#LifeEh: Coming Full Circle

Another #LifeEh observation. This one about how I did everything I could to leave behind, "escape" from, and rise above the yoke of the Bhote label...only to return to Nepal as a middle-aged man after spending pretty much all my adult life abroad studying, working, and traveling just to discover I have come full circle!

Continue Reading#LifeEh: Coming Full Circle

Pro-life Christians Undermine Law of The Country

Before abortion was legalized in Nepal in 2002, "up to one-fifth of incarcerated women were convicted of abortion-related crimes" and "more than half of maternal deaths during the one-year study period [was attributed] to abortion-related complications."

Now we have a pro-life Christian organization with 32K strong volunteers, and hospitals run by a Christian organization most likely staffed by also conservative pro-life Christian doctors who follow their religion's narrow dictates when it comes to abortion.

Continue ReadingPro-life Christians Undermine Law of The Country

My Facebook Posts According to a Friend: “Criticism of Nepal and Nepalis” And “Often” “Highlight the Privileged”

Last January I decided to drastically cut down on my social media activism in Nepal. Additionally, I also decided to cull my Facebook friend list and make my Facebook posts viewable only by friends. Four months later, I came across yet another reason to do that.

Continue ReadingMy Facebook Posts According to a Friend: “Criticism of Nepal and Nepalis” And “Often” “Highlight the Privileged”

USA: A Rigged System For The Benefit of The Rich?

November 8, 2012: it had just been two days since the re-election of President Obama in the US. That day, I shared, on Facebook, how who is in the White House doesn't make a real difference to the US and the world. I argued that regardless of who is in that House in Washington DC, because the systems in place are completely rigged and those who control, run, and enforce them are corrupt, a significant percentage of the American and world population will continue to suffer.

Here's a reproduction of that Facebook post and the interesting discussion I had underneath it with friends, interesting especially now since the election of Trump to the same office!

Continue ReadingUSA: A Rigged System For The Benefit of The Rich?

“We Cannot use Western paradigms and values to judge Nepali customs and mores.”

Something I have been curious to learn more about for a while: Why are Nepalis so defensive when it comes to comments about, or criticisms of, their beliefs or cultural practices? And why is one of the objections always, "You can't view it through Western lenses"? Here's an example of one such instance which got me scratching my head...again.

Continue Reading“We Cannot use Western paradigms and values to judge Nepali customs and mores.”