News

Germany’s fourth World Cup championship has rekindled long-suppressed feelings of pride and patriotism in a nation that has felt constrained by its militaristic past. However, the victory could be one more critical factor in the transformation of a nation that is at a crossroads in its history.

“Germany may be America’s most important European ally, but the relationship between the two countries is on the rocks” following the discovery of a CIA spy in Berlin. This is just one more nail in the coffin of German-American relations following the Snowden leaks (CNN, July 11, 2014). “The New York Times soberly noted that German-American relations have reached their low point with the expulsion of the CIA’s representative from Berlin.

Contrary to the comments of some U.S. leaders, most Americans profess to be Christians and they believe that the Bible is “the inspired word of God” (Gallup, June 4, 2014). A recent Gallup poll indicated that about 75 percent of Americans claimed to be Christians and viewed the Bible as “the actual word of God...

It is not easy being Jordan today—“Struggling for calm in a region of chaos… Sandwiched in between Iraq and Syria, Jordan’s destiny seems to be one of a constant struggle for survival” (CNN, June 18, 2014). King Abdullah’s “voice of moderation” in a region of strife-torn nations is also crying out for international assistance to manage 1.3 million Syrian refugees. His pleas resulted in half a billion dollars of support from the U.S.

“In he bounded, the right side of 40, all grins and references to selfies and ancient philosophers, brash and self-confident. Yes, it was Italian PM Matteo Renzi’s first appearance in the European Parliament. Speaking without notes, he told his audience that Europe is moving at half the speed of the rest of the world, that its single-minded focus on financial spreadsheets has eviscerated its soul and that its face was tired and resigned” (EU Observer, July 2, 2014).