Global News

A consistent theme one notices among successful groups of people is tolerance of a culture of criticism. Criticism is essential to the health of any organization or society. You need a vast multitude eyes and voices finding and telling you what is wrong and needs to be improved. Of course, criticism must be in good faith. But that comes with having an environment of trust where excommunication is rare.

Inability to tolerate criticism is a sign of insecurity and decline. If you look at the fate of empires, their high periods often correspond with a boisterous and diverse public sphere, while their downfalls were precipitated by an environment of fear, self-censorship, and ideological conformity.

One of the great things about America — and which exists in few other places — is the freewheeling ability to criticize over a broad range of topics without fear. I wouldn’t go as far as to say you can say anything, but you can say a lot. A culture of criticism both reflects and provides resiliency.

Writer, podcaster, and commentator on foreign affairs and politics. Runs /dropglobalnews

Clanker Broadcasting Service /cbs

There’s that old saying that goes something like if you want to appreciate America, go travel to other countries.