Don Quixote: Its Impact and Influence
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, let’s take a look inside one of the most influential books of all time. Written by Spaniard Miquel de Cervantes in 1605 (with a Part Two published in 1615), El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de La Mancha (commonly known as Don Quixote) is also considered by many to be […]
UPDATED: Scotland’s Declaration of Independence?
At the height of the British Empire, England had rule over one-quarter of the world’s population. In the years since, some of the countries under their rule either won their independence through war (the United States and India) or through diplomatic negotiations (Canada, Australia, and New Zealand). Of its remaining fourteen territories, the citizens of […]
The President’s Address about the Islamic State
The problems in Iraq have been a growing concern for the American people and the Obama administration for the last several months. btw has been providing some summary stories on the advance of the group sometimes known as The Islamic State in Syria (ISIS), the Islamic State in Libya (ISIL), or simply The Islamic State. […]
Anne Frank: The Enduring Power of a Single Voice
Maybe you have read Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl. If so, you will know that it chronicles the lives of the Franks, an upper-middle class Jewish family who fled Germany for Amsterdam. They went into hiding to avoid capture by the Nazi’s, who were forcing the Jews into concentration camps where many were […]
The Difficult Road to Finding Peace
For the past month, btw has been updating you on the latest flare-up in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The recent rash of fighting began July 8 when the Hamas launched rockets into Israel, who responded with a counter-attack air campaign. As new developments continue to come out of the region daily, we […]
Getting Fired Up Over the World’s Biggest Sporting Event!
After much fanfare (and more than a little controversy) the month-long Federation International Football Association (FIFA) finally kicked off its 20th World Cup in Brazil on June 12. Held every four years in a different host country, this soccer tournament is made up of 32 national teams from six regions (out of 209 total eligible […]
Remembering D-Day: World War II’s Most Important Battle
At btw, we feel it is important to commemorate important events of history, especially those that honor the men and women who fought to secure our valued freedoms. June 6 marked the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the massive military invasion that marked the beginning of the end of World War II. The war took place […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Military Coups D’etat in Thailand On May 22, the Thailand military forcefully took over power and announced that the country was now under martial law. Violence began last fall, when 28 people were killed and nearly 800 injured in anti-government protests aimed at former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is accused of corruption. General Prayuth Chan-ocha […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
India’s New Prime Minister In what is being called a “landmark election victory,” Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will become India’s newest prime minister (the highest political office in the country). Modi won 282 seats, ten more than needed to secure a parliamentary majority. He campaigned with promises of reviving the economy […]
After the Disaster
As long as there has been nature there have been natural disasters. They can strike in an instant, leaving in its wake of devastation that can take months and even years to clean up. Luckily, we live in a country with the fundamental capabilities to support its citizens in crisis. Those not able to help […]