Author: Mark A. Ashwill

Restoring Hope Through Education: The Gaza Education Tent

Mark A. Ashwill Announcement , , , , , ,

Help Gaza’s children learn, heal, and hope. I'm pleased to share information about an important project conceived and led by Ruwaida Amer, a teacher and journalist in Gaza. Below is a description of The Gaza Education Tent in her words. If you're interested in supporting this project in any way, please leave a message here … Continue reading Restoring Hope Through Education: The Gaza Education Tent

Neoliberalism in a Socialist State: Political Economy of Higher Education in Vietnam

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , , , ,

Escaping Wonderland ChatGPT created this image based on the abstract. Out of the mouths of babes - umm - chatbots. If you're interested in Vietnamese higher education, this abstract should whet your appetite for more. Over the last three decades, Vietnam has experienced significant economic growth, with millions lifted out of extreme poverty through economic … Continue reading Neoliberalism in a Socialist State: Political Economy of Higher Education in Vietnam

Not a Riot—A Reckoning

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Songs , , , , , , , ,

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 6: Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (photo by Brent Stirton/Getty Images) This song was inspired by … Continue reading Not a Riot—A Reckoning

Streets of Vietnam: A Structured Chaos

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , ,

Image generated by ChatGPT based on the essay. This is a repost of a LinkedIn post by Stephane Masse about traffic in Vietnam, something I am intimately familiar with, having lived here for over 20 years. While some foreigners new to Vietnam invariably ask me if I have a motorbike, the car has always been … Continue reading Streets of Vietnam: A Structured Chaos

The Legacy of Settler Colonialism: It’s Personal

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , , , , , , , , ,

This image was created by Gemini based on the first paragraph of this post. Every empire, however, tells itself and the world that it is unlike all other empires, that its mission is not to plunder and control but to educate and liberate.-Edward W. Said I come from a long line of settler-colonizer ancestors who … Continue reading The Legacy of Settler Colonialism: It’s Personal

Ending Palestinian Suffering Requires Dismantling the Apartheid System: Miko Peled

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, video , , , , , , , , , ,

We have to come to a point where the conversation changes from this one that accepts the Zionist narrative to the one that rejects it. Zionism is a white supremacist, racist, genocidal ideology that created this apartheid state, and it has to be brought to an end. A great interview with Miko Peled, an anti-Zionist … Continue reading Ending Palestinian Suffering Requires Dismantling the Apartheid System: Miko Peled

Turning Battlefields to Peace: A Musical Tribute to Chuck Searcy (Project RENEW)

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Songs, video , , , , , , ,

Chuck and I after a recent lunch at our favorite Indian restaurant in Hanoi. I was delighted to see this music video on the first day of 2026, honoring the life's work of my friend Chuck Searcy, who has lived in Vietnam for 30 years. Below are the descriptions in English and Vietnamese, followed by … Continue reading Turning Battlefields to Peace: A Musical Tribute to Chuck Searcy (Project RENEW)

Rebranding Genocide by Chris Hedges

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Genocide in Gaza has not stopped. It has been rebranded. And that is enough of a linguistic subterfuge to get the world to ignore it. See No Evil Hear No Evil Speak No Evil — by Mr. Fish I feel compelled to share this brilliant essay by Chris Hedges. Read and reread it. Share … Continue reading Rebranding Genocide by Chris Hedges