The foreign "boogeyman" (or -woman), always ready and willing to punish naughty Vietnamese kids. "We gonna get ya if you don't watch out!" As a foreigner, I am one of those strange creatures from a distant planet, walking enigmas who evoke a panoply of emotions, ranging from interest and curiosity to indifference, contempt, and fear. … Continue reading The Many Roles & Uses of Foreigners
Commentary
In Loving Memory of Chef Mahmoud, RIP
I found out on LinkedIn that Mahmoud Almadhoun, brother of Hani Almadhoun, a LI contact who is the Senior Director of Philanthropy at UNRWA USA, was targeted and murdered by the IDF. As Hani mentioned in the second post, "Mahmoud leaves behind seven children—the youngest only two weeks old, and the oldest still in the … Continue reading In Loving Memory of Chef Mahmoud, RIP
A Doctor’s Testimony: The Reality of Gaza’s Suffering by Dr. Tanya Haj Hassan
I urge you to set aside 20 minutes and watch this video testimony by Dr. Tanya Haj Hassan, a pediatric intensive care doctor with Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP). She shared a harrowing account of her experiences working in Gaza, where she bore witness to the devastating humanitarian crisis. She described the systematic targeting of … Continue reading A Doctor’s Testimony: The Reality of Gaza’s Suffering by Dr. Tanya Haj Hassan
Godspeed to George William Cooper, Activist and Purveyor of Kindness: One Year Later
A smiling George with his wife Solita. This is a special photo because George wasn't fond of having his picture taken. Thanks to Solita for sharing it. This is the first death anniversary of George Cooper, who passed away peacefully at his home in Phnom Penh, Cambodia a year ago today. I had the good … Continue reading Godspeed to George William Cooper, Activist and Purveyor of Kindness: One Year Later
US Thanksgiving as a National Day of Mourning
https://markashwill.com/2021/12/16/from-new-england-to-vietnam-settler-colonialism-in-cross-cultural-perspective/?page_id=23202 A view to the harbor from Burial Hill, Plymouth, MA. Photos by MAA (Taken in December 2018, 398 years after the arrival of the Mayflower) Thanksgiving is celebrated at the expense of Native Peoples who had to give up their lands and culture for America to become what it is today. -Linda Coombs, a … Continue reading US Thanksgiving as a National Day of Mourning
The Israeli (read Zionist) Propaganda Framework
Click on the image to view this 70-minute documentary produced by ARTE tv with subtitles in English. Available until 21.4.25. This is from a 13 November 2024 Tweet by Craig Mokhiber, an American former United Nations (UN) human rights official and a specialist in international human rights law, policy, and methodology. On October 28, 2023, … Continue reading The Israeli (read Zionist) Propaganda Framework
The Lasting Legacy of Good Teachers
This is a blog post I originally uploaded in 2021 and was published in Vietnamese by Zing. The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. -Mark Van Doren Teacher’s Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers, a once-a-year opportunity to remember, honor, and thank them for their contributions to the education of our … Continue reading The Lasting Legacy of Good Teachers
Amos Goldberg on Genocide in Gaza
Yes, it is genocide. Although it is so difficult and painful to admit this and despite all efforts to think otherwise, at the end of six months of a brutal war it is no longer possible to escape this conclusion. Jewish history will henceforth be stained with the mark of Cain of the 'crime of … Continue reading Amos Goldberg on Genocide in Gaza
International Education Week 2024: All Eyes on the Genocide in Gaza
In my dreams. The depressing and infuriating reality is that it will remain the imposing and bloodstained elephant in the room for most colleagues who call themselves international educators and the organizations representing them and their institutions. Shame on them. Silence is complicity. Auschwitz is outside of us, but it is all around us, in … Continue reading International Education Week 2024: All Eyes on the Genocide in Gaza
Are You Truly Human?
Ahmed and Jameela were killed on 12.11.24 in an Israeli attack on their home in Gaza. Requiescat in pace.😢 Source: Instagram The fundamental question to ask yourself is, AM I TRULY HUMAN? The last line of defense by which human beings can remain human is the complete and true perception of another’s suffering, which wins … Continue reading Are You Truly Human?
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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