The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Thoughts on the House passage of a draconian repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and on withdrawing rights people have enjoyed and come to take for granted.
Popcorn
The dangers of politics as a spectator sport and taking pleasure in watching the disarray of the greedy and powerful.
Honoring a Protector of Refugees, Aristides de Sousa Mendes
As countries in Europe and North America debate the admission of refugees, I remember the courageous work of Holocaust rescuer Aristides de Sousa Mendes.
Teens Resist: Historical and International Perspectives
Twelve books for preteen and teen readers that portray young people as political activists in the U.S. and throughout the world in the 20th century.
Contested Histories: International Perspectives, Part 2
The second part of my presentation on "Contested Histories" at the AWP conference, which focuses on the Cold War in Latin American and my own writing.
Contested Histories: International Perspectives, Part 1
The first part of my presentation on "Contested Histories: International Perspectives" at the AWP 2017 conference.
Films for the Resistance: Burning Bush
How Burning Bush, a film set in Communist Czechoslovakia in 1969, is relevant to our lives today.
Waiting for the Deus ex Machina
As we hope for a last-minute miracle in real life, some thoughts on the deus ex machina, why writers use it, why we should avoid it, and how we can.
Remembering, and Learning From, Mário Soares (1924-2017)
Remembering the life of Mário Soares, Portugal's first elected prime minister after the dictatorship, and what we can learn today from his courageous work.
How Artists Resist: A Report on the Panel, “Film and Media in a Time of Repression”
Advice from filmmakers, writers, and critics on resisting repression, building bridges with others, and moral and creative survival.