The Christian Science Monitor back issues from March 2005:
For Salvadoran gangs, jail is a revolving door.(WORLD)
Mar 01, 2005 ... Byline: Danna Harman Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor SAN SALVADOR -- Antonio Garcia knows the San Salvador detention center well. As a member of the gang Mara Salvatrucha, or MS13, the 28-year-old has been in and out five times in the past two years, adding new ...
Israeli-Palestinian Testing Time.(EDITORIAL)(Editorial)
Mar 01, 2005 ... Byline: The Monitor's View Just wait until the next suicide bombing, many Middle East experts warned. That will be the first real test of the revived Israeli-Palestinian peace process. That test occurred last Friday, when a suicide bomber killed five Israelis outside ...
Voting Rights for Ex-Felons.(EDITORIAL)(Editorial)
Mar 01, 2005 ... Byline: The Monitor's View A new report shows some 1.5 million convicted felons still denied one of democracy's fundamentals - the right to vote after completing their prison sentences. In fact, 14 states don't automatically restore voting rights to felons who have ...
Serbia partners with US colleges.(FEATURES)(LEARNING)
Mar 01, 2005 ... Byline: Erika Lorentzsen Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor BELGRADE, SERBIA -- At the University of Novi Sad, the scene isn't much different from that of an American college. Students mingle in the hallways and bustle in over-crowded cafeterias. It would be easy to ...
Germany's new motto: Let's get interactive.(FEATURES)(LEARNING)
Mar 01, 2005 ... Byline: Isabelle de Pommereau Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor RECKLINGHAUSEN, GERMANY -- Baby Cedric Alke loves his "Hug and Learn Baby Tad." At first sight, the green frog looks like millions of plush animals beloved by children. But when the infant gives it a ...
Lebanon's government quits as anti-Syria protests swell; After a week of protests, Prime Minister Omar Karami resigned Monday.(WORLD)
Mar 01, 2005 ... Byline: Nicholas Blanford Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor BEIRUT -- In an unexpected move Monday in front of the country's parliament, Prime Minister Omar Karami gave his resignation, effectively terminating the rule of the current Syrian-backed government. ...
In media age, role of college president evolves; The furor over comments made by Harvard President Summers offers a window into forces at work in academia.(USA)
Mar 01, 2005 ... Byline: Christina McCarroll Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor BOSTON -- Uttered in the staid halls of an academic conference on workforce diversification six weeks ago, Lawrence Summers's remarks on women and science have gained the shrill echoes of Howard Dean's ...
Next Up, High Schools?(EDITORIAL)(Editorial)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: The Monitor's View For years, education reform has focused on prekindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Now America's governors are turning their attention to high schools, where only 71 percent of students graduate, and only 18 of every 100 ...
The Cedar Rebellion.(EDITORIAL)(Editorial)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: The Monitor's View A popular uprising against Syria's occupation of Lebanon felled the pro-Syrian government in Beirut this week, less than a month after the killing of Lebanon's most popular politician. For the Middle East, this is the latest bloom of liberty ...
Thin & glamorous, flat panels are the supermodels of TV land.(FEATURES)(LIVING)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Gregory M. Lamb Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor Television sets have never been thought of as gossamer. Slender, lean, gaunt, or skinny don't come to mind, either. But all that is rapidly changing. In case you haven't noticed, TVs have hit the ...
Does 'Supernanny' know best? New TV shows help parents overcome their reluctance to discuss discipline.(FEATURES)(LIVING)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Kim Campbell Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor NEW YORK -- For Jen and Bryce Bullard, learning a new parenting style started with a trip to Target. It was there that a scout for the reality show "Supernanny" noticed their sons acting up and invited the ...
Women challenge 'honor' killings; A widespread campaign aims to help Jordan's forgotten victims.(FEATURES)(COMPASS)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: ALASDAIR SOUSSI Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor AMMAN, JORDAN -- Six months ago, Mona fled her home. Her husband had married a second wife, as Islamic law allows, and Mona - defying his demands to return to her mother's house, where he could call upon her ...
Pit bulls can't shake bad rap.(FEATURES)(COMPASS)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Randy Dotinga Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor SAN DIEGO -- Being cooped up in a pound isn't fun for any dog, but Corky the pit bull seems especially cranky this afternoon. When the assistant director of the San Diego County Department of Animal Services ...
Flap ensues over hiring ex-jurors.(FEATURES)(COMPASS)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Marty Graham Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor SAN DIEGO -- As he prepared to defend a 19-year-old client facing retrial on charges of gang rape, Orange County attorney Joseph Cavallo took a step that some legal experts are calling unusual at best - and at ...
Time to watch and pray; First published as an editorial in the Christian Science Sentinel.(THE HOME FORUM)
Mar 02, 2005 ... When reports about possible terror targets are disseminated by the news media, a lot of people take a "wait and see" attitude. For some, that may be the only approach that seems practical. Businesses and government offices can step up security and be extra watchful, but when that's done, ...
Here kitty, kitty, kitty... Stay. Good cat. Success in cat training is a matter of timing. if you command your cat to come when he is heading in the opposite direction, you're doomed to fail. Wait until the cat is walking toward you; then call him.(THE HOME FORUM)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Jan C. Snow Some people believe it's impossible to train a cat. This is not true. Cats can be trained just as easily as dogs and quite a bit more easily than children. The secret is to use methods that are appropriate to the feline temperament, which in no way resembles ...
An elegant dance - in socks and slippers.(THE HOME FORUM)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Jeannie McDermott MY HUSBAND AND I were definitely not born dancers, but we had decided to learn the tango. Inspired by the 1997 movie "The Tango Lesson," we felt that maybe we, too, could dance this elegant dance. Because we're on the shy side, we started ...
Wanted at Africa's biggest film festival: Hollywood's black stars.(WORLD)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Mike Crawley Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO -- While Jamie Foxx and Morgan Freeman bask in the glow of their Oscar gold, filmmakers a world away from Hollywood are trying to figure out how to get their attention. This ...
Lebanon faces a critical week.(WORLD)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Nicholas Blanford Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor BEIRUT -- Syria's domination of neighboring Lebanon looks increasingly in doubt following the Monday resignation of Omar Karami, the Lebanese prime minister, a move that has generated the greatest ...
Though battle-hardened, Iraq's Kurdish militia struggles for role; A key question is whether the pesh merga, who have defended key cities, will disband under last year's accord.(WORLD)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Annia Ciezadlo SULAYMANIYAH, IRAQ -- As Iraq's fledgling security forces prepare to take over the country's defense, a crucial question is emerging: what will happen to Iraq's 80,000 or so pesh merga, the battle- hardened Kurdish militia? Under an agreement ...
Pakistani religious law challenged; Rights groups condemn ordinances that call for harsh penalties for adultery, drinking, and premarital sex.(WORLD)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Scott Baldauf Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor KARACHI, PAKISTAN -- On the evening that Basira Jiskani ran away from her abusive husband almost a year ago, she felt relief for the first time since she left home. But things only got worse. Now, ...
Reporters on the Job.(WORLD)
Mar 02, 2005 ... * To Publish a Photo or Not: Staff writer Scott Baldauf wrestled with an ethical dilemma that came up over a photo. Today's story is about a woman in Pakistan who faces death by stoning for allegedly being unfaithful to her husband (this page). "So the question is this," says Scott, "Do we ...
Politics of Iraqi security draw Australia, Japan closer; Last week, Australia announced it would send 450 more soldiers to Iraq to protect Japan's forces.(WORLD)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Janaki Kremmer Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor SYDNEY -- The decision to deploy - or withdraw - troops in Iraq has posed difficult political considerations for leaders around the world. But for Australia and Japan, the contributions they've made ...
Bush's stirring cry for democracy.(OPINION)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: John Hughes SALT LAKE CITY -- At a dinner a week or so ago, three Washington biggies - a former secretary of State, a prominent newspaper publisher, and a United States senator - were musing about President Bush's second-term agenda. "What," asked one, "is ...
The Bomb - the sum of our fears and, yes, hopes; Tours, museums, and memorials attempt a dangerous nostalgia of closure, but the technology can't be uninvented.(OPINION)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Gerard DeGroot ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND -- In Nevada, the holes in the earth are so big they have names. One of the largest is called Sedan, a crater formed on July 6, 1962, when a 104-kiloton thermonuclear device was detonated, leaving a hole bigger than Yankee Stadium. ...
Juvenile death penalty abolished; In a seminal 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court strikes down capital punishment for those who commit crimes under age 18.(USA)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Warren Richey Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor WASHINGTON -- The US Supreme Court has struck down the juvenile death penalty, embracing a constitutional challenge that the nation's evolving standards of decency have rendered the practice cruel and unusual. ...
Dispute over public display of the Ten Commandments; The court hears cases Wednesday that challenge public displays.(USA)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Warren Richey Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor WASHINGTON -- Wednesday, as the justices of the US Supreme Court take up the thorny issue of whether the Constitution permits the Ten Commandments to be displayed on government property, Moses himself will be ...
One man's trip from streets to Supreme Court; He's slept in a tent for years. But now, Thomas Van Orden's case about church and state is at the pinnacle of law disputes.(USA)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Kris Axtman Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor HOUSTON -- He didn't fit the stereotype of a homeless person when Douglas Laycock first met him. He was clean, neatly dressed, and articulate. But that was not all Professor Laycock learned when Thomas ...
Tussle over mustangs and desert habitat; A new bill allows for the slaughter of roaming equines.(USA)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Brad Knickerbocker Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor ASHLAND, ORE. -- Wild horses, those defining icons of America's myth of the West, have always symbolized freedom and the frontier. But ranchers see them as competitors for grazing cattle across millions of ...
Lawsuit lays blame for torture at the top; In unusual move, human rights groups sue Rumsfeld and others for abuse of prisoners.(USA)
Mar 02, 2005 ... Byline: Faye Bowers Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor WASHINGTON -- Human rights organizations are attempting to take accountability for the US military's alleged use of torture to a place government officials have so far failed to go - the top of the chain of ...
Schwarzenegger's Risky End Run.(EDITORIAL)(Editorial)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: The Monitor's View Time's a-wastin' for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Voted into office in a special election in late 2003, the actor-turned-politician has had one year on the learning curve. With the 2006 campaign season just ahead, he's got about a year left ...
A Step to End Death Penalty.(EDITORIAL)(Editorial)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: The Monitor's View What a difference 16 years can make in the way the Supreme Court rules on whether juveniles should be put to death for committing a capital crime. In 1989, the high court upheld the death penalty for juvenile offenders as constitutional ....
One occupational hazard for teens: harassment.(FEATURES)(CURRENTS)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Stacy A. Teicher Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor There's so much for teenagers to learn when they start a job: teamwork, responsibility, patience when a customer is grumpy. The last thing they'd expect is a personal lesson on what it's like to be sexually ...
For a new Martha, add contrition and stir.(FEATURES)(CURRENTS)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Gloria Goodale Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor LOS ANGELES -- Martha Stewart can't reveal her future business plans until after she leaves prison Sunday, but that hasn't stopped pundits from suggesting recipes for the difficult dish known as "Martha ...
Spring training: hitting, pitching - and hope.(FEATURES)(CURRENTS)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Vic Roberts Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor PORT SAINT LUCIE, FLA. -- Thirty teams gathered in two states. More than 1,750 players battling for 750 jobs over six weeks. Who will make the Major League roster? Find out this April. That might sound ...
A place for race in medicine? Drugs for specific races could improve treatment - or endorse prejudice.(FEATURES)(PLANET)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Gregory M. Lamb Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor Ever since the fall of the Nazis, the world has tried to keep the biology of racial disparity under wraps. It has been acceptable to link racial differences to social and cultural factors. One race might ...
From ashes, a return to star-gazing.(FEATURES)(PLANET)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Peter N. Spotts Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor MT. STROMLO, AUSTRALIA -- When a searing brush fire savaged the Canberra region two years ago, it destroyed one of astronomy's crown jewels: the Mt. Stromlo Observatory. In 20 minutes on this ...
The high tech of prehistory.(FEATURES)(PLANET)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Robert C. Cowen Archaeologists are finding that our love of sophisticated technology has ancient roots. The latest example is the exquisite sheen Chinese craftsmen gave to ceremonial sapphire axes about 5,000 years ago. Peter Lu suspected there was more to ...
More money, more risk in the new economic order.(FEATURES)(PLANET)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: David R. Francis If money makes the world go round, the globe must really be spinning. Asia, Europe, and both North and South America are awash with bank accounts, stocks, and bonds. The world's financial assets now exceed $118 trillion - more than double the amount in ...
The Light that never dims; Bringing a spiritual perspective to daily life.(THE HOME FORUM)
Mar 03, 2005 ... "Let Our Light shine" is the theme of this year's World Day of Prayer. With its roots in the 19th century, World Day of Prayer has come to be celebrated annually the first Friday in March. Its origins can be found on www.worlddayofprayer.net. Responsibility for ...
A great project begins with a grate cleaning.(THE HOME FORUM)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: T. Jewell Collins I looked through the black grate over the floor vent in the large hallway of my Maine farmhouse and as I did, the question of a recent visitor echoed in my thought. I felt a stab of guilt. She had peered through the grate at the untidy collection of ...
Real phone-home cooking.(THE HOME FORUM)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Nancy V. Bennett "Mom, how do you bake a potato?" My daughter's voice on the telephone was in a whisper. She was making a meal to impress her boyfriend, and it was approaching 6 p.m. Time, they say, is of the essence. But I know that with her I must start at ...
Pink sequins.(THE HOME FORUM)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Keith Ekiss Pink sequins - that's what's left after February rains wash plum tree flowers to the sidewalk. A child says the blossoms are the crumbs of the tree. Her mother ...
Palestinians recoiling from suicide bombs; Even some militants distance themselves from last weekend's attack.(WORLD)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Joshua Mitnick Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor RAMALLAH, WEST BANK -- When news spread that a suicide bomber killed five Israelis in a Tel Aviv nightclub last weekend, members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade sought refuge. Fearing reprisal from ...
Reporters on the Job.(WORLD)
Mar 03, 2005 ... * Talk to Me: Finding people who would talk to her about Salvadoran contractors working in Iraq proved more difficult than staff writer Danna Harman anticipated (this page). "The businesses that recruit workers are very secretive," says Danna. "No one would call me back." The ...
After temporary gains, Marines leave Iraqi cities; As a week-long US operation ends, residents and some troops worry that insurgents will soon return.(WORLD)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Dan Murphy Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor HIT, IRAQ -- Walking in from the desert before dawn, the marines entering the ancient city of Hit bristled with armaments. Flak jackets bulged with extra ammo clips. Packs were heavy with spare mortar ...
Changing men's attitudes to reduce AIDS in Africa; The US-backed MAP program attempts to alter how African men view relationships and sex.(WORLD)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Kristy Siegfried Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA -- In a community hall in Soweto, South Africa's largest township, 20 men and women try to imagine life in the other gender's shoes. They compile two lists. The men ...
Letters.(OPINION)(Letter to the Editor)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Southern heritage: it's so much more than a flag Regarding the Feb. 24 article "Battle over the past rages on in an evolving South": I am a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and have ancestors both paternal and maternal who fought for the Confederacy. I have also lived ...
Plame leak is not journalism's sin.(OPINION)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Pat M. Holt WASHINGTON -- This story begins with an op-ed article in The New York Times by former Ambassdor Joseph C. Wilson, that President Bush exaggerated evidence of Iraqi arms programs. Syndicated columnist Robert Novak followed with an article in The Washington ...
Don't blame Canada for missile-defense snub.(OPINION)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Michael O'Hanlon WASHINGTON -- The Liberal Party government of Prime Minister Paul Martin in Canada told the Bush administration last week that it will not endorse the US plan for national missile defense. Many are viewing this as a slap in the face from ...
Medicaid: the 'monster in the road'; States clash with the federal government over funding for a program that is expanding beyond healthcare for the poor.(USA)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Gail Russell Chaddock Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor WASHINGTON -- Slated for the single largest cut in the Bush budget, Medicaid is emerging as one of the big battles of the year - and a bellwether for how Washington will cope with an increasing share of ...
New research opens a window on the minds of plants.(USA)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Patrik Jonsson Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor RALEIGH, N.C. -- Hardly articulate, the tiny strangleweed, a pale parasitic plant, can sense the presence of friends, foes, and food, and make adroit decisions on how to approach them. Mustard ...
Q&A: The great Social Security debate; The Monitor examines eight frequently asked questions on this hot-button issue.(USA)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Q: Social Security seems to have been working fine for decades. Why is there a problem with it now? A: The underlying cause of most of the current fuss about Social Security can be summed up in two words: "aging population." In the not-too-distant future, the US baby boom is ...
Living civics lesson: teacher's asylum bid; The case of Obain Attouoman in Boston feeds into a larger debate over immigration controls.(USA)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Sara B. Miller Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor BOSTON -- At Fenway High School, special-education teacher Obain Attouoman is so beloved by his students that he's become a verb: "Obaining" means to dress up, reflecting Mr. Attouoman's penchant for ...
Chicago murders spotlight risks to judges; Was Lefkow's family targeted by white supremacists?(USA)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Amanda Paulson and Brad Knickerbocker Staff writers of The Christian Science Monitor CHICAGO -- The brutal murder of the husband and mother of a US District Judge here this week has, in addition to shocking the city and galvanizing law enforcement here, become a horrific ...
Firms tap Latin Americans for Iraq; A history of recent wars makes the region attractive to private companies recruiting for security forces.(WORLD)
Mar 03, 2005 ... Byline: Danna Harman Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor SAN SALVADOR -- Last week, El Salvador President Elias Antonio Saca stood at the country's international airport, welcoming home a unit of soldiers returning from service in Iraq. He called them "heroes" and ...
UN Paradox in Darfur and Congo.(EDITORIAL)(Editorial)
Mar 04, 2005 ... Byline: The Monitor's View Africa's conflicts have long challenged the UN in deciding when to intervene. The 1994 Rwanda genocide was one big challenge it lost. Now come two examples that reveal the UN is only inching slowly along that long learning curve. On ...
Russia, a Glass Half Full?(EDITORIAL)(Editorial)
Mar 04, 2005 ... Byline: The Monitor's View For the last 10 days, Russia's backsliding on its young democracy has been under intense scrutiny. The retrogression dominated the press conference between Presidents Bush and Putin in Slovakia last week, with Mr. Bush chiding his soul-mate ...
Taxpayer support for artists: too much of a good thing?(FEATURES)(ARTS)
Mar 04, 2005 ... Byline: Amelia Thomas Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor AMSTERDAM -- Chip Bray came to Amsterdam on a two-week trip and ended up staying 20 years. An actor from Pittsburgh, Mr. Bray has seen the rise and fall of the Netherlands' generous art subsidy system, and is ...
An offer Hollywood can't refuse; The release of 'Be Cool' underscores the movies' enduring fascination with the Mafia.(FEATURES)(ARTS)
Mar 04, 2005 ... Byline: David Sterritt Film critic of The Christian Science Monitor John Travolta is a likable actor and he's downright lovable in much of "Be Cool," the sequel to "Get Shorty," the 1995 hit based on Elmore Leonard's novel. But wait, Mr. Travolta is playing a mobster ....
Women on the verge of a nervous breakthrough.(FEATURES)(ARTS)
Mar 04, 2005 ... Byline: Gloria Goodale Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. -- When Oprah Winfrey produces a TV movie, people pay attention. "Their Eyes Were Watching God," an elegant epic airing Sunday night on ABC, is based on the 1937 novel written by Zora Neale ...
Movie Guide.(FEATURES)(ARTS)
Mar 04, 2005 ... NEW RELEASES Be Cool (PG-13) Director: F. Gary Gray. With John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Cedric the Entertainer, Christina Milian. (114 min.) Sterritt *Sequel to the 1995 hit "Get Shorty," with crook Chili Palmer putting his muscle behind the career of a ...
'The Jacket' is an awkward fit; This horror film requires a few stitches to mend its plotline.(FEATURES)(ARTS)
Mar 04, 2005 ... Byline: David Sterritt Film critic of The Christian Science Monitor 'The Jacket" may surprise moviegoers who remember John Maybury's previous picture, "Love Is the Devil," a biopic about Francis Bacon, the controversial painter. While that 1998 film had dramatic ...
Tuning in: On TV this week.(FEATURES)(ARTS)
Mar 04, 2005 ... Byline: M.S. Mason Friday March 4 Monk: Mr. Monk and the Kid (USA, 10-11 p.m.): The finale of the third season is a "must see." For Monk fans, it's a rich payoff for loyal viewing, and for casual viewers, it's a window on the best the show has to offer. When a ...
The courage to be loved; Bringing a spiritual perspective to daily life.(THE HOME FORUM)
Mar 04, 2005 ... It had been a lousy day at the office, so bad that I wasn't even looking forward to going home. I knew I would spend the evening ruminating about some disappointments in my work. Also, I was troubled about a relationship in which I was afraid I was being asked to give more than I could ...