Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post

On Tuesday, January 12, when you deliver your final State of the Union address, you will have a
tremendous opportunity to establish a profound legacy regarding one of the nation's most important
domestic programs -- Social Security

A wave of pessimism leads capable people to underestimate the power of their voice and the
strength of their ideals. The truth is this: It is the initiatives of deeply caring people that provide the
firmament for our democracy.
In addition to serious questions about use of force and why another unarmed person of color has
died at the hands of Denver law enforcement, his case illustrates several systemic deficiencies of our
criminal justice system, both in Denver and nationwide.

No one saw this disaster coming, but that's no excuse for letting the next one happen. Let President
Obama know that it's time for the entire country to adopt strong safeguards against methane leaks
from aging oil and gas infrastructure like that in Aliso Canyon.
Dr. Larycia Hawkins is loving her Muslim neighbors as herself at a time when I will admit - we can
use some neighborly love. And Dr. Hawkins could be losing her job for it. Is it really necessary for
Wheaton College to nitpick the nuances of the differences between Christianity and Islam?
Maine's Governor Paul LePage is no stranger to making crazy comments in public that are
unbecoming to an elected official, but his latest racist rant about heroin use in his state is rightfully
getting people up in arms.
Sharda Sekaran Managing Director of Communications, Drug Policy Alliance
Future economic historians may not call the period that began in 2007 "The Greatest Depression."
But as of now it is highly and increasingly probable that they will call it "The Longest Depression."
So what can be done?
The U.S.-led order for the region established in the 1990s was bound to collapse. It was based on the
exclusion of two of the Mideast's most powerful states -- Iran and Iraq -- and could only be sustained
as long as the U.S. was willing to pay for it through its own blood and treasure. The influence and
privilege Saudi Arabia enjoyed under American order will no longer be the same -- because that
order is no more.
Trita Parsi President, National Iranian American Council
Heroin has taken so much from me over the years. Time I can never get back. People I will never see
again. Memories I never had a chance to make. And the craziest part of all of this? I never touched
the stuff myself.
Alicia Cook Writer, Champagne Sipper, French-Fry Lover, Curly-Haired Person. Instagram:
@thealiciacook
As the Supreme Court hears this case on Monday, that day will mark the beginning of a week of
action to ensure that the public is aware of what's at stake: the ability of workers to stand up for
themselves and for the people they serve.
With presidential primaries fast approaching, Republican voters should be asking themselves a few
provocative questions about their front-runners and their party. Are conservatives in the United

States so bereft of ideas that their only response to global climate change is to pretend it doesn't
exist?
Warm desserts that pair soft, tart fruit with buttery-crisp toppings are some of my favorite things to
bake. They're perfect for using up seasonal fruit, easy to throw together, and always comforting.
Muslim millennials are committed to their faith; recognized a need for renewal in Muslim discourse;
saw a need for a more visible role for women in religious life; believed that religion would play an
important part in their country's future; and rejected extremist groups as a perversion of their faith.
James Zogby President, Arab American Institute; author, 'Arab Voices'
To put this in a religious context: overcoming the divisions of race has been central to the church
since its beginning, and the dynamic diversity of the body of Christ is one of the most powerful
forces in the global church. Our Christian faith stands fundamentally opposed to racism in all its
forms, which contradict the good news of the gospel.
Jim Wallis Christian leader for social change; President and Founder @Sojourners
No one ought to have the right to manufacture and sell weapons of mass destruction to anyone other
than the military, and those weapons should not be able to leave a military base under penalty of
law.
More than half a million of the poorest Americans will lose a critical tool to help keep food on the
table this year. That's because a three-month limit on SNAP (food stamps) for jobless adults aged 1849 who aren't disabled or raising minor children is returning in 23 states for the first time since the
Great Recession.
Never did I consider that something so unthinkable -- selling kids for sex -- was happening in my own
community. But I was wrong. I was naive. I was unwilling to face the facts. Until last year.
It should come as no surprise, then, that stormtroopers and dinosaurs -- fairy tale visions conjured
decades ago, and at great effort, by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg -- are still ruling the box
office today.
As a former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who was responsible for the conservation
and stewardship of the entire National Wildlife Refuge System, I am appalled by the illegal armed
occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Oregon.
2015 was a good year for job growth. By the end of the year, the tightening job market finally
started showing signs of generating some wage pressures. But we've got a ways to go before the
economy's growth is broadly shared.
Jared Bernstein Fmr. Obama administration economist; CNBC and MSNBC contributor
The irony is that the plethora of choices is making our head spin, and giving us an even harder time
making or sticking to a decision. We are in a constant state of anxiety where we never know if we
are doing our best or having the best that we should and must have.
Keay Nigel Writer, Merman & Your GBF (Twitter & IG @KeayNigel)

Increasing Islamic extremism has contributed to the political gains of the far right, which also has a
long history of anti-Semitism. The mutual reinforcement of these movements -- with the far right
contributing to radicalization among French Muslims -- is not good for the Jews nor does it augur
well for democratic values.
Jonathan Greenblatt National Director and CEO of the Anti-Defamation League
Roger Cukierman President of CRIF, the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France
All relationships have their ups and downs. What is important to remember, is to be empathic to one
another, so that you can communicate and solve problems. Otherwise, you create injuries that may
last for the duration of your relationship.
Dr. Gail Gross Human Behavior, Parenting, and Education Expert, Speaker, Author. Ph.D., Ed.D.,
M.Ed.
These 11 happy habits aren't created overnight -- they're part of a repertoire of behavior that form
over time. So, if you want to be happy, mimic and build these 11 happy habits into your daily
routines.
R.L. Adams Writer, blogger, entrepreneur, software engineer, and best-selling author of dozens of
SEO, online marketing & self-development books.
Body image and perception issues do not go away just because one is working out.
No one should profit off of putting people behind bars. That profit is wasted money that should be
spent on improving conditions inside and outside prisons, rather than on covering up the symptoms
of a broken system.
A vibrant and dynamic faith institution should acknowledge that whether Christians and Muslims
worship the same God is a legitimate and unsettled question for many faithful Christian believers.
David Moriah Leadership consultant, former Outward Bound wilderness guide, sportswriter, Deacon
in Shiloh Baptist urban church, Trenton NJ, activist.
Not saying what happened wasn't dangerous, but the fact is Koreans in less than a day have turned
away from that news. To be honest, even the day it happened, people here didn't make a huge fuss
about it.
The market was supposed to save the planet. That, at least, was the argument of many economists

grappling with the problem of climate change. As fossil fuels became scarcer, they pointed out, the
price of oil and natural gas would go up.
John Feffer Director, Foreign Policy In Focus and Editor, LobeLog
This week, Robert Scheer sits down with Tom Dine, currently the senior policy advisor at Israel
Policy Forum, but best known as the head of AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), a
powerful pro-Israel lobbying organization from 1980-1993.
Robert Scheer Editor, Truthdig.com; Author, 'They Know Everything About You'
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