A National Imperative: A Deep Summer’s Breath
Preview:
News headlines are a daily reminder of the insidious intolerance and hate that seem to have seeped into our midst. In the past year, dramatic changes in our national dialogue and in the tone of our discourse have taken place. Deep-seated, conflicting values and beliefs have risen to the surface exposing raw emotion and anger. This contentious atmosphere stems partly from anxiety about what the future may hold, but also from a “take-off-the-gloves” culture shift in how we interact with one another. This heightened noise level is too often drowning out voices of reason and measured thought. Nowhere is this a more worrisome prospect than on our college campuses, which have long embodied the spirit of open-minded inquiry and civil debate on the most challenging issues of our times. And yet, this summer break comes none too soon for our students.
Originally published: June 22, 2017
Author: Claire Sterk
Position: President
Institution: Emory University
Published by: Huffington Post