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Musician, actor and social activist Harry Belafonte issues a strident criticism of U.S. foreign policy at the Jan. 20 session of the International Commission of Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) blasts the president’s speech in an exclusive Truthdig podcast.

Internationally acclaimed essayist, novelist and playwright Gore Vidal argues that America under Bush is evincing characteristics of the post-fall-of-Rome Dark Ages: the triumph of faith over reason, the atrophy of education and critical thinking, and integration of the state, torture and religion.

Paralyzed from the chest down by Vietnam War wounds, and confined to a wheelchair for almost 40 years, Ron Kovic stands as a symbol of the brutality of war. He also exemplifies a man’s ability to transform such tragedy into a lifelong pursuit of peace—for himself and his country.  Listen to the audio, then come view the site’s Kovic photo gallery.

Paralyzed from the chest down by Vietnam War wounds, and confined to a wheelchair for almost 40 years, Ron Kovic stands as a symbol of the brutality of war. He also exemplifies a man’s ability to transform such tragedy into a lifelong pursuit of peace—for himself and his country.  Listen to the audio, then come view the site’s Kovic photo gallery.

Sharmini Peries, foreign policy advisor to Venezuela President Hugo Chavez, talks about Latin America’s most contentious leader—and thorn in Washington’s side—since Fidel Castro. Peries became advisor to President Hugo Chavez after interviewing him and members of the Venezuelan government while she was on assignment for India’s magazine Frontline in 2004.

No matter their own scandals, religious institutions through history have a consistent scapegoat: homosexuals.  Larry Gross digs into why churches condemn gays to damnation.

The religious right demands that we focus on Jesus this holiday season. Okay, but what do we really know about him? We turn to a religious scholar to find out. The Rev. Madison Shockley is a minister of the United Church of Christ in Carlsbad, Calif. and a regular commentator on religion, race, politics and popular culture.