war

War…huh…yeah What is it good for? Absolutely nothing

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

Here are some of "toys" I've seen advertised on Facebook by Lazada, a Singapore-based e-commerce company and one of the largest e-commerce operators in Southeast Asia, according to its Wikipedia entry. These ads reminded me of this classic 1970 song performed by Edwin Starr. Down by the Riverside, also known as "Ain't Gonna Study War … Continue reading War…huh…yeah What is it good for? Absolutely nothing

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

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

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

From New England to Vietnam: Settler Colonialism in Cross-Cultural Perspective

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

I've been working on a long-form essay that combines my interest in history and genealogy. Since so many of my ancestors arrived in what became British Colonial America and later the USA, starting in 1610 and 1620, the historical is intensely personal for me. I write as a direct and collateral descendant of Jamestown settlers … Continue reading From New England to Vietnam: Settler Colonialism in Cross-Cultural Perspective

Pentagon campaign to recruit Vietnam as military ally against China exposed delusions of US war strategy

Mark A. Ashwill Articles , , , , , , , ,

After convincing itself Vietnam would grant it access for missile bases against China, the Pentagon got a hard dose of reality. Courtesy of The Grayzone When the Pentagon began gearing up for a future war with China in 2018, Defense Department officials quickly realized that they needed access to Vietnamese territory for troops armed with … Continue reading Pentagon campaign to recruit Vietnam as military ally against China exposed delusions of US war strategy

“Ain’t Gonna Study War No More”

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , , ,

I saw this child during a recent trip to China having fun engaging in stroller-by "shootings" on a crowded city street, and this song popped into my head.   Parents buy toy guns for their children, mainly sons, in many countries because violence, even faux violence, is part and parcel of masculine identity in many cultures.  … Continue reading “Ain’t Gonna Study War No More”