Culture

Tikkun and Lerner in the Blogosphere

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The great thing the blogosphere has made possible is the publication of independent voices to a worldwide audience, without having to get through the gatekeepers of the old media. That is music to the ears of all outliers from mainstream thought. Like us. The downside is that all manner of scurrilous opinion (that is, ones we don’t agree with, but also, ones that don’t have to live up to the usual journalistic fact checking standards) can get aired. The only way to counter factual inaccuracies in this new world is for citizens to pounce on them and correct them, in comments and on their own blogs, and in wonderful Wikipedia and like collective constructs.

Politics & Society

Thank Those Who Refused to Torture

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Deputy Commander Mark Fallon objected to the interrogation techniques used at Guantanamo, and raised concerns through NCIS leadership. He refused to participate in the torture of detainees, and made continued efforts to urge Pentagon decision-makers to reconsider more effective and humane interrogation techniques. His concerns, vis-à-vis NCIS Director David Brant, eventually reached Alberto Mora, who took up the issue at the Pentagon. Check out these stories from Gitmo and sign the letter of commendation to be sent to these brave people in time for July 4 delivery. [brclear]

Judaism

Judaism and Democratic Socialism

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We have just posted a thorough analysis and presentation of the argument that Jewish social values require economic democracy, also known as Democratic Socialism. Dr. Richard Schwartz writes,
With the United States and most of the world suffering from a very severe recession, with rapidly rising unemployment, falling home and stock prices and a sharp decrease in confidence for many people about their economic future, it is timely to consider which economic system and conditions are most compatible with basic Jewish values. Judaism does not recommend one type of economic system for all times and places. However, its principles of social conduct are clear. The Torah is opposed to all types of exploitation and to concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, with the resultant impoverishment of the many.

Politics & Society

Torture eats away at the soul of this nation

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Monday evening at 6 pm Pacific time we welcome Lynn Feinerman as our guest on the Tikkun/NSP Phone Forum, to talk about her article “Life After Torture and Torment” in the May/June Tikkun. Today is United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Anniversaries can be important. This Friday [today] marks the 22nd anniversary of the U.N. Convention against Torture, ratified and signed under President Reagan. Last Friday marked the 150th day of the presidency of Barack Obama, who is trying to put a definitive end to the torture approved by the Bush-Cheney administration.

Politics & Society

The Courage to Disobey Orders

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Good one, Bill! This letter to a local paper argues that it puts an intolerable burden on nineteen-year-olds to be ordered to fight an illegal war. The range of comments for and against show where we are at as a country right now. Bill Distler is a vet working tirelessly against our current wars. He was a guest on the Tikkun Phone Forum (scroll down to his name on that page to listen to the audio).

Inter-Culturalism

Simpson and Sullivan on Iran

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BBC veteran John Simpson’s report on Iran (hat tip: Andrew Sullivan) includes this point:
But while the idealistic young people rally behind the slogan: “Death to the Dictator,” I am not fully convinced that a Rafsanjani Iran necessarily offers the more open form of government they are risking their lives for. This after he has said that the current crisis could be as huge as the Islamic Revolution of 30 years ago. The enthusiasm, hope and anxiety many of us in America have felt witnessing the Mousavi protests, which Sullivan captures well, e.g. here, must be tempered with this understanding of how corrupt Rafsanjani is, as explained by Imam Zaid Shakir in our Phone Forum on Monday.

Inter-Culturalism

Imam Zaid Shakir on the Tikkun Phone Forum

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What do American Muslims think about the conflict over the election in Iran? Or about Obama’s approach to the Muslim world? Many different things, no doubt, but for a thoughtful analysis from an African American Imam with wide knowledge of American Islam, you could not do better than to consult Imam Zaid Shakir. Imam Zaid Shakir is one of the most thoughtful and dynamic teachers about the true nature of Islam in America today. He teaches at Zaytuna Institute, and lectures and writes about both the ideals and the history of Islam.

Christianity

Welcome to the New Monastics

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I’m delighted that some of the most interesting Christians in America today are joining Tikkun Daily as a group. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove just did the first post, on Interdependence Day. Welcome to all New Monastics! These are people who are exploring the experiential dimension of their faith in radical ways that frankly, we are not used to seeing. But I imagine that their movement founder, Jesus, would like what they are doing.

Politics & Society

Why is this blog different from all other blogs?

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Because our intention is for it to be:
Jewish
Interfaith
Political
Spiritual
Humanist
Biophilic
Progressive
Prophetic
Intellectually deep
“Unrealistic”
Inspiring
All that!! No wonder I’m feeling simultaneously jazzed and exhausted. In need of spiritual practice… I’m off for an evening hike in the hills. These words are open to multiple meanings, of course.

Politics & Society

The beginning of the end of the prison system

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It’s a small beginning, a program for sixty men at a time in one big city jail as against a vast prison-industrial complex. But it works. I saw it yesterday in operation. I was humbled and stunned. I am talking about the work of Sunny Schwartz which I wrote about here before.