Times and Newsweek

One of the great advantages of the long flights is that they give you the opportunity to do things you normally don't do. That was the case in the previous days. I grasped TIME magazine (Vol 169, No. 16, April 16, 2007). First of all, I have to say that I was surprised by Joe Klein commenteray entitled "An Administration's Epic Collapse". It was surprising because I had the wrong assumption that the majority of US citizens would not criticize so openly their president. I'm glad that I was very wrong, since that's a healthy sign of democracy. Anyway, I just bother to mention this comment due to the weight the US have in the international community, and whatever happens in their internal politics has an effect outside.

But the cover story was the French brain drain. Who would have thought that in the land of enlightenment, their youth is searching to cross the channel or the now unexistent borderline with neighboring countries and make their living in more challenging environements. The article entitled "The French Exodus" is worth to read. It made me think that brain drain also happens in the northern countries, and it is not exclusive to the developing world. And it made me think that something has to be wrong with enlightenement, since people are fleeing to find challenges in those few countries that still call themselves "Christian", despite the growing secularisation of the society. Anyway, the mobility of people, particularly white collars, is a phenomenon that should not be neglected from now on.

Then of course, I had other magazine in front of me: NEWSWEEK ( International Edition, April 16 to 23). I guess that they are more to the right than the previous one. Of course, it means that a healthy debate can happen in the journal world. Anyway, what attracted me from this particular issue, is an article about pope Benedict 16th (Joseph Ratzinger), criticising him out loud. But I thought the critics were about what he did, but actually they are about what he doesn't: travel like his predecesor and a more active internaitonal political role. Ratzinger has been always a very well known and respected theologian, but not a politician. He is criticised for not travelling, for stepping backwards (even allowing masses in Latin, what costed Lefevre's condamnation by his predecesor), and focusing only on reviving faith in a very secularised Europe.

The article focuses also in one output of his papacy: a very out of date condamnation of liberation theology ... an unwise move particularly now that Latin America, where the majority of roman catholics are concentrated, is moving way to the left (Chavez in Venezuela, Morales in Bolivia, BAchelet in Chile, Da Silva in Brazil, Ortega in Nicaragua, etc.) It does not give any help to the already diminished roman curia in Latin America, which has been historically associated with the interests of the dominating burgoisie, and by implication of the US. What is mentioned very lightly is the fact that his planned visit to Brazil should counter-act the growth of the Evangelicals in Latin America. Well, when the previous pope went to south america, people painted their houses white ... but did not change their lives ... I mean, the growth of the evangelical churces is responding to spirtual and relational needs of the people. Unfortunately, most evangelicals have bought into the escapist theories, and that's why in a continent where more than one-on-four inhabitants calls themselves Christians (meaning Evangelicals), very little impact was obtained in therms of policy or governance. Anyway, a good article to read.

Finally, the top story "Living With Global Warming" is a "heretical" statement about global warming: it might not be that bad. aparently the climate changes will benefit several regions particularly in the north of the planet, and will affect negatively those located in the Ecuador ... It makes clear that global warmin will make the rich richer, and the poor poorer. Worth to read.

Have nice readings!