I couldn't help but crack a wry smile (think gallows humor) when this pop-up appeared on my screen. I had been reading with great sorrow and anger about the cold-blooded murder by blue of George Floyd and the subsequent protests and riots in Minneapolis and across the US. Meanwhile in America, as all hell breaks … Continue reading Meanwhile in America…
Commentary
“Why Democracies Do Better at Surviving Pandemics”
The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the debate over whether authoritarian states are gaining the upper hand across the world. In contrast, democracies are showing capacity for innovation and adaptation. Seriously? When I first saw the title, I thought it was satire. It's downright Orwellian along the lines of war is peace and freedom is slavery. … Continue reading “Why Democracies Do Better at Surviving Pandemics”
“Da 5 Bloods” & the USA’s Ongoing Failure to Overcome Its Past
Da 5 Bloods is timely, powerful, educational and important. Says Netflix, which is airing this movie and has a lot at $take with a production budget of $35–45 million, one of Spike Lee's more expensive movies. Here's one nod in the company review to the Vietnamese, routinely neglected in US portrayals of the US War … Continue reading “Da 5 Bloods” & the USA’s Ongoing Failure to Overcome Its Past
A Childhood Without Play & Imagination
As television shows and professional competitions targeting kids mushroom, many wonder if children are being exposed to too much limelight too soon, scarring what should be a carefree childhood. This quote appeared in a 19 June 2020 article Growing up too soon in media age. The vanishing childhood applies not only to children whose parents … Continue reading A Childhood Without Play & Imagination
BLM, ALM, and “Minority White” in 2045
Montecruz Foto/Flickr You see, love is strong. Stronger than hate even. Love is the only thing that can kill hate, nothing else. You see, hate destroys and that's why love is stronger. It builds. ---Peter Abrahams, The Path of Thunder A white expat recently uttered this revealing statement: Apparently, if you say 'All lives matter' … Continue reading BLM, ALM, and “Minority White” in 2045
US Professor Tells Vietnamese-American Student to Anglicize Her Name
Another entitled white US professor is "winning friends and influencing people," this time demanding that a Vietnamese student anglicize her name because he finds it offensive. (Above is a screenshot of an email exchange between professor and student.) Why? Two reasons: 1) It's easier than learning to pronounce the student's name and even learning what … Continue reading US Professor Tells Vietnamese-American Student to Anglicize Her Name
The “Rotten Apple” at JHU
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Matthew 7:3 Tweet first, ask questions and discover the truth of the matter later, ideally. As I posted on LinkedIn about this Tweet from 10 June, "Pure, unadulterated bullshit. Steve Hanke, … Continue reading The “Rotten Apple” at JHU
“Six ways a drop in international students could set back US higher education”
Here's a short, sweet, and spot-on analysis by David DeMaria, associate vice provost for international education, University of Maryland, Baltimore County. You can either follow this link to read the original article or read the copy/paste version below. It appeared in the 26.5.20 issue of The Conversation. I've told more than one US colleague since … Continue reading “Six ways a drop in international students could set back US higher education”
Dear Vietnamese Community…
As seen on Facebook. Thank you, Meagan Tran, and thanks to those who have shared this message far and wide. Needless to say, racism is not limited to Vietnamese-Americans and other overseas Vietnamese (Việt kiều). I recently saw a racist rant written by a US-educated Vietnamese, a Fubrighter, no less. He subsequently deleted his post … Continue reading Dear Vietnamese Community…
Let America Be America Again
Minneapolis, Associated Press The shocking on camera murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests, riots, and looting reminded me of this poem written in 1935 by the poet, novelist, fiction writer, and playwright, Langston Hughes (1902-1967), and published in the July 1936 issue of Esquire. Racism is one of those "isms" whose seeds were … Continue reading Let America Be America Again
