“In war,” goes an old saying, “truth is the first casualty.” Hmmmm. The chestnut seems accurate enough. And its relevance to the Ukraine war is direct: most Western reporters, scholars and analysts (including this blogger) have operated on a simple, Good Guy (Ukraine/Zelenskiy), vs Bad Guy (Putin/Russia) truth frame. Ukrainian leaders have worked tirelessly and … Continue reading Truth, War, & Ukraine War Crimes
New York Times – Europe, Facing Energy Shortages, Moves to Shore Up Providers Berlin and Paris are preparing bailouts as Europe braces for further cuts to gas supplies next week and economists warn of a recession. By Melissa Eddy and Stanley Reed — July 6, 2022 BERLIN — Leaders in Europe, facing their worst energy … Continue reading Gas War In Europe: Bracing for a Russian Cutoff
The Guardian: Alexei Gorinov receives first long-term sentence under harsh laws introduced since Russian invasion Pjotr Sauer — Fri 8 Jul 2022 A court in Moscow has sentenced an opposition councillor to seven years in jail for criticising Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, the first long-term prison sentence handed out under the new laws that … Continue reading Seven Years for Russian War Protester
NYTimes: Christian Nationalists Are Excited About What Comes Next By Katherine Stewart — July 5, 2022 Ms. Stewart has reported on the religious right for more than a decade. She is the author of “The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism.” The shape of the Christian nationalist movement in the post-Roe future … Continue reading “Christian” Nationalists Planning Next Anti-Abortion Moves
Playing the Lottery Winter 1969, Boston. I was driving a cab at night, while attending Harvard Divinity School. I had run through some scholarship and loan money, and needed cash; Christmas and all that. But I also thought it would be a “good experience” for a wannabe writer. When I turned my cab onto St. … Continue reading Another Quaker Holiday Story: Playing the Lottery