Shawn VanDiver’s Post

Well, Madhu Rama, as you say “Name any Black or Brown majority country around the world and there’s a story about how the west has made it worse, sometimes unlivable.” It’s best to keep in mind that these are, as you said, “stories” and that all stories are told from certain perspectives and with certain political or material objectives. Equally, there are stories from different viewpoints. Let’s examine one such story that does not vilify the West, as you seem all too happy to do. First, let it be known that your surname, “Rama” is a name with its origin in the Brahmin caste and is found primarily in the Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar regions of India. If not you, yourself, your family certainly is from one or more of those Indian states. We can postpone to another time what I promise can be quite a lively discussion about the many real and present-day abuses of people from “lower” castes by the Brahmins and by the next-highest caste, the Kshatriyas from whom, traditionally, the majority of military officers are selected. But let’s talk about the horrific abuses of British Lord William Bentnick, who ended the very enlightened practice in India of Suttee, whereby widows were burned to death on the funeral pyres of their (often very older) husbands. I do hope you appreciate my sarcasm as you stare down your officious Brahmin nose at me….or attempt to do so. What an awful guy, this damned British snob, coming along and threatening to protect the lives of Indian women!! https://lnkd.in/gJ9qFGaC Then, there’s the case of American agronomist Norman Borlaug. He developed successive generations of wheat varieties with broad and stable disease resistance, broad adaptive abilities to varied growing conditions across many latitudes, all of which had exceedingly high yields. Dr. Borlaug need not have cared about the plight of peoples (most especially in India) who would starve to death by the millions every time grain crop diseases or other insect pestilence caused famines there before his life of scientific research saved the lives of tens of millions in India and hundreds of millions across the world. https://lnkd.in/gEQjghtn. Now, shall we mention the fact that the overwhelming majority of Indian doctors practicing medicine in India received their training and credentials from American, British, or other European universities? You, yourself, received your degree in Business from my Alma Mater, the University of Texas at Austin.

What do you know about Afghanistan? What’s it like for girls and women? What about Christians? Join the Peace & Reconciliation Network to hear first hand insight of this beautiful, but challenged context, and the power of potlucks of peace. https://lnkd.in/grjvKjcP

I volunteered for Kina Collins in 2022. I now oppose her candidacy because of her comments on Israel. —— In 2022, I volunteered extensively on Kina Collins’s campaign for Congress. However, I can no longer support her candidacy, as she has repeatedly denied Israel’s right to defend itself following its most devastating terrorist attack in decades. While it is not antisemitic to criticize Israeli policy, it is unacceptable to blame the “pain and horrors the Palestinians have endured” on Israel and call Israel’s actions “genocide” — both of which Kina did in a statement on X in October. I expressed as much in an hour-long conversation I had with Kina after she released her statement. I had hoped Kina would consider my criticism and issue a clarifying statement. She has not done so, and has in fact doubled down on her opposition to Israel’s acts of self defense in subsequent posts. Here is where Kina is wrong: Hamas is the world’s second-wealthiest terrorist organization. They receive billions of dollars in aid — yet, Hamas uses it not for humanitarian aid, but for terrorist acts. The EU has paid almost 100 million euros for water pipelines over the past decade, yet Hamas rips the pipes out of the ground and repurposes them into rockets, which are then fired indiscriminately towards Israeli cities. Of those rockets, an estimated one-fifth fail and fall back on Gaza. Hamas intentionally fires rockets from within residential neighborhoods, operating out of playgrounds and mosques — in other words, Hamas uses the innocent civilians of Gaza as human shields. Where are Kina’s posts on these war crimes? Being silent on Hamas’s violations of the Law of Armed Conflict while blaming Israel for the “pain and horror” endured for those acts is absurd. Kina also discusses Israel’s self-defense response after Hamas’s barbarism of Oct. 7 and efforts to evacuate civilians from a warzone, calling these actions genocide — but in fact, self defense is an inherent right of a nation and evacuating citizens is required under international law. Hamas has one singular goal — the elimination of the Jewish people. Hamas’s charter states that “Israel will exist…until Islam will obliterate it,” proclaims that “the Day of Judgement will not come about until Muslims fight Jews and kill them,” and demands the establishment of an independent Palestine not just “from the river to the sea” but from the Lebanon border to Eilat — in essence, entirely eliminating the state of Israel. Additionally, Hamas leaders have promised they will commit “a second, a third, a fourth” acts of terrorism murdering civilians as on Oct. 7. —— Continued in comments…

My latest article at @PanAfricanRevie "Africans matter to themselves and others, and conflicts do not solely define the stories that make up the fabric of this diverse continent. The struggles Africans face in their own countries and beyond are echoes of historical injustices, colonial legacies, and complex power dynamics. This perspective challenges us to explore the untold stories of Africans who have shown remarkable resilience, creativity, and strength in the face of adversity." https://lnkd.in/dRf2XriD

6 Ways You Can Support Missionaries Pray for your missionaries regularly. ... Commit to regular financial support. ... Help combat homesickness. ... Help missionaries during their “furloughs.” ... If you do want to visit the missionary overseas, be mindful of their point of view.

6 Ways You Can Support Missionaries Pray for your missionaries regularly. ... Commit to regular financial support. ... Help combat homesickness. ... Help missionaries during their “furloughs.” ... If you do want to visit the missionary overseas, be mindful of their point of view.

THEY SHOULD BE DEPORTED--TO MAKE MORE ROOM FOR TRUE AMERICANS--****************************************************

You’ve been asking what the next step is in our missionary training pipeline…  . Here it is . https://triad.earth/ . #EQUIPProgram #ArmenianMissions #BreakBarriers #ThriveInAdversity #MakeAnImpact #MissionaryTraining #SignUptoday #Triad #TriadTraining #MissionsTraining  

As we celebrate Sweden moving closer to joining #nato, I came across this article that explores the complex and diverse experiences of the Kurdish diaspora in the country. It is thought provoking how often we simplify and stereotype groups based on their ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation. Reality is much more nuanced. Not all Kurds are members of the PKK, not all Palestinians are members of Hamas, and not all people of Chinese descent are members of or aligned with the #CCP. And yes, not all Jewish people are Zionists, in case that was a question. This article shows how dangerous it can be to oversimplify groups and ignore their diversity. It can lead to discrimination, violence, and misunderstanding. It can also prevent us from learning from each other and finding common ground. As we face the challenges of #hybridwarfare, we need to protect our #democracy and our values. If we have the privilege and affluence to read this, we also have the responsibility and personal accountability to educate ourself and others -- being informed and engaged with the world around us, seeking understanding and empathy. We cannot let the debt of human animosity overwhelm us. per the The Washington Post "Democracy dies the in the Dark" (sourced from the incredibly interesting Honorable Damon J Keith https://lnkd.in/guP9kKyw) https://lnkd.in/gk2GKQk4