Martyrs of Knowledge: Remembering Gaza’s University Professors

The Islamic University of Gaza after the genocide. Photo by Huda Skaik. (For every scene of destruction think "Israel" and its benefactors.) I'm pleased to share this 27.2.26 article by Alaa Dmeida, a twenty-year-old English Literature student at the Islamic University of Gaza, and a writer who discovered her passion for writing and telling the … Continue reading Martyrs of Knowledge: Remembering Gaza’s University Professors

Humanity is the Only Community That Matters

ChatGPT created this image based on the essay. This line jumped off the screen. It's from a Substack essay entitled A Day of Grief, Rage & Gratitude by Einat Temkin, a Mexican Jewish woman who wrote that, "The last three days, culminating in two concurrent funerals, literally just ended my ties with Judaism itself, forevermore. … Continue reading Humanity is the Only Community That Matters

As an International Student, Belonging Is Conditional

Discussions about ICE are personal for international students and reshape their future plans, our essayist writes. She argues gratitude and love for country can coexist with uncertainty about belonging. Courtesy of Danita This isn’t a rejection of the country I came to study in, nor is it a political statement. It’s simply the truth of what … Continue reading As an International Student, Belonging Is Conditional

Remember Hind Rajab

Here are two versions of a song I created with AI assistance and human input about Hind Rajab (2018-2024): Butterfly in the Dust - A Song for Hind Rajab. There are links to some related articles in the description. Below is an Arabic translation. We will never forget. Peace & Justice, MAA Version 1 https://youtu.be/IrMwsMDlYj0?si=mCfjkjN28ar7XSIJContinue reading Remember Hind Rajab

Welcome to the American Winter

"The six-car ICE convoy came to a stop and instantly dozens of people swarmed it, cellphones in hand, while others ran out of nearby houses—I saw a woman in gym shorts in the 20-degree weather—and began surrounding the masked and heavily armed agents who had spilled out of their black SUVs. The fury in the … Continue reading Welcome to the American Winter

National development is a collective responsibility

ChatGPT created this image based on the lyrics to the song I created. The image is called Unity in Vietnam's vibrant landscapes. Both versions of the song are linked below. Here's an article I wrote for the Hanoi Times. It was originally scheduled to be published around the time of the 80th anniversary independence celebrations … Continue reading National development is a collective responsibility

When Europe’s Abused Became Abusers in Palestine

This is a repost of a Substack essay (The Progressive Jew) by Robert Rosenthal, who describes himself as "a former Zionist, a Jewish progressive, and a family member of Holocaust victims." The following statement applies to me and probably many of you. I know (knew) people who fit this description: "Perhaps you’ve wondered why Zionists … Continue reading When Europe’s Abused Became Abusers in Palestine

Journalist Tests ICE Recruitment; Surprised to Find Herself Hired with No Background Check

Here are a link to a Democracy Now! interview with Laura Jedeed, a freelance journalist, and a transcript that I created. At the bottom are links to two articles by Ms. Jedeed and one about her. Here's a quote that jumps off the screen, a sentiment that's been echoed by many others who are knowledgeable … Continue reading Journalist Tests ICE Recruitment; Surprised to Find Herself Hired with No Background Check

Three Shots Kill a Mother Driving Away

Renée Good seconds before she was shot. (Source: Wikipedia) She calmly said "It's fine, dude, I’m not mad at you,” before Jonathan Ross, who was videotaping her, shot her three times and another ICE coward yelled, "Fucking bitch."  This fatal encounter started with an ICE brownshirt screaming, "Get out of the fucking car!" Cruelty is … Continue reading Three Shots Kill a Mother Driving Away

The Lie Is the Lesson: Renee Nicole Good and the Anatomy of American Authoritarianism

I felt compelled to repost this essay on Facebook by Michael Jochum. The murder of Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota is not an isolated tragedy. It is a case study in how authoritarian rule manifests in the United States, courtesy of Trump-style fascism, an administration that no longer governs but commands, a complicit GOP that … Continue reading The Lie Is the Lesson: Renee Nicole Good and the Anatomy of American Authoritarianism