Harvard’s motto is veritas, Latin for “truth” and “reality.” Yale’s motto is Lux et veritas, meaning “light” and “truth.” The fortunate go to college to study the classics and philosophy in pursuit of truth and to get a grasp on reality. As parents, we do our best to teach our kids our truth but want them to find theirs by attending a college where the pursuit of truth is woven into the institution's fabric.

Today, with few exceptions, most elite universities strive to indoctrinate their students by promoting their institutional truths instead of creating a safe place for young minds to explore and discover theirs.

In May 2020, we launched the Highland Institute for the Advancement of Humanity, founded on the belief none of us has a corner on the truth. The Institute’s underlying principle is that through discussion and dialogue, our diverse community can attain a better grasp of reality.

Jesus built on Moses’s truth. Einstein built on Newton’s truth. I attribute my modest success in learning a new language, integrating into a new culture, and achieving an adequate level of education and financial success to being a provocateur and constantly questioning others, such as, what are you reading and why? What are you investing in and why? Who are you voting for, and why? What’s the best way to secure a mortgage? How does one restore a historic landmark? How should one build a social club, an institute, or an enlightened community?

To stay young and relevant, we should never stop learning. Too often, even after receiving a solid education, many enter adulthood by surrounding themselves with like people and thereby enter into an echo chamber. An abiding principle of the Highland Institute is to counter this tendency by promoting ongoing dialogue and challenging debate to strive for truth. As such, every week, I try to tackle a topic, not because I necessarily know what I am talking about, but in the interest of promoting dialog to learn from the engagement.

I am used to getting pushback (sometimes blowback) because of the seemingly controversial positions I take. Please regard these topics as a spark to initiate a spirited dialogue rather than a reason to write me off, become frustrated, or even unsubscribe from this Newsletter. Don’t become what Teddy Roosevelt called The Critic. Instead, get engaged and confront uncomfortable truths rather than live with comfortable lies.

Thank you in advance for your continued moral and financial support of our community, and best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.

— Sina.