Love and its more than fifty shades of green

May is a beautiful month but this one has been exceptional. In Latvia we experienced the sunniest and warmest May I can ever remember. Everything was blooming all at once. Lilacs, wild roses, chestnuts, rhododendrons, now jasmines ... like blooming season on steroids. Makes me want to scream, " Slow down! Save something for the…Read more Love and its more than fifty shades of green

Israel-Palestine conflict and my personal challenge

This one is hard. Not because I have nothing to say or because it is too complicated. No, it is because I am a Western Christian and also student of theology/religion. And there is no other international geopolitical issue which can divide Christians as sharply as the Israel-Palestine past, present and future. No matter how…Read more Israel-Palestine conflict and my personal challenge

Why bother crossing this particular bridge on May 9

The usual parade of special dates. May 1, May 4, May 8, May 9...  The weather exceptionally beautiful and 'woe is me' for having to study and sit in lectures. Not that I care much about official events but glad to participate in smaller grassroots initiatives to give these days a personal meaning. Every year…Read more Why bother crossing this particular bridge on May 9

Borders check more than our passports: Story about fault lines

On May 1, I woke up and felt like going to the cinema. Latvian cinema. This year we have many new movies - fiction, documentary, animation, TV, etc. - since 2018 celebrates 100 years of national statehood. Since these movies are also a gift to me as a Latvian citizen, I better go and support…Read more Borders check more than our passports: Story about fault lines

Filmmakers as the spies of our present and future

"I refuse your version of humanity and I will continue to struggle against it", is one of the lines from "The Forgiven", a British movie directed by Roland Joffé which came out last year . The story focuses on Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in South Africa which was established as one of the restorative…Read more Filmmakers as the spies of our present and future

Traitors, doubters, lovers, pragmatists, self-righteous, dreamers at God’s table

  Is Simon Peter famous or infamous? To be proud or to be ashamed of? Two sides of the same coin? Every year around Easter (and any other time of a year) his famous 'infamous' story of denying Jesus three times is told and retold. The moral lessons to be learned; the wisdom and compassion…Read more Traitors, doubters, lovers, pragmatists, self-righteous, dreamers at God’s table

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.

Platitudes of peace and unity in Korea and one Latvian’s view on it

The 2018 Winter Olympics are called "Peace games" but somehow this message does not stick easily. As my blog page tells, I am all for using every and any platform for peace building, common good, diplomacy, solidarity and sports is one of those forms of fun and entertainment which brings people together. Just like kicking…Read more Platitudes of peace and unity in Korea and one Latvian’s view on it