All Commentary
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The Monitor's View: A case of Obamacare and religious liberty
On 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. 11/27/2012 04:12 pm
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Opinion: Hamas is no winner in the Gaza ceasefire with Israel (+video)
Hamas has claimed total victory in the ceasefire with Israel. Sure, Hamas evaded a punishing Israeli ground assault in Gaza and gained some diplomatic support and recognition. But in the long run, Hamas is sowing the seeds for its own destruction. 11/27/2012 11:52 am
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Opinion: Washington needs more people like Senator Warren Rudman (+video)
Sen. Rudman, who passed away last week, was perhaps best known for his legislation on deficit reduction. But he also fought tirelessly for campaign finance reform and citizen-funded elections. And he was willing to work across the aisle and stand up to his own Republican party to do it. 11/27/2012 11:37 am
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Opinion: Make #GivingTuesday a US tradition like Black Friday and Cyber Monday
The holiday season starts with one day to give thanks followed by two days (Black Friday and Cyber Monday) for bargain hunting. Today, nonprofits, businesses, and individuals are coming together to launch #GivingTuesday – a day to celebrate the great American tradition of giving. 11/27/2012 10:13 am
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The Monitor's View: Cyber Monday's sales success fits one Internet trend
The 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. 11/26/2012 02:14 pm
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Opinion: Mali security nightmare: Why foreign intervention alone won't stop the chaos
A divided Mali could become a haven for armed groups and a security nightmare for the whole of West Africa and far beyond. But foreign military intervention alone will be insufficient to address the turmoil. External troops will need the help of local and regional civil society organizations. 11/26/2012 10:26 am
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Opinion: Take-away from US election: Obama's 'small' issues won big
There was no single grand message that was going to win over voters in 2012 – from President Obama or Mitt Romney. A big reason is because America is so diverse and divided, and will likely continue to be. 11/26/2012 08:59 am
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Of bargains: grand and not so much
Bargaining is a big part of life. It is how prices are set, business deals get made, and political differences are hashed out. Sometimes you get the advantage, sometimes not -- and often it's the bargain itself that's memorable. 11/26/2012 08:24 am
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The Monitor's View: Why the UN must respond to rebels splitting Congo
Before 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. 11/25/2012 07:05 am
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Opinion: Getting poor students to college isn't just about affordability. It's about access. (+video)
Students from low-income communities need the same mentoring, leadership opportunities, and support through the college application process as their higher-income peers. Strategic partnerships between K-12 schools and local colleges are a key part of this exposure. 11/23/2012 02:48 pm
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China is the only country with a plan to secure scarce global resources
Competition for scarce resources is driving up commodity prices. China's strategy is to invest in resource-rich economies overlooked by the West. These economies are watching to see which model – US or Chinese-style capitalism and government – best delivers growth. 11/21/2012 08:51 am
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Opinion: Thanksgiving Day Proclamation 2012 from President Obama
In giving gratitude for 'the God-given bounty that enriches our lives,' Americans should remember the 'indelible spirit of compassion and mutual responsibility that has distinguished our Nation since its earliest days.' Washington's and Lincoln’s 'expressions of unity still echo today.' 11/20/2012 03:55 pm
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The Monitor's View: 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 – a shared table of different peoples. 11/20/2012 03:36 pm
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Opinion: How to make a Hamas, Israel ceasefire in Gaza stick
Contrary to Hamas reports, Israel claims there is no ceasefire deal for the Gaza conflict. But US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is en route to Jerusalem, and an agreement appears to be in the making. Making it stick will require regional commitment. 11/20/2012 03:13 pm
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Opinion: A 35 percent tax rate is a number, not a principle
Republicans believe that the upper-income tax rate should not be raised. It's a line in the sand based on principle. True, low taxes is a principle. But the actual rate is relative, and must be flexible to avoid the 'fiscal cliff.' 11/20/2012 11:52 am
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The Monitor's View: A path to peace in Israel-Gaza conflict
The new Arab democracies such as Egypt present a different dynamic to help resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, such as the current violence over Gaza. New models for peaceful mediation are needed. 11/19/2012 04:15 pm
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Readers Write: Affirmative action is still needed in the US
Letters to the Editor for the November 19, 2012 weekly print issue: Affirmative action helps eliminate the ignorance of racial bigotry and animosity. It is needed as much today as it was in 1968. The notion that the races are fighting over a scarce number of places is a shallow argument. 11/19/2012 03:29 pm
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Opinion: Israel should rethink its strategy against Hamas in Gaza
Israel has dealt with Hamas through a policy of isolation and military containment. The recent escalation of violence in Gaza calls for a reconsideration of this strategy. Israel’s military response only offers a temporary palliative against a broader, inherently political problem. 11/19/2012 11:37 am
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Obama and Myanmar (Burma): 4 points about conflict there
A long-simmering ethnic conflict in Myanmar (Burma) recently broke into American newspapers: At least 89 people have been killed and more than 35,000 displaced in what is being described (not entirely accurately) as Buddhist-Muslim violence. With President Obama as the first US head of state to visit this country, there are four points to bear in mind about this detour from Myanmar’s road to a more open society: 11/19/2012 10:02 am
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Philanthropy unbound
Philanthropy is a word often associated with top hats and tote bags. But its original and essential meaning -- going back to the ancient Greeks -- is even more generous: It is about helping humanity make progress. 11/18/2012 03:01 pm
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