#9: The Things We Inherit

☀️ The Weight of a Choice

When I was around 8 or 9, my dad told me: “Those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it.”

I didn’t get it at the time. It sounded like something lifted straight from a textbook. But he kept saying it, and showing it. He’d take me to museums, gift me history books, and sit with me late into the night, turning historic events into stories I could actually follow.

He wasn’t a historian. He successfully climbed the corporate ladder and worked as a bank manager, with an academic background in engineering and marketing. But history? That was his passion. Because he believed deeply in the power of memory and the danger of forgetting.

When I turned 18, the first thing he told me after “Happy birthday, princess!” was, “Now, you can finally vote.”

Today, Romania votes for its next President. I already cast my vote from abroad. But these past few days, I’ve been thinking about my dad a lot. I miss him every day, but now more than ever. And while I’m grateful he’s not here to witness what feels like an absurd reality - that many Romanians might choose a far-right candidate over a mathematics prodigy sweetheart with hundreds of achievements in public administration - I’m also thinking about everyone back home. I hope they use their right. I hope they show up.

Because democracy isn’t a given. It’s something we build and protect, over and over again.

Voting is emotional, yes. But it’s also a rational act. A civic ritual. A moment where history meets today and quietly shapes tomorrow.

So this week’s edition is about just that: the right to choose, the responsibility to stay informed, and the power of showing up.

📖 3 Articles to Spark Your Curiosity

1. How Did Political Polarization Begin - and Where Does It End?
   Political division didn’t just appear out of nowhere. This piece explores the roots of polarization and how it might actually be undone. Spoiler: it requires more than memes and debates over coffee.

2. Types of Voting Systems (and Why They Matter)
   We often treat voting like a one-size-fits-all process. But this read breaks down different systems, from ranked choice to proportional representation, and shows how structure shapes outcome.

3. Why Voting Feels So Emotional (Neuroscience Explains It)
   Ever felt strangely intense in the voting booth? There’s science behind that. This article unpacks how emotion, identity, and our brain’s wiring all play into civic decisions.

🗞️ 3 Headlines Worth Exploring

1. Why Fake Health Info Spreads Faster Than Facts
   From miracle cures to conspiracy theories, misinformation moves fast, especially when it’s wrapped in emotional language. This article explains why we’re so quick to believe, and how to pause before we hit “share”.

2. So Much Voting, So Little Clarity
   Between national elections, EU ballots, and referendums, Brussels is buzzing. This Politico roundup captures the complexity (and chaos) of democracy in motion and how voters are navigating it.

3. AI Is Both the Biggest Threat and the Strongest Defense in Cybersecurity
   A reminder that the tools shaping our future (and our votes) cut both ways. McKinsey breaks down how AI is being used to both attack and protect digital systems in the middle of an increasingly tense geopolitical climate.

☀️ 3 Actions to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

1. Ask a Friend How They Chose Who to Vote For
   Not to debate, but to understand. Step into someone else’s lens and stay curious - what matters most to them, and why?

2. Follow a News Outlet You Normally Avoid (Just for a Day)
   You don’t have to agree with it, but observing how different narratives are built is a powerful empathy exercise and an antidote to echo chambers.

3. Write Down 3 Values You Want Represented in Politics
   Not parties. Not candidates. Just values. It’s a grounding prompt that turns overwhelm into clarity and prepares you for any kind of ballot.

⚡ 6 Quick Resources

📊 To check: Democracy Index
Explore how democracy is rated across countries, and see where yours stands in terms of participation, pluralism, and political culture.

🧠 To keep in mind: How to Spot Fake News
As misinformation spreads faster than facts, learn how to filter what you read and share, especially during election season.

🧭 To do: Take the Political Compass Test
See where you really land on the political spectrum. It’s not left vs. right - it’s more complex than that.

🏛️ To learn about: What Democracy Meant in Ancient Athens
Turns out, the original democracy didn’t have elections, it had lotteries. What would that even look like today?

🎥 To watch: Historian Answers Cold War Questions
Learn about Cold War history, power dynamics, and modern-day echoes, all from an Eastern European affairs expert.

🗣️ To think about: The Science Behind Better Conversations
Good voting starts with good listening. This talk unpacks how asking the right questions can change everything, online and IRL.

🎲 This week’s wonderfully random corner of the internet 

🔗 The Evolution of Trust

An interactive game-meets-lesson that shows how trust builds, breaks, and rebuilds in society. It’s part game theory, part moral exercise, and strangely addictive.

📝 Word of the Week

Agora (noun, Greek) - In ancient Greece, the agora was the public square, the heart of civic life, where people gathered to trade, talk, and vote. Today, it’s a powerful symbol of dialogue, debate, and showing up for your community.

Because democracy doesn’t live behind closed doors. It lives in the open, where voices meet.

🧘‍♀️ Question of the Week for Introspection

When did you last make a decision that truly reflected your values - not just your habits, emotions, or pressure from others?

See you next Sunday! Until then, keep your eyes open, your questions big, and your sense of wonder alive.

Your curious internet friend,

Ruxandra