Freedom of speech according to the gospel of Koch

Image: iStock This is my latest essay for University World News (UWN). I wrote it in response to a 3 July op-ed piece by Jonathan Zimmerman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. UWN usually doesn't publish essays this long; I'm pleased they made an exception. As always, I welcome your comments either here or … Continue reading Freedom of speech according to the gospel of Koch

Global citizenship is about more than intercultural skills

Here's my latest essay for University World News. It's a long-awaited follow-up to a 2016 article about US nationalism. Below is the unedited version. Shalom (שלום), MAA Intercultural Competence and Global Citizenship: Expanding the Debate The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion. -Thomas Paine The international … Continue reading Global citizenship is about more than intercultural skills

Miracles in Our Midst: An Ode to the Trees of Hanoi

This expanded version of an essay I wrote last month was published by Soha.vn in its new WOW VIETNAM series. The translation of the title, 'Niềm tự hào Ấn Độ' trên vỉa hè Hà Nội is 'Pride of India' on the sidewalks of Hanoi. Here's the teaser: All a tree requires is that we create … Continue reading Miracles in Our Midst: An Ode to the Trees of Hanoi

“PhD Production Plan: Will Project 89 Go a New Way?”

Ph.D. diploma. Image courtesy of VietNamNet Global A question and a suggestion. 1) Why does Viet Nam need so many new Ph.D.s? It's a research degree. Many faculty positions focus almost exclusively on teaching undergraduates. In those cases and in most fields, a Master's degree will suffice. A Ph.D. is only necessary if the individual … Continue reading “PhD Production Plan: Will Project 89 Go a New Way?”

“Deported by Biden: a Vietnamese refugee separated from his family after decades in US”

Tien Pham, 38, who fled violence in Vietnam as a child, was sent back to an unfamiliar country due to teenage conviction: ‘America is my home’ Image courtesy of The Guardian This 3 May 2021 Guardian article jumped off my screen. This poor guy goes from one frying pan into another. It reminded me the … Continue reading “Deported by Biden: a Vietnamese refugee separated from his family after decades in US”

Happy Reunification Day! Chúc Mừng Ngày Thống Nhất!

On the occasion of the 46th anniversary of the end of the US War in Viet Nam, I would like to repost this article from 30 April 2020 A Letter From Viet Nam on the Occasion of the 45th Anniversary of the End of the War that was published by CounterPunch. Follow this link to … Continue reading Happy Reunification Day! Chúc Mừng Ngày Thống Nhất!

Pentagon campaign to recruit Vietnam as military ally against China exposed delusions of US war strategy

After convincing itself Vietnam would grant it access for missile bases against China, the Pentagon got a hard dose of reality. Courtesy of The Grayzone When the Pentagon began gearing up for a future war with China in 2018, Defense Department officials quickly realized that they needed access to Vietnamese territory for troops armed with … Continue reading Pentagon campaign to recruit Vietnam as military ally against China exposed delusions of US war strategy

Requiem for the ‘American Century’

It's not often that I simply post an article but this essay by Andrew J. Bacevich, which originally appeared on TomDispatch, is worth reading. 9/11 tribute. (David Z from Pixabay) Only when Americans openly acknowledge their imperial transgressions will genuine repentance become possible. And only with repentance will avoiding further occasions to sin become a habit. … Continue reading Requiem for the ‘American Century’