Queer Cafe

Christopher Macken: Hey MAGA! Where's Your Line?

Lady Gaga: Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Holding Hands

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Speech
White House Correspondence Association Dinner
Modern Love by Matt Nathanson

Have You Heard the News Today
Scene From A Man Called Otto

New Pledge of Allegiance
What it Means to Love Your Country

Our Shared Humanity

Finding Common Ground in a Divided World

In a world marked by diversity—of cultures, beliefs, languages, and lifestyles—it is easy to focus on what sets us apart. Headlines often highlight conflict and division, feeding the illusion that we are irreconcilably different. But beneath these surface distinctions lies a truth that is both simple and profound: we are more alike than we are different. Our shared humanity, the common threads that bind us all, has the power to transcend borders, bridge gaps, and heal divides.

The Common Threads of Human Experience

At the core of every person is a desire for meaning, connection, safety, and love. Whether we are born in a bustling city or a quiet village, whether we speak English, Arabic, Swahili, or Mandarin, we all experience joy, sorrow, fear, and hope. We all begin life in vulnerability and rely on others to nurture and protect us. As we grow, we seek companionship, understanding, and a sense of purpose. We celebrate milestones, mourn losses, and dream of a future where life is a little better—not just for ourselves, but for those we care about.

This shared emotional landscape is not bound by geography or culture. A parent in Tokyo worries about their child’s future just as a parent in Nairobi or São Paulo does. A young person in Toronto may struggle with self-doubt in the same way a young person in Baghdad does. These emotions, needs, and aspirations are universal.

Christopher Macken: What Would You Do?
Sen Elissa Slotkin: Don't Tune Out
Happy People Dancing Around the World

Lady Gaga: Won’t You Be My Neighbor (Studio)
Your Welfare Ain't on the Rich Man's Mind
Robert Arnold: The Silence of Generals
I'm Tired of...

Danielle Kramer: Stochastic Terrorism
Bill Maher: Who Are These Crazed Shooters?

What Truly Matters

In the end, what matters most in life isn’t wealth, fame, or power. What endures are the relationships we build, the kindness we show, and the difference we make in each other’s lives. When people look back at their lives, they rarely cherish the material possessions they acquired. They remember the people who stood by them in difficult times, the moments of laughter shared with loved ones, and the acts of compassion that reminded them they weren’t alone.

Purpose and fulfillment often come not from what we accumulate, but from what we give. Listening deeply, helping someone in need, creating something beautiful, or simply being present—these are the moments that give life richness and meaning.

How We Can Get Along

If we are to thrive as a global community, we must learn to see the humanity in one another. This begins with empathy—the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Empathy softens judgment and builds bridges of compassion. It allows us to look at a refugee not as a threat, but as a person seeking safety. It helps us see that someone who disagrees with us politically may still love their children, care about their community, and want the best for the world.

Getting along does not require uniformity of thought or belief. It requires respect, open-mindedness, and a willingness to listen. It requires us to replace fear with curiosity, to ask questions rather than assume answers, and to focus on what unites us rather than what divides us.

Education, storytelling, and cultural exchange can all play vital roles in this process. The more we learn about one another, the more we realize how much we share. Literature, music, film, and art allow us to step into others’ shoes and see the world through different eyes. These are not just tools of entertainment, but of understanding and connection.

Christopher Macken: Hey MAGA! Where's Your Line?

Facts vs Fantasy

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Speech

Info: Wellness and Resilience

Uncle Sam: Message to Trump & Hegseth

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
-Martin Luther King Jr.

"Remember: There is nothing natural or inevitable about extreme inequality; it’s the result of an economic system that values wealth and power over human dignity and justice. It doesn't have to be this way. Collectively, we have the power to change it."
-Robert Reich

"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."
-Barry Goldwater

"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to seek justice."
-Jack E.Smith

"Justice is truth in action."
-Benjamin Disraeli

Moving Forward Together

The challenges we face—climate change, inequality, conflict, and disease—are global in nature. They remind us that we are all part of a single, interconnected world. No nation or individual can solve these problems alone. Collaboration, rooted in mutual respect and shared goals, is our best path forward.

To build a better world, we must act with both heart and mind. We must see the stranger not as “other,” but as another version of ourselves. We must recognize that every act of kindness, however small, contributes to a more compassionate and inclusive world.

In the quiet spaces of our daily lives—in the way we greet a neighbor, support a colleague, or speak to a child—we have the power to reflect our shared humanity. And in doing so, we plant the seeds of peace, understanding, and hope.

Let us remember: we all bleed the same, laugh the same, cry the same. We are more than our differences. We are one human family.

Christopher Macken: Hey MAGA! Where's Your Line?

Barack Obama: Reflections
Oh America

The People will Be Free

Danielle Kramer: Stochastic Terrorism
John Stweart on Daily Show: One Too Many

Happy People Dancing Around the World 2012

Your Life Sucks?

Info: Encouragement and Support

What Radicalized You?

Remaining Sane in an Insane World

Coping tips amid the crashing waves of societal chaos...

To remain sane in an insane world, anchor yourself by focusing exclusively on what you can control—your actions, responses, and values—while accepting that you cannot control external chaos. Reduce anxiety by limiting news/social media consumption, cultivating deep, supportive relationships, practicing mindfulness, and finding joy in purposeful, creative activities.

Focus on the Controllables: Recognize that you cannot change the world or other people, so focus on your own thoughts, actions, and character.

Curate Information Intake: Turn off the relentless stream of news and social media to prevent panic and rage, opting for, instead, timeless, quiet, and meaningful content.

Cultivate Daily Resilience: Prioritize self-care, including adequate sleep, exercise, and nutritious food to build mental stamina.
Build a Supportive Community: Connect with friends and family who share your values to avoid the isolation that makes one vulnerable to hopelessness.

Embrace Mindful Action: Find meaning in small tasks, hobbies, or helping others, allowing you to create value regardless of external circumstances.

Ultimately, staying sane is about becoming a "rock" that remains unmoving amid the crashing waves of societal chaos.

Jordan Peterson: How to Stay Sane in an Insane World
Sara Bareilles & Carole King: Beautiful/Brave Mashup
Robert Arnold: The Silence of Generals

Your Welfare Ain't on the Rich Man's Mind

Greg Harden: How To Stay Sane in an Insane World
Info: Celebrating Diversity

Pink: Message to the President

Info: Wellness and Resilience

Greg Harden: 60 Minutes Interview
Teach Me Your Favorite Dance Move 1

Rev Dr Howard-John Wesley: Which Christianity?

Love Thy Neighbor

Bernie Sanders: Support Free Speech and Condemn Violence

Stark Contrast: Eleanor Roosevelt vs Donald Trump

In the end, we are one world... And that which injures any one of us, injures all of us...

Eleanor Roosevelt wrote these powerful words in December 1945 as she sailed to London to represent the United States at the first United Nations meeting: "In the end, we are one world and that which injures any one of us, injures all of us." Her vision of interconnected humanity, where national pride coexists with global responsibility, stands in stark contrast to the message delivered in Sept 2025 at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly by Donald Trump, who told assembled world leaders: "I'm really good at this stuff: Your countries are going to hell."

Roosevelt believed deeply that "Our own land and our own flag cannot be replaced by any other land or any other flag. But you can join with other nations, under a joint flag, to accomplish something good for the world that you cannot accomplish alone." She understood that patriotism and internationalism were not opposing forces but complementary strengths, and that human rights violations anywhere threatened peace everywhere.

In contrast, Trump's speech was dominated by attacks on allies and international cooperation itself. He has withdrawn the United States from multiple UN bodies, including the Human Rights Council, and today spent part of his speech complaining about not receiving a UN renovation contract years ago, snidely remarking that "These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter." He boasted about America being "the hottest country anywhere in the world, and there is no other country even close."

Video: Trump Addresses United Nations

CNN: Trump Takes Shots at UN, Climate Change, and Immigration Policies in Speech
PBS: Key Moments From Trump’s UN Speech
CBS: Trump Criticizes European Allies in UN Speech: Your Countries are Going to Hell

Meanwhile, Eleanor Roosevelt spent her many years at the UN working tirelessly to build bridges, chairing over 3,000 hours of contentious deliberation to create the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She believed, as she said at the Sorbonne, that "the struggle for democracy and freedom is a critical struggle, for their preservation is essential to the great objective of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security."

Trump's speech represents not just a different approach, but a fundamental rejection of the post-World War II order that Roosevelt helped build -- one based on the belief that we are indeed "One World" and that international cooperation, however imperfect, remains humanity's best hope for lasting peace. Where Roosevelt offered the world America's outstretched hand, Trump offered only a clenched fist and a mirror -- it was a graceless airing of petty grievances and bullying that sought to elevate himself by belittling others, embarrassing the very nation he claims to make great.

Roosevelt warned us that "It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it." Today, we witnessed what happens when that belief is abandoned and that work is undone.

With such shameless displays of narcissism and vindictiveness coming from the nation's highest office, it's more important than ever for parents and educators to embrace Eleanor Roosevelt's wisdom that human rights begin "in small places, close to home" -- in our neighborhoods, schools, and communities. "Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere."

When our leaders fail to model dignity, compassion, and respect for others, the responsibility falls to us to teach our children that true strength lies not in belittling others, but in lifting them up; that real patriotism means working to make our nation worthy of respect, not demanding it while offering none in return. The work of building "One World" must continue, even if it must now begin in our classrooms and around our kitchen tables.

[Source: Facing History & Ourselves, Sept 2025]

Danielle Kramer: Stochastic Terrorism

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Speech

Uncle Sam: Message to Trump & Hegseth

Being Honest in a Dishonest World

Is dishonesty the new normal?

Are getting indifferent and desensitized to the existence of lying in our society? After all, honesty has seen its market value tumble over the years with countless reports of plagiarism, factual carelessness, and blatant fabrication. But as troubling as such prevarication may be from the media, it’s far more disheartening when it becomes the norm among our political leaders.

The sad truth is that we expect our politicians to lie. But the brazenness with which they conjure up easily verifiable falsehoods grows ever more astonishing. Once integrity disappears, the only motive not to lie is fear of not getting away with it — and in a society that has grown indifferent to lying, there are rarely consequences for even the most brazen lies. And that has consequences for all of us. But there is something we can do. Here are ways we can prevent the erosion of our own integrity:

Trevor Noah: Comedy Diffuses Tension
It Takes a Lot of Courage to Be Your True Self

Sara Bareilles & Carole King: Beautiful/Brave Mashup
Lean on Me: Playing for Change

Danielle Kramer: Stochastic Terrorism
Love Sweet Love

Teach Me to Dance

Don’t exaggerate - “I could have died” ... “I’ve said it a million times” ... “You never listen when I talk to you." These may seem harmless, but every exaggeration makes us a little less sensitive to honesty and authenticity. Disciplining ourselves to speak accurately reinforces respect for the truth, both in ourselves and in those who hear us.

Don’t embellish - How many popular motion pictures “based on” or “inspired by” true stories are guilty of wild embellishments that distort fact into Hollywood fiction? How often do we ourselves add details to make a good story “better?” But consider what it says about us — and what it teaches our children — when the truth isn’t good enough.

Don’t look for loopholes - When we use truth as a means of deception, it becomes an even more perverse form of falsehood. Like the employee in Isaac Asimov’s short story “Truth to Tell,” who swore that he did not steal either “the cash or the bonds” when in fact he had stolen the cash and the bonds. And will we ever forget the presidential defense of perjury that rested on “what the definition of is is”? The letter of the law becomes irrelevant when we no longer respect the spirit of the law.

Know your facts - If you don’t know — or can’t remember — the details of a story, don’t make them up. Again, it might seem irrelevant; it might even be irrelevant. But a commitment to Truth is never irrelevant. If a story isn’t worth telling without details you don’t have, don’t bother telling it at all. Presenting uncertainty as fact only adds fuel to the spreading wildfire of moral confusion.

Be a skeptic - Have you heard some interesting news? What’s the source? A forwarded email? Conservative talk radio? MSNBC? Fox News? NPR? Most outlets have some bias or agenda. And some are outright fraudulent. Before repeating a story, do your homework and make sure it’s credible. Over time, it’s possible to determine which publications and which reporters can be trusted. And always keep in mind that there are two sides to almost every story.

Meryl Streep: Critique of Trump
Elon Musk: Genius Without Integrity
Are We Losing Our Shared Humanity?

The War on Empathy is Dystopian and Delusional
America: Not the Greatest Country in the World

Bernie Sanders: Support Free Speech and Condemn Violence

The People will Be Free
Truly Brave: Sara Bareilles and Cyndi Lauper

Truths About Empowering People

Admit ignorance - It’s okay not to know something. But to claim knowledge when you know you don’t know is irresponsible — and usually comes back to bite you. There’s no shame in admitting a lack of knowledge, especially when followed up with a sincere promise to do some research and fill in the gaps.

Admit guilt - We all make mistakes. Acknowledging error promptly and attempting to correct damage swiftly is one of the surest signs of integrity. How many personal and political crises blossomed out of momentary lapses that grew into scandalous cover-ups? When we admit guilt, we teach character and responsibility. We also help our own cause: by acknowledging guilt when we are guilty, we earn others’ trust when we declare our innocence.

Avoid liars - Behavior is contagious. The more we associate with people who don’t care about the truth, the more likely we are to stop caring about it ourselves. Do not give in to their toxic gaslighting.

Look for the good - Honesty doesn’t require us to say everything we know or anything we think. Sometimes, honesty is definitely the wrong policy, as in the case of malicious gossip or hurtful, personal remarks. However, with a little creativity, we can avoid conflicts between truth and etiquette. If we exercise bit more caution with our own words, we might be less suspicious about those stories of little miracles and inspirational irony that make our eyes sparkle and our hearts swell.

And if a more profound commitment to honesty helps us become less cynical and more easily inspired, think how much good that will do for ourselves and the people who share our lives.

[Source: Yonason Goldson, BizCatalyst 360]

Robert Arnold: The Silence of Generals
Scene From A Man Called Otto

All Around the World by John Batiste, Keb Mo, Taj Mahal

I Think You’re Beautiful: Social Experiment

Dance Diversity: Favorite Dance Moves

Bill Maher: Who Are These Crazed Shooters?

Danielle Kramer: Stochastic Terrorism
Modern Love by Matt Nathanson

The People will Be Free

Lessons in Leadership

From Ted Lasso

“Every day is a chance to be better than we were the day before.”

-Ted Lasso

“There are two buttons I never like hitting, and that’s panic and snooze.”
-Ted Lasso

“For me, success is not about the wins and losses. It’s about making others better people, first and foremost.”
-Ted Lasso

“I think that you might be so sure a person is one thing, that sometimes you completely miss who they really are.”
-Ted Lasso

“Do you know what the opposite of love is? The opposite of love is indifference.”
-Ted Lasso

Here are Ted Lasso's leadership principles...

--Be sincere
--Stay teachable
--See good in others
--Happiness is a choice
--Winning is an attitude
--Have confidence in yourself
--Optimists take more chances
--Everyone differs from everyone else
--Courage is the willingness to attempt
--Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness
--Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing
--Be curious, not judgmental
--Don't allow one bad deed define who you are

Facts vs Fantasy

Truths About Empowering People

Current Situation is Scary
Have You Heard the News Today

One Love: Playing for Change

Meryl Streep: Critique of Trump

Your Welfare Ain't on the Rich Man's Mind

Leadership Philosophy

Meditations From Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius's leadership philosophy, as gleaned from his "Meditations," emphasizes self-control, understanding human nature, and acting with justice and compassion. Here are the key principles:

--Understand that people exist to help one another. Marcus believed in the interconnectedness of humanity and the importance of acting for the common good.
--Be mindful of others' humanity. Recognize that everyone is striving and making mistakes, and approach interactions with empathy and understanding.
--Realize that many mistakes are the result of ignorance. Avoid quick judgments and try to understand the motivations behind others' actions.
--Do not overly exalt yourself. Maintain humility and avoid arrogance, as true leadership lies in service, not dominance.
--Avoid quick judgments of others' actions. Instead, seek to understand the situation and the person's perspective before drawing conclusions.
--Recognize that others can hurt you only if you let them. Focus on your own actions and reactions, and don't allow external negativity to define you.
--Know that pessimism can easily overtake you. Be mindful of negative thoughts and emotions and work to maintain a positive outlook, even in the face of adversity.
--Practice kindness. Sincere kindness is a powerful tool for building relationships and resolving conflict.
--Do not expect bad people to exempt you from their destructive ways. Be prepared for challenges and don't allow the actions of others to derail your path.
--Lead by example. Aurelius emphasized the importance of demonstrating the qualities of a good leader through actions rather than just words.

Barack Obama: Reflections
Oh America

Truths About Empowering People

Info: Celebrating Love

Your Life Sucks?

Fundamental Connections and Universal Experiences

Focus on community, commonalty, and compassion...

“We are made for goodness. We are made for love. We are made for friendliness. We are made for togetherness. We are made for all of the beautiful things that you and I know. We are made to tell the world that there are no outsiders. All are welcome: black, white, red, yellow, rich, poor, educated, not educated, male, female, gay, straight, all, all, all. We all belong to this family, this human family, God’s family.”
-Desmond Tutu

Meryl Streep: Critique of Trump

Elon Musk: Genius Without Integrity
Are We Losing Our Shared Humanity?

The War on Empathy is Dystopian and Delusional
America: Not the Greatest Country in the World

Bernie Sanders: Support Free Speech and Condemn Violence

The People will Be Free
Truly Brave: Sara Bareilles and Cyndi Lauper

Happy People Dancing Around the World

"Our shared humanity" refers to the fundamental connections, universal experiences, values, and basic needs that unite all people, transcending individual differences and cultural backgrounds. Recognizing our shared humanity fosters compassion, empathy, and understanding, encouraging collective responsibility for building resilient and equitable communities by acknowledging our common struggles and aspirations, like the innate desire for connection, love, and belonging.

Universal Experiences: All humans experience core life events, including loss, stress, fear, joy, and the search for meaning and connection.

Common Needs: Everyone has fundamental needs for love, belonging, safety, respect, and purpose, regardless of their background.
Genetic Similarity: Scientifically, humans are remarkably alike, with approximately 99.9% of their DNA being the same, highlighting our deep biological connection despite visible differences.

Emotional and Psychological Similarities: People share similar hopes, dreams, and feelings, which form the basis for empathy and connection.

I'm Tired of...

Info: Celebrating Love

"Stop hiding what makes you different and learn to embrace every part of who you are!"

-Amanda Foust

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Just be yourself. Let people see the real, imperfect, flawed, quirky, weird, beautiful, magical person that you are."

-Mandy Hale

Why Recognizing Shared Humanity Matters

Fosters Compassion and Empathy: Understanding that others experience similar struggles, fears, and losses helps to build compassion and connect with others on a deeper level.

Promotes Community and Connection: It challenges us to see people not as strangers but as fellow humans living on the same planet, inspiring unity rather than division.

Drives Collective Action: Recognizing our interconnectedness is crucial for addressing complex global challenges, as individual actions impact the wider community.

Encourages Healing and Restoration: Acknowledging shared struggles and providing mutual support is key to navigating crises and fostering resilience in communities.

How to Cultivate a Sense of Shared Humanity

Practice Empathy: Actively listen to others' stories and try to understand their perspectives and experiences.

Focus on Commonalities: Seek out shared interests, values, and goals to build bridges between different groups and communities.

Embrace Curiosity: Learn about different traditions, backgrounds, and stories to appreciate both the differences and similarities among people.

Act with Kindness and Respect: Make a conscious effort to treat everyone with love and respect, looking past social status, class, and background.

Info: Celebrating Love

Bill Maher: Who Are These Crazed Shooters?

Seeking Truth and Being Truthful

How do we teach honesty in a dishonest world?

Given the struggles in our political world today, schools need to encourage students to become truth-seekers and truth-tellers. Honesty matters. Whenever citizens must work together to reach a decision or even just figure out how to live together, we engage in civic reasoning. To reason together well, we must seek and tell the truth. But in a world swirling with competing political groups shouting conflicting facts, citizens are left unsure of what is true. The role of honesty is in jeopardy, especially in our current populist context.

As a political philosopher who studies citizenship education, I take up this problem in my latest book, Teaching Honesty in a Populist Era: Emphasizing Truth in the Education of Citizens (Oxford University Press, 2024). Investigating what honesty is, how it is connected to truth, and why both are important to and at risk in democracies, reveals important insights into how we might better educate citizens today, especially our youngest citizens in primary and secondary education.

Honesty: What Makes an Honest Person?
Meryl Streep: Critique of Trump

People With True Integrity
The People will Be Free

Teach Me to Dance

Honesty as a personal virtue

A traditional philosophical understanding of honesty focuses on honesty as a virtue. Being honest means acting in a way that is truthful, forthright, and sincere. An honest person can be counted on to earnestly seek the truth and express it in open and complete ways without deceiving themselves or others. This traditional view assumes that truth reflects an accurate account of an objective reality.

But this description of a virtuous honest person is rather contextually naïve. It focuses just on the behavior of the individual, rather than on how that individual’s actions impact and are impacted by others. Honesty, however, is not merely an individual virtue. We have to consider its role in social and political interactions. When we situate honesty in our social context, where we are interdependent in many ways, we come to see how our ability to understand the world and solve problems in it together relies on honesty.

Rather than considering people who lie as moral failures, we may be better able to encourage honesty by highlighting what is at stake in our civic and political lives. For example, people today are quick to call out our political leaders, especially our presidential candidates, pointing out things they say that aren’t true and calling them liars. Doing so isn’t an effective way to get them to change, nor does it demonstrate for young citizens why such behavior is a problem. Instead of focusing on moral reasons for being a good person, let’s redirect our attention to civic reasons for being honest. Our ability to thrive together in the world depends on our ability to think and act in the world together. To accomplish this, we must have a shared understanding of what is true.

Bill Maher: Who Are These Crazed Shooters?

Populism and dishonesty

Rising populism has significantly impacted how and why people are dishonest. Populism sees society as divided between the people and the elite, “us versus them.” The people are celebrated for having common sense that comes from firsthand accounts. Populists helpfully show how the people are capable of revealing facts that experts may have missed or ways in which experts’ policy solutions conflict with the needs or lived realities of the people.

Populists largely push aside commitments to an objective reality, giving personal experiences and opinions greater significance. To lend authority to their views, especially when they are not aligned with the claims of credentialed experts, they proclaim that their opinions are facts. They weave those supposed facts together to create narratives to help explain the unjust outcomes of liberal democracy and to help the people advance political goals. Populism reveals unfairness and hierarchy, which fuels political action. In this way, populism can be a welcome force that brings forward the experiences and struggles of the people, demanding changes to better suit their needs.

But this sort of positive force for democracy is not always done well. Rather than taking information in and weighing it to confirm the evidence or verify what is true, populists tend to push their view outward. They focus on shoring up membership with their political group, with little regard for how they impact others outside of that group.

We should offer genuine opportunities for students to try out truth-seeking and truth-telling, so they can see how honesty leads to better personal and civic outcomes.

Populism taps into people’s embodied and emotional responses to drive them toward like-minded citizens and away from those with a different view. For populists, truth-telling means giving voice to the narrative of the people in a sincere way. In too many instances, voicing the correct view in the eyes of the group is more important than the accuracy of the claims, the deception they may cause, or whether they are presented in a forthright way. Expressing populist views with sincerity is how a person demonstrates that that they are aligned with the people. As a person shares information in a way that produces emotional solidarity, the response of the audience makes things feel true. These sincere feelings and corroboration from one’s trusted group strengthen the person’s beliefs.

Trevor Noah: Comedy Diffuses Tension
It Takes a Lot of Courage to Be Your True Self

Sara Bareilles & Carole King: Beautiful/Brave Mashup
Lean on Me: Playing for Change

Danielle Kramer: Stochastic Terrorism
Love Sweet Love

Teach Me to Dance

How To Tell Whether You Are Living In Integrity Or Not

Schools as centers for truth

So how might we celebrate the democratizing potential of populism while heading off its tendency toward sharing false information? One place we can start is schools. There, we should emphasize the importance of having expansive communities and how building knowledge and validating truth promote successful civic reasoning within our widened communities.

Taking up an approach rooted in traditional American pragmatist philosophy, we can follow populists in emphasizing the experiences of the people. Like pragmatists, we can recognize that objective reality may never be fully known or can be difficult to discern.

Instead, we should focus on truth as that which works for us. Truth comprises those beliefs that enable us to understand the world and act in ways that serve our needs and those of others. This differs from the approach of populists who may fall into focusing only on what benefits their political group or signals their identity as part of it.

Following pragmatists when attempting to discern the truth, we don’t just stop at our personal desires in the moment or the well-being of our political group. Rather, we go on to look at how our beliefs impact others and what they might lead to in the long run. We determine “what works” through experimenting with our beliefs and testing them in light of our lived realities. We recognize that we may be mistaken at any given time and are ready to discard beliefs that no longer hold up to the evidence.

Happy People Dancing Around the World

I'm Tired of...

Info: Encouragement and Support

Learning honesty through inquiry

In most schools, honesty is touched on only briefly, if at all. We need more sustained teaching of honesty to confront problems in our current political context.

This may begin with directly teaching stories and examples that display honesty at work. Or it may entail teachers modeling how they go about determining the truth. But, setting up environments where students practice honesty themselves is even better. In other words, we should offer genuine opportunities for students to try out truth-seeking and truth-telling, so they can see how honesty leads to better personal and civic outcomes.

A key place to begin is engaging students in communities of inquiry that take up real and pressing social problems, things that matter in their everyday lives. The process of determining truth through inquiry connects individuals to others as we seek evidence, verification, and “what works” for ourselves and citizens across our democracy. These inquiries should emphasize how everyone shares a stake in the outcomes.

Students may begin their inquiries with their opinions and personal experiences, but they don’t stay there. They also learn how to investigate the problem at hand. They gather empirical data and learn about others’ experiences. Then they review and revise their beliefs in light of conflicting evidence. Notably, they must include the specialized knowledge of experts, part of the elite that populists too often write off. Importantly, though, in a populist spirit, experts must learn with and from citizens. Often, the public and their needs should significantly shape the research agenda.

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Speech
White House Correspondence Association Dinner
Modern Love by Matt Nathanson

How To Tell Whether You Are Living In Integrity Or Not

Have You Heard the News Today
Scene From A Man Called Otto

How To Tell Whether You Are Living In Integrity Or Not

When teachers detect that students engaging in inquiry are rushing to conclusions or operating on the basis of unchecked assumptions, they should interject with a call to doubt, introduce nuance, or suggest an alternative view. This may push students to pause, bringing about slower and more careful inquiry. Teachers can use questions, such as “How might I be wrong?” or “What makes you say that?” or prompts, such as “I used to think . . . but now I think,” to foster students’ awareness of the role of emotion and cultivate their intellectual humility. This helps students understand not just what they believe, but how they think, including how politics and emotions influence them.

Next, students must develop potential solutions that they then implement and assess to determine how they impact the lives of various people. As part of this assessment, they should seek to find out whether the solutions bring about useful or improved understanding of the world. In addition, they should seek feedback from various populations to assess whether the solutions bring about improvements for those groups and individuals.

This process presents opportunities for students to communicate their struggles and bear witness to the struggles of others. This is significant given that many who are drawn to populism feel frustrated and unheard. As we seek truth, we must attend to each other and expand our communities to achieve beneficial outcomes for a wider range of people. We must invite the complexities and conflicts of democracy into classrooms.

Robert Arnold: The Silence of Generals
Happy People Dancing Around the World 2016

What Radicalized You?

Pink: Message to the President

Info: Wellness and Resilience

Rev Dr Howard-John Wesley: Which Christianity?

Love Thy Neighbor

Bernie Sanders: Support Free Speech and Condemn Violence

Teach Me Your Favorite Dance Move 2

Making honesty a habit

Focusing on honesty as a personal virtue misses the point when it comes to democracy as a way of life facilitated by civic reasoning. Instead, we must cultivate habits related to honesty. Habits are not merely dull routines. Pragmatist philosophers argue that they are predispositions for how we act and proclivities to act. Honesty is a way of acting that involves verifying truth with others and having a disposition to attend to others.

Habits are shaped by our environment. When lying and deceit surround us, some habits are likely to become bad. They no longer serve our needs well, an increasingly widespread problem. Efforts to change those habits through simple direct instruction or moral goading fail to account for the deep impact of our environment.

Importantly, however, we can adopt and improve our habits if we shape new environments that positively affirm new patterns of behavior. Again, this is where schools come in. They can provide communities of inquiry where students participate in and witness the positive impact of truth-seeking and truth-telling. Our ability to reason together well depends on cultivating the disposition to honestly determine and share the truth.

[Source: Sarah M. Stitzlein, professor of education and philosophy, University of Cincinnati, Nov 2024]

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Are We Losing Our Shared Humanity?

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People's capacity to hate is a learned behavior. And if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.”
-Nelson Mandela

I spent ten years working as a humanitarian where the world burned the brightest. I have seen the worst things people can do. And I have seen the best. Sometimes both lived in the same man.

Today, we are living through the most fragile time since the Second World War. A hundred million displaced. Democracies under siege. Freedom shrinking. Fear spreading like wildfire. The ground beneath us feels less solid every day.

When the world feels unsafe, people look for simple answers. They divide the world into black and white, good and evil. They point fingers. They build walls. They look for scapegoats.

And when that happens, three things die first: We stop acknowledging suffering. We stop seeing the human in the other. Compassion is regarded as weakness. Without these, empathy fades. And without empathy, everything else crumbles.

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"This world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another."
-Ellen Page

"We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity."
-George Takei

Acknowledge Suffering

Pain knows no flag, no race, no faith. It crosses every line we draw. To acknowledge another’s suffering is not weakness. It is the highest act of strength. It says: “Your pain matters.” It says: “You are not invisible.”

When we see another’s suffering, we resist the forces that would reduce lives to numbers, labels, or headlines. We bring humanity back where fear had stolen it away. Every face has a story. Every heart carries its share of broken dreams. To acknowledge this is the beginning of compassion.

Move Beyond Empathy to Compassion

Empathy is feeling another’s pain. Compassion is taking action to heal it.

In Buddhism, compassion means not just recognizing suffering, but doing all we can to lift it — with love, with kindness, with patience. It means believing that no matter how lost someone seems, there is light inside them still.

I have sat across from men the world called monsters. To find peace, I had to see beyond their anger. To the hurt beneath it. To the human inside it.

Aggression is pain turned outward. Violence is often the scream of a heart too broken to speak. Compassion does not excuse harm. But it refuses to answer darkness with more darkness. In every human being — even the so-called worst — there is still a small flame waiting to be fed.

Compassion says: I will not hate you, even if you hate me... I will see your pain, even if you deny it yourself... I will believe in your humanity, even when you have forgotten it.

There is no darkness in this world — only the absence of light.

Resist Dehumanization

Dehumanization is how wars begin. It starts with a joke, a slur, a careless word. It ends with lives destroyed. The moment we strip someone of their humanity, violence becomes easier. And each time we do it, we lose part of ourselves. We must refuse the easy road of hate.

We must fight to remember: The person who disagrees with you is still a person. The refugee at the border is still your brother or sister. The wounded soldier is still someone’s child. When we protect the humanity of others, we protect our own.

Choose Humanity, Choose Compassion

Compassion is not a luxury. It is a survival skill. In a world rushing toward division, compassion is the only road back. It is not passive. It is not soft. It is hard and brave and costly.

Every day, you have a choice: To close your heart or open it. To protect your pride or reach out. To see differences or to see dignity.

Choose humanity. Choose compassion. Choose light.

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"Real love cannot be silent in the face of injustice."
-Mel White

"We are a better, stronger nation for having advanced the cause of equality."
-Senator Tammy Baldwin

"We are all tied together in a single garment of destiny. I can never be what I ought to be until you are allowed to be what you ought to be."
-Martin Luther King Jr.

Practical Ways to Practice Compassion Every Day

--Listen deeply. Listen not to reply, but to understand. Give people space to tell their story without judgment.

--See beyond anger. When someone lashes out, pause. Ask: what pain might be behind this? What fear? What loss?

--Acknowledge suffering publicly and privately. Speak up when you see injustice. Comfort a friend who’s hurting. Don’t let silence hide pain.

--Refuse to dehumanize — even your enemies. In conversations, in jokes, in thoughts. Remember: they are human, just like you.

--Act with kindness, even when it costs you. Hold the door. Offer a smile. Defend someone vulnerable. Give forgiveness when it’s hard. Little steps. Small acts. They ripple farther than we ever see.

In the End...

We will never erase conflict. We will never erase difference. But we can choose not to erase each other.

Compassion is not naive. It is not weakness. It is the greatest strength we have left. Even in the darkest places, I have seen it spark. A word. A gesture. A hand reaching out. The smallest act of compassion can turn the tide. It can keep a heart from closing. It can save a life. It can save a soul. And if enough of us choose it, it can save the world.

[Source: Christoph von Toggenburg, Nov 2023]

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What Makes an Honest Person?

How do you recognize an honest person?

--They are truthful: Honest people say what they believe to be true and do not lie.
--They are trustworthy: To trust a person’s honesty, he or she must be trustworthy. Honest people keep their promises and do what they say they will do.
--They are fair: Honest people behave fairly and justly. They respect the rights of others and avoid cheating.
--They respect themselves: Honest people respect themselves and others. They are honest and open with themselves and others.
--They are responsible: Honest people take responsibility for the consequences of their actions. They acknowledge their mistakes and try to make amends.
--They are empathetic: Honest people try to understand and empathize with the feelings of others. They respect the needs and different perspectives of others.
--They have good intentions: Honest people do not act with malicious intent or to harm others. They act in good faith and hope that others will act in good faith.

Of course, the degree of sincerity varies from person to person, and not everyone can be completely honest all the time. However, people with the above qualities are usually more honest than others.

How To Tell Whether You Are Living In Integrity Or Not

Why is honesty important?

Honesty is extremely important for the quality of interpersonal relationships and for maintaining trust in society. Here are some reasons why being honest is important:

--Trust and respect: You gain the trust and respect of other people. People trust honest people more and build closer relationships with them.
--Good communication: You communicate well by speaking clearly. This avoids arguments between people and builds healthier relationships.
--Reputation: You maintain your reputation and have a respected position. In business, honest people are seen as more trustworthy and are preferred by employers.
--Moral values: Honesty is the foundation of moral values. People do the right thing when they act honestly and a more moral structure is created in society.
--Responsibility: People take responsibility for what they do. If they do something wrong, they stand by their mistakes and try to solve problems.
--Positive influence: They have a positive impact on others. Their honesty and integrity encourages others to be honest and raises the general level of integrity in society.
--Trustworthiness: You are seen as trustworthy. Therefore, their words are believed and their suggestions are trusted.

For all these reasons, honesty increases trust and respect between people and contributes to a healthier and more moral structure in society. Honesty is also important in the business world because employers prefer honest employees and honesty protects the reputation of companies.

Honesty is also important in science, where the accuracy and reliability of scientific data is crucial to scientific progress. Honesty is therefore an important value for individuals and societies, and people should make honesty a part of their lives.

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How To Tell Whether You Are Living In Integrity Or Not

How do you become an honest person?

--Be open and honest with yourself: To become an honest person, you must first be honest with yourself. Evaluate your own thoughts and behavior honestly and admit your mistakes. Being honest with yourself will help you to be honest with others.
--Avoid lying: To be an honest person, it is necessary to avoid lying. Sometimes lying seems like an easy solution, but in the long run it can lead to loss of trust and growing problems. Instead of lying, be honest and tell the truth.
--Keep your promises: Part of being an honest person is keeping your promises. If you promise something to someone, keep your word and try to do what you have promised. Don’t make promises you don’t think you can keep, or if you can’t be realistic about what you can promise.
--Show respect for others: An honest person shows respect to others. By respecting the opinions and feelings of others, you can build healthy and honest relationships with them.
--Take responsibility: Being an honest person means taking responsibility for the consequences of your actions. Admit your mistakes and try to solve problems. Taking responsibility makes you honest and trustworthy.
--Show empathy: An honest person respects other people’s feelings and needs. Empathy helps you understand others’ perspectives and enables you to build healthier relationships.

Honesty as a lifestyle

Being an honest person should be a way of behaving. Honesty is important not only in relationships with other people, but also in business, friendships and family life. When honesty becomes a way of life, it is easier to do the right thing and avoid doing the wrong thing.

Being an honest person requires constant effort, and from time to time you will encounter difficulties. However, honesty strengthens trust and respect between people, helps to build a healthier and more moral society and is important for personal development.

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How can I identify a dishonest person?

Identifying dishonest people can sometimes be difficult, but if you are observant you can spot some signs. Here are some signs to help you spot dishonest people:

--Lying: They tend to lie. They may even tell little lies. If a person lies a lot, or if their stories are contradictory, they are likely to be dishonest.
--Not taking responsibility: They act as if they are not responsible for their actions. If they do something wrong, they blame others or put the responsibility on someone else.
--Unreliable behavior: They may behave in an unreliable way. For example, they may not keep their promises.
--Manipulating others: They try to manipulate others. This may be done by hiding the truth or misleading others with false information or deception.
--Self-interest: They focus only on their own interests and ignore the needs of others.
Inconsistent behavior: Their words and actions may be contradictory. For example, they may not stand by what they say or behave differently.
--Criticism: They may find it difficult to accept criticism. They may take criticism personally and lie to defend themselves.

These signs give clues as to who is dishonest, but they are not always enough to make a definitive judgement. Everyone has different personality traits and behaviors, so it is important to always look for honesty and take the time to get to know people.

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Personality Traits That are Common in Extremely Honest People

Ever wondered how to spot an extremely honest person?

Honesty is more than just a virtue, it’s a personality trait that defines a person. Identifying an honest person can be tricky in a world full of lies and deception, but there are certain personality traits they often exhibit. Here is a list of personality traits that are common in extremely honest people who values truth above all else.

Integrity - Extremely honest people have the utmost integrity. Integrity is the foundation upon which all other honest traits are built and perhaps the most defining trait of an extremely honest person. People with unwavering integrity stand by their principles and don’t compromise their honesty for personal gain or convenience. Having integrity means being a person of their words and aligning actions with their values and truth, even when faced with difficult choices.

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Sincerity - When it comes to honesty, sincerity is probably one of the first traits that come to mind. Sincerity is the bedrock of honesty. It’s a key trait that separates honest folks from those who may be more manipulative or deceitful. Sincere people mean what they say, and they say what they mean. They’re genuine, straightforward, and devoid of pretense. Their words align with their deeds, and they don’t try to hide anything. If you’ve ever encountered someone who is truly sincere, you’ll know it. Their sincerity shines through, making them a beacon of truth in a world that can often be filled with half-truths and deception.

Transparency - Transparency is another common trait among extremely honest people. Extremely honest people don’t have hidden agendas. They are open and candid in their thoughts, feelings, and intentions. Honest people have a genuine desire to communicate openly with others, fostering trust and authentic connections. They never shy away from difficult discussions or uncomfortable truths. Being transparent also means that extremely honest people are uncomfortable with lies. Honest people can’t simply turn a blind eye to deception, be it white lies, false statements or grand manipulations. It’s a deep-seated unease that can trigger feelings of anxiety, frustration, or even anger. They often feel the need to call it out, to rectify the situation, and to bring truth to light.

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Consistency - Consistency is a hallmark of extremely honest individuals. Honest folks possess a steady demeanor and stick to their strong values and moral codes, regardless of the situation or who they’re dealing with. They do not waver in their commitment to truth. Their words and actions consistently align with their values and principles over time, even when no one is watching. Consistency builds trust. Extremely honest individuals are seen as trustworthy because they consistently convey their true selves, which fosters trust in their relationships. This consistency reinforces their reputation for honesty.

Directness - Being candid and direct is another common trait among extremely honest people. They don’t beat around the bush or use ambiguous phrases to express their thoughts. When an honest person has something to say, they say it clearly and straightforwardly. They don’t sugarcoat the truth or use confusing language to mask their real intentions. Their directness, or frankness, might occasionally come off as harsh, especially in situations where tact and diplomacy are valued more than the hard truth. But honest folks believe in delivering the truth as it is, rather than wrapping it in a shroud of confusion. This way, there’s no room for misunderstandings or false interpretations. Extremely honest people choose to speak the truth even if it makes them unpopular. This bluntness can sometimes create frictions with those who prefer a softer approach to communication. Honest people know that sometimes the truth may not be what others want to hear, but it’s still crucial to face it head-on. Their directness is a testament to this belief.

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How To Tell Whether You Are Living In Integrity Or Not

Accountability - Honest people are accountable for their actions. They take responsibility when things go wrong, rather than shifting the blame onto others. If they mess up, they admit it. They don’t concoct stories or excuses to cover up their errors. Accountability takes courage. It requires the person to confront their flaws and shortcomings. But honest people are willing to do this because they believe it’s the right thing to do. By taking responsibility for their actions, honest people demonstrate that they value truth over their ego or pride, further emphasizing their commitment to honesty. Accountability is essential in maintaining trust and credibility. It’s no surprise that honest people are often the most trustworthy ones. Their reliability is second to none because they hold themselves accountable for their actions.

Authenticity - Honesty is deeply rooted in authenticity. Authenticity involves being true to oneself and genuinely expressing one’s thoughts, feelings, and intentions. Extremely honest people are genuine and real in their emotions and intentions, and it shines through in their interactions. Extremely honest people prioritize genuine expression and do not put on masks or pretend to be someone they are not. They are true to their individuality and uniqueness. Authenticity often requires vulnerability—being open and honest about one’s insecurities and imperfections. Extremely honest people are willing to be vulnerable, fostering deeper connections with others. With them, what you see is what you get.

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Humility - Honest people possess a sense of humility. They don’t feel the need to boast about their accomplishments or inflate their abilities. Instead, they let their actions speak for themselves. Humility supports honesty. It keeps them grounded and reminds them of their imperfections, which in turn, fosters an environment for honesty to thrive. An honest person understands this and embraces humility as a key component of their character.

Courage - It takes courage to be honest, especially in situations where the truth may be uncomfortable or unpopular. Extremely honest people have the courage to speak their minds and stand by their convictions, even when facing potential criticism or backlash. They have the courage to be disliked for their willingness to speak truth and have uncomfortable conversations. Honest folks stand up for what they believe in, even if it’s unpopular or inconvenient. They would rather face the consequences of being truthful than enjoy the temporary comfort of a lie.

Clarity - Extremely honest individuals have a knack for clear and straightforward communication. They value clarity and precision in their language, avoiding ambiguity or misleading statements. They believe in saying what they mean and meaning what they say. This might make their language seem blunt or too direct at times, but the intention is always to ensure that the truth is not obscured by unnecessary complexities.

Reflection: honesty as a way of life

Honesty is more than just a virtue; it’s a lifestyle, a lens through which to view and interact with the world. You've heard the phrase, “Honesty is the best policy.” But it’s not always easy to be an extremely honest person when it’s much more comfortable and convenient to succumb to lies. Being extremely honest and straightforward might also make them the most unpopular. Nevertheless, extremely honest individuals choose to live a life of utmost integrity and not to change their nature. They continue to value truth above all else, standing up for their values and principles even when it’s difficult. If you ever come across these extremely honest individuals, cherish them as they are truly the rarest breeds, the gems in a world where the lines between truth and falsehood often get blurred.

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Aspects of Compassion

Compassion is the feeling of deep concern and sympathy for another's suffering, coupled with a strong desire to help them. It's an active emotion, distinguished from empathy by the accompanying urge to take action to alleviate the suffering. The word itself originates from Latin, meaning "to suffer together".

Key aspects of compassion:

--Empathy plus action: While empathy is understanding another's feelings, compassion takes it a step further by prompting a desire to act and help.
--Desire to alleviate suffering: A central component of compassion is the motivational drive to reduce the pain, sorrow, or misfortune of others.
--Sensitivity to suffering: Compassion involves being sensitive to the emotional aspects of another person's pain.
--Universal application: You can feel compassion for people you know, as well as strangers.
--Part of human nature: For most people, compassion comes naturally, although it can also be nurtured and developed.

How compassion differs from related terms:

--Empathy: Feeling what another person is feeling.
--Sympathy: A feeling of pity or sorrow for someone else's misfortune, but not necessarily with a desire to act.
--Altruism: Disinterested or selfless concern for the well-being of others, often involving actions to help.

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Final Thoughts

"All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential."
-Harvey Milk

"It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.”

-Bhagavad Gita

“Discovering the truth about ourselves is a lifetime’s work, but it’s worth the effort.”

-Fred Rogers

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”

-Maya Angelou

"I like you as you are. Exactly and precisely. I think you turned out nicely. And I like you as you are."
-Fred Rogers

"Freedom means nothing, unless it means the freedom to be different."

-Marty Rubin

"If you are not personally free to be yourself in that most important of all human activities - the expression of love - then life itself loses its meaning."
-Harvey Milk

"When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.”"
-US President Barack Obama

"We need, in every community, a group of angelic troublemakers. When an individual is protesting society's refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him."
-Bayard Rustin

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