Random Notes from South of the Equator

In 1972, while a fourth class cadet at the US Air Force Academy, seven third classmen and I decided to publish an underground newspaper in order to generate meaningful discussion on controversial topics both on and off campus. We named it "Random Notes" after the Rolling Stone column and intentionally made our first (and only) issue as moderate and balanced as we could. Well, needless to say, we weren't very successful. Before we had even distributed all of our 500 copies, two cadets were threatened with courts-martial and we ceased to exist forthwith. Within a couple of months the other seven cadets had resigned and I was dismissed.

I have named this blog in honor of that newspaper. If God is so gracious as to grant me a little self-discipline - I know, I'm asking for a lot - I intend to write an entry once a week or so about those things I am passionately interested in: social justice in all of its ramifications, culture, living abroad, language and identity. Of course, you'll also probably learn more about my children than you care to.

I hope you enjoy this little endeavor, or at least get something out of it.

Peace. Salaam. Shalom.