Rural sociologist John Allen says that community creates the success or failure of a civil society. He has helped several communities trying to resolve serious conflicts. His list of key mindsets required to achieve a civil society includes: “Meet the Weirdos” (anyone who may be different from you,) “Cultivate a Civil Tone,” and “Personalize” (get to know those on the other side as fellow human beings.) John Allen, Dean of the USU College of Humanities and Social Sciences, was selected by USU Honors students to give the annual “Last Lecture,” which he delivered recently at USU.
In the second half, we revisit a conversation with Lee Woodruff, author of “In an Instant – A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing,” In January 2006, the Woodruffs seemed to have it all—a happy marriage and four beautiful children. Bob Woodruff had just been named co-anchor of ABC’s World News Tonight. Then, while Bob was embedded with the military in Iraq, an improvised explosive device went off near the tank he was riding in. He and his cameraman were hit, and Bob suffered a traumatic brain injury that nearly killed him.