Daniel Lubetzky and Lonnie Ali: Fighting hate with humanity
Dec 21, 2023
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Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks, and Lonnie Ali, co-founder of the Muhammad Ali Center, discuss the growing hatred on American college campuses due to the Israel-Hamas war. They present solutions such as empathy, understanding, and the need to burst social media bubbles. They also tackle the challenges faced by DEI programs on campuses. An inspiring conversation on fighting hate with humanity.
Empathizing with the pain of the other side and popping social media bubbles are key ways to side with humanity and address hate on college campuses.
Business leaders and entrepreneurs can play a role in post-war reconstruction efforts to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and promote peace and opportunities for Israelis and Palestinians.
Deep dives
Antisemitism and Islamophobia on College Campuses
Antisemitism and Islamophobia are on the rise on college campuses, leaving Jewish and Muslim students feeling unsafe and jeopardizing their learning experience. Reports indicate a surge in anti-Semitic incidents, with 73% of Jewish college students and 44% of non-Jewish students reporting such incidents since the beginning of the school year. Islamophobic and anti-Arab incidents have also increased, with a significant rise in bias reports and requests for help. The podcast highlights the need for a more peaceful way forward and emphasizes the importance of empathy, understanding, and dialogue among students to address and overcome these issues.
Overcoming Hate and Division on College Campuses
Lonnie Ali and Daniel Libetzky, a Muslim and Jewish voice respectively, offer a path forward for college campuses and society at large. Their open letter to college students outlines 10 ways to side with humanity, including empathizing with the pain of the other side and stepping out of one's social media bubble. They stress the importance of recognizing each other's humanity, building bridges, and rejecting extremism. The podcast emphasizes the role of college students themselves as agents of change and calls for critical thinking, education, and compassion as tools to address and transcend hate and division.
Building Bridges Through Business and Education
The podcast also explores the potential of business as a tool for peace, suggesting a post-war reconstruction effort with accountability to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It emphasizes the need for business leaders and entrepreneurs to come together and rebuild hospitals, schools, and create opportunities that benefit both Israelis and Palestinians. The podcast concludes with the message that college students have the power to be a force for positive change and advocates for the expansion of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives rather than their elimination. It calls for universities to create an inclusive environment where all students feel safe and supported.
"As a passionate Muslim and a passionate Jew, we have come together to humbly share a path forward for how to transcend the construct of 'us vs. them' and side with humanity instead." That's from a recent open letter to college students across America, written by Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks, and Lonnie Ali, co-founder of the Muhammad Ali Center and wife of the late Muhammad Ali.
Lonnie and Daniel have both witnessed the growing hatred on American college campuses as the Israel-Hamas war rages on, and they say students themselves are at the heart of the solution. In their letter, they detail what they call ten ways to side with humanity, including: "It helps, not hurts, your cause to empathize with the pain of the other side" and "to get the full story, pop your social media bubble."
Plus: the new challenges for DEI programs on college campuses.
Guests: Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks and co-founder of the Starts with Us movement;Lonnie Ali, co-founder of the Muhammad Ali Center, and wife of the late Muhammad Ali.
Credits: 1 big thing is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, and Jay Cowit. Music is composed by Alex Sugiura. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can send questions, comments and story ideas as a text or voice memo to Niala at 202-918-4893.