Jack Healey, 01/06/13

Founder, Human Rights Action Center

Spending time "visioning" for human rights achievements might seem frivolous, but we must consider how to spend our energies on creating hope for people to brighten their darknesses. Here's my wishlist for the year for human rights.

Yoani Sanchez, 01/06/13

Award-winning Cuban blogger

The story told in Una Noche is like those Greek tragedies which, from the opening scenes, offer presentiments of the coming drama.

James Zogby, 01/05/13

President, Arab American Institute; author, 'Arab Voices'

Instead of acting as spectators, enablers, or waiting for the United Nations or the United States to provide solutions, there are practical steps through collective Arab action that might make a real difference.

Shannon P. Meehan, 01/04/13

Captain (Ret.), U.S. Army, Communications specialist at Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families

What Moore fails to realize is that not all that has happened "between the lines" of this war can be painted with the same broad stroke as "bad" or "good," "evil" or "righteous."

Raymond J. Learsy, 01/05/13

Author, 'Oil and Finance: The Epic Corruption Continues'

This torrent of money flowing into OPEC, especially into the Persian Gulf States, raises the question how this massive windfall is being put to use other than providing fresh capital for the world's largest sovereign wealth funds, as those of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

Don Kraus, 01/06/13

President and CEO, GlobalSolutions.org

The Arms Trade Treaty is a common-sense measure that would make it more difficult for weapons to be sold on the black market and halt the flow of weapons to dangerous regimes. Yet the NRA has gone on record saying the treaty will threaten Americans' rights to bear arms.

Trita Parsi, 01/04/13

President, National Iranian American Council

The question that is rarely asked is what the effect of the sanctions has been on the people of Iran, in particular the pro-democracy forces that so bravely have been fighting for their rights.

MJ Rosenberg, 01/04/13

Political commentator

There is only one way to send a message to Israel that will be heard: it will be by nominating Hagel. It is Israel and the lobby that created the Hagel issue. Why not use it to America's advantage? And Israel's too.

David Westin, 01/04/13

Author, 'Exit Interview'; Former President, ABC News

The sale of cable news network Current TV to Al Jazeera has raised more than a few eyebrows. But whatever comes of it all, the creation of this alternative to CNN and Fox News and MSNBC shows just how much has changed in the news media since Peter Jennings left us just seven years ago.

Cherie Blair, 01/04/13

Founder, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women

In the holiday spirit of peace on Earth and good will toward men, I would argue that more good will toward women, notably in terms of education, would contribute to more peace on Earth.

Dr. Josef Olmert, 01/04/13

Adjunct Professor, University of South Carolina

With the center and left so fragmented over their priorities, unable to find the minimal workable common denominator, Netanyahu cruises ever more easily towards another term.

Lisa Haugaard, 01/04/13

Executive Director, Latin America Working Group

If we could keep these resolutions, 2013 would be a banner year for U.S.-Latin American relations.

Anushay Hossain, 01/04/13

Author, AnushaysPoint.com

Why is violence against women so pervasive in the world's largest democracy? There is no point of stacking our government with women, letting them run our country and worshiping them as religious deities if they are not safe on our streets.

Clara Beyler, 01/04/13

Research director, Osen LLC

Should we expect women with bomb implants to be the next evolutionary step in 21st-century terrorism?

Mike Love, 01/03/13

Lead singer, The Beach Boys

Around the time The Beach Boys brought the fun and the sun of Southern California to every corner of the world, those stateside began to experience the mystical sounds and the extraordinary culture originating from the Eastern world, through Ravi Shankar.

Leslie Hendry, 01/04/13

Azawhistle Kids

Are we entering an Indian Spring where drawn out abuses of women are protested around the globe until the majority rise against unacceptable violence and suppression of women?

Andrew Lam, 01/03/13

Author and editor, New America Media

It's inevitable that each time he ventures abroad, Uncle Sam leaves an unfinished story, and nowhere is it most unfinished than in Iraq.