In the reprehensible absence of research on gun violence in the US at the federal level, due to a law passed by Congress in 1993, several states are now banding together to conduct this vital research on their own. Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Delaware and Puerto Rico have formed a consortium […]
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A Profile in Courage, Mitch Landrieu: Someone to Watch
On May 20, 2018, at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Mass., the 2018 Profile in Courage Award was presented to former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. He was honored “for his leadership in relocating four of the Confederate monuments in New Orleans while offering candid, clear and compassionate reflections on the moment […]
Neo-Nazi Group Unravelling, Spencer Backing Off: Positive Steps in the Battle against Racism and Bigotry
A group that few of us have heard of, which “advocates for racially pure nations and communities and blames Jews for many of the world’s problems,” is having some problems lately. The neo-Nazi Traditionalist Worker Party (TWP) lost both its primary spokesperson and its leader in mid-March. [SPLC “Weekend Read/ Issue 71,” March 17, 2018] […]
Dick’s Sporting Goods, Making a Profit, and Contributing to the Common Good
When a corporation does something that we might consider courageous – taking an action that might hurt their bottom line or invite harsh criticism from previous supporters – we should hold them up, recognize their actions and thank them. At the moment, this applies to Dick’s Sporting Goods, which has recently taken the following steps […]
Connecting Capitalism, Profit-Making and Ethical Behavior: Examples from Three HDS Alums
Lest the public views Harvard Divinity School (HDS) as inherently liberal politically and anti-capitalist, a recent article illuminates the many ways in which Harvard faculty, courses, and community have greatly influenced high-powered leaders in the for-profit sector in very meaningful and life-altering ways. The online article by Paul Massari in November 2017 featured the work […]
Westar Wins Wilbur Award: Recognizing Religious Literacy Resources in the US
As we have noted elsewhere (HarvardX course, the SBL Annual Meeting and Scripture translation), religious literacy among Americans is sorely lacking. This is significant for several reasons. Misunderstandings caused by this absence often lead to conflict between people of different faiths and, at times, violence, injury and death. The gaps of knowledge in media stories […]
Teaching American Slavery: Confronting an Educational Deficit in Our Schools
As of the presidential election of 2008, the US has now had an African American President – for eight years. When Barack Obama was first elected, there was speculation, even hope, that the US might finally be entering a time of reduced racism. Of course, many others among us realized that merely the election of […]
Gun Laws in Vermont: Actions Taken in the 2018 Legislative Session
Rural Vermont with a culture of hunting, although generally left-leaning politically, has not been in the forefront of gun control legislation or other progressive measures on the gun issue. When he ran for President in 2016, Independent Senator Bernie Sanders came under great scrutiny from Hillary Clinton and others on the left for his stances […]
Disrupting Toxic Masculinity
Stephanie Ruhle of MSNBC recently interviewed a number of young men about the connection between mass shootings in the US in recent years and the pressures on teenage males. In the introduction to the segment, MSNBC senior national correspondent Chris Jansing noted the sobering statistics: 94% of all mass shootings in the US are committed […]
New Executive Education Program at Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School is launching a new executive education program called Making Change. Open to “any individual seeking to expand their positive impact on the world,” this intensive four-day program led by leading scholars and teachers is intended to examine “change and transformation in human history, culture and achievement” from four perspectives: “Individual practices for […]