PEN World Voices Festival 2018: “What Shall We Tell the Children?”
The contributors to an upcoming volume of poetry, essays, and art on resistance offer advice to parents on talking to children in challenging times.
Young People Rally for #NetNeutrality
Thursday December 7 saw nationwide rallies to protest Federal Communications Commission director Ajit Pai's promise to end Net Neutrality at the FCC's monthly meeting on December 14. Most of the…
Why We Need Historical Fiction
In the past two weeks, I've spoken at two events about my novel Gringolandia and my translation of the picture book Three Balls of Wool (Can Change the World) --…
The Time Has Come for Three Balls of Wool (Can Change the World)
Release day for the Amnesty International co-sponsored Three Balls of Wool (Can Change the World), a picture book of a refugee family in their new home.
The Republic of Cruelty
With the revocation of DACA, The U.S. government has just precipitated a humanitarian crisis, and the whole world is watching.
Stories Dictators Tell
An overview of common stories that dictatorships and despotic regimes tell to justify their power and policies.
Liu Xiaobo, the Poet Who Would Not Be Quiet
A tribute to Chinese poet, critic, and Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, who died last week while serving an 11-year prison sentence for speaking out for freedom.
A Visit from the Pope
Some thoughts on being in Portugal at the time of the Pope's visit to Fátima to canonize two of the children who saw the Virgin Mary in 1917.
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.
Staycation
My staycation this year has become a #grabyourwallet event after United Airlines sicced an abusive police force on a recalcitrant passenger.