A visit to Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, a National Historic Site? Done! Ever since watching the documentary "Eyes On The Prize: America's Civil Rights Movement" and learning more about the Little Rock Nine and the events in 1957, I wanted to see this site of former social and political struggle. (I call…Read more Postcard from Little Rock with famous stairs from segregation to inclusion
Community
The lessons of humble courage from my long-time hero
How to respond when people make statements about the Church being full of hypocrites? My favorite answer was given by Shane Claiborne, a hero of mine, who said: "No, the Church is not full of hypocrites. Not yet! There is room for more!" It makes me laugh out loud but also touches something deeper and…Read more The lessons of humble courage from my long-time hero
Crossings that change direction
"Some people cross your path and change your whole direction"... Looking at these words written on a wall in front me while sitting at the most popular coffee shop on my grandmother's street. (btw, this franchise is called Hedgehog-In-The-Fog in case you are looking for a cool place to hang out with friends in Rīga)…Read more Crossings that change direction
In the church this side of the barricades
In January expect a real winter in Latvia. Icy sidewalks, snow piles, slush, messy driving... this time of the year I walk the streets of Riga watching every step and practicing good balance. January with its cold temperatures is also a month that brings memories from 1991. Every year Latvia commemorates January 20 and The…Read more In the church this side of the barricades
A big ‘thank you’ to all volunteers around the world!
There is a commercial on CNN which shows all their international reporters documenting important events around the world and the slogan says "Go There". So simple and cliché but profound. Sometimes you simply have to get out of your chair/sofa and "go" because you are needed. Sometimes "there" is around the corner and other times…Read more A big ‘thank you’ to all volunteers around the world!
Funeral like no other making love great again
One Lord. One Faith. One Baptism. I could not get my eyes off this pulpit. And could not turn off my TV for hours even though it was getting late (or early morning) here in Latvia. I had just been changing the channels to watch some news and found that CNN was showing Aretha Franklin's…Read more Funeral like no other making love great again
Minnesota diary: Refugees speak about their dreams, struggles and marginalization
I was sitting in the shade under a tree in Loring Park and watching the Twin Cities World Refugee Day performances. Stories, poetry, songs, dances, more stories... Many thoughts were going through my head. First of all, I felt bad for the young Hmong dance group who performed four beautiful dances but were visibly exhausted.…Read more Minnesota diary: Refugees speak about their dreams, struggles and marginalization
My Minnesota diary: Indians and cowboys
Every writer needs a break. After a busy year of university studies, I was deflated. Emotionally and mentally. Who wants to write a blog after staring at the computer screen for days and weeks and months? After a one month hiatus 'peaceroads' is back... the world keeps spinning and there is too much happening to…Read more My Minnesota diary: Indians and cowboys
Facebook and the conundrum of hate speech
"As far as the Myanmar situation is concerned, social media is Facebook, and Facebook is social media", said Marzuki Darusman, chairman of the U.N. Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar. "I can't live with or without you", I considered such title but decided it would be too much. Facebook is a thing, not a person.…Read more Facebook and the conundrum of hate speech
Enough of reliving Columbine again. And again. And again.
Where does it stop? How much more trauma, tragedy and loss of life from shooters with powerful guns can American teenagers, children, parents, grandparents, families, teachers, pastors, churches, the whole society take? I hope and pray and wish and plead that it stops at Parkland, Florida. I will never forget April 20 of 1999 when…Read more Enough of reliving Columbine again. And again. And again.
peaceroads 