Hot Docs: Responding to War in Gaza, Rising Homicides Among Young Blacks
Today's selection of timely reports
Responding to the Gaza Crisis: The situation in Gaza is "grave" and "dire," but at this point there's not much that Washington can do to help end the violence, a Middle East expert says. In an interview, Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations says that it's "not surprising" that violence erupted when it did: Israeli and Hamas forces "quickly took advantage" of the end of a cease-fire in December, and he discusses a number of factors on both sides that contributed to the breakdown. The instability endangers U.S. interests throughout the Middle East, Cook warns, and creates an opportunity for Iran to expand its influence with other Arab nations. Neither Bush nor Obama can do much about the situation right now, Cook admits, but the incoming administration should look for ways to make advancing the peace process "a priority."
Crime Study Looks at Homicide Trends: A new study examines the fact that homicide appears to be skyrocketing in one demographic group: young African-American men. According to criminal justice professors from Northeastern University, FBI numbers showing an overall decrease in crime "obscure the divergent tale of two communities." Their analysis shows that between 2002 and 2007, the number of young black men who were victims of homicide increased by 31 percent, and the number of perpetrators was up by 43 percent. The study's authors criticize recent cutbacks in programs that have been successful in keeping kids away from gangs and violence, and they call for a "reinvestment in children and families—in essence an at-risk youth bailout during these difficult economic times."
Online, the Campaign Continues: In the wake of record online engagement during the past presidential election, the Pew Internet and American Life Project asked voters if they planned to stay involved as the new Obama administration gets underway. For many, the campaign continues: 62 percent of those who voted for Barack Obama say they expect to ask others to support the new president's policies as his administration begins. About half of Obama supporters who are active online expect that they'll continue to get regular updates from the party through text messaging and social networking sites. Across the aisle, 9 percent of those who voted for John McCain say they've gone online since the election to visit websites aiming "to rebuild the GOP."
Reader Comments
LEGITIME DEFENCE
HYPOCRISY OF ALL THE WORLD LEADERS
What will you do or how will you respond if for 8 years your principals cities where just civiliens lives are under dayly bombarding
The restraint of Israel government until now is an exemplification for you to learn
NO COUNTRY IN THIS WORLD WOULD BEHAVE LIKE US
Nothing New
The only difference in this Israeli-Palestini conflict is that there are more Palestinian civillians being killed. Sure, nobody really wants the death of innocents to occur, but maybe that is what is needed to end the conflict between these two people. Remember how the US ended WWII with the Japanese? And unless Iran begins to influence the other Arab nations to move against Israel, I don't think the US should truly get involved. Let the Israelis and Palestinians work it out. If Iran does start to agitate the other Arab states, the US should calmly place a couple of submarines or aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. At that time, the US doesn't need to aid the Israelis in Gaza, but to watch their back.
As for the homicides among blacks, there has got to be a better way to help out kids in need. Gangs are very tempting to join since they offer something like fraternity or secret society that looks out for you if you look at for them. Maybe cities that have high gang violence should offer community centers for kids after school. Let youth groups from churches get involved. Probably some of those kids in the youth groups are friends or go to school with those that need to get off the streets.
A couple of more things. I do not have to support the actions of president-elect Obama's actions during his presidency. As an American, I will gladly say that he is my future president but that doesn't I'm going to like everything he wants to do. President Bush was not supported in a lot of things, so why should I have to support everything that Obama is going to do? Isn't it my right to say that he's wrong on this and that? Sure, Obama may truly be wanting to help the American people, but he didn't get my vote on election day. Now about rebuilding the GOP, I don't think it's going to happen. The Republican Party has tried reaching across the aisle and has tried to please everybody to the point that it has fallen apart into different quarrelling factions. If anything this is a time to make a new Conservative party or strengthen the Independent party.
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