Author Archives: wallwritings

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About wallwritings

From 1972 through 1999, James M. Wall was editor and publisher of the Christian Century magazine, based in Chicago, lllinois. He was a Contributing Editor of the Century from 1999 until July, 2017. He has written this blog, wall writings.me, since it was launched April 27, 2008. If you would like to receive Wall Writings alerts when new postings are added to this site, send a note, saying, Please Add Me, to jameswall8@gmail.com Biography: Journalism was Jim's undergraduate college major at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. He has earned two MA degrees, one from Emory, and one from the University of Chicago, both in religion. He is an ordained United Methodist clergy person. He served for two years in the US Air Force, and three additional years in the USAF reserve. While serving on active duty with the Alaskan Command, he reached the rank of first lieutenant. He has worked as a sports writer for both the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, was editor of the United Methodist magazine, Christian Advocate for ten years, and editor and publisher of the Christian Century magazine for 27 years. James M Wall died March 22, 2021 at age 92. His family appreciates all of his readers, even those who may have disagreed with his well-informed writings.

Bibi Wins with Racism and Revoked Promise

by James M. Wall Reality crashed down on those who had hoped the March 17 Knesset elections might lead to a more moderate future Israeli leadership. The election returns brought the news, Benjamin Netanyahu had won again. He won in large part … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Middle East Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Bibi and 47 Senators Strike Dark Discordant Note

by James M. Wall A week before Prime Minister Netanyahu’s March 3 campaign speech to the U.S. Congress, Secretary of State John Kerry warned the Congress that the Israeli leader was up to his old tricks. Not only did the Israeli … Continue reading

Posted in Iran, Israel, John Kerry, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Netanyahu, Obama | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Obama Names Malley New Middle East Chief

By James M. Wall Three days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress, President Barack Obama delivered a stinging response to the latest in a series of Netanyahu diplomatic insults. The President chose Robert Malley (right) as Special Assistant … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Advertising, Iran, Israel, Media, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Netanyahu, Obama, Palestinians, Politics and Elections | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Bibi “Skip It” List Included Senator Warren

by James M. Wall Senator Elizabeth Warren (D:Mass) did not attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Tuesday morning speech to Congress. A possible 2016 presidential candidate, Warren was the highest profile senator to join the list of senators and representatives who were no-shows. In … Continue reading

Posted in Israel, Middle East Politics, Netanyahu, Obama, Politics and Elections | 8 Comments

At War With Those “Who Have Perverted Islam”

by James M. Wall During a speech at this week’s White House  conference on countering violent extremism, President Obama described the enemy that calls itself ISIL: “We are not at war with Islam; we are at war with people who have perverted … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Jeb Bush, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Obama | 11 Comments

Good Morning America, Bibi is Coming to Town

by James M. Wall Good Morning America: Do you know who has stolen your Congress? In two weeks you could hear from one of the culprits. On March 3, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to speak to what was … Continue reading

Posted in Iran, Iran, Israel, Middle East, Netanyahu, Obama | 10 Comments

Obama “Preacher In Chief” at Prayer Breakfast

by James M. Wall President Obama’s speech at the 2015 National Prayer Breakfast February 5, was not a speech. It was a sermon. “Those fortunate to see the speech witnessed President Obama as Preacher in Chief.” This critique was rendered … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East Politics, Obama, Religious Faith | 2 Comments

Pressure Grows to Delay or Drop Bibi’s Speech

by James M. Wall Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been “reaching out”, as the New York Times delicately puts it, to Democratic leaders in the U.S. Congress who were blindsided by Republican House Speaker John Boehner’s invitation to Netanyahu to address Congress March … Continue reading

Posted in Israel, John Kerry, Middle East, Netanyahu, Obama, US govermemt, War | Leave a comment

Barack to Bibi: Stop “Meddling” In Our Politics

by James M. Wall On Monday morning, January 12, U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. An unidentified senior American official said that Obama warned Netanyahu “not to meddle in the battle” Obama was … Continue reading

Posted in Israel, Middle East Politics, Netanyahu, Obama | 10 Comments

Obama to Senators: Choose U.S. Over Donors

by James M. Wall On Thursday of last week, President Barack Obama spoke to a group of Democratic senators in a private meeting during a Baltimore hotel political retreat. He asked the senators not to support a bill, drafted by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) … Continue reading

Posted in Iran, Israel, Middle East, Obama | 4 Comments