We Need A National Kindness Day

Atlanta

June 11, 2025

Photo taken in Charlottesville, of course.

I read a reply to a comment in the WSJ this morning. It said “you’re pathetic.”

To me, that’s so representative of today’s dialogue — or more precisely too much of it. We’re becoming so disrespectful of people who we don’t agree with. Instead of responding in a logical fashion to the basis of the disagreement, we attack the character of the person we disagree with.

I was raised with the implicit understanding that conflict is bad. That understanding became so hardwired in me that I am still trying to rewire my brain. Conflict and disagreement are not bad — they are part of life. I try very hard to embrace them with curiousity and compassion. Most of the time I know my goal should not be to dissuade the other person (as rewarding as that might be) but to understand the basis for their position.

My thought for today.