By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Politics moves by symbols and slogans. Policymaking operates under an umbrella of politics, but gives more weight to the details of reality. Examples of the symbols and slogans that have moved American politics are war on drugs, war on terror, and–in the words of a Washington observer with a fancy title– “the […]
Is White House moving past symbols? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—One thing is clear about the operation of U.S. consulates along the U.S.-Mexico border: There needs to be a full-scale review of how well equipped they are to protect the interests of American citizens and their own employees. This is the clear lesson of two incidents occurring within a few
Congressional hearings into role of border consulates needed Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USA
Once A Marine by Nick Popaditch (with Mike Steere), Savas Beatie LLC, 2008, ISBN 13 978-1-932713-47-0; 293 pages, $25. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—This book has what might be considered an elliptical title: “Once A Marine…. (Always A Marine.)” And even were this book solely a glimpse into the proud Marine Corps and its
Congressional candidate’s ode to Marine Corps reveals his core values Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Okoronkwo Umeham, 73, has led a distinguished life in his native Nigeria; in the United Kingdom where he worked as a social worker; and finally in the United States, his country of citizenship, where he counsels troubled juveniles. Residents from the Eastern Nigerian village of Arochukwu,
Nigerian-American shackled in Mexico in mistaken drug arrest at border Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C.– Fairly authoritative sources have noted that Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, the U.S. Army general responsible for training Abu Mazen’s Palestinian security force/army, has become increasingly marginalized by the Fatah government. Last summer his staff was reportedly no longer directly involved in training or planning and had been “expelled” from the
The Folly of America Training the Palestinian Army Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USABy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Most people dread going to a funeral or to the dentist. Whenever I go to either, I have to give myself a pep talk. I repeat to myself the sage observation of Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal of Tifereth Israel Synagogue that helping to bury a person is one of the kindest
Even at funerals and dentists’ offices, there are positives to savor Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego CalendarBy Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — For the second year, the Samuel and Rebecca Astor Judaica Library at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center hosted three evenings devoted to the works of local poets: Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices. The second evening, February 24, featured student poets. Six seniors from the San Diego Jewish Academy, Yael Wulfovich,
Works of six SDJA student poets and a teacher showcased at Lawrence Family JCC Read More »
Eileen Wingard
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–It is not possible to find a more left-wing, large circulation media outlet in Israel than Ha’aretz. It is as close as anything Israeli comes to the New York Times: not in the quality or extent of its coverage, but in having as its readers the intellectual, political, and economic elites of
Obama, Clinton, and Mideast realities Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—My grandson Sky Masori, recently celebrated his third birthday with his first haircut—a Jewish tradition called an “upsherin” that is being revived across the denominational spectrum. The tradition is based on Leviticus 19:23 in which we are enjoined when coming into a new land not to partake of the
Enjoying third birthday and third grade field trip for grandsons Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Sandi Masori, Shor M. Masori
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The Japanese community of San Diego held a cherry blossom festival last weekend at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. It was an event for all the senses. The colorful costumes of the children and the koi in the pond pleased the eye. Japanese music gratified
Japanese-style books make reading to children even more fun Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Calendar, USA
By Lloyd Levy LONDON–They say that “turkeys don’t vote for Thanksgiving”- how wrong they are. It was hard to believe at the time of the Election, that the vast majority of Jews in USA voted for Barack Obama as President. Well (to mix a metaphor) the birds have come home to roost, and their support
Why did American Jews vote for Obama? Read More »
Lloyd Levy, Middle East, USA
Last in a series By Donald H. Harrison MANTA, Ecuador—There’s a San Diego feel about this city near the equator. The same tuna companies – Van Camp, Bumblebee—that once made San Diego their homes now have canneries here. Although it recently closed, a U.S. Air Force base here that monitored possible drug traffickers in nearby
Boom times in Manta reminiscent of San Diego last century Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
Seventh in a series By Donald H. Harrison ABOARD MS ROTTERDAM – Not really conscious that I was doing so, I turned this Holland America cruise ship into a digital Noah’s Ark while voyaging from Lima, Peru, to San Diego, USA. In port after port, I photographed whatever seemed interesting that crossed in front of
Compiling a digital menagerie on Holland America cruise Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Calendar
Sixth in a Series By Donald H. Harrison ABOARD MS ROTTERDAM—From the earliest days of the conquest of Latin America to the years of liberation, our cruise ship sped us through some of the most dramatic moments in Spanish colonial history. For us, a recent voyage aboard MS Rotterdam began in Callao, the port serving
Cruising through Latin American history Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Calendar, USA