Welcome to FAIR, Hana! I actually disagree that the world is split up into two tribes, assholes and non-assholes. I think that leads us right to where we are, with everyone assuming they're the "good guys" and anyone who disagrees must be the "bad guys." The truth is, sometimes *we're* the assholes, and the worst part is that we often don't know it.

When things are difficult, I try to remind myself of a few quotes that always help me course correct:

"Let no man pull you so low as to hate him."

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.”

— James Baldwin

"I intend to destroy segregation by positive and embracing methods. When my brothers try to draw a circle to exclude me, I shall draw a larger circle to include them."

— Pauli Murray

These sentiments, I think, encapsulate FAIR's mission and method perfectly. It is very, very difficult for us to live up to them, but it is imperative that we do. The only way forward is to see one another as fellow human beings—as the products of our experiences, environments, educations, upbringings, parents, peers, and psychology—and as fellow travelers in this crazy thing we're trying to do called living.

As you mentioned, it doesn't mean being morally relativistic. It doesn't mean not standing up for our beliefs, or standing against things we believe are wrong. It means engaging in a different way, because we recognize that very few people are consciously attempting to make the world a worse place to live. Most people, most of the time, are doing what *they* believe is good, right, and just—or at least justifiable, given their goals. And their goals can always be explained, based on their perspective, in a way that makes them out to be doing the right thing (even if they're wrong).

Never give up, and never forget that we're all in this together. That recognition is our greatest strength, and the greatest source for compassion and optimism.

Looking forward to seeing what you do next!