"Every act of violence is a betrayal of language." -Naomi Shihab Nye "I detest any form of violence." -Andrew Pochter Pochter wrote that in an e-mail to a group of Kenyon students which included myself following violence in Gaza and Israel last November. A month and a half after losing him, I still don't have … Continue reading Remembering Andrew Pochter, مصلح
Category: News
This piece was originally published on the Kenyon Observer blog, describing the importance of comprehensive sexual assault education and bystander intervention. Trigger Warning: The following includes descriptions and links to content that may serve as a trigger for victims of sexual violence. For four consecutive years I’ve attended the training session necessary to host parties on this … Continue reading Lessons From Steubenville
This piece was originally published under the title "Hope and Change From Election Night's Results" http://kenyonobserver.com/2012/11/07/hope-and-change-from-election-nights-results/ on the Kenyon Observer blog on November 7, 2012 in reaction to elections in the United States the previous day. In his acceptance speech last night, President Barack Obama said, “we know in our hearts that for the United States … Continue reading Forward?
A Prayer by Naguib Mahfouz from Echoes of an Autobiography, translated by Denys Johnson-Davies I was less than seven years old when I said a prayer for the revolution. One morning I went to my primary school escorted by the maid. I walked like someone being led off to prison. In my hand was a copybook, … Continue reading ثورة
To my Kenyon Community, The media is ablaze with controversy following the death of 17 year old Trayvon Martin last month. His death (and the debate that has ensued) is one stark example amidst a series of incidents in the last week which have demonstrated the power and pervasiveness of racial, ethnic, gender, religious biases … Continue reading Wear A Hoodie this Friday
This article was originally published by the online edition of the Kenyon Observer I remember in the aftermath of President Obama’s election in November 2008, many proclaimed that America was post-racial. I disagreed then and now with this assessment; it suggests that the election of a black President amounted to full eradication of racial prejudices … Continue reading Hoodies, Hijabis and the Hunger Games
The New York Times has reported that two-time Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Anthony Shadid, 43, died on Thursday of an asthma attack while on assignment in Syria. Shadid's writing advanced the causes dearest to my heart by deepening the public understanding of the people, languages, politics, cultures, and religions of the Middle East. His knowledge of Arabic, … Continue reading Mourning Anthony Shadid
This post was originally published by the Yalla Change Campaign. View the original here! Last night, Barack Obama delivered his third State of the Union address. While the speech focused on the economy, it was bookended by twin references to the Navy SEAL operation that killed Osama bin Laden. The President’s speech reminded Americans of … Continue reading Looking for Change in the State of the Union
Here's an excerpt from Obama's speech last Thursday, regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict: "So while the core issues of the conflict must be negotiated, the basis of those negotiations is clear: a viable Palestine, and a secure Israel. The United States believes that negotiations should result in two states, with permanent Palestinian borders with Israel, Jordan and Egypt, … Continue reading Land Swaps?
Last night, as it was being announced that the president would make a speech my friend said, half-jokingly, that we had probably found bin Laden. We did. I was in fifth grade on September 11, 2001. I have grown up watching my country descend into a quagmire of militarization, subjugation of Muslim and other Arab … Continue reading OBL’s Death; Hoping for the End of an Era
tess m. waggoner 