Successful political movements need an organizing force: a charismatic leader whose determination motivates and organizes a struggle. In today’s shockingly fast changing times the latest battle has been for LGBT rights. It started in broad minded Western Europe and gradually spread to other parts of the world. While some regions lag behind, such as the Islamosphere and Africa, … [Read more...] about Profile: A Taiwanese LGBT Star Visits New York City: Mr. Chia Wei Chi
Canada’s national anthem gets an inclusive update
Canada has taken steps to make its national anthem “O Canada” more inclusive. Lawmakers passed a bill this week changing the line “true patriot love in all thy sons command,” to “true patriot love in all of us command.” “It’s a kind of inclusive, embracing turn of phrase,” says former Prime Minister Kim Campbell. She’s one… … [Read more...] about Canada’s national anthem gets an inclusive update
Is Donald Trump The Masterpiece He Believes or The Fake He Fears?
By Colleen O'Connor Can you tell the difference between a forgery and a masterpiece? Between counterfeit and real? Between a fraud and a friend? Or between legitimacy and illegitimacy? Soon, every American will inherit the grave responsibility of becoming an expert in just such matters. This is no small task, as most “experts” will confirm. Take the case of … [Read more...] about Is Donald Trump The Masterpiece He Believes or The Fake He Fears?
Cartoon: Nunes Memo
Full Statement by Democrats on House Intelligence Committee Reacting to Nunes Memo Release
The Republican majority on the House Intelligence Committee suppressed the Democratic minority from releasing their detailed rebuttal prepared by Rep. Devin Nunes and, some reports suggest, the White House. Since it has been suppressed and the news cycle will be dominated by reports of the Nunes memo, here's the full statement released by the Democrats on the … [Read more...] about Full Statement by Democrats on House Intelligence Committee Reacting to Nunes Memo Release
Sen. John McCain’s full statement criticizing Trump’s release of the memo
From Arizona Sen. John McCain's website: Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on partisan attacks on the FBI and Department of Justice: “In 2016, the Russian government engaged in an elaborate plot to interfere in an American election and undermine our democracy. Russia … [Read more...] about Sen. John McCain’s full statement criticizing Trump’s release of the memo
Trump released unredacted controversial GOP memo criticizing FBI (UPDATE 3)
Despite requests from the FBI, President Donald Trump today released unredacted the controversial GOP memo criticizing FBI surveillance -- a memo the House Intelligence Committee decided to release while slapping a gag order on a Democratic response to their memo. The House GOPers also turned down an FBI request to meet with them. Now speculation is mounting quickly that … [Read more...] about Trump released unredacted controversial GOP memo criticizing FBI (UPDATE 3)
President Trump and Rep. Devin Nunes put politics above America’s security and institutions (Guest Editorial)
There can no longer be any doubt that we now have a propaganda presidency, in collusion with Republican leaders in Congress who care more about protecting Donald Trump than America's security and institutions. As soon as Friday and with the blessing of the White House, the House Intelligence Committee is expected to release the infamous memo… … [Read more...] about President Trump and Rep. Devin Nunes put politics above America’s security and institutions (Guest Editorial)
India unveils healthcare for 500 million of its poorest
India on Thursday announced a national healthcare scheme for half a billion of its poorest citizens in a major giveaway to voters in the final budget before a general election. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said India's most vulnerable families would be able to access up to 500,000 rupees ($7,855) a year for hospital cover through the… … [Read more...] about India unveils healthcare for 500 million of its poorest
“A Clear and Present Danger: Narcissism in the Era of Donald Trump” a must read (BOOK REVIEW)
EDITOR'S NOTE: This review is being posted again due to recent events. A Clear and Present Danger: Narcissim in the Era of Donald Trump was written before the election -- but boy is it needed to be read now. It's a thoughtful volume comprised of contributions by psychiatrists, doctors, psychologists-- and a notable storyteller-author-clinical-psychologist that'll be read … [Read more...] about “A Clear and Present Danger: Narcissism in the Era of Donald Trump” a must read (BOOK REVIEW)
Trump and his minions can’t out-leak the FBI
WASHINGTON -- Presidents don't win fights with the FBI. Donald Trump apparently wants to learn this lesson the hard way. Most presidents have had the sense not to bully the FBI by defaming its leaders and -- ridiculously -- painting its agents as leftist political hacks. Most members of Congress have also understood how unwise it would be to pull such stunts. But Trump and … [Read more...] about Trump and his minions can’t out-leak the FBI
Kids Need Attention, Not Tide Pods
Forget baby-proofing your home -- now you need to keep it safe from your teenager. Who would have thought that teens would be eating laundry soap? Truthfully, at this point in my career, nothing surprises me. So what is a parent to do? This must be a pithy reminder that teenagers -- yes, even your stellar… … [Read more...] about Kids Need Attention, Not Tide Pods
Future Model Prisoner (Column and Cartoon)
Yeah, I’m a jerk. To be a Trump sycophant one must shred their dignity, soul, respectability, credibility, decency, and perhaps all traces of what’s left of their humanity. Reason and logic are pretty much out of the question too. In return, you may acquire a nice orange jumpsuit. When the first drips would come out about Trump’s attempts to obstruct justice, his … [Read more...] about Future Model Prisoner (Column and Cartoon)
Cartoon: FBI Memo
Our President Is Insane, and I’m Scared
“An exceptional natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work in science, art, music, etc.” That is the definition of the word “genius,” per Dictionary.com. Our president, Donald Trump, has decreed that he fits the description perfectly, but those who have observed Trump’s behavior during his time in office have selected other words. … [Read more...] about Our President Is Insane, and I’m Scared
How mass incarceration harms U.S. health, in 5 charts
By J. Wesley Boyd, Faculty, Center for Bioethics and Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University and Emily Nagisa Keehn, Associate Director, Human Rights Program, Harvard Law School, Harvard University. The U.S. incarcerates a higher percentage of its citizens than any other country in the world. There’s little doubt among researchers that mass … [Read more...] about How mass incarceration harms U.S. health, in 5 charts
Democrats’ behavior at the State of the Union was embarrassing
Embed from Getty Images WASHINGTON -- It gives me no pleasure to say this, but the Democrats' behavior at the State of the Union was embarrassing. I take a back seat to nobody in decrying President Trump's cynical and divisive performance. He repeatedly exploited Americans' divisions on race, guns, God, immigration -- anything to distract from the broken promises, … [Read more...] about Democrats’ behavior at the State of the Union was embarrassing
Presumed Guilty
Americans are making a judicial assumption paradigm shift. We are moving from ‘presumed innocent and proven guilty’ to ‘presumed guilty and proven innocent’. Or, to say it differently, now the accusation is automatically both the evidence and the conviction. This shift goes against our longtime judicial system, based on English common law. Our judicial inheritance included … [Read more...] about Presumed Guilty
Violence in Kabul is so extreme, citizens are carrying around ‘in case I die’ notes
January has been a particularly deadly month in Kabul. Terrorist attacks have taken the lives of hundreds of people in the Afghan capital. One of the deadliest was when the Taliban laid siege to the InterContinental Hotel for about 15 hours and killed 22 people. Related: Afghan officials search for answers to deadly hotel attack Then,… … [Read more...] about Violence in Kabul is so extreme, citizens are carrying around ‘in case I die’ notes
Trump and his teleprompter assure America that the State of the Union is strong. No, really (Guest Column)
The State of the Union is strong. I mean, President Trump didn't trip and tumble off the platform in a real life homage to Chevy Chase, or press a red Staples button on the podium and announced that he'd just launched a fleet of cruise missiles toward North Korea, or order special counsel Robert Mueller led… … [Read more...] about Trump and his teleprompter assure America that the State of the Union is strong. No, really (Guest Column)