What am I reading?

Power-Under by Steve Wineman

Steve Wineman looks at the political implications of trauma in nonviolent resistance, suggesting that trauma has it's effects on both the politics of the left and the right. The left projects trauma onto systems and structures and push for social change using rage. The right projects trauma onto individuals and groups from minorities, thereby scapegoating them.

My friend the enemy...

Dear friends,

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU.com) released their findings that includes rating Cambodia with a very high risk of social instability (fourth out of 165 countries) due to economic challenges, underpinned by other social factors such as unemployment, inequality, lack of trust in institutions, etc. Also predicting social unrest (not addressed in the report) are factors like the presence of a large number of youth compared to the population overall, low levels of education, and the presence of lucrative natural resources like oil and minerals, trees, arable land, gems and precious metals. Rising nationalism is also of great concern to Cambodia.

I can poop!

It's half past one in the afternoon. Both boys are down for a nap. For Patrick this is somewhat of a relief as he often forgoes the afternoon nap. But he's been sick the last week with an eye infection.

This morning Samantha and I woke to Patrick declaring, "Isaac pooped!". But no matter how much Sam asked, "where?" he wouldn't tell us. Eventually Isaac pipped up for himself and said, "I did poop!", in his shrill 2 year old voice. He was obviously very proud.

I finally made it up out of bed and discovered that Isaac hadn't simply pooped in one place, but several. Ah, the blessings of wooden floors! ___________________________________________________
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Lent - a reflection from Cambodia

Lent always seems to come around too fast. Each passing Easter I say to myself, "I'm going to prepare myself for Easter better next year", and next year comes and it's the same old scramble. It's not just a calendaring thing, but a head and heart thing. This year, at least, I've been jolted into a somewhat earlier preparation as CRM, my parent organisation, is sending out a devotional guide for each day of Lent. Just having these, often unread, emails filling my inbox is enough to initiate some introspection.