Donald Trump’s belligerent words in the United Nations have made plain our desperate need for a Department of Peace. For months Trump and Kim Jong-un have been exchanging taunts like school-yard bullies over North Korea’s testing of nuclear weapons. And now the president in his first appearance before the United Nations, has told the […]
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(Preacher’s note: this sermon was written for the congregation of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Burlington, NC, in response to events in Charlottesville, Virginia, last Saturday, August 12. I had another sermon written, when suddenly the news broke. I had friends, colleagues in Charlottesville, and the news was personal to me as well as completely […]
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This Middle East story is one I have wanted to bring to my readers for a long time. Ramona Sfeir is a person precious to me. I have one of her art objects, bought in the 1980s at an exhibit mentioned in this story, and it is one of my most valued possessions, because it […]
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The first paragraph of the preface to the American version of Radical tells us that Americans misunderstand Islam and Muslims misunderstand America. Consequently Maajid Nawaz feels that his book is an act of diplomacy, disguised as the story of his life. Indeed we learn from his story things very important for us to know. […]
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Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, whoever he was down deep, whatever his motivation, regardless of his legal right to own an assault weapon, has done more than he could have expected to do when he planned to slaughter a roomful of unsuspecting people. He may not have intended to play into the hands of a reckless […]
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By Jan Therien Bethlehem, November, 2015 “Litany- a series of petitions for use in church services or processions, usually recited by the clergy and responded to in a recurring formula by the people. Synonyms: prayer, invocation, supplication, devotion. A tedious recital or repetitive series. Synonyms: recital, recitation, enumeration, listing, inventory”. Also, “a resonant or […]
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This blog has been written at my request by my friend, Keren Roper Willmon. Keren grow up in Jordan as the daughter of missionary doctor, John Roper. Recently she spent several weeks in Jordan, participating in ministries to Syrian refugees, some of the thousands who are living in Jordan outside of the UN camps. Some […]
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In the early 1970s, before the civil war, our little publishing office was in West Beirut, sort of between Musaitbeh and the Basta. In the corner of the building we had a small book store, a very quiet bookstore, because we had not been there long and the area had very little foot traffic. […]
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In The News . . . Frances Fuller, Author Of Book About Lebanon, ‘In Borrowed Houses’, Issues Open Letter To Barack Obama About Middle East Refugees Frances Fuller’s award-winning memoir, ‘In Borrowed Houses’, gives readers a penetrating glimpse of the Middle East from the inside. She puts a face on the Middle East many Americans […]
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It must have been October, in maybe 1981. It was a stunning day, having rained and washed all the summer grime out the air, leaving every pine needle glistening. From my office window I could see Beirut gleaming down there on its broad shelf, surrounded by the blue sea. I had an urgent print […]
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