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POPSThe Suffering Hamas Causes "The suffering of Gazans cannot conceivably be a genuine concern of the leadership, given the perpetuation of that suffering for which Hamas is responsible. And the suffering of Israelis is its avowed goal. Whether it was South Africa or Sudan, the international community has understood that the way to deal with truly egregious human rights violators is not to placate them, but to speak the truth about them, and to them. If the truth is spoken plainly enough, and forcefully enough, to a Hamas leadership whose cruelty and callousness have reached alarming levels, it may be that the Palestinians and Israelis alike may be spared further suffering of the kind to which they have been relegated in the past."
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POPSStanding A Tad Less Tall "The American diet needs a bailout, like the auto industry," Komlos said. "It's connected with the whole economic conception of overconsumption." His study found the height differential for black women more noticeable at the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum, where people's diets tend to be less healthful and where health care is less accessible."
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POPSIn Quiet Rebellion I relate to this clip so much. The church and the family I loved so much fell to a similar fate and it was one of the most difficult things I've ever faced. No one can understand the emotions one goes through in such situations and most Catholics are just supposed to "take it". I don't feel as though it was right then and I don't feel it is right ever and I applaud the members of this parish for their courage.
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POPSThe Afgan Quaigmire “I hate war,” said Dwight Eisenhower, “as only a soldier who has lived it can, as only one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.” Our interest in Afghanistan is to prevent it from becoming a haven for terrorists bent on attacking us. That does not require the scale of military operations that the incoming administration is contemplating. It does not require a wholesale occupation. f Mr. Obama does send more troops to Afghanistan, he should go on television and tell the American people, in the clearest possible language, what he is trying to achieve. He should spell out the mission’s goals, and lay out an exit strategy."
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POPSThe Best Interests Of The Child "The new law also interferes with the Department of Human Services’ ability to do its job of making individualized assessments of prospective parents and placing children in the homes that are best able to meet their needs. And because of the shortage of foster parents, the ban is very likely to make children wait substantially longer for a loving home."
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POPSBLIZZARD UPDATE VANCOUVER Chilled Vancouver commuters faced their second day of winter hell today, as an additional cm of the peculiar white stuff fell bringing the lower mainland to its knees and causing millions of dollars worth of damage to the marijuana crops. Scientists suspect that the substance is some form of frozen water particles ans experts from Sask are being flown in. With temps dipping to the almost but not quite near zero mark, Vancouverites were warned to double insulate their lattes before venturing out.
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POPSA Second Life Woods by Wendell Berry I part the out thrusting branches and come in beneath the blessed and the blessing trees. Though I am silent there is singing around me. Though I am dark there is vision around me. Though I am heavy there is flight around me.
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POPSFighting Off Depression It wasn't so long ago that one particular clipper argued with me long and hard that we weren't even in a recession. Quite frankly, IMHO, I am deeply concerned about our economy.
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POPSPrayers For Bobby "Guilty over the pain he is causing Mary, Bobby moves away, yet hopes that some day his mother will accept him. His subsequent depression and self-loathing intensifies as he blames himself for not being the 'perfect' son and is driven to suicide. Faced with their tragedy, Mary begins to question her faith when she receives no answers from her pastor concerning her devastating loss. Through her long and emotional journey, Mary slowly reaches out to the gay community and discovers unexpected support from a very unlikely source."
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POPSGeorge W. Bush's Legacy " Father Vien The Nguyen is pastor at Mary Queen of Vietnam, a Catholic parish in New Orleans East whose community was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. We sat on the road in the hot sun for two days with very little food and water before someone finally came and got us. When we returned, we found that one of my elderly parishioners had died in her bed. The entire community was empty. The mold was taking over -- you wouldn't believe how awful the smell was. We had to act quickly. We didn't wait for government help -- if we had, we'd still be waiting."
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POPSCreature Comforts "They’re all showing up in stores and in restaurants, which is perfectly legal because the Americans With Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) requires that service animals be allowed wherever their owners want to go. This has resulted in a growing debate over how to handle these animals, as well as widespread suspicion that people are abusing the law to get special privileges for their pets."
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POPSAbuse In Youth Dating "Most of the calls come from girls, often in response to relentless texting or efforts by boys to dictate what they do or wear. While texting that runs to 200 or 300 messages a day can be a prelude to abusive behavior, William S. Pollack, a Harvard University psychologist and the author of “Real Boys” (1998) and “Real Boys’ Voices” (2000) about boys and masculinity, said his research had found that “usually when adolescent boys get involved with girls, they fall into the societal model which we call ‘macho,’ where they need to show they are the ones in control.”
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POPSSee the inner nobility and beauty of all human beings I am currently reading psychologist, author and Buddhist meditation teacher Jack Kornfield’s The Wise Heart - A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology. I find below, one of the anecdote he shared, very moving. Complete at the source.
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POPSThe Evil Behind The Smiles "I hope that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will recognize slavery as unfinished business on the foreign policy agenda. The abolitionist cause simply hasn’t been completed as long as 14-year-old girls are being jolted with electric shocks — right now, as you read this — to make them smile before oblivious tourists."
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POPSRick Is A Mistake "I am still excited about the tremendous changes in policy that I expect under an Obama administration. But it's the job of progressive advocates to hold public officials accountable, and to speak up even when our friends drop the ball."
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POPSA History Lesson "Last month the Chicago Board of Education dropped plans to open the city's first public high school for gay and lesbian students after Mayor Richard M. Daley questioned whether it would isolate children. But Hannah Devane, 17, a student at Harvey Milk, said mainstream schools failed her. She felt alienated and became so depressed, Devane said, she didn't get out of bed in the mornings. She stopped attending classes. When Devane was 13, she heard about the Harvey Milk school in the news and decided to ask her counselor to help her transfer. "Coming here changed my life," she said. "Now, I'm an A student."
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