August 11, 2020 | Letters from America
I asked my brother-in-law “What does ‘Beirut’ mean?” He had just finished telling me about Beirut’s repeated phoenix-like rise from fires, calamities, and even an earthquake that had destroyed a Roman law school here in the year 551. He smiled and said “Beirut means ‘takes a licking but keeps on ticking’!”
May 25, 2020 | Letters from America
With my weekly column on indefinite hold, why not use this blog for other types of writing–poetry, recipes, reflections, humor, and of course the occasional political rant? With no further ado, I give you lockdown haikus, illustrated with photos from my Instagram account.
May 2, 2020 | Letters from America
Although Donald Trump inherited a fractured and unequal system upon taking office, his administration has exacerbated America’s profound dysfunction in novel ways, that, in conjunction with this novel corona virus, have irreparably broken the United States socially, economically, and politically.
March 29, 2020 | Letters from America
March 14, 2020 | Letters from America
Just three days ago, COVID-19 was not a key election campaign issue, but now it’s at the very center of public concern and political debate, particularly since the Trump administration seems intent on handling the crisis as badly as possible.