Somewhere Sisters: A Story of Adoption Identity and the Meaning of Family Book Review

On its surface, adoption is a wonderful thing. It gives children without a home a family and it allows adults to become parents or to add to their brood. But for all the good it does, it can have unforeseen side effects.

Somewhere Sisters: A Story of Adoption, Identity, and the Meaning of Family, by Erika Sachiko was published in October. The memoir is the story of two young ladies who were born in Vietnam at the end of the 1990s. Hà and Loan are twins. Born to a mother who could not take care of them, they were put in an orphanage. Hà was taken in and raised by a maternal aunt and her long-time partner. Loan was renamed Isabella and adopted by an American couple along with another girl they renamed Olivia.

Their lives were as different as night and day. Hà’s early years were happy., but without the material advantages of Isabella’s suburban upbringing. When Isabella’s adoptive mother found out that her daughter had a twin, she set out to reunite the girls.

I wanted to like this book. It was a compelling narrative. I liked how the author sketched the journey of her subjects. But it was a little slow and it took longer than expected to finish it.

Do I recommend it? Maybe.

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Insulting the Military is Not The Way to Win a Presidential Election

An election, especially a Presidential Election is a unique time in the political history of the United States. It is a time in which we, the people, can hire and/or fire those who we choose to represent our interests.

The 2020 Presidential election is two months away. At this point in time, the pressure on both sides of the campaign is only beginning to ramp up. Both the Republicans and the Democrats are doing everything in their power to win the election. However, there is one way to lose voters. The way is to insult them.

Yesterday, you know who called American soldiers who were captured and/or killed in battle “losers” and “suckers”.

This, from the guy who got out of serving in Vietnam because of “bone spurs”. This man is a coward and a bully. He talks a big game, but is never able to follow up with action. While our military and their families serve and protect our country, he insults them.

When the late Senator John McCain was still alive, he was not shy in verbally attacking the Senator because he was a POW.

I come from military veterans. My grandfathers and uncles fought in World War II. One of my great-uncles on my mother’s paternal line was a veteran of World War I. Having their memories and their years of service spit upon by a man who did everything he could to avoid serving crosses a line that I take personally. It is just another reminder of who this person truly is and why he is unfit for office.

Obviously, his goal is to be President for another four years. Referring to those who gave their lives for the United States as “losers” and “suckers” is not the way to win a Presidential election.

#BidenHarris2020

Will the Killing of Qasem Soleimani Start World War III?

For some, an eye for an eye begets justice. For others, an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.

Last night, the news flashed around the world that Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds military force was killed by a US airstrike in Baghdad.

I would love to shout and cheer that the big bad is dead. Our world can finally be at peace.

The truth is that I cannot. Though it is without a doubt that this man and the forces he led did some truly heinous acts, I fear that this assassination will start World War III.

Adding to the mess is our so-called President, who used the excuse of so-called “bone spurs” to get out of serving in Vietnam. He never served in the military (which is not entirely a bad thing). That being said, it would behoove him and us to listen to those who have served in the military. He is akin to a little boy playing with his plastic soldiers. The problem with that is that he is not playing with six-inch plastic toys, he is playing with people’s lives.

Only time will tell if World War III starts or this is just another scuffle. No matter the outcome, yesterday’s actions make me more than a little nervous.