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| A Rare Swedish Triumph By awarding the Nobel Prize in Literature to Mario Vargas Llosa, the Swedish Academy gets it triumphantly right, says Eric Ormsby. online.wsj.com |
Joel Burns tells gay teenagers of Fort Worth: 'Stick around, it gets better' Texas councilman makes heart-wrenching plea for young people not to cave in to bullying about their sexualityCouncilman Joel Burns is not a household name in the US, nor in Texas. Maybe not even in his constituency of Fort Worth. But a highly personal and emotional speech he made urging gay teenagers to resist the pressures of bullying will hopefully see his name and message enter the common consciousness.At a council meeting on Tuesday, Burns used his spot to address the bullying of gay teenagers, citing a number of victims who have killed themselves, including Tyler Clementi. After relaying the tragic stories of a number of young male suicides, he began telling his own story as a 13-year-old who felt "ashamed, humiliated and confused" after being taunted by bullies.He went on to make a deeply moving plea to gay teenagers who are the victims of bullying not to give up on life, using his own experience as he got older – his marriage to another man he loves and acceptance from his "tough cowboy" dad – as an example."Yes high school was difficult, coming out was painful but life got so much better for me," he said. "Things will get easier. Please stick around to make those happy moments for yourself."But written words do not do it justice; watch the video.Gay rightsUnited StatesHaroon Siddiqueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Kanye West says he had considered suicide By RYAN PEARSON 2010-10-19T13:59:07ZLOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kanye West told an audience at a screening of his film, "Runaway," that he thought about killing himself, but now feels a responsibility to make a meaningful contribution to pop culture and art.... hosted.ap.org |
German Banker's Slide Bares Europe's Divide Bundesbank President Axel Weber's repeated attacks on the European Central Bank's handling of the euro-zone debt crisis have jeopardized his chances for taking the ECB helm, opening the race for the coveted post to a host of other contenders. online.wsj.com |
Letters: WikiLeaks restores trust in journalism For almost a century the media in Britain have deferentially swallowed the D notice system, under which "advisory notices" are sent to editors warning against the publication of stories that might embarrass the Ministry of Defence or our so-called security services (No 10's warning to editors, 27 November).D notices, issued periodically by the defence, press and broadcasting advisory committee, amount to self-censorship by media companies who collude with Whitehall to suppress information.The notices have no force in law, yet they subvert honest journalism and mock the very idea that the media act as a watchdog on behalf of the people.The D notice committee meets in private, is not accountable to parliament although paid for out of public funds, is based in the MoD, and is chaired by a retired senior military officer. The press representatives on the committee are, without exception, management appointees rather than working journalists.If WikiLeaks helps to destroy this nasty mechanism of government spin, our media will be less craven, our journalism more reliable and our society better able to hold politicians to account.Jacob EcclestoneDiss, Norfolk• I write to commend the Guardian for taking such an active role in publishing the WikiLeaks information (250,000 leaked files that lay bare US view of world, 29 November). WikiLeaks should become a role model for restoring trust in modern journalism. This fearless form of public accountability needs acknowledging and supporting. This will expose the war‑makers and their apologists too.Dr Kailash ChandStalybridge, CheshireThe US embassy cablesWikiLeaksPress freedomNewspapers & magazinesNewspapersguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |