"...the barrage of publicized attention to Thanksgiving gives very short shrift to the original Thanksgiving. Newly arrived settlers in their new world, we’ve been told, gratefully received help from savvy Indians who generously shared their food and knowledge of how to prepare for the oncoming winter. And that oft-neglected story, in turn, is rarely examined as a parable for how Europeans who arrived in North America several centuries ago were glad to take from native people -- and then proceeded to plunder and kill with a zeal that became genocidal."

Eventually, history will vindicate [Yasser] Arafat, and [Yitzhak] Rabin will be remembered as just another in a long line of Zionist strongmen bent on ethnic cleansing.

"Islam is second to none when it comes to rejecting caste, or social strata systems based on one's place of birth, inherited superiority, or religious and economic exclusivity. Naipal never lived in India, nor did his parents; he was a born a Hindu in Trinidad, the West Indies, and lived in England."

"Even if Peretz prevails in the election (which is possible, despite initial polls which give Sharon a 37% to 22% lead), he faces daunting challenges."

"If the Iraqi government is legitimate, and if it meets the will of the majority of the Iraqi people, the Iraqi government can and will be protected by Iraqi soldiers after the American military departs. The sooner the better. If American troops are required to support any Iraqi government, it should be apparent to all that that Iraqi government is illegitimate and should be replaced by one supported by the Iraqi people."

"Rice also urged Israel for further talks on the Gaza airport which was discussed in the negotiations. Time will tell if Rice's words are backed up by the US administration and if the agreement is implemented in its entirety."

"For Amir Peretz to try and fail to make peace with the Palestinians could be less helpful to long-term peace prospects than another successful round of disengagement."

"Pakistan's worst disaster ever has exposed the deep divide that has always existed between the government and the governed. The government consists of people who simply usurp the resources of the state for their personal use and prestige; they feel no sense of obligation toward the people, but only to their families and power-base. The only time the people's involvement is allowed is when the government needs their help. This has always been a one-way street. The government feels no obligation to provide services to the people on whose behalf it claims to be governing."