I grew up in Wyoming in the 1960s when Superman’s American Way was pounded in my head the moment I popped out of the womb. You know, “faster than a speeding bullet, richer is better than poorer, acceptance by assimilation, and fighting for truth, justice, and the American Way?”

In the 70s, I realized that I was surrounded by adults who rarely questioned the subtle bigotry woven into everyday conversation. That was when “All in the Family” was the rage on network TV. I watched Rob Reiner as Meathead, punching toe-to-toe with Archie Bunker about prejudice and Nixon’s politics.

Meathead and Archie changed me.

It was the first time I saw someone on TV or in real life defend fairness against ignorance.

Two worlds had collided.  Reiner’s calm conviction made his moral convictions feel achievable.

“All in the Family” proved that challenging racism and standing up for every kind of person, regardless of their circumstances, reinvented the American Way toward Superman’s reimagined American Dream. Seeing Meathead versus Archie made me realize some people refused to accept hate as normal.

I decided to be one of them.

With all the murder and mayhem happening in the world today, it seems that we’ve forgotten that kindness belongs at the heart of every political choice.

Thank you, Rob Reiner. You inspired me to make movies and write books that raise awareness about social change.

I can handle the truth.