It’s a strange time for all of us. Today, we sit here witnessing an alarming rise of nationalism comparable to pre-WWII, a rise of radical leaders who preach nationalism above the value of life, and a generation who values freedom, justice, and equality more than ever. Today, our freedom is under attack globally by political religion.

Our entire generation is watching as both government and religion lose the merit they once held. A decade ago, we witnessed Bush, Rumsfeld, and Chenney conspire to deceive the entire world about WMD both nuclear and biological to invade, and occupy Iraq. What followed was a long period of terrorism that hit the world with fear and uncertainty. But amidst all of this, we’re seeing the rise of impact-driven projects and companies. Our voices are stronger, more connected than ever.

We have come to believe that we, the free, are endowed by our nation with the highest freedoms of man — life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And the truest among that, the freedom of thought, the freedom of religion, and the freedom of life. Convinced that the highest honor of a citizen is to serve, protect, and empower his country in any way possible, we have sacrificed our lives to the conspiracy of our leaders, our minds to the chauvinism of our leaders, and our freedom of religion in the name of nationalism.

Over the course of history, the relationship between church and state has found itself in a constant state of correction. We’ve hit an age where the line between politics and religion has again blurred, to the point where we’ve come to worship nationalism as a religion. Perhaps it’s time to revisit this relationship. Because after all, what is a free man, if enslaved by nationalism? 

Any religion, political or not, experienced in pure is wildly beautiful. But when misused to preach superiority, domination, control, it becomes polluted. And when religion becomes so intertwined with identity and emotional belonging, it often develops an immunity to critical reformation. Today, we struggle to understand what it means to love and honor our country. Today, we are in dire need of a course correction.

In the wise words of Albert Einstein, problems cannot be solved with the same level of thinking that created them. New times produce new problems, and new problems require new solutions. I’m not naive enough to think that nations will cease their race for power, and so instead, I’d like to offer a new approach—

For long, we’ve measured the advancement of a nation by its resources, technology, access to information, and wealth. It’s time to start measuring the advancement of our nations by the value placed on the life of each man, woman, and child.

I’m on a quest to understand how can we make it politically profitable for politicians to hold the value of life—the value of each man, woman, and child’s life as the highest measurement of any nation of peoples. Make no mistake, this is a global revolution. I may not see it in my lifetime, but I’m not ready to sit around and wait.

Will you join me in finding an answer?