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
Prejudice
Wrestling with the antisemitism of the past and of the present
I have wanted to write this for a while but kept postponing... and tried to understand why?! One of the simple explanations is that it is extremely difficult to write about national shame, inhumane ideologies, ordinary people with extraordinary hatred or indifference. It is difficult to say something about all of this without too many…Read more Wrestling with the antisemitism of the past and of the present
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
“Son of Saul” is hard to watch but so worth it
There are good movies and then there are special movies. There are stories and then there are powerful stories. I love movies that tell a good story and engage my emotions and imagination. A good story draws you in and helps you to relate to the main characters. It helps you to try to imagine…Read more “Son of Saul” is hard to watch but so worth it
Sons and daughters… kings and queens of love
It was a hot and humid evening in Kuala Lumpur. Our friend Darren is a good driver and I am glad because the traffic here gets bad. I don't mind sitting in a passenger seat though when it gives more time for good conversations. And in Malaysia there is lots to talk about. People, the…Read more Sons and daughters… kings and queens of love
Latvians and our blind sides
Mahatma Gandhi famously said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world". The more I reflect and the more I try to practice it, my experience tells me that these words are very true. I cannot change situations and attitudes around me if I am not willing to do some deep…Read more Latvians and our blind sides
peaceroads 