My wife, Tamie, live-tweets her infusion treatment #humor
Tamie Ross live-tweets her infusion treatment #humor Continue reading My wife, Tamie, live-tweets her infusion treatment #humor
For thousands of Nicaragua’s poor, mission ‘a gift from God’
Outreach that started with a small medical clinic has grown to meet needs ranging from education to water systems. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle JINOTEGA, Nicaragua — In a nation where many live on just a few dollars a day, things most U.S. residents take for granted make a world of difference. An aspirin to relieve a headache. A filter to provide clean water. … Continue reading For thousands of Nicaragua’s poor, mission ‘a gift from God’
Build the wall? Bar refugees? Christians debate Trump’s orders
Faithful contemplate how to balance compassion for immigrants with concern for national security. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle An Iraqi refugee who serves as a Christian missionary in the heavily Arab community of Dearborn, Mich. Canadian church members who adopted a Syrian refugee family with six children. An Illinois minister who prays with loved ones of undocumented immigrants facing deportation. All voice strong opinions … Continue reading Build the wall? Bar refugees? Christians debate Trump’s orders
They are friends in Congress — and brothers in Christ
The only two members of Churches of Christ in the U.S. House share a special bond. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle When two U.S. congressmen visited a small, English-speaking Church of Christ in Brussels, one of them left Sunday worship with something that didn’t belong to him. Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, chuckles as he recalls his friend and brother in Christ — Rep. Ted … Continue reading They are friends in Congress — and brothers in Christ
Anti-Islamophobia: A nuanced portrayal of Syrian refugees in the heart of red-state America
By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion
Stereotypes plague so much news coverage of Muslims in Donald Trump’s America.
I’m talking about negative pieces that attempt to turn every conservative state into a bastion of hatred toward Islam and its followers.
These are the type of stories that take a single case — or a few random incidents — and scream, “Islamophobia!” See examples here, here, here, here and here. Too often, these articles rely on squishy generalizations when what readers really need — and deserve — are hard facts.
So what’s the antidote to such poor journalism?
Well, reporting that focuses on real people — with real context and real nuance — would be a nice place to start.
Speaking of which, the Washington Post (for which I occasionally freelance) featured just such a story on its front page Monday.
Post national writer Robert Samuels enlightens and surprises — both nice traits for a newspaper story — as he paints a portrait of Syrian refugees in a state where nearly three out of five voters supported Trump.
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More of my GetReligion columns (February 2017):
Holocaust Remembrance Day reading: Two survivors find each other, and answers
‘I am still moved and astonished at our special and rare connection.’ By Bobby Ross Jr. | AP Religion Writer SOUTHLAKE, Texas (AP) — In George Lucius Salton’s view, it’s nothing short of a miracle. His daughter, Anna Eisen, called him at his home in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., with a question that sent his mind racing back 60 years to the hell he survived as a … Continue reading Holocaust Remembrance Day reading: Two survivors find each other, and answers
MLK Day reading: Black, white and Gray
Civil rights attorney who once challenged Lipscomb University in court receives the Christian university’s highest honor. First Place (part of three-story portfolio), Magazine News Religion Reporting, Religion News Association Second Place, News Story, Associated Church Press By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Forty-five years ago, civil rights attorney and preacher Fred Gray filed a lawsuit that exposed deep divides between … Continue reading MLK Day reading: Black, white and Gray
Just in time for new year, one state debates ending government-sanctioned marriage
By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion
Way back in 2004 — during Season 6 of the Emmy Award-winning television drama “The West Wing” — a congressman raised the idea of banning marriage. All marriage.
With two-thirds of Americans then opposed to same-sex nuptials, a gay Democrat identified as “Rep. Benoit” proposed getting the government out of the marriage business.
“If the government can’t make it available to everyone, I want us out of the business entirely,” Benoit said to Josh Lyman, chief political adviser in the fictional Josiah Bartlet administration. “Leave it to churches and synagogues, and, of course, casinos and department stores.”
Lyman chuckled and brushed off the suggestion.
Fast-forward more than a decade: A majority of Americans support same-sex marriage. The U.S. Supreme Court has legalized it. And amid ongoing battles pitting gay rights vs. religious liberty, some real-life lawmakers wonder if the answer might be removing the government from the process.
The Associated Press reports on a Missouri legislator’s proposal to do just that.
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More of my GetReligion columns (January 2017):
My top stories, columns and blog posts of 2016
My top stories, columns and blog posts of 2016 Continue reading My top stories, columns and blog posts of 2016
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 