The latest news on Obama Speech in Cairo, Speech Reaction, Health Insurance, Benefits Soar, Employee Free Choice Act, Katrina Housing, Same-Sex Marriage, Progressive Think Tanks, Tiananmen Anniversary, Israeli Settlements, U.K.-Brown Government, Cuba, Afg | Sojourners

The latest news on Obama Speech in Cairo, Speech Reaction, Health Insurance, Benefits Soar, Employee Free Choice Act, Katrina Housing, Same-Sex Marriage, Progressive Think Tanks, Tiananmen Anniversary, Israeli Settlements, U.K.-Brown Government, Cuba, Afg

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Quote of the day. “You can raise pigs to be very strong and very fat. But a pig is still a pig. And a pig has no rights.” Liu Suli, who served 20 months in prison for his role in the pro-democracy Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, on the idea that “his fellow Chinese have made a devil’s bargain, trading the freedom that he and his fellow protesters sought for a chance at a car and a bigger apartment.” (New York Times)

Obama speech in Cairo. Sweeping Message in President’s Speech at Cairo University “President Obama pledged on Thursday to 'seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world,' imploring America and the Islamic world to drop their suspicions of one another and forge new alliances to confront violent extremism and heal religious divides.” Obama calls for 'new beginning' between U.S. and Muslims “President Obama, calling for 'a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world,'' said in a long-promised and widely watched address from Cairo today that the 'cycle of suspicion and discord must end.'" Obama Calls for New Beginning With World's Muslims “President Obama asked Thursday for a 'new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world' in a speech that urged Islamic nations to embrace democracy, women's rights, religious tolerance and the right of Israel to co-exist with an independent Palestinian state.” Speech Text

Speech reaction. BBC: Obama reaches out to Muslim world "He admitted there had been 'years of distrust' and said both sides needed to make a 'sustained effort ... to respect one another and seek common ground.'" Haaretz: Obama: I'll personally pursue two-state solution "U.S. President Barack Obama reaffirmed Washington's strong backing for a Palestinian state, using his long-anticipated Cairo address to the Muslim world highlight his administration's and his own personal commitment to follow through on a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict." alJazeera: Obama seeks new start with Muslims "Laying out his vision on Thursday for a new U.S. partnership with the Muslim world during a visit to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, Obama said the 'cycle of suspicion and discord' must end."

Health insurance. Obama Warms to Idea of Requiring Health Insurance “One day after signaling a fresh willingness to consider taxing employer-sponsored health insurance, President Obama indicated yesterday a new openness toward a nationwide requirement that every American have health coverage.” Obama Open to a Mandate on Health Insurance “President Obama said Wednesday that he was receptive to Congressional proposals that would require Americans to have health insurance and oblige employers to share in the cost.”

Benefits soar. Benefit spending soars to new high “Benefits, such as Social Security, food stamps, unemployment insurance and health care, accounted for 16.2% of personal income in the first quarter of 2009, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reports. That's the highest percentage since the government began compiling records in 1929.”

Employee Free Choice Act. Business groups pressure senators to oppose union 'card check' “Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and two other senators have emerged as focal points of an intense lobbying campaign aimed at heading off a proposed compromise over 'card check,' the controversial legislation that would make it easier for labor unions to organize workers.”

Katrina housing. Katrina Victims Will Not Have to Vacate Trailers “Hurricane Katrina victims around the Gulf Coast who were told to vacate their temporary trailers by the end of May will instead be allowed to buy them for $5 or less, White House officials announced on Wednesday.”

Same-sex marriage. N.H. ties gay-marriage knot “New Hampshire became the fifth state in New England yesterday and the sixth in the country to allow same-sex marriage, as lawmakers approved and the governor signed revised legislation designed to balance personal and religious freedom.”

Progressive think tanks. Obama's Election Has Been a Boon to Liberal Think Tanks and Lobbying Firms “Obama's election has dramatically altered the landscape occupied by the advocacy groups, think tanks and lobbying firms that make up Washington's sprawling influence industry.”

Tiananmen anniversary. Tiananmen Square blocked off “Chinese police have ringed Tiananmen Square, to prevent people marking the 20th anniversary of the massacre.” Lockdown for Tiananmen anniversary “China is marking the 20th anniversary of the crushing of the Beijing democracy protests with tight security in Tiananmen Square, increased monitoring of dissidents and blocks imposed on social networking websites and online message boards.” China Floods Tiananmen Square With Police to Bar Protests "China blanketed Tiananmen Square with police officers Thursday, determined to prevent any commemoration of the 20th anniversary of a military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters that left hundreds dead.”

Israeli settlements. Israelis Say Bush Agreed to West Bank Growth "Senior Israeli officials accused President Obama on Wednesday of failing to acknowledge what they called clear understandings with the Bush administration that allowed Israel to build West Bank settlement housing within certain guidelines while still publicly claiming to honor a settlement 'freeze.'” Some in Congress uneasy with Obama's Mideast policy “Key U.S. lawmakers whose support is crucial to the Obama administration's Middle East peace effort are showing signs of unease with the administration's aggressive approach to Israel.”

U.K.-Brown government. Britain's Brown Battles for Political Survival as Scandal Thins Cabinet Ranks “Prime Minister Gordon Brown faced a political nightmare Wednesday with the resignation of his fourth government minister in two days on the eve of local and European elections in which his Labor Party appeared headed for what could be its worst defeat in history.” Allies of Brown go on offensive “Sources say there is 'no chance' of him standing down and say opponents are trying to create 'chaos' within the party in order to force him to go.”

Cuba. OAS lifts suspension of Cuba “The Organization of American States on Wednesday repealed its 47-year suspension of Cuba, jettisoning a legacy of the Cold War and promising to further the communist island's integration into the region” OAS lifts Cuba's long suspension “The Organization of American States has voted to lift Cuba's suspension from the group, paving the way for it to be readmitted after nearly half a century.”

Afghanistan. Inside Afghanistan's most dangerous insurgent group “The Haqqani network's close ties to Pakistani intelligence and Arab jihadist groups go back a long way, to the dusty mountains of Paktia Province near the Pakistani border, where the group's putative leader, Jalaluddin Haqqani, first rose to fame.”

Iran. Iran President and Challenger Clash in Debate “A moderate politician who is considered the strongest challenger to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran accused him on live television on Wednesday of undermining the nation’s interest by constantly questioning the Holocaust and by engaging in an adventurist foreign policy.” Iran's Ahmadinejad, Opponent Mousavi Express Sharply Divergent Views in Debate “President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his main rival in the June 12 election, former prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi, held a remarkably frank debate Wednesday night that exposed deep differences among Iran's leaders and presented voters with two completely opposing views.” Iran rivals spar in live debate “Mir Hossein Mousavi, a former prime minister, accused Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the current president, of driving the country towards 'dictatorship' during the one-on-one televised broadcast debate.”

Faith feature. A window into faith of 4 journalists “Faith celebrated. Faith lost. Faith inspected and detected, from neurological research to relics of saints venerated in exotic shrines. USA TODAY religion reporter Cathy Lynn Grossman talks to four journalists who, drawn to write about religion, make their explorations personal in their new books.”

Passing. Koko Taylor, Blues Queen, Dies at 80 “Koko Taylor, a sharecropper's daughter whose regal bearing and powerful voice earned her the sobriquet 'Queen of the Blues,' has died after complications from surgery. She was 80.” Chicago blues legend Koko Taylor dies at 80 “Koko Taylor more than once said she hoped that when she died, it would be on stage, doing the thing she loved most: Singing the blues. She nearly got her wish.”

Opinion. Bullets Over Beijing (Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times) “It was exactly 20 years ago that I stood on the northwest corner of Tiananmen Square and watched 'People’s China' open fire on the people.”