All The Monitor's View
- The truth about South African ‘land seizures’
The country is undertaking a difficult but needed debate on how to put more farmland into the hands of its poor black majority.
- Ending North Korea’s nuclear program: What now?
President Trump’s domestic troubles could endanger – or perhaps impel – a deal with North Korea’s Kim. The benefits for both sides remain in place.
- A year later, Puerto Rico says ‘Come on down’
New studies on the effects of hurricane Maria highlight a much greater loss of life than reported earlier, as well as inadequate responses by both federal and local governments. But Puerto Ricans see brighter skies ahead.
- Where are we headed? Answers may lie in the past
The Great Recession saw interest in the humanities, such as history, plummet in favor of ‘practical’ college studies. But today’s turmoil may have reawakened interest in just how we got here.
- The women activists for peace in Syria
As the Assad regime prepares to take the last opposition stronghold, women in that province are working to remove the main excuse for such an attack.
- Tackle the rush to sports gambling
A Supreme Court ruling has left states free to legalize sports wagering, raising issues of how to protect the integrity of sports. Congress is starting to weigh in.
- Why Myanmar must look in the mirror
A UN probe of military atrocities against the minority Rohingya also points to the country’s need to unify around a national identity, preferably one that is inclusive.
- Argentina tries breaking corrupt habits
A trove of evidence about payoffs to former presidents has accelerated a two-year campaign against corruption and brought greater promise of clean governance.
- McCain’s mutiny against war bitterness
Of all his admirable traits, it was the former POW’s forgiveness toward Vietnam that helped reconcile the US to its former adversary.
- How to help China’s Muslims
The mass internment of minority Uyghurs in western China is just the latest assaults on Muslims and demands far more than denunciation. What’s needed is religious response to such religious intolerance.
- How generosity can help end Latin America’s biggest crisis
As Venezuela falls apart and triggers a mass exodus, Colombia extends a welcome to the refugees, perhaps encouraging international moves to end the crisis.
- A plea deal’s spotlight on Trump – and campaign finance rules
An assertion by the president’s former lawyer could trigger an impeachment hearing and a closer look at the role of campaign finance rules in a democracy.
- Greece’s day of redemption
The official end of a bailout of the Greek economy marks a triumph for European unity and a new dawn for reform in Greece.
- Trump’s call for patient capitalism
The president asked federal regulators to lessen the pressure on corporations to report quarterly profits. He joins many others in trying to ensure long-term investments built on fundamental values, such as innovation and integrity.
- The nature of talking in Turkey
World jitters over Turkey’s economy are based on its leader not listening to deliberative bodies, such as the central bank, that can sift the best in wise advice, even from dissenters.
- The election’s ‘pink wave’ that is driving equality
Women are being nominated for office in record numbers this year, perhaps revealing how views on gender are shifting.
- A cold-war anniversary that still warms the heart
Fifty years after Moscow ended the Prague Spring by force, the world continues to benefit from the lesson of truth-telling that was spawned by that historic event.
- An alignment for peace in Afghanistan
Combat continues in America’s longest war, but recent moves toward negotiations reveal changes may be afoot in the Taliban and other players.
- The qualities of mediating a US-Iran settlement
As it has done before, the tiny sultanate of Oman may act as a neutral party for Iran and the US to negotiate a stand-down. It brings special mediating skills rooted in a commandment found in the three Abrahamic faiths.
- Paving Mexico’s road to reconciliation
In preparing to take office Dec. 1, the president-elect is on a listening tour, soliciting and offering ideas on ways to stem rising violence. The boldest idea would balance mercy and justice for criminals, with a special focus on victims and truth-telling.