August 23, 2014Of course you’ve heard about ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. It’s also known as ISIL or simply the Islamic State. They are a full-fledge terrorist state who have claimed large swaths of Iraq and Syria as their territory. They are persecuting other Muslims, Christians and religious minorities. And they have … Continue reading Five Questions and Answers about ISIS
Israel and Gaza: Spin City
August 8, 2014The ceasefire between Gaza and Israel is over and rockets are flying from both sides now. According to the New York Times, Hamas broke the temporary peace just before the expiration of the 72-hour ceasefire. During negotiations in Cairo, Hamas declared that the fighting wouldn’t end until their demands were met. A spokesman for … Continue reading Israel and Gaza: Spin City
Unexpected Influence: Yoo JaeHa and K-Pop
July 27, 2014I am always interested in stories about someone’s personal impact on the world. And if that impact is unexpected, then it's all the more interesting. You may not be all that familiar with K-Pop (Korean pop music), but if you joined the more than 1 billion people who watched Psy’s viral YouTube video “Gangnam … Continue reading Unexpected Influence: Yoo JaeHa and K-Pop
Conspiracy Theories Everywhere…But Why?
July 25, 2014 Ah, the allure of a good conspiracy theory. Who was behind the assassination of John F. Kennedy? Did the US government know about 9/11 before it happened? Are there aliens living among us? Has anyone ever actually been to the moon? (My friend, Robin Shipp, hates it when I bring this up!) … Continue reading Conspiracy Theories Everywhere…But Why?
UKRAINE, RUSSIA, GAZA AND ISRAEL: ARE THERE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY?
July 20, 2014 July 17th was a bad day, to say the least. Malaysian Airline flight 17 was shot down over Ukraine and after 10 days of rockets and airstrikes between Gaza and Israel, Israel began a ground invasion into Gaza. A lot of people have died. Many more have had their lives turned upside … Continue reading UKRAINE, RUSSIA, GAZA AND ISRAEL: ARE THERE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY?
Looking Back on the Journey…
This blog tries to cover a lot of ground - from life and leadership to cultural shifts and geopolitics. The overarching theme is to connect stories to people and people with truth. Recently, my team and I decided to take a look back at some of the 1500+ people who have been through Global Next's international … Continue reading Looking Back on the Journey…
BECOMING INDISPENSABLE: HOW TO LAST IN A FICKLE WORLD
JULY 10, 2014I teach a course called, “How to Build a Life: Intelligent Life Strategies.” In this course, we talk about what it takes to build a satisfying and meaningful life. One of our topics revolves around the art of connecting with people. I always tell my groups that there is “connecting” with people (making … Continue reading BECOMING INDISPENSABLE: HOW TO LAST IN A FICKLE WORLD
Wars, Legacies and 100 Years
July 1, 2014 On June 28th, history marked the 100th anniversary of the event that sparked World War I. After the war and the downfall of the Ottoman Empire, maps were redrawn by the European victors, with very little understanding of the maze of Middle Eastern identities. Kurds, Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims, Jews, Christians, Druze and … Continue reading Wars, Legacies and 100 Years
FOR THOSE WHO DREAM…
June 27, 2014 I guess everyone has dreams. It’s surprising how different those dreams might be. While the parents of girls kidnapped by Boko Haram are dreaming of the return of the daughters, there are others - in other places - who are praying that their kid will win some child beauty pageant. While some … Continue reading FOR THOSE WHO DREAM…
FIVE FOR ONE: The Taliban Prisoner Trade Issue
June 9, 2014 Americans and the media have been buzzing this past week about the latest issue in Obama’s attempt to manage America’s foreign policy and end the war in Afghanistan while not completely ruining his political career in the process. Here’s what happened: US soldier, Bowe Bergdahl, was held prisoner by the Taliban in Afghanistan … Continue reading FIVE FOR ONE: The Taliban Prisoner Trade Issue
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