Mom arrested for swearing at children
A review of the best commentary on and around the world...Today's must-read
According to WSPA television news, a South Carolina mother was arrested for swearing at her children while she shopped in a North Augusta grocery store.
A fellow shopper overheard the alleged abuse and informed a police officer, who issued a citation for disorderly conduct.
"He was like, 'You're under arrest' ... right in front of kids, in front of my husband, in front of customers," Danielle Wolf says she was told by the officer.
She goes on to say that her obscenity was directed at her husband, who had placed a frozen pizza on top of the bread in their cart.
Theresa Edwards of the Mommyish blog says this is just the latest example of parenting policing getting out of hand.
"I have a really filthy mouth, and so does my husband, and while I've made a halfhearted effort to improve my language, we often say profane things to each other that aren't even spoken in anger," she writes. "Our daughter may or not be present sometimes."
Did it do the children any good to witness their mother getting arrested, she asks.
"More and more, I feel like I have less to fear from the outside world than I do of getting in trouble when someone doesn't like the way I parent," she concludes. "I used to let my child walk to the park solo, but I haven't done that for a while, since that's apparently a criminal offense."
In case you're wondering, a North Augusta defines disorderly conduct, in part, as uttering "while in a state of anger, in the presence of another, any bawdy, lewd or obscene words or epithets".
"Annoying teachers" is also a violation - so, kids, your moms aren't the only ones who could end up on the wrong side of the law.Russia
Behind the Russian facade - Will Russians have to eventually face real consequences for Vladimir Putin's "Ukraine adventure," asks Time's Simon Shuster.
"For most Russians, indeed nearly all of them, the crisis in Ukraine has had a distant, almost virtual quality," he writes. "It has been something they watched on TV, or debated in their kitchens, rooting for the pro-Russian rebel militias and cursing the Ukrainian government as though the war between them was hardly more than a gruesome sporting match."
Although many Russians feel strongly about the current conflict, their suffering is not personal, says Shuster. But as the conflict deepens, the Russian consensus on Ukraine could change.
"Russians have started asking themselves - or rather, they have been forced to ask themselves - whether they are prepared to make real sacrifices for the sake of their country's policy in Ukraine," he writes.Japan
Planned consumption tax increase debated in Japan - The decrease of Japan's gross domestic product is attributed to a decline in consumer spending just before a recent increase in consumption tax, write the editors of Mainichi. The Japanese government plans to further raise the consumption tax to 10% in October.
"Whether consumer concern about livelihoods can be dispelled and consumer spending will grow is a key to supporting the economy after the consumption tax is to be raised to 10% in October 2015," the editors write.
They say the government must hold continued debate on the consumption tax increase.
"Such a hike would further increase the financial burden on households," they say. "Now is the time for the government to consider sufficient measures to support household budgets as part of its discussions on how to stabilise the social security system and help rehabilitate state finances."North Korea
Kim Jong-un's dangerous intimidation - North Korea might be a small country in terms of population and territory, but it continues to remain "disproportionately important," partially because of anxiety that the nation's arsenal provokes, writes Christopher Lee for Real Clear Defense.
"While Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities still remain unknown, one thing is clear - Kim Jong-un is remarkably adept at 'manipulating global public opinion'," writes Lee.
The bellicosity of North Korea's leader also serves a domestic audience, intended to create anti-Western sentiment, he says.
"All things considered, starting a second Korean War would not serve any of Pyongyang's interests. But threatening one does," he concludes. "Kim Jong-un's behaviour may seem irrational, but he is not ready to sacrifice his power."Latin America
Simmering anti-Semitism in Latin America - As the conflict between Gaza and Israel continues to reverberate across the world, global anti-Semitism stirs in its wake, including within the countries of Latin America, writes Enrique Krauze for the New York Times.
"Some Latin American governments have signalled their dissatisfaction with Israel's actions," he says.
"While such political rejection is not anti-Semitic, something new is emerging in Spanish-language social media, mostly among young people, where condemnation of Israel is often accompanied by anti-Semitic diatribes."
Following the most recent confrontation between Israel and Gaza, anger among the educated left has grown into an anti-Semitic movement, particularly among university circles, Krauze concludes.BBC Monitoring's quotes of the day
Regional commentators discuss the ongoing unrest in Gaza.
"Hamas dictates to us the way and rhythm of life and the weak, hesitant and flaccid government waits for its utterances." - Alex Fishman in Israel's Yedioth Aharonot.
"A battle has just broken out in Israel that will have the heads [of many officials] rolling on the ground... Meanwhile, at a time when the Israelis are increasingly divided, the Palestinians look more cohesive." - Talal Awkal in Palestinian Al-Ayyam.
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