If you have not seen the movie Under the Same Moon, I encourage you to not miss this one. This movie puts a “human face” on immigrants, allowing us to see their humanity. It also allows us to enter into the story of immigrants, providing us with an understanding of the immigration issue that transcends much of the blather we have been hearing from many a politician and pundits who can only provide us with a simplistic focus on the “legal” status of immigrants.

"The external deserts in the world are growing, because the internal deserts have become so vast," asserted Pope Benedict XVI in his inaugural homily. The brokenness of our relationship with the natural world, as evidenced among other concerns by global warming, the extinction of species, polluted air and waterways, and soil depletion, reflects back to us the brokenness of our relationships within the human family.

This election cycle has been one of firsts, or at least firsts in a long time. For the first time in the history of our nation, one of the Democratic candidates, will be the first African-American or Female Presidential nominee. The theme of "change" pervades the campaign discourse and the concerns of the American people-health care reform, war, immigration and the economy-are at the forefront of the debates. The entire world is paying attention, debating the candidates' merits and there is an air of excitement apparent at home and abroad.

It's something I wish more people were passionate about: where their food comes from. Whether you shop at your local Hy-Vee (Midwest), Giant, Safeway, or even Whole Foods"”our eyes should be much more on the skeptic side than quick to trust. Why?

Washington, DC, January 24, 2008

Three news items have given me a furious start on the day. No need for caffeine. In case you missed them: