I wish I could use this page to concentrate on anthropology, books, cultural studies and Oman but at this point in America, silence can be seen as agreement and it is better to be clear. I do not support this war with Iran.

I condemn the bombing of the Shajareh Tayyebe school and any Iranian school or university.

Every student, faculty member and staff member in every educational institution in every country deserves to learn, teach and work in peace.

I taught for two years at the American University of Sharjah, for one semester at University of Sharjah-Women’s and 19 years at Dhofar University in Oman. I have presented at conferences at AUS and Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat, as well as Al Ain University and Zayed University in the Emirates. I have attended a conference at NYU-Abu Dhabi and visited Education City in Qatar.

Every student, faculty member and staff member in every educational institution in every country deserves to learn, teach and work in peace.

I was a student St. Mary’s College of Maryland (first year of college); Middlebury Language School (summer semester-German); Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn, Germany (junior year aboard); University of Wisconsin-Madison (BA); University of Maryland-College Park (MEd); Frederick University, Nicosia, Cyprus (semester abroad for research); the University of North Dakota (PhD) and the Center for International Learning, Muscat (two summers for Arabic classes). I have taught at the University of North Dakota, the University of Minnesota-Crookston, the Community College of Vermont-Montpelier and for the American Red Cross, Massachusetts Bay Chapter. I have presented at conferences at New York University, the University of Minnesota, Concordia University in Montreal and the Universities of Utrecht, Edinburgh, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Wales and Warwick.

Every student, faculty member and staff member in every educational institution in every country deserves to learn, teach and work in peace.

I wish America, the countries of the Arabian Peninsula and the countries near the Persian/ Arabian Gulf would follow the example of Oman, a country which exemplifies a commitment to peace.

We continue to stand against injustice and darkness and remain on the side of justice, light and harmony. Mankind will only enjoy happiness and a sense of security if there is justice and respect for all those qualities that guarantee human beings their legitimate rights. First and foremost among these being their right to dignity, liberty and independence.

In the area of international relations, our foreign policy is based on firm foundations and principles: support for right and justice and a desire to work together with other peace-loving countries of the world to resolve international conflicts through dialogue and negotiation, so that everyone can enjoy security and stability and all the peoples of the earth can reap the benefits. Sultan Qaboos bin Said

what I wrote Feb. 28, 2026

I have always kept this website apolitical because politics is not my métier but there are times when one must nail the colors to the mast. I do not support this war with Iran. I do not support Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth or their war agenda.

One of the reasons I moved to Oman in 2005 is that I do not think soldiers should be the only Americans in the Middle East. Every day during the 19 years I was in Salalah I tried to represent the States in a positive way. I was very aware that, for many people I met, I was the first American they talked to and I wanted to leave a good impression.

I am so sorry for all the people living in fear because of American bombs. It was a joy and a blessing to live in Oman, a country so committed to peace. I hope there will be peace throughout the Arabian Peninsula and Middle East soon.

The path we have followed in our foreign policy over the past decades has shown itself to be both sound and effective, with God’s guidance. We are committed to this approach, which supports justice, peace and security, and tolerance and love; which calls for international cooperation in order to reinforce stability, promote growth and prosperity and tackle the causes of tension in international relations by producing just and permanent solutions to critical problems; which fosters peaceful coexistence between nations; and which generates well-being and prosperity for the whole of mankind.
Sultan Qaboos, 14.11.2006

I do not support this war with Iran.