“We can’t just blame it on the brokenness of the world, pray for peace, and move on, worried that anything more will be seen as politicizing tragedy. What is tragic is that those who have the ability to DO something about this crisis refuse to offer more than simplistic sentiments on Twitter before getting caught in a circular argument about our rights as Americans. It’s time for people of faith to respond.”
2. The 20-Year-Old Ban That Silenced Research on Gun Violence
Because: NRA. “Researchers from federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) have largely been mum on the public health issue of gun violence — not by choice, but because of a 20-year-old congressional ban on federally funded gun violence research.”
3. Emanuel: Chicago City Officials to Release Ronald Johnson Shooting Video
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Thursday that the city would release dashcam footage of a Chicago police officer shooting 25-year-old Ronald Johnson III in the back. The shooting happened eight days before officer Jason Van Dyke shot and killed 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.
4. People Think ‘The Wiz Live’ Is Racist. Twitter Says, ‘Huh?’
Actual tweet: "I just learned there is a Black version of 'The Wizard of Oz' called 'The Wiz.' How is this not racist?" Oy.
5. ‘This Is Not a Charity Concert … This Is An Instigation. This Is a Provocation.’
Journalist and Sojourners contributor Cathleen Falsani reports from this week’s celebration of ONE and (RED) on World AIDS Day, featuring U2 at Carnegie Hall. “There is no first world. There is no third world. There is only one world." —Bono
6. Here’s How One Man Is Destroying Politicians on Twitter After This Year’s Mass Shootings
Igor Volsky of ThinkProgress has been using Twitter to expose the hypocrisy behind “thoughts and prayers” of some of our country’s leaders. Read on.
7. What Urbanists Can Learn From Wendell Berry
“For Berry, this is a characteristic problem of modern life: we treat the world as if problems occur in contained and manageable silos, instead of seeing the ecological, social, and moral typography of human community. Promoting thriving requires us to see the broad patterns of connection among humans, technology, and nature.”
8. The Only Christmas Carols That Are Any Good, A Definitive List
Did your favorite make the cut? (Latin nerds rejoice.)
9. WATCH: Nothing to Do With My Prophet
Powerful spoken word piece in response to killing in the name of Islam.
10. Meet the Woman Whose Two-Word Catchphrase Made the Military Care About Climate
“Droughts, floods, expanding ocean lanes — global warming poses a huge threat to U.S. national security. The military began to care about it a decade ago, largely thanks to Sherri Goodman and her wonky catchphrase.”
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