Author Archives: wallwritings

Unknown's avatar

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.

Barack Obama: “I’m Not Going to Comment” on Israel’s Nukes

by James M. Wall During the closing press conference at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington Tuesday, The Washington Post’s Scott Wilson, asked President Obama: “Will you call on Israel to declare its nuclear program and sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty?” … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Middle East Politics | 5 Comments

Bibi Skips Obama Nuke Meeting; Still Not Ready to Confess Dimona

by James M. Wall Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu accepted President Obama’s invitation to attend this week’s nuclear arms discussions. After further reflection he told Obama he would send a substitute, Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor. Word had reached Bibi that … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East Politics | 8 Comments

Nabi Saleh Has Endured Land Confiscation Since 1977

by James M. Wall If your understanding of the current contretemps between Israel and the United States is limited to what you read or see in the Main Stream Media, then the village of Al Nabi Saleh (the Prophet Salih) should … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East Politics | 5 Comments

Holy Week 2010: Sumoud, Check Points, Home Demolitions

by James M. Wall Sumoud? Sumoud is an Arabic word meaning “steadfastness”.  The occupied Palestinian people who live in Jerusalem this Holy Week, 2010, face check points, home demolitions, and the depressing news that the Congress of the United States … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East Politics, Religious Faith | 7 Comments

They Differ on Health Care But Never, So Far, on What Bibi Wants

By James M. Wall Bibi Netanyahu came to Washington and received a cool reception from President Obama. But the Congress embraced him with its usual enthusiasm. Did it matter that Bibi was still issuing “build, baby, build” orders for East … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East Politics, Politics and Elections | 8 Comments

Who Gave Bibi Permission to Own Palestine? Where Do We Start

by James M. Wall Christopher Dickey currently serves as Newsweek’s Paris bureau chief and Middle East regional editor. In a recent Newsweek online column, Dickey recalled a story from 1996. “Back when Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu was elected Israel’s prime minister … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Middle East Politics, Politics and Elections | 8 Comments

“Joe, you shouldda left town and stopped payment on the check.”

By James M. Wall Wish I could take credit for the quote in the above title. Can’t do it. Credit belongs to “Rick’s” response to Paul Woodward’sWar in Contextreaction to the treatment Vice President Joe Biden received from the Israeli … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East Politics | 17 Comments

Finding Shared Communities In The Academy’s Final Ten Films

by James M.  Wall The smartest thing the Motion Picture Academy did in its 82nd annual Academy Awards voting this year was to return to a practice it last used in 1943. That was the year the Academy named Casablanca … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East Politics, Movies | 5 Comments

Hasbara Worked for Israel Versus Gaza; Next in line, US Churches

by James M. Wall Jane Adas has written an essay for Link magazine on the hasbara strategy  Israel used to spin a favorable image of its 23-day military assault on Gaza’s civilian population. The Goldstone Report saw through the Israeli … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Middle East Politics | 3 Comments

Israel Goes to War Using Anti-BDS Warriors and Smiling Tourists

by James M. Wall Coming soon to your US tourist sites and church conferences: Israel’s two new campaign armies: Anti-BDS Warriors and Smiling Tourists. Israel wants you to forget about the grief and suffering that continues in Gaza. They are telling … Continue reading

Posted in -Movies and Religion, Middle East Politics, Religion and politics | 11 Comments