A single word holds the key to the myriad crises plaguing the world – dehumanisation. It is omnipresent in wars, policies on migrants and shortfalls in humanitarian aid. It has also become the bedrock of those who perpetuate the ills.… Read the rest
A poem many of my generation tacked on our bedroom wall included the line: “And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.” Depending on your point of view, that was either comforting or disconcerting. I wonder which one the author, American poet and writer Max Ehrmann, would have felt if he’d penned it today, rather than in 1927.… Read the rest
Seizing the high ground is universally considered a crucial element for military victory. The moral high ground is equally essential in the aftermath. Claiming and then trying to hold it with snap judgements, over-blown rhetoric and no-matter-what backing of obviously evil actions is a sure way to lose it.… Read the rest
Common sense, as defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, is “the basic level or practical knowledge and judgement that we all need to help us live in a reasonable and safe way.”
Sounds clear and simple enough. So why is there such a dearth where it’s really needed?… Read the rest
For journalists who cover conflicts, luck is like a blind trust fund; You can make withdrawals, but not deposits, and you have no idea how much is left.” I wrote that as part of an epitaph for two of my friends and colleagues — Paul Douglas and James Brolan – who were killed in Baghdad on May 29, 2006.… Read the rest