Author: Staff

Scripture as a weapon: How the Confederacy’s biblical justification of oppression still echoes today

The twisted interpretation of Christianity by pro-slavery advocates in the Confederacy is one of the most troubling and insidious chapters in American history. To defend the indefensible institution of slavery, Southern theologians and politicians clung to a highly selective and morally bankrupt reading of the Bible. They sought to justify the oppression and dehumanization of millions of Black people by distorting the core message of the Christian faith. By doing so, they ignored the Bible’s call for justice, equality, and liberation, the values of salvation that are incompatible with the existence of slavery. The use of scripture to support...

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1000 Days of Defiance: Ukraine’s continued fight for survival and the looming impact of Trump’s return

November 20, 2024, marks the tragic milestone of the 1,000th day since Russia launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The brutal assault, intended to topple Ukraine’s government within days, instead ignited a fierce national resistance and a war that has reverberated across the globe. Ukraine’s resilience, supported by a coalition of allies, has stalled and even reversed Russian advances. However, as convicted criminal and president-elect Trump prepares to return to the White House, Ukraine’s future appears even more precarious. Trump’s past praise for the dictator Putin and his disdain for NATO alliances raises fears that critical American support could...

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From Republic to Empire: How Rome’s fall foreshadows the future of American Democracy under Trump

As the United States of America continues to experience internal challenges, a historical parallel with ancient Rome, where democracy gave way to autocracy, seems more relevant after the re-election of convicted felon Donald Trump as the nation’s 47th president. As Americans reflect on the outcome of the 2024 presidential election when the majority of voters supported a candidate who promised to become a dictator on his first day in office and promoted a plan to centralize his absolute power with “Project 2025,” historians and political scientists were quick to draw comparisons to the Roman Republic. “I think historians will...

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COP29 in Baku: A high-stakes climate summit begins amid controversies and conflicting agendas

As world leaders and climate experts converge on Baku for the COP29 climate conference, an unmistakable contradiction lingers in the air, both figuratively and literally. Baku, the Azerbaijani capital, is shrouded in the odor of its fossil fuel wealth, a jarring contrast to the summit’s mission to curb global carbon emissions. Over 100 heads of state and government officials are expected to attend the conference, which runs from November 11 to 22, 2024. The setting underscores the difficult choices facing nations still largely reliant on fossil fuels, especially as the world’s most influential players continue to debate climate finance...

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Undoing superstition of chronology: Simone Weil’s words remind us that progress is not always linear

“We must undo the superstition of chronology (‘progressivism’) in order to find eternity.” – Simone Weil, philosopher During this turbulent moment for American democracy, Simone Weil’s words remind us that progress is not always linear, and that true values may lie beyond any notion of political advance or retreat. When Donald Trump was overwhelmingly re-elected on November 6, many Americans saw it as a regression, a painful step backward from the ideals they felt were beginning to take root in American society. For those who supported the messages of empathy, unity, and progressive reform promoted by Vice President Kamala...

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Dark future: Americans abandon U.S. Constitution with decision to elect a self-declared dictator

As final votes are counted in the 2024 presidential election, signs indicate that convicted felon Donald Trump is on the brink of winning re-election. If confirmed, the outcome will represent a seismic shift in American democracy. It will also mark a moment of tragedy, as Americans decided with their votes to send a nation that represented hope and freedom into the dark ages, and away from a more inclusive, stable, and democratic future. The election, unlike any other, has carried the weight of a nation’s history and sacrifice. To Trump’s supporters, a second term represents the reclamation of White...

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