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.

“Something Rotten in the State of Israel”

by James M. Wall Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has announced that the Palestinian Authority will join the International Criminal Court (ICC), a long overdue action which potentially could bring the state of Israel to an international courtroom at the Hague. Al Jazeera reported that “Palestinian … Continue reading

Posted in Israel, Middle East, Netanyahu, Palestinians, Religious Faith | 7 Comments

The Smells of Gaza and New Jersey

by James M. Wall Richard Ford’s latest novel, Let Me Be Frank With You, begins when Frank Bascombe drives into a suburb of Haddam, a New Jersey town recently destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.  Frank had been a real estate salesman in the community. … Continue reading

Posted in -Movies and politics, Gaza, Israel, Media, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Movies, USA, War | 10 Comments

“A Taboo on Telling the Truth About Palestine”

By James M. Wall Psalm 2:3 is sung in George Frideric Handel’s Messiah before the arrival of the triumphant Hallelujah chorus, when audiences rise to their feet, following the tradition set by England’s King George II at the Oratorio’s first London performance. Handel’s Sacred … Continue reading

Posted in Gaza, Human Rights, Israel, Media, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Palestinians, Religious Faith, USA | 9 Comments

U.S. Arms Deal Will Increase Israel’s Kill Power

by James M. Wall In October of this year, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon came to Washington to visit with his counterpart,  U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.  He asked for visits with other U.S. leaders, including Vice President Joe Biden.  The … Continue reading

Posted in Folk Music, Human Rights, Israel, Media, Middle East Politics, Netanyahu, Obama, Palestinians, USA | 4 Comments

“Dahiya” Author Eisenkott Named Next IDF Chief

by James M. Wall Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced this week that on February 15, 2015, Major General Gadi Eisenkott (right) will be sworn in as Chief of Staff of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces). General Eisenkott is well-known in Israel … Continue reading

Posted in Gaza, Hillary Clinton, Israel, Media, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Netanyahu, Obama, Palestinians, Presbyterian Church USA, Religious Faith, War | 6 Comments

A Circle of Violence: Deir Yassin to Har Nof

By James M. Wall Early Tuesday, November 18, two young Palestinians broke into a synagogue in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of West Jerusalem’s Har Nof. Armed with a gun, knives and axes, the assailants killed three rabbis and a fourth worshipper. The New … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Israel, Media, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Movies, Netanyahu, Palestinians, Religious Faith | 10 Comments

Updating JFK In Berlin: “Ich Bin Ein Palestinian”

by James M. Wall When President John F. Kennedy told the world on June 26, 1963. “Ich bin ein Berliner”, he was asserting his solidarity with Berliners separated by a wall.  Thomas Putnam, director of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library … Continue reading

Posted in Israel, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Netanyahu, Obama | 6 Comments

“The Genius of Israeli Evil: It Poses as Concern”

by James M. Wall Amira Hass is a Jewish journalist who has worked since 1993 as Ha’aretz’ correspondent in the Palestinian Occupied Territories. Born in Jerusalem in 1956, Hass has been with Haaretz since 1989. She has lived in the West Bank city of Ramallah since … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

What Happens In Gaza After The U.S. Elections?

By James M. Wall National U.S. congressional elections come around every two years. The latest arrives Tuesday, November 4. The election will relieve U.S. television viewers of a steady diet of noxious attack ads funded, in an alarming  measure, by the … Continue reading

Posted in Gaza, Hillary Clinton, Iran, Israel, Jeb Bush, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Netanyahu, Obama, Palestinians | 10 Comments

U.S. Leaders: “Listen to this Irish Senator”

by James M. Wall Irish Senator Averil Power (at right) stood before the Senate of Ireland this week and offered a motion which calls for the Irish Government to: “formally recognize the State of Palestine and do everything it can at … Continue reading

Posted in Gaza, Israel, Media, Middle East Politics, Palestinians | 10 Comments