All Commentary
The Monitor's ViewObama'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.
OpinionTell your kids family stories. It could determine their future.The number of words a baby hears before age 3 correlates with IQ and success in school. And kids who know their families’ stories are better adjusted than kids who don’t. So the next time your kids ask for a story, don’t conjure up faraway kingdoms. Talk about their grandparents.
- A Christian Science PerspectiveSaying no to suicide
A Christian Science perspective: We each have a God-given right to feel the joy that is inherently ours.
The Monitor's ViewTalking 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.
OpinionOcean's little fish are a big dealSmall 'forage fish' are a crucial source for larger animals in the ocean ecosystem. Without little fish, there can be no big fish. Pacific coast fishing leaders should thus adopt safeguards to prohibit fishing of saury until it can be shown that this would not adversely impact the ecosystem.
- A Christian Science PerspectiveThe little things that matter
A Christian Science perspective: Little things can change the world.
OpinionObama's Germany trip can't be business as usualPresident Obama's speech in Berlin today shows that America needs Germany to help with global issues. But German power has limits. Obama needs fresh ideas to help Europe and to fortify the transatlantic relationship, because the circumstances that created this bond no longer exist.
The Monitor's ViewBrazil 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.
OpinionPut our kids first, Mr. Holder, and enforce federal law against marijuanaAnyone who is cultivating, selling, or distributing marijuana is violating the federal Controlled Substances Act, regardless of state law. Obama must enforce federal law and begin prosecutions to stop the proliferation of 'medical' and recreational marijuana that is harming our kids.
OpinionG8 leaders must convert words to action against sexual violence in war zonesSyria isn't the only important item on the agenda for the G8 summit in Northern Ireland this week. G8 countries are to be praised for addressing the sexual violence against women in conflict zones, but they must back up their words with funding and specific actions.
- A Christian Science PerspectiveInside help
A Christian Science perspective: While landing the right job may appear to demand a corporate insider, it’s always God who is directing us in the fulfillment of His divine plan.
The Monitor's ViewIran 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.
- Readers RespondReaders Write: Most Americans should be investors, not traders
Letter to the Editor for the June 17, 2013 weekly issue: The small investor is led down the garden path of attempting to grow riches from a mix of potent investment vehicles and propitious timing. It doesn't work that way. If investors can exercise patience and discipline, time becomes their ally.
Global ViewpointNo 'Turkish spring': Protests in Turkey are sign of a healthy democracyProtests in Turkey aren’t a sign of the failure of democracy there but a sign that Turkish politics is now resilient enough to experience public discontent that strengthens participatory democracy. But if Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains insensitive to public opinion, it will cost him his job.
- Global ViewpointNo 'Turkish spring': Protests in Turkey are sign of a healthy democracy
Protests in Turkey aren’t a sign of the failure of democracy there but a sign that Turkish politics is now resilient enough to experience public discontent that strengthens participatory democracy. But if Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains insensitive to public opinion, it will cost him his job.
Public schools, private beliefsSeparation of church and state is enshrined in the US Constitution. But here's what's sometimes overlooked: While the state must not back any particular faith -- or even faith itself -- it also must not restrict expressions of faith. That distinction is crucial to how public schools treat religion.
The greening of the WestLong the province of mountain men and rugged individualists, the Intermountain West is drawing a new generation of entrepreneurs, knowledge workers, and venture capitalists keen on experiencing the region's natural wonders while staying connected to the global economy.
- A Christian Science PerspectiveGod's presence in school
A Christian Science perspective: People can take their awareness of God's presence anywhere they go. Prayers don't need to be voiced out loud in order to be legitimate.
The Monitor's ViewFather'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.
OpinionFather's Day: Why a 'superhero' father wants to join the Mothers AssociationWhere are the fathers? In my neighborhood, the Mothers Association gets things done. Too many men want to avoid the thankless tasks that women have performed for hundreds of patriarchal years. They're also missing out on the beautiful intimate mundanity of nurturing a human being.
