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.
Commentary
Another Gaza Soup Kitchen Staff Member Shot by an Israeli Quadcopter
Here's a social media from Hani Almadhoun, vice president of philanthropy at UNRWA USA and co-founder of Gaza Soup Kitchen (GSK). As Hani points out, this is the second member of the Gaza Soup Kitchen team to be shot inside an UN school while doing their job. Mahmoud, Hani's brother, and the other co-founder of … Continue reading Another Gaza Soup Kitchen Staff Member Shot by an Israeli Quadcopter
MAGA meets the clinical, psychological, peer-reviewed definition of a cult.
Here's a recent LinkedIn post by Mitch Jackson, a California trial lawyer & mediator with 40 years of experience who writes and speaks on law, tech, AI, and accountability. US Americans like Mitch give me hope. On a personal note, I remember reading Robert Lifton's work as an undergraduate. March 15, 2026 It's a specific … Continue reading MAGA meets the clinical, psychological, peer-reviewed definition of a cult.
Americans are Beginning to Notice
This is a repost of a Facebook post by the one and only, Michael Jochum, whose tagline is Not Just a Drummer: Reflections on Art, Politics, Dogs, and the Human Condition. My response to the title of this post: May it be so. Peace & Justice, MAA There are moments in history when the façade … Continue reading Americans are Beginning to Notice
Striking a Balance in the Face of Suffering and Cruelty
There is no genuine hope that’s not wrestling with despair. -Dr. Cornel West on fascism, spirituality and the enduring struggle for freedom Here are two posts by Michael Jochum and Yahya Delair that reflect the spirit of Cornel West's quote followed by information and practical trips about sustaining ourselves as individuals and as a groups … Continue reading Striking a Balance in the Face of Suffering and Cruelty
Giving Up Was Never An Option
I urge you to take some time to listen to this February 2026 podcast interview with Ms. Shams Mazen Rajab hosted by the Tortoise Shack, "a hub for some of Ireland’s most creative and curious minds. The podcast world is overflowing with reams of content and but most of it is of little interest at … Continue reading Giving Up Was Never An Option
“I Took a Social Media ‘Break’ for 24 Hours. Here’s What I Missed, in Israel Alone.”
This is a repost of a March 4th Substack post by Einat Temkin, who lives in Mexico but grew up in Israel and served in IDF in the 1990s. What she says about most Israelis is spot on. But first, let's start with some salient and depressing facts: Click on the image to read the … Continue reading “I Took a Social Media ‘Break’ for 24 Hours. Here’s What I Missed, in Israel Alone.”
Mainstream Media Complicity in the Israeli-Executed Genocide in Gaza
(Image: Writers Against the War on Gaza) This image appears in the first article. Rinse, repeat for other MSM outlets, including the electronic and digital media. It's usually easy to connect the dots. A lot has been written and said about mainstream media (MSM) complicity in the genocide in Gaza. I touched on this in … Continue reading Mainstream Media Complicity in the Israeli-Executed Genocide in Gaza
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
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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