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Know Your Rights
What are we doing about the new executive order about immigration? Recently, I have spoken with several students with concerns for themselves or their parents about the restrictions imposed by the recent order. Check out website: Know your rights! At SPU, contact Susan Lane for resources. Click Here: Know Your Rights if stopped by Police,, ... [Read more...]
South African Artistic Graffiti and Protest
In Performing Democracy in Iraq and South Africa, the photo on the cover of my book is from an artistic graffiti on a wall, next to the Center for the Book, in Cape Town, South Africa. When I went to see this image, there was a silver Mercedes Benz parked next to the wall, and barbed ... [Read more...]
Holocaust Mentality against Syrians
During World War II, we didn't allow the Jews to enter the United States. Despite unthinkable suffering, during an ethnic cleansing of countries, our country closed the door. How could we do this? Unbelievable. But it is happening again. See the recent article by Kristoff in NYT. Governors are threatening to shut their borders. What do ... [Read more...]
Mourning Loss vs Backlash against Syrian refugees
How do we respond to loss? How can we mourn for Paris? Mourning is different than punishing the most severely downtrodden refugees. Less than 2,000 Syrians have been accepted into the United States! Versus 92,991 admitted by Germany. Read NYT article.
Dinner at Khawla's house
The feast was food that reminded me of my two years living in Iraq, in 2013, and twenty years earlier in 1993--from dolma to lamb kabob to briayanni to roasted chicken and nan. What a delight! Wonderful to have our reunion with Morocco students and conversation about "What next?" at this warm setting. The final thought of the evening, "How can ... [Read more...]
Leaving soon for Spain & Morocco

Leaving soon for Spain and Morocco! I love seeing students cross these two regions, where they learn of the entangled histories. While the camel ride is always a highlight, it is the interaction with the people that is most transformative. Last time, when we were eating tagine and couscous at a Moroccan family’s house, we ... [Read more...]