Commentary

Don’t Let Our Imperfections Do the Work That Propaganda Could Not

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

This is a brilliant essay by Hani Almadhoun, co-founder of Gaza Soup Kitchen (please donate if you have the means!) and vice president of philanthropy at UNRWA USA. (Please donate to one or both if you have the means. They are doing lifesaving work in Gaza.) You can follow Hani on Facebook (click on his … Continue reading Don’t Let Our Imperfections Do the Work That Propaganda Could Not

IDF (IOF) Murder of Sam Fahed Abu Haykal in the West Bank

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

That is why We ordained for the Children of Israel that whoever takes a life—unless as a punishment for murder or mischief in the land—it will be as if they killed all of humanity; and whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity. (Surah Al Ma’idah 5:32, Quran)  Last Friday, … Continue reading IDF (IOF) Murder of Sam Fahed Abu Haykal in the West Bank

Alignment as Humanity’s Greatest Strength

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Below is a LinkedIn comment by Dominic Morgan, co-founder of the Authentic Leaders Initiative and CEO of ReThink Crisis. It was in response to a post by Bystanders No More about the documentary Planet Israel: A Cautionary Tale. What Dominic describes is the essence of global citizenship, a concept that most international educators pay lip … Continue reading Alignment as Humanity’s Greatest Strength

Planet Israel: A Cautionary Tale

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I'm not sure why it's referred to as a war when it's clearly a textbook genocide. This is a LinkedIn post by Bystanders No More. Here are links to the trailer (1:35) and an interview (26 min) with the director Gillian Moseley. Drawing on psychology, history, and lived experience, Planet Israel explores how trauma, identity, … Continue reading Planet Israel: A Cautionary Tale

The Girl With the Water Jug

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

Photo by Gaza Soup Kitchen This is a LinkedIn post by Hani Almadhoun, Vice President of Philanthropy at UNRWA USA and co-founder of Gaza Soup Kitchen (GSK). Please consider making generous donations to both of these organizations doing life-saving work in Gaza. GSK constantly posts phots of children in Gaza. I try to "love" (emoji) … Continue reading The Girl With the Water Jug

Curious If Others Have Experienced This in Phu Quoc

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , ,

https://youtube.com/shorts/zQP3GxyZFZY?si=5SeHoMXdGqpd0fpp I saw this Reddit post in which a tourist summarized her/his unpleasant experiences with Indian tourists in Phu Quoc. It's not an anti-Indian rant but a thoughtful accounting of his/her encounters. It's becoming an issue to the point that growing numbers of Vietnamese are becoming anti-Indian. Just do a search for Indian tourists behaving … Continue reading Curious If Others Have Experienced This in Phu Quoc

In Spite of Everything Since the Genocide, At Least I Now Know Where My Morals Really Lie

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

I came across this short essay on a Reddit thread I follow called /JewsofConscience. Most of the followers are Jews who are anti-genocide and therefore anti-Israel. Check out this related post about cults and dismantling the ideology of Zionism. (This "process" applies to all cults.) My italics to highlight some key phrases and sentences. Shkoyach … Continue reading In Spite of Everything Since the Genocide, At Least I Now Know Where My Morals Really Lie

Voices That Remain by Shams Mazen Rajab

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Congratulations to Shams Mazen Rajab, a Palestinian writer and poet from Gaza, on the publication of her poetry collection, Voices That Remain. Please consider purchasing a copy. Written during war and displacement, the collection gives voice to memory, loss, resilience, and hope. These poems are not only verses, but a testimony to what remains when … Continue reading Voices That Remain by Shams Mazen Rajab

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

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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

How I Realized I Was In a Cult: Seven Questions I Asked Myself

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This is an insightful post by Daniel Klein, who describes himself thus: I was born in Jerusalem and raised in a West Bank settlement inside religious-Zionism, before dismantling that ideology. I share testimony and witness in service of human liberation. Einat Temkin, an anti-Israel, anti-genocide Israeli who was born and raised in that country, shared … Continue reading How I Realized I Was In a Cult: Seven Questions I Asked Myself