Bassam Salem
I woke up rather dismayed a few days ago. It was still super-early and dark. You know how things can feel especially distressing before the sun comes up? I don’t dream often; I suppose I should say that I don’t remember my dreams often. But I do entertain philosophical thoughts in those early hours, most […]
I’ve been writing a book for the last 18 months. I’m nearly done. I decided to share an author’s note that is part of the book; it outlines my personal philosophy on the use of AI in the process of writing. I hope others might find it useful as they develop their own philosophy. _____________ […]
I usually prefer the aisle seat if I can choose it on a flight. It’s always seemed more practical, more…convenient. But yesterday, on a short-hop flight, I was given a solo seat–one that was both an aisle and a window on this particular regional jet. I was traveling alone, and since it was such a […]
I’m going to do my best to be blunt but kind in this message. I’m sharing this publicly because I suspect others may feel what I’m feeling and, if that’s true, naming it might help us reflect on why things feel different now than they did even a few months ago. If you know me […]
My close friends know that, while I may have unconventional points of view, I’ve genuinely tried to stay open-minded to diverse, informed perspectives. After all, on most so-called “controversial” positions, it’s the nuance that makes them so. But on leadership, whether in people or in countries, I have a deep conviction. We tend to admire […]
Over the past few years—and especially in recent months—sociopolitical divisiveness has become nearly unbearable. It’s no longer just disagreement; it’s grievance, cruelty, dogma, and tribalism.It’s grown so sharp, it now slices through friendships, families, workplaces, and communities. It’s in my feeds. It’s in my DMs. It’s in our conversations.It’s exhausting. It’s corrosive. And it’s hurting […]
I posed a question this weekend as part of an intellectual exercise to explore a question I find fundamentally important: Do we become increasingly committed to and invested in our deeply-held beliefs as we grow and, if so, is it worth it to “debate” these beliefs with others, especially if doing so can hurt important […]
Immigration has a curious history. For the vast majority of human history over hundreds of thousands of years, our identity was “hyper-local”, defined by our family units and thus our tribes. Geographic location was much less relevant as we roamed and migrated in search of natural resources and protection from seasonal weather and predators. But […]
It’s our first winter in rural Summit County, Utah. I’m certainly used to the scenes of snow after spending the last quarter of a century living in Park City. But I’m not used to the serene but rustic sights, sounds, and scents unique to the mountain-valley countrysides of Summit County. The setting was was so […]
As those who’ve known me for some time will understand, mass media has long troubled me. Having been raised in rather socially-minded circles, as a young student of geopolitics, I grew up appreciating how mass media was a critical and dangerous weapon capable of convincing “the masses” of just about anything: it could divide a […]