With the recent celebration of the 20th anniversary of German reunification, it is something of a curiosity that of the three countries that were partitioned at the onset of the Cold War – Germany, Korea and Vietnam – it is the two Koreas that still resist the compelling pull of reunification. With the recent naming … Read more
The U.S. Senate recessed last week without concluding a lot of the legislative business on its plate. Among the items on hold include the reauthorization of several Cabinet departments through annually required bills, as well as the vote on the extension of the Bush tax cuts. On the other side of the Capitol Building, House Democratic … Read more
This column was originally published in the Sept. 30 Harvard Independent. It responds directly to Max’s blog post from the previous week. Harvard’s position on the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, banning the group from campus until “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) is overturned, has always struck me the wrong way. It just doesn’t make sense … Read more
The Tea Party. It’s been the subject of fierce political discussion since Barack Obama’s election as President in 2008 and the subsequent rise of the movement for what’s been called a “new conservatism” in 2009. When examining the upcoming midterm elections, the significance the Tea Party cannot be underestimated. Many Republicans self-label as modern “Tea … Read more
Bill McKibben’s 350.org movement, a grassroots organization that promotes cutting carbon dioxide emissions to 1988 levels of 350 parts per million, is promoting a global day of action on environmental issues this Sunday, October 10th. In a follow-up to the group’s wildly successful “day of political action” on Saturday, October 24th, 2009, this year’s event … Read more
Class of 2013 Social Studies Concentrators staged a walkout earlier today, and the Marty Peretz fund for undergraduate research continues to cause controversy. The grassroots organizers assured me that they have nothing but respect for the teaching staff of Social Studies 10. However, they condemn the prejudiced comments of Marty Peretz and are calling for … Read more
In his various media appearances to promote his new book, “Making Our Democracy Work: A Judge’s View,” Justice Stephen Breyer has taken every opportunity to discuss the history of and the misconceptions about the Supreme Court. In particular, he has emphasized his view that public opinion does not, and should not, shape public opinion. But Breyer’s … Read more
There were many interesting points made by both Raphel and the commenters on his recent blog post about Republican priorities this November. The larger question of the “true identity” of the Republican Party is a fascinating one, and I think that we tread on treacherous territory when we try to narrow that identity too much. … Read more
It’s tough to be independent. Just ask Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Tim Cahill, whose running mate recently withdrew from the race and endorsed the Republican candidate. Or ask Maine gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler, whose unnamed opponents recently launched a website attacking his professional and personal life. Despite the strong anti-incumbent mood sweeping the nation, voters are still … Read more
With the gunshots subsiding and the police force under government censure for its attempted overthrow of Ecuador’s democratic president Rafael Correa, order appears to have been reestablished as quickly as it was placed under seige in Quito. Yet, the attempted coup d’état that left President Correa a hostage in a hospital while the Quito police … Read more