Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: why religious freedom should be a US priority, looking at jihad from a century ago, and community leaders working towards peace in Baltimore.
AROUND THE WORLD
Why Religious Liberty Should Be a Foreign Policy Priority
by Joe Carter
Action Institute PowerBlog
http://blog.acton.org/archives/78028-why-religious-liberty-should-be-a-foreign-policy-priority.html
Rather than trying to secretly dismantle the USCIRF (as happened a few years ago) or ignore their recommendations (as is mostly happening now), Congress and the President should give the commission a more active role in policymaking. The joint freedoms of religion and conscience constitute the “first freedom” and are deserving of protection both in our own country and abroad. Indeed, the moral center and chief objective of American diplomacy should be the promotion of religious freedom.
A War to End Jihad
by Eugene Rogan
New York Times op-ed
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/02/opinion/a-war-to-end-jihad.html?ref=opinion
In a striking parallel to events a century ago, the threat of far-reaching jihad—most recently in the name of the Islamic State—continues to play on the minds of Western leaders. But it does so far beyond any evidence of wide appeal among a vast majority of the globe’s Muslims. So Western leaders can learn from the experience of a century ago.
Kenya’s Wrongheaded Approach to Terrorism
by Hussein Khalid
Washington Post op-ed
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/prodding-kenya-forward/2015/05/01/e1177c74-ef86-11e4-a55f-38924fca94f9_story.html
Unfortunately, my government has decided to double down on a long-standing counterterrorism strategy that includes human rights abuses and the indiscriminate targeting of the country’s Muslims. This is guaranteed to make the situation worse, not better. As Kenya’s loyal partner, the United States must persuade Nairobi to drop this unsound strategy.
Afghan Anger May Lead to Change
National editorial
http://www.thenational.ae/opinion/editorial/afghan-anger-may-lead-to-change
The news that 49 people, including 19 police officers, have gone on trial in Afghanistan over the killing of a young woman is a step in the right direction, not only for the rule of law in Afghanistan, but for gender relations. Too often in that country, crimes against women have gone unpunished or been dealt with between families in an ad hoc and unsatisfactory way.
In Yemen, Trying to Save People Without Selling Out
by Lara Jakes
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/05/04/trying-to-save-people-without-selling-out-in-yemen/
Yemenis desperately need hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid being offered by Saudi Arabia. But relief workers are wary of taking the money while Saudi airstrikes continue.
DOMESTIC
Taking to the Baltimore Streets, but for Peace and Progress
by Ron Nixon and Scott Shane
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/30/us/taking-to-thebaltimore-streets-but-for-peace-and-progress.html
In Ferguson, Mo., community leaders seemed unable to come together to stem the violence after the police killing of Michael Brown in August. But in Baltimore, an array of pastors, politicians, community leaders and even gang members have repeatedly taken to the streets to calm crowds, effectively helping the police impose a curfew so far.
Detroit Native Ben Carson Takes Faith to President Bid
by Melissa Nann Burke and Chad Livengood
Detroit News
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2015/04/30/detroit-native-ben-carson-takes-faith-president-bid/26676587/
Faith has permeated Carson's personal, professional and now his public life. His political manifesto contains frequent references to the Ten Commandments and God's creation. He uses parables to explain policy goals. His 2014 book "One Nation" slams the "godless" government.
A Senator’s Faith—and Humility
by E.J. Dionne
Washington Post op-ed
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-senators-faith----and-humility/2015/05/03/5d100290-f038-11e4-8666-a1d756d0218e_story.html
It’s to the credit of the Secular Coalition for America crowd that they cheered a speech that was as challenging as it was affirming. Coons’s message was deceptively simple: that we must find ways of “getting past some of our misunderstandings of each other.” The problem: Respecting each other on matters of faith and politics seems beyond our current capacities.
Citing Religious Beliefs, Muslim Gitmo Inmates Object to Female Guards
by David Welna
NPR
http://www.npr.org/2015/05/02/403572938/citing-religious-beliefs-muslim-gitmo-inmates-object-to-female-guards
A judge has blocked women from shackling and escorting the five Muslim men on trial for plotting the Sept. 11 attacks. Soldiers, in turn, have filed Equal Opportunity complaints against the judge.
Why We’re Honoring Charlie Hebdo
by Andrew Solomon and Suzanne Nossel
New York Times op-ed
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/02/opinion/why-were-honoring-charlie-hebdo.html?ref=todayspaper
Over the last week, PEN American Center has been criticized by many writers, including some of our members, over our decision to present our PEN/Toni and James C. Goodale Free Expression Courage Award to Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical magazine that was the target of a murderous attack in January. The heated debate proves the relevance of groups devoted to freedom of expression. It also demonstrates that in an open society, well-intentioned people with shared values can interpret and weigh principles differently.
Why Religious Liberty Should Be a Foreign Policy Priority
by Joe Carter
Action Institute PowerBlog
http://blog.acton.org/archives/78028-why-religious-liberty-should-be-a-foreign-policy-priority.html
Rather than trying to secretly dismantle the USCIRF (as happened a few years ago) or ignore their recommendations (as is mostly happening now), Congress and the President should give the commission a more active role in policymaking. The joint freedoms of religion and conscience constitute the “first freedom” and are deserving of protection both in our own country and abroad. Indeed, the moral center and chief objective of American diplomacy should be the promotion of religious freedom.
A War to End Jihad
by Eugene Rogan
New York Times op-ed
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/02/opinion/a-war-to-end-jihad.html?ref=opinion
In a striking parallel to events a century ago, the threat of far-reaching jihad—most recently in the name of the Islamic State—continues to play on the minds of Western leaders. But it does so far beyond any evidence of wide appeal among a vast majority of the globe’s Muslims. So Western leaders can learn from the experience of a century ago.
Kenya’s Wrongheaded Approach to Terrorism
by Hussein Khalid
Washington Post op-ed
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/prodding-kenya-forward/2015/05/01/e1177c74-ef86-11e4-a55f-38924fca94f9_story.html
Unfortunately, my government has decided to double down on a long-standing counterterrorism strategy that includes human rights abuses and the indiscriminate targeting of the country’s Muslims. This is guaranteed to make the situation worse, not better. As Kenya’s loyal partner, the United States must persuade Nairobi to drop this unsound strategy.
Afghan Anger May Lead to Change
National editorial
http://www.thenational.ae/opinion/editorial/afghan-anger-may-lead-to-change
The news that 49 people, including 19 police officers, have gone on trial in Afghanistan over the killing of a young woman is a step in the right direction, not only for the rule of law in Afghanistan, but for gender relations. Too often in that country, crimes against women have gone unpunished or been dealt with between families in an ad hoc and unsatisfactory way.
In Yemen, Trying to Save People Without Selling Out
by Lara Jakes
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/05/04/trying-to-save-people-without-selling-out-in-yemen/
Yemenis desperately need hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid being offered by Saudi Arabia. But relief workers are wary of taking the money while Saudi airstrikes continue.
DOMESTIC
Taking to the Baltimore Streets, but for Peace and Progress
by Ron Nixon and Scott Shane
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/30/us/taking-to-thebaltimore-streets-but-for-peace-and-progress.html
In Ferguson, Mo., community leaders seemed unable to come together to stem the violence after the police killing of Michael Brown in August. But in Baltimore, an array of pastors, politicians, community leaders and even gang members have repeatedly taken to the streets to calm crowds, effectively helping the police impose a curfew so far.
Detroit Native Ben Carson Takes Faith to President Bid
by Melissa Nann Burke and Chad Livengood
Detroit News
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2015/04/30/detroit-native-ben-carson-takes-faith-president-bid/26676587/
Faith has permeated Carson's personal, professional and now his public life. His political manifesto contains frequent references to the Ten Commandments and God's creation. He uses parables to explain policy goals. His 2014 book "One Nation" slams the "godless" government.
A Senator’s Faith—and Humility
by E.J. Dionne
Washington Post op-ed
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-senators-faith----and-humility/2015/05/03/5d100290-f038-11e4-8666-a1d756d0218e_story.html
It’s to the credit of the Secular Coalition for America crowd that they cheered a speech that was as challenging as it was affirming. Coons’s message was deceptively simple: that we must find ways of “getting past some of our misunderstandings of each other.” The problem: Respecting each other on matters of faith and politics seems beyond our current capacities.
Citing Religious Beliefs, Muslim Gitmo Inmates Object to Female Guards
by David Welna
NPR
http://www.npr.org/2015/05/02/403572938/citing-religious-beliefs-muslim-gitmo-inmates-object-to-female-guards
A judge has blocked women from shackling and escorting the five Muslim men on trial for plotting the Sept. 11 attacks. Soldiers, in turn, have filed Equal Opportunity complaints against the judge.
Why We’re Honoring Charlie Hebdo
by Andrew Solomon and Suzanne Nossel
New York Times op-ed
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/02/opinion/why-were-honoring-charlie-hebdo.html?ref=todayspaper
Over the last week, PEN American Center has been criticized by many writers, including some of our members, over our decision to present our PEN/Toni and James C. Goodale Free Expression Courage Award to Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical magazine that was the target of a murderous attack in January. The heated debate proves the relevance of groups devoted to freedom of expression. It also demonstrates that in an open society, well-intentioned people with shared values can interpret and weigh principles differently.
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