Is our society becoming more cultish?

Are we facing the twilight of democracy?

Can individuals change the culture of our society?

These and other critical questions are addressed when Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Michael Patrick Mulroy joins The Rabbi and the Shrink

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-mick-patrick-mulroy-31198b52/

http://loboinstitute.org/

1:30   What is integrity?  What does it have to do with being an American citizen?

Doing the right thing even when no one is watching

From its inception, the United States has been founded on the principles of freedom and equality

Integrity = integer

More than peace, harmony

Different people with different ideas connected by a common mission

5:00 A nation’s integrity comes from the character of its people

We need to honor our word for both our allies and our enemies

The way we do things is as important as what we do

7:00 What can we do as individuals?

Associate with people of integrity

The twilight of democracy?

We have a national obligation to live up to our values as a counterweight to countries that don’t share them

10:00 Can we afford to stand up globally for our values?

Even if regime change is a good idea, it often doesn’t work

Diplomacy

Economic pressure and influence?

Action

13:00   What does the man on the street think?

We need to be stronger individuals

It doesn’t matter what we do, since we can’t change things

Many Americans have no real understanding of authoritarianism

Have the courage to engage and promote passionate moderation

The danger of perception influencing reality

21:00 Nuance is messy

People are scared to grapple with complexity or take an unpopular stand

Take time to listen to the other side without responding

Genuinely seek wisdom

26:00 Is our society becoming more cultish?

Cults don’t encourage asking questions

Seek truth by challenging and accepting to be challenged

We surround ourselves with people who think like us, which promotes gridlock

33:00 Both sides need to call out extremists on their own side, not the other side

Value character over policy:

Wisdom, justice, courage, temperance

Surround ourselves with people who will hold us accountable

41:00   The word of the day:  invidious

calculated to create ill will or resentment or give offense; hateful:

offensively or unfairly discriminating; injurious:

causing or tending to cause animosity, resentment, or envy:

Be discriminating without discriminating

Alfred the Butler and the warlord