Robert L. Terrell Blog

I have always been deeply attracted to living abroad. And I have taken good advantage of every opportunity to do so. Over the years, I have lived in several European nations. And I have traveled broadly in that territory, with long stays in Romania, Hungary, Germany, Holland and France. I lived in Nairobi, Kenya for a year. And on two separate occasions, I lived a year in Beijing, China. All that has been deeply rewarding. Most important, it has profoundly influenced my development and maturation as a human being.

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U.S. citizens will eventually be held accountable regarding their responses to the certain knowledge that their government is engaged in widespread torture. Each day’s news reports confirm that the practice is taking place. And for those of us who hold ourselves responsible for keeping close watch on public affairs at home and abroad, the moral and ethical ramifications weigh heavy.

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One of the most interesting recent developments in public life here in the United States is the emergence of whites who speak Ebonics, which is a variant of standard, mainstream English, heretofore spoken almost exclusively by African Americans. The ramifications are interesting and important. More than anything else, they are proof that the social, cultural and political barriers that have historically been used to maintain racial segregation, and other forms of domestic apartheid, are melting.

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Benizir Bhotto’s horrific assassination has engendered intense speculation here in the United States among members of the elite castes who dominate public dialogue pertinent to the nation’s international affairs. Much of the commentary centers on two questions. What is the significance of her death? And how should the U.S. respond? Each of the dominant presidential candidates provided near immediate responses, none of which demonstrated even minimal understanding of the probable geopolitical significance of her life and death.

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The emergent, tidal wave of support white America is bestowing on Barack Obama deserves comment. Having closely monitored U.S. presidential campaigns for more decades than I need here address, I feel qualified to register these opinions on this amazing, totally inspiring, history-making event. Obama’s recent victory in Iowa, accomplished with solid, take-no-prisoners white support, projected him, for this moment, into the lead position in the Democratic party’s segment of the campaign for command of the White House.

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