The New York Times


THE THREAD

THE THREAD

The Thread is an in-depth look at how the major news events and controversies of the day are being viewed and debated across the online spectrum. Compiled by Peter Catapano, an editor in The Times's Opinion section, the Thread is published every Saturday in response to breaking news.

May 13, 2011, 7:13 pm

Victory Dance?

President Obama at an event in Austin, Tex. on May 10.Jewel Samad/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesPresident Obama at a fundraising event in Austin, Tex., on May 10, where he told the audience, “Osama bin Laden will never again threaten the United States.’’

There was a moment in President Obama’s appearance at a fundraiser Tuesday evening in Austin, Tex., that became a topic of much discussion during the week. Peter Nicholas at The Los Angeles Times reported on that moment, at which Osama bin Laden became “an applause line in a presidential campaign speech”:

Bin Laden’s name came up a couple of times in Obama’s address Tuesday evening at a fund-raising event in Austin, Texas. Early in Obama’s appearance, someone shouted out, “Thank you for getting Bin Laden!’’

Obama said that was a “case in point’’ — a reason for voters to let him “finish what we started.’’

Later, Obama ticked off what he described as his administration’s accomplishments: lifting the ban on gays in the military; bringing troops home from Iraq. And then: “And because of the extraordinary bravery of the men and women who wear this nation’s uniform and the outstanding work of our intelligence agencies,’’ Obama said, “Osama bin Laden will never again threaten the United States.’’

The crowd roared.

Read more…


May 6, 2011, 7:15 pm

A Matter of Degrees

In 1940, a Brooklyn woman named Jean Kay filed a suit with the State Supreme Court against the her city’s Board of Higher Education claiming that the renowned mathematician and philosopher Bertrand Russell was morally unfit to teach at the City College of New York, where he had been offered a professorship. Kay, supported by a host of others in the public scrum, including Bishop William Manning of the Episcopal Church, argued that Russell, who advocated sex before marriage and other heretical lifestyle choices, posed a threat to the virtue of her daughter — even though the impressionable youth was not actually a student at the college. A judge ruled in Kay’s favor. Russell, who was not allowed to speak in his own defense, was denied his appointment at the college, which was, and is, part of the publicly financed City University of New York system. Today, the now-notorious incident is chronicled in an exhibition on City College’s Web site, called “The Struggle for Free Speech at CCNY, 1931-1942,” as is a recounting of the subsequent firings, spurred by the McCarthy era Rapp-Coudert Committee, of faculty members accused of being Communist Party members.

Tony Kushner made the commencement speech at the 2010 Julliard commencement ceremony in 2010.Jamie Mccarthy/Getty ImagesTony Kushner made the commencement speech at the 2010 Julliard commencement ceremony in 2010.

Though the issues and stakes have changed, CUNY now finds itself at the center of another free speech controversy, which has erupted, 71 years and some months after Kay filed her complaint —  as Patrick Healy of The Times, among others, reported on Wednesday:
Read more…


April 29, 2011, 7:57 pm

Don’t Stop Believing

Can Hawaii really be considered a state? Does anybody really believe that a volcanic island chain — described in Wikipedia as “physiographically and ethnologically part of the Polynesian subregion of Oceania,” a place that does not observe daylight savings time — is the sort of thing the founding fathers had in mind? And what is it doing all the way out there anyway?

O.K., I made that up. But judging from the goings-on this week, it is not too far-fetched to think questions like these might be floating around the opinion-sphere in coming days.

Because history has shown us that beliefs die hard.

For instance, if you were of a certain ideological bent, and believed, say, that participation in American politics required a certain type of background — a firm grasp of history combined with a sort of moral or philosophical drive, or at least a character forged in scholarship and public service, then you would have not thought it possible that this man could become governor of California:

Arnold Schwarzenegger posed at the 38th Cannes film festival in 1977.Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesArnold Schwarzenegger at the 38th Cannes film festival in 1977.

Even though this man had done so before him, and then served two terms as one of the most popular presidents in American history.
Read more…


April 15, 2011, 8:49 pm

An Uncivil War

With spring holidays upon us, it is perhaps appropriate to recall that there are times at which we must, if we are to be fully human, loose ourselves from the rationalist-materialist bonds of our daily existence and remember that life is about more than money.

Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times

But this isn’t one of those times.

After all, it’s April 15, tax day, and surely not by coincidence, the release date of the film version of Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged.” It is also the end of a week during which a massive and sprawling debate over the massive and sprawling United States budget has gripped legislators, commentators and the president himself in a struggle of rhetoric and ideology out of which Ms. Rand could have surely spun another novel.

Clearly, it is not a time for doves and olive branches. It’s a time for arguing, money and political cage matches.

For some, though, it is a time of rest.

Refreshed? Let’s continue.
Read more…


April 8, 2011, 6:56 pm

Freedom to Inflame


Don’t encourage him by paying attention. Just ignore him.

It’s what your elders told you about the class clown, or the needy, attention-seeking neighborhood kid fond of pranks, or maybe worse, and it’s what might have wisely been said about the theatrics of the pastor Terry Jones, who on March 20 made good on his plans to stage a public burning of a copy of the Koran. Jones, who is head of the World Dove Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., had originally intended to conduct this ritual on Sept. 11, 2010, but was talked down at the time by important people like President Obama, Gen. David E. Petraeus and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Despite some initial media reports about the burning, most seemed to follow that advice: just ignore him. But that strategy soon failed: news of the event soon spread and within a few days trouble began in Afghanistan and Pakistan (detailed by Robert Mackey at The Lede). Notably, President Hamid Karzai, to the dismay of many, added fuel to the fire by publicly denouncing Jones, as did several mullahs during last Friday’s prayers, sparking a series of violent and deadly protests against the pastor and his actions. The initial outburst and the murders of United Nations staff in Mazar-i-Sharif were reported in The Times on April 1:
Read more…


April 1, 2011, 7:46 pm

The Mural Vanishes

If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look at what is the most widely viewed mural in America at the moment.

Last weekend, on the order of Gov. Paul LePage of Maine, a 36-foot-wide, 11-panel mural (pictured in part below) was removed from the lobby of the state’s Department of Labor building in Augusta. The mural, which depicts scenes from Maine’s labor history, was completed with a $60,000 federal arts grant. (The artist, Judy Taylor, has expressed her dismay at the removal, but should probably send a thank-you note to the governor for the exposure.) LePage, who has been in office for about two months, claimed he removed the mural because of complaints from “some business owners” that it was too pro-union. (A spokesperson for the governor said it was “not in keeping with the department’s pro-business goals.”)

LePage is also planning to rename some labor department conference rooms, including one named after the labor activist César Chávez.

This portion of the mural in Maine shows ReutersThis portion of the mural in Maine shows “Frances Perkins” and “Lost Childhood.” To see the full mural, click here.

Read more…


March 25, 2011, 7:03 pm

War of Semantics


war — a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations (2) : a period of such armed conflict (3) : state of war

kinetic — of or relating to the motion of material bodies and the forces and energy associated therewith

— Merriam-Webster.com


Don’t feel bad. We’re all confused.

While the week was full of news — the grave, anxiety-inducing kind that focuses the mind — it lacked certainty. It lacked clarity. Many voices spoke, questions were asked, but answers were few. Or foggy, or muddled. Without a doubt it was the mass confusion brought on by the many unknowns, both known and unknown (you see where I’m going here, I’m sure), that surround what I will for now call, for lack of a more definite term, the operation in Libya, that dominated the commentary since we gathered here last.

Rebel soldiers stand on a burnt tank of Muammar Qaddafi's forces after an Allied airstrike outside of Benghazi, Libya.Manu Brabo/European Pressphoto AgencyRebel soldiers stood on a burnt tank of Muammar el-Qaddafi’s forces after an Allied airstrike outside of Benghazi, Libya, on March 20.

You could take your pick of what surely were hundreds of questions posed throughout the week, but pretty much everyone agreed that the answers from the president and his administration were vague, evasive and offered nothing like the confidence a commander in chief might be expected to offer in the days of a freshly launched … call it what you will. Read more…


March 18, 2011, 7:31 pm

On Libya, Suspicious Minds

President Obama made a statement about Libya on Friday.Doug Mills/The New York TimesPresident Obama’s statement on Libya drew some quick reaction on Friday.

Until Friday, most of us could have been forgiven for thinking nothing significant could possibly be happening beyond the catastrophic shores of Japan. But after weeks of mounting crisis over Libya, and accusations of dithering on the part of the Obama administration as Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s forces continued to take control of key cities along the Libyan coast, the week’s end brought a flurry of the highest level diplomatic maneuvers, resolutions and demands. Read more…


March 11, 2011, 6:10 pm

Masters of Deception

Things really were simpler “back then,” before every act was a public act, when the fiercest threat to the privacy of the average American’s unguarded speech was this guy:

Allen Funt, creator of the television show ‘Candid Camera.’Associated Press, 1977Allen Funt, creator of the television show ‘Candid Camera.’

He looks kindly, doesn’t he? But what has he wrought? It wasn’t long before select members of the American public were faced with the surreptitious information gathering techniques of this guy:
Read more…


March 4, 2011, 9:12 pm

Should Politics Be Nice?

Here’s a task for Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and their well-mannered minions at the University of Arizona’s new National Institute for Civil Discourse: Is it uncivil when someone implicitly compares someone else to Hitler, Stalin and Hosni Mubarak, but then says he is, of course, not comparing anybody to Hitler, Stalin or Hosni Mubarak?

Let’s take a look:

Senator Sherrod Brown is hardly alone in this sort of criticism of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and other politicians looking to limit the collective bargaining power of public-sector unions, but the others tend to have the full courage of their convictions, or at least their analogies:

Ann Althouse

O.K., for now we’ll ignore that Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf that “trades unions … are among the most important institutions in the economic life of the nation,” and discuss instead the efficacy of political demonization in our post-Tucson nation. Politico’s Ben Smith shares this: “When will politicians ever figure out that you never – ever – invoke Hitler, Nazis or the Holocaust – in political attacks?” Yet it seems to have solidified at least one vote for Brown, commenter “Beth” at the Dayton Daily News: “You go Senator Brown! Yes, Hitler did get rid of unions first … To those of you who don’t like Senator Brown, I dare you to attend one of the rally’s at the State House and say what you are saying in this blog to all those people whose jobs are in jeopardy. You would be run off the grounds.” Read more…


Inside Opinionator

May 19, 2011
Publishers as Partners in Literacy

First Book Marketplace, which makes quality new books affordable for poor children, helps in ways that libraries and used book bins can’t.

May 16, 2011
A Book in Every Home, and Then Some

A program that helps get books to into the homes of low-income families can boost literacy, and help publishers, too.

More From Fixes »

May 19, 2011
A Conversation About Food, Cooking and Alice B. Toklas

How to feed yourself and your family: a conversational followup to the foodies vs. techies column.

May 15, 2011
Foodies vs. Techies

Time constraints, ever-more-modern conveniences and the luxury of being a food purist.

More From Virginia Heffernan »

May 19, 2011
‘The Death Knell of Slavery’

Why North Carolina Unionists really opposed secession.

May 18, 2011
Texas Catches Fire

Once the state seceded, it was dangerous to be a Unionist in Texas.

More From Disunion »

May 18, 2011
Justice in Dreamland

A decision this week makes it worth wondering what planet the Supreme Court justices have been living on when it comes to encounters between the police and the rest of us.

May 4, 2011
Recuse Me

The faulty logic behind efforts to disqualify the judge who ruled that California’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

More From Linda Greenhouse »

May 18, 2011
Until The Next Revolution

Can composers embrace politics in their work without music taking a back seat to message?

May 11, 2011
A Pitch for New Music

Baseball fans revel in the past and the present at the same time. Why don’t classical music fans do the same?

More From The Score »

May 18, 2011
Sex and the Politician

Is it really true that voters will overlook almost anything if they think the sinning political figures will carry out the policies they support?

May 10, 2011
And the G.O.P. Candidates Are …

A look at who the Republican presidential hopefuls are at this stage in the game.

More From The Conversation »

May 17, 2011
Imagining Detroit

Can a city come back with the help of markets, gardens and farms?

May 10, 2011
The Future of Cafeteria Food

Cafeteria food still isn’t great, but — don’t drop your tray — it’s really getting much better.

More From Mark Bittman »

May 16, 2011
The Need for Greed

In the Republican budget plan proposed by Representative Paul Ryan, it’s the I’ve Got Mines vs. The Left Behinds.

May 9, 2011
More Than a Résumé

Having a Community Organizer-in-Chief in the White House turned out to be an asset after all.

More From Timothy Egan »

May 16, 2011
Sex, the Koch Brothers and Academic Freedom

When academic freedom is an issue, and when it isn’t.

May 8, 2011
The Kushner Flap: Much Ado About Nothing

Denying the playwright an honorary degree may have been a dumb idea, but it is not a violation of academic freedom.

More From Stanley Fish »

May 13, 2011
Victory Dance?

Should President Obama be using the killing of Osama bin Laden as 2012 campaign selling point?

May 6, 2011
A Matter of Degrees

Did the city university board that moved to censure Tony Kushner for his views on Israel overstep its bounds?

More From The Thread »

May 11, 2011
Don’t Let Go of the Anger

If Wall Street is not going to be held more accountable, we need to know why.

April 27, 2011
Why Is Enough Never Enough?

The Raj Rajaratnam trial and other recent cases raise questions about money, motivation and risk.

More From William D. Cohan »

May 6, 2011
The Week That Was

The assault on Bin Laden’s compound, and the reaction to it.

April 15, 2011
In Defense of Offense

The bane of political correctness, in film, television, literature and life.

More From Dick Cavett »

May 6, 2011
Suburbia: What a Concept

A design project descends on Levittown.

March 27, 2011
The Future of Manufacturing Is Local

In San Francisco and New York, manufacturing industries are showing signs of life, thanks to a new approach.

More From Allison Arieff »

May 4, 2011
Goodbye to All That

How can I leave the city I love?

April 27, 2011
Just Don’t Connect

I stopped worrying about missed connections, and then I stopped missing them.

More From Townies »

May 4, 2011
Goodbye to All That

How can I leave the city I love?

April 27, 2011
Just Don’t Connect

I stopped worrying about missed connections, and then I stopped missing them.

More From Townies »

Opinionator Highlights

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Until The Next Revolution

Can composers embrace politics in their work without music taking a back seat to message?

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To Survive Famine, Will Work for Insurance

In Ethiopia, Oxfam and others are helping farmers prepare for drought and famine before the disasters strike.

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A Pitch for New Music

Baseball fans revel in the past and the present at the same time. Why don’t classical music fans do the same?

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The Composer’s Other Voice

In the conversations about music, politics and culture, why not hear from the composers themselves?

After Bin Laden, Reliving the Iraq ‘Mistake’

Years of criticism of the Iraq war has pushed me to believe that I did not fight terror, but rather a phantom.

Previous Series

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Line by Line

A series on the basics of drawing, presented by the artist and author James McMullan, beginning with line, perspective, proportion and structure.

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The Elements of Math

A series on math, from the basic to the baffling, by Steven Strogatz. Beginning with why numbers are helpful and finishing with the mysteries of infinity.

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The Stone

Contemporary philosophers discuss issues both timely and timeless.