All The Monitor's View
In Sanford and Cairo, a call to worship – and post-conflict peaceEgypt's Muslims began the holy month of Ramadan with some calling for national unity. In Sanford, Fla., pastors sought to heal a divided community after the George Zimmerman not-guilty verdict.
As US eyes retreat in Afghanistan, it must listen to MalalaThe young Pakistani girl is a model for the global struggle against the anti-women Taliban. With Obama weighing troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, Malala's speech to the UN today gives reasons to finish the job.
After two political revolutions, Egypt needs a cultural revolutionEgypt's political identity won't be resolved by politics or protests alone. An upwelling of culture since 2011 could help resolve the nation's many identity conflicts.
A welcome global shift against corruptionA world survey by Transparency International shows rising resentment against corruption – and for people acting on it. One of the most effective tools: higher levels of education.
How Pakistan prevails over Egypt in democracyWhile Egypt's military ousts an elected leader, Pakistan's stronger democracy holds its military to account for not searching, let alone finding, Osama bin Laden.
Why EU-US trade talks should be about more than tradeAs the European Union and the United States start talks for a transatlantic free-trade zone, they must see the opportunity to expand their common humanity as well.
Why Egypt now deserves world's helpHelping Egypt fix its economy is now as important for the West as helping it fix its democracy. The protests that led to the military ouster of President Mohamed Morsi were driven as much by economic suffering as political anger for his undemocratic ways.
After military ouster of Egypt's Morsi, a chance to get it rightThe causes for the military ouster of Egypt's elected president are what Egyptians must now address. First of all, they must develop a mutual trust for building a consensus on all of democracy's values. Tunisia serves as a good example.
When officials try to ban economic truthA mandate on Chinese media not to report a credit crunch is the latest example of governments trying to keep bad news under wraps. But the forces for honest financial data are too strong to defy.
Loss of Arizona firefighters must spur new thinking on wildfiresThe loss of 19 firefighters in Arizona can serve as reminder of why the US must deal with basic causes for a rise in forest fires. Stakeholders, from homeowners to the timber industry, must cooperate on solutions.
After protests, what Egypt can learn from MandelaMass protests in Egypt calling for the ouster of President Morsi reflect a young democracy in need of lessons in developing trust and reconciliation. Egyptians can find them on the opposite end of Africa in Mandela's example.
With Africa's eyes on Obama trip, a continent takes stock of its progressAs President Obama visits Africa – and the world tracks reports about Nelson Mandela – Africans are due praise for 15 years of triumphs.
A knot untied in Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriageThe Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage rightly pushes the issue back to the states, but also points to issues of liberty and sovereignty in how marriage is defined.
Supreme Court ruling hardly ends the issue in Voting Rights ActIn the Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act, the nine justices were at odds over an issue that still divides America: How to deal with old fears of any new types of racism.
In Texas affirmative-action ruling, Supreme Court seeks race-blind admissionsA Supreme Court ruling in the University of Texas affirmative-action case shows a stronger leaning toward race-neutral ways to help minorities. Indeed, new ways are needed to help the disadvantaged.
Don't bemoan Washington's boglandWith Congress in gridlock on issues like guns, immigration, and energy, Americans turn to states, cities, and private groups for action. This spirit of community and problem-solving will inevitably find its expression somewhere.
Obama's cold calculation on global warmingHundreds of existing coal-burning plants could be shut down under expected EPA rules aimed at curbing climate change. But such action must be accompanied by Obama appealing directly to people in coal-dependent states who would be making the big sacrifices.
Talking with the enemy: Obama, Taliban negotiate Afghanistan's futureWith the US and Taliban due to open talks, Obama's idea of negotiating an end to the Afghanistan war faces its big test. Fortunately, the Taliban will also be tested to face the new Afghan realities.
Brazil protests in a global trendThe Brazil protests follow those in Turkey and India, all three developing countries with established democracies. While the sparks for the protests differ, the theme is the same: Fix democracy; don't replace it.
Iran election's surprise winnerThe unexpected victory of Hassan Rohani In Iran's presidential election confirms his hint that legitimacy lies with the people, not the turbaned cleric elite.
