Growing up in public schools in America, we spent a lot of time on European history but very little on the rest of the world. There were brief mentions of the Vietnam War, the British release of Hong Kong, and, of course, Apartheid in South Africa. I didn't know much about the country but I knew … [Read more...] about Learning About Apartheid in South Africa
politics
Traveling During Turmoil
The sound of the mounted police riding past my Charleston house sent shivers down my spine years later, despite the fact that there was nothing afoul with their patrol. It brought me back to the first time I ever saw mounted police, in Paris on New Years Eve 2006. But since my very first trip … [Read more...] about Traveling During Turmoil
Is Turkey Part of Europe?
Our modern concept of Europe is relatively new. It's common to say, "I'm going traveling in Europe for the summer," but what does that mean? What is this collection of independent nations we now call Europe? My background in international politics had me thinking about what Turkey's place in the … [Read more...] about Is Turkey Part of Europe?
My Friend Jimmy
In case you didn't already know this about me, I have a deep and powerful love for 39th president Jimmy Carter. You can say what you want about his politics, but I find it completely amazing that a small town peanut farmer from Georgia can go on to hold the highest office in the country. So when … [Read more...] about My Friend Jimmy