The popular TV series 'Mad Men' portrays the 'Young '60s' – an era between the conformism of the '50s and the rebellion of the '60s. Its broad appeal hints that Americans might be ready for middle ground in the red-blue wars, too.

At his Friday press conference, President Obama made an impassioned defense of a key Bush strategy not to blame Islam for the 9/11 attacks. Many Americans have lost sight of that, as seen in the threat to burn the Quran at a church and the backlash to a Muslim mosque near ground zero.

Largely Muslim Turkey is split over a referendum on changes to the Constitution. Once again, critics warn of the secular state going Islamic. Prime Minister Erdogan needs to build trust among those who fear he and his religious party have a secret agenda.

A Gallup poll done for the Charitable Aid Foundation finds more correlation between happiness and giving than between wealth and giving. The survey's ranking of countries puts America as number five. Many poor nations are high in giving of one type or another.

Nine years later, America must revisit the 9/11 tragedy with fresh eyes to sort out the reactionary saga of the past decade – and see how it shapes our place in the new geopolitical climate.

Raymond Joseph, Haiti's former ambassador to the United States (and Wyclef Jean's uncle), explains why he and other presidential candidates were unfairly disqualified from running.

Because of the lunar calendar, the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr falls on or near 9/11. Many Muslim centers in America are canceling, scaling back, or shifting festivities. What's motivating them?

The planned burning of Korans this weekend would not just be a national disgrace or dangerous for our troops abroad. It could set fire to the very fabric that makes America strong and righteous.