Choosing Kindness: My Lifelong Journey Toward Human Rights

From Personal Empathy to Global Advocacy: A Lifelong Commitment to Human Rights and Kindness

Ilsa Lottes

Author

Retired

People often ask why I care so deeply about human rights, and my answer is simple: I was raised with empathy. My mother was one of the kindest and most generous people I have ever known. She helped others not for recognition, but because she believed it was the right thing to do. Growing up with parents like mine formed the foundation of my values long before I understood how meaningful those values would become.

Even as a child, I was unusually sensitive to injustice. When I saw someone treated unfairly, it stayed with me—I often cried for people I did not even know. As I grew older, this sensitivity transformed into deep concern about the cruelty, indifference, and greed I witnessed, especially in the United States. Trying to understand why governments allow people to suffer led me to study how other developed nations address human needs. What I discovered gave me hope: many countries do a far better job protecting basic rights. This showed me that suffering is not inevitable. Societies can change.

My Work as an Advocate

For many years, I took every action available to me. I signed petitions, knocked on doors to share information, wrote letters to lawmakers, and participated in countless protests. My goal was always the same—to protect vulnerable populations and to help reduce the staggering inequality harming so many families.

Through this advocacy, I learned an important truth. Individual efforts matter, but meaningful change requires governments to act. A small group of committed people can help a few, but governments have the power to help millions. Sadly, too many politicians seem more focused on protecting their own wealth than ensuring that people have food, shelter, healthcare, and dignity. Accepting that reality has always been difficult.

Why I Wrote My Book

My concern for human suffering is what motivated me to write Quality of Life and Human Rights Policy in the U.S.: How Our Two Political Parties Compare. The urgency intensified after the Hamas–Israeli war began. Watching thousands of Palestinians killed, and watching families denied food, water, shelter, and medical care, was heartbreaking. I could not remain silent.

I wrote the book quickly, knowing it might not shift anything on a grand scale. But if it helped even a few people understand what was happening—and why so many were speaking out—it would be worth it. I am now working on an addendum to keep the information current.

Teaching and Mentoring

My academic career allowed me to help others in more personal, long-lasting ways. Teaching human rights courses encouraged students to think deeply about vulnerable populations, and many went on to careers where they support others. Some even published research with me—those collaborations remain among the most meaningful experiences of my career.

As Chair of my university’s Women’s Commission, I used my limited funding to support an organization helping poor women workers in Latin America. Monthly meetings with the provost allowed me to advocate for more support for faculty engaged in social justice work. I also mentored minority research students and served as a mentor in two residence halls, offering programs on study skills and even Lindy Hop dancing. Helping students grow—academically and personally—was a joy.

Finland and International Work

Several sabbaticals in Finland were also defining chapters of my career. At the University of Helsinki, I co-edited New Views of Sexual Health: The Case of Finland, contributing four chapters. Our work highlighted how Finland applies human rights principles to sexual health policy. To our surprise, the President of Finland invited us to meet her—an unforgettable moment.

Later, I received a Fulbright Specialist Award to work at the Applied University of Jyväskylä. I lectured researchers, co-taught an ethics course for nurses, social workers, and educators, and published a paper in Nursing Ethics based on our work. I also collaborated on additional papers, including one focused on children’s rights. These experiences expanded my understanding of how international perspectives can strengthen human rights work everywhere.

A Simpler Mission

My activism looks different now. I no longer walk miles in protests or spend hours distributing informational flyers. My guiding principle has become simple: be kind to every person I meet. Kindness is still activism. It may be quieter, but it is no less powerful.

I continue to hope for a more humane world, and that hope is what led me to write my book. I want people to see that while perfection is out of reach, progress is possible—if enough of us care.

Since publishing my book, I have been invited to appear in Marquis Who’s Who in America, to be listed on Wikipedia, and to be included among Influential Women in the United States. These unexpected honors reassure me that perhaps my work has made a difference.

In the end, my message is simple: choose kindness. Believe in improvement. Support human rights. These choices matter—and they always will.