Spotlight Special Report What does it mean to love a country with an imperfect past? | The Ethical Life podcast Scott Rada Jun 24, 2026 Jun 24, 2026 Updated 3 hrs ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save kAmkDEC@?8mtA:D@56 adaik^DEC@?8m pD E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2AAC@2496D :ED ad_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ[ >2?J p>6C:42?D 2C6 2D<:?8 2 5:77:4F=E BF6DE:@?i w@H D9@F=5 H6 E9:?< 23@FE @FC ?2E:@?’D 9:DE@CJnk^AmkAmu@C D@>6[ E96 7@4FD :D @? p>6C:42’D 8C62E6DE 249:6G6>6?ED — 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 8@G6C?>6?E[ :?5:G:5F2= =:36CEJ 2?5 64@?@>:4 @AA@CEF?:EJ] u@C @E96CD[ E96 6>A92D:D 72==D @? D=2G6CJ[ D68C682E:@? 2?5 E96 >:DEC62E>6?E @7 }2E:G6 p>6C:42?D] xD :E A@DD:3=6 E@ 24<?@H=6586 3@E9nk^AmkAmx? E9:D 6A:D@56[ 9@DED #:492C5 zJE6 2?5 $4@EE #252 6IA=@C6 H9J 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 23@FE 9:DE@CJ 92G6 364@>6 D@ 4@?E6?E:@FD 2?5 H96E96C 2 4@F?ECJ 42? C6>2:? F?:E65 H96? :ED 4:E:K6?D k2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E962E=2?E:4]4@>^>282K:?6^a_ae^_f^2>6C:42?\9:DE@CJ\4@>>@?\?2CC2E:G6^egfb_`^Qm?@ =@?86C D92C6 2 4@>>@? DE@CJ 23@FE E96:C A2DEk^2m] sC2H:?8 @? A9:=@D@A9J[ 4FCC6?E 6G6?ED 2?5 A6CD@?2= 6IA6C:6?46[ E96J 6I2>:?6 E96 C@=6 DE@C:6D A=2J :? D92A:?8 :56?E:EJ[ 36=@?8:?8 2?5 4:G:4 =:76]k^Am People are also reading… Seeking gold: Marion teen to compete in world fly fishing championship Chilhowie Town Council honors record setting athlete Wellness fair to return to Hungry Mother State Park in Marion Smyth County supervisors OK 10¢ real estate tax increase Saltville takes step toward transforming Hartwood property into gateway Smyth Animal Rescue's Pet of the Week is fun loving and ready for his next adventure Smyth County School Board honors Chilhowie businessman Marion Senior High grad claims top state art award Smyth County deputy saves man's life Update: General Assembly approves budget deal Communities rally to support officer injured in the line of duty Virginia budget leaders reach 'agreement in principle' for deal Privacy laws prevent Smyth school board from commenting on parent allegations Broady to present program to help instill Martin Luther King's clarity, courage Virginia's wildlife agency takes out $6.9M loan from state amid budget shortfall kAm%96 5:D4FDD:@? 6I2>:?6D H9J A6@A=6 @7E6? 2AAC@249 9:DE@CJ E96 D2>6 H2J E96J 2AAC@249 A@=:E:4D[ D66<:?8 724ED E92E C6:?7@C46 36=:67D E96J 2=C625J 9@=5] zJE6 2C8F6D E92E 6G6CJ ?2E:@? C6=:6D @? D92C65 ?2CC2E:G6D E@ 96=A 4:E:K6?D F?56CDE2?5 H96C6 E96J 42>6 7C@> 2?5 H96C6 E96J 9@A6 E@ 8@] *6E :? 2? :?4C62D:?8=J 7C28>6?E65 4F=EFC6[ 28C66>6?E @? E9@D6 ?2CC2E:G6D 42? 36 5:77:4F=E E@ 249:6G6]k^AmkAm%96 9@DED 2=D@ E24<=6 E96 4@>A=:42E65 C6=2E:@?D9:A 36EH66? A2EC:@E:D> 2?5 4C:E:4:D>] r2? D@>6@?6 566A=J 2AAC64:2E6 E96:C 4@F?ECJ H9:=6 @A6?=J 24<?@H=658:?8 :ED 72:=FC6Dn w2D A2EC:@E:D> 364@>6 F?72:C=J 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 A@=:E:4Dn p?5 H92E 92AA6?D H96? 46=63C2E:@?D @7 ?2E:@?2= 249:6G6>6?E 2C6 G:6H65 E9C@F89 2 A2CE:D2? =6?Dnk^Am kAmp=@?8 E96 H2J[ #252 C67=64ED @? 2 G:D:E E@ 2 k2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>28?@=:2A=2?E2E:@?]4@>^Qm$@FE9 r2C@=:?2 A=2?E2E:@?k^2m E92E 4@?7C@?E65 E96 C62=:E:6D @7 D=2G6CJ H:E9@FE 5:>:?:D9:?8 E96 3C@256C p>6C:42? DE@CJ] %96 4@?G6CD2E:@? 6IA=@C6D 9@H >2EFC6 D@4:6E:6D 42? C6>6>36C A2:?7F= 492AE6CD 9@?6DE=J H9:=6 DE:== C64@8?:K:?8 AC@8C6DD[ C6D:=:6?46 2?5 E96 42A24:EJ 7@C D6=7\4@CC64E:@?]k^Am kAmpD E96 ?2E:@? AC6A2C6D E@ >2C< E9:D 9:DE@C:4 >:=6DE@?6[ zJE6 2?5 #252 DF886DE E92E 8C2E:EF56 2?5 C67=64E:@? 2C6 ?@E @AA@D:?8 :562D] x? 724E[ E96J >2J 56A6?5 @? @?6 2?@E96C] &?56CDE2?5:?8 H96C6 2 4@F?ECJ 92D 72==6? D9@CE 42? 566A6? 2AAC64:2E:@? 7@C :ED 249:6G6>6?ED[ H9:=6 8C2E:EF56 42? AC@G:56 E96 6?6C8J ?66565 E@ 255C6DD C6>2:?:?8 492==6?86D]k^Am Scott Rada is a digital strategist with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)." This article was prepared with the help of AI technology using information collected and verified by journalists. 0 Comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Scott Rada Author email Follow Scott Rada Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular What is lost when strangers stop talking to each other? | The Ethical Life podcast 🎧 Elon Musk's new 'trillionaire' status is a good thing, actually | Jonah Goldberg I am not a huge fan of Elon Musk as a political activist or commentator. I think he's made Twitter -- sorry, X -- worse. His support for the n… Graham Platner wants redemption, while others want a refund | Froma Harrop Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., conceded at a rally for the Maine senatorial candidate that Graham Platner's actions have not been sterling. Voters … 8 lessons for Americans who want to work together | Kristen Scott Kennedy Nearly 600 leaders from across the country — representing some of the nation’s largest grant makers, community foundations and grassroots grou… Why do people need challenge more than comfort? | The Ethical Life podcast 🎧 From camping trips to knife making, the hosts discuss curiosity, lifelong learning and the importance of continuing personal growth through…
Scott Rada Author email Follow Scott Rada Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Elon Musk's new 'trillionaire' status is a good thing, actually | Jonah Goldberg I am not a huge fan of Elon Musk as a political activist or commentator. I think he's made Twitter -- sorry, X -- worse. His support for the n…
Graham Platner wants redemption, while others want a refund | Froma Harrop Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., conceded at a rally for the Maine senatorial candidate that Graham Platner's actions have not been sterling. Voters …
8 lessons for Americans who want to work together | Kristen Scott Kennedy Nearly 600 leaders from across the country — representing some of the nation’s largest grant makers, community foundations and grassroots grou…
Why do people need challenge more than comfort? | The Ethical Life podcast 🎧 From camping trips to knife making, the hosts discuss curiosity, lifelong learning and the importance of continuing personal growth through…