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.

Trump’s Attack on Congressman John Lewis

by James M. Wall President-elect Donald Trump posted several insensitive and ill-informed tweets against Congressman John L. Lewis on the Saturday before Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.  The tweets displayed an ignorance of the facts about both Lewis’s history of public service, and … Continue reading

Posted in Donald Trump, Folk Music, Politics and Elections | 4 Comments

Using Fake News To Demean Trump Is Wrong

by James M. Wall One week before his inauguration, President-elect Trump was dealt an irresponsible, “warped and self-destructive” blow by the CIA and its allies in the media. This conclusion was reached by Glenn Greenwald, in The Intercept. Greenwald was quick to … Continue reading

Posted in Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Media, Politics and Elections, Television | 4 Comments

Trump: Stay Strong Israel; 1/20 Coming Fast

by James M. Wall As soon as the Congress arrived back to do the nation’s business on January 5, it bowed to Tel Aviv. Politico reports that “the House voted overwhelmingly [342 to 80] to rebuke the United Nations for passing a resolution that … Continue reading

Posted in Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Israel, Middle East, Middle East Politics, Netanyahu, Obama, Palestinians, Politics and Elections | Tagged | 7 Comments

Reich’s Counsel To Trump: Grow Up

by James M. Wall A New York Daily News headline published October 30, 1975, is one of the most famous headlines in modern journalism. The headline did not quote President Gerald Ford, but it editorialized exactly what the Daily News wanted to … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Politics and Elections | 8 Comments

Kerry: Settlements Put Two States “in Jeopardy”

by James M. Wall In a hard-hitting, long-overdue speech, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday strongly criticized Israel’s government, saying that Israel’s settlements put the two-state solution “in jeopardy”. Barak Ravid, diplomatic correspondent for Haaretz, reported that Kerry said “trends … Continue reading

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

Danger Ahead: First Unfettered Twitter President

by James M. Wall President-elect Donald J. Trump will be sworn in January 20th as the nation’s 45th president, following the most contentious, hate-filled presidential campaign in the nation’s history. Hillary Clinton, Trump’s Democratic challenger, won the 2016 popular vote by more than a 2 percent … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Which Trump Will We See After January 20?

by James M. Wall President-elect Donald J. Trump will soon hold the power of the White House. Any comment on “What Will Trump Do”, depends on which Trump emerges to exercise that power once he is inaugurated. There is the scripted Trump who does … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Focusing on Trump With “A Withering Gaze”

by James M. Wall On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, President-elect Donald Trump met with the publisher of The New York Times and some editors, columnists and reporters at the paper. Times’ columnist Charles Blow  was not at the meeting. The next … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Carter To Obama: Recognize Palestine Now

by James M. Wall In his Op-ed column in The New York Times, Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States, sent an urgent request to Barack Obama, the 44th President: “The simple but vital step this administration must take before its … Continue reading

Posted in Jimmy Carter, Middle East, Obama, Palestinians, USA | 11 Comments

“A tragedy in a man, a disaster in a president”

by James M. Wall In the film, The Best Man, written by Gore Vidal, a candidate for president, Joe Cantwell (Cliff Robertson), is arguing with his more principled opponent, William Russell (Henry Fonda). Exasperated at one point, Cantwell says to Russell, “I … Continue reading

Posted in -Movies and politics, Donald Trump, Media, Politics and Elections | 6 Comments