All Opinion
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A blueprint for women architects to overcome doubt, discrimination
An online campaign to have the work of architect Denise Scott Brown recognized by the Pritzker Architecture Prize committee has shed light on the ongoing struggles of women in architecture. Women must push themselves to 'lean in' more to fight internal and external obstacles.
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Six ways to boost electric vehicles
Getting more American drivers into electric vehicles carries both environmental and national security benefits. But to get Americans to really buy EVs, the Obama administration needs to learn from the past and plan better today.
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Why civilian courts are best for terror trials, especially Boston bombing suspect
As more than 1,000 terrorism trials over the last decade show, the federal court system is well equipped to handle terrorism cases like that of Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. His trial may also help harmonize US counterterrorism efforts with those of its allies.
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Obamacare faces new legal challenge: Its 'tax' still violates the Constitution
The Supreme Court saved Obamacare by deeming the law's individual mandate a 'tax.' But in that case, the law violates the Constitution's Origination Clause, which says all tax bills must originate in the House, not the Senate. Letting the law stand sets a dangerous precedent.
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Smoking gun in West, Texas, fertilizer blast: lack of government oversight
While the cause of the blast in West, Texas, is still undetermined, what is clear is that the West Fertilizer Company stored large quantities of reactive products in the middle of a small town with little state or federal oversight. Citizens must be empowered to act when regulators don't.
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Reminder from Boston Marathon bombings: A need to integrate immigrant children
The Boston Marathon bombings could not have been foreseen in the case files of 8-year-old asylum seeker, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and his 15-year-old brother, Tamerlan. What should be questioned is whether US authorities do enough to integrate immigrant children once they arrive.
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Boston bombings: Come together, right now, on social media
After the Boston bombings, we, as Americans, rose together in a time of tragedy. Social media accelerated our camaraderie faster than ever. It can sustain it further still, despite some of the downsides of this technology.
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The resurgence of vinyl records: why analog lives on
Vinyl sales are up, while CDs continue their downward slide. Like most boomers, I hauled my last turntable to Goodwill back in the ’80s. I recently bought another to hear my son’s new album, released on vinyl. Vinyl becomes personal in a way that digital music never does.
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To nudge Iran talks, new UN resolution needed
UN Security Council resolutions that Iran must stop 'all' enrichment activities are outmoded, unrealistic, and hurt the Iran talks. A new resolution should promise to lift sanctions if the parties reach a reasonable agreement on Iran's nuclear program.
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Boston bombings and a Muslim identity crisis
The Tsarnaev brothers had a jumbled identity. I know, because I also had one as a Muslim immigrant to the United States. The challenge of the Boston bombings is for Muslim communities and law enforcement to help create a generation of Muslims with an American identity.
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Death penalty: A pragmatic case for repeal
Momentum in the states is shifting toward the repeal of the death penalty. There are practical reasons for this: The death penalty is expensive, it does not work, and it is administered with a clear racial bias. Repealing it is a matter of justice, public safety, and effective governance.
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After Boston bombings: Beware Russia-US cooperation on counter-terrorism
After the Boston bombings, Russian President Putin and US President Obama announced closer cooperation on counter-terrorism. But Americans should have their eyes wide open about any counter-terrorism agreements with Russia.
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Immigration reform is a women's issue
The overwhelming majority of undocumented women are mothers – high-value, low-risk members of society. As workers, wives, and pillars of their communities, they have particular needs from any immigration reform bill.
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Motive in Boston bombings: Look to tribal code of honor
The Tsarnaev brothers, suspects in the Boston bombings, are ethnic Chechens, stemming from a tribal society in which a code of honor and revenge plays a major role. As questions turn to motive, this code may be far more relevant than the brothers' views of Islam.
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Egypt's misguided search for heroes
A change of mind-set about Egypt's history and future is necessary in that country. The history of nations is not defined by heroes in the presidential palace but by heroes on the street. Egypt must focus on building citizen-led institutions to best meet current and future challenges.
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Boston bombing: Media haste makes mistakes
The rush for information about the Chechen suspects in the Boston bombing has led to mistaken reporting and pointing to innocents. The authorities, though, have not misled the public. It is important to let them do their jobs, and not rush to a judgment that may well be false.
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Why the 90 percent lost on gun background checks
The Senate defeated background checks for gun sales, despite 90 percent of Americans favoring broader checks. The simplest explanation for this is Senate procedures, but NRA intensity counts for a lot. The way ahead for gun control groups is to match the NRA email for email.
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Talks with North Korea? Better to apply financial pressure (+video)
South Korea and the US must be skeptical about future talks, not least because North Korea has no incentive to change. However, the North is vulnerable to financial pressure, as seen when the US once sanctioned an Asian bank that handled North Korean money.
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Mexico should take a more active stance on US immigration reform
The Mexican government cannot afford the luxury of ignoring what is happening on immigration reform in the big and powerful North. And yet, it has taken a passive attitude. There are good historical reasons for this, but not a good one today.
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Why I'll run the Boston Marathon again in 2014
Angry people set off the bombs at the Boston Marathon. We runners are angry, too, but we're going to use that as fuel to train harder and become better at the sport we love, so when we show up in 2014, we'll be ready to do our best in memory of those who fell on Monday.
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