Daniel Lubetzky

Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our courage, nor our wisdom, nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile, and it can tell us everything about America except why we are proud that we are Americans.

- Robert Kennedy, March 18, 1968

David Troube wrote an insightful article about what is behind much of the "Boycott Israel" movement.

[Read more →]

Thanks to Janera Soerel for an exceptionally explicit and precise interview and article tackling a lot of issues revolving OneVoice, PeaceWorks, and the philosophy underlying them.

One of my favorite movies ever, which I just saw recently after many years, is The Mission.  Like all great movies, its power to entertain and its message stand the test of time…

[Read more →]

One of the most insightful articles to cover the American political
landscape and elections dynamics, is Michael Oreskes’ ‘The Party
Animal Either Plays Well Or Fights Well,’ [available here] in the New York Times Week in Review of Feb 3 2008.  Don’t let its dumb title, presumably assigned by yet another editor that underestimates his readers, turn you off.  The article is among the best and most on-target expositions of the
philosophies underlying today’s candidates, and their historical line.

For another deeper historical tackle at these competing styles is the
book ‘Crusaders vs. Pragmatists’ from Dr. John Stoessinger.

Sent from my iPhone – pardon typos
.

Taken from this article about the Gaza-Egypt border debacle, this picture struck me as a sad allegory not just to the challenges of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process and of building of a Palestinian State, but further to so many of the challenges faced today in the Middle East, from the peace process, to the struggle between tradition and modernity, to the many divides harming the region, to the threats of nuclear proliferation, etc.

Barack Obama’s sweeping victory this weekend – he won all 3 states, Washington, Nebraska, and Louisiana, overwhelmingly – was an opportunity for him to show humility, to speak a little more about our shared responsibility to strengthen our country and our world and be global stewards to each other.  It was also an opportunity for him to speak a little bit about policy and vision – yes, to inspire, but to do so with some meat.  Most important, it was an opportunity to make it about "us."  Instead, the initial over-use of "my" and "me" felt like bragging about success with an undertone of entitlement and righteousness, and overshadowed his good moments. 

It is clear he is trying to assure voters that he can gain the nomination, that he can beat McCain, and that he can run the country.  But his speech in Virginia (where the next contest comes) had a cocky tone that is dangerous to his message.

Contrast that to the way Huckabee handled his similar victory on the Republican side this weekend.  Political commentators were scoring him points by praising him for being "understated" about his wins.

[Read more →]

A New York Times Editorial, "An Intolerable Fraud", tells of a "charity" that hides behind a patriotic name – "The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes" and its sister "Help Hospitalized Veterans" – to bilk unknowing donors trying to send funds to soldiers harmed by the war, only to squander 70% to 80% of their funds.

According to the New York Times, the guy running this outfit, Roger Chapin, spent nearly $125 million (75% of funds raised) in "fund-raising, administrative expenses, fat salaries and perks. Mr. Chapin gave himself and his wife $1.5 million in salary, bonuses and pension contributions over those three years, including more than $560,000 in 2006. The charities also reimbursed the Chapins more than $340,000 for meals, hotels, entertainment and other expenses, and paid for a $440,000 condominium and a $17,000 golf-club membership." 

Just as pathetic, much of the funds the troops got was in the form of "’charitable’ phone cards sent to troops overseas in 2006 — not to let them call their families, but rather to call up a stateside business that sells sports scores."

[Read more →]

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

We are the change that we seek.

-Barak Obama, Feb. 5th speech