Change Is the Operative Force of History with Drew Gilpin Faust
Nov 15, 2023
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Historian and civil rights activist, Drew Gilpin Faust, discusses the transformative power of change throughout history, the ongoing fight for equality, the influence of social and historical conditions on personal relationships, the demand for change during the 1960s, acts of revolt against oppression, the current state of higher education, and the issue of paid sick leave in the United States.
Decline in tobacco and vaping use among US high school students is a positive trend in combatting smoking and vaping.
Growing movement in the Philippines to legalize divorce signals potential change in the country's stance on this issue.
Deep dives
Decline in tobacco and vaping use among US high school students
According to the CDC, there has been a decline in tobacco and vaping use among high school students in the US for the second year in a row. Cigarette use has decreased from 14% to 10%, primarily due to reduced e-cigarette use. This decline represents 580,000 fewer high school students using e-cigarettes. While there is still progress to be made, it is a positive trend in combatting smoking and vaping among teenagers.
Push for the legalization of divorce in the Philippines
In the predominantly Catholic country of the Philippines, divorce is currently illegal. However, there is a growing movement pushing for its legalization. The Senate committee recently approved a bill on divorce for the first time in over 30 years. While the bill still faces opposition, this development signals a potential change in the country's stance on divorce. Advocates argue that allowing divorce would provide an essential option for individuals trapped in unhappy or abusive marriages and bring the Philippines in line with global norms surrounding marriage and divorce.
What are the dangers of not acknowledging what has gotten better? How do we understand the marks history leaves on individuals? And what does a former president of Harvard think of higher education in the US today? We hear from historian, civil rights activist, and the first woman president of Harvard, Drew Gilpin Faust, about how her story and how activism can actually make a difference.