All The Monitor's View
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.
Father's Day: a role for everyoneFather’s Day recognizes the importance of being a dad. Today 1 out of 3 children lives in a home with no father present on a regular basis. But anyone can lend a hand to kids without a dad in their lives.
Falling white birthrate: The new American ‘us’America's white majority is slipping away faster than ever, affecting issues from the immigration debate to the future of the economy.
More light on the NSASome government actions must be clandestine. But US citizens are being told so little about government spying on them that they lack the information they need to have an informed opinion about it.
The US economy's hidden STEM jobsPeople with PhDs aren’t the only contributors to a high-tech economy. Lots of good jobs will exist for those with less than a bachelor's degree.
Getting the fix out of sportsSports in India, Europe, and the US all suffer from match-fixing. The corrupting influence is sports betting, a vice that shouldn't be further encouraged.
Obama helps nip pot legalization in Latin America. How about in US?President Obama helped prevent a move toward pot legalization by some Latin American leaders. But will he be as bold against Colorado, Washington state?
Spying on DNA, Verizon, and free willNew technologies extend the reach of surveillance tools to not only DNA and Verizon calls but also emotions and brain waves. Will this lead to a denial of individuals having moral agency and autonomy of thought?
Why this China-US summit must succeedThe June 7-8 summit between Barack Obama and Xi Jinping could help define a grand narrative of cooperation that belies predictions of inevitable China-US conflict.
Sex assault in the military: Victims need trust, careAs Congress and the Pentagon rush reforms to curb sex assaults in the military, they must focus foremost on raising trust in military justice and in the care of victims. Only than will reporting rates rise.
In Turkey, peaceful protests in a declining democracyPeaceful protests in Turkey against the increasingly authoritarian rule of Erdogan's Islamic-based party are a needed corrective, not a revolution. They show a fearless, tweet-oiled, even leaderless uprising to save democracy.
'Breakthrough' in Israeli-Palestinian conflict?In a surprise opportunity for peace, a few hundred business leaders in Israel and Palestinian areas join up to demand their governments make a deal. Unlike other grass-roots efforts, this one has both clout and the courage of conscience.
Americans see religion in decline yet want more of it. What's up with that?A Gallup poll shows people see less religious influence today, but they also say America would be better with more religion. Such attitudes reflect the social times more than personal faith. They also point to religion's endurance.
World-class tax evaders need a global responseWith Apple, Google, Amazon and other multinationals in the hot seat for their tax tactics, world leaders need to focus on transparency in tax policies and curbing the global race to cut corporate tax rates.
Why US must stop Russian missiles for SyriaPutin's decision to send S-300 missiles to Syria shows an amoral strategic move by Russia. It also shows up a lack of Western moral concern for the slaughter in Syria.
Syria's war can't drift into holy warWith Lebanon's Hezbollah fighters now officially involved in the Syrian war, the conflict becomes even more a religious and regional clash of Sunnis against Shiites. The prospect of Syria becoming a proxy 'holy war,' mainly between Iran and Saudi Arabia, adds urgency to calls for peace talks.
Obama reaches for moral high ground on drones, GitmoIn a moral defense of his anti-terror tactics, Obama really argues for a national, even global consensus to counter the ideas of Al Qaeda and others.
Helping China end its cybercrime spreeWhen Obama meets China's new leader next month, he should show how the rapid rise in Chinese cybercrime not only hurts the US but China's economy as well.
What tornado-hit cities like Moore have learnedThe tornado that hit the Oklahoma city of Moore – its fourth in 15 years – brought destruction but also brought out well-learned examples of resiliency, hope, and calm.
