The Asian Mind/The American Mind
1. The following remarks are from Captain Ted Shipman, a U.S. intelligence officer in South Vietnam: “You see, they do have some–well, methods and practices that we are not accustomed to, that we wouldn’t use…
“Why did the Americans come here to destroy everything?”
1. In War without Fronts: The USA in Vietnam, German historian Bernd Greiner explains his focus: “At the heart of this book are the wartime atrocities and war crimes committed by the ground troops. To…
Impossible Debt?
1. Now they languish under our bombs and consider us, not their fellow Vietnamese, the real enemy. They move sadly and apathetically as we herd them off the land of their fathers into concentration camps…
A Brief Consideration of Napalm
1. American Heritage Dictionary Napalm, incendiary material used in bombs and flame throwers. Developed during World War II, napalm is a mixture of gasoline (sometimes mixed with other petroleum fuels) and a thickening agent. The…
Given the Transition Ahead
May you be curious May you be wide-eyed May you reach for notebook when stomach flipflops May you remember how many people think of you May you always be at home at the address of…
Ko Un
1. Ko Un‘s Ten Thousand Lives is a remarkable sample in English of his twenty-volume work in Korean, known as Maninbo. In his early years, he was a Buddhist monk. Later, he was part of…
“Whatever Gets You through the Night…”
My friend’s typical work day 90 emails to respond to 7-8 meetings to move through 3 fires to put out 5 staff people in crisis to support 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. It’s go, go,…
Walk Out Walk On
One friend is increasingly bored and dissatisfied with her Christian Sunday church services. Another left her job of teaching 175 high school students a year in the public school system to volunteer for three months…
Ekāgratā*/2
I received this post from actor, visionary, disturber of the peace, and forever maestra, Miss Magan Wiles. Professor Friend – I am excited to read your play/book/literary experience. I want to read it all in one…
I Just Want to Say
Dear Bella Levenshteyn You come to my mind More times than you could imagine I won’t quote Kerouac (You’ve had enough of him, I’m sure) I’ll quote the Jewish poet and tell you: “You are…