Aside from being famous authors in their respective fields and times, Charles Dickens and Herodotus had one thing in common: their love for travel. Dickens wrote about his time in Italy, and Herodotus recounted the Greek and Persian Wars while traveling through the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
When Marjane Satrapi was a young girl in Iran, there were two things she most looked forward to: shaving her legs, and becoming the last prophet in the galaxy. Now, she can add winning an Oscar to her list. Her film, “Persepolis,” based on her autobiographical graphic novel series, is nominated for best animated feature this year.
A global warming bill in the California State Assembly was pulled by its author late last month after not garnering enough support. The California Clean Car Discount Act, or AB 493, in an effort to curb the emission of green house gasses into the atmosphere, would have imposed a one-time fee and given rebates to new car buyers based on the amount of harmful gasses their car emits.
Tucked away in the University Student Union is a relatively small theater; something you would watch an outdated movie in. There you will find a couple hundred CSUN students trying to stay awake during a session of introductory political science. Eyelids are getting heavy and thumbs are busy texting away until the professor announces he’s going to show a clip of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” to illustrate how bureaucratic agencies function.
The abortion law in Nicaragua, which bans all forms of abortion, is both draconian and implausible. Implemented in 2006, the law makes all types of abortions illegal regardless of the conditions or reasons. It is deeply embedded in the country’s strict Catholic and machista values in which men have ownership of women’s bodies.
As a recently-arrived immigrant from post-war Nicaragua, Camilo Mejia felt out of place in the United States, his third home in three years. He decided to join the Army in order to find his place in the world. “I was lacking social contact and I didn’t feel part of anything,” Mejia said.
Camilo Mejia is enjoying civilian life. He recently moved to a modest house in North Miami that he will share with his 7-year-old daughter, Samantha. He’s still working on furnishing and stocking the new home; the living room is empty other than two lounge chairs, wine glasses are used for water, and once the cable installation guys leave, he’ll have some entertainment.
I first heard about Camilo Mejia in a Spanish-language media class last semester. I was developing a story about Latino resistance to the military and my professor gave me his name. After a quick, first telephone interview and reading the beginning of his book, I realized I needed to do a one-on-one interview in person with Mejia to really understand the depth of his story and amazing journey.
Herbert Siguenza is a busy man. Aside from being a full-time member of the award-winning comedy acting trio, Culture Clash, he’s an instructor in the Central American Studies department at CSUN, teaches acting through the Cal Arts Partnership at Plaza de la Raza and was recently named the president of the Authority Commission for El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, or Olvera Street.