Yesterday I got a firsthand look at some of the destruction caused by the rioters last week. I use the word “rioters” purposefully, as all that took place was a few hours of destruction and immaturity that had nothing to do with “protesting” and everything to do with selfishness and[…]
It is the third night of Ramadhaan and the city skies are full of smoke. As the voices of imaams all over town are raised in the taraaweeh communal prayers, foul-smelling, swirling black clouds lazily reach upward to meet their clean, whispy-white brethren in the heavens. As people gather in[…]
I am no stranger to violence. I lived in a northern village for three years, during a time when the fighting between the shi’ite Houthis and the government and local tribes was very intense. Nightly bombings, the sound of machine gun fire, funeral prayers said with amazing frequency…these were all a[…]
Two days ago one of my students went into a small grocery store to buy tissues after class. As she was about to leave, the storekeeper said sharply, “No, stay!” He pointed out the door, and she could see the whole street filled with men on motorcycles, many with masks[…]
