Editorial

We are witnessing a very rare thing this week. The people of Egypt are rising up in a grassroots democratic revolution on the heels of a simliar revolution in Tunisia. Other democratic revolts are occuring all over the Middle East in conservative traditionalist largely Muslim countries that are just the kinds of places where western news media and a cavalcade of experts are fond of telling us such things can't possibly happen. Naturally, I disagree. In fact, I think such revolts are inevitable.

Supporters of Chuck Turner should head over to the Moakley US Courthouse on Tuesday at 2 p.m. for the former Boston City Councilor's sentencing hearing in front of US District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock on charges of taking a $1,000 bribe in 2007. Turner's in a tough spot and needs all the moral support he can get.

Just a note to say that Open Media Boston will more or less on vacation this week. I'm taking a couple of winter session courses, the rest of our staff is still in holiday mode, and it's a slow news week in our main labor and non-profit sector beats (the looming wave of anti-worker legislation and civil rights violations taken as an unfortunate given); so it seems like a good time for a break. Our viewers are welcome to submit opinion pieces and calendar items as usual - and of course discussion and debate in the comments area of any of our articles is always welcome.

Every year, critics of the ever-growing list of US military adventures in the service of a foreign policy based largely upon the whims of the multinational corporations that own most of our politicians are faced with a thorny little question: Do we participate in Toys for Tots toy drives or not? This may seem like a no-brainer to many. After all, what's not to like about a program that gives out more toys to kids at Christmas than any other effort in history?