Jud Nirenberg

When working at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Jud Nirenberg often helped Western governments press other countries to respect international agreements on social rights. Jud is now serves as Director of Government Relations for the Jane Goodall Institute. More about his writing can be found on his blog (http://judnirenberg.wordpress.com)

The Libyan Prime Minister’s Kidnapping and a Pot Boiling Over

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When the Prime Minister of Libya was kidnapped this week, it was a shock to many.  It was a shock because people thought things were going more or less smoothly.  I’m reminded of the old story about how frogs, if put in a pot of water in which the heat is very slowly raised, will keep adjusting to the new normal and won’t jump out before they cook to death.  The story is not true but it is highly illustrative of something about human behavior.  Continue Reading...

Hungarian Racism Goes Too Far

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It is time for America to step back from our relationship with a government that promotes hate and keeps minorities segregated   A few weeks ago in November, a member of Hungary’s Parliament suggested the necessity of drawing up a list of Jews in government service. In his words, it is important to know how many public servants “are of Jewish origin…and who present a national security risk to Hungary.”  The Continue Reading...

UN Vote on Palestine Is Good News, and Not Only for Palestinians

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Last week at the UN General Assembly, the world’s countries finally voted, despite the opposition of the U.S. and a very few others, to recognize Palestine as a non-voting observer state rather than a mere non-voting entity.  In other words, after years of debate and diplomacy, Palestine went from holding a non-voting seat at the U.N. to holding a non-voting seat at the U.N.  Palestine, a nation of millions now holds equal status Continue Reading...

Romney: White Guy with the Colorless, No-Spot, Undetectable Plan

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“I hope we don’t end up with Romney for president.  He’s just so white, too white.”  A person whom I very much respect and admire said this a few days ago and I wondered if that isn’t exactly why many white voters support him.  I don’t mean to call them racists.  I think it may be a much subtler form of reaction to the racial preferences in our culture.  This is the button Republican Continue Reading...

Romney’s Debate Bluff about a “Crack Down” on China Was Dishonest and Ineffective

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In last night’s debate, Mitt Romney did a lot of pledging to do things that a president cannot.  Along with his unexplained tax ideas, he brought up his much-repeated assurance that he will build the US economy by “cracking down on China.”  In his frequent campaign rhetoric, the US has a trade deficit with cheaters and he can make our economy strong by talking tough and demanding fair play.  In truth, he will not Continue Reading...