Some people hate the zoo. To them, the idea of observing animals completely controlled by humans seems inhumane. I’ve never worked at a zoo. So, I don’t know if it’s true that some animals are drugged to make it easier for them to be controlled. But they are certainly caged: confined to small spaces, placed behind glass, and put on display. Before visiting South Africa, the one thing I talked about was the lions. Maybe it’s the movie the Lion King or maybe because I’m a leo.

Ah, Thanksgiving. The great debate. It’s the holiday that evokes a debate not over religion but humanity and sensitivity. Do we celebrate it? Don’t we? Do we honor tradition or lament history? You can decide your answer. But I offer here a Native American prayer of Thanksgiving to say in lieu of or in addition to your celebrations. Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your meal and family. J Prayer found on blog Spirit in Action by Ms. ohnwentsya. Check out her other great content th

Imagine at nine years old having to leave the only country you ever knew, the relatives you have, the street you grew up on, the familiarity and comforts of your home and being sent thousands of miles away. In this new country, it is just you and your immediate family. There are no grandparents to visit. No cousins to play with or aunts and uncles to talk to. It is just you, your siblings and your mom and dad. You all have to learn a new language. Your accent is so thick that

They're creepy and they're kooky, Mysterious and spooky, They're altogether ooky... Each year in America around this time we all indulge somewhat into the hysteria of Halloween. There is something fun and exciting about the "Big Scare." We tell stories of ghostly events to help evoke and embellish this emotion of fright. We've long celebrated fictional characters such as Jason and the man wit the hat and claws, Mr. Krueger. There's even a hit show called "American Horror Stor

The day after I arrived in Auckland, New Zealand in the fall of 2005, I walked down the street, taking in the different people, food and stores. In the distance I could hear what I thought was a sporting event or a parade - lots of people yelling. I noticed as I walked along that this place had an abundance of something - coffee shops. I made a mental note to reward myself with a coffee later. But for now, I had somewhere to be. I stood outside an office that would help me ge