Category Archives: International issues

Why Do Protests Bring Down Regimes?

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Ampersand

This month may well be a moment of history-changing importance, but I haven’t been posting about it because, frankly, I don’t feel like I have anything intelligent to say. But I thought this post — entitled “Why Do Protests Bring … Continue reading →

Posted in crossposted on TADA, International issues | Comments Off

In his speeches, [Khameini] has often cited Lenin’s phrase that if an ideology is not supported by art it will die.

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

From an article called “The Secrets of Khameini’s Life,” written by Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf. Khameini, Iran’s Supreme Ruler, cares deeply about poetry and what I finnd interesting in this brief profile is the account of how poetry and politics … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, Iran, literature | Comments Off

The People of Iran…

Posted on February 20, 2011 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

…took to the streets again, and the irony is not lost on me that while they were doing so I was proofreading the manuscript of The Teller of Tales, my translation of the first five stories in their national epic, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, literature | 2 Comments

Persian Poetry Tuesday: Poetry and Moral Authority, “If The King Sleeps Well,” from Saadi’s Bustan

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

One of the things that consistently moved me when I was working on my translations of Saadi was the way in which he felt authorized as a poet to speak in a voice of moral instruction to those in power. … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, literature | Comments Off

Damned If You Don't

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Jeff Fecke

The possible-to-likely disintegration of Mubarak’s regime in Egypt leaves the United States in a very difficult position. Hosni Mubarak’s government has been very close to the United States for as long as he’s been in power; America owes him, unfortunately, … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, International issues | 7 Comments

Architectural Occupation and Israel’s Borders

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Jack Stephens

Hello, again, to everyone here in Amptoons Int3rWebzzz L4nd! It’s been a while since I’ve been posting on here, not sure why, crazy life got in the way, I guess. But I have been posting regularly at my blog The … Continue reading →

Posted in Colonialism, In the news, Palestine & Israel | 6 Comments

Fragments of Evolving Manhood: Korea 4

Posted on November 14, 2010 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

I was leaning against the entrance to the Shinchon subway station watching people turn the corner into the Semaeul Shijang, the outdoor market where I bought rice each week and where my friend Mr. Kim had bargained one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Korea, Men and masculinity | 27 Comments

Went to See Maz Jobrani Last Night

Posted on November 7, 2010 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

I took my wife and my son for their birthdays, which are a day apart later this month, to see the Iranian-American comic Maz Jobrani last night at Town Hall. He is very talented and very funny. One of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, literature, Palestine & Israel | 4 Comments

Fragments of Evolving Manhood: Korea 1

Posted on October 15, 2010 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

This post is an edited excerpt from an essay called “Relishing My Solitude” that I published in The American Voice in 1997. With a half-finished bottle of soju sitting on the floor between us, and another two waiting to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Korea, Men and masculinity, Sex work, porn, etc | Comments Off

On the Iroquois Lacrosse Team

Posted on July 18, 2010 by Julie

If you haven’t heard (I hadn’t until Friday), the Iroquois lacrosse team has been barred from competing in the lacrosse world championship because the British government won’t accept their passports, which lack necessary security features. There’s a lot to unpack … Continue reading →

Posted in International issues | 5 Comments