Opinion - The Christian Science Monitor

Washington - What began as a harvest celebration between European settlers and indigenous communities nearly four centuries ago has become our cherished tradition of Thanksgiving. This day's roots are intertwined with those of our Nation, and its history traces the American narrative.

London - In the past week, the first-ever president of Europe was appointed, the momentum for December's Copenhagen conference on climate change gathered pace, and new figures revealed that the recession is officially over in most European Union countries.

Washington and New York - "There is no such thing as a little freedom," said Walter Cronkite. "Either you are all free, or you are not free."

Thomaston, Maine - I've always regarded children's birthday parties with a little trepidation. With choreographed theme parties, home-delivered bouncy castles, and gift bags for every child (and sibling) now the status quo, it is hard to feel good about just grilling hot dogs at the neighborhood park.

Camo means honorThe opinion piece "Dressed to kill: Why clothe kids in camouflage?" left me feeling riled up and misunderstood. While camo represents aggression and violence to the writer, for my family it symbolizes honor, service, humility, and sacrifice.

London - In the run-up to talks with Iran last month, many in Europe and the United States asked whether Iran would, or even could, come clean on its nuclear activities.

Drum roll, please. After much fanfare, the European Union has its first permanent president and its first foreign policy chief – and few people have ever heard of them.

Beijing - China's role in the international policy debate has been rising in tandem with its growing economy. As a key member of the G-20, China is helping to elaborate the global policy priorities for the future and devise solutions to global problems.

Berkeley, Calif. - President Obama says he wants to "rebalance" the economic relationship between China and the US as part of his plan to restart the American jobs machine.

Mexico City - Few issues have caused as much of a stir this year as the question of whether illegal immigrants will be included in the Democratic healthcare bill.

One possible motive for President Obama's long delay in announcing a new US strategy in Afghanistan may be this: He first wants to see tangible steps against corruption by President Hamid Karzai.

New York - If you've been spending time in proximity to teenage girls this week, there's a strong chance you've heard about "New Moon" and Edward Cullen. Edward is the undead hero of the bestselling young adult fantasy/romance "Twilight" series."

Irvine, Calif. - Has America's Federal Reserve become the single greatest obstacle to global economic recovery? Central bankers around the world are increasingly asking this question as the American greenback continues its Fed-inspired decline and damages the export-driven growth of countries from Latin America and Asia to Europe.

Israel's announcement this week that it's moving forward with plans to build 900 new homes in an Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem – which Palestinians consider their capital – has sparked deserved outrage from just about everyone with an interest in Middle East peace.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The seemingly perpetual Middle East "peace process" is now at a moment of truth. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said so himself at a press conference on Nov. 4.

Washington - Asian diplomats often say that just showing up is a large part of successful diplomacy.

Creating jobs for Americans is President Obama's top priority. Yet he left China on Tuesday with little to show in further opening the world's fastest-growing economy to greater imports of US goods and services.

Washington - As a candidate, Barack Obama said he would "insist that China stop manipulating its currency because it's not fair to American manufacturers." As president, Mr. Obama could have fulfilled that campaign pledge well before his visit to China this week.

Atlanta - When Sarah Palin's book "Going Rogue" hits stores today, it will increase the tension between elitism and populism that's marked American conservatism from the beginning.

Once the media hoopla over Sarah Palin's book and her "Oprah" interview fades away, what will be left of this "rogue" on a roll?

Quantico, Va. - As President Obama decides on a strategy option for Afghanistan, he's said to be mulling over four options, with a province-by-province analysis of local Afghan leaders at his disposal.

Berkeley, Calif. - This fall's trio of outbursts (from Rep. Joe Wilson, singer Kanye West, and tennis star Serena Williams) brought the topic of civility front and center.

America's long campaign to defeat Al Qaeda took a largely untested turn on Friday with a decision by US Attorney General Eric Holder to put the key 9/11 suspects on trial in a civilian court – just blocks from where the World Trade Center once stood.

Washington - If Gen. Stanley McChrystal prevails in persuading President Obama to insert more US troops in Afghanistan, do Americans understand the difficulty of the task they'd face?

Provo, Utah - When Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Indonesia earlier this year, she said: "If you want to know whether Islam, democracy, modernity, and women's rights can coexist, go to Indonesia."

The Fort Hood massacre has opened a nationwide debate over the motives of the shooting suspect, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan. Was he traumatized by tales of wounded soldiers? Was he a Muslim fanatic? Or was he simply a disgruntled employee who went "postal"?

Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish novelist, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2006. He spoke with Global Viewpoint editor Nathan Gardels last week in Los Angeles.

As a child in an Indonesian school, Barack Obama spent more time in Asia than most Americans. This week he returns for his first official visit as US president.