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 By Sonja Meijer Hannah Arendt, a German American historian and political thinker, made significant contributions to political theory and philosophy, which continue to be studied today. Arendt argues that thinking is a political activity. Engaging and thinking with others in the political sphere is central to a fulfilling life. Arendt has explored issues from totalitarianism in works like “The Origins of Totalitarianism,” an examination of “The Human Condition,” her views on evil when covering the trial of Adolf Eichmann, her distinction between the Public and Private spheres, and her advocacy for human rights, as she herself was a refugee. Arendt emphasizes the importance of engaging in political discourse with others. By entering the political realm, we leave our private life to appear in front of others, with the use of speech and action. By presenting ourselves, we can be recognized by others and therefore attain a sense of individual freedom. Arendt believes that if we appear in front of others, our existence is acknowledged, leading to the experience of human plurality and eventually reality. Arendt argues that good and meaningful conversations occur when two individuals are working together to understand each other. As we cannot know another person merely from observation, we have a responsibility to engage in dialogue. We need to actively seek answers to the questions we have about someone. Not only do we come to understand the other person through dialogue, but we also come to learn more about ourselves. Through this collaborative exploration, we shed light on who we are as individuals and how we fit into the larger world. Not only is it important to have dialogue with others, but one must also be able to have dialogue with themselves. Arendt states that “no man can keep his conscience intact who cannot actualize the dialogue with himself, that is, who lacks the solitude required for all forms of thinking.” Arendt believes that our inner dialogue, which she calls a “two-in-one” conversation, is necessary when examining our conscience. In this two-in-one, this thought process turns into a dialogue consisting of myself asking questions and my other self answering them. Arendt argues that “living together with others begins with living together with oneself.” For one to engage in inner dialogue, one must enter a world of solitude. Arendt’s notion of solitude is a space for self-discovery and introspection. A person cannot enter the public realm as a political being without first thinking in solitude. Solitude, as Arendt sees it, offers us a remedy to an increasingly lonely society. Rather than following a traditional way of solving loneliness – the view of engaging more with others – one should spend more time in solitude. Our society is dealing with an epidemic of loneliness. With the development of technology, specifically social media, we spend more time alone, not engaging in dialogue with ourselves or others. This time alone is often spent scrolling on Instagram, checking emails, or watching TV. We have become immersed in the screens that we deem as entertainment, and we now consider it our ‘alone’ time or ‘me’ time. But this is not what Arendt meant by spending time with ourselves. We are no longer taking time to speak with our other self in solitude, away from distractions. Our attention span is even shorter than previous years, and we become easily bored and exist in this world of loneliness. We are no longer experiencing the companionship of our other self within the two-in-one. As we are no longer engaging in the self-understanding that emerges from inner dialogue, we are ill-prepared for participating in the public sphere. We are losing what makes us distinct from others as we hide behind screens and appear less and less in front of others. Solitude is integral to the life of a human being, and without this space for introspection, we lose our ability for thought and therefore our freedom. Arendt talks about the dangers of totalitarianism. In the world of totalitarianism, one is taught what to think rather than how to think. Totalitarianism acts like a magnet, where individuals are pulled so close together that they lose their individuality and merge into one. Totalitarian regimes seek to eradicate all differences of thought by removing the political space that allows for new and transformative ideas to be produced. Without the ability to think one becomes lonely. In contrast to the lonely man, the solitary man is completely alone but, as Arendt sees it, he is “together with himself.” Thinking in solitude is a dialogue between “me and myself.” Arendt notes that the lonely person can save themselves from loneliness by engaging in solitary dialogue. By being in solitude, we can expand our minds and question our own views and perspectives. Arendt also highlights the repercussions of abstaining from meaningful reflection. Her essay “Thinking and Moral Considerations” grapples with the connection between thinking and evil. Arendt used the phrase “the banality of evil” to describe Adolf Eichmann, a high-ranking Nazi official who was a significant figure in the Holocaust. Arendt did not see Eichmann as a “monstrous” figure but rather an ordinary bureaucrat who committed evil acts without deeply questioning or reflecting on the moral implications of his actions. These evil deeds were committed on a large scale, and Arendt viewed this as “not stupidity but a curious, quite authentic inability to think.” She argues that thinking, this two-in-one conversation, can deter individuals from evildoing. Arendt posits that when you are in solitude, you are engaged in thought which may “be the most solitary of all activities” but you are never “without a partner and without company.” Delving deep into conversation with yourself will always be sufficient companionship. In conclusion, Arendt’s thinking highlights the importance of solitude as a space to understand ourselves through engaging in a two-in-one dialogue. By critiquing totalitarianism, she highlights the dangers of depriving people of solitude. Losing this space for solitude means losing the freedom that comes with thinking. Solitude is a space to discover one’s identity through sustained reflection. The process of having dialogue with our self encourages us to question our own values while also opening ourselves to the other. This preparation better equips us for acting in the political sphere. By balancing solitude and our social interactions, we can have a fulfilling and meaningful life. Everyone can feel lonely at times, but Arendt encourages us to continuously cultivate our inner-thinking partner to find refuge in solitude. Finally, I would like to leave you with a poem I wrote about solitude: Arendt’s wise words she tells us that solitude is a place for us to reflect where a person can be in conversation with oneself, can be fulfilled by one’s own presence and that solitude cannot be mistaken for loneliness (but I am too often lonely and wonder how I can enter the world of solitude)  Sonja Meijer is a recent graduate of Bryn Mawr College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. She is half American and half Dutch, and grew up in the Geneva, Switzerland area. Her interests are in social justice, poetry, theater, and sports. She has been involved with Global Citizen Circle for the past year and served as an intern for GCC in 2023. Please note: Each week, we invite members of the greater Global Citizens Circle community to contribute to GCC Voices. The views and opinions expressed in each blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Global Citizens Circle. Power is actualized only where word and deed have not parted company, where words are not empty and deeds not brutal, where words are not used to veil intentions but to disclose realities, and where deeds are not used to violate and destroy but to establish relations and create new realities.
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At a Boston Circle in May 2019, Jada Hebra led a panel discussion, “Building Movements for Change: Stories of Challenge and Success,” featuring activists Dolores Huerta, Lauren Hogg, and Ramla Sahid. Conversation that evening spoke to societal challenges, division and how each of us can make a difference to create, foster, and impact change.
Hebra, a senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer at Southern New Hampshire University, is adept in her navigation of complex discussion and scenarios, drawing upon the tools of her work and experience to find the humanity in everyone. Yet, in 2016, she too stumbled in the political crevasse that so many found themselves in – but for Hebra, this time it became deeply personal. In her compelling 2023 TEDx Talk, Hebra shares how a work conversation allowed her to open her eyes and find her way forward across a seemingly insurmountable divide – and how we can as well. And in the spirit of Global Citizens Circle, why it matters that we do. If you care about the people in your life who hold a different world view, if you care about this country, then I invite you to the climb – to lay down a ladder and make your way across the crevasse, to dare to try to reach that seemingly unreachable summit ... to have hope. Trust me when I tell you, we can save this relationship. We are so much better together.
Please note: Each week, we invite members of the greater Global Citizens Circle community to contribute to GCC Voices. The views and opinions expressed in each blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Global Citizens Circle.
 By Theo Spanos Dunfey We live in turbulent times. Extreme polarization, animosity across divides, and violence erupting in places we’ve grown too accustomed to seeing it and in places we never expected it. Exacerbated by a 24/7 media landscape that proves difficult to pull away from, we find ourselves irritated, agitated and feeling small and alone in the face of the enormity of the problems we face in these turbulent times. Surely there must be an escape! Rather than an escape, however, I would posit that what we need is to do something, as people at the recent Democratic National Convention have reminded us. Recalling their mothers’ admonitions to do something instead of complaining, do something instead of sitting on the couch waiting for someone else to fix things, and do something even if it’s hard, the speakers reminded me of one of the origin stories of Global Citizens Circle. As I wrote in my previous blog post, I was fortunate to become part of the Dunfey family, the Circle founders. While I never met Catherine Dunfey, the family matriarch, I’ve heard the stories of the example she set for her large and sometimes unwieldy group of a dozen offspring. Her youngest daughter, Eleanor Dunfey-Freiburger, wrote in her memoir “Counter Culture: Clams, Convents and a Circle of Global Citizens” – My mother’s example…showed us what “social justice” looks like. She would never have heard that term in those days. She lived it though…my mother walked the talk of social justice in her everyday life. Catherine’s example had a profound and lasting impact on her family, and it is reflected in the story of Global Citizens Circle. Fifty years ago, it was another turbulent time. In the wake of national trauma over the assassinations of JFK, RFK and MLK, the end of the Vietnam War, the resignation of a disgraced president, and the upheaval in Boston over school desegregation and bussing, the pervasive feelings of helplessness and hopelessness spurred the Dunfey family to “do something!” As hoteliers, the family decided to use their experience in the hospitality industry to take action and bring people of different backgrounds, races and beliefs together, usually over a meal, to talk with one another in an open and respectful manner about the hard issues that everyone was grappling with in the early 1970s. A firm belief that diverse, civil conversations on critical issues of the day would help begin to break down barriers when coupled with a friendly, warm and welcoming environment – and that is how the Circle became the family’s act of doing something. And beyond opening up their hotels to welcome people into the conversation, they set an example of working behind the scenes for peace in Northern Ireland, South Africa and the Middle East among other conflict areas in the world. As Monica McWilliams, the only woman signatory to Northern Ireland’s Good Friday Agreement, said to us, “They (the Dunfey family) were influencers, but influencers without ego, influencers who worked under the radar, influencers who were humble people…” In this, the 50th anniversary year of Global Citizens Circle, I value and hold dear the legacy that the organization has of bringing people together across differences, welcoming everyone to the conversation, and honoring everyone’s lived experience as we discuss the way towards lasting peace and justice. When we truly listen with open minds, and we learn to hold differing opinions with respect for the humanity of those who express them, I believe we can all lead the way to solving even the most intractable problems we face. Just do something! Theo Spanos Dunfey is president and executive director of Global Citizens Circle. She has over 30 years of global experience in non-profits, higher education, and international affairs. Dunfey is a graduate of the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University, where she earned a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy, concentrating on American diplomatic history, international communication, and international development. It was during her studies at the Fletcher School that she first began volunteering with Global Citizens Circle’s Boston programs. She also earned a bachelor’s in international relations and French at Brown University. With a primary focus on global issues, Dunfey taught international development at the University of New England, led student groups on global citizenship service-learning trips abroad, directed the World Affairs Council of Maine, and produced numerous global editorial conferences for The WorldPaper before taking the helm at Global Citizens Circle. When we truly listen with open minds, and we learn to hold differing opinions with respect for the humanity of those who express them, I believe we can all lead the way to solving even the most intractable problems we face. Please note: Each week, we invite members of the greater Global Citizens Circle community to contribute to GCC Voices. The views and opinions expressed in each blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Global Citizens Circle.
 By Michael Lockett My introduction to the GCC (Global Citizens Circle) was random and beautiful. Picture this: I was working with a longtime Circle member on a separate project when he invited me to create an intro for a Circle on monuments. You know, those grand statues erected to glorify folks who, let's be honest, the world would've been better off without all that bronze and marble. You know, with all the glossed-over global atrocities and all. I created a film piece, and before I knew it, I was in deep. My work with the Circle blossomed into a full-fledged relationship with GCC, and after happily contributing so much, the directors and board eventually invited me to join them. I couldn't have been happier. I'd found my tribe of people committed to making a difference. Both outside and inside GCC, I'm a visual storyteller. That's just a fancy way of saying I'm a screenwriter, director, and semi-reluctant producer. I've always been involved in the arts because it's the one place where you can tell a story exactly the way you see it in your head and, if you're lucky, convince others to see it the same way, too. Whether behind the camera, in front of a blank page, or begrudgingly managing a budget, my goal is always the same: to tell stories that matter. Sometimes they entertain, sometimes they educate, and sometimes they do a bit of both. But they always, always make you think. My journey into activism wasn't so much a decision as it was a destiny. Being a BIPOC person in America means that activism is almost a default setting. Just existing and trying to thrive in this environment puts you in that space, whether you like it or not. As a kid, my parents often took me to soup kitchens to serve. As much as I tried to hate it, cutting into my time with friends and toys, there was a strange joy in serving others. I kept volunteering, and as I grew up with a deep understanding of the world's precarious state — thanks, white supremacist, patriarchal colonizers — it wasn't so much a leap into activism as it was a continuation of service. My cause, if you want to call it that, is to dismantle white supremacist colonizing principles and actions. It's the gateway drug to pretty much every societal ill we face today. Dismantling white supremacy might sound like an impossible task, but I believe there's a doable two-step solution. First, we need to get real about our history — no sugar-coating, no glossing over the atrocities. We need actual truth-telling on a global scale, explaining what was done, why it was done, and by whom. Once we get that straight, we can move on to the next step: reparations. This means reimbursing for compounded losses and returning stolen relics and resources. If we did this, the entire world could reset, and we'd be looking at a whole new ballgame within a generation. Sure, it sounds daunting, but what's the alternative – more of the same? My educational background is in visual communications, and I'm grateful that I get to use it every day to push this massive boulder of change further up the hill. Whether through film, social media, or public speaking, I use the tools I've learned to amplify voices that need to be heard and to tell stories that need to be told. Down the road, I hope to keep using these skills to create even more impactful work, maybe even tackling projects I haven't dared to dream of yet. In terms of inspiration, leadership, or encouragement, I don't have to look far. GCC is filled with amazing people doing brave things for the betterment of humanity, and they inspire me every day. But I also draw a lot of strength from the lessons my parents taught me, and from my wife and son, who are both outspoken, joyful warriors in their own unique ways. They keep me grounded and remind me why the fight is worth it. Finally, to the young people out there who are itching to create positive change, here's my advice: find your tribe. Find those like-minded, motivated, and collaborative changemakers who can keep you buoyant and focused. An individual might get swept away by the storm, but a group can withstand anything. And remember, the world doesn't change by accident — it changes because people like you refuse to let injustice rule the day. So, get out there and make some waves. Michael Lockett is a New York screenwriter, director, and sometimes producer. A lifelong storyteller, Michael graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in visual communications. After a stint in advertising, periodical design, and marketing/PR, he delved back into the longer storytelling forms with film and TV screenwriting. Although specializing in horror with dark, thought-provoking overtones, Michael is always prepared and happy to lend a hand or idea to make his or others' projects a success. Please note: Each week, we invite members of the greater Global Citizens Circle community to contribute to GCC Voices. The views and opinions expressed in each blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Global Citizens Circle. And remember, the world doesn't change by accident — it changes because people like you refuse to let injustice rule the day. So, get out there and make some waves.  Soudie Tahmassebipour is an Iranian-American attorney and certified diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging expert. Prior to becoming a consultant, she worked for 20 years as a public defender, first at the New Hampshire Public Defenders Office and then at the Committee for Public Counsel Services in Massachusetts. She has supervised hundreds of attorneys and has dedicated her career to empowering and advocating for individuals who have been historically marginalized by the system. She is the founder and executive director of the Wachusett Area Social Justice Alliance and has presented at trainings and events all over New England and abroad. Soudi is also the founder of Reenvision Consulting, where she serves as its certified diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging strategist. You began your career as an attorney, working for two decades as a public defender in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. How did that experience inform the work you do now? My experience as a public defender redefined my perspective on justice systems in the United States and throughout the world. Our criminal justice system is incredibly broken. Much of the system as we know it was developed during segregation and when the majority of the country still didn't have access to voting rights. It is still painfully hierarchical and paternalistic in that people who report crimes often lose control over what happens throughout the process and people accused of crimes are publicly treated as guilty (regardless of what the Constitution explicitly tells us) in the way they are treated throughout the process. In even the most progressive legal systems around the world, "justice" still is more gracious and attainable for people from white or light-skinned, affluent backgrounds simply because of the power dynamics – and also because they can afford to hire experts and have an elaborative financial support system that allows them to maintain a roof over their heads and cut in front of the line into elaborate treatment programs that can mitigate the ultimate results of their case. Science and the system are rarely aligned. Children in many places are still being treated as adults even though for decades, scientific studies have shown that adolescent brain development impacts decision-making and people truly do make horrible decisions as youth that they would never make as adults. It's an important area that is still archaic in many ways and genuinely needs to be overhauled both here in the United States and throughout the world. Still, because of the factional political divide and stubborn adherence to outdated tradition, we are all sidelined and forced to observe painful injustice after injustice happen in our world, our communities, and even in our personal lives without a meaningful path towards healing and peace. Your current role is as a certified diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging strategist. Why does this work matter to you? My experience as an Iranian immigrant coupled with my experience as a public defender solidified my decision to become an organizational consultant with an emphasis on fostering healthy, equitable spaces for people from all backgrounds and lived experiences. I have experienced, firsthand, the impact of an unhealthy work environment on my health as well as my personal and professional relationships. I saw how it impacted my colleagues who were expected to work like machines while doing incredibly hard, trauma-based work with little personal reprieve. Even the most progressive countries still fail to prioritize healthy workplaces, even when it impacts retention and the bottom line. We engage in the same methods over and over again despite how they fail us and expect different results. It's short-sighted and just plain ignorant. If we learned nothing else from the recent pandemic, we should have learned that human beings in every role in our workplaces are vital to our mission and must be treated with dignity for our organizations to survive. If it wasn't for the hospital cleaning crews who were sent into clean rooms when we knew the least about the potential deadliness of the virus, the healthcare workers couldn't use the room for the next patient. If it wasn't for our grocery store clerks who went into work (because they often didn't have a choice) just to stock the shelves and check us out in our rush to get sustenance, many people couldn't hurry in and out of a potentially deadly environment to get their basic staples for their families. It is in our ability to see the shared humanity in each other that we can begin to do better by each other and create a healthier, more just world. That begins and ends with holding up the mirror to ourselves and our systems and changing what no longer serves us and is often, actually, destroying us. I want, so much, to leave the world a better place for future generations than we found it. I dream of a world where human beings aren't simply valued for what they produce but by who they are as individuals. I want us to create a world where everyone has an opportunity to live and thrive, not simply survive. I want us to embrace constant learning regardless of age and to support science and progress and healthy spaces where everyone can openly engage in dialogue towards a better humanity. Maybe that's too much to ask, but we can try. With organizations like Global Citizens Circle (GCC), we may even succeed! What is it about GCC that drew you to its mission and decades of work? GCC strives to create a world that embraces the justice and humanity I tried to describe above. Fifty years ago, the Dunfeys had a collective vision for a better world. When I learned about the organization, and then had the honor of meeting and getting to know some of the amazing people behind that vision, I knew I wanted to be a part of the organization. What GCC is doing is truly remarkable. There are so many amazing human rights organizations throughout the world; public defenders do this work individual by individual. Other direct service organizations work to meet the day-to-day human needs of our shared communities. What GCC does is create a space where silos can be broken down and great organizations doing the day-to-day work can come together and share their visions, missions, and values and, as a result, lift each other up. In a world where inhumanity often gets the headlines, GCC creates a space for truly thoughtful, open dialogue, where people from all over the world can feel like they are not alone in their hopes for a better, more just world. There are few organizations more dedicated to our shared humanity and who walk the talk better than the GCC. Imagine an organization that needs funding to sustain itself, that constantly shines the light on other organizations and encourages people to financially support them. That is the GCC way! I feel blessed, every day, to have found such an amazing organization. What has your involvement been with GCC, and what keeps you engaged? I love serving as a GCC Board Member. I am involved on many levels. I have facilitated a strategic planning session. I have recruited board members. I have helped with funding campaigns. Frankly, there is very little I wouldn't do if asked by the amazing leadership at GCC. That's how much I believe in the mission of this incredible organization. What advice do you have for those who wish to make a positive change in the world? I think every generation has to have a vested interest in working collectively to fight for justice and human rights around the world. We all have such valuable experiences and insights into real-life events that shaped who we are and the world we find ourselves in.
That can only happen through the efforts of organizations like the GCC where people from all over the world can come together to have really hard conversations. Conversations where we hold a mirror up and self-reflect on our roles in creating the challenges and implementing the changes we need to address injustice and inequities in our world. We must have continuous global dialogues to remind us of who we are today and who we want to become for the sake of the future of humanity. This work is vital and it needs to happen now. It is in our ability to see the shared humanity in each other that we can begin to do better by each other and create a healthier, more just world. |
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