All The Monitor's View
- The Ann Romney flap and women's roles
The flap over the Hilary Rosen comment about stay-at-home mom Ann Romney only exposes a deeper issue about self-sacrifice – for both men and women.
- Lift Latin America's 'drug curse'
At the Summit of the Americas, Obama will likely be asked to discuss alternatives to the get-tough tactics on the drug trade – even to endorse legalization. He should point to Latin America's successes in giving economic alternatives to drug trafficking.
- A tsunami-warning system makes waves
Big lessons can be learned from Wednesday's giant earthquake off Indonesia that led to an Indian Ocean-wide tsunami warning. The new system, set up since the big 2004 disaster, worked.
- North Korea rocket launch: fireworks of fear
North Korea plans to launch a missile by April 16 in violation of UN sanctions. It will be yet another provocative act by a regime that has long used blackmail and crisis to simply survive and to win concessions.
- As Syria killings rise, a plea for world conscience
As a UN cease-fire effort in Syria fails with more killings – and the Syrian Army fires into Turkish territory – an end to the violence will require greater appeals to conscience. Will Russia listen?
- A Romney-Rubio ticket? Not if Hispanics don't see themselves as Hispanic.
A Romney-Rubio presidential ticket may play well to the notion of a "Hispanic vote." But a Pew poll shows why that idea falls flat.
- Connecticut's wise move against the death penalty
A key vote in Connecticut against the death penalty means the state will likely join 16 other states in ending this harsh sentence. Practical reasons were cited for the move, but moral ones need to be argued to end capital punishment in the US.
- Goldilocks banks: not too big, not too greedy
Britain launches the Big Society Bank to invest in social causes while China, Europe, and the US worry about big banks becoming big liabilities.
- Obama's swipe at the Supreme Court
Worried that five of the justices will overturn the health-care law, Obama at first claims the court is 'unelected' and then backtracks. He must accurately portray the court's deep role in society.
- The real victory in the Myanmar election
The Myanmar election produced more than a small victory for Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy. It also firmed up the moral legitimacy of those seeking freedom in Burma.
- The odds and ends of Mega Millions jackpot lottery
The long odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot lottery is just a start into understanding why gambling is the wrong way to live up to one's abilities to get ahead in life.
- Mexico presidential campaign: Off to a good start
The two frontrunners in the Mexican presidential campaign now talk of reforming the state oil monopoly, Pemex. It's a sign of Mexico's hopeful future, despite the drug wars.
- Supreme Court wrestles with a more dependent world
The high court hears a complaint from states about the health-care law's 'coercion' to accept an expensive expansion of Medicaid. The issue reflects a more dependent world in government, trade, and high-tech.
- Islam's defining moment with democracy
Islamist parties now dominate the constitution-writing process in post-revolution Egypt and Tunisia. If they can make Islam compatible with democracy, they will give hope to others in the Middle East still struggling in the unfinished Arab Spring.
- Trayvon Martin case: What cities can learn
Cities like Sanford must improve their community-building to reduce the kind of fear that might have led George Zimmerman to confront a hoodie-covered Trayvon Martin.
- Army on trial too as Sgt. Robert Bales faces charges for Afghanistan shootings
Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales was charged Friday for the Afghanistan shootings, but Congress must also probe the Pentagon over the way it screens soldiers sent back to war after an injury.
- After Saints football scandal, NFL must end 'Hunger Games' culture
The NFL penalties against the New Orleans Saints football team for purposely injuring other players may not be enough to curb the game's excessive violence – or those fans who enjoy it.
- Supreme Court and health care law: state sovereignty at stake
The Supreme Court hears various challenges to the health-care law next week. While the individual mandate will be the focus, state sovereignty is also at stake, especially in state reform of health care.
- Voters and their state's ethical fitness
An extensive probe of 'corruption risk indicators' by a team of journalists shows that most of the 50 states don't reflect voter demands for integrity in official conduct.
- What the Apple dividend really pays out
The world's most valuable company, Apple, finally shares the wealth with investors. And Goldman Sachs tries to recover from the Greg Smith oped. The world of high finance is finally reckoning with its social purpose.