Garbage in Danang

14/10/2022 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary danang, ecocide, environmental protection, garbage, pollution, trash, vietnam

Danang with the Han River in the foreground and the East Sea, known to the rest of the world as the South China Sea, in the background. (Photo by MAA) During a recent event that my company organized in Danang, I asked a US colleague where he was staying: in a hotel on the beach. … Continue reading Garbage in Danang

Family Ties to New England

12/10/202224/03/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary British Colonial America, genealogy, new england, settler colonizers, US history

Rockport, Maine During an early summer trip to the US, we spent a few days visiting friends in Maine via Boston. Knowing my interest in genealogy, one friend joked about my settler-colonizer ancestors resting eternally in the cemetery near his house. After doing some research, his comment turned out to be half-in-jest. Some distant cousins … Continue reading Family Ties to New England

From the Fire Into the Frying Pan US: “We are here because you are (were) there”

05/10/2022 Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary immigrants, immigration, linh dinh, refugees, us foreign policy, USA, viet thanh nguyen

I couldn't find an image with the reverse scenario so you'll just have to use your imagination. I shared my August 2022 essay They Hate US ‘Cause They Ain’t US! with a number of colleagues with a request for their reaction to my favorite reader comment to date (see below). I wanted to know if … Continue reading From the Fire Into the Frying Pan US: “We are here because you are (were) there”

The Difference Between Street Art & Graffiti

02/10/2022 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary graffiti, hanoi, hcmc, street art, vietnam

Knowing that a picture is worth a thousand words, here are some pics I took in Hanoi that graphically illustrate the difference between street art and graffiti. The fact that I include one of the latter and four of the former give you an idea of which I prefer. Street art puts a smile on … Continue reading The Difference Between Street Art & Graffiti

Finland Named World’s Happiest Country for Fifth Consecutive Year

27/09/2022 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Reports, Survey corruption, finland, good goverrnance, healthy life expectancy, scandinavia, world happiness report

It makes me happy to see the results of this annual report on happiness. The description sums it up: "The Experts say social support, honesty and generosity key to wellbeing." How much social support, honesty, and generosity is there in your country? For the uninitiated, this survey uses a variety of criteria to generate a … Continue reading Finland Named World’s Happiest Country for Fifth Consecutive Year

Guest Post: “Waste Is Our Greatest Resource”

24/09/202223/09/2022 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary circular economy, pollution, recycling, waste

This is an issue to which I've given a great deal of thought in recent years. Most of what we throw out can be used in so many ways. Think of it as the global version of the idiom "One man's trash is another man's treasure." The vision of a circular economy can become a … Continue reading Guest Post: “Waste Is Our Greatest Resource”

“And where there is sadness, joy” by Kent Nerburn

22/09/2022 Mark A. Ashwill Books, Commentary kent nerburn, nico evans, st. francis of assisi

The image is linked to the book on Amazon.com This is a story written by US writer Kent Nerburn that went viral as The Last Cab Ride. Originally entitled The Cab Ride I'll Never Forget, it appeared in his 1999 book, Make Me An Instrument of Your Peace. I reprint it here because I want … Continue reading “And where there is sadness, joy” by Kent Nerburn

Kitsch at the Seaside

21/09/2022 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary alienation, kitsch, phu quoc

Photo by MAA (I'd rather see this in a museum or a park than at the beach.) Kitsch is defined as "art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic or knowing way." How would you characterize the photo to the left? … Continue reading Kitsch at the Seaside

A Local Example of How Global Capitalism Works

15/09/2022 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary cambodia, capitalism, cheap labor, exploitation, vietnam

During my early trips to Vietnam and Cambodia in the mid- to late-90s, I began to learn more about what has been called the North-South gap and the potential for obscene profits through exploitation. Lest we forget, "labor" refers to most people who have no choice but to sell their labor to an employer, fellow … Continue reading A Local Example of How Global Capitalism Works

Why Vietnam Should Not Go Nuclear

13/09/2022 Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary nuclear weapons, vietnam, vietnam foreign policy

I decided to post this article here because I could only access it via TOR. Given that the Vietnamese government is not considering acquiring nuclear weapons, I'm not sure what the author's point. The fact that "some scholars have suggested that Vietnam pursue nuclear weapons in order to balance against China" is neither here nor … Continue reading Why Vietnam Should Not Go Nuclear

An International Educator in Vietnam

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