Why We Need Kindness in the World Now, More Than Ever

Remember, there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” — Scott Adams

Being kind is often dismissed as a weakness. We live in a competitive environment that emphasizes winning at any cost. Nastiness and success seem to go together, borne out by the popularity of caustic commentators, mean-spirited politicians, public put-downs, particularly on social media, and the ugly reality of wars and violence. Criticism, cynicism, and aggression are widely accepted as signs of a “superior” person and often justified as “strength.”

How Incivility Kills Kindness

The 2020 Presidential election, recent political chaos in Congress and the current political campaign for the 2024 election have revealed a rising state of incivility in politics, reflected in mainstream and social media and public behavior. This has been especially true for the vitriolic and abusive statements made by Donald Trump which have targeted his political opponents and critics.

Few political leaders have used the platform with such viciousness and toxicity as Donald Trump. Indeed, his presence was so toxic that Twitter famously banned him in 2021 (but then he was reinstated by Elon Musk). Research from Stanford University highlights how Trump’s…