Molly Mirhashem   When I think of the radio show This American Life, one of the first things that comes to mind is reputability. I have always associated the program with in-depth storytelling, deliberate fact-checking, and genuine broadcast journalism. The host, Ira Glass, for those who haven’t heard the show, has a very engaging voice to listen to, and his team has a knack for finding interesting stories that feel much shorter than the program’s hour-long broadcast time.   The show is generally very well-loved and draws many thousands of listeners each week. But in January, their episode entitled “Mr. Daisey and the Apple...

By Axel Tonconogy   When I call Kony 2012 a “perfect” cause, I don’t mean to be glib. It is a cause that I believe is perfectly suited and adapted for our time. Facebook and Twitter are more than facilitators for the exchange of photos, videos, and friendly updates. The platforms through which most people have accessed the Kony 2012 video are also, in many ways, an extension of our perceived identities. Facebook is as much about seeing as it is about being seen. In everything from the choosing of profile pictures to the posting of links, there is a constant process of redefining the self. It’s as if to say, “This is who I am....

By Jeremy Goldman   As the revolutions of the Arab Spring progress, a principal question that stands before the international community is: when is intervention appropriate? Currently, the world is divided about the appropriate course of action regarding the Syrian government’s violent reaction to political dissidents. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently reminded the UN of their duty to stop such crimes against humanity, but throughout history, there have been many cases of such oppression that the United Nations did not stop. The UN did not intervene after the massacre at Tiananmen Square and did not even condemn the...