I Will Always Write Back by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda

 

      The heartwarming true story of the unlikely friendship between an American girl and an African boy in Zimbabwe will delight your heart and give you hope. I could not put this one down.

    Caitlin met her best friend through letters, when she was in seventh grade. Nobody could have predicted that the friendship would last to this day. Back then, Caitlin lived in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, while Martin Ganda and his family lived in Mutare, Zimbabwe.  

   Everything started with a school assignment in the year 1997. The students in Caitlin’s classroom were asked to write a letter to a student residing in a different country. Caitlin’s classmates picked students in European countries such as Italy, France, England and Germany, but Caitlin’s attention got hooked on “Zimbabwe”, located on the bottom line of the list of names on the blackboard.

  What Caitlin did not know when they started exchanging letters was that culture was not the only difference between them; Martin and his family lived a life of deprivation.

   The name “Zimbabwe” intrigued Caitlin. She was aware that Zimbabwe was a country in Africa, but other than that she knew nothing about it.

  Caitlin was curious to learn about Zimbabwe and was excited to write her first letter to her pen-pal, who lived seven thousand miles away from her, on the opposite side of the world. (Seven thousand miles is equivalent to eleven thousand kilometers)

    She searched for information about the mysterious country. Caitlin found out that Zimbabwe had been liberated from the United Kingdom in 1980. The national language was Shona, but most people could speak English.

  That first letter was the beginning of a friendship that would lead to personal growth, knowledge and new life experiences. Caitlin and Martin belonged to different cultures, but their friendship was authentic They supported each other through every setback, roadblock and stressful life situation.

      The chapters written by Caitlin alternate with those written by Martin, so we get to understand their personal perspectives and views. Through their distinct narratives we learn about their lives, hopes and challenges as they grow and change over time.

   The suspense of their interactions builds up when we become aware of the extreme poverty of Martin’s life situation and the fact that, initially, he conceals the truth about his life to protect Caitlin. He may have feared that she would reject him. He did not want to spoil their friendship. Sharing the reality of his situation could have clouded her optimism; he did not want to disappoint her.

  While Caitlin went shopping every weekend and fretted over shallow school drama she shared with Martin, Martin lived a life of deprivation. Martin and his four siblings did not even have a mattress to sleep on. They all slept under their parents’ bed, where they kept the pots and pans during the day. The siblings shared one blanket.

  Martin and his family lived in one room, which they had to share with another family, a curtain separating them to provide a modicum of privacy. They had no running water or electricity.

  After a few letters the school that Martin attended could not provide the money to mail his letters anymore, so to continue the letter exchange he would pay for the mail fees himself… This was not easy considering that his family did not even have enough food to eat on a regular basis. One day Caitlin sent him one American dollar for him to see what it looked like... She would never have guessed that that dollar would save Martin and his family from hunger. One American dollar helped to buy food for two weeks for the whole family, and he was able to pay the postage for his next letter to Caitlin…

 

     The power of free education

   Caitlin knew nothing about Martin’s precarious living situation, but everything changed when Martin’s family could not afford the school fees and he had to drop out of school. His father had lost his job at a paper factory. Furthermore, inflation was getting worse. The cost of living was skyrocketing. Martin was forced to do odd jobs that were not even enough to eke out a living. He did not want to reveal the truth, but, on the other hand, Caitlin needed to receive his letters to be reassured that he was well and that their friendship mattered to him.

  Martin had excelled as a student; his mother had high expectations, so dropping out of school was catastrophic for them. They were heartbroken. He needed to finish high school first, and then after high school he wanted to attend university. That was his dream.

 

   An authentic friendship

   Caitlin’s friends soon lost interest in their European pen-pals, but Caitlin’s and Martin’s friendship stayed strong. Martin became Caitlin’s best friend, and her school peers made fun of her because they assumed that she had a romantic interest in him. This was not the case. Caitlin felt he was like a sibling to her. She expressed this clearly, but her peers constantly mocked her and treated her with disdain. She could tell they were jealous of her friendship with Martin.

    It was uplifting to read how Caitlin and her mother, Anne Neville, ended up supporting Martin and his family. I do not want to spoil it, so I will not share too much about their story.  It should be enough to mention that I will Always Write Back brought tears of joy to my eyes on more than one occasion.

   I think this book should be shared in every school across the United States of America and the world. First of all, I Will Always Write Back may awaken people to the importance of education and to not take education for granted. Secondly, it will remind people everywhere that citizens in other countries have lives, families, feelings, dreams. They are not the "enemy." It makes no sense to cheer for a bully who dehumanizes people from other countries, right?  

   I hope teachers will read my blog post and consider using I will Always Write Back for classroom conversations. Hopefully, students can take a break from playing video games and read books like this one. The world needs more empathy and critical thinking skills.

   Martin has three brothers and one sister whose name is Lois. Lois was also an excellent student and I liked that Martin had faith in her and wanted Lois to continue her education. I do not know what happened with Lois. I hope she is well. Girls face additional challenges in Zimbabwe. In rural areas girls have to travel long distances to school and this can be dangerous. There are various challenges that make everything harder for girls.

   I was impressed by how Anne Neville and Caitlin persevered against all odds to help Martin. There was a situation that appeared to be insurmountable, but eventually the outcome was positive…

   It was interesting to learn about Martin’s culture in Zimbabwe. For example, the members of a family share the clothes they have. It is normal for them to do so.

   There is a lot to process about the story. Do not get discouraged if the first chapters make you angry or impatient. Keep reading because the book will not disappoint you. There are many situations that may enrage you. That is okay. Honesty is necessary to tell a story—any story. I kept thinking about it long after I finished it, and I researched more about Zimbabwe. I still have lots of questions in my head about the current situation in Zimbabwe, so I looked up some information from a UNICEF site.

  

 

Coming of age story

 The whole experience opened up Caitlin’s eyes to a reality that was totally unfamiliar to her. I was impressed by how thoughtful she was when she was determined to help Martin and his family in critical situations. Her kindness made a huge impact on the life of Martin and his family.

  Getting to know Martin and his family transformed Caitlin in many positive ways, and I am thankful that Caitlin and Martin decided to write down their experience and publish it in the form of a book, to share it with the world. They did so with the help of Liz Welch, a professional writer.

   I came across I Will Always Write Back at my local library and I fell in love with it as soon as I began reading it. It is a precious gift to share with others, and I think it is very relevant today. I highly recommend it.

    I will Always Write Back should be shared in schools. It can be included in reading programs and book clubs. It is a book that will interest people of all ages.

   We must inspire students to make choices that align with empathy, respect and cooperation. Bullying and dehumanizing others lead to wars and destruction. Who wants a world consumed by wars and ecological destruction?

  

 

End-of- year message 

 

 It has been a busy year for My Writing Life blog. I hope you had fun visiting this site. I enjoy writing every post, and I hope to continue doing so in 2026. It is not easy. It is a mission that requires work and attention to detail. I do it with love. It is not perfect. Please, understand that I do my best.

 

 If you have read My Writing Life, I have some questions. You do not need to answer these questions directly, but you may want to reflect on them.

 Has My Writing Life made you aware of something important?

Has My Writing Life invited you to reflect on something you’ve never considered before?

 Has My Writing Life inspired you to read a book you did not know about?

Has My Writing Life inspired you to take action to make the world better in some way?

   If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” feel free to share the content of a post with people who may appreciate it. Let’s create ripples of awareness, reflection and inspiration…

   My Writing Life blog supports democratic principles, the freedom to read books and stands up to hate. My Writing Life promotes a love for reading books. Empathy, compassion, and sustainability are essential to make the world a better place. The mission of My Writing Life aligns with this idea.

     I want to share something that happens right now with this blog. Unfortunately, Google stopped indexing my blog posts last August. This means that the blog posts I published over the last four months will not appear in Google searches.

   I contacted Google several times to no avail. I persevere in my attempts to ensure that the blog posts continue to get indexed, but Google ignores my requests. I see that Google has other priorities, like paying for Donald Trump’s “ballroom”. I get it. The content of My Writing Life blog does not align with the interests of the trump regime.  However, I follow all the rules and there is no reason for Google to stop indexing my posts. I don’t think it is fair to make my posts invisible in Google searches.

  Google is one of the most powerful information gatekeepers in the world. By removing information at the request of authoritarian governments, Google has collaborated with authoritarian regimes in the past. You can learn more details on this by reading this reporting here.

  The months prior to the fateful 2024 Presidential election in America Google did not index my blog posts either. My Writing Life blog supports democratic principles and tried to educate the public on the need to prevent the trump regime from materializing, but Google refused to index the posts of My Writing Life: Awareness, Reflection, Inspiration during the months that preceded the presidential election as well. Why? I have no idea.

   Google returned to the same tactic in August 2025, but I have good news for you: I will not be deterred by bullies and corporate greed. The plan is to continue choosing the books I want to read, and I will write about them.  Nobody else selects the books I include in My Writing Life. I am unapologetic about my choices, and I will keep it this way. If you like a blog post, share it. I need support to keep this blog visible. 

What is happening with Google? I do not know, but this article may offer some clues:

 The corruption, terror and violence of the trump regime are deeply disturbing to watch; raising awareness is important.

  I encourage you to support the hard work of independent journalists, so feel free to subscribe to their channels and stay updated. I will share some of their reporting  here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz3cdP1wbhk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiehEMlNiCI

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wJuXDM-kCM

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcXvGnqRLjE

 

   Thank you for visiting My Writing Life: Awareness, reflection, Inspiration.

          Let’s work to make 2026 better than 2025. Every voice matters.

                             Till next year.

 

 

 

 If you enjoyed this post, feel free to read my writing on the following book:

 The Book of Hope 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Invisible Women: Data Bias In A World Designed For Men by Caroline Criado Perez

 

  In the year 2017 the first female head of London’s Fire Brigade, Dany Cotton, suggested that we should replace the term “fireman” with the now standard “firefighter.” As a result of her suggestion, she was flooded with hate mail.

 When in 2013 Caroline Criado Perez campaigned to have a female historical figure on the back of English banknotes some men got so angry that they felt compelled to threaten her with rape, mutilation and death.

 According to an article in The Independent “humans evolved to have an instinct for deadly violence”. The article shared the statements of an academic paper that revealed that “humans have evolved to be six times more deadly to their own species than the average mammal.” A thirty-year analysis of murder in Sweden found that nine out of ten murders are committed by men. Similar statistics were revealed by studies in the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States of America.

   The world and the study of history are designed to fit a male narrative that does not represent women and does not take into consideration the needs of women. The male perspective is seen as universal while the female one is considered the “niche”. Biases that benefit men and ignore women drive policies, research, employment, and other fields. These biases have serious consequences for women’s health, lifestyle, survival, employment, safety and several other factors.

  It is time to wake up to this reality and work to change this dysfunctional situation from the inside out. Caroline Criado Perez’s book is an excellent resource to become aware, to reflect on the topic and to be inspired to promote changes.

   When we hear generalizations about men, we are expected to assume that the statements apply to women as well, but we should not assume that. There are several examples to illustrate this.

  “We call the eighteenth century 'the Enlightenment', even though it only expanded the rights of men and narrowed the rights of women, who were denied control of their property and earnings and barred from higher education and professional training.” Even though women comprise half of the population we are expected to study history from a male perspective and we are expected to repeat information that does not reflect the truth. One example of this is the worn-out statement that Ancient Greece was a “democracy". Why are we forced to repeat the lie that Ancient Greece was a "democracy"? Women were not  allowed to vote in Ancient Greece.

  These biases in favor of men translate into medicine, education, politics and social policies that continue to make women irrelevant despite the fact that they make up half of the population. Let’s examine this topic carefully.

  The accomplishments of women have been ignored or, in many cases, they were attributed to men. For example, textbooks routinely name Thomas Hunt Morgan as the person who discovered that sex was determined by chromosomes rather than environment. Yet it was Nettie Stevens the woman who accomplished this by experimenting with mealworms. The correspondence between them shows she was the one who did the work to prove it.       

 Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin discovered that the sun is predominantly composed of hydrogen, but, not surprisingly, the discovery is credited to her male supervisor.

 Rosalind Franklin was the scientist who researched and described the structure of DNA—not Watson and Crick. Watson and Crick stole her work and took advantage of her discovery. They were the ones who received the Nobel Prize despite the fact that Rosalind Franklin did the work.

   The same happened to several women artists. Their work is consistently undervalued compared to the works of men. I wrote about this in previous posts. Invisible Women provides more examples. 

   The study of history shows that facts have been distorted to benefit men and to disempower women, and to perpetuate the false belief that women are not as competent as men. Therefore, women are often “instructed” to use men as role models in order to succeed. Yet there is no scientific evidence that shows that men are superior to women.

   Women are expected to behave more “like men” to be respected. Why? Research shows that when women “behave like men”, they are often criticized and judged differently, which sets the stage for more biases, stereotyping and unfair discrimination against them. Why are women expected to please others and be "likeable" while men get a free pass to behave like jerks?

 Women as leaders

   Research shows that the potential and achievements of women are neglected to the detriment of society. Research published in 2018 by Boston Consulting Group found that “although on average female business owners receive less than half the level of investment their male counterparts get, they produce more than twice the revenue.” For every dollar of funding, female-owned start-ups generate seventy-eight cents compared to male-owned start-ups, which generate thirty-one cents. Women also perform better over time, generating ten percent more in cumulative revenue over a five-year period. This may be because women are better suited for leadership roles according to a Norwegian study. The BI Norwegian Business School concluded that women were better leaders than men. The study identified the five key traits of a successful leader: emotional stability, extraversion, openness to new experiences, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Women scored higher than men in four out of the five.

 Extensive research has shown that women are much more likely to make choices that are sustainable for the planet. Women are more likely to care about the environment than men according to the evidence. Don't take my word for it. You can read about this here.

 

 Biases at schools

 Unfortunately, schools teach little girls that they are not as brilliant as boys. Brilliance bias is taught to children at an early age (check page 100 for details):

 “A US study found that when girls start school at the age of five, they are likely as five-year-old boys to think women could be ‘really really smart.’ By the time they turn six, something changes. They start doubting their gender so much that they start limiting themselves.”

 Why I recommend Invisible Women

   Invisible Women is a carefully researched book that provides the statistics to acknowledge that the biases against women are real. Yet our experiences, observations and reflections are never enough, so Caroline Criado Perez put the research together to support our voices. She also adds the stories and experiences of several women to boost the power of her book.

   

 The Myth of Meritocracy

One of the long-standing myths appears to be the one on meritocracy.

  In the 1950s and 1960s there were only one or two female musicians in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. In the 1970s somebody had the brilliant idea of using a screen for the auditions to select the musicians. That is when the number of female musicians started to go up.

  The biases against women are pervasive and irrational.

“Women are asked to do more undervalued admin work than their male colleagues. If they refuse, they are penalized and considered “unlikeable”. This is a problem across a range of workplaces: women and in particular ethnic minorities do the ‘housekeeping’.”

 The gender double standards influence the way women are perceived and judged by others. For this reason, gender double standards harm women and impact society as a whole.

 “Female professors are penalized if they are not deemed sufficiently warm and accessible, but if they are warm and accessible they can be penalized for not appearing authoritative or professional. On the other hand, appearing authoritative and knowledgeable as a woman can result in student disapproval, because this violates gendered expectations.”

  Men, on the other hand, benefit from what we call positive discrimination toward them. “Less effective male professors routinely receive higher student evaluations than more effective female teachers.”

 An analysis of 14 million reviews on the website RateMyProfessors.com found that female professors are more likely to be labeled as ‘harsh’, ‘unfair’, ‘strict’, ‘mean’ and ‘annoying’. Male professors are more often perceived as ‘brilliant’, ‘intelligent’, ‘smart’ and a ‘genius’.

 

Bias in the news media

 A report from 2015 done by the Global Media Monitoring Project evaluated the world’s print and broadcast media for its representation of women and found that only 24 percent of the persons heard, read about or seen in newspaper, television and radio news were women. They report their findings every five years and it was not different from the report obtained in 2010. I decided to check their latest report. No progress has been made for women and girls in the news media.

 Bias in textbooks

A US study of eighteen widely used high-school history textbooks published between 1960 and 1990 found that pictures of named men outnumbered pictures of named women by a ratio of about 18 to 100 and that only 9 percent of the names in the indexes were women.

 

Unpaid work

Research shows that women do most of the unpaid work that is needed to keep the foundation of society strong. This is not acknowledged or considered in the GDP of a country, but it plays an essential role in society.

 Data showed that in India 66 percent of women’s work time is spent on unpaid labour, while only 12 percent of men’s work is unpaid. In Italy 61 percent of women’s work is unpaid compared to 23 percent of men’s. In France 57 percent of their work is unpaid compared to 38 percent of men’s.

On October 24 1975 most women in Iceland decided to take the day off. They decided that they would do no work. No paid work but also no cooking, no cleaning, no child care. Ninety percent of the women took part in the strike. Twenty-five thousand women gathered for a rally. A year later the country passed the Gender Equality Act, which outlawed sex discrimination in workplaces and schools.

 

 

Why do people take women’s time for granted?

 Just like men, women have bills to pay. They also have family and job responsibilities. Women even volunteer more of their time than men, so why do people think it is okay to ask women to work for no pay? There is nothing “feminist” about expecting women to work for free.

 Women have a right to their time and they have no obligation to please others.

  When I stopped allowing comments on my blog ten years ago to avoid wasting my time on bullies, a follower decided she would not follow my blog anymore. I explained to her that I had no time to deal with bullies and she told me that I was supposed to scan the comments first and then decide if I would publish them or not. (Yes! Men are not the only ones who love to mansplain women). Why did she assume that I had so much time in my hands? Again, why do people out there take women’s time for granted?

 I am convinced that this womam would not have stopped following my bog if I had been a man. She would have been more understanding if the author of My Writing Life blog would have been a man. 

 Have you also noticed how people are always ready to "forgive" men when men make mistakes? I do not see the same attitude toward women. Why? Women are human beings too. Why do we need to remind people that women are human beings who also deserve respect? 

Women in the healthcare system

There is a chapter about how women’s symptoms are consistently disregarded, and how their medical conditions go undiagnosed for too long because the medical system does not care enough about their complaints. There are statistics as well as several experiences shared by women.

Caroline Criado Perez did a great job of revealing the gender disparities in the medical field, both in healthcare and research.

 

Women in pandemics, natural disasters and wars

Caroline Criado Perez shares staggering statistics and stories about how women are treated under these precarious conditions. Chapter 16 is entitled “It is not the disaster that kills you”. I highly recommend it. Read every page.

 Violence against women increases in the chaos and social breakdown that accompany natural disasters. I was shocked to learn that several women after hurricane Katrina were sexually assaulted. To make matters worse, during Hurricane Katrina local rape centers had to close.

 “The data gap when it comes to sexual abuse is compounded in crisis settings by powerful men who blur the lines between aid and sexual assault.”

  In Sri Lanka swimming and tree climbing are predominantly taught to men and boys. When the December 2004 tsunami hit, men and boys were better able to survive. The tsunami killed four times more women than men. There is also social prejudice in Bangladesh against women learning to swim.

 

 Awards and recognition

Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez was the winner of 2019 Royal Society Science Book Prize; it was the finalist for the LA Times Book Prize and the Orwell Prize. It was also longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Nonfiction.

 In June 2023 research showed that nine men and women out of ten across the world are biased against women.  It is only through awareness that we can change this dysfunctional situation. We all prefer to live in a world where compassion and respect prevail, so let's acknowledge that these biases are not healthy. 

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to check my writing on the following books:

 

Anne of Avonlea

Not my Type

Lessons in Chemistry

 100 Plants to Feed the Birds

Relevant links:

https://theflame.su.ualberta.ca/en/blog/2023/05/05/sustainability-is-womens-work-why-a-sustain-su-blog-post/

https://hdr.undp.org/content/2023-gender-social-norms-index-gsni?_gl=1*fbvl05*_ga*OTYwMzU3NjQuMTY4NjU3NTgzMw..*_ga_3W7LPK0WP1*MTY4NjU3NTgzMy4xLjEuMTY4NjU3NjE3MS4yLjAuMA..#/indicies/GSNI

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown

 

   When Christopher Columbus and his crew discovered America, they gave the people of America the name Indios. When Columbus wrote to the King and Queen of Spain, he was impressed by Indios’ kind nature and spirit. “So tractable, so peaceable are these people, that I swear to your Majesties there is not in the world a better nation. They love their neighbors as themselves, and their discourse is ever sweet and gentle, and accompanied with a smile; and though it is true that they are naked, yet their manners are decorous and praiseworthy.”

      It was also kindness what led the Native Americans to help the Englishmen at Plymouth in 1620.  They would have starved without the aid of the friendly natives of the New World. “They shared corn with them from the tribal stores, showed them where and how to catch fish, and got them through the first winter. When spring came they gave the white men some seed corn and showed them how to plant and cultivate it.”

      Some white settlers may have endured religious persecution in their country of origin; yet they did not respect the spiritual and religious beliefs of Native Americans. Furthermore, the kindness of the natives was considered a sign of weakness, and the white settlers looked down on them and labeled them as “savages.”

   Before the invasion of white settlers, a variety of Native American cultures thrived in various regions of America. Some of them were semi-nomadic and relied on buffalo for their survival; others were established on a specific area and their lifestyle depended mostly on agriculture. This is the case of the Ponca community located initially in what is now known as Nebraska and Iowa.

  The Indian Removal Act and its impact

 The president responsible for the Indian Removal Act was Andrew Jackson. This legislation, which was also supported by Congress, enabled President Andrew Jackson to impose treaties on Native American communities. Through these treaties Native American people were forced to leave their ancestral homelands. If the Native Americans resisted the removal of their communities, the military was sent to force them out violently. The treaties were used by the U.S. Government to send them to barren areas called “reservations,” where they starved and did not have enough clean water and resources to survive. If the Native American people tried to escape from those reservations they were persecuted and either killed or imprisoned.  The forced removal of Native Americans cut off the intimate connection they had with the land, where their ancestors had lived for centuries, where they had learned how to interact with the Earth in harmony with the seasons, practicing their religious ceremonies and rituals.

 The violent removal from their ancestral lands destroyed their livelihoods and disrupted their cultures in various ways. Not only did the white men force them out of their lands, but they also destroyed the environment Native Americans relied upon to live in harmony with the Earth. For example, white men drove buffalo to extinction; they logged forests and mined the land for gold. White men viewed land as a commodity to create wealth and help America become a prosperous country. To do this, they were prepared to exterminate the native people. They were determined to kill or to imprison them whenever the Native American people refused to move to the reservations. To justify their power over the native people, white Americans promoted the idea of Manifest Destiny.

 

 Manifest Destiny

   Manifest Destiny was the belief that white men had the divine right to seize the lands where Native Americans lived. White Americans believed that it was their Christian right to do so, because they considered themselves the ones entitled to manage the land, even though the native people had lived there for hundreds of years; Native Americans were not even considered Americans in those days. White Americans viewed native people as “savages.”  For this reason, with the support of the U.S. Government, white men forcibly transferred Native American people to regions where they could not grow food. Those places assigned to Native Americans were called “reservations.” On those reservations they were destined to perish because they did not have access to food and clean water. In other words, they were transferred to uninhabitable lands and expected to survive there.

 Broken promises and betrayals

   The U.S. Government promised to support them by sending them food and other resources, but it never sent the supplies needed, and the Indians had two options: they could either escape from those reservations or they had to die there. If they escaped, they were persecuted by the Government and then they were either imprisoned or hanged. Their desperate situation of deprivation was blatantly ignored; no compassion was offered. When Native Americans defended themselves, false accusations were made against them and promoted by the press.

  The false promises of food, blankets and other supplies worsened the suffering and frustration that Native Americans experienced. Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce community expresses this reality in the following words:

 “I have heard talk and talk, but nothing is done. Good words do not last long unless they amount to something. Words do not pay for my dead people. They do not pay for my country, now overrun by white men… Good words will not give my people good health and stop them from dying. Good words will not get my people a home where they can live in peace and take care of themselves, I am tired of talk that comes to nothing. It makes my heart sick when I remember the good words and broken promises.”

  The forced removal was driven by the belief that Indians’ lives were of no value.

  This is clearly stated in the words of Captain Chivington in the state of Colorado, “Damn any man who sympathized with Indians!” he cried. “I have come to kill Indians, and believe it is right and honorable to use any means under God’s heaven to kill Indians.”

   Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee provides information and context to gain a deeper understanding of the tragic events that led to the slaughter of thousands of Native American people. It is also an introduction on how the different cultures of Native Americans lived in harmony with the Earth before the white settlers interfered. It reveals the ways in which Native Americans confronted the white men who questioned their right to exist on the lands they had inhabited for hundreds of years. It exposes the brutality the native people had to brave.

  You will learn about the Nez Perce, the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Navajo, Sioux, Seminoles, Ponca, and many other Indigenous communities in North America. You will understand why and how they fought to protect their communities against the invasion of the white men.

 

  Their forced settlements on reservations had serious consequences for Native American communities. The pattern of violent displacements led to a long history of marginalization and institutionalized discrimination. Bear in mind that Native Americans were not even considered U.S. citizens until 1924.

   Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee focuses on the events of the nineteenth century, but it does not include the actions of boarding schools that Native American children were forced to attend. In these schools children were obligated to let go of their culture; they were physically, sexually and emotionally abused. Many of them were even killed. I wrote about this in previous posts on My Writing Life: Awareness, Reflection, Inspiration. This topic is not included in the book by Dee Brown.

    It was heartbreaking to read about the slaughter of their horses and ponies, the plundering of their homes and the destruction of the food they had carefully stored; the massacres and the humiliations Native Americans endured for merely trying to exist is deeply disturbing. It was also hard to read how the U.S Government betrayed them repeatedly, taking advantage of their trust and falsely accusing them of actions they were not responsible for. Moreover, the Government also manipulated them to make them fight against each other. 

   The Indian Removal Act triggered a pattern of abuse of Native Americans that forced their communities to fight against the white men to defend themselves and the land. It was hard to read at times, but I now have a deeper understanding of their plight and history.

    It would have been important and necessary to include the voices of Native American women to learn more about their experiences, hopes and frustrations, but only the men’s voices are taken into consideration in this account. Unfortunately, Dee Brown did not seem to care about the Native American women’s perspectives. 

  We are expected to learn history from men even though women make up half of the population.

 

  The legacy of Andrew Jackson

   Andrew Jackson played a big role in setting in motion the pattern of abuse and persecution of Native American people. His decisions and actions led to the massacre of thousands of Native Americans from several communities. They were attacked and killed systematically, and this book explains how it happened. The survivors were demoralized, sad and angry. They were also subjected to a life of deprivation and were vulnerable to the spread of diseases. Their cultures had been ravaged by the forced relocations; their hopes were shattered by the broken promises and the arduous attempts to survive in hostile environments with scanty resources.

 

  The situation today

     Most of the events described in the book happened between the 1860s and 1890s as a result of the goals and legislation promoted by Andrew Jackson. It was disheartening to read because it reminded me that Donald Trump admires Andrew Jackson. Donald Trump has shared his intention to follow the legacy of this white supremacist.

  Far from learning from the devastating consequences of Andrew Jackson’s ideology and actions, seventy-seven million people in America voted for a white supremacist in November 2024; similarly, ninety million people in America empowered a white supremacist to become president by the simple act of not voting. Trump has even questioned the citizenship of Native Americans.  

  The consequences of the November 2024 presidential election should not be ignored; the consequences impact not only America as a whole but also the planet we all inhabit. We cannot ignore the interconnections that bind us as members of the human race, and we should not forget our reliance on a healthy planet to survive.

  Today, various Native American communities are struggling to protect their education, environment and public health. Native American communities are also working against all odds to create a sustainable path of energy production. They want to become energy independent. Their reservations are good sources of wind and solar energy; as you know, clean sources of energy are necessary not only to tackle the climate crisis but also to protect the quality of the water and air. Let’s support their efforts to make this happen.

  Even their basic right to exist and move across American territory is now at stake. Please watch this video by DW to understand the plight of Native American people:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_gkLA-7cXY

 

 Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce community died of a “broken heart” in 1904 on the Colville Reservation in Washington. His words continue to be relevant today:

 “Let me be a free man—free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to think and talk and act for myself—and I will obey every law, or submit to the penalty.”

 

Other relevant links:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20231204-native-americans-are-building-their-own-solar-farms

https://www.networkadvocates.org/recommit-to-racial-justice/legacy/

 

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to check my writing on the following books:

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Spirit Woman: The diaries and Paintings of Bonita Wa Wa Calachaw Nunez

Unstoppable Native American Women by April Riverwood

Fox by Joyce Carol Oates

 

  I was in the mood for a good mystery this month. I promised myself that I would read more books by Joyce Carol Oates after writing about We Were the Mulvaneys. Making a choice was not easy. Joyce Carol Oates is a prolific writer, so her list of books is endless... I ended up picking Fox. To my surprise, it happened to be her latest release.

   Joyce Carol Oates’s writing is engaging; her stories are always immersive. This specific book is about a serial pedophile. It was distressing to read how he had gotten away with the act of abusing several twelve-year-old girls. This sexual predator had a preference for abusing pre-pubescent girls. Ironically, the students admired him, and the narrative hints at the idea that because he was a man he galvanized the students’ and parents’ respect and trust.

    Somebody murdered Francis Fox, the pedophile. Who did it? Joyce Carol Oates ignites intrigue on every single page. The suspense is coupled with vivid settings. Yet she does not bog it down with senseless descriptions. In other words, she never bores the reader. I always appreciate the ways in which she reveals the nature of the characters and their social situations. She does so in a way that heightens emotions and shocks you. When you least expect it, she will throw a dagger to expose the perverse cruelty of society.

   Characters, setting, pace, plot and ending are all carefully crafted, blending into a thought-provoking novel with elements of “black humor.” Joyce Carol Oates subtly mocks the nature of many of the characters. Her writing is brilliant. Her themes illuminate the darkest aspects of society. Strangely enough, I knew what the ending would be like… but I did not know about the details, and there are “surprises” along the way.

  The story was eerie, disturbing, sad and extremely unpleasant. The actions of the pedophile were horrific, but the people surrounding him did a good job of denying, ignoring and pretending that there was nothing wrong with the pedophile. Those who were responsible for holding him accountable were effective at looking the other way and letting him off the hook. 

  It was equally outrageous to see that when one of the “deniers” had access to the photos of what he had done to these girls, she tried to deny it or to make excuses.

    As you can imagine, Fox is a novel that triggers strong emotions. It was repulsive to read how people described this monster as charismatic, kind and intelligent, even though he was abusive and manipulative. The pedophile preyed on the most vulnerable girls, and he had a way of twisting and distorting events and situations to make himself look good and to pretend that he had been treated unfairly.  

  The constant adulation of Francis Fox was infuriating. Unfortunately, Joyce Carol Oates showed it too many times on the pages of the novel. I was almost ready to close the book, but reaching the end was a must. Sadly, the students and other adult characters kept fawning over Mr. Pedophile ad nauseum. To make matters worse, this irrationality transcends the boundaries of the story if you consider that an Amazon reviewer mentioned that Francis Fox was a “fascinating man.” Not only did the pedophile abuse the girls, but he also made a profit out of doing so. 

  How did he manage to do what he did and be praised like that? It is hard to believe, isn’t it? Or perhaps it isn't.

  Take a look at the following paradox: Francis Fox talks to the librarian about the need to ban the book Lolita. He likes to control others. Francis Fox gave the girls treats coated with sleep medications such as Ativan or Ambien to sexually abuse them. Where did he get these medications from? Joyce Carol Oates did not fully address it, but she gave a hint that may explain it. I am not going to reveal it.

    Joyce Carol Oates is also adept at exposing the misogyny and gender prejudices that pollute society, but I will let you find those moments when you dive into this unsettling story. There is a lot to discuss and analyze. Moreover, I would like to have the opportunity to discuss some points about the novel- loose ends- that triggered questions, but I do not belong to any book club and I have no interest in joining one at the moment.  I do think this book would be a suitable choice for a book club, so make sure you add it to your list.

   I wish I could say that once you finish this sinister novel, you can relax and forget about it, but the truth is that you can’t. Not when you know that a convicted child sex trafficker enjoys special privileges. Not when you know that seventy-seven million people in the United States of America voted for a convicted sexual abuser who happened to be the best friend of a sex-trafficker for fifteen years; not when ninety million people did not even bother to vote and enabled a convicted sexual abuser to become president. 

   I do have a few quibbles about the novel. I did not like that Oates picked the name “Fox” for the pedophile. I do not like it when people compound human cruelty with non-human animals. On the other hand, there may be another reason for the use of that name; it may have something to do with the  kind of “media” using it… Also, the word “pig” applied as an insult is a habit that should become outdated. Pigs are intelligent, compassionate beings. They do have individual personalities--just like human beings--so we are not supposed to make generalizations about them. 

    In conclusion, Fox is a thought-provoking novel, but it is also disturbing. There is, however, a spark of hope in it. Yet that spark of hope is not enough to quell the outrage it provokes. I recommend it.

  If you enjoyed this post, make sure you check my writing on the following book:

The Last interview and Other Conversations with Octavia Butler

  Make sure you also check this relevant video by David Pakman, an independent journalist:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrtP0O9Zd4Y

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/26/epstein-victims-justice

 

The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams

 

  

 It is hard to put into words how sad I felt when I learned that Jane Goodall had passed away. Her physical body may not be with us, but we all know that her indomitable spirit lives on in the spirit of those who care deeply about the Earth, the animals and the people. Her indomitable spirit is the light that keeps shining amid the darkest times, and we need her hope to guide our journey…

  The Book of Hope: A survival Guide for Trying Times took me on a magical journey. I had no idea it would be such a unique gift; it is more than a call for tenacity, solidarity and care. I came back from it with a renewed sense of hope and inspiration. I did not want the book to end.

 Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams recorded and put together a series of conversations they had. They share true stories; they share her experiences and they dare to believe that despite the most awkward and grim circumstances, the human spirit can move forward…

 From the first page, we can tell the book is relevant and essential:

 “Democracy is under attack in many countries." The abuse of power and disregard for life of authoritarian men-dictators-is evident and destructive on many levels. The corruption is distressing. The effects of hate and discrimination are happening. The effects of the climate crisis are real and they are happening right now. "The gap between the haves and the have-nots is widening." Yet we can all choose to be part of the solution. We all have a unique role to play in the complex mosaic of life. Our talents and motivation can be the resources that help us. 

 Apathy is not the answer. We can all choose to be part of the solution using our awareness to move forward in the right direction.

 

 What is hope?

 Hope is necessary for survival. Hope builds resilience and relies on perseverance. It is not blind optimism. Hope is aware of the facts-no matter how dark they are—and keeps moving forward, finding ways to meet the reality with new resources and ideas. It is not passive wishful thinking. Hope is about action, but even when actions are not possible, hope can still exist.

  There are cases in which action can’t take place. Jane Goodall says, “I don’t think all hope requires action, because sometimes you can’t take action. If you’re in a cell in a prison where you’ve been thrown for no good reason, you can’t take action, but you can still hope to get out. I’ve been communicating with a group of conservationists who have been tried and given long sentences for putting up camera traps to record the presence of wildlife. They’re living in hope for the day they’re released through the actions of others, but they can’t take action themselves.”

 Jane Goodall stated that hope is what enables us to keep going in the face of adversity.

  Far from being an empty rambling on hope, this book shares the real experiences of people who were able to overcome the greatest challenges and obstacles.  

    This book is a very special invitation, so settle in your favorite spot, grab your beverage and take the time to “witness” these conversations. The wisdom of Jane Goodall’s words will kindle the power of your own resilience. 

 I felt I was right there with Jane and Abrams contemplating their setting, breathing their air, sharing their thoughts and traveling to the past. Some of these conversations take place in Gombe; others in Netherlands. Finally, they had to complete their talks via Zoom because of the pandemic. Jane in her home in England, Douglas in California.

 I was planning to share some of the stories here, but I will keep this post simple. Find out more by readng The Book of Hope. Read it and pass it on. 

  I enjoyed learning about Jane Goodall's mother. She played a crucial role in Jane's success as a naturalist. I believe that her mother was an empath, and her qualities were passed on to Jane. Intuition, wonder and empathy can move together, as if connected through an exquisite dance.

  Jane Goodall says that “As a naturalist, you need to have empathy and intuition—and love.”

 The book of Hope touched me deeply. Its wisdom will always stay with me, like the spirit of a good friend.

  Jane Goodall reassured me on my belief that the power of our good intentions and choices matters. This is hope.

  We have to honor her legacy by protecting the animals, the people, the planet. Jane Goodall always tried to make people aware of the fact that we are all interconnected. By helping people, she also helped the animals.  

 This past week I was horrified to read about the torture of dogs, monkeys, cats and other animals in laboratories. Animals have personalities, minds, feelings, emotions. I read the experience of Jeff Brown, a scientist who witnessed the terrified eyes of monkeys who were subjected to torture. He had to speak up about the horrors that take place in these laboratories. I make donations and sign petitions to end this torture, and I hope that other human beings will awaken to this reality and do their part too.

  I invite you, dear reader, to become aware and do your part to help animals, people and the planet. Sometimes, a simple click can help to make a difference. 

https://www.idausa.org/take-action/

https://earthjustice.org/action

https://www.peta.org/

 

 And please, don't miss this video of Jane Goodall being hugged by Wounda, a rescued chimpanzee. Wounda hardly knew Jane, but Wounda had the intuition to “see” the love Jane Goodall encompasses, and this hug expresses that.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClOMa_GufsA

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to read my writing on the following books:

 

Untamed: the life of Jane Goodall by Anita Silvey

 

What a Bee Knows by Stephen Buchmann

 

Addendum to this post:

Here's a wonderful documentary that you can watch for free from You Tube. It was made by National Geographic recently, so relax and enjoy it! 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ST6pqfCTy0