In 1970, then U.S. Vice-president Spiro Agnew derided journalists (although some say he meant politicians) critical of Nixon administration policies as “nattering nabobs of negativism.” Today, the characterisation seems to be considered either complimentary or aspirational.… Read the rest
More countries (193) recognise the mandate of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) than belong to the world body. So how does it come to pass that we’ve made children both a tool and a victim in the perpetual contretemps of adult issues, from the picayune to the perceived life-changing?… Read the rest
During the siege of Sarajevo, the Danish army NCOs who controlled UN relief flights had a sign behind their check-in desk that read: “Do not confuse your rank with our authority”. For politicians ranting against the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants for the Gaza conflict, I suggest one that says: “Do not confuse your self-image with the moral high ground.… Read the rest
When Joni Mitchell sang “You don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone”, she was referring to love and the beauty of Nature. Having recently lost – temporarily and not drastically – visual acuity in one eye, I can add a few more things to her list, and they’re not all bad.… Read the rest
The adage “You can kill the messenger, but not the message” purportedly traces its roots to somewhere in the Middle Ages. Its 21st century application is to do the literal killing blatantly, and disprove the second half of the admonition furtively.… Read the rest
In his totemic plea for us to imagine a better world, John Lennon insisted “It isn’t hard to do…”. Campus protests that commingle anti-Semitism and calls for ceasefire in Gaza belie that. So as a prism to see through the moral miasma, I recommend Covid.… Read the rest
History has shown, repeatedly, that the best the extreme left or right can manage is a revolution, which in the end eats itself and accomplishes little of lasting value. Three events this week prove the point that extreme views can be catalysts for debate, but casting change and progress comes from when the two meet in the middle.… Read the rest
“You did it to me so I’m going to do it to you” isn’t appropriate behaviour in a schoolyard. In a region trembling on the brink of an all-encompassing war , where cool heads, informed thinking and sensible compromise are vital, it seems to be the best that egotistical leaders driven by ideology and their political survival can provide.… Read the rest
When Mark Twain said “There is no such thing as a small miracle in aviation”, he was referring to the natural kind. Modern commercial flight, however, is packed with small miracles; humans trusting the reliability of airliners the same way we do the watch on our wrist, despite no real idea of how either one works and bits falling off Boeings.… Read the rest
The philosophical question “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” was raised by the 13th century philosopher Thomas Aquinas. A metaphor for wasting time debating topics of no practical value, it sums up what efforts to resolve Gaza will be unless the U.S. actually makes “changes in policy”.… Read the rest