Shant Zadoian | My Opinions

When I first arrived in the U.S. over two decades ago, one of my top priorities was to learn English. Like many immigrants, I enrolled in ESL classes at a community college. However, I quickly realized that the curriculum, heavily focused on grammar, was not the fastest route to becoming conversationally fluent. It felt like being taught to run before I even knew how to crawl. A family member suggested I try listening to KPCC (now LAist), a local radio station in Los Angeles. Their conversational content became a valuable tool for learning English. For years, FM 89.3 was my go-to station in the car. But over time, I noticed a shift in their reporting. While they claim to remain politically neutral, it is clear that their content leans left. This in itself is not a problem since media outlets are entitled to have a perspective. What is troubling is the lack of transparency in declaring their stance. This realization has fueled my growing distrust in media reporting overall. It seems tha...

The age-old question of whether the cup is half full or half empty has always been a test of perspective. But have we ever stopped to think about how this simple analogy applies to conflicts around the world? In a world flooded with narratives, opinions, and competing truths, it's becoming harder than ever to discern what’s real. The truth often feels less like an absolute and more like a reflection of who reports it. Two sides of the same story can paint entirely different pictures, each equally convincing, depending on where you stand. This isn't just about optimism or pessimism. It's about the human tendency to hold tight to "our truth" until a shift in perspective opens our eyes to another angle. When we’re locked in arguments—whether personal, professional, or global—we tend to forget that truth is often relative. Maybe it's time we stop arguing over who's right and start focusing on understanding. Trust in the truth you believe, but remain open to ch...