Behold. The Festering Carcass of American Rot Shoved Into An Ill-fitting Suit

This short 18 August 2025 essay has been floating around the Internet appearing in various memes. It was written by Wisconsin-based writer Oliver Kornetzke. I saw a post on Substack in which the author said this apt description of Dear Leader and much of what ails the US is "AI slop." First, it's not slop … Continue reading Behold. The Festering Carcass of American Rot Shoved Into An Ill-fitting Suit

Modern Human Trafficking: What Vietnamese Trainees in Germany are Suffering – BR24 on Location

Links to the program and a related article in German. They hope for a better life in Germany.For their education, they pay a lot of money and leave Vietnam, their home, far behind.But for some, the dream becomes a nightmare. The reality? Forged documents, harsh working conditions, and fear of ruin.Here, people are treated like … Continue reading Modern Human Trafficking: What Vietnamese Trainees in Germany are Suffering – BR24 on Location

Can VinGroup Create a Vietnamese Industrial Champion?

Vietnam’s quest for technological sovereignty in the age of global capitalism This is an excellent analysis by Pietro Masina about one of Vietnam's most powerful and influential corporations. I include a link here so that more people will read it. Below is a Vietnamese translation for wider distribution. MAA Liệu VinGroup Có Thể Tạo Ra … Continue reading Can VinGroup Create a Vietnamese Industrial Champion?

Is It Better to Speak or to Die?/هل الأفضل أن أتكلّم أم أموت؟

Samah, a young woman who lives in Gaza whom I have known since last year, gave me permission to share this essay about her life during the ongoing genocide. Like many writers, the act of writing is cathartic. Below is an Arabic translation. May Allah (the one God) protect her, her family, and everyone in … Continue reading Is It Better to Speak or to Die?/هل الأفضل أن أتكلّم أم أموت؟

If You’re Still Conflating Anti-Zionism with Antisemitism, You are 50% of the Problem

I felt compelled to reprint this 16 March 2026 Substack post by Einat Temkin. You can also follow Einat on Facebook and/or Instagram. Below is an Arabic version for my Palestinian friends and colleagues, and other Arabic speakers. MAA Artwork by Ricardo Levins Morales I can state with conviction that there is zero antisemitism anywhere … Continue reading If You’re Still Conflating Anti-Zionism with Antisemitism, You are 50% of the Problem

A Textbook Case of Genocide/حالة نموذجية للإبادة الجماعية

It's worth reprinting this prescient 13.10.23 JewishCurrents essay in its entirety. The author, Raz Segel, is a US-based Israeli expert in modern genocide. Here's an interview that aired three days later on Democracy Now!. The writing was on the wall from Day One for people with eyes to see and ears to hear. Israel's leadership … Continue reading A Textbook Case of Genocide/حالة نموذجية للإبادة الجماعية

Slavery in 1776, 1861, and 2026

What's Past is Prologue (W. Shakespeare, The Tempest,1610/11) I like Heather Cox Richardson's updates about events from US history. She takes a "just the facts, mam" approach that usually speaks volumes. In this case, the focus is on slavery, the main reason for the US Civil War from 1861-1865. I know this dates me but … Continue reading Slavery in 1776, 1861, and 2026

It’s Not Trump. It’s America.

Image created by ChatGPT based on the second paragraph of this post. I often hear this comment from well-meaning US colleagues: "This is not who we are." Perhaps it's a manifestation of wishful thinking rooted in the mistaken belief that MAGA 2.0 is an aberration. My interior monologue always quickly responds, "This is exactly who … Continue reading It’s Not Trump. It’s America.

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 woman born and raised in Israel who now lives in Mexico: "The last three days, culminating in two concurrent funerals, literally just ended my … Continue reading Humanity is the Only Community That Matters