Freedom jonathan franzen amazon

A tough ban on same-sex relationships that threatens violators with 14-year prison terms has been quietly signed into law by the president of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, a step that rights advocates have long feared not only as a repression aimed at gays but as an affront to basic freedoms of speech and assembly. The ban, known as the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, was passed by Parliament in May but was not signed by the president, Goodluck Jonathan, until Jan. 7, Nigerian news agencies reported Monday from Abuja, the capital. It is considered the most significant setback to gay rights in Africa, where same-sex relationships are already widely prohibited. The law took effect as gay-rights advocacy is gaining traction elsewhere, led by the United States and other Western nations where the legality and acceptance of same-sex marriage and civil unions are expanding. Under the Nigerian law, it is illegal not only to engage in an intimate relationship with a member of … [Read more...] about Nigerian President Signs Ban on Same-Sex Relationships

In November 2019, when I wrote a guest op-ed in The New York Times criticizing former President Barack Obama’s “ very boomer view of cancel culture ,” I wasn’t prepared for the backlash I would quickly receive. Both liberals and conservatives were up in arms about my critique of Obama, especially when he argued that cancel culture was “not activism.” It’s “not bringing about change,” he added. “If all you’re doing is casting stones, you’re probably not going to get that far. That’s easy to do.” But that’s not how I viewed cancel culture, nor the individuals who are often connected to the controversial term. What Obama, Donald Trump, Dave Chappelle, Joe Rogan, Chrissy Teigen, J. K. Rowling, Fox News, and the hundreds of other politicians, celebrities, and influencers who have spoken against cancel culture don’t get is that it’s not simply about casting judgment, censorship, or intolerance of other viewpoints. It’s about power. Too often, the most powerful among us love to play … [Read more...] about Cancel Culture Is the Best Weapon the Powerless Possess

MIAMI — Eduardo Padrón left his hometown, Marianao, a hard-scrabble municipality in Havana, with nothing but the clothes he was wearing. He was 16, the son of a marketing director for a pharmaceutical company who was with his younger brother on a night flight to Miami. It was 1961. He and his brother, Ernesto, nearly 13, had only learned they were leaving the day before. Their parents, desperate to get the boys out of Cuba, had planned their departure for months but kept it secret for fear the Castro government would find out and not allow them to leave. “It was a nightmare," Padrón recalls. "I cried all night. I thought, what’s going to happen to me? I don’t know English. I don’t know anybody.” He had no time to say goodbye to his friends or relatives. But his parents promised that they would all be reunited soon and that someone would welcome the boys at the Miami airport. Nothing went as expected, and no one was waiting for them. But a woman named Rosa, who had been … [Read more...] about Eduardo Padrón transformed a college and a city. Now he’s ready for his next act.

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images I’m as happy as anybody that Congress is in the process of avoiding a U.S.-debt default . It would have been horrific economically and a sign that rampant stupidity had overtaken our political system. But c’mon: Some of the paeans to the strategic brilliance of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in getting the deal through the House are a bit hard to take. Yes, McCarthy had to figure out a way to get a deal with Joe Biden that a majority of House Republicans would vote for and that wouldn’t outrage conservatives enough to motivate them to toss him out of his Speakership. But it’s not like he had any choice about placing himself and his country in danger: It was very clear that the key House members who secured his gavel after 15 ballots in January wanted a confrontation with Democrats over the debt limit. Taking the economy hostage was part of the plan all along for converting a narrow Republican majority in one chamber of Congress into … [Read more...] about Kevin McCarthy Is a Survivor, Not a Strategic Genius

SAN FRANCISCO — On Friday morning, Silicon Valley was largely ambivalent about President Trump. The software programmers, marketing experts and chief executives might not have voted for him, but they were hopeful about finding common ground with the new administration. By Saturday night, much of that optimism had yielded to anger and determination. Mr. Trump’s executive order late on Friday temporarily blocked all refugees while also denying entry to citizens of Iran, Iraq and five other predominantly Muslim countries. The directives struck at the heart of Silicon Valley’s cherished values, its fabled history and, not least, its embrace-the-world approach to customers. Two worldviews collided: the mantra of globalization that underpins the advance of technology and the nationalistic agenda of the new administration. In response, a significant part of the tech community went to the barricades. Netflix’s chief executive, Reed Hastings, wrote on Facebook that Mr. Trump’s … [Read more...] about Silicon Valley’s Ambivalence Toward Trump Turns to Anger

close Video Mississippi tornado victims 'need prayer' as recovery efforts underway: Franklin Graham Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham says emergency and disaster relief organizations 'all work together' to pray and assist recovery efforts for communities impacted by deadly tornadoes. Orlando, Florida – In his keynote address at the opening session of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) International Christian Media Convention here on Monday night, Rev. Franklin Graham minced no words regarding faith in today's society. He told all those gathered, "There’s a storm coming, and we’ve all got to be prepared." Rev. Graham also said that "every demon from hell" has been "turned loose" in our culture today. "The world has deteriorated so quickly," he said from the stage. "We cannot be deceived and we can’t be fooled. We need to get ready and be prepared." DESANTIS VOWS TO PROTECT FAITH, FAMILY AT NATIONAL RELIGIOUS … [Read more...] about Franklin Graham at Christian media convention: Every ‘demon from hell’ has been ‘turned loose’ in society