Karaoke, Butterflies & Art: A Late Bloomers Journey to Owning Peace & Love

I am taking a Criminal Justice class this semester, and my most recent assignment was on deviances. My Professor had commented on my paper and suggested I look at the Overton Window to see how these things play out in government.    The Overton Window refers to the range of public policy ideas considered acceptable by the mainstream at a given time. Ideas outside that window are viewed as radical, extreme, or unacceptable. Over time, politicians, activists, media, and interest groups work to shift that window left, right, up, or down, so that what once seemed radical becomes mainstream, and what once was mainstream may move toward the fringes. In the criminal-justice context (and more broadly in governance), shifting this window matters. If the window moves toward greater federal centralization and executive power, policies that expand federal government oversight and reduce local autonomy may become “reasonable” rather than exceptional. Conversely, if the window shifts towar...

The orange may grab attention, but it will never age as gracefully as the apple. Some Trump supporters like to draw comparisons between Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump, especially around economics and ideology. On the surface, you might think they share the same conservative DNA. Both were Republicans. Both talked about cutting taxes, fighting inflation, and putting “America first.” But that’s where the similarities end. When it comes to how they spoke to Americans, led through crisis, and respected the weight of the office, we’re not comparing apples to apples. We’re comparing apples to oranges. In this case, Trump is the orange. The Tariff Talk That Said It All A video has resurfaced on YouTube that captures Reagan at his best: calm, measured, and deeply aware of how words can guide a nation. The clip, originally from 1987, shows Reagan addressing Americans about a temporary tariff he was forced to impose, a tough decision he explained with both history and humility. He didn’t rant. H...

In a time when politics, opinions, and identities seem to divide us more than ever, it’s worth revisiting two shows that quietly taught us how to live and love, beyond our differences, and maybe learn a thing or two about humanity and grace. The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon might appear to be comedies about eccentric geniuses and awkward social interactions, but at their core, they are masterclasses in humanity, empathy, and emotional growth. They remind us of something we often forget in today’s world: that being “right” isn’t nearly as important as being kind. A Tale of Two Worlds Watch the evening news or scroll through social media today, and it can feel like we’ve lost our ability to truly listen to one another. People shout instead of speaking, and insult instead of understanding. We’ve become quick to label, slow to forgive, and hesitant to admit that maybe, just maybe, we could learn something from someone different than us.  In contrast, The Big Bang Theory created a ...

Believe it or not , occasionally someone will try to point out that “not everything under Hitler was bad”. Usually, as an attempt to sound objective or analytical. But even that kind of reasoning exposes a deeper danger. When we start separating “achievements” from the suffering that made them possible, we risk turning history into propaganda. Yes, Germany under Hitler built highways, reduced unemployment, and produced scientific advancements. Those are facts. But facts without context can become poison. Every “achievement” of that era was built on the backs of enslaved labor, the silencing of dissent, and the dehumanization of millions. The “prosperity” that some Germans felt came at the direct expense of others’ freedom, dignity, and lives. Why History Demands Full Context It’s human nature to want simple stories. Heroes, villains, progress, and setbacks are interesting. But when we pick and choose which parts of history to highlight, we shape narratives that can mislead or comfor...

Every October , classrooms across the country retell the story of Christopher Columbus. For generations, it was a tale of bravery, exploration, and discovery, a man who “sailed the ocean blue in 1492” and opened a new world. But as we’ve grown in knowledge and moral awareness, the fuller truth demands to be told. Columbus’s arrival marked the beginning of colonization, enslavement, and immense suffering for Indigenous peoples who had lived in the Americas for thousands of years. This truth does not erase the fact that his voyage changed history. It reminds us that honesty and integrity must be the foundation of how we teach it. The Truth Beyond the Textbook Columbus’s voyage was funded by Spain in search of riches and trade routes, but what followed was not noble adventure. Instead, it was exploitation. Indigenous communities were enslaved, tortured, and decimated by violence and disease. Even Bartolomé de las Casas, a Spanish priest who witnessed it firsthand, wrote of the...

It’s strange, isn’t it? Watching our nation’s leader speak about peace in faraway places while so many people here feel unheard, anxious, or divided. On the surface, it sounds noble — peace is something every good leader should strive for. But lately, I can’t help but wonder, how can we export peace when we’re still struggling to nurture it at home? As citizens, we see the contrast every day. Speeches about global unity clash with headlines about domestic tension, political polarization, and families torn apart by ideology. We’re told to stand as a beacon of democracy while the light inside our own house flickers under the weight of mistrust and fatigue. Seeking peace for others is commendable — but leading with peace begins at home . Maybe that’s what unsettles people the most. The idea that diplomacy abroad often becomes a stage performance, while real healing — the kind that requires listening, humility, and accountability — takes place right here among us. True leaders...