What Lies Beneath, Part Four: Recovering True Toleration and Public Ethics

September 30th, 2023 | Dr. Charlie Self

“You are intolerant!” “Your words are triggering and encourage violence.” “You are killing people with your beliefs!” These are just a few of the phrases used by social media “influencers” to shut down free speech and reasonable debate. The same groups excoriate anyone defending the unborn and the aged, and they scream, “keep your laws off my body” as they desire abortion-on-demand, “gender-affirming care’ for children, and access to locker rooms and prisons for people for the opposite biological sex.

What Lies Beneath, Part Three: Being Human

September 20th, 2023 | Dr. Charlie Self

I have written often about two of the crises afflicting our world. The first is anthropology: the meaning of being human, and within this, being male and female. The second is epistemology: the nature of knowing and the search for truth. We are in a moment where elites are demanding new definitions of humanness and upending any objective assessments of biological sex.

What Lies Beneath, Part Two: Education, Families, and Our Future

September 13th, 2023 | Dr. Charlie Self

For decades, leaders from all political parties have stressed the importance of strengthening families and addressing the crises of fatherlessness, poverty, and loss of hope. We must continue work in these areas, bringing people of all cultures and social domains together for the good of future generations. We have also seen huge steps forward for minorities and women in all sectors of the economy and society, though there is still much work ahead so all can flourish.

What Lies Beneath, Part One: Thoughtful Reflections on Climate and the Environment

September 5th, 2023 | Dr. Charlie Self

Our hearts and prayers go out to the families in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, as they recover from the horrific fires that killed so many and devastated the landscape. Such an awful moment calls for mourning, relief and recovery assistance, and thorough investigation so that lessons might be learned for the future. Alas, we are watching unbelievable ineptitude and obfuscation that is insulting to those who passed away and unhelpful for the survivors trying to piece their lives back together.

21st Century Leadership, Part 2

August 19th, 2023 | Dr. Charlie Self

Years ago, John Blanchard said that much of global leadership is plagued by, “a dearth of depth and a surfeit of the superficial.” So much of what passes for life and leadership seems content with surfing on the surface of things. We can do better, first in ourselves, then in what we expect of others.

Messenger to the Thoughtful

Messenger to the Thoughtful

What Lies Beneath, Part Three: Being Human

What Lies Beneath, Part One: Thoughtful Reflections on Climate and the Environment

21st Century Leadership, Part 2