving children's innocence from Internet pornIn a bold move, British Prime Minister David Cameron strikes a welcome balance between Internet freedom and society's hope to protect children from Internet pornography and the child-murderers who act on it.
OpinionHow TV news failed Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman, and American peopleIn the hours of continuous broadcast coverage I monitored during and after the trial of George Zimmerman for the death of Trayvon Martin, I couldn鈥檛 believe the lack of balance in coverage. Walter聽Cronkite warned that without a strong unbiased press, democracy would struggle.- Readers RespondReaders Write: New economy fuels green energy, entrepreneurship; Pray in secretLetters to the Editor for the July 22, 2013 weekly print issue:The destructive extractive economy is indeed changing, as is the expectation of what constitutes a truly satisfying standard of living.聽Bozeman, Mont. epitomizes a new economy with a respect for environmental conservation.In the debate of prayer in school, it's worth remembering that聽Jesus said to pray in private and silently, not publicly.