'Black Swan': horror movie, camp classic or balletomane's dream?

A “feel-good film” is the oddest of descriptions of a movie about human dismemberment. Yet in the case of "127 Hours," the cliché is apt.

Thomas F. Farr's article "A Freedom Deferred" led off America's special issue on religion and international affairs. Prof. Farr makes the persuasive case that the United States must be more vigorous in its promotion of religious liberty abroad: "Social science is confirming what history and common sense suggest: religious freedom is necessary if self-governance is to yield political stability, economic growth, social harmony and peace. It is certainly necessary if nations are to rid themselves of religious extremism and terrorism, including the kinds of terrorism that have been exported to the American homeland."

In the interest of continuing the conversation, we asked Prof. Farr to respond to a few questions sparked by the second article in our special issue, "Christians and Statecraft," by Dennis Hoover. Hoover describes the advent of a new kind evangelical internationalism, which seeks to fight human trafficking, slavery, and the spread of AIDS. Prof. Farr also weighs in on the recent appointment of Suzan Johnson Cook as ambassador for International Religious Freedom. Our thanks to Prof. Farr.

What role can U.S. evangelicals play in promoting religious libery abroad?

America’s Web site has been awarded first place for the third year in a row by the Catholic Press Association. Many thanks to all of our friends and contributors for making this happen.