Author spotlight: Dan Meisel

Regional director of ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties

Hate Speech May Be Protected, but It Shouldn’t Be “Free”
By Dan Meisel   |   March 15, 2022

In my role at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), I passionately defend free speech. ADL recognizes that the First Amendment protects even hateful or offensive speech, and we believe the best response to hate speech is not censorship, but more speech. Not all hate speech is protected, however, and even hate speech that is protected “free […]

Good Solutions Require Good Information
By Dan Meisel   |   February 15, 2022

We can’t solve important local problems unless we get better at recognizing what we do and don’t know. That includes acknowledging when our conclusions may be unsupported and when we need to look beyond our own experiences to understand the experiences of others. Consider, for example, discussions about dual language immersion (DLI) programs, in which […]

Conspiracy Theories Can Do Real Harm
By Dan Meisel   |   January 25, 2022

The recent targeting of a Colleyville, Texas Jewish community in connection with grievances it had nothing to do with was just the latest in a trend of rising antisemitic violence and conduct in recent years. We have seen some of it here, with 26 credible reports of antisemitic incidents in the Tri-Counties last year (more […]

Breaking Out of Our Echo Chambers
By Dan Meisel   |   January 11, 2022

A few winters ago, my son dared me to ski through an oversized doghouse meant for snowboarders. I was feeling old and particularly vulnerable to youthful dares. To my surprise, the floor of this structure was arched, sloping towards the walls on both sides. As soon as I entered, my skis veered in opposite directions. […]

In the Pursuit of Equity
By Dan Meisel   |   December 21, 2021

I previously wrote in this space about how only recognizing perspectives “for” or “against” an issue can get in the way of understanding and potentially resolving conflicting views. The recently heightened polarity around discussing race and bias in school classrooms is a prime example. We are seeing advocates frame debates in ways more likely to […]

Let’s Talk Tips for challenging conversations in a divided community (or household)
By Dan Meisel   |   December 7, 2021

Public speaking is a commonly held fear, but I have noticed a dramatic rise in fear of speaking privately – particularly with those whom we love and respect, but also disagree. Local conversations about school bonds, water, masks, racism, elections, and conspiracies escalate with unnerving speed and ferocity, as if all these issues are connected […]