Archives for the 'International Affairs' Category
A microcosm of cultures meeting
While I am on the subject of importing, exporting and legacy, I wanted to mention a local Chicago example. This Sunday, I visited three masses in two churches around Pilsen and Little Village; Our Lady of Tepeyac and Saint Adalbert. These churches, from 1922 and 1912 respectively, were built by the Polish community in Chicago. [...]
Cultural diplomacy, friendly foreign policy, and trade
On Wednesday I had the honor of meeting Maestro Bernard Haitink after the Chicago Symphony Orchestra rehearsed Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. As quiet and humble as Haitink appears in public and in person, the might and grandness of his conducting is unparalleled. We didn’t exchange more than a brief “hello” and “how are you,” albeit [...]
The dire state of human rights for noncitizens
This blog posting won’t suffice, but then again, it doesn’t have to. If the president decides I am an unlawful enemy combatant, then I am an unlawful enemy combatant; it’s that simple, United States citizen or not. And because, as a noncitizen, I would be labeled an alien unlawful enemy combatant, I would not have [...]
Appreciating music by making a connection
As this month is Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), I decided to look back again on my trip to Mexico last July. Since coming back from Mexico, I have taken much more interest in Mexican culture, and music in particular.
With its vibrant Mexican community, Chicago has much to offer in Mexican music. In August, [...]
Throat singing: world classical music
Last night I went to Millennium Park for the second free CSO concert this week at the park (and don’t forget tomorrow’s Day of Music; last night’s concert will be repeated at Symphony Center at 7:00 p.m.). This Silk Road-inspired program included Yang Wei on pipa, Chicago’s Radio Maqam Ensemble, and throat singers Yat-Kha from Tuva, [...]
One thought today
Immigration and communication
Ashley Imsand on Forward picks at some questions regarding immigration and communication. I posted a reply, which turned out longer than I thought. I don’t want all that typing to go unused here and it fits right in with my newly positioned content; so here follows my reply:
I am an immigrant and I support a [...]
Middle East and understanding
There is no escaping of what is going on in the Middle East today. People and parties on both sides of the spectrum never fail to see the issue at hand in black and white only and as vocal as I normally am about issues, I don’t quite know what to make of this one. [...]
Globalization versus Localism
Richard Bailey has a very interesting post on the Forward blog in which he picks at some themes of internationalism, public relations and its history. In the last theme he states that “there is no alternative to globalization except for a retreat into localism.”
But how far is globalization coming along? When we talk commercially quite [...]
Understanding and Mexico
As I just returned from Mexico, one word really sticks out: understanding.
Language was the most observable. I understood most of the Spanish and by the end of the week I was able to hold a basic conversation. But communication went beyond language; understanding the communicators was equally important. Furthermore, beyond the communicators, understanding the environment, [...]
