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Quote of the day. “These chimpanzees have given up their freedom, if not their natural environment, their bodies, their health, their children to research. And at the end of their lives, we can give them something back.” Laura Bonar, program director for Animal Protection of New Mexico, on why chimps that were once used for medical research, many of them now middle-aged and elderly, should live out the rest of their lives in peace rather than being used for further research. (New York Times)
RELIGION IN THE NEWS
Conservative, moderate Baptist thinkers criticize Glenn Beck rally “Despite Land’s appearance at the rally, both conservative Southern Baptist educator Russell Moore and moderate Baptist ethicist Robert Parham expressed concerns about the rally's strong overtones of “civil religion” -- a lowest-common-denominator patriotic faith that conflates authentic Christianity with generic civic piety and nationalism.”
A Christian Voice Argues for Banning Nuclear Weapons " Tyler Wigg-Stevenson, who heads the Two Futures Project, is a leader in an antinuclear movement among young evangelicals who view those weapons as both morally unjustifiable and actually dangerous to national security. He discussed the issues with U.S. News.”
Mormon church, Jewish leaders tackle proxy baptism “The Mormon church says it has changed its genealogical database to better prevent the names of Jews Holocaust victims from being submitted for posthumous baptism by proxy.”
Archbishop of San Salvador condemns massacre of immigrants in Mexico “Archbishop of San Salvador Jose Luis Escobar Alas condemned the massacre of 72 immigrants in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas during a press conference last Sunday. After asking the governments of Mexico and El Salvador to investigate the incident and bring about justice, the prelate demanded that agreements be established to protect the undocumented.”
The War in Iraq: At What Cost? (Jim Wallis, God’s Politics) “The emotion that grips me this morning, after watching President Obama’s speech last night and listening to the commentary about the 'end of our combat mission in Iraq,' is a deep sadness.”
NEWS AT HOME
Mideast peace talks. Obama: Seize the chance for peace “On the eve of the first direct Middle East peace negotiations since he took office, President Obama urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders Wednesday to seize "this moment of opportunity" and to end their decades-long conflict, pledging to throw his administration's "full weight" behind their effort to do so.” US launches Middle East peace talks “Abbas and Netanyahu shook hands and pledged to work diligently toward peace, but they also made plain that their own national interests must be satisfied.” Obama challenges Netanyahu, Abbas to seize the opportunity “On the eve of the first direct talks in nearly two years between the top leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, President Barack Obama welcomed them to the White House Wednesday and urged them to "recognize this as a moment of opportunity that must be seized." IDF warns of wave of violence as Hamas vows to sink peace talks “The Israel Defense Forces on Thursday warned of a possible wave of attacks as Hamas militants try to sabotage Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which formally opened in Washington on Wednesday.”
More stimulus. Departing Obama adviser urges more stimulus “Departing White House chief economist Christina Romer urged Congress on Wednesday to "finish the job of economic recovery" by pumping more cash into the economy through additional tax cuts for businesses and middle-class families, as well as fresh investments in the nation's infrastructure.”
Immigration. Number of Illegal Immigrants in U.S. Fell, Study Says “The number of illegal immigrants in the United States, after peaking at 12 million in 2007, fell to about 11.1 million in 2009, the first clear decline in two decades, according to a report published Wednesday by the Pew Hispanic Center.” Illegal immigrant population in U.S. drops, report says “The number of illegal immigrants entering the United States plunged by almost two-thirds between 2005 and 2009, a dramatic shift after years of growth in the population, according to the report.” Immigration flares up in state races “Of the 37 gubernatorial races this year, candidates in more than 20 states have endorsed adopting a strict Arizona-style immigration law, passing legislation that makes it harder for illegal immigrants to live, work and access basic public benefits in their states,”
Surface mining. Groups to press Obama to end Appalachian surface mining “Environmental and human rights activists starting a new movement to march on Washington say the Obama administration should not only tighten regulations on surface mining in Appalachia but abolish the practice.”
Oil spill. BP shelled out big bucks for advertising “As BP oil spread across the Gulf of Mexico this summer, the company spent more than $93 million on advertisements to counter images of the mounting disaster. That was more than triple the amount the company spent on ads during the same period last year,”
Gang alternative. Gang Alternative Movement Gains Momentum “For some youth in the United States, back-to-school preparations go beyond buying cool backpacks and clothing. This month, a few are setting their sites on how not to be a part of the 7 percent of teens who now belong to gangs.”
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
Pakistan relief aid. World Bank raises Pakistan funding “The World Bank has raised its funding for Pakistan's flood disaster recuperation to $1bn. An additional $100 million has been pledged, the bank said on Wednesday, to help with the worst disaster in the country's history.”
Iraq. In Iraq, clear signs of a new U.S. mission “The U.S. military's war is officially over in Iraq, even as the future of the country remains undecided. The signs of the end were everywhere Wednesday, despite the presence of about 49,000 American troops who remain mostly sequestered on large U.S. bases.” In Baghdad, U.S. Officials Take Note of Milestone “The United States began a fragile new era in its turbulent history with Iraq on Wednesday as American political and military leaders marked the official end of combat operations but acknowledged that a difficult milestone, the creation of a new coalition Iraqi government, was not yet in reach.” Gates: Iraq outcome 'will always be clouded by how it began' “The U.S. military Wednesday marked the end of its combat mission in Iraq amid a series of conflicting messages that underscored the mixed feelings many here, both American and Iraqi, have toward a seven-and-a-half-year effort that cost tens of thousands of lives but left the political outcome undecided.” Gates: Iraq war premise 'not valid' “A few hours after Barack Obama, the US president, declared it is "time to turn the page" on the American-led war in Iraq, Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, said the effort there had been based on flawed premises.” A U.S. 'legacy of waste' in Iraq “As U.S. combat operations officially end this week and Washington's reconstruction effort winds up, Iraqis complain that America is leaving little behind to show for an investment that President Bush promised in 2003 would parallel the post- World War II Marshall Plan in its scope and accomplishments.”
Afghanistan. Nato probes report air strike killed Afghan campaigners “Nato-led troops in Afghanistan say they are investigating reports that 10 campaign workers have been killed in an air strike by foreign forces.” As U.S. deaths in Afghanistan rise, military families grow critical “As American combat deaths have reached record levels this summer, public support is eroding for the 9-year-old conflict. Several recent opinion polls found that more than half of those surveyed oppose the war, with the high casualty rate among concerns most often cited.”
North Korea. Nuclear envoys to gather in Beijing to discuss latest impasse over North Korea atomic programs “The top U.S. nuclear envoy met with his Chinese counterpart Saturday as part of the latest round of talks aimed at breaking a deadlock over verification of North Korea's nuclear programs.”
South Africa strike. South Africa strike set to go on “South Africa's public sector strike is set to continue after the main trade union federation rejected an improved wage offer from the government.”
Tony Blair memories. Blair’s Book Reveals ‘Tears’ but No Regrets on Iraq “When Tony Blair published his memoirs on Wednesday, he leapt back into the headlines from the well-heeled privacy he has nurtured since completing 10 years as Britain’s prime minister with a serving of what was essentially old news.”
OPINION
A speech's tall order (E.J. Dionne Jr., Washington Post) “Obama's Oval Office speech was resolutely nonpolitical in form but profoundly political in its implications. To rescue his party, Obama had to begin rebuilding his popularity, offer hope in a time of economic despair and restore confidence in the course on which he has set the nation.”
The economics of war (Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times) “President Obama's speech on the end of formal combat in Iraq made a case for subjecting future decisions — about war, or troop strength in Afghanistan, or the size of the Defense budget — to more stringent economic analysis.”
Beck-a-palooza! (Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune) “It's so hard to please some people. After pulling off the most spectacular publicity stunt since his fellow Fox News-man opened Al Capone's vault, Glenn Beck complains that media failed to report what his big rally was really about.”
Sojourners' Daily Digest is a compilation of the top news related to our commitments of life and peace, economic and racial justice, and care of creation, with a special focus on news of the engagement of faith in public life.
Sojourners' Daily Digest is a compilation of the top news related to our commitments of life and peace, economic and racial justice, and care of creation, with a special focus on news of the engagement of faith in public life.
