{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"Monica Macias Author","home_page_url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com","description":"Monica Macias Author","author":{"name":"Monica Macias Author"},"items":[{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/dismantling-the-myth-of-the-%E2%80%9Ccivilising-mission%E2%80%9D","html_content":"

Today I write this article because what happened today made me reflect deeply on a discussion I had about the colonisation of Guinea with a Spaniard who claims to be a historian. However, as the conversation unfolded, I ...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/dismantling-the-myth-of-the-%E2%80%9Ccivilising-mission%E2%80%9D","title":"Dismantling the Myth of the “Civilising Mission”","summary":"Today I write this article because what happened today made me reflect deeply on a discussion I had about the colonisation of Guinea with a Spaniard who claims to be a historian. However, as the conversation unfolded, I ...","date_modified":"2026-03-31T22:14:53Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/the-truth-about-my-father-guinea%E2%80%99s-first-president","html_content":"

On our independence day, I reflect on his legacy, the lies told about him, and why I must set the record straight.\n\nToday, October 12th, marks the anniversary of my country’s independence — the day my father signed the d...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/the-truth-about-my-father-guinea%E2%80%99s-first-president","title":"The truth about my father, Guinea’s first president","summary":"On our independence day, I reflect on his legacy, the lies told about him, and why I must set the record straight.\n\nToday, October 12th, marks the anniversary of my country’s independence — the day my father signed the d...","date_modified":"2025-10-12T05:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/the-census-of-lies","html_content":"

Introductory Note\n\nOver the past few years, I have been digging deeper into my father’s legacy and the complex history of Equatorial Guinea’s independence. Along this journey, I came across Antonio García-Trevijano, one ...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/the-census-of-lies","title":"The Census of Lies","summary":"Introductory Note\n\nOver the past few years, I have been digging deeper into my father’s legacy and the complex history of Equatorial Guinea’s independence. Along this journey, I came across Antonio García-Trevijano, one ...","date_modified":"2025-10-12T04:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/flowers-at-the-funeral","html_content":"

I first became fully aware of Black History Month in 2024, when I was invited to deliver a presentation at a library in London. Until that moment, I had barely considered it. But that event disturbed something within me ...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/flowers-at-the-funeral","title":"Flowers at the Funeral","summary":"I first became fully aware of Black History Month in 2024, when I was invited to deliver a presentation at a library in London. Until that moment, I had barely considered it. But that event disturbed something within me ...","date_modified":"2025-10-01T05:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/exposing-the-%E2%80%98special-relationship%E2%80%99","html_content":"

The U.S. deportation of South Korean workers reveals the reality of a modern colony.\n\nOn September 11, 2025, more than three hundred South Korean workers were deported from the United States. This was not a visa mishap. ...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/exposing-the-%E2%80%98special-relationship%E2%80%99","title":"Exposing the ‘Special Relationship’","summary":"The U.S. deportation of South Korean workers reveals the reality of a modern colony.\n\nOn September 11, 2025, more than three hundred South Korean workers were deported from the United States. This was not a visa mishap. ...","date_modified":"2025-09-20T09:04:39Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/beyond-isms-rethinking-how-we-build-fairer-societies","html_content":"

\nIt’s time to move past old ideologies and ask how a truly human-centred model might look. \n

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/beyond-isms-rethinking-how-we-build-fairer-societies","title":"Beyond Isms: Rethinking How We Build Fairer Societies ","summary":"\nIt’s time to move past old ideologies and ask how a truly human-centred model might look. \n","date_modified":"2025-09-18T04:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/october-12-freedom-stained-by-fire-and-silence","html_content":"

On this day, 12 October 1968, my father signed the independence agreement that marked the official end of nearly two centuries of Spanish colonial rule over Equatorial Guinea. It should have been a day of liberation, of ...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/october-12-freedom-stained-by-fire-and-silence","title":"October 12: Freedom Stained by Fire and Silence","summary":"On this day, 12 October 1968, my father signed the independence agreement that marked the official end of nearly two centuries of Spanish colonial rule over Equatorial Guinea. It should have been a day of liberation, of ...","date_modified":"2025-09-12T18:22:47Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/no-belief-deserves-a-bullet","html_content":"

When I heard about Charlie Kirk being shot (10/09/2025), I felt shaken—not because I share his politics, but because nobody should ever be attacked simply for what they believe.\n\nI may disagree with him, perhaps even str...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/no-belief-deserves-a-bullet","title":"No Belief Deserves a Bullet","summary":"When I heard about Charlie Kirk being shot (10/09/2025), I felt shaken—not because I share his politics, but because nobody should ever be attacked simply for what they believe.\n\nI may disagree with him, perhaps even str...","date_modified":"2025-09-11T08:27:47Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/living-in-the-mirror-reflections-on-shame-culture","html_content":"

When I think about shame culture in South Korea and Japan, I cannot separate it from the way people live under the constant gaze of others. Life often feels less like one’s own and more like a performance staged for soci...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/living-in-the-mirror-reflections-on-shame-culture","title":"Living in the Mirror: Reflections on Shame Culture ","summary":"When I think about shame culture in South Korea and Japan, I cannot separate it from the way people live under the constant gaze of others. Life often feels less like one’s own and more like a performance staged for soci...","date_modified":"2025-09-07T13:44:31Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/stop-netanyahu%E2%80%99s-genocide-honour-humanity","html_content":"

The world condemns Israel’s inhuman assault on Palestinians. Even Jewish voices say it meets the definition of genocide. The time for silence is over.\n\nIn 1917, Britain’s Balfour Declaration promised a Jewish homeland in...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/stop-netanyahu%E2%80%99s-genocide-honour-humanity","title":"Stop Netanyahu’s Genocide, Honour Humanity","summary":"The world condemns Israel’s inhuman assault on Palestinians. Even Jewish voices say it meets the definition of genocide. The time for silence is over.\n\nIn 1917, Britain’s Balfour Declaration promised a Jewish homeland in...","date_modified":"2025-09-05T08:50:04Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/mocking-the-other-pleasing-the-west","html_content":"

I once watched a Korean storyteller perform in Scotland. In the middle of his routine, he spotted a fellow Korean in the audience. Through some playful back-and-forth, he discovered that this person was collaborating on ...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/mocking-the-other-pleasing-the-west","title":"Mocking the Other, Pleasing the West!","summary":"I once watched a Korean storyteller perform in Scotland. In the middle of his routine, he spotted a fellow Korean in the audience. Through some playful back-and-forth, he discovered that this person was collaborating on ...","date_modified":"2025-09-02T05:45:57Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/reflections-of-a-life-between-east-and-west","html_content":"

Having lived in both Western and East Asian societies, I find myself continually reflecting on why the United States appears almost perpetually embroiled in conflict abroad, whereas China, in my observations, has maintai...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/reflections-of-a-life-between-east-and-west","title":"Reflections of a Life Between East and West.","summary":"Having lived in both Western and East Asian societies, I find myself continually reflecting on why the United States appears almost perpetually embroiled in conflict abroad, whereas China, in my observations, has maintai...","date_modified":"2025-08-27T13:03:46Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/rethinking-freedom-my-reflections-on-the-korean-peninsula","html_content":"

I consider the Korean Peninsula my second home. I was not born there, yet its culture shaped me, its language carried me, and its people embraced me. My love for this land is profound, as if the mountains and rivers them...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/rethinking-freedom-my-reflections-on-the-korean-peninsula","title":"Rethinking Freedom: My Reflections on the Korean Peninsula","summary":"I consider the Korean Peninsula my second home. I was not born there, yet its culture shaped me, its language carried me, and its people embraced me. My love for this land is profound, as if the mountains and rivers them...","date_modified":"2025-08-26T05:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/%F0%9F%8C%8D-realism-vs-liberalism-the-empire-behind-the-mask","html_content":"

For decades, we’ve been told that the liberal world order is humanity’s highest achievement — democracy, free markets, and human rights guiding global peace. But this is a fairy tale. In reality, liberalism is a mask for...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/%F0%9F%8C%8D-realism-vs-liberalism-the-empire-behind-the-mask","title":"🌍 Realism vs Liberalism: The Empire Behind the Mask","summary":"For decades, we’ve been told that the liberal world order is humanity’s highest achievement — democracy, free markets, and human rights guiding global peace. But this is a fairy tale. In reality, liberalism is a mask for...","date_modified":"2025-08-25T05:41:38Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/liberalism-noble-in-spirit-hollow-in-practice","html_content":"

Liberalism offers a compelling promise: that democracy, trade, and international institutions can tame the chaos of world politics and lead us toward peace. It is a noble vision, one that appeals to our better instincts....

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/liberalism-noble-in-spirit-hollow-in-practice","title":"Liberalism: Noble in Spirit, Hollow in Practice","summary":"Liberalism offers a compelling promise: that democracy, trade, and international institutions can tame the chaos of world politics and lead us toward peace. It is a noble vision, one that appeals to our better instincts....","date_modified":"2025-08-23T08:51:43Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/human-rights-start-at-home","html_content":"

When I think about the scandals of Jimmy Savile in Britain and Jeffrey Epstein with Ghislaine Maxwell in America, I can’t just see them as the crimes of a few individuals. To me, they reflect something deeper — how insti...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/human-rights-start-at-home","title":"Human rights start at home! ","summary":"When I think about the scandals of Jimmy Savile in Britain and Jeffrey Epstein with Ghislaine Maxwell in America, I can’t just see them as the crimes of a few individuals. To me, they reflect something deeper — how insti...","date_modified":"2025-08-22T11:06:16Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/between-liberation-and-control-revisiting-15-august-in-the-south","html_content":"

I write this essay as we celebrate the 15th of August, Korean Peninsula Independence Day—a date meant to commemorate liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Yet, for many, it is a day shadowed by lingering questions abou...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/between-liberation-and-control-revisiting-15-august-in-the-south","title":"Between Liberation and Control: Revisiting 15 August in the South","summary":"I write this essay as we celebrate the 15th of August, Korean Peninsula Independence Day—a date meant to commemorate liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Yet, for many, it is a day shadowed by lingering questions abou...","date_modified":"2025-08-15T06:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/the-poverty-of-a-lost-self","html_content":"

There is nothing poorer than living without identity — it’s a vacancy the powerful will fill for you.\n

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/the-poverty-of-a-lost-self","title":"THE POVERTY OF A LOST SELF","summary":"There is nothing poorer than living without identity — it’s a vacancy the powerful will fill for you.\n","date_modified":"2025-08-12T19:42:14Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/allies-in-name-dependents-in-fact","html_content":"

Colonialism in the 21st century no longer relies on conquest and occupation. The modern empire operates through trade rules, sanctions, market access, and economic coercion. The case of the European Union and the United ...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/allies-in-name-dependents-in-fact","title":"Allies in Name, Dependents in Fact","summary":"Colonialism in the 21st century no longer relies on conquest and occupation. The modern empire operates through trade rules, sanctions, market access, and economic coercion. The case of the European Union and the United ...","date_modified":"2025-08-12T06:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/the-illusion-of-korean-independence","html_content":"

In the modern era, colonialism has taken on subtler forms. The days of foreign governors, imposed flags, and direct administrative rule are mostly gone. Yet the control once enforced through military occupation now opera...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/the-illusion-of-korean-independence","title":"The Illusion of Korean Independence","summary":"In the modern era, colonialism has taken on subtler forms. The days of foreign governors, imposed flags, and direct administrative rule are mostly gone. Yet the control once enforced through military occupation now opera...","date_modified":"2025-08-11T15:21:30Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/the-price-of-forgetting-the-consequences-of-historical-omission","html_content":"

In societies across the world, the way history is taught is not simply about recounting facts; it is an act of shaping identity, memory, and consciousness. The stories we choose to tell—or omit—determine how future gener...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/the-price-of-forgetting-the-consequences-of-historical-omission","title":"The Price of Forgetting: The Consequences of Historical Omission ","summary":"In societies across the world, the way history is taught is not simply about recounting facts; it is an act of shaping identity, memory, and consciousness. The stories we choose to tell—or omit—determine how future gener...","date_modified":"2025-07-01T05:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/how-governmentality-governs-modern-citizens","html_content":"

In Western societies, we are taught to cherish freedom, individual choice, and autonomy. Yet, as Michel Foucault's concept of governmentality reveals, control does not always wear the mask of oppression. In fact, modern ...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/how-governmentality-governs-modern-citizens","title":"How Governmentality Governs Modern Citizens.","summary":"In Western societies, we are taught to cherish freedom, individual choice, and autonomy. Yet, as Michel Foucault's concept of governmentality reveals, control does not always wear the mask of oppression. In fact, modern ...","date_modified":"2025-06-30T03:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/what-i-never-got-to-say-on-south-korea%E2%80%99s-identity-crisis","html_content":"

\nWesternisation, beauty standards, language, and a nation at a crossroads – a personal reflection \n

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/what-i-never-got-to-say-on-south-korea%E2%80%99s-identity-crisis","title":"What I Never Got to Say: On South Korea’s Identity Crisis ","summary":"\nWesternisation, beauty standards, language, and a nation at a crossroads – a personal reflection \n","date_modified":"2025-06-29T09:01:39Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/who-is-international-justice-really-for","html_content":"

At midnight on 21st June 2025, Donald Trump launched a military attack against Iran—a sovereign nation—under the same tired and dangerous pretext: that Iran possesses nuclear weapons. Once again, questionable intelligenc...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/who-is-international-justice-really-for","title":"Who Is International Justice Really For?","summary":"At midnight on 21st June 2025, Donald Trump launched a military attack against Iran—a sovereign nation—under the same tired and dangerous pretext: that Iran possesses nuclear weapons. Once again, questionable intelligenc...","date_modified":"2025-06-24T07:36:39Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/one-size-doesn%E2%80%99t-fit-all-rethinking-governance","html_content":"

\nHaving lived, experienced, and explored life across multiple societies shaped by vastly different political systems and ideologies, I’ve had the rare opportunity to reflect deeply on governance around the world. From de...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/one-size-doesn%E2%80%99t-fit-all-rethinking-governance","title":"One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Rethinking Governance","summary":"\nHaving lived, experienced, and explored life across multiple societies shaped by vastly different political systems and ideologies, I’ve had the rare opportunity to reflect deeply on governance around the world. From de...","date_modified":"2025-05-13T21:31:54Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/lewes-festival-talk-challenging-western-narratives-on-africa","html_content":"

\nYesterday’s ㅡ10/05/2025 ㅡ book talk at the Lewes book Festival was a truly memorable experience. I gave a PowerPoint presentation that helped guide the audience through my journey, and from the moment I began speaking, ...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/lewes-festival-talk-challenging-western-narratives-on-africa","title":"Lewes Festival Talk: Challenging Western Narratives on Africa","summary":"\nYesterday’s ㅡ10/05/2025 ㅡ book talk at the Lewes book Festival was a truly memorable experience. I gave a PowerPoint presentation that helped guide the audience through my journey, and from the moment I began speaking, ...","date_modified":"2025-05-11T08:36:47Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/after-the-exploitation-what-my-father-faced-as-president","html_content":"

When I speak about my father, I do so not only as a daughter but as someone deeply shaped by the political legacy he carried and the history we both lived through. His presidency in Equatorial Guinea was forged during th...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/after-the-exploitation-what-my-father-faced-as-president","title":"After the Exploitation: What My Father Faced as President","summary":"When I speak about my father, I do so not only as a daughter but as someone deeply shaped by the political legacy he carried and the history we both lived through. His presidency in Equatorial Guinea was forged during th...","date_modified":"2025-05-06T09:37:22Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/the-fight-continues-from-my-father-to-traor%C3%A9","html_content":"

When I read about the assassination attempts against President Ibrahim Traoré—nineteen times and still counting—I don’t just see headlines. I see the shadow of history. I see the same hands, wearing different gloves.\n\nMy...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/the-fight-continues-from-my-father-to-traor%C3%A9","title":"THE FIGHT CONTINUES: FROM MY FATHER TO TRAORÉ","summary":"When I read about the assassination attempts against President Ibrahim Traoré—nineteen times and still counting—I don’t just see headlines. I see the shadow of history. I see the same hands, wearing different gloves.\n\nMy...","date_modified":"2025-05-06T06:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/still-living-with-empire-europes-moral-blind-spot","html_content":"

We are not living in a post-colonial world; we are still grappling with the consequences of colonialism—and, in many instances, its ongoing reconfiguration through neocolonialism. The scars left by centuries of exploitat...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/still-living-with-empire-europes-moral-blind-spot","title":"Still Living with Empire: Europe's Moral Blind Spot","summary":"We are not living in a post-colonial world; we are still grappling with the consequences of colonialism—and, in many instances, its ongoing reconfiguration through neocolonialism. The scars left by centuries of exploitat...","date_modified":"2025-05-05T06:27:16Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/why-african-nationalism-is-not-european-nationalism","html_content":"

\nI feel compelled to write on this subject, one that occupies my mind often and stirs deep emotions within me. The term \"nationalism\" is one that carries vastly different connotations depending on the historical and cult...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/why-african-nationalism-is-not-european-nationalism","title":"Why African Nationalism Is Not European Nationalism","summary":"\nI feel compelled to write on this subject, one that occupies my mind often and stirs deep emotions within me. The term \"nationalism\" is one that carries vastly different connotations depending on the historical and cult...","date_modified":"2025-05-04T04:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/broken-by-injustice-honouring-the-memory-of-lee-sun-kyun","html_content":"

December 2023, we lost Lee Sun-kyun — a gifted and Oscar award winning actor whose talent touched millions, and a kind soul who deserved far more from the world than he received. His passing was not the result of persona...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/broken-by-injustice-honouring-the-memory-of-lee-sun-kyun","title":"Broken by Injustice: Honouring the Memory of Lee Sun-kyun","summary":"December 2023, we lost Lee Sun-kyun — a gifted and Oscar award winning actor whose talent touched millions, and a kind soul who deserved far more from the world than he received. His passing was not the result of persona...","date_modified":"2025-05-03T05:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/aid-or-agenda-the-hidden-war-on-africa%E2%80%99s-sovereignty","html_content":"

While Western organisations parade as saviours, Africa remains shackled by a deeper, hidden struggle — one we must confront head-on.

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/aid-or-agenda-the-hidden-war-on-africa%E2%80%99s-sovereignty","title":"Aid or Agenda? The Hidden War on Africa’s Sovereignty","summary":"While Western organisations parade as saviours, Africa remains shackled by a deeper, hidden struggle — one we must confront head-on.","date_modified":"2025-05-02T06:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/celebrating-may-1st-a-day-of-strength-and-unity","html_content":"

Today, we celebrate the power of work, dedication, and the collective strength of individuals around the world. May 1st, known as International Workers' Day, is not just a day for recognition—it’s a call to honour the re...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/celebrating-may-1st-a-day-of-strength-and-unity","title":"Celebrating May 1st: A Day of Strength and Unity","summary":"Today, we celebrate the power of work, dedication, and the collective strength of individuals around the world. May 1st, known as International Workers' Day, is not just a day for recognition—it’s a call to honour the re...","date_modified":"2025-05-01T05:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/why-lived-experience-cannot-be-reduced-to-privilege","html_content":"

In response to commentary questioning the legitimacy of my perspective based on perceived privilege, I feel compelled to address the deeper misunderstandings such assumptions reveal — about identity, critical thinking, a...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/why-lived-experience-cannot-be-reduced-to-privilege","title":"Why Lived Experience Cannot Be Reduced to Privilege","summary":"In response to commentary questioning the legitimacy of my perspective based on perceived privilege, I feel compelled to address the deeper misunderstandings such assumptions reveal — about identity, critical thinking, a...","date_modified":"2025-05-01T05:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/beyond-the-mirror-reclaiming-beauty-after-colonialism","html_content":"

Colonialism's long shadow stretches across the lives of countless individuals in Asian and African countries, its influence deeply embedded in cultural norms and personal aspirations. The examples of Asian plastic surge...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/beyond-the-mirror-reclaiming-beauty-after-colonialism","title":"Beyond the Mirror: Reclaiming Beauty After Colonialism","summary":" Colonialism's long shadow stretches across the lives of countless individuals in Asian and African countries, its influence deeply embedded in cultural norms and personal aspirations. The examples of Asian plastic surge...","date_modified":"2025-04-30T07:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/who-holds-the-pen-rewriting-african-histories-with-truth-and-dig","html_content":"

\nToday, I feel compelled to reflect on the urgent need to decolonise academia and our minds.\n\nOne of the most painful lessons I have learned is how easily African histories are distorted, often by those who have neither ...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/who-holds-the-pen-rewriting-african-histories-with-truth-and-dig","title":"Who Holds the Pen? Rewriting African Histories with Truth","summary":"\nToday, I feel compelled to reflect on the urgent need to decolonise academia and our minds.\n\nOne of the most painful lessons I have learned is how easily African histories are distorted, often by those who have neither ...","date_modified":"2025-04-29T07:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/my-father-my-hero-facing-history-with-both-heart-and-honesty","html_content":"

My father was not the monster they created in their stories — he was a fighter, a builder, a flawed man, and above all, a human being who carried a nation’s hope on his shoulders.

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/my-father-my-hero-facing-history-with-both-heart-and-honesty","title":"My Father, My Hero: Facing history with both heart and honesty ","summary":"My father was not the monster they created in their stories — he was a fighter, a builder, a flawed man, and above all, a human being who carried a nation’s hope on his shoulders.","date_modified":"2025-04-28T07:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/freedom-of-speech-or-the-right-to-speak-granted-by-lawmakers","html_content":"

It is widely assumed that Western societies champion freedom of speech as an inviolable right. Yet, a closer look reveals that what exists is not true freedom, but a right to speak — granted, regulated, and, ultimately, ...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/freedom-of-speech-or-the-right-to-speak-granted-by-lawmakers","title":"Freedom of Speech or the Right to Speak Granted by Lawmakers?","summary":"It is widely assumed that Western societies champion freedom of speech as an inviolable right. Yet, a closer look reveals that what exists is not true freedom, but a right to speak — granted, regulated, and, ultimately, ...","date_modified":"2025-04-27T08:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/who-gets-to-speak-propaganda-and-the-erasure-of-truth","html_content":"

Propaganda creates false heroes and buries inconvenient truths. This is a call to resist the erosion of justice by defending the facts, no matter the cost.

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/who-gets-to-speak-propaganda-and-the-erasure-of-truth","title":"Who Gets to Speak? Propaganda and the Erasure of Truth","summary":"Propaganda creates false heroes and buries inconvenient truths. This is a call to resist the erosion of justice by defending the facts, no matter the cost.","date_modified":"2025-04-26T11:20:08Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/are-we-truly-living-in-democracies","html_content":"

During my recent travel to China, I had the chance to reconnect with an old friend from South Korea. As we caught up on life, politics inevitably entered the conversation. We spoke about the recent impeachment of Preside...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/are-we-truly-living-in-democracies","title":"Are We Truly Living in Democracies?","summary":"During my recent travel to China, I had the chance to reconnect with an old friend from South Korea. As we caught up on life, politics inevitably entered the conversation. We spoke about the recent impeachment of Preside...","date_modified":"2025-04-25T06:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/colonial-reckoning-remembering-my-grandfather-killed-under-span","html_content":"

During the period of Spanish colonisation in Equatorial Guinea, violence was not just a symptom of occupation—it was a method of control. It shaped daily life, enforced submission, and silenced resistance. My grandfather...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/colonial-reckoning-remembering-my-grandfather-killed-under-span","title":"Colonial Reckoning: Remembering My Grandfather","summary":"During the period of Spanish colonisation in Equatorial Guinea, violence was not just a symptom of occupation—it was a method of control. It shaped daily life, enforced submission, and silenced resistance. My grandfather...","date_modified":"2025-04-24T07:41:01Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/my-impression-of-china-today","html_content":"

\nMy recent trip to China was nothing short of amazing. What struck me most was witnessing firsthand a nation that has, within a single generation, lifted over 800 million people out of absolute poverty. This is an unprec...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/my-impression-of-china-today","title":"My Impression of China today","summary":"\nMy recent trip to China was nothing short of amazing. What struck me most was witnessing firsthand a nation that has, within a single generation, lifted over 800 million people out of absolute poverty. This is an unprec...","date_modified":"2025-04-22T21:14:40Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/reflections-on-black-history-month-a-journey-from-pyongyang-to-s","html_content":"

\nAs we celebrate Black History Month, I find myself reflecting deeply on the power of identity, resilience, and the long journeys we all take to understand our place in the world. For many, Black History Month is a time ...

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/reflections-on-black-history-month-a-journey-from-pyongyang-to-s","title":"Reflections on Black History Month: A Journey of Self-Discovery ","summary":"\nAs we celebrate Black History Month, I find myself reflecting deeply on the power of identity, resilience, and the long journeys we all take to understand our place in the world. For many, Black History Month is a time ...","date_modified":"2024-11-01T10:35:50Z"},{"id":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/25th-korea-forum-in-istanbul","html_content":"

August 15th marks Independence Day for the Korean Peninsula! To celebrate, the Korea Global Foundation, in partnership with Track2Asia, organized the Korea Forum in Istanbul.

","url":"https://monicamaciasauthor.com/f/25th-korea-forum-in-istanbul","title":"25th Korea Forum in Istanbul!","summary":" August 15th marks Independence Day for the Korean Peninsula! To celebrate, the Korea Global Foundation, in partnership with Track2Asia, organized the Korea Forum in Istanbul.","date_modified":"2024-08-18T08:18:29Z"}]}