The week of March 12, 2016 was our #BestSchoolDay; applauding Wieners Circle; and crying our faces off with Eric and Peety of Mutual Rescue. Plus, two handsome world leaders kiss babies.

Mash-Ups In The News:

Mister Rogers and the First Black Lead Actor on a Children’s Show

Officer Clemmons! In the 60s Mr. Rogers and Officer Clemmons modeled what friendship and respect looked like between two men who happened to be different races.

Via Storycorps

10 Most Literate Countries in the World

Lots of Scandinavians in this ranking, followed by the U.S. Turns out access to libraries, the internet and newspapers is a big factor in literacy!

Via Take Part

The Enduring Curse of Caste

“The value of a man was reduced to his immediate identity and nearest possibility. To a vote. To a number. To a thing. Never was a man treated as a mind.” — from the suicide note of an “Untouchable” PhD student, who was discriminated against because of his caste.

Via NY Times

Asian American Teens Lie to Doctors About Sex

This whole dorky-Asian-kid-not-rebelling-or-having-sex stereotype is just not true. What is true is that Asian teens are not talking to their doctors about their sex lives because they are afraid their parents will find out.

Via NPR

Flesh-Colored Tights: Empowering My Daughter Through Dance

What color is “flesh-colored”? Well, every color. A great story about how our littlest ballerinas can have tights that reflect their skin.

Via Washington Post

McDonald’s Releases Taiwanese Ad Featuring Gay Son + Dad

Did you know more than 70% of Taiwanese citizens support gay marriage?

Via Advocate

The Positive and Negative Sides of Japan’s Obsession with Dating by Blood Type

So we had heard of the blood type diet, and we are willing participants in many diet fads, but dating by blood type? Hrmph. Regardless, good to know that we are sensitive but stubborn because of our blood type!

Via Atlas Obscura

What It’s Like to Leave Iraq for a Life in America

At age 17, Ahmed was shot and paralyzed by an American soldier near an American base by his home in Iraq. Five years later, the UN secured a home for him in the Bay Area, and funding for incredible high-tech therapies. This moving video shows a young man far from his family taking advantage of his new opportunities and, despite it all, feeling very lucky to be in the U.S.

Via The Atlantic

If Babies Were Randomly Allocated to Families Would Racism End?

This is a pretty reprehensible idea, but if you can treat it as a thought experiment, ultimately the question is: How can we care for each other and create a society where each person is given equal opportunity?

Via Aeon

Negotiating Around the World: How to get to Si, Oui, Ja, Da

While we love surprises when it comes to people and identity, sometimes it’s just very comforting to know that on the axes Confrontational to  Non-confrontational and Emotionally Expressive to Emotionally Non-Expressive, many cultures are EXACTLY where you expect them to be. In Denmark, for instance, you should disagree, but you must do it calmly. In Brazil, you may be very emotional, but you will also avoid disagreement.

Via Harvard Business Review