Character First--Always

John Adams writing in 1765, more than a decade before Philadelpiam, 1776: "Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people who have a right to that knowledge and desire to know. But besides this, they have a right, an indistinguishable, unalienable, indefeasible, divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge--I mean of the character and conduct of their rulers".

Truly Listening to and Understanding one Another--Including those Closest to Us

I am now 87 years of age. I was married to my dear late wife Francie for almost 58 years. We had a wonderful friendship and a wonderful marriage. We have four children, four wonderful spouses, and 10 amazing grandchildren. Yet, if you ask me what I've learned most since my wife passed away is how much of what she felt and experienced that I did not fully appreciate. As I have read journals that she wrote and a book she was compiling, which I will finish, I've learned, soberly, and sometimes regretfully that experiences which I saw as glowingly positive experiences were not always experienced the same way by Francie. This learning doesn't darken my appreciation of our years together. In fact it makes them even more wondrous as I recognize all she has done despite challenges along the way. This experience of learning what another person has experienced has also been brought to my life by stories of caregivers I have who are helping me. As I've learned their stories, I have learned of the tremendous challenges they have overcome. This has made built and extended my appreciation of the human spirit, the determination and ability to overcome obstacles, which, in the case of many of my caregivers have been significant. Why do I write this? I want to underscore a learning that I wish I had acted on better. The learning of how important it is to take the time to really hear and truly understand what other people are experiencing, including those who are closest to us. All this reminds me of two things: first, the most precious gift we give another person is our time. Second, everyone sees the world differently and it's important for us to try our best to understand how they see and experience it if we are to have the most empathetic relationship possible and convey the love we feel.

A Churchilian Moment--The Imperative of Standing Up for Ukraine--Unambiguousy

We (the West) must stand up unambiguously for the integrity of Ukraine. The recently tabled 28 point piece plan was a shamefully constructed document giving in to Russia demands. The US and Europe have stepped back from this in disarray,but we are still not declaring the absolutely essential end state for the peace agreement: a sovereign Ukraine, protected with an ironclad secutiry guarantee by the US and Europe. As I have written before, this will only happen by our inflicting greater punishment on Russia itself. We must demonstrate to Putin that he simply will not make further gains, and that we are prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure that he does not. We are going to need to accomplish this by providing all of the weapons that Ukraine needs, and allowing their used to penetrate Russian soil to inflict damage on military installations that are punishing Ukraine today. Putin will respond to nothing other than demonstrated force put into action. Some will object that this risk escalation. And it does. But conceding to Putin not only risks escalation, but guarantees it because we will not have a lasting peace. I recall a moment in the darkest days of May 1940 after the fall of France and with the British army at Dunkirk, and when the invasion of Britain seemed imminent. Lord Halifax and Chamberlain advocated discussions with Hitler modereated by Mussolini for peace. Church would not hear of it. He believed that any negotiation with Hitler would lead to national humiliation, loss of independence and eventual tyranny. He was prepared to fight on just as Ukrainians have been and are fighting on with daily loss of life. We cannot allow peace to occur on Putin's terms. They must be terms that Ukraine and the West and yes, Russia, accept as a reality and a guarantee of Ukraine sovereignty as a Nation.

If You See Something That Needs to be Done, Just Do It

I was recently given the high honor of being recognized with the International Freedom Conductor Award by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. I was honored alongside Isabel Wilkerson, Toni Morrison, posthumously, and Lonnie Bunch. I follow in the footsteps of those who have received this honor, including Rosa Parks, Bishop Tutu and the Dalai Lama. While hardly feeling worthy of being in the company of these men and women, receiving this leads me to speak out at this moment. I could do so deeply fearing what is happening within our national government. The usurpation by the Executive Branch of the power of the purse assigned to Congress, the usurping by the Executive Branch of the powers to launch attacks that should be assigned to Congress. I could go on. However, I have come to see that is not what I really can focus on. I can focus on those few things within my own circle of influence that I can make a difference in, the individuals and the organizations. And those my wife believed in—the YWCA, Women Helping Women, the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. I follow in the footsteps of my late wife, Francie, as she once said: “When you see something that needs to be done, just do it, and bring other people along with you. That’s important, bring other people along with you. Just do it, don’t stand back.” We cannot stand back. We must all do what we can to make the world at least a bit better place, to make at least a bit of a positive difference in someone else’s lives.

How Do We Ground Our Ethics

What is the Case for Grounding Ethics in Human Nature and Experience rather than Religion and Divine Commands Over the years, I have thought deeply about the basis for my ethical beliefs. To what extent is it based on my alignment with what Jesus preached, what Christianity is at its best (loving God and treating your neighbor as yourself) relative to the alternative of basing my ethical behavior on the realization that we as humans are “continuous with nature” and that, in the words of philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach, having our behavior rooted in physical and social realities and observance of the importance of human relationships and dialogue. Feuerbach in his work, The Essence of Christianity (1841) advocated for a shift from God-centered to human-centered ethics. He promoted a new philosophy that made man, with the inclusion of nature as the foundation of man, “unique, universal and the highest object of philosophy.” He wanted to ground ethics in human nature and experience rather than divine commands. He argues that the concept of God is a projection of human qualities, something we have created. He advocated the pursuit of happiness but argued that, in pursuing that goal, it was necessary to recognize the importance of the happiness of others. This all raises the question. Is a secular, human-centered approach to ethics and morality one that can result in a more peaceful world and coexistence among peoples? We know that the pursuit of religion has often resulted in wars and there is no reason to feel that will end. Where do I come out on all of this? What have I personally found to be true? First, I take nourishment from viewing all of us as human beings as part of nature. It would be unrealistic to do otherwise. It’s a reality. But I also see no evidence that a nature-based human rights philosophy will, in fact, lead to a more peaceful world. What I have concluded is that there is no getting around the inherent human tendency to pit ourselves against and elevate ourselves relative to other people. It’s ego-driven selfishness; it’s inextricable. This tendency co-exists with beneficent instincts too. Our task is, in proverbial terms, to live by the better angels of our nature. What helps one do that? It will vary by individual, of course. For me, religion or, more precisely, the preaching of Jesus and what He stood for, which I find no different from the foundational principles of other religions, has been of enormous help. I recognize that this foundation may well be something I’ve created as a crutch to approve my behavior. I accept that. I have no problem with it. I plead guilty. As beguiling as the philosophy of Ludwig Feuerbach is, and perhaps intellectually correct in his assertion that God is a projection of man, and I do not retreat for a moment from my commitment to try to follow as best I can the preaching and actions of Jesus.

"Kindness": A Virtue to Be Emulated

An excerpt from the Strugatsky Brothers novel, "The Time Wanderers" He was like something out of a fairy tale: always kind and therefore always right. It was such an era that kindness always won. “Out of all possible solutions, choose the kindest one.” Not the most promising, not the most rational, not the most progressive and certainly not the most effective - the kindest! He never said these words, and he very sarcastically talked about those of his biographers who attributed these words to him, and he probably never thought in these words, but the whole essence of his life lies precisely in these words. And of course, these words are not a recipe, not everyone is given the gift of being kind, this is the same talent as an ear for music or clairvoyance, only rarer.

The Pursuit of Truth

This speech, advocating eloquently for the pursuit of truth, given 35 years ago to the entering class at Yale by then president, Benno Schmidt, is more timely today than it even was then. Yes, as he says, we may not be facing the same kind of challenge that Havel did, but in truth we may be. I cannot recall a challenge to "truth", being as great as it is today anytime in my lifetime. Of course, I have seen other authoritarian leaders, present truth in any way they choose, denying the truth, and lessons of history. But I never thought I would see such a nefarious and dangerous assault on truth advanced by the president of the United States. We must keep up the battle for truth, as best we know it. As my late dear wife, Francie said,"Don't stand back". From Benno Schmidt: "The pursuit of truth under the burden of individual autonomy is a commitment that depends on courage and integrity quite as much as it depends on learning and intellectual power. Truth is elusive and often disillusioning and painful. A commitment to truth will deny you the dark pleasure of losing your autonomy to the herd. The tranquilizing effects of the trivial temptations of modern life will not bring you peace. Yet at the crossroads where some of the darkest forces of human history laid waste, and writing in the dark shadows of 1978, Vaclav Havel could write these magnificent words. They are words I hope you will take to consecrate your purposes at Yale and after. “The essential aims of life are present naturally in every person. In everyone there is some longing for humanity’s rightful dignity, for moral integrity, for free expression of being and a sense of transcendence over the world of existence. Yet, at the same time, each person is capable, to a greater or lesser degree, of coming to terms with living within the lie. Each person somehow succumbs to a profane trivialization of his or her inherent humanity, and to utilitarianism. In everyone there is some willingness to merge with the anonymous crowd and to flow comfortably along with it down the river of pseudo-life. This is much more than a simple conflict between two identities. It is something far worse: it is a challenge to the very notion of identity itself.” The herd ever threatens to regain its evil primacy, and we are bombarded with a relentless propaganda of materialism that has taken a great toll on the moral quality of our lives. Let me say again that I do not suggest that you will be faced in your four years at Yale, or hopefully thereafter, with the choices to which the pursuit of truth brought Socrates or Vaclav Havel. But I do say that the pursuit of truth in the light of freedom is a challenge of character quite as much as intellect. And I say with considerable pride that I believe Yale is as good a setting and as good a society for you to develop in yourselves the great values of liberal learning (as you are likely to find). This magnificent responsibility now falls to you. Then, let us make the most of our time at Yale together."