Americas

"The American corporate media remains a disgrace. It has come a long, long, way from the glory days of Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite. But in this election the media has shown noteworthy improvement over its performance in 2000 and 2004."

"This is a grave time for the United States: two ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, shots exchanged between U.S. and Pakistani troops, ongoing conflict with Iran and escalating conflict with Russia. Not only is all of this draining the U.S. military and their families but it is also draining the U.S. treasury at a time when the treasury is empty. Iraq alone is costing $10 billion a month – money we are borrowing from other countries the U.S. is competing with."

"This downward spiral must be broken. Financial institutions must be allowed to fail, and the market must be allowed to return to equilibrium. Such failures might very well induce a recession, but as Herbert Hoover discovered, throwing more credit at a market with excess credit only worsens the inevitable economic downturn. Let’s just hope the ill effects of this massive financial bail out don’t get that bad."

"Since the U.S. and world markets started tanking after the House vote, it seems imperative that Congress immediately set to work to craft another bill to somehow prop up the financial system -- so as to let the markets quickly know that something is being done to solve the badly damaged credit system. But Congress must now take into account many of the objections that sunk the Paulson plan, chief among them the size of the bailout and the crushing debt-burden that would harm U.S. taxpayers for generations."

"Since Obama believes that “in America, prosperity has always risen from the bottom up,” he should be genuinely concerned with imposing higher marginal tax rates on non-rich Americans. But economists will be more concerned with the higher rates on that top 5 percent because we know that the “rich” play a crucial role in financing the economy’s investments and new business start-ups and in producing the technological innovations so critical to improving our prosperity. Higher marginal tax rates on the “rich” are certain to reduce the contributions they make to the well being of all Americans."

"The Rushdie controversy erupted at a time when the Cold War was ending. The Iranian Islamic revolution of 1979, the gradual collapse of the Soviet Union, and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, signalled the end of the Communist threat. Add to that the events in the Middle East, particularly the intensifying Palestinian struggle for liberation, the 1980’s hostage crisis in Libya, and the issuing of the fatwa (religious decree) by Imam Khomeini in 1989, and you end up with the stereotype of Islam as a violent religion that breeds terrorism."

"Like Christmas, Dewali and Hannukah, Eid-ul-Fitr is a joyous occasion that brings family and friends together, giving away gifts. The festive atmosphere is displayed by everyone wearing their best attires, and decorating their homes, and feeding guests and anyone who knocks on the door."

"Islamic law and tradition provide a waiver to the young and the sick as well as those traveling. Instead they are expected to make a contribution to a needy family. This year the futra meal to be given to a poor family should not be less than 2.5 Jordanian dinars (US $4). This collectiveness and social networking might be one of the major differences between the individual culture in the West and the collective culture of the East."