Steven P. Dinkin

When you think about it, this most wonderful time of the year is all about connection: to family and friends, to beloved traditions, to fond memories — old and new.

Somehow, traveling across the globe to Japan — as I recently did — has a way of reminding a person of our interconnectedness.

With the Super Bowl next weekend, most Americans have a case of football fever. A record 200.5 million adults plan to tune in to the big game this year, according to the National Retail Federation.

If you grew up in the Midwest, like I did, you know the appeal of a potluck supper. Beyond the scrumptious food, there is a sense of community as people come together to share a meal. Usually, there's someone in charge, lest there be too many Jell-O salads or tater tot hot dishes (both Midwestern favorites).

According to psychologists, the human brain is wired to stereotype, as a way to categorize and process information. Given the inputs bombarding us daily, I understand the desirability. But when we stereotype, what we gain in convenience comes at a cost: We lose the nuance and texture that define each of us, enriching the human experience.

“I'll wash your mouth out with soap!” As a kid, that threat was enough to keep me from telling a lie or using certain four-letter words. Your parents may have pledged to do the same.

Over the long July 4 holiday weekend, I found myself wondering – cynically – whether the United States of America should consider rebranding as our 250 th birthday draws near.

The end of summer brings a jumble of emotions. We find ourselves missing the longer, slower days and at the same time, filling with back-to-school

A “whole-of-society commitment” is needed to counter intolerance. Where were you on April 27, 2019?

Four years later, Americans seem even more divided – or at least, more dug in