What I Think About What Other People Say (WITAWOPS)

Most of the world celebrates labor day on May 1st. Ironically, the U.S. doesn't even though the impetus for the day originated in Chicago. Why is this the case and why does Canada follow suit? “This is a day of dedication. It is a day on which America salutes her workers, not with the blare of guns, but with the recognition of honest toil.” -- Woodrow Wilson (1916, Labor Day address in Buffalo, NY) After the Haymarket Affair in Chicago in 1886, May 1st became associated with the international labor movement. The map shows the countries that observe it on May 1st.  World map highlighting countries that observe May 1st Labor Day.  Generated with OpenAI’s ChatGPT (DALL·E), August 29, 2025. Notice Canada and the U.S. stand out: they sidestepped May 1st as an official holiday to avoid the socialist/communist associations with the day. Ask A.I or start here for more information.  As you enjoy the end of the northern hemisphere summer or the southern hemisphere winter, empathize...

The 40-day mourning period for USAID has passed (see my earlier obituary ). This post articulates one of USAID’s many little-known accomplishments.  “I want to emphasize the unwavering determination of the United States to push for and support implementation of the reform agenda. President Obama and Secretary Clinton believe strongly that Kenya must seize this historic opportunity to bring about fundamental change. . . . The constitution is, in many respects, the sine qua non of the reform process. Without a new constitution, implementation of other reforms will not prove sufficient to steer the country in the right direction. If a new constitution is put in place, then implementation of other reforms, along with the new constitution, will help ensure future democratic stability and prosperity.” —Ambassador Michael Ranneberger, “Reform, Partnership, and the Future of Kenya,” speech, American Chamber of Commerce, Nairobi, January 26, 2010.  What Do I Think: A constitution is a ...

During my recent visit to Portugal, I struggled to see any evidence that Muslims had lived in, governed, and expanded the country. This rich history was painted over with several coats and labelled as “medieval”.  The Spanish and Portuguese called them Moors; they were in fact Muslims from North Africa who crossed over the Mediterranean and settled in Al-Andalusia (Iberian Peninsula). They left us significant elements that we cherish today, including the Al-Hambra and the grand mosques of Cordoba and Seville. They also left things we use every day but don’t recall their origin: medicine, baths, architecture, science, and art. Muslims governed for over 500 years; they built, wrote, irrigated, walled, created knowledge, and ruled until they were expelled in 1249. The Jews were expelled two centuries later.  Sintra I started in Sintra, 30km (19 miles) from Lisbon. Sintra has a highly effective and unique micro-climate. Several old palaces dot the landscape, many featured in movie...

What exactly is a “British” museum if it is not about British history, culture, society, or people? Why does the British Museum proudly announce their thievery and wickedness.   Ghanaian Gold Regalia on British Museum website. https://www.britishmuseum.org/terms-use/copyright-and-permissions#re-use-of-images Wandering the museum's diverse galleries last week, filled with wide-eyed tourists and weary tour groups, I noticed two blatant brilliantly-lit messages. 1. We proudly display the stuff we have stolen, and  2. We offer artifacts (old and modern) to tell stories of the places we conquered.  Since I’ve lived in five former British colonies: Kenya, Pakistan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Virginia, I was very curious about the museum and these messages. The museum invites visitors to “experience cultures across the globe, from the dawn of human history to the present.”  In my mind, that would actually be a World Culture Museum. But it really is a World Coloni...

Happy independence day America. Congress ratified the declaration of independence on July 4, 1776; therefore, today, we officially start our 250th year as a nation. Birthdays mark the end of a year lived, not the beginning. If you say you're 40, you've completed 40 years and are now living your 41st. Designed by Freepik So what will we be reflecting on a year from now? Considering all of this, how will we mark the end of 250?  We know what we have to deal with: Global geopolitical forces and unrest Economic turmoil Domestic polarized political perspectives (see November 2024 election post entitled It’s Over. Now can we really get to know each other ?);  Climate change  Worsening effects of natural disasters including heat, fire, and flooding All we know for sure is what Congress ratified in 1776, how America was born:  “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of ...

 How Many Coups Can One Person Witness in a Lifetime? First, what really is a coup d’état? The Term "Coup d’État" The phrase is French—literally translated, it means "blow of state" or "stroke of state." Basic French vocabulary, perhaps, but its implications are anything but simple. The term originated in 17th-century France, where it described sudden, decisive actions taken by those in power—actions that often sidestepped legal or constitutional limits. Over time, its meaning evolved to describe the abrupt and frequently violent overthrow of a government, typically carried out by a small group seeking to seize control. These groups often come from within the state itself—military officers, political elites, or insiders with enough leverage to challenge the existing leadership. An attempted coup is a failed seizure of power. The perpetrators don’t succeed in taking control—or can’t hold onto it if they do. What usually follows is a swift crackdown, a wave ...

During my first visit to the USA in 1988, I had to stop for a hot dog in Manhattan. While the street vendor assembled our dogs, we got to chatting. Looking at the color of my skin, he asked if I was from India. “No,” I replied, “I’m from Kenya.” He paused, puzzled. “Kenya is in India, isn’t it?” “No. Kenya is in Africa.” And then came the line I’ll never forget: “Africa, India—same thing.” I wish I could tell you this was an isolated incident from a long-gone era, B.I. (Before Internet). But really, not much has changed. Still Not a Continent? People, companies, even the U.S. Government—many still lump “Africa” into a singular, vague idea. Want proof? Search for the phrase “He served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Africa” and you’ll find, scattered all over, a non-parallel construction mixing nations and a continent.  Let me be clear: Africa is not a country. Image ChatGTP, 2025 I’m big on word choices and the need for parallel constructions. If a soldier served at military bases in Afg...

I never parroted the obligatory land acknowledgments. Everyone opened with one: teachers, presenters, even meeting participants doing introductions. I didn’t get the point. I always wanted to ask, “That’s nice. So… are you giving the land back?” But I held my tongue. Instead, I’m unpacking these statements through the WITAWOPS lens: What I Think About What Other People Say. Let me know if this resonates — or just makes you uncomfortable. Image by Freepix My Disclaimer (or Bias, if you prefer) I grew up in Kenya — on land taken by white settlers and later sold to brown Indian-Kenyans like my family. Now, I live just outside Seattle — on land taken by white settlers and sold to brown Indian-Americans like... also my family. In both cases, the land wasn’t bought from the pre-colonial residents. So yes, I’m complicit. And no, I’m not pretending otherwise. Let’s get into it. What Do I Think: Let’s start in Indiana — my first U.S. home. From Indiana University Indianapolis : “IU Indianapolis...

On December 9, 2024, I published this post that was really focused on whether or not America would do the right thing and allow Syria to reboot. This week, I am excited and proud to acknowledge that America set off in the direction I was hoping for. We have begun the complex process of lifting four decades of sanctions and gulf states have offered to pay off some of Syria's debt. Image designed by freepik.com What I said in December: Title: Mistakes: Can we correct, repent, offer reparations, and remember? Today I explore whether we can and do forgive past leaders for their mistakes. “ The American administration made many mistakes against other peoples. Will every American citizen, every American soldier be asked: “Why were you with them? Why were you with them?” He will respond, saying that there was an administration, and there were inherent circumstances unique to this time and place that imposed on me to be here. Administrations are making bad decisions. The American people ca...

The world feels like it's in crisis. We live in an age marked by deep anxiety and disorientation, where it often seems that everyone is out for themselves. The moral lessons we were taught in childhood—that kindness matters, that community is sacred, that we are all connected—now feel hopelessly idealistic, even quaint. At worst, they seem like relics of a fairy tale no one believes in anymore. As adults, we find ourselves in a society that doesn't seem especially caring or communal. We are measured and judged as isolated individuals—through exams we sit alone, performance reviews that magnify our personal wins and failures, and a culture where the most self-interested often rise the highest. It's as if we know, deep down, what an ideal society could look like—but it remains just out of reach, elusive in practice. A Philosopher’s Answer: Nasir Khusraw and the Universal Soul At this juncture, I’ve found unexpected solace in the writings of the 11th-century philosopher-poet N...

The White House has a dark history. Should it really be called white? And no, the inhabitants of Easter Island did not commit ecocide. What Other People Say “"I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves”, Michelle Obama, former first lady at the Democratic National Convention Speech, 2016 “In just a few centuries, the people of Easter Island wiped out their forest, drove their plants and animals to extinction, and saw their complex society spiral into chaos and cannibalism.” Diamond Jared, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, 2005  What Do I Think? I need to be more intentional about absorbing, remembering, and using facts that are rooted in actual historical narratives—not just the ones that are convenient or popular. AI-generated composite image by ChatGPT (2025). Unbury — Who really built the White House?  Looking back, it should’ve been obvious. Construction of the White House began in 1792, on land ceded by Virginia and Maryland—two slavehold...