First, an amazing and touching tale of an Iranian dissenter and his journey to America. Expect it in a movie theater around 2010. I guess even the Economist has a heart. More on his story via TIme.
Second, an excellent in depth profiling of Barack Obama and his faith courtesy of Newsweek. If you want to learn more about Obama’s spiritual journey, which is really a major part of his life and is quite remarkable, read his work, “Dreams from My Father.” It’s an excellent, enlightening summer read.
There is definitely a split on the New Yorker, Obama cover story. In case, you have missed it (I don’t know how), Jonathan Alter argues that it reinforces the worst images spread about Obama. Jeffrey Goldberg, of the Atlantic Monthly, thinks the opposite. This was seriously dumb–I don’t know what the New Yorker was thinking. Many Americans have already shown themselves incapable of realizing that Obama is not a Muslim (nothing derogatory about that, more a misnomer unfairly characterizing his religious beliefs). You can make a joke if people are aware it’s a joke. This is something you would see on the cover of an Ann Coulter book. I’m very glad that both candidates have denounced it.
Obama, though, spent his time outlining his plan for Iraq in the NY Times. A must read on one of the most important issues in this campaign. I tend like his policy–I think we need to be very flexible and cautious. As the winds in Iraq change as should our policy. There is no flip-flopping on this issue in my opinion.
P.S. Has anyone seen John McCain? Is he part of this election?
Some lighter reading:
The Atlantic profiling Belgian Beer. As an aside, I’m a big fan of the Belgian beers I have tried. Leffe, for example, is one of my favorite beers. The more alcoholic, wine/champagne like beers such as Chimay (available at BevMo/Trader Joes, etc) is also fantastic. The best beers I have had though are Austrian ones such as Stiegl and Edelweiss. I am also a big fan of the Czech beers–Pilsner Urquell and Budweiser (called Czechvar here). Ok, enough on beer, I could go on all day about my favorite beers.
EW liked the Dark Knight. It got 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.
