The shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 11, 2025 forces us to confront a sobering reality: political divisiveness and violence can tear a nation apart. At this fragile moment, each of us must choose whether to be consumed by hatred—or to call forth our better angels. To read it as a 3-min blog To watch it as a 7-min video From Personal Tragedy to National Warning In this episode, Joanne Z. Tan shares an intensely personal story. As a child in China during the Cultural Revolution, she witnessed how political passion, once inflamed, turned ordinary citizens into enemies. Her father, a professor, was exiled and died in forced labor. Her stepbrother’s mother, a school principal, took her own life after brutal persecution. Millions of others were betrayed, beaten, or killed. These tragedies are not just history lessons. They are warnings for today’s America. The same forces—demonization, manipulation, blind obedience, self-righteous anger—can surface here if we fail to see each other’s humanity. Why We Must Be Better Angels Joanne urges us to: Resist the pull of hatred, even when politically provoked. See the human side of those who vote or think differently. Remember that no good comes from violence—ever. Practice civility, tolerance, and respect as patriotic duty. We hold democracy in our own hands. Every word, every action matters. In divisive times, being our better angels may be the most radical form of leadership. About Joanne Z. Tan Joanne Z. Tan is the Founder & CEO of 10 Plus Brand, Inc. , a brand strategist, thought leadership coach, writer, and speaker. She helps executives, board members, entrepreneurs, and organizations decode their Brand DNA, build trust in the AI age, and lead with authenticity. A former journalist, award-winning photographic artist, and immigrant from China, Joanne was trained in law and business here in the US, and had a liberal arts education before earning a law degree. Her coaching emphasizes comprehensive strategies, business modeling, thought leadership and high authority content creation, brand building, culture, teamwork, resilience. She weaves her life story into her work, guiding leaders to stand out with integrity, vision, and purpose. ©Joanne Z. Tan all rights reserved. Please don't forget to like it, comment, or better, SHARE IT WITH OTHERS! - To stay in the loop, subscribe to our Newsletter (About 10 Plus Brand: In addition to the “whole 10 yards” of brand building, digital marketing, and content creation for business and personal brands. To contact us: 1-888-288-4533.) - Visit our Websites: https://10plusbrand.com/ https://10plusprofile.com/ Phone: 888-288-4533 - Find us online by clicking or follow these hashtags: #10PlusBrand #10PlusPodcast #JoanneZTan #10PlusInterviews #BrandDNA #BeYourOwnBrand #StandForSomething #SuperBowlTVCommercials #PoemsbyJoanneTan #GenuineVideo #AIXD #AI Experience Design #theSecondRenaissance #2ndRenaissance #thoughtleadershipcoaching #SipofSolace #WeAreBetterAngels
