Red Room Where the Writers Are

I did not expect to get teary-eyed during Obama's acceptance speech.  If it had only been his words, which were eloquent, resounding, and intelligent, I probably would not have been.  It was so m

The difficulty I have wrapping my head around patriotism is one I sometimes share with other children of immigrants, those whose heritage, like mine, was stamped with the dark face of nationalism, the imprint of a patriotism that believed the country where our forebears were born would be purified by our absence.

     As we approach the seventh anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S., I am reminded of the importance of patriotism.  Not the knee-jerk kind born out of fear and

What is wrong with politics? Ever give it any thought? Better yet, ever meditate on it?

I've just returned from a phenomenal three week book tour for DIRTY WORDS: A LITERARY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SEX.

This June brings my second Fathers' Day without a father. More importantly, it brings my second Flag Day without my particular father. 

China has ordered that Tibetans be "re-educated" about his holiness the Dalai Lama, as the Communist Party pursues a far reaching program of "patriotic religious education." <