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It’s no secret that today’s political and social climate feels like a balancing act between saying what you mean and avoiding stepping on toes. But the concerning part is that freedom of speech and freedom of religion—fundamental rights—are increasingly being shaped by individuals and institutions that don’t seem to understand or exercise them fully. As we dive into this, let’s look at how Gen Z, social media ads, and public education play into the shifting dynamics. Gen Z: The Free Thinkers in a Controlled Environment Gen Z has grown up in a world where their voices are louder and more...

In the quiet moments of reflection, truths have a way of surfacing. They aren’t always the loud revelations we expect, but they come gently, revealing what has always been just below the surface. Recently, in one of those meditative states, a conversation with my father emerged—not in the physical sense, but in spirit, in the kind of way where you know the words are true even though they were never spoken out loud even though they were one summer night around the dawn of the new millennium. It went something like this: “Dad, I sold over $100 worth of paintings...

In a country founded on principles of freedom, equality, and justice for all, discrimination has no place. Yet, it continues to rear its ugly head in every corner of society. Whether it’s based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or any other factor, discrimination is a violation of the basic rights we all deserve as human beings. And while we may not always agree on politics, personal beliefs, or values, one thing is clear—discrimination is no one’s right in this country. The United States was built on the idea that all people are created equal. It’s written in our founding...

Grief has a way of bringing up everything—memories, emotions, regrets—and sometimes, the worst of people. When my father passed, I wasn’t just grieving the loss of a man; I was processing years of complicated history. My relationship with him had its share of abuse, pain, and missed moments, but also flashes of good times and lessons I now realize he was trying to pass on. Yet even as I tried to come to terms with what he truly meant to me, another storm was brewing—one involving greed. The inheritance became a battlefield. Financial cutoffs, the loss of transportation, my art...

I’ve noticed that certain behaviors of people, whether in groups or as individuals, seem to bother you. It’s not hard to see why—you’ve experienced trauma, specifically sexual assault (SA), and as a result, you might feel a strong need to control your environment. That’s completely understandable. After all, when something so profoundly out of your control happens, the instinct to regain safety and certainty can become a core part of how you move through the world. Over the years, many SA survivors develop controlling tendencies, often as a means of creating a safe space around them. But is this need...