“Nothing, nothing, nothing in the world can destroy the soul as much as outright humiliation.” Vivian Gornick explores how humiliation can push us to do heinous acts. The most dangerous of humiliations was national humiliation. She cites the World Trade Centre attacks as an example caused by a century of humiliation. World War II had also been caused by humiliation on the world stage; the harsh punishment passed on Germany after World War I sowed a want for retribution that led to the rise of Hitler. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
