War…huh…yeah What is it good for? Absolutely nothing

20/01/2025 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary children, e-commerce, east germany, edwin starr, german democratic republic, lazada, peace, toys, vietnam, war

Here are some of "toys" I've seen advertised on Facebook by Lazada, a Singapore-based e-commerce company and one of the largest e-commerce operators in Southeast Asia, according to its Wikipedia entry. These ads reminded me of this classic 1970 song performed by Edwin Starr. Down by the Riverside, also known as "Ain't Gonna Study War … Continue reading War…huh…yeah What is it good for? Absolutely nothing

Israel in Five Years: A Prediction

17/01/202505/02/2025 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary gaza, greater israel project, israel, jordan, Lebanon, palestine, palestinians, shir hever, syria, Zionism

I asked (Sifu) Dai Leon, a New Zealand-based US expat and one of the smartest, most knowledgeable, most well-informed, and best-connected people I know, about Israel's fate in five years. He had this to say: The country, formed by CIA-MI6 allying with Anglo & Jewish Mafias with ties to Talmudic Zionist Cult, has been instrumental … Continue reading Israel in Five Years: A Prediction

“I Am No Longer Interested”

16/01/2025 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary allyship, gaza, genocide, hypocrisy, idf, israel, lila tamea, linkedin, muslims, palestine, palestinians, people of color

Lila Tamea I saw this post on LinkedIn and asked the author Lila Tamea for permission to share it on my blog. Her message is spot on and resonates with me and many others with a conscience and a moral compass. I, too, have no time for those colleagues who call themselves anti-racist or who … Continue reading “I Am No Longer Interested”

My Story & My Family: Amidst War & Destruction in Jabalia

15/01/202520/01/2025 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary ahmed moeen serdah, ethnic cleansing, gaza, genocide, idf, israel, jabalia, palestine, palestinians

This is a repost of a story shared by Ahmed Moeen Serdah on LinkedIn about his experiences during the genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza. If you'd like to help Ahmed and his family, here is his GoFundMe account. Peace, MAA Photos by Ahmed Moeen Serdah Every time we think we have witnessed the utmost … Continue reading My Story & My Family: Amidst War & Destruction in Jabalia

Shattered

13/01/202513/01/2025 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary equity, ethnic cleansing, gaza, genocide, humanity, ismail aderonmu, james baldwin, justice, morality, shattered

Copyright: Arsgera | Dreamstime.com This is a LinkedIn post by Ismail Aderonmu, an award-winning journalist and a kindred spirit. His message resonated with me, especially about the genocide shattering something in him (and me). I also appreciated Ismail's reference to "keep pushing - for justice, for equity, for the forgotten, the muzzled, the erased, and for … Continue reading Shattered

A Message from Gaza

12/01/202514/01/2025 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary azhaar amayreh, end the genocide, ethnic cleansing, extermination, free palestine, gaza, genocide, israel, palestine, starvation

This is a repost from Azhaar Amayreh, a Palestinian woman in Gaza who is struggling to survive the genocide, along with her daughter. Please consider making a donation to support her and her daughter. This photo is from Azhaar's LinkedIn post. The autocratic, despotic, tyrannical Israeli-hand systematically and with pre-planned engineered precision, massacres, annihilates, eliminates … Continue reading A Message from Gaza

Reward Citizens Who Report Environmental Law Violations

12/01/2025 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary environmental protection, financial incentives, pollution, vietnam

This is already happening for traffic violations: Under Decree 176/2024, Vietnamese citizens can now earn up to 5 million VND ($200) for reporting traffic violations, marking a significant step towards improved road safety. Whoever drafted this decree knows the Vietnamese mindset all too well. Most people will not "snitch" on their fellow citizens for free … Continue reading Reward Citizens Who Report Environmental Law Violations

Sorry, Vietnam is NOT Going to Be the “Next China”

10/01/2025 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary china, economic growth, GDP, logistics, managerial expertise, manufacturing hub, supply chain, tariffs, vietnam

By Eric Olander, Editor-in-Chief of The China-Global South Project (Source: LinkedIn) December 17, 2024 There is a delusion circulating today in many parts of the U.S. policymaking community that Vietnam is going to emerge as the “next China.” Former United States National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien is the latest high-profile pundit to call for Vietnam … Continue reading Sorry, Vietnam is NOT Going to Be the “Next China”

The Children of Gaza

10/01/202525/01/2025 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary aboud, adam, airstrike, al-sheikh redwan, children, elen, ethnic cleansing, gaza, genocide, idf, israel, mark perlmutter, palestine, tanya haj-hassan, the children of gaza

Click on the image or this link to watch the video. Palestinians don’t need our pity, they don’t need our praise. They need our meaningful and truthful solidarity. And there is no time for despair. ~ Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan ~ This slideshow is the second in a four-part series about the ongoing Israeli-executed genocide and ethnic cleansing in … Continue reading The Children of Gaza

Another Day on the Mean Streets of Hanoi

09/01/202508/01/2025 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary driving, vietnam

As someone who has lived in Vietnam for nearly 20 years and driven a car most of that time, I can confidently say that Hanoi is hands down the worst place. The reasons are three-fold: 1) high population density; 2) the sheer number of vehicles on the road at most hours of the day; and … Continue reading Another Day on the Mean Streets of Hanoi

An International Educator in Vietnam

Information, Insights & (Frequently) Intrigue

Author: Mark A. Ashwill