News Above the Noise: Week of July 10, 2022
1. America is in Denial
Too many Americans are dismissing threats that could prove to be cataclysmic to our democracy, argues Mitt Romney in The Atlantic this week. “What accounts for the blithe dismissal of potentially cataclysmic threats? The left thinks the right is at fault for ignoring climate change and the attacks on our political system. The right thinks the left is the problem for ignoring illegal immigration and the national debt. But wishful thinking happens across the political spectrum,” Romney writes. “More and more, we are a nation in denial.” To read more, click here.
2. A Pastoral Letter to the “Exhausted Majority”
Two-thirds of Americans believe we can find common ground, but with loud minorities at opposite ends of the spectrum, the middle isn't being heard. Following massive Supreme Court decisions and the senseless killings of people around the world, many are tired and ready for change to be made. Is it possible? READ MORE.
3. Disinformation Has Become Another Untouchable Problem
There’s no denying that disinformation campaigns—false information intended to mislead, including propaganda issued by a government organization—is a serious problem right now. And while there is wide agreement across the federal government that disinformation threatens to make everything worse—from exacerbating public health emergencies, stoking ethnic and racial divisions, and even undermining democracy itself—a New York Times piece offers a harsh look at how difficult it is to address the threat. Read more about this important issue all of us must care about here.
4. How to Be a Little Less Judgmental
Are you critical more often than not, casting judgment on others? In fairness, social media has never made it so easy to judge others’ choices—from what they wear to what they’re making for dinner. And while judgment isn’t all bad (being judgmental allows us to distinguish between toxic and harmful food, for example, as well as trustworthy and untrustworthy people), it can veer into mean-spirited critique—which is important to learn how to notice and curb. This Vox article is helping us look inward and dial back our judgy ways. READ MORE HERE.
5. Don’t Joke About Old Age (It’s Bad for Your Health)
If you tease others about being “old”—or make yourself the butt of “old people” jokes—it’s time to stop, according to a new study on the effects of “everyday ageism.” In fact, the people exposed to those seemingly innocuous slights are more likely to deal with health conditions such as diabetes, depression, chronic pain, and high blood pressure. Before you buy that supposedly harmless birthday card that pokes fun at someone’s age or linger on that advertisement for wrinkle cream, read this piece!
Editor's Note: Every week, The Sunday Paper's team of journalists sifts through the news to make sense of what's happening in the world and provide hope for your week to come. We find what Rises Above the Noise and do our best to highlight what we think matters. If you’d like to read more in-depth, please note that while we do our best to feature articles that are not behind a paywall, some of the news pieces we recommend require their own subscriptions beyond our control.
