There have been recent attacks on Israeli citizens who are going about their lives, including a rash of stabbing assaults, and all eyes are on the Israeli response and the efforts to restore some order. While visiting Jerusalem this week, I’m seeing the effects of this recent mayhem in the streets: “It’s not that I’m saying that Israel is blameless all the time, but what’s going on now is terror…People are feeling spooked without letting rage or anger take over.” Watch my recent appearance on The Daily Wrap, discussing this topic:......
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Our money may bear the words “In God We Trust,” and almost 90% of Americans may claim belief in God (or a higher power). But when it comes to government, organized religions or most other large institutions, a very different picture emerges. According to new polling by Gallup, trust in our big institutions is, well, in the toilet. As a panel guest on The Daily Wrap recently, I addressed the issue: “I think what we’ve gotten really good at is appreciating what people can and must do for themselves, but we’re going......
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News & Politics, Videos, Wisdom Warehouse |
May 20, 2015
Will the U.S. Be Smart About Smartphone Privacy?
As U.S. government officials consider how to meet law enforcement’s need for access to data – now increasingly encrypted on personal tech devices – Google, Apple and 140 other technology firms are pushing back. In an appeal to the Obama administration, they argue that “strong encryption is the cornerstone of the modern information economy’s security.” Still, we shouldn’t forget: The cellphone is one of the single most important tools in 21st-century terrorism. Privacy is a priority for Americans, but what about public safety? Is the tech industry’s position a responsible one? “They......
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Across the U.S., people are talking about the latest in religious news: According to research, numbers keep trending down among the most popular sects of institutional Christianity in America. Many wonder what this means about the role of faith in our communities and our private lives. While I believe atheism is not on the rise, and interest among individuals who seek spiritual fulfillment remains as vibrant as ever, the upshot is this: “If you believe in tradition, figure out how to use it in new and creative ways.” Watch my recent appearance......
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News & Politics, Videos, Wisdom Warehouse |
March 19, 2015
Frat Boy Follow-up: Addressing Ignorance Productively
As a contributor to Newsmax TV’s The Daily Wrap, hosted by Joe Concha, I appeared in a recent episode – alongside attorney Heather Hansen and radio broadcaster Rick Ungar? – to discuss current events. For a portion of the broadcast, seen in the clip below, our panel engaged in a substantive discussion about the University of Oklahoma’s decision to kick Sigma Alpha Epsilon students off campus, after they were seen reveling in racist chants on a video that went viral. Expulsion is just a first step to what should happen in a......
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Returning to appear on Newsmax this week, I joined a panel to contribute insights about the escalating terrorist activity in Europe following the attack at Charlie Hebdo, and the troubling racial tension in New York City under the current mayor’s leadership. Watch and share your take in the comments: To see other Newsmax appearances, click here....
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News & Politics, Videos, Wisdom Warehouse |
January 09, 2015
In a World of Opinions, It’s Healthy to Engage
How often do you seriously engage those with whom you may deeply disagree? It’s not always our fault if we don’t (though it’s usually to our detriment) because we live in a world where we can easily surround ourselves, through media and technology, with opinions and ideas that mirror our beliefs. But however easy it is, that’s the opposite of wisdom, from our perspective at TWD. Engaging people who hold different opinions – at least occasionally – is calisthenics for our spirit and our intellect. It stretches our minds and opens our......
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From the Newsmax article by Brad Hirschfield: “As one who has lost people close to me in acts of terror, I find police union head Pat Lynch’s assertion that New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has blood on his hands, to be a ill-conceived at best, and dangerous at worst. Having blood on one’s hands, suggests having taken direct action and bearing direct guilt for the resulting crimes, and clearly, that is not the case here. Furthermore, the charge of “blood on their hands” has been used since the time of the......
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News & Politics, Wisdom Warehouse |
December 11, 2014
Terror Attack Anywhere Is Threat to ‘Forces of Decency’ Everywhere
From Newsmax article by Brad Hirschfield:?A knife-wielding terrorist stormed a synagogue, screaming that he “wanted to kill (the) Jews.” No this was not in Jerusalem, where a similar attack two weeks ago took the lives of five innocent victims — four rabbis at prayer and a brave Druze police officer who tried to stop the murderers. This attack occurred Tuesday in the Brooklyn, New York, headquarters of Chabad, the world’s largest Hasidic community. While the attack is not about Jerusalem, it is not about New York, either. In fact, it’s not about......
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