What I Think About What Other People Say (WITAWOPS)

Even Shane knew you can’t run from who you are, and violence—no matter the reason—leaves a permanent mark. Shane is the protagonist of a 1949 book by Jack Shaefer set in 1889 Wyoming. He is the basis of a movie (1953) and TV series (1966) and debuted on stage circa 2023. I saw the play this week in Ashland, Oregon.  This south central Oregon city has a long-standing nexus to theater. Because of its architecture, it became the site of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 1935 and is now among the largest repertory theaters in the U.S., drawing half a million visitors each year. “A man’s got to be what he is, Joey. Can’t break the mold. There’s no living with a killing. There’s no going back from one. Right or wrong, it’s a brand. A brand sticks.” Shane (1953), dir. George Stevens. Joey (Bob in the book) is a young boy who serves as the audience’s eye in the play. However, in the book, Bob is an adult narrating the story from his childhood.  Image by Freepix  What Do I think ...

The word ethics comes from the latin, ethos ,  defined as “the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution.” Contemporary debates about ethics generally center on things like artificial intelligence or medicine.  The former is neither person, group nor institution and its only ethics are what we build into it or what it learns from its creators. See this  story  about a male AI robot in Saudi Arabia groping a female reporter.  Ethics in the field of medicine (think of assisted end-of-life) is derived from a whole host of entities including the doctors, hospitals, insurance companies, and lawmakers.  What do I think Go back to the Merriam-Webster definition of  ethos . It starts with  a person . A.I. or a hospital or a legislature cannot have an independent ethic; its ethic must reflect the collective ethic of its constituents. Therefore, it all depends on you and me. Our individual ethic...

Staging is a layered, complex, and interesting word.   “ Staging is the fine art of pretending your lived environment has always resembled an IKEA showroom. Sociologists call this ‘false consciousness’; Realtors call it ‘value added.’” “Every home showing is just Hamlet without the swords: you stand in someone else’s kitchen, whispering, ‘To buy, or not to buy?’ while the throw rug takes center stage.” “ Staging : the process of arranging items in a manner designed to suggest functionality, but not actual human occupation. See also: government flowcharts.” ---  witticisms generated by ChatGPT, 9/4/2025 That's AI's wit. The dictionary definition includes the method of presenting a play, a temporary platform, a phase in a progressive disease, and the arrangement of sequential components of a rocket. But in North America, it includes setting up a house for sale with art and furnishings so as to increase the appeal. A.I. now allows one to stage and unstage. A potential buyer ...

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...

Many people think that in following well-established rules and policies, government officials don't have to make difficult business decisions. That is not true. Sometimes they do because of competing interests. Here is one example of a decision that FEMA has to make.  Disclaimer: the views expressed in this post are solely my own, published under my first amendment rights, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Government or any of its current or former federal agencies. The material used below is all in the public domain, as published by FEMA in August 2025.  Because of the interaction between the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in Oregon and the Endangered Species Act, FEMA will select from one of three alternatives they have analyzed in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).  Here is FEMA's own summary of the impacts of those three alternatives (Source:  https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_r10_oregon-nfip-eis-br...

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...

I don’t think Michela Wrong was comparing me to the devil (or at least I hope not). But I was responsible for helping an accomplished author distribute a book, helping her to let go, and as a bonus, having her eat crow!  What Other People Said "[Galeeb] was already hard at work, pulling together a multi-pronged distribution operation to bypass a gagged retail industry… As a devout atheist and hardened aid sceptic, I’m aware of the acute irony of being thus beholden both to the churches of Kenya and a US development agency. But I’m happy to eat crow. My critics will no doubt mutter darkly about CIA plots, but I wouldn’t mind if the Devil himself wanted to distribute It’s Our Turn to Eat. I am rather more concerned about the agenda of those who were determined to ensure no Kenyan ever got to read a book on sale across the globe. But knowing that 5,200 copies of my book—for that is what it will be—have reached the wananchi will allow me to let go." Source: Michela Wrong, “Advent...

People have developed something quite amazing and somewhat scary. It answers questions, speaks in full paragraphs, generates drawings (like many of the ones I use for my posts), drives cars, writes code, analyzes traffic and adjusts signals in real-time, and can even imitate voices. It’s called Artificial Intelligence for a very important reason: it mimics thinking and appears, on the surface, as anthropogenic intelligence. But it is obviously not. It is artificial, created by non-human machines and code.  I have a science degree (systems engineering) and a religious studies degree (Islamic studies). So what happens when I put the A.I. system through a religious lens?  Old Testament / Hebrew Bible But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they wil...

Last week was my 40th post. Some readers have noted my posts are heavy and they require a certain mood to read and digest. Others voiced a different opinion: “...so do you actually have any positive posts without a trace of didactic prose? 🤔 ” Unapologetically, no. I don’t. Hence the name of the blog: WITAWOPS. But on the occasion of 41, here is a slightly lighter one. What Other People Say (or don't think): I’ve worked on airport projects for about 5 years and I have flown in and out of airports across the globe: Anchorage, Bogota, Cairo, Gandor, Gilgit, Johannesburg, Kinshasa, Lubbock, Phuket, and Singapore. What struck me across the globe was the number of airport staff, consultants, and passengers who don't know how runways are numbered.  Why is Boston’s newest runway 14/32, while Giglit has 7/25. Why does Singapore have 2R/20L but also 2C/20C and 2L/20R? Look at a satellite image of any airport and you will see the runway number at the end. For example, here are the runwa...

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 ...

True peace is born through humanitarian services. My journey began with the United States Peace Corps (USPC)—the toughest job I ever loved.   This is my story.  As a student studying at Northeastern University, I worked at the Institute of International Studies as a work study. While working there, I made some amazing friends from all over the world, the Caribbean, Africa, and Latin America.   My friends spoke about their amazing lives in their respective countries. I learned about their beautiful cultures, languages, histories, and families. The one continent that inspired me was Africa.   I majored in Management Information System/International Business and like a typical South Asian, I was supposed to work in an information technology company after graduation. But my heart wanted to do humanitarian work in Africa.   How could I do this? I decided to apply to the USPC. In the summer of 2002, after graduation I was accepted into the US Peace Corps in a small co...

I’ve met all three of primates: bonobos, baboons, and the blue-balled vervet monkeys. But that’s not the whole list. I’ve also had the chance to observe all members of the great ape family—Hominidae: humans, bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. How many have you encountered? Photo: Galeeb Kachra, 2010 Bonabos: Not Just About the Sex “Bonobos are the most empathetic and socially tolerant primates, which challenges our assumptions about aggression as a natural human trait.” -- Frans de Waal (primatologist). “If there is a lesson to be learned from bonobos, it’s that peace and empathy are just as natural as war and violence.” -- Vanessa Woods (author of Bonobo Handshake). Bonobos share over 98% of our DNA. More importantly, they share our behaviors: empathy, cooperation, and non-violent conflict resolution. They also happen to have a reputation for… frequent sex. Here's a detailed look: Scientific American – Bonobo Sex and Society . Bonobos are found only in the Congo Basin...

 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...