For many of us, it might feel like the year is coming to a grim close.
That’s certainly how it looks in Gaza, for example, as mournfully illustrated this week by cartoonist Khalil Bendib. What’s happening there may well meet the legal standard for genocide, international law expert Farrah Hassen explains this week — and the Biden administration could be judged complicit.
Here at home, inequality has gotten so extreme that even something as pure as holiday charity can be corrupted by billionaires gaming the system for tax write-offs. Bella DeVaan explains how it works — and how we can fix it.
But as the late Howard Zinn reminds us, “human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.” In one of my favorite passages, he urges us to “remember those times and places — and there are so many — where people have behaved magnificently.”
This week in OtherWords, we’re taking that advice.
Shailly Gupta Barnes reflects on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy and how groups like the United Auto Workers and the movement for a ceasefire in Gaza are living it out in real life. And my colleague Karen Dolan, who connected us to many of the low-income writers who’ve shared their stories in these pages, takes a moment to marvel at the resilience of low-income Americans, especially women. Not only do they make life work for themselves and their families, they’re also banding together to push for changes that would benefit all of us.
Pretty magnificent, if you ask me.
This will probably be our last regular newsletter of the year, although we may follow up with a “best of” issue. If we’ve got anything else new to share, we’ll put it up on the site. Otherwise, thanks for reading — we’ll see you in the New Year!
PS. We don’t like to ask very often. But if you value this free service, would you consider donating to support our work?
New This Week…
As We Look to 2024, Here’s What Hope Looks Like |
When it felt like the world was falling apart, these movements brought people together to make what seemed impossible, possible.
Celebrating the Resilience of Low-Income WomenI’ve spent the last few years working with poor people advocating for change. Seeing their resilience firsthand, I feel hopeful.
On Gaza, Biden Is Violating International Law | by The U.S. government says it stands for justice and the rule of law. So why won’t it stand by those principles for Palestinians?
Like it or Not, Billionaires Are on Your Gift List This Holiday Season | In this season of giving, tax laws designed to support charities may actually protect billionaire wealth — at our expense.
CARTOON: Gaza’s Grim Holiday | Khalil Bendib
A shameful legacy for President Biden.
In Case You Missed It…
The Importance of Home For generations, poor people have relied on each other to keep a roof over their heads. But in the world’s wealthiest country, we need more.
The High Cost of Low Holiday Prices | Give a gift to the starving workers who made your favorite holiday sweater — tell their employers to pay up.
The Pentagon Just Can’t Pass an Audit | Lindsay Koshgarian
Conservative lawmakers calling for cuts should start with the agency that can’t account for $1.9 trillion — not the programs Americans rely on.
It Takes Strength to Survive Poverty — and a Safety Net to Escape It | Asia Walters
As a struggling single mom, I’ve learned that poverty is a policy choice, not a personal one. We can reverse it — if we choose.
