Category Archives: Liberty

Una Épica Sobre La Venezuela Chavista – Mi Novela Sobre #Venezuela

Posted on May 5, 2024 by Joel D. Hirst

Ya que Venezuela esta otra ves en las noticias, un pueblo que aun despues de 25 años niega su esclavitud, les recomiendo mi novela. Sobre unos presos politicos; unos estudiantes luchadores – y un tirano. Dos novelas en una; la … Continue reading →

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Gonzalez al Gobierno, Machado al poder – #Venezuela

Posted on May 4, 2024 by Joel D. Hirst
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Moves and Countermoves

Posted on May 2, 2024 by Joel D. Hirst

It’s hard not to notice the difference between the emotional rallies of Maria Corina Machado (MCM), Venezuela’s opposition leader and the dictator Maduro’s forced, loveless, joyless meetings. Size: people always measure size and the Venezuelan opposition have been comparing size … Continue reading →

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Mali’s Descent into Darkness

Posted on April 12, 2024 by Joel D. Hirst

I write this because my Malian friends can’t. They probably can’t event tweet it or FB it. Yesterday the Malian junta banned political reporting and commentary. This, after last week banning political activities by parties or organized civil society. They … Continue reading →

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The Gods Will Have Blood

Posted on March 24, 2024 by Joel D. Hirst

Utopianism is extremely dangerous when it is comingled with envy and greed. And revolutions are easily captured. These are the two simple lessons I learned from Anatole France’s masterpiece “The Gods Will Have Blood”. The book is an easy read, … Continue reading →

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Auxilio, Venezuela’s Cry For Help

Posted on March 21, 2024 by Joel D. Hirst

“Auxilio!” Dignora screamed into the silence on a warm Caracas afternoon. “Help!” her cry muffled by the might of the agents who were shoving her into the back of a car. There was no-one to help her; the men who … Continue reading →

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Our Democracy Needs To Go Back To The Basics

Posted on February 17, 2024 by Joel D. Hirst

In the 1980s the communist dictatorship of Daniel Ortega (Round #1, although Round #2 isn’t communist only purely despotic) would bring journalists from the USA and Europe to show them the revolution. They took them to a few neighborhoods where … Continue reading →

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El Dios de Pájaros y Presos

Posted on January 5, 2024 by Joel D. Hirst

Esto lo escribi hace nueve años. Es peor que nunca; pero ahora pienso no solo en Venezuela sino tambien Bolivia y Nicaragua y Rusia y la lista continua. Cientos de presos politicos sufriendo, muchos en el anonimato. Y uno queda … Continue reading →

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25 Years of Service

Posted on January 4, 2024 by Joel D. Hirst

I turned around and realized that, this month, January, I mark 25 years since I waded into my wars. January 1999 — a kid really, flooding in Honduras and Nicaragua. Food distribution; clothes distributions; rebuilding a few hanging bridges; reforesting … Continue reading →

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From “The Cross and the Machine”

Posted on December 26, 2023 by Joel D. Hirst

Somebody I correspond with sent me this remarkable article. I was going to try to write about it, but I can’t find the words. So I leave it with you, hoping you’ll take a few minutes — like I did … Continue reading →

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