Opinion: In today’s pages: Iran, Durban, marijuana - and Barbie
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In today’s opinion pages, the editorial board calls on Barack Obama (and Hillary Clinton) to stay on the road toward dialogue with Iran, perhaps with an assist from Russia; and to play ball with the nations of the world, misguided as they may be, as they take up a draft document at the ‘Durban II’ conference in Geneva.
To be sure, the draft document reportedly contains provisions that no freedom- or peace-loving nation could possibly support. Not only does it make outrageous allegations about Israeli ‘apartheid,’ but it seeks to equate ‘defamation of religions’ with human rights abuses. This is a reprehensible attempt by Muslim nations to restrict speech in the free world by condemning depictions of Muhammad or any other expression they find offensive.
The point, the board says, is that the U.S. could be more constructive by showing up. sticking to its principles and shaping the final consensus document.
The board also gives Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. a, uh, high five for vowing not to raid medical marijuana dispensaries, but notes that this falls short of resolving the relationship between the federal drug laws and California’s legalization of the use of medical marijuana.
On the Op-Ed page, Barbie turns 50. Novelist Amy Goldman Koss reflects on her childhood version of the doll, with its short hair and missing foot.
Columnist Gregory Rodriguez examines the link between recession (joblessness) and social networking(job offers). And, come to think of it, the clear relationship between layoffs and LinkedIn.And screenwriter Toni Ann Johnson continues the ‘Postcards from the Recession’ series. Today’s postcard is from Morningside Circle in South Los Angeles.
Folks here have always known how to get by in tough times. They grow fruit trees and vegetable gardens, clip coupons, re-sole shoes and repair clothing. They save on gasoline at Costco and find bargains at the dollar store. Most will live through the recession the way they’ve been living -- within their means.
Johnson’s postcard follows up Sunday’s by Susan Straight from the Inland Empire. Tomorrow: Silver Lake.