Archive for January, 2009
By James M. Wall Listening to the 59 Illinois state senators solemnly repeat their “yes” vote to remove Governor Rod Blagojevich from office, one had to wonder: How many of them thought, “there but for the grace of God go I”? […]
Filed under: Politics and Elections, Religion and politics | 5 Comments
by James M. Wall Waltz With Bashir, an animated documentary film by Israeli Director Ari Folman, arrived in U.S. theaters during the recent Israeli invasion of Gaza. During the invasion, Gary Kamiya wrote a review of the film for Salon.com. He entitled it: “What Waltz With Bashir can teach us […]
Filed under: -Movies and politics, Middle East Politics, Movies | Leave a Comment
Friday update follows below: by James M. Wall Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. Or, if you prefer, there is a God in Heaven who has finally figured enough is enough. You know the God I mean, the One who led President Barack Obama to choose George Mitchell as his Middle East envoy. OK, […]
Filed under: Middle East Politics | 3 Comments
“Lift Every Voice and Sing”
by James M. Wall After Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th president of the United States, he delivered a stirring inaugural address that called on Americans to join with him in addressing the problems facing the nation. Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. […]
Filed under: Religion and politics | 3 Comments
by James M. Wall On Sunday morning, President-elect Barack Obama and his family worshipped together at the 19th Street Baptist Church. The Obamas’ new hometown newspaper, the Washington Post, covered the event: President-elect Barack Obama and his family attended services this morning […]
Filed under: Religion and politics | Leave a Comment
by James M. Wall Late Saturday night, Israel and its allies, the US and Egypt, made a grand show of calling a “time out” (also known as a “ceasefire”) in Israel’s relentless attacks against Gaza’s civilian population. The US has agreed for its part to monitor the border between Egypt and Gaza. Egypt’s President […]
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
by James M. Wall With the invasion of Gaza ending its third week, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported Friday, January 16, that the Palestinian death toll is now 1115, of whom 370 are children and 85 are women. The number of injured is at least 5,015, of whom 1,745 are children and 740 are women. […]
Filed under: Media, Middle East | 1 Comment
Memo to Team Obama: Read Rabbi Rosen and Roger Cohen Before You Announce Your Middle East Team
by James M. Wall On Sunday morning, our pastor led us in a ”Congregational Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant”. We were asked to respond to a series of questions, including this one: “Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and […]
Filed under: Middle East Politics, Religion and politics | 3 Comments
Update Number One: Read Roger Cohen’s column in today’s New York Times. It is not to be missed. He throws some cold water on the hopes recorded in this posting and my “How come there ain’t no brothers on the wall? posting. I trust you are able to link to Cohen’s column because I don’t want to spoil it […]
Filed under: Middle East Politics, Politics and Elections | 1 Comment
Question for Barack Obama on Middle East Envoys: How come there ain’t no brothers on the wall?
by James M. Wall […]
Filed under: Middle East Politics | 2 Comments
