October 2023

Dozens of controversial political issues divide Americans today. Most of these issues pose important questions about the role and composition of the government—Who should the next president be? How much should the government tax its citizens? What should the government do to prevent gun violence? The answers to these questions are undoubtedly important. But in my view, none of these questions are as important as answering the most fundamental question in politics—why does the government exist in the first place?

Each week, regardless of the topic of our discussion, our staff has managed to turn to the topic of partisan political conversations – and why they’re so important. While the media often inundates us with relentless negativity, I remain steadfast in my conviction that we have much more in common with each other than we are led to believe. Although our staff is spread throughout the political spectrum, our diversity allows us to discover points of agreement in unexpected places. Each week, we learn to connect with the person behind the party. I often reflect on John Donne’s poem, For Whom the Bell Tolls:

Growing up, one of the most common phrases I heard from my parents, friends, and church leaders was this: “Remember, be in the world, but not of the world.” This phrase, eventually becoming a mantra of mine, resonated with me deeply. It allowed me to separate myself from my peers and maintain a heightened sense of spirituality. Each time I saw or experienced something I did not like, I reminded myself: be in the world, but not of the world.

When it comes to politics, Americans are increasingly polarized: data suggests that we’re finding less to agree on and getting angrier in our disagreements. [1] This political divide is also bleeding into the rest of our society, thanks to our reliance on sociocultural cues to define political positions. Open TikTok, for example, and you’ll find a host of tips for sussing out someone’s politics based on attributes that are non-partisan at face value. He drives an F-150? Probably voted for Trump. She shops at Trader Joe's? Progressive.

What do you think of when you hear University of Alabama? Many Americans will first think: football, Roll Tide, Coach Nick Saban. What about Gonzaga? One’s mind probably turns to basketball; their only exposure to the “Zags” may be March Madness. What is less commonly known is that University of Alabama has achieved R1 status of Doctoral Universities, with very high research activity, or that Gonzaga’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Program is top 10% in the nation. While college sports are closely followed, supported and funded, these academic metrics often remain unknown and overlooked. But isn’t the purpose of university to gain education and prepare for professional pursuits and lifelong careers?

An aspiring dentist, I wanted to know if my career would still be viable further down the road or if the profession would become obsolete due to advancing technology. A quick Google search indicated that “Our visitors have voted that there is a small chance this occupation will be replaced.” [1] Feeling somewhat assured, the irony of the situation struck me soon afterwards: I had just asked a machine if a machine would replace my job.

Early this year, I met with a senator from the French government. During a Q&A, someone asked him about the increasing number of immigrants from the Middle East and Africa. The senator responded, “When you walk down the streets of France, it is not in France. It’s the Middle East.” In other words, the senator worries immigrant’s culture appears to increasingly replace and remove France’s culture. Roughly defined, “culture” is the material, intellectual, and artistic products of a national identity, and that national identity’s values, vision, and etiquette [1].

(This article is an attempt to make you think about your climate impact, not provide any groundbreaking ideas on how to prevent climate catastrophes).

Every four years I sit on the edge of my seat looking at multiple blue and red maps of the United States, eagerly anticipating the results of our presidential election. Due to the heightened political landscape we have seen in the last few months I was already anticipating that the next election will be especially tense. I did not realize how tense until I saw the details of Project 2025, a plan published by the Heritage Foundation for the potential transfer of the White House if the GOP wins in 2024.

When considering humanity’s future with the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), most people imagine a dystopia where machine overlords reduce humans—by force or by economics—into oblivion. This fear is unfounded. There are genuine concerns we should have regarding AI but these are more procedural than theatrical. AI users, policy makers, and AI researchers should focus their efforts on helping AI overcome issues of transparency, fairness, and accountability through practical legislation that promotes innovation, protects privacy, and ensures AI development is ethical.