Zero Tolerance, No Exceptions

08/12/202307/12/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary delaware, drunk driving, fines, license revocation, USA, vietnam, zero tolerance

"If you drink beer or liquor, don't drive. Safety for you and society." On my drive home the other night after an evening event, I chose a route that I figured would have a police checkpoint at that time of night on the lookout for drunk drivers. Let me modify that: drivers who had even … Continue reading Zero Tolerance, No Exceptions

The Overlap of Family & US History

21/11/202320/11/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary ancestral mathematics, British Colonial America, genealogy, history, present, USA

With US Thanksgiving quickly approaching (23.11.23) and as one of the more eccentric members of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD), I thought this might be a good time to share this meme, the kind that people post like to post, again and again, in genealogy Facebook groups. (Full disclosure: Genealogy is one of … Continue reading The Overlap of Family & US History

The Red, White, & Blue Sun Around Which The World Revolves?

09/11/202308/11/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary gaza, independent educational consultants, israel, palestine, ronald lauder, University of Pennsylvania, USA

In case you're wondering, that imposing orange-yellow object on the left is the United States of America. (Don't forget it! 🇺🇸) Recently, I had an unpleasant exchange in a Facebook group of "Independent Educational Consultants." Below are screenshots of the "conversation," which consisted of a bunch of angry colleagues questioning my integrity. It started with … Continue reading The Red, White, & Blue Sun Around Which The World Revolves?

Let’s ditch the binaries and join the ‘all of humanity’ club

21/10/202323/10/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary binaries, gaza, global citizenship, I stand with humanity, israel, nationalism, palestine, USA, war

This is my latest essay for University World News. It builds upon some previous articles I've written about nationalism and global citizenship. It's not my original title but I like it. I know my work is always in good hands with UWN editors. I was inspired, so to speak, to write it after reading a … Continue reading Let’s ditch the binaries and join the ‘all of humanity’ club

Chow Time in America

13/06/202312/06/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary obesity, USA

A panoramic view of a food court in a US shopping mall. Every trip to the US reminds me that the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer, and the fat are getting fatter. Nowhere is the latter more obvious than in a shopping mall, especially at the food court, where the eating … Continue reading Chow Time in America

The Military is US(A)

12/06/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary military discount, peace, USA, war

There are few countries in which you'll find more fawning over the military than in the US. I took the above photo in a Coach store in a shopping mall. To be honest, I'm not sure how many current or retired military personnel shop at Coach, but I understand the sentiment and PR value of … Continue reading The Military is US(A)

The Search for Talented Low-Income Students Who Qualify for Milton Hershey School

16/12/2022 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary male privilege, milton hershey school, USA, white privilege

Image courtesy of MHS I recently saw a post on LinkedIn with the above title by a colleague who recruits for the Milton Hershey School in Pennsylvania, USA. He was attending a professional association conference at the time. For the uninitiated, this school was founded in 1909 by chocolate industrialist Milton Hershey and his wife, … Continue reading The Search for Talented Low-Income Students Who Qualify for Milton Hershey School

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”

They Hate US ‘Cause They Ain’t US!

26/08/202228/08/2022 Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary american dream, debt, economic inequality, freedumb, functional illiteracy, incarceration rate, united states of america, us nationalism, USA

Here's my latest essay for CounterPunch. Here's the first paragraph to whet your appetite for more (or not). Note: 17 minute read. During a recent trip to Boston, I saw this delusional expression screaming at me in large red, white, and blue letters from the side of a passing cement truck. For the uninitiated, it’s … Continue reading They Hate US ‘Cause They Ain’t US!

Business as Usual at Fulbright University Vietnam

04/08/202207/08/2022 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary bob kerrey, fulbright university vietnam, FUV, history, USA, vietnam, war criminal

Do As We Say, Not As We Do I was checking my LinkedIn feed and noticed a Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV) post about its new partnership with Columbia University. The phrase that jumped off the screen was Understand the Past, which I happen to take seriously. Thinking about the ill-fated appointment of self-confessed war criminal … Continue reading Business as Usual at Fulbright University Vietnam

An International Educator in Vietnam

Information, Insights & (Frequently) Intrigue

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