​May 5 2019

​​​I set out on a mission this week, to find real-time stories of unity amid increasing anxiety about protecting democratic norms in the US, and defending human freedoms around the world.
​

Those stories were relatively easy to find, and fill me with hope for our next steps as a human race.

(Too busy to read and click through all the article links? Listen to this podcast episode, for highlights on the go.)

As The World Turns

​​When parties stand together

​Former US Vice President Joe Biden held his first 2020 campaign rally early this week, with a three-pillar message that included a promise to unify the country. The unity message isn’t confined to his candidacy. From Senator Kamala Harris’ campaign tagline “For the People,” to Senator Amy Klobuchar declaring that “I think you’re going to find also that there’s a lot more that unites the Democrats that are running than divides us,” presidential hopefuls are acutely aware of the need to bring a fracturing nation back together.

This desire for unity is manifesting at the grassroots level too. Activist group Indivisible was formed soon after the 2016 elections, and their organizing efforts helped to return many US House Congressional seats to the Democratic party in the 2018 midterm elections. Now, they’ve set their sights on the 2020 elections. This time, they’re asking both members and presidential hopefuls to sign an Indivisible 2020 pledge that keeps the primary election civil, and that unites their energies to elect their eventual nominee to the White House. One academic is taking this idea even further, suggesting candidates convene an event to reiterate this commitment on national television.

It’s early days yet, and it remains to be seen if the Democratic party will be able to shake its reputation for being disorganized and/or divided. ​Or if this election cycle can truly stay above the fray, and not resort to the dark arts of negative political ads. But rebuilding the health of both political parties is one step in the right direction of restoring American democracy.

​The free press d​efends its own

​When press freedoms are under siege, and their usual defenders (e.g. the American presidency) can’t be counted on, where do journalists go?
They form a united front to defend their own. This past March, One Free Press Coalition was formed to look out for journalists under attack globally. Here’s an excerpt from their Mar 15 press release:

Om Is Where The Heart Is

​Orchestrating redemption, and a healing for all

​I am in awe of a new show on CNN titled “The Redemption Project.”
Hosted by political commentator and criminal justice reform advocate Van Jones, it’s a spellbinding look at restorative justice.
Restorative justice: a system of criminal justice which focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large.

Now in its second week on air, each episode in this 8-part series narrates the hell and heartbreak that remains after an offender goes to prison, and their victim(‘s family) is left to pick up the shattered pieces of their life.
Then it lets us in to the room when the victim-offender dialogue occurs, letting us into their process, their pain and, yes, even their redemption.
​And if you let it, it’s a show that can heal the hurt in you. Yes, it’s that powerful.

​News and Views

​In the next issue:

​I’m pivoting my energies East, as I plan to spend some down time with family back home in Asia. This may bubble up in my writing next week. We shall see!

Till then…

Live well and lead large – Maya