Putin and Trump have convinced me I was wrong about how far we had come in the 21st century. Technology, globalization, and modern systems of governance haven’t altered the ways of tyranny. But I, like millions of others around the world, have been inspired by the Ukrainian people — who are reteaching us lessons we once knew.
Putin’s Invasion: Imperialism after the epoch of Lenin and Wilson
We need to resist Putin’s invasion of Ukraine with all responsible tools at our disposal, and not only out of humanitarian concern for Ukrainians. Just like the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Russian invasion is both symptom and precipitator of a much more global (and fatally destructive) process. It is as historical a turning point as 2003, which in fact aggravates dynamics initiated by the latter.
The EU response to Ukrainian refugees is a model for handling mass aid efforts
The EU’s Ukraine measures go much further than any generous initiatives in the recent past. The plan applies to all Ukrainians seeking protection, not just recognized refugees, and to their family members broadly defined. It also applies, on the same terms, to stateless persons and refugees from the Ukraine. Individual EU member states are also extending these protections to permanent residents of Ukraine.
The moral bankruptcy of buying Russian energy
Putin rattles nuclear weapons to scare the world. And yet money from Russian oil and gas exports are flowing to Putin’s coffers to pay for death and destruction. History will judge harshly those who have enabled Putin’s regime.
Why I’m in mourning for hope and democracy in Ukraine
This has been the worst month of my 50 years of life. My mom died suddenly and unexpectedly a few weeks ago, my cousin’s 26-year-old son took his own life last week, and now Russia has invaded Ukraine. I know these may seem like unrelated events — personal, tangential, global — but they are inextricably … Continue reading »
Will the free world defend my native Ukraine from authoritarian aggression?
After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, many Americans were in shock and disbelief. President Roosevelt called it the day of infamy. February 24, 2022 is the day of infamy too: Russia attacked Ukraine, bombed Ukrainian cities, killed innocent Ukrainians on Ukrainian soil. Deep shock and disbelief.
Putin’s war and its economic and geopolitical realities
Putin’s means of keeping Western liberal democracy at bay isn’t just to invade Ukraine. It’s also to stoke division inside the West by fueling racist nationalism in Western Europe and the United States. In this, Trump and Trumpism continue to be Putin’s most important ally.
Radicalism or pragmatism? The divide in racial justice advocacy
Policy advocacy and racial equity proposals exist on a spectrum, with many areas of disagreement or differences in emphasis. And it would be an oversimplification to describe one camp as simply “moderate” and the other as “progressive.”
How Will “Benedict” Trump Be Remembered? The January 6 Coup Attempt in Historical Perspective
In the annals of American history, Benedict Arnold has held the title of the most infamous traitor. But he is about to be eclipsed by a more devious and consequential seditionist, Donald (“Benedict”) Trump. Such will be the judgment of historians and hopefully a mindful public, if not the current boosters of his autocratic desires. … Continue reading »
The Fight over Teaching in Schools About Race and Racism
Nearly a century ago, the state of Tennessee prosecuted a high school teacher for instructing students on the theory of evolution in violation of a state law. The state law was based on a fear that teaching evolution would undermine religious observance and traditional morality. The trial, known as the “Scopes Monkey Trial,” became a … Continue reading »
If Ukraine falls, the world becomes more dangerous
The ripples of a catastrophe in Ukraine will be felt in many parts of the world. If the Syrian refugee crisis brought the European Union to an existential crunch, what will happen if the wave of refugees becomes 10 times larger? Nuclear power plants generate 60 percent of Ukraine’s electricity. Who will control nuclear materials and technology in a war zone? Does anyone want chaos in the middle of Europe?
On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, ask: ‘What are you doing for others?’
“So much remains uncertain, but my resolve and hope are constant,” campus equity and inclusion leader writes
They died protecting the right of Black people to vote. The fight is not over
The convergence of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and of the Senate’s unwillingness to protect voting rights causes me to remember my childhood friend and protector, whom I knew as Mickey. I was always very short for my age, which made me an easy target for bullies. To protect myself, I got into the habit … Continue reading »
What’s New About Neo-Nationalism, Anyway? How Globalization, Migration, and Technology is Giving Autocrats Fresh Power
While the 1st anniversary of the January 6 coup attempt in the U.S. weighs heavily on the minds of most, if not all, Americans, it is important to understand the international nature of a political movement gaining speed. Led by a new breed of demagogues and autocrats, Neo-Nationalism describes the emergence, and in some cases … Continue reading »
A promising new direction for Chile
Chile experienced the political equivalent of an 9.5 earthquake after the polls closed at 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 19, 2021 in the final round of a presidential race many had felt too close to call. Gabriel Boric, a charismatic 35 year old congressman and former student leader who hails from the left politically and … Continue reading »
Can the Democratic Party survive the GOP’s racist fearmongering?
The Democratic Party is famously bad at communicating a unifying story about its vision for society. Indeed, Democrats all too often campaign as if their opponent is another faction of their own party rather than the Republicans.
The Supreme Court, Federal Reserve and Big Tech cannot go unchallenged
Three centers of power increasingly dominate our lives, but are less and less accountable: The Supreme Court, the Federal Reserve, and Big Tech. So how do we break the cycle and hold these power centers accountable?
Giving thanks to our U.S. veterans who continue to support Afghanistan
As I gather with my family this Thanksgiving, I must put aside the darkness that hangs over my home country of Afghanistan and celebrate the accomplishments that the country has been able to achieve largely in part from the sacrifices of American service members who were deployed to Afghanistan over the past twenty years.
Another vigilante escaped justice. What now?
Somehow, a jury in Wisconsin found that Kyle Rittenhouse was justified in driving across a state border armed with a rifle and killing two protesters, wounding a third, and firing on a fourth. I can’t help but feel a great sense of unease about what this verdict will produce, both in terms of legal precedent, as well as social unrest.
My brother is a disabled Gulf War veteran. His wife was still deported
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services deported by brother Manny Garcia’s undocumented wife Sherry even though he is a decorated Army veteran who served in the first Gulf War. Despite his best efforts, their two-year forced separation continues.