In Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet fall in love. Coming from two warring families, these two “star-cross’d” lovers are doomed from the start. In the famous balcony scene, Juliet tells Romeo, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.” This one brief line captures the tragedy of the entire play.

In 1835, French sociologist and political theorist Alexis de Tocqueville published Democracy in America, one of the most influential books of the 19th century. Previously, he had spent nine months traveling through the United States studying our religious, political, and economic character. His findings provide much wisdom concerning life in America. He astutely remarked that “The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.”

Two years ago, Rachel Dolezal enjoyed a good reputation as a civil rights activist and a well-respected professor at Eastern Washington University. She was the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) chapter in Spokane. Today, she has a hard time finding a job.