Blame is easier than leadership. It’s been long enough since the announcement of the “Great Recession” that a shelf of books are now out—each outlining the “real” causes of the recession and its unsettling impact on the American psyche and economy. Unfortunately, most of these books are essays on blame. The two major political parties … [Read more...]
The Linguistic Relationship between the Aramaic of Jesus and the Arabic of the Qur’an
July 14, 2010 by 4 Comments
When an Arabic-speaking Muslim friend saw Mel Gibson’s movie Passion of the Christ with most of the dialogue in Aramaic, he was very surprised that he did not need most of the subtitles in English to understand the movie! This connection is a critical bridge builder: sister languages, the Arabic, and the Aramaic, the written language which was … [Read more...]
Is Forced Democracy the Answer?
July 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Much of our recent foreign policy is guided by the notion that spreading democracy will naturally result in a state of peace, and respect for basic human rights. While seeking peace and human rights are notable and essential goals, the idea of using force to set up a system claiming to foster true freedom is a farce. Let me tell you a … [Read more...]
Unintended Consequences of Arizona’s Recent Immigration Law
May 5, 2010 by 37 Comments
In 1850, French economist Frederic Bastiat penned the essay "That Which Is Seen and That Which Is Unseen" to illustrate how lack of foresight relates to the law of unintended consequences. Through a series of examples, including the parable of the "Broken Window," Bastiat demonstrated that we tend to view only the immediate visible effects of … [Read more...]
