”I still think the U.S. is the greatest country on earth … but I’m more optimistic about my life expectancy. Will we still be “the greatest” in sixty or seventy years? Not if we just stand around and admire our own awesomeness. We’ve been preening in that mirror so long our clothing has gone out of style.

”If somebody you care about is bleeding profusely, it’s not loving to insist that she’s flawless and has nothing to worry about. The loving thing is to stop the bleeding then get her to a doctor. If a guy is clearly suffering from blood poisoning, ignoring the problem isn’t loving. Instead, say, “Dude. You need to get that looked at immediately.” Or, better yet, go with him. Do what you can to make things better.”