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Archives for May 2014

Censors
When the McCarthyites tried to Ban “Robin Hood” as a Communist; and the Green Feather Movement

When the McCarthyites tried to Ban “Robin Hood” as a Communist; and the Green Feather Movement

contributors

(By Alison Kysia) On November 13, 1953, during the height of the McCarthy era, Robin Hood and his band of “merry outlaws” made headlines. Mrs. Thomas J. White of the Indiana Textbook Commission called for a ban of Robin Hood in all school books for promoting communism because he stole from the rich to give […]

Featured
The Obama Effect?  Are Iran/ Saudi-and-GCC no longer on a war footing?

The Obama Effect? Are Iran/ Saudi-and-GCC no longer on a war footing?

Juan Cole

(By Juan Cole) There are signs of a diplomatic thaw between Iran and the Arab oil monarchies of the Gulf. It has just been announced that the ruler of Kuwait, Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, will make a state visit to Iran. This news comes after it was confirmed that the Iranian foreign minister has been invited […]

Climate Change
India-Pakistan Solar Energy Race?  Desert Solar Park among world's Largest

India-Pakistan Solar Energy Race? Desert Solar Park among world’s Largest

contributors

Pakistan’s first large-scale solar power project, the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park project, was recently inaugurated by Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, representing one of the country’s first clear steps towards renewable energy. The project…

al-Qaeda
Can we close Guantanamo Now?  Abu Hamza Convicted by New York Jury

Can we close Guantanamo Now? Abu Hamza Convicted by New York Jury

contributors

British preacher Abu Hamza guilty on US terror charges (via AFP) A New York jury convicted British hate preacher Abu Hamza on 11 kidnapping and terrorism charges Monday, opening the way for a judge to impose what will almost certainly be a life sentence. The hook-handed imam, who became a tabloid bogeyman in Britain…   […]

Climate Change
Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Miles O’Brien slam CNN as the ‘Wal-Mart of journalism’

Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Miles O’Brien slam CNN as the ‘Wal-Mart of journalism’

contributors

On the latest episode of his StarTalk Radio Show, Neil DeGrasse Tyson spoke to former CNN science journalist Miles O’Brien about the failures of modern news reporting — particularly at CNN. As the interview began, O’Brien joked that CNN fired…

Christianity
Will Pope Francis's Visit to the West Bank be a Challenge to Occupation?

Will Pope Francis’s Visit to the West Bank be a Challenge to Occupation?

contributors

"This visit will help us in supporting our struggle to end the longest occupation in history." (By Lauren McCauley) On an upcoming trip to the Middle East, Pope Francis is expected to prioritize his visit with Palestinians, including a refugee camp, in a move interpreted by many as a 'recognition' of a future Palestinian state. […]

Democracy
Sunnis Big Losers in Iraq Elections, PM al-Maliki has Largest Party

Sunnis Big Losers in Iraq Elections, PM al-Maliki has Largest Party

Juan Cole

(By Juan Cole) The results of the Iraqi parliamentary elections are in, and everybody lost. There will be another hung parliament that gets almost nothing done. The Sunni Arabs ended up dividing their vote and doing poorly. The Shiites likewise are deeply divided. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s party did best, positioning him for a third […]

Democracy
After Occupy:  Is Economic Democracy Possible?

After Occupy: Is Economic Democracy Possible?

contributors

(A conversation on economic democracy with Tom Malleson via OUP) How do we address the problem of inequality in capitalist societies? Tom Malleson, the author of After Occupy: Economic Democracy for the 21st Century, argues that by making sure that democracy exists in both our economy and in our government, we may be able to […]

Bush
Dick Cheney wants Hillary Clinton ‘held accountable’ for Benghazi terror attacks

Dick Cheney wants Hillary Clinton ‘held accountable’ for Benghazi terror attacks

contributors

Dick Cheney, the former vice president who was in office during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 and later pushed the country into war with Iraq based on faulty intelligence, said on Sunday that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would…

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