Braver Angels CEO Maury Giles encourages us to choose dignity while we contend with those who disagree with us—and asks us to build something together.
“We are raising the standard of how we fight so that we can fight for truth, accountability, and workable solutions in a pluralistic nation. Refusing contempt is not refusing clarity. This isn’t conflict avoidance; it’s conflict shaped in a way that builds a republic rather than breaking one.”
Giles will deliver a lecture and be featured on the panel “Turning Toward Each Other and Away from Political Violence” featured on the panel “Free to Assemble?” during RQ’s Founder’s Weekend, November 14-15 in Philadelphia. Join us all weekend to discuss why political violence erodes our constitutional rights. Lineup and tickets at founders-weekend.com
@braverangels@pblindsay@phillyethics
#rootquarterly #rootquarterlymagazine #rq #artandideas #printisdead #longliveprint #artjournal #artmagazine #philadelphiamagazine #fallissue #conservation #fall2025 #foundersweekend #fallinphilly #braverangels #maurygiles #freespeech #freetoassemble #foundersweekend #civildiscourse #courageouscitizenship #choosedignity #fightbetter #humandignity #phillyethics
Pluralist Lab Executive Director Devin Scanlon argues that our country’s commitment to a multiplicity of voices is something we must conserve.
“A large republic can be a collision-avoiding system for competing visions, turning potential conflict into productive friction–but only if its citizens maintain a pluralistic, bottom-up ethos.”
During Founder’s Weekend November 14-15, Scanlon will be featured on the panel “Turning Toward Each Other and Away from Political Violence” and leading “Turning Away from Binary Thinking,” an immersive workshop will help students, educators, and community members build the skills, habits, and dispositions necessary for civil discourse and institutional leadership in a diverse and divided world. Full lineup and tickets at founders-weekend.com
@pblindsay@phillyethics
#rootquarterly #rootquarterlymagazine #rq #artandideas #printisdead #longliveprint #artjournal #artmagazine #philadelphiamagazine #fallissue #conservation #fall2025 #foundersweekend #fallinphilly #devinscanlon #pluralistlab #arepublicifyoucankeepit #freespeech #freetoassemble #foundersweekend #binarythinking #civildiscourse #pluralism #phillyethics
RQ contributor Julia Wald does a deep dive into why she believes we’re thinking all wrong about the recent politically targeted killing of Charlie Kirk, and why we need to better understand what the internet is doing to us.
“Charlie Kirk, a conservative Christian commentator and father of two, was murdered by the internet. His death is the direct result of online discourse bleeding into the real world.”
Wald will be featured on the panel “Free to Assemble?” during RQ’s Founder’s Weekend, November 14-15 in Philadelphia. Join us to discuss why political violence erodes our constitutional rights. Lineup and tickets at founders-weekend.com
Photos by the author.
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Our fall issue “Conservation,” is available now.
Inside the issue:
Editor-in-chief Heather Shayne Blakeslee on why trading digs for dignity might help in the battle against our uncertain AI future /// At Camp Linden, the Philadelphia Ethical Society teaches kids about the wonders of nature /// Naomi Weiss asks if Big Tech investments in PA are bad for our future, but good for our economy /// We recommend books by Yoram Hazony, Will Caverly, and Nate Blakeslee /// Lauren Earline Leonard talks with BalletX co-founder Christine Cox about 20 years of groundbreaking ballet /// Julia Wald does a deep dive into the Charlie Kirk assassination and what the internet is doing to us /// Pluralist Lab Executive Director Devin Scanlon argues in favor of a multiplicity of voices /// John Muir on the beauty and strength of trees /// Sculptor Kathleen Studebaker celebrates the color of fresh wood and protects the environment /// After a fire, artist Graham Franciose on how to begin again /// Braver Angels CEO Maury Giles encourages us to choose dignity while we contend with those who disagree with us /// Sue Muncaster takes a bike trip through the mountains and asks how we should be interacting with our fellow Americans
Celebrate the new issue, art, and ideas with RQ at “Founder’s Weekend” convening November 15-16 in Philadelphia. Two days of lectures, discussions, panels, and an art show opening featuring artists from our print pages the last six years. Tickets at founders-weekend.com
COVER IMAGE: SAVANNA MOON, by Brin Levinson, oil on panel, 24" x 18," 2023
@brinlevinson@phillyethics@braverangels@oldswedesphila@paradigmgs@balletx@kathleenstudebaker_art@grahambunctious@willcaverly@whereswaldart@sweetbriar_rose@launatoe@llearlie@pblindsay
#rootquarterly #rootquarterlymagazine #rq #artandideas #printisdead #longliveprint #artjournal #artmagazine #philadelphiamagazine #fallissue #conservation #fall2025 #foundersweekend #fallinphilly #AI #camplinden #philadelphiaethicalsociety #bigtech #balletx #christinecox #pluralistlab #devinscanlon #johnmuir #braverangels #maurygiles #bridgebuilding #pluralism #fellowamericans #brinlevinson #savannamoon
Want to practice speaking across ideological differences? Saturday 11/15 we are hosting a lecture by @braverangels CEO Maury Giles followed by a “Pluralist Lab” workshop with @rootquarterly as part of Founder’s Weekend. @redpenarts
Join us at 1906 South Rittenhouse Square
RSVP and Sign up for the workshop at founders-weekend.com
In our Artist Spotlight, Tyler Blodgett explores a sacred water system in Bali, Indonesia.
“From four sacred volcanic mountains on the island of Bali in Indonesia, water spills into rivers that are managed with a cooperative irrigation system called subak. After 2,000 years of cultural exchange between Bali and India, the island has developed a unique Hindu-Balinese philosophy called Tri Hita Karana, which emphasizes harmony among humans, nature, and the divine.”
Photos by Tyler Blodgett:
MOUNTAINS AND FIELDS
OFFERING IN RICE FIELD
FORMAL MASKED CEREMONY
BATHERS
BOYS PLAYING
@tylerjblodgett
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For our Switchbacks essay, Michael M. Clements shares how, after an early setback on the waves, he pushed through fear and shame to heed the call of the ocean.
“The older you are, the smaller your window of opportunity gets for learning new physical skills. You also care less about what other people think. I was no longer motivated by image or adrenaline; I was driven by a more potent force: regret.”
#rootquarterlymagazine #rootquarterly #rq #artandideas #artjournal #philadelphiamagazine #printisdead #longliveprint #switchbacks #ridingthewaves #breakingthrough #gulfcoast #kellyslater #michaelmclements #indonesia
n our Artist Spotlight, Thomas Brummett talks about his dedication to exploring the infinite via natural systems.
"I am trying to understand and present the world in its totality. If only we had the means to observe the world as it truly exists. Think of how differently we would treat each other and our planet."
Image: RIVER DIPTYCH #7 (FOR HOKUSAI) by Thomas Brummett
Each 30" x 43.6," chromogenic silver halide print, 2022
@thomasbrummettart
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Anisa George uses the annual swift migration to remind us of the wonder of the natural world and that, as it turns out, we don’t control a thing.
“Jennie told me their descent into the chimney was a must-see affair, a cyclone of sublime and indescribable beauty. She told me it was as if they painted the air.”
@tree@treeofanisa@audubonphilly@audubonmidatl@birdphilly@schuylkillcenter
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We give you a snippet from that most American of novels, Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, letting sailors from around the world have their say.
“Oh, thou big white God aloft there somewhere in yon darkness, have mercy on this small black boy down here; preserve him from all men that have no bowels to feel fear!”
#rootquarterlymagazine #rootquarterly #rq #artandideas #artjournal #philadelphiamagazine #printisdead #longliveprint #bookexcerpt #mobydick #hermanmelville #setsail #whitewhale
