"In Portland Shakespeare Project's current staging of the play, the words are barely out of Portia's mouth before we hear offstage drunken laughter that emphasizes her xenophobia and provides a potent reminder that Merchant may be called a comedy, but this version is intent on grappling with the prejudices displayed by its characters."
Fear of the unfamiliar is an evolutionary instinct that no longer serves us. Social conditioning reinforces this fear, limiting growth and understanding. Exposure, self-reflection, and embracing change are vital for overcoming fear of difference.
In a nearly three-minute audio from his classroom, Bilotti's tirade against Trump escalated, leading to an explosive confrontation with a student who told him to "calm down."