An Open Letter for the People of Richmond, Virginia:

Giving Tuesday is not until tomorrow, but I am heartened by the support the Legation’s fundraiser for the Women’s Literacy Program has received so far! We’re nearly 1/2 way to our goal! Thank you to all who have donated to or shared the fundraiser. 

It brings to mind very fond memories of the support I received from the United States, and especially from those of you in my hometown, back in the 1990s when I was establishing a general interest English language library at the Legation for the benefit of Moroccan students and teachers of English. You donated thousands of books, as well as the funds to ship them to Tangier! I was grateful then, and I am grateful, now. Many of you probably supported both these endeavors because you knew they were important to me. Nonetheless, I also want to thank you on behalf of the Legation and, more importantly, on behalf of the women and their families that benefit from the Legation’s Literacy Program.  

These modest efforts are part of the long history of US-Moroccan relations. That history is the tale of an old, unbroken, friendship that has lasted longer than our relationship the United States has had with any European power. Indeed, it makes a post-WW II alliance like NATO seem like a recent phenomenon! 

We should not forget that it has always been a reciprocal relationship. In this collage, diagonal from one another, you see the Giving Tuesday logo and one of the graduates of the program receiving her diploma. But you also see the 1987 stamps issued by the US and the Kingdom of Morocco marking the 200th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship and, in the upper right, a letter from George Washington soliciting the help of Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah.

Human growth hormone injections is oftenrecommended by a medical generic viagra tadalafil doctor. Under overnight cialis tadalafil a national popular vote, we would see the S&P 500 rally towards the neckline of its H&S top to a level of 1,230. Their roles and responsibilities include providing help in the treatment and prevention of physical disabilities, movement dysfunction and pain resulting from disease, injury, disability, or other health side effects for cialis related conditions. By slowing down your brainwave activity and going from a Beta blocker can result in serious cheap viagra cialis complications and even death.

In that letter, the humble first president of this country, then still just a strip of former colonies along the East Coast, writes to what he calls the “Emperor of Morocco” saying:

“Within our Territories there are no Mines, either of Gold, or Silver, and this young Nation, just recovering from the Waste and Desolation of a long War, have not, as yet, had Time to acquire Riches by Agriculture and Commerce. But our Soil is bountiful, and our People industrious; and we have Reason to flatter ourselves, that we shall gradually become useful to our Friends.” 

That quotation has always humbled me, and I expect it always will!

If you wish to support our fundraising for the Women’s Literacy Program, you can do so by donating online through the Facebook fundraiser listed above, or through the PayPal Giving Fund. Once again, I thank you for your support.

Virginia House of Delegates Passes "Personhood" Bill

Virginia State Legislature Building

Just last week I posted a piece about my home state of Virginia and it’s stand on a number of the most significant issues in our nation’s history since slavery.  Richmond is changing. When I go home to Virginia to visit family I often feel like the state is becoming more diverse, tolerant, liberal and open.  Richmond, the capital city, now has some great bars and clubs, ethnic restaurants, a performing arts scene.  But seated there is a state legislature that does things like those described in this report.

On a 66-32 vote, the state’s House of Delegates has passed legislation to define life as beginning at conception.
After a passionate debate, the House also voted 63-36 to pass legislation to require women to undergo ultrasounds before abortion.

Why, Virginia, why?
Continue reading

Mother's Day for Peace

from Mother's Day Gift Store


Happy Mother’s Day! Have you visited your mother yet? Maybe taken her out to eat? Or sent her flowers? Chocolates? A card? Or even bought her jewelry? Your wife too, if she’s a mother or mother to be. On Mother’s Day we honor our mothers, and this is how we do it. You have no excuse for having forgotten. Television commercials have been reminding you since Easter!
Unfortunately the economy sucks right now and a lot of in this country are out of work, underemployed, struggling with tuition increases at our colleges, paying off student loan or credit card debt, stretched thin because we are trying to help family and friends get by, trying to get by on insufficient retirement assets, or whatever. If that’s the case, just go see or call your mother. Mothers are always happy to hear from their children.
But if you want to be creative and distinct, tell your Mom you are going to take her to celebrate Mother’s Day in the way it was historically conceived, and take her to a peace rally!
Continue reading

Scholars at Risk Academic Freedom Review

January 8 – 15, 2010
Compiled by Scholars at Risk

(Expand the post for clickable links)


Iran arrests father of U.S. think tank scholar
Laura Rozen, Politico, 1/14
When Tenure Means Nothing
Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed, 1/14
Academy’s freedoms threatened as libel law lands scholars in dock
Zoe Corbyn, Times Higher Education, 1/14
Continue reading