All The Monitor's View
The Nice attack: The Internet as instigatorAs more terrorist attacks appear inspired by the Islamic State’s appeal over social media, the struggle must move to the Internet, and winning the high moral ground with alternative narratives.
The rush to curb a heroin/opioid crisisCongress, in rare bipartisanship, passes a law that will help support the many local efforts to end a heroin ‘epidemic’ and a prescription opioid crisis. Still left undone: a consensus on whether addiction is a ‘disease.’
Rio Games as test of Olympics' purposeBrazil is experiencing turmoil even as it prepares to host the 2016 Summer Games. Will it be able to fulfill one of the goals of the modern Olympics: promoting peace?
A ruling tells China why no country is an islandFor the first time, an international tribunal rules against China and its claim on the territory of another country. The decision is the basis for other countries to question China’s denial of universal values, especially those needed for world order.
Can Britain’s new leader be a mender?After the country’s vote to leave the EU, and a leadership battle within the Conservative party, Theresa May might bring the right talents to heal Britain’s big divisions.
The vigilance needed after DallasOne of Dallas's first official actions after the shooting of police was a prayer vigil in the city’s Thanks-Giving Square. Such prayer is not an evasion of solutions but a solvent for healing and community renewal.
How to enjoy a corruption-free dayAs more countries turn to mass street protests to fight corruption, the people of Zimbabwe try a one-day boycott of all public activity. They tapped the power of nonconformity to send a message about the need for clean governance.
Muslim reaction to the Medina bombingEven violent jihadists condemned an attack in Medina, one of Islam’s most sacred cities. The reaction shows the limits of justifying violence in the name of purifying a religion of alleged apostates.
With yet another crisis, Europe relies on its calm centerBritain’s vote to leave the EU has again pushed Germany into asking for patience as the Continent reflects on its reaction to one more big challenge.
Post-Brexit, Britain fixes a rise in immigrant abuseEven as abuse of immigrants increases after the “Leave” victory, British groups rally to replace this spike in hate with messages of love, respect, and equality
Istanbul airport attack: Why Turkey’s response mattersThe Islamic world’s struggle to answer “who rules Muslims?” takes a big turn as Islamic State escalates its attacks against democratic Turkey.
Relieving the fears of the college-boundWhen more than a quarter of college grads with student loans regret going to college, Congress must focus on the quality of higher ed as much as student loan debt.
VW makes amends. A model in rebuilding trust?Volkswagen agrees with US regulators to pay nearly $15 billion for its diesel-emissions deception. Other steps are needed to help it become a company leader in how to restore a reputation.
The law’s fine line between graft and accessA Supreme Court ruling draws a distinction between corruption and paying for access to government. Citizens and their elected leaders, not courts, must ensure integrity in fair access to officials.
For Europe, lessons about identity in Britain’s exit voteEurope’s long history in defining new collective identities will continue as it deals with the effects of Britain’s vote to ‘leave’ the European Union.
The global impact of the battle of FallujahIraq’s retaking of the Islamic State stronghold hints at progress by the country’s majority Shiites in treating the minority Sunni as equal citizens, especially in the treatment of Fallujah’s fleeing Sunnis.
Colombia creates peace before ending a warTo end its long conflict, Colombia’s government and rebel leaders first had to strike agreements on what peace would look like. Only now have they agreed on a cease-fire. It is a novel approach to end other wars.
Let mayors rule the world?With many democracies polarized in their national politics, the recent elections of reformist and nontraditional mayors reflect a trend toward cities as the best model of governance. The key: Local communities can better build trust.
How real is job insecurity?Presidential candidates play to the perception of job insecurity, but new data analysis shows the US has ‘the most secure job market in the past 20 years.’
Olympics’ anti-doping leapWho was really behind a decision to ban Russian track-and-field athletes from the Summer Games over doping? Clean athletes who want sports to reflect a fair test of transcending human limits.
