Blog
Why should we be concerned about what’s happening with the Open Technology Fund
What is the Open Technology Fund, what’s going on with its funding, and why should Americans care about this controversy?
The power of invitational communication in political dialogues
How can invitational communication and "listening to understand" help you engage in more constructive conversations with those who don’t share your political beliefs?
Summertime Covid Blues?
FAV Fans, The virus has returned with a vengeance after most states relaxed restrictions, causing the case numbers and death toll to spike. We will get through this. It reminds me of dark times amidst sectarian violence in Baghdad. The hits kept coming, for...
Voting rights in the midst of a public health crisis
How can voters stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic while voting in the Presidential Election this year?
Public recording laws: what’s allowed and what’s not?
Can you record anything in a public space and assert your First Amendment rights to anyone who tells you to stop?
3 myths about freedom of assembly in the United States
Most Americans know our Constitution protects citizens’ rights to protest, but this freedom isn’t as absolute and simple as people mistakenly assume it is. Here are some of the most prevalent myths about your freedom to assemble in public spaces.
Does the First Amendment protect in-person religious congregations?
Why are so many religious leaders challenging state governors’ restrictions on social gatherings during the coronavirus outbreak? How else can centers of faith adapt during a pandemic?
Break the Monotony: Become an FAV Member
FAV Colleagues, Are you going stir crazy in your home, sheltering in place? When I was in combat, which seems to be the terminology that politicians on the left and right are using to speak about the pandemic, soldiers found it hard to see daily progress. Each day...
Will Covid-19 lead to more government-imposed censorship online?
How are governments and tech companies increasingly censoring citizens and users’ information posted and shared online? This is a free speech issue that affects all of us.
How to be socially distant without being socially “distant”
Although social distancing is important, it can be challenging. How are you staying in touch with people?
April 2020 Newsletter: Virtual Symposium Announced!
Dear FAV members & supporters, Covid-19 has stressed the country and continues to expose divisions within our society, where even public health issues become politicized. Elected officials should attempt to balance civic liberties while ensuring the public good...
Remote religion: How faith institutions are adapting to social distancing restrictions sparked by Covid-19
How has the coronavirus outbreak affected religious institutions? From remote services to social-distancing-approved community outreach measures, discover how leaders and groups from a variety of faiths are adapting to the Covid-19 era.