If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
Mass shootings are increasingly common and increasingly deadly. And there's no clear end in sight.
We certainly know more of the facts behind the tragedy and its real (non-Muslim) perpetrator. But are we in a better place when it comes to understanding what happened in Norway? I have my doubts.
A closer look at Europe since the attacks of 2004 and 2005 provides us with fascinating data with which to identify trends and patterns -- ones that may give cause for concern.
Are those who carry out acts of violence in the name of a religion true followers of that religion, or not?
On July 22nd we lost some of our country's most precious assets: our youth. But we kept our dignity as a nation. Now we will find our way back to normality. But there will be new tests that are just as demanding as the ones we have passed.
The U.S. could have gone in a different direction -- other than war and shopping -- after 9/11. When the sky was weeping, a different sort of leader might have reaffirmed the largest of American values rather than exploited the smallest.
Norway's immediate reaction to this terror was authentic, distinctly Norwegian, and due in no small part to a country and a people who know fundamentally who they are. The world could learn a thing or two from their example.
The crucial question is, of course, the interpretation of words. Political radicals do not need to pore over thousands of pages of philosophical text to come to a conclusion on any perceived political malaise.
It won't be long before the discussion abandons Anders Breivik. The task at hand is to engage the discussion of Islam, Europe and the struggles of multiculturalism.
Many say that it is thoughtless, even reckless to blame an entire political movement for the actions of men like Breivik or Dr. Tiller's killer. I am inclined to agree. But it is just as reckless to dismiss these men as simply crazed.
Hope is not about guarantees and certainties. You don't know you'll win, but you don't know you'll lose either, so why not try? No one is more remarkable in this light than the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.
I just listened to a version of "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by Amy Winehouse, may her memory be for a blessing. Every note, every better-than-perfect ...
The big story this week was the horrible terror attack in Norway. But some late night shows focused on happier things, like the looming debt ceiling deadline.
As Friday's horrific events unfolded in Norway, I was reminded of a scene from the 1997 dark comedy film Wag the Dog, starring Robert De Niro and Dust...
The path to a more hopeful and healthy future also requires people of faith and goodwill to speak out clearly and directly against extremists of all stripes.
The Oslo attacks should prompt a moment's reflection on the terrorist threat and how we approach it.
