This is the core of a diaspora poem. For me, it is a eulogy. Grief in every word. Mourning the motherland.

Today’s discussions declare that it is difficult to disentangle the Queen from colonialism and imperialism. The monarch serves as a symbol for the British empire, and this is exactly what Queen Elizabeth was. She was a symbol for an empire that was built off of genocide and violence, which is why many of those belonging to colonies or former colonies subjugated by Britain have mixed feelings towards her.

On July 22, Iraqi demonstrators stormed the Council Representatives of Iraq building in the Baghdad Green Zone–an area housing several government buildings including Iraq’s Parliament–in support of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, denouncing Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, who who was nominated by the Coordination Framework (CF) to be Prime Minister of the new Iraqi Government.

(Picture credit: Thaier Al-Sudani | Reuters)

I remember having a conversation with one of my Asian-American friends about a mutual white acquaintance of ours where we discussed something this acquaintance had asked my friend regarding their culture and background. It was a question of ignorance, prefaced with the phrase "I don't know if this is offensive..." - an all too familiar phrase we had both laughed at.

Many have explored new things in the state of isolation, especially when this state of solitude is coupled with a bustling social media scene. One that has been particularly popular is the exploration of spirituality. Renewed interest in meditation practices and cleansing is apparent in the volume of posts on platforms pertaining to the subject - however, this particular genre of content is composed of a very random melting pot of stolen rituals, closed practices, and misinformation.

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This bill greatly disadvantages individuals seeking an abortion, as many do not know they are pregnant before six weeks. Reasons for abortion are very diverse and often interconnected - some may seek the procedure for financial reasons, timing, cases of sexual assault, or a combination of different factors. Abortion is a necessary and essential healthcare procedure that should be easy to access.

Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, at the Taliban’s first press conference following their acquisition of Afghanistan, added a pledge for the women of Afghanistan stating: “we are guaranteeing all their rights within the limits of Islam.”

"What concerns today’s discussion is a human rights crisis that has been left unaddressed for far too long. While the issue has piqued media interest in spurts over the years of Duterte’s term, the long-lasting consequences of his policies still remain within the social climate of the Philippines. As the end of his term approaches , it is pertinent to reflect upon a major aspect of his presidency: Duterte’s War on Drugs."

"With such heated debates over the nature of the American education system, lawmakers are taking an active cue as discussions centering around this “critical race theory” and its place in the classroom are occurring in multiple states."

I wonder to myself, why is everyone body-positive until it is their own body?

a poem by Billy Agustin