We must create a human chain to reach out to those entrenched in bigotry — I’ve been writing about racism in the United States for years, and it has changed me. It has been a slow evolution that has allowed me to make, I hope, significant process in becoming a better human being. Still, I recognize that I have a long way to go. Over…

Why do those who defend “traditional values” disregard the importance of being humble? — I grew up in a family that called itself “great.” That’s all I ever heard, “Boy, you sure were lucky to be born into the best family on the planet. No other family in history is as good as yours. …

No, it hasn’t “always been there,” it’s the nadir of a shameful evolution — With as much as we talk about white supremacy, don’t you think it’s odd that we never discuss where it came from? People say things like “white supremacy has always been there,” or “people have always been racist,” or “there have always been slaves.” These statements are not true. Also…

A discussion of the evolution of fantasy and how it is perceived in academic circles — I became pretty good friends with one of my college English professors to the point where he and his wife came to visit me when I was living in Lima, Peru. During that time in my life, I was effectively a Machu Picchu tour guide because that’s where everyone wanted…

A reminder that getting old is a privilege — I woke up thinking about death. I was about to compete in one of the world’s most physically challenging endurance events. Like every year, I didn’t know if I could make it. 19 times I’d managed to drag myself to the finish line. As a young man, I’d arrived triumphant…

When there is no accountability, things just keep getting worse — I. Am. Livid. For those of you about to tell me that I need to move, I realize your heart is in the right place. But answer me this: Move where? …

At some point, mature people have to take responsibility and act to end the cycle of abuse — Growing up, my politically conservative cousins used to always exhibit the same disturbing and aggressive behavior. They were older than me, so I looked up to them and tried to emulate their mode of interacting with each other. I never anticipated that this would get me into trouble. My cousins…

Some chapters overlap, others have a final page — I was hiking with two Olympic athletes and I was a nobody. My companions were Peru’s first winter Olympian, Roberto Carcelen, and Martin Koukal of the Czech Republic. Martin was an Olympic medalist and a world champion. Roberto had organized the trip. The hike to Choquequirao was part training camp…

It’s bad optics to be associated with a misuse of funds — America has a toxic relationship with professional athletes. Athletes are revered, and the path to professional sports is often seen as the only road out of poverty. The reality is that there are a limited number of jobs available for professional athletes. …