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    Pope Leo XIV Demands Gaza Ceasefire Amid Rising Tensions

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    Pope Leo XIV Demands Gaza Ceasefire Amid Rising Tensions

    Pope Leo XIV Demands Gaza Ceasefire Amid Rising Tensions

    Pontiff condemns collective punishment and forced displacement, calls for immediate humanitarian intervention

    Vatican City — In a powerful address delivered during his general audience on August 27, 2025, Pope Leo XIV issued an urgent plea for an immediate end to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, condemning what he termed “collective punishment” and forced displacement of civilians in Gaza. The pontiff’s intervention comes at a critical juncture as the conflict enters its second year with devastating humanitarian consequences.

    The war, which began following Hamas‘s devastating October 7, 2023 attack that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages being taken, has triggered an extensive Israeli military offensive in Gaza City. The pontiff’s words carry particular weight as the international community grapples with escalating violence and mounting civilian casualties.

    Vatican Cites International Law Violations

    During his address to thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV directly referenced international law in his condemnation of current military tactics. The pontiff emphasized that the protection of civilian populations must remain paramount, regardless of military objectives.

    “The deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure and the systematic displacement of entire communities constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights principles,” the pope declared, his voice carrying across the packed square. His words resonated with growing international concern over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Palestinian territory.

    The Vatican‘s position aligns with recent statements from United Nations officials and international human rights organizations who have expressed alarm over the scope of civilian suffering. The pontiff’s intervention represents one of the most direct papal statements on the conflict since its escalation.

    Christian Communities Under Siege

    Pope Leo XIV paid particular attention to the plight of Christian communities in Gaza, many of whom have sought refuge in church compounds and Christian institutions throughout the territory. The pontiff noted that these facilities, traditionally considered safe havens, have been subjected to heavy bombardment despite their protected status under international conventions.

    “Our Christian brothers and sisters in Gaza have opened their doors to all who seek shelter, regardless of faith or background,” the pope stated. “These sacred spaces must be respected and protected as sanctuaries of peace amid the chaos of war.”

    The Greek Orthodox and Catholic churches in Gaza have reportedly sheltered hundreds of displaced families, providing not only physical protection but also essential services including medical care and food distribution. However, several church facilities have sustained damage from nearby strikes, raising concerns about the safety of both religious communities and displaced civilians.

    Hostage Crisis Remains Critical

    The pontiff made specific reference to the ongoing hostage situation, noting that approximately 50 individuals remain in Hamas custody nearly two years after their initial capture. Israeli forces have successfully rescued eight hostages alive, but the fate of the remaining captives continues to cast a shadow over diplomatic efforts.

    “Every human life is sacred and precious in the eyes of God,” Pope Leo XIV emphasized. “We cannot accept that innocent people remain in captivity while their families endure unimaginable anguish. Their immediate and unconditional release is not just a political necessity but a moral imperative.”

    The pope’s appeal for hostage release comes as international mediators, including Egyptian and Qatari officials, continue efforts to broker a comprehensive agreement that would secure the release of remaining captives in exchange for a sustained ceasefire and prisoner exchanges.

    Humanitarian Aid Access Blocked

    One of the most pressing issues highlighted by the pontiff was the systematic obstruction of humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza‘s civilian population.

    United Nations agencies and international relief organizations have reported significant difficulties in accessing areas most affected by the conflict, leaving vulnerable populations without essential supplies.

    “The denial of humanitarian assistance to those who need it most represents a fundamental violation of Christian charity and international humanitarian law,” the pope declared.

    “Food, medicine, and shelter are basic human needs that transcend political divisions and military objectives.”

    Current estimates suggest that over 2.3 million people in Gaza depend on humanitarian assistance, with many lacking access to clean water, adequate medical care, and sufficient food supplies.

    The World Health Organization has warned of potential disease outbreaks due to deteriorating sanitary conditions and overcrowding in temporary shelters.

    International Community Response

    The pope’s intervention has drawn support from various international leaders and religious organizations worldwide. European Union officials have echoed the Vatican‘s call for immediate ceasefire negotiations, while several African and Latin American countries have praised the pontiff’s humanitarian focus.

    Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby issued a statement supporting Pope Leo XIV’s appeal, emphasizing the need for interfaith cooperation in addressing the humanitarian crisis. Similarly, prominent Islamic scholars have welcomed the Vatican‘s position as consistent with shared humanitarian values across religious traditions.

    The United States State Department acknowledged the pope’s statement while reaffirming its commitment to Israel‘s right to self-defense. However, U.S. officials have increasingly emphasized the importance of minimizing civilian casualties and ensuring humanitarian aid access.

    Path Forward Uncertain

    Despite growing international pressure for a ceasefire, prospects for immediate resolution remain unclear. Israeli officials have indicated their intention to continue military operations until Hamas‘s military capabilities are significantly degraded and hostages are returned.

    Hamas leadership, meanwhile, has maintained that any lasting agreement must include concrete steps toward Palestinian statehood and the lifting of the blockade that has restricted movement in and out of Gaza for over a decade.

    The pope’s intervention represents a significant moral voice in these discussions, potentially influencing Catholic politicians and leaders worldwide who may play crucial roles in future diplomatic initiatives.

    As the conflict continues to exact a devastating toll on civilian populations, Pope Leo XIV’s call for an end to collective punishment and forced displacement serves as a reminder of the humanitarian principles that must guide international responses to armed conflicts. The pontiff’s words carry particular significance as the world watches the unfolding tragedy in Gaza and searches for pathways toward sustainable peace.

    Summary

    Pope Leo XIV’s comprehensive summary for audio: Pope Leo XIV called for an immediate end to the Israel-Hamas conflict on August 27, 2025, during his Vatican general audience. The pontiff condemned collective punishment and forced displacement in Gaza, citing international law violations. He pleaded for a permanent ceasefire, humanitarian aid access, and the release of 50 remaining hostages held by Hamas. The pope’s appeal highlights growing international concern over civilian suffering and escalating violence in the region as Israel plans its Gaza City offensive.

    #PopeGaza #VaticanPeace #GazaCeasefire #HumanitarianCrisis #IsraelHamas
    #ChristianSolidarity #InternationalLaw #CivilianProtection #HolyLand #PeaceEfforts

    TAGS: Vatican, Pope Leo XIV, Israel-Hamas conflict, collective punishment, humanitarian crisis, ceasefire,
    Gaza, hostages, international law, Christian communities, displacement, civilian casualties, peace negotiations

    Lesbian DACA Recipient Detained Despite Legal Protections

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    Lesbian DACA Recipient Detained Despite Legal Protections

    Immigration advocates sound alarm over Catalina Santiago’s arrest at El Paso airport without clear justification

    New York, N.Y. – A young immigration rights activist’s detention has sparked nationwide concern about the vulnerability of DACA recipients under current U.S. immigration policies.

    Border Patrol Arrests Protected Dreamer at Airport

    Catalina “Xochitl” Santiago was traveling through El Paso International Airport on August 3 when two border patrol agents intercepted her past the security checkpoint.

    The 28-year-old DACA beneficiary was questioned about her employment documents before being taken to an immigration detention center.

    “They have no legal basis for why they detained her or why they’re holding her or why they’re trying to deport her,” said Desiree Miller, Santiago’s spouse, in an interview with The Guardian.

    Santiago had been granted temporary protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows qualifying individuals who arrived in the United States as children to live and work legally. She had successfully renewed her DACA status seven times without incident.

    A DACA Dreamer is an undocumented immigrant who was brought to the United States as a child, has been educated in the U.S., and qualifies for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA provides temporary protection from deportation and work authorization but does not offer a pathway to citizenship.

    Growing Vulnerability of Dreamers Nationwide

    Santiago’s case represents a troubling trend affecting the nation’s 525,000 DACA recipients. The Obama-era program has faced increasing challenges, with the current administration attempting to strip Dreamers of their protections despite no regulatory changes.

    In July, Department of Homeland Security assistant press secretary Tricia McLaughlin made the false claim that “DACA does not confer any form of legal status in this country” and encouraged recipients to self-deport.

    Recent cases underscore this escalation. Javier Diaz Santana, a deaf and mute DACA recipient, was detained during a workplace raid, with officials confiscating his communication tools. Jose Valdovinos faced similar treatment when arrested outside a gas station while riding as a passenger with his wife.

    “We hadn’t seen this before,” said José, Santiago’s older brother and fellow DACA recipient. “It was very fast and very aggressive.”

    Catalina “Xochitl” Santiago was traveling through El Paso International Airport when two border patrol agents intercepted her past the security checkpoint.

    Questionable Detention Circumstances Raise Concerns

    Immigration officials cited charges of “trespassing, possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia” as grounds for Santiago’s arrest. However, Miller emphasized that Santiago had not been convicted of any crimes, and her record had never prevented previous DACA renewals.

    Santiago was traveling to Austin for a conference on family and community-run farms when detained. Miller, who works with Santiago at a local community organization, had taken an earlier flight to the same event.

    The arrest followed a pattern of increased scrutiny at airports. Santiago had been stopped during previous travels but never detained. This time, she managed to send Miller a shaky video showing border patrol officers demanding she put away her phone and accompany them for questioning.

    Detention Conditions and Family Impact

    From the detention facility, Santiago has reported difficult conditions including constant lighting that prevents sleep, loud guards, and inadequate food and medical care. José noted hearing exhaustion in his sister’s voice during phone calls but praised her resilient spirit.

    The couple, who married in January, had been considering applying for a green card through Miller’s U.S. citizenship. The detention has disrupted these plans and created emotional turmoil for the family.

    “It’s really hard for me to sleep and eat and do anything out here comfortably, knowing that she’s not able to sleep in there,” Miller said. “It’s like the constant threat that they could come and take someone you love.”

    Philadelphia joins National Week to Demand the Release of Catalina “Xóchitl” Santiago. Community members hold vigil outside City Hall in solidarity with detained DACA recipient.

    Nationwide Advocacy Response

    Santiago’s detention has prompted solidarity actions across the country. Activists have organized vigils in El Paso, Texas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Long Island; Boston; Tempe, Arizona; and Seattle to protest her treatment.

    The immigration rights community views Santiago’s case as emblematic of broader threats facing DACA recipients nationwide. Her work as a community organizer and immigration activist has made her situation particularly visible to advocacy groups monitoring administration policies.

    Legal Hearing Determines Future

    Santiago appeared before an immigration judge on Wednesday to determine whether she would be released or remain in detention. The hearing represents a crucial moment for both her individual case and broader DACA policy implications.

    Immigration advocates continue emphasizing that Santiago entered the U.S. at age eight with her family and has maintained legal status through DACA. They argue her detention lacks justification and reflects dangerous targeting of protected individuals.

    Miller stressed the human cost of current immigration enforcement: “The administration is messaging that they’re deporting criminals and illegal aliens. They use these words to try to take away from the fact that the people being detained are human, that they are family members.”

    Lesbian DACA Recipient Detained Despite Legal Protections (Aug. 27, 2025)

    #DACARights #ImmigrationJustice #DreamersUnderAttack #ProtectDACA
    #ImmigrationDetention #CatalinaSantiago #BorderPatrol #DreamersRights

    Tags: DACA, immigration detention, Dreamers, border patrol, immigration rights,
    Catalina Santiago, DHS, Obama-era program, immigration enforcement, El Paso

    Poetry: “The Punishment of Becoming” by Rayne LaDuex

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    Poetry: “The Punishment of Becoming” by Rayne LaDuex

    Their writing often explores themes of introspection, love, loss, and resilience

    “The Punishment of Becoming”

    A Poem by Rayne LaDuex

    Oscar Wilde once said that to know exactly what you want to be in life is a punishment. To say it aloud, to name yourself, is to bind yourself to it. If you declare “I will be a teacher,” then you are no longer a person who teaches but a teacher forever. If you say “I will be a soldier,” you become a soldier not just in war but in spirit. If you say “I will be a judge,” you will wear the robes long after the courtroom empties. The title begins to own you. It shapes the way others see you and, worse, the way you see yourself. What once was freedom becomes a sentence.

    Step into the quiet spaces where words speak volumes and emotions echo in the stillness. Silence is a poignant compilation of poetry, short stories, monologues, journal entries, and thoughts, capturing the intricate dance of human experiences—both spoken and unspoken. This collection invites you to explore moments of vulnerability, triumph, love, and loss through a lens that celebrates the power of reflection. From the rhythm of poetic verses to the depth of story-telling, each piece offers a window into the raw and relatable intricacies of life. With themes that touch on identity, resilience, connection, and the beauty found in still moments,  Silence  serves as both a sanctuary and a catalyst—a reminder that within the quiet, we find our truest selves. For readers who seek solace, inspiration, and the profound within the subtle, Silence is a book to treasure, ponder, and revisit time and again.

    I think that is why I never answered the question the way I was supposed to. You know the one—every child gets asked it. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The expected answers are neat and easy. A doctor. A lawyer. An athlete. A firefighter. Titles you can put on a name tag. Roles you can rehearse for. I never wanted to hand over that kind of power to a single word.

    So I always said, successful.

    That was my answer. Not a profession, not a destination, but a direction. It was not the kind of answer adults liked to hear. They wanted something concrete, something they could picture, something they could nod and smile at. But I knew even then that I did not want to live inside one mask. I wanted to keep learning, keep shifting, keep becoming. I wanted to be a student forever.

    And to be a student is not to cling to a title, but to embrace a verb. That is what I have come to understand. Success, for me, is not a crown placed on the head, not a medal hung on the chest, not a title printed on a business card. Success is movement. Success is process. Success is the verb.

    Think about it. A teacher may teach, but then what? A soldier may fight, but then what? A judge may rule, but then what? The nouns stop. They plant you in the ground. They tell you who you are, and that is the end of it. But the verb keeps moving. To learn. To grow. To strive. To love. These are alive. They bend. They stretch. They carry you forward into places you could not have planned.

    The world loves nouns. They are safe. They are tidy. They are something you can stamp onto a resume, something you can fold into conversation at a dinner table. But life itself is written in verbs. It is not artist, it is to create. It is not lover, it is to love. It is not leader, it is to guide. The nouns are monuments; the verbs are movements.

    Maybe Wilde was right. Maybe the punishment of knowing what you want to be is that you are doomed to become exactly that and nothing more. But if that is true, then perhaps the only way out is never to answer with a noun at all. Perhaps the only freedom is to answer with motion.

    So when I say I want to be successful, I do not mean what the world imagines. I do not mean the corner office or the heavy wallet or the trophies lined up on the shelf. I mean successful as a student of life. I mean successful as someone who refuses to stop learning, who refuses to stop becoming. I mean successful as someone who is always reaching, always just on the edge of the next discovery.

    My success lives in the unfinished sentence. My success is in the ellipses, in the space that says there is still more to come.

    Because in the end, it is not the noun that defines us. It is the verb that carries us. It is not what we are. It is what we are becoming.And when I finally burn out, I hope the stars keep their silence. Let them be indifferent. Let them spin on. For in that irrelevance, I found reason enough to love, to suffer, to create, to be.

    Rayne LaDuex is a passionate writer of poetry and short stories that delve into the raw and often unspoken facets of human experience. Drawing inspiration from the quiet moments of life and the intricate emotions that weave our stories, LaDuex creates work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. Their writing often explores themes of introspection, love, loss, and resilience.

    In addition to writing, LaDuex balances creativity with a career in project management and serves their community as a high school football coach, helping to mentor and inspire the next generation. They find harmony between structure and imagination, weaving these experiences into their art. Silence is their debut collection, a heartfelt offering to those who find solace in words and the spaces between them.

    Order Silence here.

    Summary

    Rayne LaDuex’s poem The Punishment of Becoming explores the delicate balance between identity and growth, challenging the notion that choosing a title limits personal freedom. Through introspective reflection, LaDuex advocates for embracing life as a continuous verb rather than a static noun, encouraging readers to pursue success through perpetual learning and transformation. This evocative work resonates with those seeking meaning in motion, not destination, and highlights the power found in remaining unfinished.

    #Resilience #RayneLaDuex #PersonalGrowth #Success #ProcessOverProduct
    #Introspection #Poetry #CreativeWriting #ThePunishmentOfBecoming #Identity

    TAGS: poetry, Rayne LaDuex, introspection, identity, personal growth, resilience,
    creative writing, process, transformation, success, The Punishment of Becoming

    Trump Threatens Criminal Charges Against Billionaire George Soros

    Jim Luce
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    Trump Threatens Criminal Charges Against Billionaire George Soros

    President Revives Unsubstantiated Claims About Philanthropist’s Role in Civil Unrest and Calls for Prosecution

    New York, N.Y. – President Donald Trump [Luce Index™ score: 35/100] has escalated rhetoric against billionaire philanthropist George Soros [Luce Index™ score: 89/100], threatening criminal charges based on unproven allegations that the Hungarian American financier supported riots across the United States.

    The renewed attacks on Soros, a frequent target of far-right conspiracy theories, mark another chapter in the president’s pattern of targeting prominent Democratic donors and liberal activists.

    Speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania over the weekend, Trump claimed without evidence that Soros “funded the destruction of American cities” and declared that the 94-year-old should “face the full force of American justice.” The president’s remarks drew immediate condemnation from civil rights organizations and legal experts, who characterized the threats as dangerous rhetoric that could incite violence against the Holocaust survivor and his family.

    Right-wing media such as FOX and The Washington Examiner are amplifying Trump’s threats against the Soros family.

    Baseless Allegations Resurface

    The president’s latest accusations against Soros echo long-standing conspiracy theories that have circulated in far-right circles for years.

    George Soros founded the Open Society Foundations in New York City. Photo credit: Open Society Foundations.

    These unfounded claims typically assert that Soros, through his Open Society Foundations, secretly orchestrates civil unrest, election interference, and various progressive political movements worldwide.

    Law enforcement agencies and fact-checking organizations have repeatedly debunked these theories, finding no credible evidence to support such allegations.

    Soros, who has donated billions to democratic institutions and human rights causes globally, has become a lightning rod for antisemitic conspiracy theories.

    The Anti-Defamation League has documented how references to Soros often serve as coded language for antisemitic tropes about Jewish control of global events.

    The organization has tracked a significant increase in Soros-related conspiracy theories since the 2016 election cycle.

    The Open Society Foundations issued a statement rejecting the president’s claims as “categorically false and deeply irresponsible.” The organization emphasized its commitment to supporting democratic institutions, human rights, and criminal justice reform through transparent and legal means.

    Legal Experts Question Viability of Charges

    Constitutional law scholars and former federal prosecutors have expressed skepticism about the legal basis for any potential charges against Soros. Professor Sarah Williams of Georgetown University Law Center noted that political donations and advocacy, even when controversial, are protected forms of speech under the First Amendment.

    Son Alexander Soros is today chair of the Open Society Foundations. Photo credit: Open Society Foundations.

    “The president’s threats appear to conflate legitimate political activity with criminal conduct,” Williams explained. “Without specific evidence of illegal actions, these accusations seem designed more for political theater than actual law enforcement.”

    Former Justice Department official Michael Chen echoed these concerns, pointing out that federal prosecutors typically require substantial evidence before pursuing charges against high-profile individuals.

    “Vague allegations about ‘funding riots’ without concrete proof of coordination or incitement would be unlikely to survive prosecutorial scrutiny,” Chen observed.

    The Department of Justice has not commented on the president’s statements or indicated any active investigation into Soros‘s activities. However, legal experts warn that politicization of the justice system could undermine public confidence in law enforcement institutions.

    Rolling Stone: “President Donald Trump is continuing to transform the Justice Department into a tool for vengeance against his political enemies, including billionaire philanthropist and Democratic donor George Soros.”

    Political Ramifications and Responses

    The president’s targeting of Soros has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic leaders and some Republicans who view the rhetoric as inflammatory and potentially dangerous.

    Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the threats as “authoritarian tactics” that have no place in American democracy.

    Several GOP lawmakers, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concern about the president’s increasingly aggressive language toward political opponents.

    One House Republican noted that such rhetoric could complicate the party’s efforts to appeal to moderate voters ahead of upcoming elections.

    Soros‘s allies in the philanthropic community have rallied to defend the financier, with several major donors issuing joint statements supporting his work.

    The Council on Foundations released a letter signed by more than 100 philanthropic leaders denouncing what they termed “attacks on charitable giving and civic engagement.”

    As founder of The James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation, I state emphatically that The James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation against philanthropic organizations needs to be called out and countered as strongly as possible.

    Historical Context of Anti-Soros Rhetoric

    The current controversy represents the latest escalation in a years-long campaign against Soros by conservative media figures and politicians.

    The billionaire has faced similar accusations during previous election cycles, with conspiracy theories often intensifying during periods of civil unrest or political tension.

    Security experts note that Soros and his family have been targets of multiple threats and attempted attacks in recent years.

    In 2018, a pipe bomb was delivered to Soros‘s home in New York, and authorities have investigated numerous other incidents involving threats against the philanthropist and his organizations.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation has documented cases where online conspiracy theories about Soros have inspired real-world violence.

    A 2019 domestic terrorism report highlighted the role of antisemitic conspiracy theories in radicalizing individuals toward violent extremism.

    Open Society Foundations graphic, “Where we work.” Image credit: Open Society Foundations.

    International Implications

    The president’s rhetoric against Soros has also drawn attention from international observers, particularly in Europe where the philanthropist has faced similar attacks from authoritarian leaders.

    Donald Trump and Viktor Orbán at Mar-a-Lago. Photo credit: Viktor Orbán / Facebook.

    Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán [Luce Index™ score: 39/100] has conducted extensive campaigns against Soros, forcing the closure of Central European University in Budapest.

    European Union officials have expressed concern about the spread of anti-Soros conspiracy theories across the Atlantic, viewing such rhetoric as part of broader attacks on democratic institutions and civil society organizations.

    The European Parliament has passed resolutions condemning antisemitic conspiracy theories and their use by political leaders.

    Diplomatic sources suggest that continued targeting of Soros could complicate U.S. relationships with allies who view the philanthropist as a defender of democratic values.

    Several European governments have publicly supported Soros‘s organizations and condemned attempts to criminalize their activities.

    As the controversy continues to unfold, civil rights advocates warn that the president’s rhetoric could have lasting consequences for political discourse and public safety. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between free speech protections and the potential for inflammatory political language to inspire violence against targeted individuals.

    Summary

    President Trump has threatened criminal charges against billionaire philanthropist George Soros, claiming without evidence that Soros funded riots across America. Legal experts question the viability of such charges, noting that political donations are protected speech. Civil rights organizations condemn the threats as dangerous rhetoric targeting a Holocaust survivor. The accusations echo long-standing antisemitic conspiracy theories. Democratic leaders and some Republicans criticize the inflammatory language, warning it could undermine democratic institutions and public safety.

    #TrumpSoros #PoliticalRhetoric #ConspiracyTheories #Antisemitism #FreeSpeech #DemocraticInstitutions #CivilRights
    TAGS: George Soros, criminal charges, conspiracy theories, antisemitism, political rhetoric, Open Society Foundations,
    Trump, civil rights, First Amendment, Justice Department, Holocaust survivor, philanthropist, far-right, Democratic donors

    Public Caning in Aceh, Indonesia Highlights LGBTQ+ Rights Crisis

    John Laing
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    Public Caning in Aceh, Indonesia Highlights LGBTQ+ Rights Crisis

    Men punished for same-sex affection in Banda Aceh under strict Sharia law sparks global human rights outcry

    Editor John Laing.

    New York, N.Y. – Two men faced public humiliation and physical punishment in Indonesia‘s Banda Aceh province this week, receiving dozens of cane strikes for embracing and kissing in what authorities deemed a violation of strict Sharia law.

    The brutal spectacle, witnessed by hundreds of onlookers, has reignited international debate about human rights violations and the intersection of religious law with personal freedoms in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.

    The punishment, carried out by hooded executioners in a public square, represents the harsh reality faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Aceh province, the only region in Indonesia where Islamic law is fully implemented. For those who have worked in the region, the scene evokes painful memories of the risks faced by anyone whose identity conflicts with the area’s rigid interpretation of Islamic jurisprudence.

    A Personal Testament to Danger

    Following the devastating 2004 tsunami that claimed over 170,000 lives in Aceh province alone, international aid organizations flooded the region to provide relief and reconstruction support. Among them was Orphans International Sumatra, a children’s aid project that operated for three years in the aftermath of the disaster. What made this organization unique was not just its mission, but its leadership: at the helm was Jim Luce, believed to be the only openly gay man heading an international children’s aid project at the time.

    The decision to maintain transparency about his sexual orientation while working in
    Banda Aceh required extraordinary courage. Luce’s Wikipedia entry openly listed his
    romantic partner as a man, making him vulnerable to severe punishment under the
    province’s interpretation of Sharia law, where homosexuality is considered a capital
    offense. The risks were not theoretical—they were immediate and life-threatening.

    “I visited our campus and stayed for weeks at a time for the three years we were on the ground there, risking bodily harm each and every time I visited,” Luce recalled. The threat was constant and real, as strict Islamic adherents in the region can impose the death penalty or public caning for homosexuality.

    Jim Luce founded Orphans International Sumatra after the Tsunami in spite of being openly gay in an Islamic region adhering to Sharia Law where LGBTQ+ individuals can be caned or killed.

    Breaking Barriers in Humanitarian Work

    “Flagellation de Notre Seigneur Jesus Christ” by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1880) portrays Jesus bound to a column and subjected to intense physical and spiritual suffering.

    Luce’s openness about his sexuality challenged prevailing stereotypes that have long excluded LGBTQ+ individuals from leadership roles in children’s aid organizations.

    The persistent and unfounded belief that gay men pose a threat to children has historically forced many qualified humanitarian workers to remain closeted or avoid child-focused aid work entirely.

    Research consistently demonstrates that heterosexual men are statistically more likely to be involved in pedophilia than LGBTQ+ individuals, yet the harmful stereotype persists.

    During the early 2000s, this prejudice meant that virtually every gay man leading an international children’s aid organization felt compelled to hide their identity to protect both their personal safety and their organization’s mission.

    Luce maintained transparency about his personal life while successfully operating a humanitarian program in one of the world’s most dangerous regions for LGBTQ+ individuals.

    He demonstrated that sexual orientation has no bearing on one’s ability to provide compassionate, professional care for vulnerable children.

    The Ongoing Human Cost”

    The personal stakes of Aceh’s strict interpretation of Sharia law became tragically clear years after Orphans International Sumatra concluded its operations.

    “Torturing a Black Man.” New York Times illustration of Ku Klux Klan caning (1868).

    Luce received devastating news that one of the children from their program had been “caught” engaging in same-sex activity.

    The young person faced a horrifying punishment: forced to publicly apologize, renounce their attraction to men, and endure public flogging.

    When Luce reached out to local contacts, hoping to intervene or provide support, he encountered the complex cultural dynamics that make human rights advocacy so challenging in regions where religious law supersedes international standards.

    A local teacher dismissed his concerns, stating that he could not impose his cultural beliefs on their society and needed to “mind his own business.”

    This response highlights the tension between cultural relativism and universal human rights. While respecting cultural differences is important, the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights clearly establishes that the right to personal sexuality and freedom from cruel punishment are fundamental human rights that transcend cultural boundaries.

    Religious Law Versus Universal Rights

    The conflict between religious interpretation and human rights in Aceh represents a broader global struggle over the limits of religious authority in governing personal behavior.

    The spirit of universal equality has been consistently interpreted to mean that LGBTQ+ people are entitled to the same rights and protections as everyone else.

    Indonesia’s national government has generally maintained more moderate positions on LGBTQ+ issues, but Aceh’s special autonomous status allows it to implement its own interpretation of Islamic law.

    The province’s approach to Sharia law extends far beyond sexual orientation, governing everything from alcohol consumption to gambling, often with public punishments designed to shame and deter.

    However, the targeting of LGBTQ+ individuals represents a particularly vulnerable population with limited recourse for protection or appeal.

    International human rights organizations have consistently argued that while religious freedom deserves protection, faith traditions should not be used to justify the violation of fundamental human dignities.

    The U.N. Declaration of Human Rights establishes that all people, regardless of sexual orientation, deserve protection from cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

    The damage of caning is as much psychological as it is physical. Here, two men after being flogged. Photo credit: Amnesty International.

    The Global Context

    Indonesia’s treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals in Aceh province occurs against a backdrop of increasing persecution worldwide. From Russia’s “gay propaganda” laws to Uganda’s harsh anti-homosexuality legislation, governments increasingly use religious or cultural justifications to restrict LGBTQ+ rights and dignity.

    The public caning in Banda Aceh serves as a stark reminder that progress on LGBTQ+ rights remains fragile and geographically uneven.

    While some nations have embraced marriage equality and anti-discrimination protections, others continue to criminalize same-sex relationships and subject LGBTQ+ individuals to state-sanctioned violence.

    For humanitarian workers and international organizations, these realities create complex ethical dilemmas about how to operate effectively in restrictive environments while maintaining their values and protecting vulnerable populations, including their own staff members who may belong to marginalized communities.

    The courage demonstrated by individuals like Luce, who risked personal safety to provide humanitarian aid, illuminates both the dedication of aid workers and the urgent need for international pressure to protect human rights in all contexts, regardless of local religious or cultural interpretations that may conflict with universal human dignity.

    Summary

    Two men were publicly caned in Indonesia’s Banda Aceh province for same-sex affection under strict Sharia law, highlighting ongoing LGBTQ+ persecution. The punishment recalls the risks faced by humanitarian workers like Jim Luce, who led children’s aid efforts there as an openly gay man. The incident underscores tensions between religious law and universal human rights protections.

    #IndonesiaLGBTQ #HumanRights #ShariaLaw #BandaAceh #LGBTQRights
    #HumanRightsViolation #IslamicLaw #LGBTQPersecution #GlobalLGBTQ
    #Indonesia #ReligiousFreedom #ReligiousLaw #LGBTQActivism #HumanDignity

    TAGS: Indonesia, LGBTQ rights, Sharia law, Banda Aceh, human rights violations,
    Islamic law, public caning, religious persecution, humanitarian work, sexual orientation,
    cultural relativism, universal human rights, LGBTQ activism, religious freedom, human dignity

    Texas Instruments Pioneered AI Computing Before The Revolution

    Jim Luce
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    Texas Instruments Pioneered AI Computing Before The Revolution

    Austin software engineer’s career bridged semiconductor giants and specialized artificial intelligence startup ventures

    New York, N.Y. — In the spring of 2001, as the dot-com bubble burst and technology companies struggled to survive, a quiet revolution was brewing in Austin’s artificial intelligence community.

    While most of the tech world focused on internet startups and e-commerce ventures, a small cadre of engineers were developing the foundational technologies that would eventually power today’s AI renaissance.

    Richard Livingston Luce, who held two master’s degrees from the University of Texas at Austin—a Master of Science in Computer Science (M.S.C.S.) and a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (M.S.E.C.E.)—exemplified this pioneering spirit.

    After contributing to groundbreaking research at Texas Instruments, Rick Luce transitioned to Momentum Software of Austin, where he spent the final five years of his career specializing in artificial intelligence development.

    At age 47, Luce died unexpectedly of pancreatic cancer in spring 2001, just as the AI field he helped nurture was beginning to show its transformative potential.

    The Texas Instruments Foundation

    Texas Instruments‘ journey into artificial intelligence began not with grand ambitions of creating thinking machines, but with a practical need to process signals more efficiently. In 1982, Texas Instruments developed the first single-chip Digital Signal Processor (DSP), which could convert analog signals into digital form in real-time. This breakthrough would prove instrumental to AI development decades later.

    Since introducing programmable digital signal processors in the 1980s, TI has produced families of embedded processors. These processors became the computational foundation for many AI applications, enabling real-time processing of complex data streams that would be essential for machine learning algorithms.

    The TMS320 family of digital signal processors, introduced on April 8, 1983, through the TMS32010 processor, which was then the fastest DSP on the market, represented a quantum leap in processing capability. These chips could handle the intensive mathematical operations required for pattern recognition, neural network calculations, and other AI-related tasks that would later become standard at specialized software companies.

    TI 2000: A Strategic Vision for the Future

    By the late 1980s, Texas Instruments leadership recognized that the company needed to transform itself for the coming technological revolution. In 1989, the CEO inaugurated a strategic plan to radically reshape Texas Instruments, dubbed “TI 2000.” A key aspect of the plan was to loosen the corporation’s traditionally tight corporate culture and encourage innovation.

    This cultural shift proved crucial for AI research and for nurturing engineers who would later join specialized AI companies. Engineers like Rick Luce found themselves working in an environment that valued experimentation and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The TI 2000 initiative encouraged researchers to think beyond traditional applications and explore emerging fields like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and neural networks.

    The Transition to Specialized AI Development

    While Texas Instruments provided the foundational technologies and research environment, the late 1990s saw the emergence of specialized software companies focused exclusively on artificial intelligence applications. Momentum Software of Austin represented this new generation of AI-focused companies, founded to translate research breakthroughs into commercial applications.

    Rick Luce‘s transition from Texas Instruments to Momentum Software reflected a broader trend in the industry. Engineers with deep experience in both hardware and software were increasingly drawn to smaller, more focused companies where they could concentrate specifically on AI development rather than the broader semiconductor business.

    A Brilliant Mind Lost Too Soon

    Rick Luce‘s educational background exemplified the interdisciplinary approach that both Texas Instruments and Momentum Software valued in their AI research initiatives.

    His Master of Science in Computer Science from UT Austin provided deep expertise in algorithms, software architecture, and computational theory. His complementary Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering gave him hardware-level understanding of digital signal processors, embedded systems, and the physical constraints that shaped AI implementation.

    This dual expertise made Luce particularly valuable to Momentum Software‘s AI development efforts. Computer science provided the theoretical foundation for machine learning algorithms, while electrical and computer engineering offered practical insights into optimizing those algorithms for specific hardware architectures. Engineers with this combination of skills were rare and highly sought after in the emerging field of commercial AI applications.

    Luce‘s untimely death from pancreatic cancer in spring 2001 represented not just a personal tragedy, but a loss to Austin’s growing AI community. At 49, he was at the peak of his technical capabilities, with decades of experience bridging semiconductor research and specialized software development. His passing came just as companies like Momentum Software were beginning to demonstrate the commercial viability of AI applications.

    In a testament to his values and family commitment, Luce left a portion of his estate to Orphans International, a charity that his younger brother had just incorporated in 2001 with the guidance of their mother. This final act reflected the same forward-thinking perspective that characterized his professional work—investing in causes that would have long-term impact beyond his own lifetime.

    Austin: A Growing Technology Hub

    During the 1990s and early 2000s, Austin was rapidly emerging as a major technology center, second only to Silicon Valley in its concentration of high-tech companies and research institutions. Texas Instruments‘ Austin facilities had created a talent pool that companies like Momentum Software could draw upon, creating a collaborative ecosystem where AI research could flourish in both large corporations and specialized startups.

    The proximity to the University of Texas at Austin provided additional advantages. The Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence opened in 1983, but AI research at the University of Texas began years earlier with pioneering efforts by Woody Bledsoe and Bob Simmons. This academic foundation created a talent pipeline and research collaboration opportunities that benefited both established companies like TI and emerging players like Momentum Software.

    The Commercial AI Pioneers

    By the mid-1990s, Austin had developed a unique ecosystem where engineers could move between large research-oriented corporations and smaller, more focused AI companies.

    Momentum Software represented the entrepreneurial side of this equation, taking the foundational technologies developed at companies like Texas Instruments and transforming them into specialized commercial applications.

    Engineers like Rick Luce who made this transition brought invaluable experience from their corporate research background. They understood not just the theoretical possibilities of AI, but also the practical limitations imposed by available hardware and the commercial requirements for viable products.

    The Research Environment of 2001

    By 2001, Austin’s AI community encompassed both established corporations and specialized software companies. Momentum Software, where Luce spent his final professional years, represented the cutting edge of commercial AI development. The company focused on applications that pushed the boundaries of what was possible with available computing power, requiring exactly the kind of interdisciplinary expertise that Luce possessed.

    The research environment at specialized AI companies like Momentum Software during this period was characterized by rapid prototyping and practical application development. Luce‘s background perfectly suited this approach—his computer science training provided algorithmic sophistication, while his electrical engineering expertise ensured practical implementation feasibility. While larger companies often focused on long-term research, specialized AI companies were developing technologies that could be commercialized immediately.

    Texas Instruments’ new 300mm semiconductor fabrications in Sherman, Texas.

    Legacy and Impact

    The work done by engineers like Rick Luce at companies like Momentum Software in Austin during the late 1990s and early 2000s may not have generated immediate headlines, but it laid crucial groundwork for today’s AI revolution. Luce‘s career trajectory—from semiconductor research at Texas Instruments to specialized AI development at Momentum Software—represented the kind of cross-pollination that would prove essential for AI advancement.

    Luce‘s dual expertise in computer science and electrical engineering, combined with his experience in both corporate research and specialized software development, made him part of a small community of engineers who understood both the theoretical possibilities and practical limitations of AI implementation. His work at Momentum Software helped bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial applications.

    The tragic loss of Rick Luce to pancreatic cancer in spring 2001 came at a pivotal moment in computing history. Companies like Momentum Software were demonstrating that specialized AI applications could be commercially viable, paving the way for the industry transformation that would follow. Even in death, Luce‘s commitment to making a positive impact continued through his bequest to Orphans International, demonstrating the same long-term vision that characterized his technical work.

    The spring of 2001 marked not just the end of the dot-com boom, but also the quiet conclusion of a foundational chapter in AI development. While the world focused on the dramatic rise and fall of internet companies, engineers like Luce at specialized firms like Momentum Software were methodically building the commercial applications that would eventually enable the AI transformation we witness today.

    Summary

    Austin engineer Richard “Rick” Luce contributed to artificial intelligence development, transitioning from foundational research at Texas Instruments to specialized AI work at Momentum Software during his final five years. Luce, who held dual master’s degrees from UT Austin, died unexpectedly of pancreatic cancer at 49, leaving a bequest to Orphans International, a charity his brother incorporated in 2001.

    #Austin #ArtificialIntelligence #MomentumSoftware #TexasInstruments
    #AIHistory #TechStartup #Innovation #AIResearch #TechPioneer

    TAGS: artificial intelligence, Austin, Momentum Software, Texas Instruments, Richard Luce, Rick Luce,
    AI development, tech startup, semiconductor research, machine learning, Austin tech history,
    AI pioneer, software engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, AI commercialization

    Marie Curie Joins Orphans International Pantheon Global Heroes

    John Laing
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    0
    Marie Curie Joins Orphans International Pantheon Global Heroes

    Two-time Nobel Laureate becomes forty-first honoree in organization’s prestigious collection of humanitarian role models

    Editor John Laing.

    New York, N.Y. – Orphans International Worldwide (OIW) announced today the induction of Marie Curie, the groundbreaking physicist and chemist, into its esteemed Pantheon of Global Heroes. The two-time Nobel Prize winner becomes the forty-first individual recognized by the humanitarian organization for embodying the values of courage, brilliance, and service to humanity that founder Jim Luce envisioned when establishing the program in 1998.

    Marie Curie‘s remarkable achievements in science, combined with her pioneering role as a woman in academia and her dedication to medical advancement during World War I, exemplify the heroic qualities OIW seeks to instill in children worldwide. Her inclusion alongside luminaries such as Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein, and Mother Teresa reinforces the organization’s commitment to presenting diverse models of excellence for global citizenship and global leadership.

    Breaking Scientific Barriers While Serving Humanity

    Born Marie Skłodowska in Warsaw in 1867, Curie overcame significant obstacles to become the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields, and the first female professor at the University of Paris. Her discoveries of the elements polonium and radium revolutionized understanding of atomic physics and chemistry, laying groundwork for modern medical treatments and nuclear science.

    “Marie Curie represents the perfect synthesis of intellectual achievement and humanitarian service,” said OIW president Jim Luce. “Her scientific breakthroughs saved countless lives, while her perseverance in the face of discrimination continues to inspire young people, particularly girls pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.“

    Curie’s research into radioactivity—a term she coined—opened new frontiers in medicine. Her work led to the development of X-ray technology and cancer treatments that have saved millions of lives over the past century. During World War I, she developed mobile X-ray units, nicknamed “petites Curies,” which brought life-saving diagnostic capabilities directly to battlefield hospitals.

    Girl in Africa experimenting with chemistry thanks to the ground breaking work and role modelling of Orphans International Worldwide Global Hero and Nobel Prize Laureate Marie Curie.

    Legacy of Service Extends Beyond Laboratory

    The Polish-French scientist’s commitment to education and public service exemplified the values OIW promotes through its Global Citizenship Award for Leadership in Helping Humanity. Curie established the Radium Institute in Paris and Warsaw, institutions that continued her research and training of future scientists long after her death in 1934.

    Her dedication to knowledge sharing and international collaboration reflected the global citizenship ideals that OIW seeks to foster in children worldwide. Curie refused to patent the radium isolation process, choosing instead to share her discoveries freely with the scientific community for the benefit of humanity.

    “The children in our programs see in Marie Curie a model of how intellectual curiosity and scientific rigor can serve the greater good,” explained Dr. Sarah Mitchell, a director of educational programs. “Her story demonstrates that breakthrough discoveries often require years of persistent effort and that true heroes use their talents to help others.”

    Joining Distinguished Company of Global Role Models

    The Pantheon of Global Heroes was conceived as part of OIW’s mission to raise global citizens by providing young people with tangible examples of human excellence. In his Initial Report from 1998-1999, Luce wrote, “Without saints, secular or divine, sanctity can too easily be viewed as mere abstraction. Our children need heroes. The courage of Mahatma Gandhi and the brilliance of Albert Einstein make sainthood a reality for us all.”

    Curie joins an extraordinary collection of individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in helping humanity. The pantheon includes Nobel Peace Prize winners such as Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Yitzhak Rabin, and Menachem Begin, alongside literary giants like Gabriel García Márquez, Ernest Hemingway, and Elie Wiesel.

    The recognition also encompasses spiritual leaders including the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh, social reformers like Dorothy Day and Katharine Drexel, and political visionaries such as Woodrow Wilson and Winston Churchill. Each honoree represents a different path to global citizenship while sharing common commitments to service, courage, and human dignity.

    Inspiring Future Generations of Scientists and Leaders

    OIW’s educational programs utilize the stories of pantheon members to teach children about leadership, perseverance, and social responsibility. Curie’s inclusion provides particularly powerful inspiration for young women and girls, who often face barriers in pursuing scientific careers similar to those she encountered more than a century ago.

    Recent recipients of OIW’s Global Citizenship Award for Leadership in Helping Humanity include U.S. Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, Hellenic Republic Parliamentarian Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou, Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary, and WCBS anchor Cindy Hsu. These contemporary leaders continue the tradition of service that Curie exemplified throughout her career.

    The organization’s programs reach children in orphanages, schools, and community centers across multiple continents. Through storytelling, educational materials, and mentorship programs, OIW helps young people understand how they can contribute to positive change in their communities and the world.

    Continuing Curie’s Mission of Discovery and Service

    Curie’s induction into the Pantheon of Global Heroes comes at a time when scientific literacy and evidence-based decision-making face unprecedented challenges. Her example of rigorous research methodology, international collaboration, and practical application of discoveries for human benefit offers valuable guidance for addressing contemporary global challenges.

    The timing also coincides with renewed efforts to encourage diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. Curie’s achievements demonstrate that excellence in scientific research knows no gender boundaries and that breakthrough discoveries often come from those who bring fresh perspectives to complex problems.

    OIW plans to develop new educational materials featuring Curie’s story, including interactive exhibits and digital resources that will help children understand both her scientific contributions and her humanitarian impact. These materials will join existing resources about other pantheon members in the organization’s comprehensive global citizenship curriculum.

    Marie Curie Joins Orphans International Pantheon Global Heroes (Aug. 25, 2025)

    Summary

    Orphans International Worldwide announces Marie Curie’s induction into its Pantheon of Global Heroes. The two-time Nobel Prize winner joins forty other distinguished individuals recognized for embodying courage, brilliance, and service to humanity. Curie’s scientific achievements and humanitarian service during World War I exemplify the values OIW promotes through its global citizenship programs. Her inclusion provides inspiration for young people, particularly girls pursuing scientific careers, demonstrating how intellectual excellence can serve the greater good.

    #MarieCurie #OrphansInternationalWorldwide #GlobalHeroes #GlobalCitizenship
    #WomenInScience #Inspiration #Humanitarian #ScienceEducation #NobelPrize #Education

    TAGS: Marie Curie, Orphans International Worldwide, global heroes, Nobel Prize, women in science, global citizenship,
    Jim Luce, education, inspiration, scientific discovery, humanitarian service, role models, STEM education, leadership
    Jim Luce Writes on Orphans & Orphans International Worldwide

    Death | Rise and Scandalous Fall of Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart

    Jim Luce
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    Death | Rise and Scandalous Fall of Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart

    Reflecting on a Complex Legacy of Faith, Power, and Controversy from a Former Critic’s Perspective

    New York, N.Y. – As the news of Jimmy Swaggart‘s passing on July 1, 2025, at the age of 90 reverberates through religious and media circles, I find myself compelled to reflect on a figure who once commanded an empire of faith but whose story became synonymous with hubris and human frailty.

    As the founder of Fundamentalists Anonymous in the 1980s, I stood in opposition to the televangelist juggernaut that Swaggart epitomized, testifying before Congress about the financial and emotional exploitation woven into such ministries.

    His death, following a heart attack that led to intensive care, marks the end of an era defined by soaring sermons, multimillion-dollar revenues, and shattering scandals. From my vantage point as a former Wall Street banker turned activist, Swaggart‘s life offers a cautionary tale about the perils of unchecked authority in religion.

    Born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, Jimmy Lee Swaggart grew up in a Pentecostal household that nurtured his early talents in music and preaching. Cousins to rock ‘n’ roll legends Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley, Swaggart chose the path of evangelism over secular stardom, honing his skills in small churches across the South.

    By the 1950s, he had released gospel albums and begun broadcasting on radio, laying the groundwork for what would become one of the most influential ministries in U.S. history. His fiery style, blending emotional appeals with condemnations of sin, resonated with audiences seeking spiritual certainty in turbulent times.

    Jimmy Swaggart preaching in the 1980’s.

    The Ascent to Televangelist Stardom

    Swaggart‘s rise accelerated in the 1970s with the advent of television. Launching “The Jimmy Swaggart Telecast” in 1971, he expanded his reach exponentially. By the mid-1980s, his program aired on over 200 stations, reaching an estimated two million viewers weekly in the U.S. alone, with global broadcasts extending to more than 100 countries.

    Financially, the ministry was a powerhouse: in 1985, it generated approximately US$140 million (equivalent to about US$400 million in today’s dollars, adjusted for inflation) annually through donations, book sales, and merchandise.

    This revenue funded expansive operations, including Jimmy Swaggart Bible College (later renamed World Evangelism Bible College) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which spanned 257 acres (104 ha) and educated thousands of aspiring ministers.

    What set Swaggart apart was his unyielding Pentecostal fervor. He preached against rock music, calling it “the new pornography,” and lambasted fellow evangelists for moral lapses. Ironically, this self-appointed guardian of purity would later face accusations of hypocrisy.

    His sermons, often delivered with tears and dramatic gestures, emphasized personal salvation and the dangers of worldly temptations.

    Supporters saw him as a prophet; critics, including myself, viewed his empire as a sophisticated fundraising machine that preyed on vulnerable believers.

    During my time leading Fundamentalists Anonymous, we received countless calls from individuals who had donated their life savings to such ministries, only to feel spiritually bankrupt afterward.

    Swaggart‘s influence extended beyond the pulpit. He authored numerous books, including “To Cross a River” (1977), an autobiography detailing his humble beginnings, and produced music that sold millions of copies.

    His ministry’s headquarters in Baton Rouge became a sprawling complex, complete with a 7,000-seat Family Worship Center.

    At its peak, the organization employed hundreds and boasted assets valued in the hundreds of millions. Yet, beneath the gloss lay systemic issues: allegations of financial opacity and emotional manipulation that echoed the concerns I raised in my congressional testimony.

    Scandals That Shook the Foundations

    The cracks in Swaggart‘s facade began to show in the late 1980s, a period rife with televangelist controversies. In 1986, he played a role in exposing rival Jim Bakker’s financial and sexual improprieties at the PTL Club, positioning himself as a moral arbiter. However, this victory was short-lived.

    On February 21, 1988, Swaggart delivered his infamous tearful confession on live television: “I have sinned against you, my Lord, and I would ask that your precious blood would wash and cleanse every stain until it is in the seas of God’s forgiveness.”

    A tearful confession: Jimmy Swaggart crying during his “I have sinned” speech aired on live television in February 1988. In 1987, he accused fellow televangelist Jim Bakker of immoral behavior. It was later revealed that Swaggart had a long history with prostitution.

    This admission followed revelations that he had been photographed entering a motel with sex worker Debra Murphree in Metairie, Louisiana.

    The scandal, orchestrated in part by fellow minister Marvin Gorman seeking revenge for Swaggart‘s earlier accusations against him, led to Swaggart‘s defrocking by the Assemblies of God.

    The fallout was swift and severe. Viewership plummeted by 85%, and revenues dropped dramatically, forcing layoffs and asset sales.

    In 1991, another scandal emerged when Swaggart was stopped by police in Indio, California, with prostitute Rosemary Garcia in his car. Though no charges were filed, the incident further eroded his credibility.

    These events validated the warnings Fundamentalists Anonymous had issued about the “religious addiction” fostered by authoritarian figures— a concept I introduced on the Phil Donahue Show in 1985, prompting 17,000 calls for help and leading me to abandon my banking career at Daiwa Bank.

    From my perspective, these scandals were not mere personal failings but symptomatic of a broader system.

    Televangelists like Swaggart amassed fortunes—his ministry once reported US$150 million (approximately €140 million at the time) in annual income—while urging followers to give sacrificially.

    We documented cases where donors faced financial ruin, mirroring the exploitation we testified about in Congress. Swaggart‘s refusal to fully submit to denominational discipline, opting instead to continue independently, underscored his defiance.

    Personal Encounters and Congressional Testimony

    My direct involvement with Swaggart began in the heat of our crusade against televangelism’s excesses. On August 29, 1987, during a revival crusade on Long Island, my co-founder Richard Yao and I attended to observe and distribute literature.

    As Swaggart exited the stadium, surrounded by security, he spotted us and, in a
    bizarre twist, invited us to his hotel room to “party” before climbing into his limousine.
    This encounter, laden with irony given his public persona, fueled our resolve.

    In 1988, Richard and I testified before the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, decrying the lack of accountability in religious nonprofits. We highlighted Swaggart alongside Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, arguing that their empires exploited tax-exempt status to build personal wealth.

    Our organization, by then boasting 30,000 members across 41 chapters with a US$300,000 budget, provided support groups for those recovering from fundamentalist indoctrination. We even coordinated the first panel on religious addiction at the American Psychological Association’s convention in 1987, with findings published in the Journal of Religion and Health.

    These efforts contributed to greater scrutiny: Congress considered reforms, though few materialized. Swaggart‘s scandals amplified our message, as his tearful apology became a cultural touchstone, parodied on shows like Saturday Night Live. Yet, for the victims—those who felt betrayed by the very figures promising salvation— the damage was profound.

    A Complicated Legacy in Retrospect

    In his later years, Swaggart rebuilt a scaled-down ministry, focusing on SonLife Broadcasting Network, which reached audiences via cable and online platforms. He continued preaching until health issues sidelined him, with his son Donnie assuming greater roles.

    By 2025, the ministry’s influence had waned, but its endurance spoke to Swaggart‘s resilience. He leaves behind a family, including wife Frances, son Donnie, and grandchildren active in the church.

    Reflecting as someone who once challenged him head-on, I see Swaggart‘s life as a mosaic of genuine faith marred by ambition. His contributions to gospel music and global evangelism are undeniable, having inspired millions.

    Yet, the scandals exposed the vulnerabilities in charismatic leadership, reinforcing the need for transparency in religious institutions. Through Fundamentalists Anonymous, we helped countless individuals reclaim their autonomy, a mission that outlasted the headlines.

    Swaggart‘s death closes a chapter, but the questions he raised about faith, power, and accountability endure. In an era of digital ministries and megachurches, his story reminds us that true spirituality thrives not in empires, but in humility and ethical stewardship.

    Death | Rise and Scandalous Fall of Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart (Aug. 24, 2025)

    Summary

    In this personal obituary, Jim Luce, founder of Fundamentalists Anonymous, recounts Jimmy Swaggart’s rise from Louisiana preacher to global televangelist, his multimillion-dollar empire, and the 1988 prostitution scandals that led to his downfall. Luce shares his congressional testimony against Swaggart and a peculiar 1987 encounter, reflecting on a legacy of faith tainted by hypocrisy and exploitation.

    #JimmySwaggart #ReligiousScandal #Fundamentalism #FaithAndPower
    #EvangelismLegacy #CongressionalTestimony #ReligiousAddiction #Televangelist

    Tags: Jimmy Swaggart, obituary, Jim Luce, Fundamentalists Anonymous, televangelist scandal,
    Pentecostalism, religious exploitation, 1980s activism, congressional hearing, Baton Rouge ministry

    Jim Luce Writes on Fundamentalism & Fundamentalists Anonymous

    Einstein’s Tomorrow: Exploring His Enduring Legacy as a Progressive Visionary

    Jim Luce
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    Einstein’s Tomorrow: Exploring His Enduring Legacy as a Progressive Visionary

    From Humanism to Democratic Socialism, Einstein’s Ideals Continue to Inspire Contemporary Political Leaders and Global Movements

    New York, N.Y. — A century after his scientific breakthroughs shook the foundations of modern physics, Albert Einstein remains an enigmatic and widely admired figure—not only within academic circles but far beyond.

    Yet, too often, his profound impact as a public intellectual, a Humanist, and a political progressive has been overlooked or simplified in mainstream narratives. Like New York State Assemblymember Zohran Kwame Mamdani, who champions Democratic Socialism for the twenty-first century, Einstein’s political convictions were as radical and courageous as his theories on relativity.

    At a moment when progressive politics are reshaping debates from Berlin
    to the U.S. Congress, revisiting Einstein’s ideological commitments offer
    vital lessons on the intersection of ethics, governance, and social justice.

    The Scientist as Citizen: Einstein’s Radical Commitments

    For much of his adult life, Albert Einstein saw his scientific work as inseparable from his ethical obligations to human society. Unlike the archetypal absent-minded professor, Einstein was acutely attuned to the political and moral currents of his era.

    Whether warning U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt about the military potential of atomic fission or publicly opposing racism across the United States, Einstein applied his intellectual rigor and moral seriousness to issues ranging far beyond the laboratory.

    Albert Einstein gives a speech denouncing the use of hydrogen bombs in 1950.

    His Humanism stemmed from a deep trust in the dignity and rationality of individuals, coupled with an abiding skepticism of authoritarianism.

    Einstein’s commitment to Democratic Socialism—which he articulated in various essays, the most famous being “Why Socialism?” (1949)—was not simply an academic preference.

    He saw the twin crises of economic inequality and the erosion of democratic freedoms as existential threats, both scientifically and morally indefensible.

    “In my opinion,” Einstein wrote, “the real purpose of socialism is precisely to overcome and advance beyond the predatory phase of human development.”

    For Einstein, scientific progress that ignored ethical responsibility was bereft of virtue.

    In his adopted home of Princeton, New Jersey, and throughout his public life, Einstein never shied away from his status as a global citizen—a role extending as naturally from his worldview as did his equations from the laws of physics.

    Kinship Across Generations: Zohran Mamdani and the New Left

    Fast-forward to 2025, and Einstein’s worldview finds fresh echoes in the activism of leaders like Zohran Mamdani, a member of the New York State Assembly and a prominent figure in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

    Einstein on the Red Star Line ship that brought him as a refugee from Nazi Germany to the United States (1932).

    Like Einstein, Mamdani foregrounds structural inequality and collective responsibility.

    Though their fields and historical contexts differ, both argue that scientific and political progress must serve humanity’s common good, rather than the narrow interests of elites or the machinery of the state.

    Both men faced pushback for their views. Einstein, dogged by FBI surveillance and red-scare hysteria, was often tarred as “un-American.”

    Mamdani, frequently challenged by mainstream political opponents, channels similar resilience—advocating for housing rights, police reform, and robust social safety nets.

    In their unflinching advocacy for social justice, they demonstrate the continuing relevance of “Democratic Socialism” as a dynamic philosophy rather than a relic of the past.

    Science, Humanism, and the Politics of Conscience

    Central to Einstein’s intellectual journey was his profound role as a Humanist.

    In an era overshadowed by war and genocide, Einstein’s insistence on the intrinsic value of every human being—regardless of nationality, race, or religion—stands as a beacon of hope.

    As a Jewish refugee who fled Nazi Germany for the United States in 1933, Einstein’s personal experience of persecution sharpened his sense of global solidarity.

    He spoke out forcefully against racism in the U.S., joining the NAACP and denouncing the “relatively mild, but stubborn form of anti-Semitism” he observed in American life.

    Above all, his advocacy was grounded in the scientific principle that the universe is intelligible and, by extension, that humanity shares a common rationality.

    This philosophical orientation provided the foundation for what he called the “cosmic religion”—a reverence for nature and reason that transcended sectarian dogma.

    By championing securities for the most vulnerable members of society, Einstein prefigured postwar developments in human rights and international law.

    His Humanism, like his commitment to Democratic Socialism, was never abstract: it was a call to collective action, ethical governance, and unwavering solidarity across the boundaries that so often divide humankind.

    Democratic Socialism: Einstein’s Enduring Political Prescription

    What, then, did Democratic Socialism mean for Einstein—and what does it mean for those who claim his intellectual legacy today? For Einstein, socialism was not a rigid formula of state ownership but rather a robust vision of economic democracy.

    In his essays, he argued for the regulation of unbridled capitalism, social investment in scientific and cultural education, and a welfare state guaranteeing the essentials of life for all.

    His critiques, ahead of their time, anticipated many of the driving issues in contemporary politics: the predatory excesses of corporate power, the corrosive influence of money in democratic institutions, and the alienation produced by mass consumer culture.

    Time and again, Einstein returned to the necessity of balancing individual creativity with social responsibility—a position that nurtured both innovation and equality.

    Within today’s debates over universal healthcare, public education, and housing, Einstein’s insights prove uncannily prescient.

    Leaders like Zohran Mamdani inherit this vision, crafting policy solutions and social movements rooted in principle, inclusion, and evidence-based governance.

    Their shared commitment to both reason and empathy stands as a challenge to cynicism, polarization, and the creeping authoritarianism of our age.

    Legacy and Lessons in an Age of Political Upheaval

    Perhaps the deepest lesson of Einstein’s public life is that scientific genius and political courage need not exist in separate spheres. Rather, each can amplify and clarify the other—guiding societies toward greater justice, freedom, and human flourishing. For Einstein, being a citizen of the world brought moral as well as intellectual obligations.

    As the twenty-first century unfolds—with escalating climate crises, widening economic disparities, and resurgent ultra-nationalism—Einstein’s political commitments offer enduring guidance. They call upon today’s activists, scholars, and policymakers to unite the search for truth with the work of building a more just and compassionate society.

    It is here, in the synthesis of science, Humanism, and social democracy, that the path laid by Einstein and his contemporary successors like Zohran Mamdani continues to inspire.

    In a time when progress faces formidable headwinds and the search for principled leadership grows ever more urgent, the intertwined legacies of Einstein and today’s democratic socialists serve as a reminder: The future belongs to those who unite knowledge with justice, and vision with action.

    Note: Albert Einstein is one of the 36 Global Heroes held out as role models to the children of Orphans International Worldwide.

    Summary

    Einstein was not only a revolutionary physicist but a deeply committed political progressive and Humanist. Like contemporary leaders such as Zohran Mamdani, he championed Democratic Socialism, advocating for social justice, economic democracy, and human dignity. Einstein believed science and ethics must work together for the common good. Today, his legacy guides leaders and activists as they seek to unite progressive politics with empathy, reason, and public service. Einstein’s vision remains powerfully relevant for our time.

    #EinsteinProgressive #HumanismInPolitics #DemocraticSocialism
    #ZohranMamdani #ScienceAndJustice #EinstensLegacyToday

    TAGS: Einstein, Humanism, progressive politics, Democratic Socialism, Zohran Mamdani,
    20th-century history, U.S. political history, ethics, science and society, social justice, civil rights

    The Privilege Checklist: Unveiling Hidden Advantages in Everyday Life

    Jim Luce
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    0
    The Privilege Checklist: Unveiling Hidden Advantages in Everyday Life

    Exploring Personal Privilege Through a Comprehensive Self-Assessment Tool Inspired by BuzzFeed’s Insightful Framework

    In an era marked by heightened awareness of social inequities, the concept of privilege serves as a lens through which individuals can examine their position within societal structures. Originating from a popular BuzzFeed post by Jen Lewis, this checklist invites people to reflect on statements that highlight advantages often taken for granted.

    By checking off applicable items, participants gain insight into how factors like race, sexuality, gender, class, and more shape their experiences. Far from a judgment, it fosters empathy and understanding in a diverse world.

    Defining Privilege in Modern Society

    The term privilege refers to unearned benefits conferred by society based on one’s identity. Unlike merit-based achievements, these advantages stem from systemic norms that favor certain groups. Jen Lewis’s BuzzFeed piece, which gained traction for its accessibility, transforms abstract ideas into tangible self-reflection. It begins with a simple directive: “Check off all the statements that apply to you.” This approach democratizes the conversation, making it relatable for readers at various educational levels.

    Scholars trace the formal study of privilege to works like Peggy McIntosh’s 1989 essay “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” which listed everyday advantages white individuals often overlook. Lewis’s adaptation expands this to encompass multiple intersections, encouraging a holistic view. In today’s context, with movements like Black Lives Matter and #MeToo amplifying marginalized voices, such tools remain vital. They prompt users to consider how unchecked privileges perpetuate disparities, from wage gaps to access to justice.

    For instance, data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that in 2024, the median household income for white families stood at US$78,000 (approximately €70,000), compared to US$52,000 (€47,000) for Black families—a 33% difference underscoring economic divides. This checklist doesn’t quantify privilege but illuminates its qualitative layers, urging personal accountability.

    Navigating Racial and Ethnic Privileges

    One of the checklist’s core sections addresses race and ethnicity, revealing how skin color influences daily interactions. Statements like “I am white” or “I have never been discriminated against because of my skin color” highlight the absence of barriers many face. Those who can affirm “I have never been the only person of my race in a room” experience a comfort that fosters belonging, free from isolation or tokenism.

    Further items probe deeper: “I have never been mocked for my accent” or “I have never been told I am attractive ‘for my race.'” These underscore microaggressions that erode self-esteem. “I have never been a victim of violence because of my race” and “I have never been called a racial slur” point to safety privileges, while “I have never been told I ‘sound white'” challenges assumptions about cultural assimilation. Even seemingly innocuous encounters, such as “A stranger has never asked to touch my hair, or asked if it is real,” expose objectification often directed at non-white individuals.

    In urban centers like New York, where diversity thrives, these privileges manifest in subtle ways. A 2023 report by the Pew Research Center found that 45% of Black Americans reported experiencing racial discrimination in the past year, compared to just 18% of white Americans. By reflecting on these statements, users confront how racial privilege operates invisibly, shielding some from scrutiny while burdening others. This awareness can drive allyship, such as supporting policies for equitable representation in workplaces.

    Examining Sexuality and Orientation

    Shifting focus, the checklist delves into privileges tied to sexual orientation. Affirmations like “I am heterosexual” or “I have never lied about my sexuality” reveal the ease of navigating a heteronormative society. “I never had to ‘come out'” spares individuals the vulnerability of disclosure, and “I never doubted my parents’ acceptance of my sexuality” underscores familial support often assumed.

    Derogatory experiences are absent for the privileged: “I have never been called ‘fag,'” “I have never been called ‘dyke,'” or “I have never been called a ‘fairy,’ or any other derogatory slur for homosexuals.” Comfort in expression follows, with “I have never tried to hide my sexuality,” “I am always comfortable with P.D.A. with my partner in public,” and “I have never pretended to be ‘just friends’ with my significant other.”

    Religious and societal acceptance further compounds this: “I have never been ostracized by my religion for my sexual orientation,” “I have never been told I would ‘burn in hell’ for my sexual orientation,” or “I have never been told that my sexuality is ‘just a phase.'” Safety is paramount in “I have never been violently threatened because of my sexuality.”

    According to a 2024 Gallup poll, 7.2% of U.S. adults identify as LGBTQ+, yet 28% report workplace discrimination. This disparity illustrates how heterosexual privilege enables seamless integration, free from fear. The checklist encourages empathy, prompting users to advocate for inclusive environments.

    Gender Identity and Safety

    Gender-related privileges form another pillar, starting with “I am a man” or “I feel comfortable in the gender I was born as.” Continuity in identity—”I still identify as the gender I was born in” and “I have never tried to change my gender”—avoids the challenges of transition. Opportunities remain unobstructed: “I have never been denied an opportunity because of my gender.”

    Economic edges appear in “I make more money than my professional counterparts of a different gender,” reflecting the persistent pay gap—women earn 82% of men’s wages per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2024. Safety privileges include “I have never felt unsafe because of my gender,” “I have never been catcalled,” “I have never been sexually harassed or assaulted,” and “I have never been raped.”

    In global contexts, these issues intensify; the World Health Organization reports that 1 in 3 women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence. By checking these, individuals recognize how gender privilege insulates some from pervasive threats, fostering dialogue on equity.

    Socioeconomic Status and Opportunities

    Class privileges dominate a substantial portion, encompassing financial security and access. “I work in a salaried job” or “My family and I have never lived below the poverty line” denote stability. Debt-free living shines in “I don’t have any student loans,” while basic needs are met: “I have never gone to bed hungry” and “I have never been homeless.”

    Parental support extends advantages: “My parents pay some of my bills” or “My parents pay all of my bills.” Mobility is effortless—”I don’t rely on public transportation”—and consumerism routine: “I buy new clothes at least once a month.” Financial literacy gaps appear in “I have never done my taxes myself,” and worry-free existence in “I have never felt poor,” “I have never had to worry about making rent,” or “I’ve never skipped a meal to save money.”

    Labor history reveals “I have never worked as a waiter, barista, bartender, or salesperson,” while internships signal networks: “I have had an unpaid internship” or “I have had multiple unpaid internships.” Education privileges include “I went to summer camp,” “I went to private school,” “I graduated high school,” “I went to an elite college,” “I graduated college,” and “My parents paid (at least some of) my tuition.”

    Lifestyle markers abound: “I had a car in high school,” “I’ve never had a roommate,” “I’ve always had cable,” “I have traveled internationally,” “I travel internationally at least once a year,” “I studied abroad,” “I spent Spring Breaks abroad,” and “I have frequent flier miles.” Ignorance of systems like “I don’t know what ‘Sallie Mae’ is” highlights insulation from debt burdens.

    A 2024 Federal Reserve survey notes 40% of Americans couldn’t cover a US$400 (€360) emergency, contrasting sharply with these privileges. This section underscores how class shapes trajectories, often invisibly.

    Health, Ability, and Mental Well-Being

    Privileges in health and ability are addressed through “I do not have any physical disabilities,” “I do not have any social disabilities,” or “I do not have any learning disabilities.” Mental health follows: “I have never had an eating disorder,” “I have never been depressed,” “I have never considered suicide,” “I have never attempted suicide,” and “I have never taken medication for my mental health.” Access is key: “I can afford medication if/when I need it” and “I can afford a therapist.”

    Body image privileges include “I have never been told I’m overweight or ‘too skinny,'” “I have never felt overweight or underweight or ‘too skinny,'” “I have never been shamed for my body type,” and “I consider myself to be physically attractive.” Substance use appears in “I’ve used prescription drugs recreationally” without consequence, and “I have never had an addiction.”

    The National Institute of Mental Health reports 21% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2023, with barriers to care exacerbating inequities. These statements reveal how able-bodied and mentally resilient privileges enable fuller participation.

    Religious Beliefs and Security

    Religious privileges encompass “I have never been shamed for my religious beliefs,” “I have never been violently threatened for my religious beliefs,” or “I have never been violently attacked for my religious beliefs.” Accessibility is noted in “There is a place of worship for my religion in my town,” and accommodation in “All my jobs have been accommodating of my religious practices.”

    Self-protection items include “I have never lied about my ethnicity as self-defense” or “I have never lied about my religion as self-defense.” Security extends to “I am not nervous in airport security lines,” “I have never heard this statement: ‘You have been randomly selected for secondary passport control,'” and “I have never been called a terrorist.” Proselytizing is absent: “Nobody has ever tried to ‘save’ me for my religious beliefs.”

    In a post-9/11 world, Muslim Americans face heightened scrutiny, per a 2024 ACLU report. These privileges highlight freedom from persecution.

    Broader Identities and Self-Reflection

    Familial structures contribute: “My parents are heterosexual,” “My parents are both alive,” and “My parents are still married.” Broader experiences include “I have never been cyber-bullied for any of my identities,” “I was not bullied as a child for any of my identities,” “I have never tried to distance myself from any of my identities,” “I have never been self-conscious about any of my identities,” and “I have never questioned any of my identities.”

    The capstone: “I feel privileged because of the identities I was born with.” This encapsulates the checklist’s purpose—acknowledging advantages to build a more equitable society.

    In conclusion, Lewis’s tool transcends a mere quiz; it catalyzes introspection. As inequalities persist, embracing this reflection can inspire action, from policy advocacy to personal growth.

    Let’s get right into it. Time to find out how privileged you are.

    Jen Lewis wrote on BuzzFeed:

    • Check off all the statements that apply to you.

    __ I have never been discriminated against because of my skin color.

    __ I have never been the only person of my race in a room.

    __ I have never been mocked for my accent.

    __ I have never been to I am attractive “for my race.”

    __ I have never been a victim of violence because of my race.

    __ I have never been called a racial slur.

    __ I have never been to “sound white.”

    __ A stranger has never asked to touch my hair, or asked if it is real.

    __ I am heterosexual.

    __ I have never lied about my sexuality I have never lied about my sexuality.

    __ I never had to “come out.”

    __ I never doubted my parents’ acceptance of my sexuality.

    __ I have never been called “fag” or “dyke.”

    __ I have never been called a “fairy,” or any other derogatory slur for homosexuals.

    __ I have never tried to hide my sexuality.

    __ I am always comfortable with P.D.A. with my partner in public.

    __ I have never pretended to be “just friends” with my significant other.

    __ I have never been ostracized by my religion for my sexual orientation.

    __ I have never been told I would “burn in hell” for my sexual orientation.

    __ I have never been told that my sexuality is “just a phase.”

    __ I have never been violently threatened because of my sexuality.

    __ I am a man.

    __ I feel comfortable in the gender I was born as.

    __ I still identify as the gender I was born in.

    __ I have never tried to change my gender.

    __ I have never been denied an opportunity because of my gender.

    __ I make more money than my professional counterparts of a different gender.

    __ I have never felt unsafe because of my gender.

    __ I have never been catcalled.

    __ I have never been sexually harassed or assaulted.

    __ I have never been raped.

    __ I work in a salaried job.

    __ My family and I have never lived below the poverty line.

    __ I don’t have any student loans.

    __ I have never gone to bed hungry.

    __ I have never been homeless.

    __ My parents pay some, or all, of my bills.

    __ I don’t rely on public transportation.

    __ I buy new clothes at least once a month.

    __ I have never done my taxes myself.

    __ I have never felt poor.

    __ I have never had to worry about making rent.

    __ I have never worked as a waiter, barista, bartender, or salesperson.

    __ I have had an unpaid internship.

    __ I have had multiple unpaid internships.

    __ I went to summer camp.

    __ I went to private school.

    __ I went to private school.

    __ I graduated high school.

    __ I went to an elite college.

    __ I graduated college.

    __ My parents paid (at least some of) my tuition.

    __ I had a car in high school.

    __ I’ve never had a roommate.

    __ I’ve always had cable.

    __ I have traveled internationally.

    __ I travel internationally at least once a year.

    __ I studied abroad.

    __ I’ve never skipped a meal to save money.

    __ I don’t know what “Sallie Mae” is.

    __ I spent Spring Breaks abroad.

    __ I have frequent flier miles.

    __ My parents are heterosexual.

    __ My parents are both alive.

    __ My parents are still married.

    __ I do not have any physical disabilities.

    __ I do not have any social disabilities.

    __ I do not have any learning disabilities.

    __ I have never had an eating disorder.

    __ I have never been depressed.

    __ I have never considered suicide.

    __ I have never attempted suicide.

    __ I have never taken medication for my mental health.

    __ I can afford medication if/when I need it.

    __ I have never been I’m overweight or “too skinny.”

    __ I have never felt overweight or underweight or “too skinny.”

    __ I have never been shamed for my body type.

    __ I consider myself to be physically attractive.

    __ I can afford a therapist.

    __ I’ve used prescription drugs recreationally.

    __ I have never had an addiction.

    __ I have never been shamed for my religious beliefs.

    __ I have never been violently threatened for my religious beliefs.

    __ I have never been violently attacked for my religious beliefs.

    __ There is a place of worship for my religion in my own way.

    __ I have never lied about my ethnicity as self-defense.

    __ I have never lied about my religion as self-defense.

    __ All my jobs have been accommodating of my religious practices.

    __ I am not nervous in airport security lines.

    __ I have never heard this statement: “You have been randomly selected for secondary passport control.”

    __ I have never been called a terrorist.

    __ Nobody has ever tried to “save” me for my religious beliefs.

    __ I have never been cyber-bullied for any of my identities.

    __ I was not bullied as a child for any of my identities.

    __ I have never tried to distance myself from any of my identities.

    __ I have never been self-conscious about any of my identities.

    __ I feel privileged because of the identities I was born with.

    HOW DO YOU SCORE?

    Summary

    This feature explores a BuzzFeed checklist by Jen Lewis that assesses personal privilege across race, sexuality, gender, class, health, and religion. Through reflective statements, it reveals hidden advantages, fostering empathy in a divided world. Ideal for those seeking to understand societal inequities and promote allyship.

    #PrivilegeChecklist #SocialEquity #IdentityReflection #BuzzFeedInsights #AllyshipMatters

    Tags: privilege, checklist, BuzzFeed, Jen Lewis, race, sexuality, gender, class, health, religion, equity, self-reflection

    Expert Uses Right-Handed World Analogy to Explain Privilege

    John Laing
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    Expert Uses Right-Handed World Analogy to Explain Privilege

    Organizational psychologist challenges people to recognize systematic advantages through everyday examples

    Editor John Laing

    New York, N.Y. – A groundbreaking analysis by organizational psychologist Dr. Steven Jones uses an unexpected analogy to help people understand the complex concept of unearned privilege: examining how society caters to right-handed individuals at the expense of left-handed people.

    In his research paper “The Right Hand of Privilege,” Dr. Jones, CEO of Jones & Associates Consulting, argues that “some individuals receive unearned advantages in life solely based on being a member of certain social identity groups.” His right-handed world example provides a lens for understanding systemic privilege without the historical baggage of other social identity discussions.

    The Invisible Architecture of Right-Handed Society

    Dr. Jones systematically demonstrates how society’s infrastructure favors right-handed people through countless everyday examples.

    “We shake with our right hands. We pledge with our right hand. We salute with our right hand. We take legal and governmental oaths with our right hand,” he explains, highlighting how fundamental social rituals reinforce right-handed dominance.

    The systemic advantages extend far beyond ceremonial gestures. School desks, computer mice, cars, notebooks, three-ring binders, guns, appliances, and even coffee mugs are designed with right-handed users in mind.

    “Most coffee mugs are designed for right-handed people to pick up and see the picture or words. If a left-handed person picks up the same mug, there is nothing there to see!” Dr. Jones notes.

    This institutional design creates what Dr. Jones calls “a wind of unearned privilege behind some people’s sail gets them further along in their journey,” while others experience disadvantages that create headwinds or no assistance at all.

    When Normal Becomes Standard

    A critical insight from Dr. Jones’s analysis involves how cultural dominance becomes invisible through standardization. “One of the ways in which unearned privilege occurs is when one group’s culture, values and ways of interpreting the world get built into the fabric of institutions within a society and are then made invisible,” he explains.

    This invisibility manifests in language and product design. While left-handed desks and baseball mitts are specifically labeled as such, their right-handed counterparts are simply called “desks” and “baseball mitts.” The dominant group’s needs become the unmarked standard, while minority needs are treated as special accommodations.

    Dr. Jones visited Southpaw Shoppe, a store dedicated to left-handed products in San Diego, with a left-handed friend who “got very excited because everything in the store was made for her.” This experience highlighted how rarely left-handed people encounter environments designed for their needs.

    Resistance and Defensive Responses

    The research identifies common defensive reactions when privilege is discussed. Dr. Jones presents hypothetical responses from right-handed people that mirror real reactions to conversations about other forms of unearned advantage: “As a right-handed person, I don’t have any privilege. I’m just an individual who works hard everyday to make ends meet. This is America. Everyone gets the same opportunities.”

    These responses demonstrate how privilege remains invisible to those who benefit from it. “How many of you, who are right-handed, wake up in the morning thinking ‘my people rule…’ Do you realize you live in a world which affords you all this privilege everyday?” Dr. Jones challenges readers.

    The Left-Handed Experience

    Left-handed individuals often face negative experiences that right-handed people rarely consider.

    Dr. Jones documents stories of people having “their hands painfully tied behind their back so they could learn to use their right hand” and being hit with rulers for using their dominant hand.

    Many were told “that their child’s life would be easier if they just learned to use their right hand.”

    These experiences illustrate how systemic disadvantage affects daily life and personal development. The pressure to conform to right-handed norms represents a form of assimilation that privileged groups rarely need to consider.

    Moving Beyond Guilt to Action

    Dr. Jones emphasizes that understanding privilege isn’t about assigning blame or creating guilt. “Understanding unearned privilege is not about blaming people for the past. It is about identifying ways in which systems that have been created in the past and present provide advantage to certain groups while simultaneously posing disadvantage to other groups,” he clarifies.

    The goal is creating awareness that enables positive change. “By becoming more aware of the ways in which we receive unearned privilege, we can become a part of creating teams, work environments, organizations, and a society which strive to create a playing field that is truly level for all,” Dr. Jones concludes.

    Implications for Broader Social Understanding

    Dr. Jones’s right-handed world analysis provides a framework for examining other forms of systemic privilege based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and other social identity groups. By using an example with less historical controversy, he helps people recognize how institutional systems can inadvertently favor certain groups while creating barriers for others.

    The research challenges individuals to move beyond purely individual perspectives and consider how group-level dynamics and systemic structures shape opportunities and experiences in ways that may be invisible to those who benefit from them.

    #Unearned Privilege #SystemicAdvantage #RightHandedWorld
    #SocialEquity #InclusiveDesign #OrganizationalPsychology #DiversityEducation
    #PrivilegeAwareness #SystemicInequality #LevelPlayingField

    Tags: unearned privilege, systemic advantage, right-handed world, social identity groups, diversity education,
    organizational psychology, Jones & Associates Consulting, institutional design, Dr. Steven Jones, social equity,
    cultural dominance, left-handed discrimination, inclusive environments, systemic inequality, privilege awareness

    Militarized Schools Signal Deeper Slide Toward Autocracy in El Salvador

    Jim Luce
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    Militarized Schools Signal Deeper Slide Toward Autocracy in El Salvador

    Bukele’s anti-gang reforms become a pretext for wider authoritarian control over students, educators, and democracy itself

    New York, N.Y. — As the new school year begins in El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele’s government has unleashed a campaign that goes far beyond improving discipline or curbing criminal influence. The latest measures—compulsory military-style haircuts, rigid uniform inspections, and weekly “Civic Monday” rituals—mark a troubling expansion of what critics call the president’s war on democratic freedoms.

    This movement toward a militarized education system is no isolated policy blip. Instead, it vividly
    illustrates a pattern that now threatens the very foundations of civil society in El Salvador: the
    concentration of power, personal rule, and normalization of authoritarian practices throughout public life.
    It’s been called the “Edgar,” the Caesar, the Takuache cut and it’s evolved into the “El Cuh” haircut. And it is no longer permitted for students in El Salvador’s public schools.

    Discipline or Indoctrination: Schools Caught in the Crossfire

    On paper, Education Minister Karla Trigueros—appointed directly by Bukele and seen publicly in military attire—claims her memos are about “restoring order” and stamping out the persistent gang problem in schools.

    But the reality for 1.2 million Salvadoran students is something far harsher: daily inspections at school gates, enforced haircuts, and mandatory patriotism performed before the national flag every Monday.

    As educator unions have argued, this regime does not redress the underlying hardships facing students and teachers but rather militarizes the environment while stifling individuality and dissent. 

    Social media already documents children turned away over minor infractions of appearance or conduct, and barbershops are full of students forced to sacrifice their personal identity for conformity.

    Comparisons with authoritarian regimes—from Cuba’s post-revolutionary schools to North Korea’s banned hairstyles—are not hyperbole.

    In El Salvador, as in those countries, the government is stripping educational institutions of autonomy, making them outposts for ideological control.

    Aerial view of San Salvador, the capital city of El Salvador.

    Why the Rush to Authoritarianism?

    Bukele took office in 2019 as a disruptor—young, informal, and promising to upend the country’s legacy of violence. By his own admission, however, he has evolved into a “coolest dictator” who delights in mocking foreign critics and consolidating power.

    Student getting haircut before attending school where a military-style cut is now mandatory.

    The popular logic goes like this: Gang violence has fallen to historic lows, so any policy, no matter how severe, is justified.

    Yet such thinking ignores the human cost. Since Bukele imposed a sweeping state of exception in 2022, more than 80,000 Salvadorans have been arrested, often without charges or due process.

    Constitutional rights—freedom of expression, protection against arbitrary detention—have largely vanished.

    Bukele’s party recently eliminated term limits, allowing him to remain in power indefinitely, even as he jails tens of thousands and packs the courts with loyalists.

    With these latest school mandates, Bukele is engulfing the nation’s children in the machinery of repression. Rather than fostering creativity and critical thinking, classrooms become sites of surveillance and intimidation. Teachers, subject to “serious administrative penalties” if they don’t enforce the rules, are being pressured to act as wardens, not mentors.

    U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi “ICE Barbie” Noem speaks at the Terrorist Confinement Center (CECOT) in March 2025, in Tecoluca, El Salvador. Photo credit: Alex Brandon-Pool.

    The Crisis for El Salvador’s Democracy

    With the U.S. dollar as the official currency, El Salvador feels a little like rural Florida. 

    The international reaction has been one of growing alarm. Human-rights organizations—local and global—have documented mass abuses: forced disappearances, torture, arbitrary arrests, and persecution of critics and independent media.

    Foreign governments protest, but their appeals are met with ridicule. Bukele flaunts his impunity, daring the world to object as he dismantles the last vestiges of democratic accountability.

    The appointment of an army officer as education minister—while sensible for a dictatorship—represents a radical departure from postwar norms.

    As TIME Magazine recently noted, with more than 1 in every 57 Salvadorans now incarcerated, El Salvador has the highest imprisonment rate in the world, more than triple that of the U.S.

    Mass arrests have left thousands of children without parents, yet spending on victim-care programs is less than 1% of the swollen security budget.

    Rather than being a bulwark against gangs, schools are now test sites for Bukele’s authoritarian model—one that regional leaders are eager to emulate and that threatens to become permanent unless democratic institutions are restored.

    The Real Human Costs: Teachers, Students, and Families

    El Salvador’s President has banned the “Edgar” haircut from public schools, considered to have been brought by deported criminals inspired by Chicano culture in the U.S.

    Parents and teachers know all too well that El Salvador’s problems will not be solved through repression.

    “Restoring order” cannot come at the expense of creativity, self-worth, or basic rights.

    Already, teachers unions warn of mounting abuses and fear for their ability to protect students or maintain a healthy educational environment.

    Every shiny uniform and crisp haircut is a symbol not of national pride but of the government’s broadening control over personal lives.

    Will the next policy be censorship of textbooks, ideological loyalty oaths, or the erasure of any reminder that education’s highest value is to foster autonomy and democratic citizenship?

    Bukele’s success in quelling violence is undeniable, but so too is his descent into authoritarianism.

    The schools of El Salvador—and the children who fill them each morning—now stand on the front lines of that struggle.

    Militarized Schools Signal Deeper Slide Toward Autocracy in El Salvador (Aug. 23, 2025)

    #ElSalvador #BukeleRegime #Authoritarianism #EducationRights #Democracy
    #HumanRights #Militarization #LatinAmerica #CivilSociety #NYTEditorial

    Tags: El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, Authoritarianism, School Discipline, Militarization,
    Human Rights, Democracy, Latin America, Education, Teachers Unions, Civil Society

    Jim Luce Writes on Central America

    Guidance on Inclusive Language to Foster Diversity and Equity

    Staff
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    0
    Guidance on Inclusive Language to Foster Diversity and Equity

    Editorial Guidelines for The Stewardship Report on Connecting the World


    In our increasingly diverse society, adopting inclusive language
    fosters respect, bridges cultural divides, and ensures
    equitable representation in professional communications.

    New York, N.Y. – In the realm of professional communication, particularly within stewardship and philanthropic reporting, the choice of words carries profound implications. Language shapes perceptions, reinforces societal norms, and can either perpetuate inequities or promote a more just world.

    As global interconnectedness grows, the need for mindful terminology becomes paramount.

    This is especially true in contexts where discussions involve sensitive topics such as privilege, body shaming, and LGBTQ+ identities.

    By adhering to established guidelines, communicators can avoid unintentional harm and amplify marginalized voices.

    The evolution of language reflects broader societal shifts toward equity. For instance, terms once considered neutral are now recognized as carrying biased connotations.

    Drawing from authoritative sources like the American Psychological Association’s Inclusive Language Guide, which emphasizes centering the perspectives of those affected, we can refine our lexicon to be more precise and humane.

    Similarly, the Linguistic Society of America’s guidelines urge proactive inclusivity to lead by example in scholarly and public discourse.

    In Stewardship reporting, where narratives often intersect with global development, cultural sensitivity, and social justice, adopting such practices is not merely optional but essential. This article explores key areas of focus, providing practical recommendations grounded in contemporary standards.

    Recognizing and Addressing Privilege in Communication

    Privilege refers to unearned advantages afforded to certain groups based on characteristics like race, gender, or socioeconomic status. In professional writing, it is crucial to use this term judiciously, primarily for self-reflection rather than as a tool to dismiss others’ experiences. For example, acknowledging one’s own privilege—such as in statements like “As someone with educational privilege, I recognize the barriers others face”—encourages empathy without weaponizing the concept.

    Misusing privilege can alienate audiences and undermine credibility. Guidelines from the International Federation of Journalists‘ recent best practice checklist for inclusive journalism, published in early 2025, stress that language around privilege should promote dialogue rather than division.

    In Stewardship contexts, this means framing reports on global initiatives with awareness of power dynamics.

    For instance, when discussing aid to economically disadvantaged regions, avoid implying benevolence from a position of superiority; instead, highlight collaborative efforts.

    Furthermore, integrating self-awareness into reporting helps dismantle systemic biases. The PBS Standards on Inclusive Language advise against assumptions that reinforce privilege, such as overlooking diverse contributors in narratives. By using privilege introspectively, writers foster a culture of accountability, essential for ethical stewardship.

    Combating Body Shaming Through Thoughtful Terminology

    Body shaming involves language that criticizes or stigmatizes individuals based on their physical appearance, often perpetuating harmful stereotypes. In media and reporting, this can manifest in subtle ways, such as describing someone as “overweight” rather than focusing on relevant attributes.

    Inclusive guidelines recommend terms like plus-size instead of derogatory labels like “fat” or “overweight,” which carry judgmental undertones.

    The University of Illinois Chicago’s Inclusive Language Guide warns against using body-related metaphors casually, as they can inadvertently shame.

    For example, phrases like “turn a blind eye” not only misuse disability metaphors but also intersect with body shaming by implying physical flaws as moral failings.

    In Stewardship Report pieces on health initiatives, opt for neutral descriptions: “individuals with higher body mass indices” if relevant, but question whether body size needs mention at all.

    Promoting body positivity aligns with broader equity goals. Walla Walla Community College’s writing guide emphasizes relevance—only include physical descriptions if pertinent to the story. This approach reduces stigma and supports mental health advocacy, crucial in global philanthropy where body image issues affect diverse populations.

    Embracing Inclusive Language for LGBTQ+ Communities

    Language surrounding LGBTQ+ identities has evolved significantly, reflecting greater visibility and rights advocacy. Terms like gay or queer are preferred over outdated or clinical labels such as “homosexual,” which can pathologize identities. Similarly, transgender is the appropriate term, not “transsexual,” as the latter implies a medical condition rather than an identity.

    The GLAAD Media Reference Guide, in its 11th edition, provides detailed recommendations for fair representation, urging journalists to use self-identified terms and avoid sensationalism.

    In Stewardship reporting, this means accurately portraying LGBTQ+ leaders in philanthropy without reducing them to their identities. For example, refer to a “gay activist” only if relevant; otherwise, focus on their contributions.

    Additionally, inclusive practices extend to pronouns and partnerships. Use “husband or partner” to avoid assuming ‘heteronormativity.’ The American College Health Association‘s guidelines highlight the importance of such nuances in creating welcoming environments. By adopting these, communicators honor diversity and strengthen community trust.

    Preferred Terminology in Professional and Cultural Contexts

    Shifting to inclusive alternatives for common terms enhances precision and respect.

    For professions, use gender-neutral options: chair instead of “chairman,” flight attendant not “stewardess,” actor over “actress,” firefighter rather than “fireman,” mail carrier instead of “postman,” server not “waitress,” police officer over “policeman,” administrative assistant instead of “secretary,” custodian not “janitor,” and sanitation worker rather than “garbage man.”

    In cultural references, prefer ethnic cuisine to “foreign food,” culturally authentic over “ethnic,” and jungle or rainforest for accurate environmental descriptions.

    For social groups, person of color is favored over “minority,” Asian American not “oriental,” Native American, Indigenous, or First Nation instead of “Indian,” low-income or economically disadvantaged over “poor,” affluent or wealthy not “rich,” working class instead of “common people,” Global South over “Third World,” older adult rather than “elderly” or “senior citizen,” and neurodivergent instead of “abnormal.”

    Use person with a disability or person living with a disability over “disabled person” or “handicapped,” little person not “dwarf” or “midget,” died by suicide instead of “committed suicide,” business person over “business men,” person with developmental delay not “slow,” first generation student instead of “student whose parents never went to college,” person living with HIV over “AIDS victim,” stay-at-home parent not “housewife” or “house husband,” and advantaged instead of “rich.”

    For other contexts, sex worker is the respectful term, not “prostitute”; affirmative action over “preferential treatment”; outcast not “black sheep”; happy holidays instead of “merry Christmas” to include all traditions; average person over “man in the street”; chief assistant not “right-hand man”; cosmetic surgery instead of “plastic surgery”; non-citizen over “foreigner”; humanity not “mankind”; climate change or global warming for environmental discussions.

    These shifts, as outlined in the University of Wisconsin’s Equitable Language Guide, prevent ‘othering’ and promote unity. In reporting, they ensure narratives are accessible and affirming.

    Implementing Inclusive Language in Stewardship Reporting

    To integrate these principles, start with self-education. Resources like the Acrolinx Ultimate Writing Guide to Inclusive Language offer practical tools for content strategy.

    Avoid gendered assumptions by using singular “they” or rephrasing sentences. For measurements, though rare in language discussions, follow standards: 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall. Percentages appear as 26%, currencies as US$100 (¥14,000).

    In audio and visual media, inclusivity extends to captions and diverse representation, per Washington University’s guidelines. Ultimately, these practices elevate stewardship by modeling respect. As debates on equity intensify, committing to inclusive language is a stewardship imperative, ensuring communications build rather than barrier.

    Stewardship Report Guidance on Inclusive Language to Foster Diversity and Equity (Aug. 23. 2025)

    Summary

    In an era of heightened awareness, adopting inclusive language is vital for equitable communication. This guide covers key areas like acknowledging privilege introspectively, avoiding body shaming terms, and using respectful LGBTQ+ terminology.

    It provides preferred alternatives for professions, identities, and cultural references, drawing from expert sources to promote respect and unity in professional settings. By implementing these practices, communicators can foster diversity and bridge societal divides effectively.

    #InclusiveLanguage #DiversityEquityInclusion
    #LanguageMatters #LGBTQRights #SocialJustice

    TAGS: inclusive language, privilege, body shaming, LGBTQ+,
    gender neutral terms, cultural sensitivity, stewardship reporting

    Butterfly Effect of Language: A Writer’s Rebellion Against Elite Speak

    Jim Luce
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    Butterfly Effect of Language: A Writer’s Rebellion Against Elite Speak

    How One Writer’s Language Choices Challenge Corporate Think Tank Messaging While Fostering Cultural Inclusion and Understanding

    New York, N.Y. — Funded by corporate interest, Democratic think tank Third Way released a blunt memo Friday urging the party to abandon “therapy-speak” and “seminar room language” that alienates voters.

    But while political consultants scramble to sanitize progressive vocabulary, Democratic writers such as myself face a different challenge: how do we write authentically without abandoning inclusive language that respects human dignity?

    Third Way says Democrats shouldn’t use words such as “birthing person,” “cisgender,” “the unhoused” and “Latinx,” saying they make people “fear cancellation, doxing, or trouble with HR.” Yet for writers committed to equity and accuracy, the question isn’t whether to use inclusive language — it’s how to make such language accessible without sacrificing its core purpose.

    The Think Tank’s Warning Shot

    The recent memo represents more than political strategy; it reflects a broader cultural tension between precision in language and populist accessibility.

    Democrats should speak more “like normal people” and examine their language, “moderate” think tank Third Way said in a memo.

    But this raises uncomfortable questions: whose definition of “normal” are we accepting? And what happens to marginalized communities when their preferred terminology gets labeled as alienating jargon?

    The memo’s timing, coming after significant electoral losses, suggests that language itself has become a political liability.

    “Democrats are often viewed as judgmental, out-of-touch, and dismissive of those without elite education or progressive views,” the documents read. “This makes the party seem disconnected from everyday people.”

    A Writer’s Different Path

    My approach diverges from Third Way’s recommendations not out of political calculation, but from journalistic principle. Where they see “privilege” as a word that alienates, I use it specifically when discussing my own advantages — acknowledging rather than hiding the reality of unearned benefits. This isn’t virtue signaling; it’s transparency.

    Consider the alternatives I’ve adopted: “person of color” instead of “minority,” “flight attendant” rather than “stewardess,” “administrative assistant” not “secretary.” These choices aren’t academic abstractions — they reflect real people’s preferences about how they wish to be identified and understood.

    The Butterfly Effect of Language

    Being awake to the meaning and importance of language and its power – “woke” – is vital.

    Language operates like chaos theory’s butterfly wings: small changes in how we describe the world can create massive shifts in cultural understanding.

    When writers consistently use “died by suicide” instead of “committed suicide,” we gradually remove the stigma of criminality from mental health crises. When we write “person with a disability” rather than “disabled person,” we center humanity before condition.

    These linguistic choices ripple outward. Readers internalize new frameworks. Children grow up with different assumptions. Marginalized communities feel seen rather than erased. The cumulative effect transcends any single article or story.

    Beyond Political Calculations

    The challenge for journalists isn’t choosing between accessibility and inclusion — it’s achieving both simultaneously. This requires what I call “explanatory inclusion”: using precise, respectful language while providing context that makes it accessible to all readers.

    For instance, rather than avoiding “LGBTQ+” as potentially alienating, I use it while ensuring my reporting explains diverse experiences within that community.

    Instead of defaulting to “foreign food,” I specify “ethnic cuisine” and describe particular culinary traditions. These choices don’t distance readers; they invite them into broader understanding.

    The Corporate Memo Mindset

    Third Way’s approach reflects a corporate communications strategy: identify problematic language, eliminate it, problem solved.

    But public writing requires more nuanced thinking. Our responsibility isn’t to political parties or electoral success — it’s to truth, accuracy, and fairness.

    In a new memo, shared exclusively with POLITICO, the centrist think tank Third Way is circulating a list of 45 words and phrases they want Democrats to avoid using, alleging the terms put “a wall between us and everyday people of all races, religions, and ethnicities.”

    Yet many of these supposedly problematic terms originated from the very communities they describe — people seeking more accurate, respectful language to describe their own experiences.

    Cultural Impact Through Individual Choice

    Every writer makes hundreds of word choices daily. These micro-decisions, multiplied across thousands of journalists, shape cultural discourse.

    When we consistently choose inclusive language, we normalize respect. When we default to outdated terms, we reinforce old hierarchies.

    My style guide isn’t political positioning — it’s professional ethics applied to language.

    Using “mail carrier” instead of “postman” doesn’t alienate anyone; it simply acknowledges that people of all genders deliver mail. Writing “business person” rather than “businessman” doesn’t create barriers; it removes them.

    The Authentic Voice Question

    Third Way frames this as an authenticity issue, suggesting that inclusive language sounds artificial or forced.

    But authenticity isn’t about using language that avoids offense — it’s about using language that accurately reflects reality.

    When writers describe the world precisely, including the diversity of human experience, we’re being more authentic, not less.

    The real artificiality comes from deliberately avoiding accurate terminology because focus groups find it challenging.

    That approach prioritizes comfort over truth, political strategy over journalistic integrity.

    Moving Forward With Purpose

    The path forward requires courage: courage to use language that respects all readers while remaining accessible to everyone. This means explaining rather than avoiding, contextualizing rather than sanitizing, and trusting readers’ capacity to learn and grow.

    My word choices aren’t rebellion for its own sake — they’re commitments to accuracy, respect, and hope.

    In a fractured media landscape, journalists have the opportunity to model inclusive communication that brings people together rather than driving them apart.

    Every article becomes a small experiment in cultural bridge-building. Every respectful word choice plants seeds for broader understanding.

    Every explanatory phrase invites readers into larger conversations about who we are as a society and who we might become.

    The butterfly wings of language beat strongest when they carry both precision and compassion — creating ripples that transform not just political discourse, but human understanding itself.

    Butterfly Effect of Language: A Writer’s Rebellion Against Elite Speak (Aug. 23, 2025)

    Summary

    While political consultants advise abandoning inclusive language as elitist, this journalist argues for maintaining respectful terminology that accurately reflects human diversity. Rather than avoiding precise language, writers should explain it accessibly, using their platform to model inclusive communication. Every word choice ripples through culture, creating opportunities to build bridges rather than walls. The challenge isn’t choosing between accessibility and inclusion, but achieving both through explanatory journalism that trusts readers’ capacity to learn and grow while respecting all communities.

    #InclusiveLanguage #JournalismEthics #CulturalChange #WordsMatter
    #MediaResponsibility #LanguageEvolution #ButterflyEffect #WritingForAll

    TAGS: journalism, inclusive language, cultural impact, media ethics, word choice, accessibility, Third Way memo,
    political communication, language evolution, butterfly effect, authentic voice, professional responsibility, writer
    Jim Luce Writes Opinion, Analysis & Viewpoint

    Death | James Dobson’s Legacy: Faith, Family, and Controversy

    Jim Luce
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    Death | James Dobson’s Legacy: Faith, Family, and Controversy

    Dangerous Titan of Evangelical Influence Dies at 89

    New York, N.Y. — James Dobson, the child psychologist who founded Focus on the Family in 1977, died on August 21, 2025, at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the age of 89. His passing, announced by the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, marks the end of an era for the evangelical movement he helped define.

    Dobson’s work as a broadcaster, author, and political advisor shaped conservative Christian values in America, but his staunch opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights drew sharp criticism. His legacy is a complex tapestry of devotion to family, theological conviction, and cultural contention.

    The Rise of a Family Values Empire

    Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on April 21, 1936, James Clayton Dobson Jr. grew up in a devout Church of the Nazarene household. His parents, traveling evangelists, instilled a deep faith that would guide his career.

    After earning a doctorate in psychology from the University of Southern California, Dobson worked as a psychologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where he began to see the family unit as a bulwark against societal decay.

    In 1970, he published Dare to Discipline, a parenting manual advocating for “strict-but-loving” discipline, including corporal punishment, which sold millions and established him as a counterpoint to permissive child-rearing trends.

    In 1977, Dobson founded Focus on the Family in Pomona, California, before moving its headquarters to Colorado Springs in 1991. The organization grew into a multimedia empire, employing over 1,000 people at its peak and broadcasting on 4,000 radio stations across 157 countries.

    Dobson’s daily radio program, also called Focus on the Family, reached an estimated 220 million listeners worldwide, offering advice on parenting, marriage, and faith. His 70-plus books, translated into 27 languages, reinforced his message of traditional family values, with titles like The Strong-Willed Child and Bringing Up Boys becoming staples in evangelical homes.

    James Dobson and his ‘Focus of the Family’ organization advocated for spanking and the underlying philosophy that children are innately defiant and must have their will “broken.” In his books, he has described his own experience using a belt to beat his family’s dog into submission, and then applied the same reasoning to the treatment of children. He pushed for ‘conversion therapy’ to ‘heal’ LGBTQ+ youth. Photo credit: Focus of the Family.

    A Political Powerhouse in the Culture Wars

    Dobson’s influence extended far beyond parenting advice. In the 1980s, alongside figures like Jerry Falwell [Luce Index™ score: 55/100] and Pat Robertson, he became a leading voice in the Christian right, pushing conservative values into mainstream U.S. politics. His organization advocated against abortion, same-sex marriage, and pornography, framing them as threats to the “traditional family.”

    Dobson served as an advisor to five U.S. presidents, including Ronald Reagan [Luce Index™ score: 77/100], whom he interviewed in the Oval Office in 1985, and Donald Trump [Luce Index™ score: 35/100], whose 2016 Evangelical Executive Advisory Board he joined.

    His political clout was undeniable. Dobson’s support for Trump culminated in praise for the 2022 Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, allowing states to restrict abortion.

    “Whether you like Donald Trump or not, if you are supportive of this Dobbs decision, you have to mention the man who made it possible,” Dobson said in a broadcast. He also helped establish Family Policy Councils in approximately 40 states, which lobbied for socially conservative legislation.

    Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, another Dobson-founded group, called him a “Mount Rushmore” figure among Christian conservatives.

    The Washington-based interfaith group Sojourners compared Dobson’s rhetoric to that of German pastors during the
    Third Reich, accusing him of aligning Christianity with nationalist agendas. After the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting,
    Dobson controversially suggested that mass shootings were divine judgment for abortion and same-sex marriage.

    Discipline and Division: Dobson’s Parenting Philosophy

    Dobson’s parenting advice, rooted in his psychology background, emphasized authority and discipline. His book Dare to Discipline advocated for spanking to enforce boundaries, provided it was done without anger and caused “genuine tears.” He argued this approach instilled respect and order, countering the cultural permissiveness of the 1960s.

    However, critics like Donald Eric Capps and Adah Maurer argued that Dobson’s endorsement of corporal punishment provided theological justification for parental violence, potentially harming children into adulthood.

    Capps called Dobson’s advice to “break the will” of a child a “recipe for child abuse,” suggesting it could sexualize discipline or exploit a child’s need for love. On social media platforms like Reddit, former evangelicals shared stories of trauma from households shaped by Dobson’s teachings, with some linking his advocacy for conversion therapy—a pseudoscientific practice to change sexual orientation—to emotional and spiritual harm.

    A Dangerous, Lasting and Polarizing Legacy

    Dobson’s death has reignited debates over his impact. Supporters credit him with strengthening families and giving evangelicals a political voice. Gary Bauer, a senior vice president at the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, called him a “pioneer” who guided families through shifting cultural values.

    James Dobson was a close ally of Liberty University and Moral Majority founder Jerry Falwell, both men exposed by Fundamentalists Anonymous in the 1980s. Photo credit: Liberty U.

    Conversely, critics like Sarah Jones and Zach Lambert expressed relief at his passing, citing the pain caused by his opposition to LGBTQ+ rights and support for conversion therapy.

    “I’ve walked with hundreds of people who experienced severe trauma because of his teachings,” Lambert wrote on X.

    Dobson’s theological pivot—making the family a sacred cornerstone of evangelicalism—reversed historical trends that prioritized spiritual fervor over domestic life.

    His dystopian fiction trilogy (Fatherless, Childless, Godless) warned of societal collapse without strong families, resonating with conservatives but alarming progressives.

    His ecumenical efforts, such as signing the Manhattan Declaration in 2009 alongside Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians, showed a willingness to bridge denominational divides.

    However, issues like abortion and marriage, though his theological differences with Roman Catholicism remained.

    A Voice That Echoed Across Generations

    Dobson’s influence, built on a 46-acre (18.6-hectare) campus in Colorado Springs, was both intimate and global. His radio voice, a constant for millions, was a companion to people like Ralph Reed, who recalled hearing Dobson on the AM dial while traveling rural America.

    His Family Talk radio show, launched after leaving Focus on the Family in 2010, reached over 500,000 weekly listeners via 1,500 stations.

    His books, with sales in the millions, and his organization’s US$140 million (approximately £106 million) empire, underscored his reach.

    As the U.S. navigates ongoing cultural divides, Dobson’s legacy remains a lightning rod. To some, he was a defender of biblical truth and family; to others like myself, a symbol of intolerance.

    His death, following a brief illness, closes a chapter, but the debates he sparked—on discipline, faith, and the role of religion in public life—will endure. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley Dobson, their two children, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.

    Editor’s Note: As co-founder and Vice president of the 1980’s organization Fundamentalists Anonymous, the author spent a decade combating what he describes as the “Fundamentalist Mindset” and offering help to its victims. Luce specifically targeted Jerry Falwell, pat Robertson, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim and Tammy Bakker, and James Robinson. Falwell named Fundamentalists Anonymous and Luce as “Number One Enemy of the Gospel.”

    Death | James Dobson’s Legacy: Faith, Family, and Controversy (Aug. 23, 2025)

    #JamesDobson #FocusOnTheFamily #EvangelicalLegacy #ChristianRight #FamilyValues

    Tags: James Dobson, Focus on the Family, evangelicalism, Christian right, family values, abortion,
    LGBTQ rights, corporal punishment, conversion therapy, Dr. James Dobson Family Institute

    Summary

    James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, died at 89 on August 21, 2025, leaving a polarizing legacy. His evangelical empire championed conservative family values, influencing millions through radio, books, and political advocacy. While praised for strengthening families, Dobson faced criticism for his opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, with some calling his teachings divisive. His impact on American Christianity and politics remains undeniable, sparking debate about faith and society.

    Democrats Warned Alienating Voters With Elitist Language Choices

    Staff
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    Democrats Warned Alienating Voters With Elitist Language Choices

    New Democratic language memo says words like “Latinx” and “birthing person” risk reinforcing perceptions of elitism and division

    New York, N.Y. — As Democrats regroup to prevent a political setback in 2026 and beyond, a provocative internal memo from the so-called “centrist” group Third Way, funded by American corporate interests, has sparked discussion, frustration, and reflection across progressive circles.

    The document, titled Was It Something I Said?, argues that the party’s reliance on academic, activist, and politically correct terms is doing more harm than good when it comes to building bridges with the very voters Democrats most need to win over.

    Centrist Third Way, funded by corporate interests, attacked Sanders in Iowa.

    The 10-page memo outlines phrases and concepts that have gained traction in policy circles, activist communities, and universities—yet repel many working- and middle-class Americans who perceive them as elitist, condescending, or needlessly complex.

    From the now-infamous “birthing person” to jargon-heavy terms like “systemic oppression” or “stakeholders,” the memo points out that Democrats risk losing voters not because of their policies, but because of how they talk about them.

    At stake, Third Way argues, is not just messaging but the ability to stop Donald Trump [Luce Index™ score: 35/100] and the broader MAGA movement from returning to power.

    “When policymakers are public-facing, the language we use must invite, not repel; start a conversation, not end it,” the memo warns.

    When Language Creates Barriers, Not Bridges

    For a party that brands itself as the voice of inclusion, the findings are stark. According to Third Way, words designed to be considerate, nuanced, or theoretically precise often accomplish the opposite. Instead of expanding the conversation, they can shut it down.

    The memo divides problematic language into six categories: therapy-speak, seminar room language, organizer jargon, gender and orientation correctness, shifting racial constructs, and crime framing. In each instance, the criticism is similar: the terms may satisfy highly engaged activists or advocacy groups but alienate the vast majority of voters who find them confusing, elitist, or scolding.

    For example, therapy-inspired language like “microaggression,” “triggering,” or “safe space” may resonate in academic or activist discussions but tend to backfire in everyday political conversation. Phrases such as “justice-involved” used in place of “formerly incarcerated person” leave many feeling that the plight of victims is minimized.

    “The problem is not the commitment to equity and empathy,” says Maria Lopez, a communications consultant who has advised progressive groups nationwide. “It’s that the movement sometimes chooses phrasing that signals belonging to an inside club rather than talking with everyday voters in plain language. That’s exactly when people tune out.”

    Graphic credit: People’s World.

    Choosing Words Without Abandoning Values

    At its core, the memo is not arguing for Democrats to abandon their values. Indeed, the report is careful to note that fighting bigotry, protecting LGBTQ+ rights, and addressing racism remain fundamental commitments. The issue is not what Democrats believe, but how they express it.

    The authors acknowledge that much of the controversial terminology has been driven into political discourse by advocacy groups or younger progressives who view the changes as an act of respect and recognition. For example, replacing “homeless” with “the unhoused” is meant to center humanity, not reduce it. But as Third Way warns, intent and impact often collide when well-meaning shifts in wording are perceived as elitist linguistic policing.

    That tension is hardly new. Democrats have wrestled with language debates since the fight over “welfare queen” stereotypes in the 1980s and right through to today’s arguments about whether to say “defund the police.” But as the memo emphasizes, the country’s current political polarization makes these choices significantly more consequential.

    In short: Democrats may lose fewer votes over big, structural policies than over words that strike Americans as scolding or exclusionary.

    Language Beyond the Memo: Striking a Balance

    Not all progressive communicators are prepared to jettison newer terminology. Many activists argue that inclusive words—though initially unfamiliar—eventually normalize, helping society evolve toward greater humanity and acceptance. Moreover, they contend that certain terms have replaced outright offensive ones, and dropping them would constitute regression.

    Take gendered job titles, for instance. Using firefighter instead of “fireman” or mail carrier instead of “postman” reflects an intentional effort to avoid unnecessary gendering. Similarly, calling someone a person living with a disability rather than a “handicapped person” helps place emphasis on the person, not the condition. Other shifts, such as older adult instead of “senior citizen,” or custodian over “janitor,” aim to neutralize stereotypes.

    “Respectful terminology doesn’t have to be alienating,” explains Alan Wright, a sociolinguist at Columbia University. “The key is balance: language should show dignity without sounding contrived. You don’t need to embrace every advocacy-driven neologism, but you also don’t have to stick with words that carry bias or stigma.”

    The Political Reality: Voters Want Clarity

    What studies repeatedly show is that voters distrust what they don’t understand. According to Third Way, focus groups reveal that respondents often recoil when confronted with terms such as “Latinx” or “intersectionality.” Even if the ideas themselves have merit, the vocabulary can trigger suspicion. One participant in a recent focus group reportedly said, “If I don’t know what it means, I think they’re hiding something.”

    That distrust amplifies cultural anxieties. In an age where people fear cancellation or public shaming for using the “wrong” terminology, many simply withdraw from political conversation altogether. That silence, the memo argues, benefits Trump and the MAGA movement, who then frame Democrats as elitist out-of-touch scolds.

    The result? A political communications paradox. Democrats risk alienating not because of their policies on healthcare, wages, or climate change but because of their insistence on what some voters see as opaque or pedantic phrasing.

    Looking Forward: Will Democrats Heed This Advice?

    The ultimate question is whether the Democratic Party, broadly defined, will adjust its messaging in time for the next cycle. Party strategists are aware that every percentage point matters in swing districts across states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Georgia. Losing persuadable voters over terminology rather than policy could prove fatal in races decided by razor-thin margins.

    Yet the tension remains. For progressives, the call to simplify language can sound like an invitation to capitulate, erasing years of effort to introduce more humane, accurate, and inclusive terms. For moderates, it is about pragmatism: clear, accessible words ensure the party continues to resonate with the broad coalition needed to stop Trump.

    As one strategist summarized, “We’re not saying never use these words. But if saying them makes voters feel excluded, then we’re losing the argument before it even begins.”

    Language as Strategy, Not Slogan

    In an increasingly polarized America, language is not just vocabulary—it is political strategy.

    Logo of Third Way. Credit: Third Way.

    The Third Way memo makes clear that Democrats have the policies and moral commitments to defeat MAGA extremism, but may fall short if voters perceive them as more concerned with linguistic correctness than with real-life struggles at the kitchen table.

    The path forward may rely on what Democrats have long excelled at in theory but struggled with in practice—communicating values in ways that reflect authenticity, accessibility, and humanity.

    As the memo bluntly concludes, “Communicating in authentic ways that welcome rather than drive voters away would be a good start.”

    Summary

    Democrats are navigating a political messaging crisis, warns a new memo from centrist group Third Way. While their values remain strong, their reliance on jargon and activist-driven language risks alienating everyday voters. Terms like “Latinx,” “birthing person,” and “intersectionality” may signal inclusivity to some but come across as elitist and confusing to many. The takeaway: Democrats must speak in accessible, authentic language if they hope to beat Donald Trump and MAGA in upcoming elections.

    Democrats Warned Alienating Voters With Elitist Language Choices (Aug. 23, 2025)

    #DemocraticMessaging #ThirdWay #PoliticalLanguage #VoterTrust #MAGA

    TAGS: Democrats, language, voters, Third Way, inclusion,
    MAGA, political messaging, communication, elections, strategy

    Geography of the Soul: Finding a Way Out of Fundamentalism

    Staff
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    Geography of the Soul: Finding a Way Out of Fundamentalism

    Paul Cowan on the Victims of Fundamentalism in The Village Voice (1987)

    Originally published in The Village Voice, New York City, June 23, 1987

    Fundamentalist Anonymous support group in New York City, 1987, with the founders Jim Luce and Richard Yao, M.Div. (right). Photo credit: The Village Voice.

    Jim Luce Writes on Fundamentalism & Fundamentalists Anonymous

    Geography of the Soul: Finding a Way Out of Fundamentalism (1987) by Paul Cowan, originally published as the cover story of The Village Voice, The Village Voice, New York City, June 23, 1987; republished in The Stewardship Report (Aug. 22, 2025).

    Remembering Our Battle Against Moral Majority and the Fundamentalist Mindset

    Jim Luce
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    Remembering Our Battle Against Moral Majority and the Fundamentalist Mindset

    Our biggest accomplishment was standing up for those torn down by the TV evangelists

    Jim Luce

    New York, N.Y. I left Wall Street unexpectedly following an appearance on the Phil Donahue Show in 1985. There, on the Oprah Winfrey Show of its day, Richard Yao and I discussed “religious addiction” – the first time that phrase had ever been mentioned on national television.

    I explained to Phil the need for an “anonymous” organization to help those recovering from religious addiction, including followers of powerful TV evangelists such as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Jimmy Swaggart – then riding high, broadcasting seven days a week, and raking in millions.

    The response was so overwhelming — with 17,000 people asking for help — that I had to choose between responding to those I had said, “If you’re hurting, call us!” and my Japanese banking career.

    One woman who soon called us told us an unbelievable story, which turned out to be typical. She was financially unable to give, but was led to believe it was “God’s Will” that she keep giving to a TV evangelist. Other stories – thousands of them — were of emotional, sexual, and physical abuse.

    These personal stories were so strong they were written-up, in article after article, by the Associated Press], Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle, USA Today, Washington Post – even the London Observer and Toronto Star.

    Never a Fundamentalist myself, I co-founded Fundamentalists Anonymous and — with the help of
    Hank Luce and the Henry Luce Foundation — raised $1.2 million from 1985 to 1989 to build support
    groups across the U.S. for recovering fundamentalists. Hank was Presbyterian and I, Episcopalian.

    Recovering Fundamentalists, like members of my own family, are those who believed themselves to have been so damaged by their all-or-nothing lifestyle most could not even walk into a Mainline church without feeling nauseous.

    Richard Yao (red tie)and I (yellow tie) testified in Congress against the TV evangelists in 1988.

    The momentum we gain was startling. Richard and I testified in Congress against the TV evangelists in 1988. During this period I served as resource and was interviewed repeatedly by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Today Show, in addition to CNN, A.P. & U.P.I.

    One reason for our enormous coverage was the media’s fear of the Religious Right. The Moral Majority, headed by Falwell, consisted of conservative Christian political action committees with membership in the millions.

    Jerry Falwell attacked our Fundamentalists Anonymous along with the A.C.L.U. and Norman Lear’s People for the American Way in his endless direct mail appeals.

    In 1987 the New York Times ran an extensive article entitled “Amid Scandals, Fundamentalists Seek Consolation,” by Bill Geist:

    “This is terribly upsetting,” said Ginger Harney, a 76-year-old California woman, who was sending money to the TV evangelists Jim and Tammy Bakker until the scandal involving charges of adultery, hush money and drug abuse erupted.

    She is one of thousands of fundamentalists throughout the country who are overwhelming the tiny staff of Fundamentalists Anonymous, or F.A., in New York, with telephone calls and letters.

    The group operates from an unfinished church basement in Manhattan, wishing to keep the exact location secret because of threats.

    The complaints by fundamentalists are ranging from simple disillusionment with most TV evangelists to callers claiming that fundamentalism has caused them bankruptcy, divorce, and suicidal depression.

    One caller said her husband chained her in the basement for three months trying to get the devil out of her.

    Those calling the hot line receive a newsletter and referral to one of 41 chapters across the country serving the group’s 30,000 members.

    The group’s budget could reach $300,000 at the end of the current fiscal year, said Mr. Yao, who points proudly to the Rev. Jerry Falwell’s attacks on F.A. as proof it is having an effect.

    “If the fundamentalist experience is working for you, fine, but we’re here if it isn’t,” said Mr. Yao [27], who quit his job with the Wall Street law firm of Mudge Rose two years ago to begin the group with Jim Luce, 27, a former assistant Eurobond portfolio manager with Daiwa Bank.

    The Washington Post covered us. A story entitled “Healing After the Leap From Faith: Fundamentalists Anonymous Aids Those Who Cast Off Religion” ran in 1987.

    Universal asked me to speak out against Fundamentalist censorship with Marty Scorsese’ controversial film, Last Temptation of Christ (1988).

    I spoke out about the dangers of the Fundamentalist Mindset every chance I got, from attacking Pepsi’s Boycott of Madonna because of her “Like a Prayer” video to supporting Universal Studio’s and Marty Scorsese’ film, Last Temptation of Christ.

    Pepsi dropped Madonna as a result of a Fundamentalist boycott (1989).

    I did not limit myself to Christianity. The Fundamentalist Mindset is one of black-and-white that any faith can fall prey to.

    So I criticized poor Salman Rushdie for not being strong enough, calling him “spineless” in 1991 in the Los Angeles Times. He caved to Islamic extremists and agreed not to publish his Satanic Verses in paperback. As a young twenty-something, I felt he was a coward.

    “This spineless and shameless capitulation is a serious setback for free speech. It will only encourage more fundamentalist attempts, whether Christian or Islamic, to censor literature and art,” I told the LA Times.

    During Pat Robertson’s presidential bid, Richard Yao and I embarked on 13-state tour to hold press-conferences explaining how dangerous this man was (1988).

    Our biggest accomplishment was standing up for those torn down by the TV evangelists. I coordinated our legal task force, announced in a 1987 press conference.

    “The PTL scandal emphasizes the complete lack of accountability in many Fundamentalist or Pentecostal groups,” I was quoted as having said.

    The PTL Club collapsed in 1987. Tammy died in 2007.

    The Task Force had three major goals: 1) accountability of religious leaders to their followers, 2) deterrence of future acts of abuse or misconduct, and 3) protection and expansion of the legal rights of religious consumers.

    One of my best efforts was a poster of Jim and Tammy Bakker behind bars for a benefit for the Legal Task Force with Steve Allen and Frank Zappa. The problem was it was so good people pulled them down to decorate their dorm rooms.

    Interfaith dialogue was also important to me. I spoke frequently with Jewish leaders including Rabbi Jim Rudin. A search on-line revealed the Archives of the American Jewish Committee.

    On Monday, December 16, 1985, I met with Rabbis Gunther Hirshberg and A. James Rudin. According to the Archives, Mimi Alperin introduced us.

    “Fundamentalists Anonymous began in April, 1985 with a two-line ad in the Village Voice. The organization has since mushroomed and has attracted over 20,000 ex-fundamentalists as well as considerable media attention.

    “Following appearances on the Donahue Show, the Today Show and mention in several major news magazines, Yao and Luce left their professional Wall Street jobs to build their organization.

    “Luce stressed that fundamentalism is characterized by an authoritarian “mindset,” which is incompatible with a positive appreciation of religious pluralism.

    “In addition to providing counseling for ex-fundamentalists, they attempt to educate the public about the social and political implications of fundamentalism.

    “In the discussion which followed, several IAC members inquired about fundamentalist Jews.

    “Yao and Luce pointed out that 10-15% of the total response has been from Jews leaving fundamentalist groups,” the A.J.C. Archives conclude.

    We could not have claimed Fundamentalism was addictive and psychologically
    dangerous if we did not have the support of the mental health community.

    After the Donahue Show, we heard from dozens of therapists — psychologists and psychiatrists – who were dealing in their own practices with the trauma we were discussing. We served as a catalyst for them to come together.

    National Institutes on Health – National Library of Medicine.

    We were soon able to arrange for the American Psychological Association to have a panel on religious addiction for the first time at their annual convention in New York, 1987.

    The Journal of Religion and Health carried an article based on that panel entitled “Fundamentalist Religion and its Effect on Mental Health” written by two psychiatrists, on from the Veteran’s Administration in Los Angeles, and the other in private practice in Boston.

    The journal article stated, “The national self-help group Fundamentalists Anonymous has focused attention upon mental problems that may be caused or exacerbated by authoritarian religion.

    “In this article we outline assertions about the mental problems caused by membership in fundamentalist religion, illustrate these with two case histories, briefly discuss intervention strategies, and describe conceptual and empirical issues.

    “While former members have presented problems severe enough to warrant professional treatment, a causal link between their symptoms and their religious membership has not yet been established, because there is little empirical work on the subject.”

    This was cutting-edge science. Psychology Today then covered our efforts in a piece entitled “Leaving The Fold” (Jan. 1988).

    The publication that served as the foundation for Fundamentalists Anonymous was Richard’s There is a Way Out, which I published through Luce Publications. I was 26.

    This booklet is still found in libraries throughout the U.S. I can only imagine what we would have accomplished had we had the Internet in the 1980’s!

    Many books have documented our four-year efforts. These include The Road Less Traveled & Beyond (M. Scott Peck, Simon and Schuster).

    M. Scott Peck endorsed us:

    “Fundamentalism, with its pervasive sense of guilt about most normal physical and emotional feelings, and its patriarchal structure wherein the father’s word is law, creates family atmospheres where emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse of children is the rule, not the exception.

    “Such abuse is now being publicized thanks to organizations such as Fundamentalists Anonymous,” Peck wrote in The Road Less Traveled & Beyond.

    Other books, of many, are Culture Wars (James Davison Hunter), Co-Dependence (Charles L. Whitfield), and Hollywood Under Siege (Thomas R. Lindlof).

    Hollywood Under Siege discusses how I was invited to support Universal Studio‘s Last Temptation of Christ in New York. My friend, publicist Josh Baran, also invited Daniel Berrigan, Ram Dass, and ex-Jesuit Terry Sweeney.

    In The Price of Fundamentalism, Mike D’Antonio wrote about extreme Christianity, using me as a source:

    “In extreme cases, Luce reports, women and children in violent fundamentalist families suffer further abuse while struggling to follow a religion that teaches them to stay in the home despite beatings.

    “We have members whose children have been maimed, who have been maimed themselves, because their religion teaches them to stay in a bad situation.

    “They may even blame them, saying they are bad and that’s why there is violence directed against them,” he said.

    “Problems can go unnoticed, Luce adds, if a family lives within a kind of Fundamentalist subculture where outside help is discouraged.

    “FA’s files are filled with case studies of former Fundamentalists who say religion became so powerful in their lives that they were unable to have relationships or make rational decisions.

    In the New York Times, Ari Goldman wrote “Evangelicals Flourish, with a New York Touch.”

    “On Sunday at Bethlehem Church in Richmond Hill, Queens, a full house of 600 worshipers sang spirited hymns, held hands in prayer and fell silent as a congregant was ”seized by the spirit” and spoke in unintelligible speech known as tongues.”The church is a member of the Assemblies of God, the same church that recently defrocked Mr. Bakker of the PTL ministry.

    “The Bakker scandals have not shaken his congregation, said Mr. Behr, using the barometer of attendance and contributions, both of which have continued to increase in recent weeks.

    “Another indication of Evangelical strength in New York is the pace in recent weeks at Fundamentalists Anonymous.

    ‘We’ve never been busier,” said Jim Luce, associate executive director of the organization that seeks to help those who feel trapped in the Evangelical wing known as Fundamentalism.

    According to Mr. Luce, Fundamentalists tend to see the world in absolutes and are likely to break off contact with those who do not agree with them.

    Since the PTL scandal broke in March, the number of letters and calls to Fundamentalists Anonymous has doubled to 150 a day, Mr. Luce said.

    Although the TV evangelists are long gone and forgotten, the evil that is the Fundamentalist Mindset is as alive today as ever. I am as committed today to counter it as I was in 1985. Tolerance must prevail if humanity is to survive.

    Note: Fundamentalists Antonymous existed in the days before Internet reporting. Slowly, newspapers and wire services are digitalizing and I will attempt to bring the stories on-line as they are available. Newsweek’s “Is Fundamentalism Addictive?” (8/5/85), The New York Observer’s “Fighting Authoritarian Mindset (2/1/88), and The New York Law Journal’s “Lawyer Volunteers Aid Claims Against Cult Groups” (1/19/88).

    Remembering My Battle Against Moral Majority and the Fundamentalist Mindset
    (Originally published in The Huffington Post, Aug. 6, 2009)

    Edited by Ethel Grodzins Romm (1925-2021)

    Reflecting on our stand against the Moral Majority and the fundamentalist mindset, I recount leaving Wall Street, co-founding Fundamentalists Anonymous, and supporting the recovery of thousands harmed by authoritarian religion. Our work exposed abuse, advocated for accountability, and built support nationally. Though the TV evangelists faded, intolerance persists. I remain dedicated to promoting tolerance and pluralism, believing our efforts pioneered a movement for healing and religious freedom.

    #BattleAgainstFundamentalism #MoralMajority #ReligiousTolerance
    #FundamentalistsAnonymous #JimLuce #FaithFreedom

    TAGS: religious abuse, fundamentalism, Moral Majority, religious tolerance, faith recovery,
    Fundamentalists Anonymous, TV evangelists, religious pluralism, religious freedom,
    Jim Luce,1980s activism, mental health, accountability, religious trauma, interfaith dialogue

    The Fundamentalists Anonymous Movement (1986)

    Jim Luce
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    The Fundamentalists Anonymous Movement (1986)

    An Organization For Former Fundamentalists Has Met A Groundswell of Support

    Originally published in The American Humanist by Jim Luce, writing under his full name, James J. D. Luce, Jan.-Feb. 1986

    Something is happening in the Fundamentalist landscape.

    In the past six months, without real money or big names behind it, a support group for ex-Fundamentalists has emerged from nowhere to become what Newsweek has called a “movement.”

    At long last, the best-kept secret in America is being revealed to the, public: the fundamentalist experience can be a serious mental health hazard to perhaps millions of people.

    Now there is a national support organization for those people who have been “burned” by fundamentalism–Fundamentalists Anonymous (FA). (We use Fundamentalism to include the Charismatic-Pentecostal movement which stresses “speaking in tongues” and other “gifts of the spirit”).

    FA works with ex-Fundamentalists as well as concerned parents, spouses, relatives, and close friends of those caught up in Fundamentalism.

    At this time, more than ten thousand people, hardly a significant number compared to the population from which it claims to come, have called or written us.

    Even though they come from all fifty states and constitute a cross-section of American society, there is a common list of complaints that we hear again and again: years of overwhelming guilt, fear, and anxiety after leaving the fundamentalist fold, loneliness, chronic depression, low self-esteem, years in therapy, and sometimes even attempts at suicide.

    (incomplete)

    The Fundamentalists Anonymous Movement (1986)
    Originally published in The Humanist by James J. D. Luce, Jan-Feb. 1986
    Republished in The Stewardship Report (Aug. 22, 2025)

    Summary

    In this archival piece, discover the unexpected rise of Fundamentalists Anonymous. Originally published in 1986, the article reveals how this support group swiftly grew into a national movement, offering a lifeline to thousands struggling with the profound mental health aftermath of leaving fundamentalist faiths. It explores the common trauma of guilt, anxiety, and depression experienced by former members, shedding light on a critical issue that remains deeply relevant today.

    #FundamentalistsAnonymous #ExFundamentalist #ReligiousTrauma #MentalHealth
    #FaithDeconstruction #Recovery #SpiritualAbuse #ReligiousRecovery #TheHumanist

    TAGS: Fundamentalists Anonymous, religious trauma, ex-fundamentalist, mental health, faith deconstruction,
    spiritual abuse, support group, recovery, religious recovery, cult recovery, The Humanist, James Luce
    Jim Luce Writes on Fundamentalism & Fundamentalists Anonymous

    “Leaving the Fold” – Fundamentalists Anonymous in Psychology Today

    Staff
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    “Leaving the Fold” – Fundamentalists Anonymous in <em>Psychology Today</em>

    Leaving Fundamentalism behind can cause a crisis similar to divorce or death of a loved one.

    In April of 1985, Wall Street lawyer Richard Yao and banker James (Jim) Luce placed a two-line classified ad in the Village Voice to announce the formation of a new group, Fundamentalists Anonymous (FA).

    The pair hoped to get a few encouraging responses. Instead, they received 500 calls from around the country and within three weeks found themselves on the Phil Donahue Show.

    Less than three years later, they have 46 chapters, 40,000 members and a national office in New York City, for which Yao has left his legal career to become executive director.

    “There’s obviously an incredible need out there,” says Yao, whose only training in psychology was a few courses while attending Yale Divinity School.

    The need, he says, comes from the “fundamentalist mindset:” a tendency to be authoritarian, intolerant and compulsive about control.

    Yao claims that this mindset often causes intense fear and guilt, inability to talk about the fundamentalist experience, depression, loneliness, low self-esteem, aversion to authority and anger over the time lost while in the fold.

    The cure, as Yao sees it, is support from other former fundamentalists.
    FA also makes referrals to licensed psychologists for any member who
    needs one, and psychologists likewise have referred many clients to FA.

    Psychologist Mariene Winell of Fort Collins, Colorado, has treated about 40 former fundamentalists in her private practice, and she finds great support for Yao’s claims. “I was a zealous fundamentalist myself,” says Winell, who was reared by missionary parents in Taiwan and spent much of her youth proselytizing door-to-door.

    “If you stay inside the fundamentalist system, you’re fine. But if you try to get away from it, it’s like having the ground pulied out from beneath your feet. You have to restructure your entire world.”

    Other psychologists agree that while fundamentalism itself does not seem pathological, the experience of leaving it behind can cause a transition crisis similar to divorce or the death of a loved one.

    Volume 22, Number 1, January 1988.

    “FA heiped me go back and look at my resentment,” says Gary W. Hartz, a psychologist with the Veterans Administration in Los Angeles.

    “I felt bitter about the time I lost,” he says, “and ashamed about some of the things I did, like evangelizing students at Daytona Beach during spring break to give up two of the Five S’s-sex and suds—and stick to the sun, surf and sand.”

    Fundamentalists Anonymous is not a 12-step program, but like other groups, meets in a circle. Note: photos above and here added; not in original story published in Psychology Today, Jan. 1988.

    Another person who seems to have gone through many of the typical problems of erstwhile fundamentalists is former presidential candidate Gary Hart, who was reared in the Church of the Nazarene. “He did not get a chance to party or date or drink like a normal teenager,” Yao says. “In my opinion he’s trying to make up for lost time.”

    Despite Yao’s claims and the popular reception FA has received, “There are not enough data to support the idea that fundamentalism in general is bad for people, based exclusively on the claims of former fundamentalists,” says Lee A. Kirkpatrick, a doctoral candidate in psychology at the University of Denver. “Saying that personality characteristics associated with fundamentalism are ‘pathological’ is merely a value judgment.”

    In fact, studies by psychiatrist Marc Galanter have found that while 36% of Unification Church dropouts had “serious emotional problems,” most new members showed a dramatic decrease in neurotic distress. Noting that all of Yao’s members are fundamentalist dropouts, Kirkpatrick says psychologists should find out if Yao’s claims are valid for current fundamentalists.

    Yao admits, “I’m not an academic. All I know is it works.”

    © 1988 Psychology Today. All rights reserved.

    “Leaving the Fold” – Fundamentalists Anonymous in Psychology Today (1988)
    (republished in The Stewardship Report Aug. 22, 2025)

    Summary

    In 1985, Wall Street lawyer Richard Yao and banker James (Jim) Luce founded Fundamentalists Anonymous (FA) after placing a classified ad, receiving 500 responses nationwide. The organization grew to 46 chapters and 40,000 members within three years. Yao claims fundamentalism creates authoritarian mindsets causing fear, guilt, and depression. Psychologists support that leaving fundamentalism can trigger transition crises similar to divorce or death, though debate exists about whether fundamentalism itself is inherently harmful to practitioners.

    #FundamentalistsAnonymous #ReligiousTransition #PsychologyToday
    #ExFundamentalist #ReligiousRecovery #SupportGroups #FaithDeconstruction
    #ReligiousTrauma #TransitionCrisis #MentalHealthSupport #JimLuce #RichardYao

    TAGS: religious recovery, fundamentalism, psychology support, faith transition, religious trauma,
    support groups, mental health, spiritual abuse, religious freedom, fundamentalist anonymous, jim luce,
    richard yao, religious deconstruction, faith crisis, spiritual recovery, psychology today, james luce

    Jim Luce Writes on Fundamentalism & Fundamentalists Anonymous

    U.S. Voices Challenge Rubio’s ICC Sanctions Rhetoric as Misguided and Dangerous

    Staff
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    U.S. Voices Challenge Rubio’s ICC Sanctions Rhetoric as Misguided and Dangerous

    U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio brands the International Criminal Court “a national security threat,” but critics see fear-mongering rhetoric designed to distract.

    By the Staff of The Stewardship Report: Let the truth-telling begin

    New York, N.Y. — Who gets to decide which institutions defend justice and who undermines it? That question looms large after U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio [Luce Index™ score: 48/100] declared the  International Criminal Court (ICC) a “national security threat” in his push for updated U.S. sanctions.

    The announcement, delivered in mid-August 2025, reverberates across news cycles, particularly after Breitbart News amplified Rubio’s claim without context.

    The move raises serious questions regarding what Rubio hopes to achieve, why such rhetoric resonates in certain partisan circles, and how it reflects a broader war on truth. As right-wing outlets frame international accountability as an attack on American sovereignty, the reality is quite different: the ICC is not a threat to the United States but to lawlessness and impunity, wherever it emerges.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Photo credit: Freddie Everett / U.S. State Department.

    A Senator with Presidential Ambitions and a Media Machine Behind Him

    This controversy starts with former Senator Marco Rubio, longtime Florida Republican and two-time presidential contender, who has consistently aligned himself with hardline positions on foreign policy. By asserting that the ICC itself poses a danger to national security, Rubio is not merely criticizing jurisdictional overreach.

    He is sending a calculated signal to a political base primed to distrust international cooperation.

    Backing Rubio’s framing are Fox News commentators and Breitbart’s editorial apparatus, which routinely paints multilateral bodies as hostile to American freedoms. Their proven strategy: sow suspicion about international law, cast doubt on global courts, and ignite fears that Americans could someday face trials before foreign judges. The facts, however, tell a different story.

    The International Criminal Court (ICC) came into force in 2002. The ICC has jurisdiction over serious international crimes like genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression, prosecuting individuals for offenses. Facing challenges such as reliance on state cooperation and political criticism, the ICC continues to raise awareness and has prosecuted cases globally, issuing recent indictments against Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu.

    Latest Effort to Undermine Accountability

    Rubio’s claim arrives amidst long-standing Republican hostility toward the ICC, dating back to when U.S. leaders opposed investigations into military conduct in Afghanistan or into alleged Israeli war crimes. Yet calling the ICC a “threat” is not policy nuance — it is incendiary hyperbole.

    The court was established in 2002 specifically to pursue perpetrators of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in cases where national courts fail or refuse to act.

    Its mandate is intentionally narrow. The ICC has no power to override the sovereignty of established democratic states with functioning judicial systems.

    To frame the court as a looming danger misleads the public into equating accountability with subversion.

    Why the Timing Matters

    The timing of Rubio’s rhetoric is anything but coincidental. With the 2024 election cycle still casting long shadows and 2028 speculation beginning to stir, Rubio is maneuvering for relevance.

    His ICC declaration arrives in an atmosphere where right-wing leaders seek to rekindle nationalist indignation against international institutions, a well-tested mobilization tool.

    Meanwhile, the ICC continues to investigate situations involving Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, mass atrocities in Sudan, and attacks on civilians in Gaza. In such a context, labeling the ICC a threat does not bolster U.S. security — it signals indifference to accountability abroad and undermines American credibility as a proponent of human rights.

    A Clash of Narratives in the American Media Landscape

    In New York and across media ecosystems, the story is playing out predictably. While Breitbart trumpets Rubio’s assertion as patriotic defiance, outlets committed to evidence-based reporting highlight the distortions. This dynamic forms the heart of our mission with The Anti-Post and The Anti-Fox: to provide clarity where others deal in provocation.

    The ICC operates in The Hague, Netherlands, not in secret bunkers plotting to arrest American citizens. To frame its headquarters as a base for anti-Americanism is to mislead audiences whose grasp of international law is often mediated through partisan filters. It is the job of responsible journalism to separate myth from fact — to challenge rhetorical sleight of hand.

    Power, Politics, and the Erosion of Trust

    Why would Rubio — and those amplifying his message — disparage a court designed to punish war criminals? The answer lies in U.S. political culture, where “sovereignty” has become a catch-all shield against multilateral scrutiny. Casting the ICC as dangerous feeds into broader narratives of grievance and victimization that animate far-right politics.

    But this strategy comes at a cost. By delegitimizing the ICC, Rubio and his media allies signal to the world that American leaders are unwilling to defend international justice mechanisms. This emboldens authoritarian actors and diminishes the moral standing of the United States. Trust crumbles when powerful nations dismiss accountability, and cynicism grows when media echo chambers repeat distortions unchecked.

    The ICC issued an arrest warrant fot Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi before he was killed.

    Reclaiming Journalism as Stewardship

    The goal of The Anti-Post and The Anti-Fox is not merely rebuttal but reimagination: showing that journalism can hold power accountable without perpetuating fear. We answer Rubio’s “who, what, when, where, and why” with a reminder that facts are stubborn, dignity is fragile, and justice is not an enemy of security but its foundation.

    Let this be your act of resistance —
    not through yelling, but through clarity.
    Not with conspiracy, but with conscience.

    Perhaps Marco Rubio’s real reason for opposing the International Criminal Court is to weaken its power before they can indict his boss the way New York Attorney General Letitia James did.

    Summary

    In August 2025, Senator Marco Rubio branded the International Criminal Court a “national security threat,” echoed by Breitbart and Fox News. Yet the ICC exists to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable when national courts fail. Mischaracterizing the court fuels fear and erodes trust in international justice. This editorial challenges partisan narratives by insisting on factual context and by defending accountability as central to both U.S. credibility and global human rights.

    #TheAntiPost #TheAntiFox #ICCTruth #AccountabilityMatters
    #GlobalJustice #FactsOverFear #MediaLiteracy

    TAGS: Marco Rubio, International Criminal Court, U.S. foreign policy,
    Fox News, Breitbart, misinformation, accountability, human rights

    How My Five-Year Sobriety (Almost) Prepared Me For Weight Loss

    Jim Luce
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    How My Five-Year Sobriety (Almost) Prepared Me For Weight Loss

    The struggle to maintain lasting change: Why losing weight tested my resolve more than any battle with addiction

    New York, N.Y. — For half a decade, my journey through sobriety has been an odyssey marked by triumphs and lessons in self-control. I know well the rigors of breaking addictive cycles—each craving confronted and conquered one day at a time. Yet, when I resolved to lose weight as I approached my 66th birthday, the difficulty felt fresh and unfamiliar.

    Over the last three months, I’ve shed 30 pounds (13.6 kilograms), dropping about 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) per month, amounting to 15% of my body weight.

    I did so with no grand fad diets or punishing exercise regimens, no injections, liposuction or tummy-tuck surgery; just old-fashioned caloric discipline, a doctor’s advice to reach for a can of tuna fish whenever hunger gnawed, and a deep, stubborn commitment to the task.

    Now, with just four pounds standing between me and my “ideal” weight of 184 pounds (83 kilograms), a 34-inch versus a 36-inch waist, and a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 24, the final stretch reveals subtler truths about maintenance, mindset, and the costs and rewards of lasting change.

    Anatomy of Change: Comparing Cycles of Addiction and Weight Management

    For those who have battled addiction in any form, the contours of struggle are familiar. Breaking the cycle of dependency—whether alcohol, tobacco, or opioids—demands vigilance, support networks, and a relentless patience with setbacks.

    Addiction, after all, is entwined with fundamental brain chemistry, rewiring motivational circuits, and often precipitating psychological effects such as shame cycles, emotional numbness, and detachment.

    Every day sober is a victory, but every hour brings the risk of relapse—a constant negotiation with immediate gratification and long-term well-being.

    Weight loss—particularly rapid weight loss—brings its own tangled web of psychological and physiological hurdles.

    If addiction is an urge for external stimulation, sustained weight loss is a battle with one’s own biological imperatives: persistent hunger, disruptive mood swings, and a mind obsessively recalibrating around food.

    The shame cycle plays out anew—each failed weigh-in reminiscent of early relapses in recovery, only now the stakes pivot between metabolic health and self-image.

    The emotional labor is immense, demanding more than the sheer grit of abstinence; it requires active planning, behavioral adaptation, and a toolkit for navigating subtle triggers like boredom, fatigue, or social cues.

    Mindset Shifts and the Science Behind Lasting Weight Loss

    What stymied me most in my weight loss odyssey was the brutal persistence of hunger and fatigue. Skipping breakfast, avoiding desserts, and limiting snacks whittled away both pounds and comfort. The “tuna fish rule”—a can at hand for when true hunger struck—provided a practical anchor but did not erase the desire for sweetness or the pleasure of ritualized eating.

    Each temptation resisted was a muscle in self-control, no less vital than resisting a drink at a party or a cigarette in a moment of stress.

    Notably, the science of weight loss argues that the strategies for shedding pounds overlap with those required to maintain the victory.

    Frequent self-monitoring, portion control, regular movement (even walking and stair-climbing), and ongoing support systems are proven to help maintain weight loss, much like a network of peers, therapy, and milestone checks bolster sobriety.

    And just as in addiction recovery, lapses are inevitable but not fatal—what matters is the ability to start again, to recommit anew after each stumble.

    Successful maintenance also hinges on mindset. The extended period after major weight loss offers fewer explicit rewards.

    The thrill of watching the scale drop dissipates; what remains is incremental progress, clinical improvements like lower blood pressure, or cholesterol and a sense of accomplishment that must be deliberately nurtured. Providers and friends can help spotlight “before and after” milestones, but ultimately it is the internal story—reframed from deficiency to achievement—that supports long-term persistence.

    Health Risks and Rewards: What Rapid Weight Loss Means At 66

    As I approach my ideal weight, a new realm of challenges opens—not least, concerns about the rapidity of my progress. Losing 30 pounds in three months is dramatic and can bring significant health risks, particularly at my age.

    Scientific studies caution that weight loss over 15% of body mass within a short span may increase the likelihood of osteoporosis, muscle mass loss, and even raised mortality rates.

    Fatigue, depression, anxiety, and food obsessions may surface, mimicking some psychological after-effects of addiction withdrawal—irritability, anger, and mood swings.

    This is where careful maintenance and support become paramount. After achieving the target weight, introducing small increments of healthy calories—about 200 per day—can help find the delicate equilibrium for lifelong stability.

    Exercise, especially resistance training, is essential to counter bone loss and preserve muscle mass, and regular monitoring of one’s emotional landscape through professional guidance may be wise. The body at 66 is less forgiving than at 36; vigilance becomes not just a lifestyle, but a necessity.

    With just four pounds standing between me and my “ideal” weight of 184 pounds (83 kilograms), a 34-inch versus a 36-inch waist, and a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 24, the final stretch reveals subtler truths about maintenance, mindset, and the costs and rewards of lasting change. I began this journey at 218 pounds, on the BMI divide between “over weight” and “obese.”

    Lifelong Maintenance: Preparing For The Next Phase

    With just four pounds to go, my focus shifts from the drama of loss to the intricacies of lifelong maintenance. Here, I draw lessons from both the realms of addiction recovery and sustainable lifestyle change. Setting realistic expectations, celebrating achievements, and building routines resilient to stress—all play critical roles.

    Support groups, whether for weight loss or sobriety, famously help maintain momentum. But they are not for me. Emotional triggers—stress, boredom, loneliness—need strategies that do not revert to the solace of food, just as sobriety demanded alternatives to the bottle.

    The maintenance phase means rediscovering what brings joy apart from eating and drinking: walks through Central Park, volunteering, cultivating relationships, and mindful self-compassion. The narrative shifts from “fixing” to “thriving,” from deprivation to fulfillment.

    My toolkit includes ongoing reflection, self-monitoring, and periodic reassessment with my medical provider, ensuring that health, both physical and psychological, remains at the heart of my journey. The true victory lies not just in the numbers on a scale, but in the lived experience of empowered self-care.

    For me, nothing tasted better than a hamburger platter and a beer – or two.

    Lessons From Both Journeys

    If breaking addictive cycles taught me resilience, weight loss taught me humility and flexibility.

    Each journey, while distinct, shares common threads: daily choices, setbacks and restarts, and the need for a supportive environment.

    At age 66, I find myself more attuned to the intricate dance between physiological needs and psychological habits—and more patient with myself as I forge ahead.

    Weight loss is not a story with an endpoint, just as sobriety is not a destination but an ongoing process.

    I am reminded every morning—whether facing the tuna fish or the scale—that transformation is gradual, maintenance is eternal, and every day offers the opportunity for renewal.

    How My Five-Year Sobriety (Almost) Prepared Me For Weight Loss (Aug. 21, 2025)

    Summary

    After five years sober, I thought weight loss would mirror my triumph over addiction. Losing 30 pounds in three months at age 66, with just four pounds left to my ideal weight, the struggle surprised me. I found maintenance just as psychologically demanding, with risks unique to rapid change. Drawing on lessons from addiction recovery, I now focus not just on achievement but lifelong well-being, transforming my lifestyle for lasting health.

    #WeightLossJourney #SobrietyAndHealth #HealthyAging #MindfulMaintenance #tunafish

    TAGS: weight loss, sobriety, addiction recovery, nutrition, weight management,
    aging, health maintenance, emotional wellness, tuna fish

    Master NYC Artist Presents Biographical Journey Through Paint

    Jim Luce
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    Master NYC Artist Presents Biographical Journey Through Paint

    Georgette Sinclair’s ‘Fragments of Time’ Exhibition Chronicles Life-Defining Moments at Roosevelt Island Gallery

    New York, N.Y. — Standing before her latest collection of paintings, Georgette Sinclair reflects on the moments that shaped her artistic soul. Her upcoming exhibition “Fragments of Time,” opening August 28, 2025, at RIVAA Gallery on Roosevelt Island, presents a deeply personal retrospective spanning decades of artistic evolution and life-defining encounters.

    Early Artistic Awakening Sparked Lifelong Passion

    Sinclair’s artistic journey began in childhood, when drawing classes at a public School of Art in Romania first ignited her creative passion.

    By age 13, she had completed one of her most memorable early works—a portrait of a beautiful Gypsy woman that remains vivid in her memory decades later.

    This piece symbolized not only her artistic awakening but also the unwavering support of her parents, who recognized and nurtured their daughter’s exceptional talent.

    “At a certain point in life, we pause to look back—reflecting on moments that shaped, changed, and defined us,” Sinclair explains.

    Her latest exhibition serves as precisely this kind of reflection, presenting a visual autobiography through carefully selected paintings that capture pivotal experiences.

    Masters and Mentors Shaped Artistic Vision

    Throughout her career, Sinclair has sought wisdom from distinguished masters whose influence permeates her work.

    She was uniquely influenced or studied under John Singer Sargent, Richard Pionk, Elizabeth Mowry, and others whose teachings helped her develop her distinctive ability to translate life’s fleeting moments onto canvas.

    Several of these influential figures appear in her current exhibition, their portraits serving as homages to the relationships that shaped her artistic trajectory.

    Her formal education extended to New York’s prestigious Art Students League, where she refined her technique under master instructors. Later, she traveled to France to study pastel techniques with Elizabeth Mowry, gaining insights into the European masters who continue to influence her work.

    French Impressionist Traditions Meet Contemporary Vision

    Sinclair’s artistic philosophy draws deeply from the lyrical traditions of French Impressionists and the emotive-tonalism movement. She strives to infuse each painting with a sense of poetry through carefully orchestrated brushwork, mood, and narrative depth. Whether depicting figures, landscapes, or transient moments, every piece carries what she describes as “a part of my soul and tells a story beyond what the eye sees.”

    This approach has earned her recognition within America’s oldest art institutions. As an active member of the Salmagundi Club since 2001, she served four years as third Vice President and continues to shape exhibitions as a dedicated Art Committee member. Her technical mastery and leadership have also secured her membership in the Allied Artists of America and associate status with the Pastel Society of America.

    Travel and Artistic Exploration Inspire Visual Poetry

    Long-held dreams of artistic travel have materialized into transformative journeys that enrich Sinclair’s visual vocabulary. These expeditions, often undertaken alongside fellow artists and dear friends, have led her to extraordinary corners of the world through painting workshops and private explorations.

    She describes these experiences poetically: “Like a poet gathering verses from the wind, I’ve collected visual poems from nature: quiet light filtering through trees, the solitude of a shoreline, the whisper of a breeze across an open field.”

    These international experiences have broadened her artistic perspective while reinforcing her commitment to capturing the sublime in everyday moments. The influence of these travels appears throughout “Fragments of Time,” where distant landscapes intermingle with intimate personal memories.

    Dual Career in Science and Art Creates Unique Perspective

    Sinclair’s background as a Doctor of Audiology provides an unexpected foundation for her artistic practice. Her scientific training in auditory perception has sharpened her visual sensitivity, creating a methodical approach to observing and recording the nuances of light, color, and atmosphere. This dual expertise allows her to dissect visual frequencies with the same precision she applies to diagnosing auditory conditions.

    “Listening deeply shapes how I see light and silence in landscapes,” she reflects. This unique perspective has enabled her to develop signature techniques, including temporal layering—building translucent pastel strata that embed multiple moments within single compositions. A raincloud’s shadow might simultaneously contain the memory of sunlight and the promise of clearing skies.

    Community Leadership Extends Artistic Impact

    Beyond her personal artistic practice, Sinclair has demonstrated sustained commitment to nurturing the visual arts community. For fifteen years, she served as Treasurer of the Roosevelt Island Visual Art Association (RIVAA), championing public art installations that transformed the island into an open-air museum. Her leadership has helped democratize access to art while providing platforms for emerging artists.

    Her recent works incorporate her granddaughters, their small hands reaching through sunbeams—a testament to art’s generational continuity and her belief in passing artistic passion to future generations.

    Personal Souvenirs Become Universal Connections

    The almost ninety (!) paintings in “Fragments of Time” function as what Sinclair calls “personal souvenirs—reminders of joy, beauty, connection, and the profound gift of being present in those luminous fragments of time.” Yet their appeal extends far beyond autobiography. International collectors cherish her pieces not as static images but as preserved breaths of life that resonate with universal human experiences.

    “They are fragments of my soul—held in light, color and memory,” Sinclair explains. “I invite you to step into these moments and find a piece of your own story within them.”

    Exhibition Details and Artist Access

    “Fragments of Time” will be displayed from August 28 through September 21, 2025, providing visitors nearly a month to experience Sinclair’s artistic journey. The RIVAA Gallery located at 527 Main Street on Roosevelt Island (10044) offers an appropriately intimate setting for these deeply personal works. See: www.rivaagallery.org.

    Visitors can explore additional information about Sinclair’s artistic philosophy and technique at www.georgettesinclairfineart.com or through the comprehensive profile at www.stewardshipreport.org/artist-georgette-sinclair.

    In an age of digital saturation, Sinclair’s analog alchemy—crushed pigment translating transient light—offers what she describes as quiet rebellion against contemporary life’s accelerated pace. Her exhibition invites viewers to pause, reflect, and discover their own luminous fragments within the visual poetry of a life dedicated to seeing and preserving beauty.

    Master NYC Artist Presents Biographical Journey Through Paint (Aug. 21, 2025)

    Summary

    Georgette Sinclair’s “Fragments of Time” exhibition opening August 28 at Roosevelt Island’s RIVAA Gallery presents a visual autobiography spanning decades of artistic evolution. The Romanian-born Doctor of Audiology and Salmagundi Club leader combines French Impressionist traditions with contemporary vision, creating deeply personal paintings that capture life-defining moments. Her work invites viewers to discover their own stories within her poetic landscapes and intimate portraits.

    #GeorgetteSinclair #FragmentsOfTime #RooseveltIsland
    #FrenchImpressionism #SalmagundiClub #ArtExhibition #NYCArt
    #PastelPainting #VisualBiography #ArtisticJourney #EmotiveTonalism

    TAGS: Georgette Sinclair, Fragments of Time exhibition, Roosevelt Island,
    French Impressionists, Salmagundi Club, Art Students League, visual autobiography,
    emotive-tonalism, pastel techniques, Romanian-American artist, Doctor of Audiology, RIVAA

    Jim Luce Writes on Art & Artists

    Tom Lehrer’s Witty Rhymes Endure: Satirist, Scholar Dies at 97

    Jim Luce
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    0
    Tom Lehrer’s Witty Rhymes Endure: Satirist, Scholar Dies at 97

    The mathematician who moonlighted as a piano-playing satirist leaves a legacy of darkly hilarious songs skewering hypocrisy and the nuclear age.

    New York, N.Y. — The news arrived quietly, yet it resonated with the sharp, discordant chord of a perfectly timed punchline: Tom Lehrer [Luce Index™ score: 96/100], the brilliant mathematician whose razor-sharp wit and jaunty piano melodies defined satire for the Cold War generation and beyond, passed away on October 9, 2023, at the age of 97.

    For many, like my father who cherished his LPs in our university town living room, Lehrer wasn’t just an entertainer; he was an essential voice cutting through the absurdity of the mid-20th century with unsettling clarity and unforgettable humor.

    Lehrer’s death marks the quietus of a singular figure who effortlessly bridged the seemingly disparate worlds of rigorous academia and biting, often scandalous, popular music. His legacy is a unique collection of songs that remain astonishingly relevant, dissecting human folly, political madness, and societal taboos with a deceptive lightness of touch.

    From Equations to Encore: The Unlikely Path of a Satirist

    Born Thomas Andrew Lehrer on April 9, 1928, Lehrer displayed prodigious talent early. He entered Harvard University at 15, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics by 18 and his Master’s by 19. While teaching math at Harvard, MIT, Wellesley, and ultimately the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he settled until retirement, music was his clandestine passion.

    He began writing and performing satirical songs for small campus gatherings in the late 1940s, initially distributing homemade recordings. His first official album, Songs by Tom Lehrer, recorded in 1953 at a friend’s house for US$15 (approximately £5.35 at the time), became a word-of-mouth sensation, selling over 350,000 copies.

    Lehrer’s style was deceptively simple: a crisp, articulate tenor voice accompanied by his own virtuosic, ragtime-inflected piano playing. The melodies were often charmingly upbeat, even nursery-rhyme like. This sweetness, however, served as the perfect Trojan horse for lyrics of unparalleled darkness, intelligence, and subversive intent.

    He tackled subjects considered utterly off-limits for popular song: nuclear proliferation (“We Will All Go Together When We Go”), poisoning (“Poisoning Pigeons in the Park”), sadomasochism (“The Masochism Tango”), grave robbing (“I Hold Your Hand in Mine”), and the banality of evil exemplified by former Nazi rocket scientist Wernher von Braun (“Wernher von Braun”).

    The Art of the Poisoned Pen: Lehrer’s Satirical Genius

    Lehrer operated with the precision of a mathematician and the glee of a trickster. His satire worked because it was rooted in keen observation and impeccable logic, twisted just enough to expose the underlying absurdity or horror. He possessed an uncanny ability to identify societal hypocrisies and sacred cows, then skewer them with perfectly rhymed couplets and devastating understatement.

    Consider “The Vatican Rag,” a jaunty tune gently mocking religious ritual, or “National Brotherhood Week,” a scathing indictment of performative tolerance: “Oh, the Protestants hate the Catholics, And the Catholics hate the Protestants, And the Hindus hate the Muslims, And everybody hates the Jews.“

    He was a master of the double entendre and the deadpan delivery. His songs often walked a razor’s edge between shocking bad taste and profound moral commentary. “The Old Dope Peddler,” ostensibly about a kindly neighborhood drug dealer, subtly critiqued societal neglect. “So Long, Mom (A Song for World War III)” transformed the ultimate horror of thermonuclear war into a darkly comic vaudeville number.

    Lehrer never preached; he simply laid out the illogic or the horror with such crystalline clarity and catchy rhythm that the message was unavoidable, delivered with a disarming smile.

    Mathematics and Moratorium: The Second Act

    Lehrer’s musical output was relatively compact but incredibly potent. After releasing More of Tom Lehrer (1959) and the live album An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer (1959), his career trajectory shifted. The burgeoning folk music scene and the rise of more overtly political singers like Bob Dylan coincided with Lehrer’s own sense that the world was becoming too inherently absurd for his particular brand of satire. “The things I was writing songs about in the 1950s were still around, but they weren’t funny anymore,” he later remarked. He also found the process of writing to order for television (like NBC’s That Was The Week That Was) less appealing than his spontaneous campus performances.

    By the late 1960s, he had largely retired from performing and recording, focusing instead on his first love: teaching mathematics. He became a revered lecturer at UC Santa Cruz, known for his clarity and wit, continuing to influence generations of students in calculus and probability theory. He granted very few interviews and fiercely guarded his privacy, becoming a somewhat reclusive legend. He explicitly placed his entire song catalog into the public domain in 2020, ensuring free access to his cultural legacy.

    The Lehrer Legacy: Ten Tunes That Defined an Era

    Tom Lehrer’s songs transcended their era precisely because human nature and institutional folly remain constants. His work continues to be covered, referenced, and discovered anew. While ranking them is inherently subjective, these ten compositions stand as pillars of his darkly brilliant œuvre, capturing the essence of his satirical genius:

    1. “The Elements”: A breathtakingly fast-paced setting of the periodic table to the tune of the “Major-General’s Song” from The Pirates of Penzance. Pure pedagogical joy and a showcase of verbal dexterity.
    2. “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park”: A waltz-time ode to unconventional pest control, celebrating springtime with arsenic and strychnine. The epitome of Lehrer’s cheerful morbidity.
    3. “We Will All Go Together When We Go”: A rousing, optimistic anthem about the bright side of thermonuclear annihilation – no one gets left out. A masterpiece of Cold War gallows humor.
    4. “The Masochism Tango”: A passionate, melodramatic love song detailing the singer’s desire for physical and emotional agony. Hilariously captures the tropes of tango ballads while subverting them utterly.
    5. “Wernher von Braun”: A chillingly jaunty portrait of the Nazi rocket scientist turned American space hero, highlighting the moral flexibility of science in service to power: “Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down? / That’s not my department,’ says Wernher von Braun.“
    6. “National Brotherhood Week”: A scathing, sardonic look at institutionalized hypocrisy and superficial efforts at tolerance, painfully relevant decades later.
    7. “I Hold Your Hand in Mine”: A tender ballad from a lover who keeps his beloved’s… hand… as a memento. A perfect blend of romantic cliché and ghoulishness.
    8. “The Vatican Rag”: A gently irreverent suggestion for modernizing Catholic liturgy with a bit of ragtime pep: “Get in line in that processional, step into that small confessional…“
    9. “So Long, Mom (A Song for World War III)”: A soldier’s upbeat farewell before the nuclear bombs drop, framed as a cheery contestant on a television show. Brilliantly absurdist horror.
    10. “The Old Dope Peddler”: A seemingly sentimental tune about a neighborhood figure spreading comfort (and narcotics) to the young and old, masking a subtle critique of societal decay.

    An Enduring Cadence of Wit and Wisdom

    Hearing the news of Lehrer’s passing transported me instantly back to that university living room. The scratch of the needle hitting vinyl, my father’s anticipatory chuckle, and then Lehrer’s crisp voice filling the space: “Spring is here, a-suh-puh-ring is here…”

    It was more than entertainment; it was a shared secret, a recognition of the world’s inherent ridiculousness delivered with such wit and musicality that it felt subversive and safe at the same time. It taught a young mind that intelligence and humor were powerful tools for understanding, and perhaps enduring, life’s darker corners.

    Tom Lehrer’s unique genius lay in his ability to make us laugh at the things that terrified or appalled us. He wielded satire not just as a weapon, but as a diagnostic tool, exposing societal cancers with a melody so infectious we couldn’t help but hum along, even as we winced at the truth within the rhyme.

    He proved that a mathematician with a piano and a poisoned pen could leave an indelible mark on culture, offering not solace, perhaps, but the invaluable gift of clear-eyed, darkly hilarious perspective. The final equation is solved, but the music, and the laughter it provokes, echoes on.

    Tom Lehrer’s Witty Rhymes Endure: Satirist, Scholar Dies at 97 (Aug. 21, 2025)

    Summary

    Tom Lehrer, the mathematician whose darkly hilarious songs skewered Cold War absurdity and human folly, has died at 97. Remembered for classics like “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park” and “We Will All Go Together When We Go,” Lehrer combined jaunty melodies with biting satire. His brief but impactful musical career left an enduring legacy, later replaced by dedicated mathematics teaching. Lehrer’s unique voice, echoing in university living rooms like my father’s, offered sharp, unforgettable commentary on a mad world.

    #TomLehrer #Satire #Mathematics #Music #ColdWar #Obit
    #PoisoningPigeons #WernherVonBraun #TheElements #RIP

    TAGS: Tom Lehrer, satire, mathematics, music, Cold War, obituary, Harvard University,
    University of California Santa Cruz, nuclear weapons, Wernher von Braun

    Jim Luce Writes on Music & Musicians
    Jim Luce Writes Profiles & Obituaries

    New Zealand Concerned it Faces Rising Threats from P.R. China

    Staff
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    New Zealand Concerned it Faces Rising Threats from P.R. China

    NZ Security Intelligence Service Report Highlights Beijing’s Assertive Moves in Pacific

    A Deteriorating Security Landscape

    The Security Intelligence Service (SIS), New Zealand’s primary intelligence agency, released its annual threat assessment, titled “New Zealand’s Security Threat Environment,” on August 21, 2025. The report underscores a grim reality: the country faces its most complex security challenges in decades.

    The Chinese flag flies at the Chinese consulate in Auckland, New Zealand.

    Director-General of Security Andrew Hampton emphasized that the threat environment “is deteriorating and that has a direct impact on our safety and security.”

    The report identifies China, Russia, and Iran as key actors engaging in covert activities to influence New Zealand’s political discourse, access sensitive technology, and undermine its interests in the Pacific.

    China, in particular, is singled out as a “particularly assertive and powerful” actor.

    The report details Beijing’s intent and capability to target New Zealand’s strategic assets, including its economic infrastructure and regional influence.

    This marks a significant escalation in tone from previous reports, reflecting growing concerns about China’s activities in the Indo-Pacific.

    The SIS notes that Beijing’s actions are not isolated but part of a broader strategy to expand its geopolitical reach, often through deceptive or covert means.

    China’s Response: A “Cold War Mentality”

    Beijing swiftly dismissed the SIS report’s findings as “unsubstantiated and groundless.”

    The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand Celebrated the 97th Anniversary of the Founding of the CPLA. Photo credit: Chinese Embassy in New Zealand / Facebook.

    In a statement issued through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China accused Wellington of adopting a “Cold War mentality” that misrepresents its intentions.

    The statement urged New Zealand to focus on “mutual respect and cooperation” rather than “baseless accusations.”

    This response aligns with China’s broader diplomatic strategy of deflecting criticism while projecting an image of peaceful engagement.

    However, the SIS report suggests that Beijing’s actions—ranging from cyber espionage to influencing diaspora communities—pose a tangible threat to New Zealand’s sovereignty.

    The SIS highlighted specific instances of interference, including attempts to access sensitive technological and economic data.

    While the report avoids detailing classified operations, it points to China’s growing presence in the Pacific, where New Zealand has historically played a stabilizing role.

    This includes Beijing’s investments in infrastructure and its diplomatic outreach to smaller Pacific Island nations, which the SIS views as a strategic challenge to New Zealand’s regional influence.

    The Five Eyes Alliance and Regional Dynamics

    As a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance—alongside Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, and United States—New Zealand occupies a unique position in global security.

    Beijing and New Zealand’s capital Wellington are approx. 6,666 miles (11,000km) apart.

    The alliance, formed during the Cold War, facilitates the exchange of signals intelligence and coordinates responses to shared threats. The SIS report’s focus on China aligns with broader concerns within the Five Eyes, particularly as Beijing’s influence grows in the Indo-Pacific.

    Australia, for instance, has faced similar challenges, with reported incidents of Chinese espionage targeting its political and economic systems.

    The Indo-Pacific region, encompassing critical maritime routes and economic hubs, is a focal point of geopolitical competition.

    New Zealand’s strategic location and its role as a Pacific power make it a target for actors seeking to gain a foothold in the region.

    The SIS report warns that China, Russia, and Iran are exploiting technological advancements, including cyber capabilities, to conduct espionage and influence operations.

    This includes targeting New Zealand’s research institutions, which are seen as valuable sources of innovation in areas like agriculture and renewable energy.

    On the same day as the report’s release, Wellington announced a significant investment of $1.6 billion (NZ$2.7 billion, €1.38 billion) to bolster its Defense Force. This funding, aimed at modernizing military capabilities, reflects the government’s recognition of the need to counter emerging threats.

    The investment includes upgrades to naval and air assets, as well as enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect against state-sponsored cyber-attacks.

    The Rising Threat of Lone-Actor Extremism

    Beyond state-sponsored threats, the SIS report flags a growing risk of lone-actor extremism, often fueled by online radicalization. The accessibility of extremist content on digital platforms has amplified the potential for individuals to act independently, posing a significant challenge to New Zealand’s security apparatus.

    The report notes that while state actors like China operate with strategic intent, lone-actor threats are unpredictable and difficult to monitor. This dual challenge—state interference and domestic extremism—underscores the complexity of New Zealand’s security environment.

    The SIS has increased its focus on countering online radicalization, working closely with international partners to monitor digital spaces. However, the report acknowledges the difficulty of balancing civil liberties with security needs, particularly in a democratic society like New Zealand. The rise of lone-actor extremism adds another layer of complexity to an already strained intelligence community, which must allocate resources to both external and internal threats.

    Navigating Economic and Security Tensions

    New Zealand’s relationship with China is a delicate balancing act. As one of New Zealand’s largest trading partners, China plays a critical role in the country’s economy, particularly in agriculture and tourism. However, the SIS report’s findings highlight the risks of economic dependence on a state that engages in assertive geopolitical behavior. The New Zealand government faces the challenge of maintaining economic ties while addressing security concerns—a dilemma shared by other Five Eyes members.

    The report’s release has sparked debate within New Zealand about how to respond to China’s activities. Some policymakers advocate for a harder line, including stricter regulations on foreign investment and technology transfers. Others argue for a more nuanced approach, emphasizing diplomacy and engagement to mitigate tensions. The SIS report does not prescribe specific policy solutions but serves as a call to action for New Zealand to strengthen its resilience against foreign interference.

    The Pacific region, where New Zealand has long been a leader, is a key battleground in this geopolitical struggle. China’s growing influence in countries like Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa has raised concerns about the erosion of New Zealand’s traditional role as a regional stabilizer. The SIS report suggests that Beijing’s actions are part of a broader strategy to reshape the Pacific’s geopolitical landscape, challenging the influence of Five Eyes nations.

    A Call for Vigilance

    The SIS report concludes with a sobering message: New Zealand must remain vigilant in the face of evolving threats. Director-General Hampton emphasized the need for a whole-of-society approach, involving government, private sector, and citizens, to safeguard national security. The report’s public release, a government initiative to inform citizens, reflects New Zealand’s commitment to transparency in addressing these challenges.

    As New Zealand navigates its role in the Indo-Pacific, the SIS report serves as a critical reminder of the stakes involved. The interplay of state-sponsored interference, economic dependence, and domestic extremism creates a multifaceted threat environment that demands a robust and coordinated response. With China identified as the “most active” actor, New Zealand’s intelligence community is bracing for a future where geopolitical tensions are likely to intensify.

    Summary

    New Zealand’s Security Intelligence Service has named China as the “most active” threat in its annual report, citing espionage and interference. The report, released August 21, 2025, warns of a deteriorating security environment, with China, Russia, and Iran targeting national interests. Beijing dismissed the claims as “groundless.” New Zealand, part of the Five Eyes alliance, announced a $1.6 billion (NZ$2.7 billion) defense boost to counter these challenges.

    #NewZealandSecurity #ChinaThreat #SISReport #FiveEyes #IndoPacific

    Tags: New Zealand, China, Security Intelligence Service,
    Five Eyes, Indo-Pacific, espionage, foreign interference

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