Mike Pilewski writes about life, politics and culture in the United States
It was the right thing to do: when the earthquake hit Haiti last week, Barack Obama promptly sent over $100 million in aid. It was easy to do, because the money was already available. The US had given Haiti three times that amount last year, out of a sense of charity. Haiti is like that family member that no one … >>
It’s the first thing most of us are told before going abroad: “Don’t be an Ugly American.” We’re reminded — by our teachers, by the government, by travel websites — that we are all ambassadors of our country. People abroad will judge our country by the actions of the individuals they meet. The Ugly American was the title of a … >>
How lucky we are when our problems are trivial! Flying to Istanbul on Christmas Day, my only complaint was that Turkish Airlines had seated me next to a large, burly man instead of a lovely Czech supermodel. Had I instead been flying to Detroit that same day, I would have come close to being blown up. It was only a … >>
I grew up during the golden age of science fiction. Every day, my friends and I would turn on the TV and see what the world would look like in the far-off 21st century, when we’d be in the prime of our lives. There would be colonies in space, encounters with aliens (both friendly and unfriendly), robots either doing our … >>
Haufenwolke, a reader of this column, says I don’t deserve to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. So I’ve decided to step up my efforts. Like most people, I wish for peace on Earth on December 24. But wishing alone won’t stop the inconsiderate behavior of others. Actions must follow. So here are 20 simple suggestions that could be … >>
Do you remember what you were doing back in July? I do. I was glued to the TV, watching all the documentaries about the first moon landing 40 years ago in 1969. It was the greatest technical achievement in human history. Watching recent interviews with the former Apollo astronauts — Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin in particular — helped to reawaken some … >>
“Hi,” said the man as he walked up to me. I didn’t think I knew him, but I said hello back. “I just wanted to let you know how I’m doing,” he said. Well, that’s considerate, I thought. The Philadelphia airport, where we were standing, is the epitome of discomfort and inconvenience, so the passengers often try to be friendly … >>
This time, all the TV networks carried the speech. That’s how important it was — the strategy so long in coming on how to win a war many consider unwinnable. Speaking at the prestigious West Point military academy, Barack Obama said that over the next six months, America would send another 30,000 troops to join the roughly 70,000 already in … >>
He was only trying to be nice. He wanted to use his language skills. And if he didn’t help them, they would surely die. He was a Native American named Squanto. “They” were the Pilgrims, who’d arrived in Massachusetts in November 1620. Both are examples of the unlikely nature of the American story. The Pilgrims (known in England as the … >>
When I was little, I heard about Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Naturally, I asked my parents when Children’s Day was. They laughed and said: “Every day is Children’s Day.” So it must seem to supporters of the women’s movement, who have spent the last hundred years fighting for equal rights, equal pay and equal respect, that there is such … >>