Like a lot of people who have spent time abroad, I found the contrasts between Riga, Latvia, and cities in this country to be overpowering. In Riga, I felt relatively safe, even in the more grim parts of the city; I do not feel safe in the downtown portions of many American cities, including D.C. and Baltimore. Some missionaries to European countries spoke at our church today and they talked about the terrorism drills and “random shooter” drills their children in American schools have endured, along with the overpowering nastiness of U.S. police. When I was in Riga, I did … Continue reading Coming Back to ‘Exceptional’ America