"I will always believe that the odds are in our favor. Always."
Jon Stewart, October 25, 2025
Each year on December 10th, the world pauses to celebrate Human Rights Day, a moment to reflect on the universal rights and freedoms that belong to every human being.
Most often, our conversation focuses on injustices in distant places – particularly the conflict regions our artisans come from. But this year, we’re turning our gaze inward to the United States itself, and listening to a hopeful message from Jon Stewart.
Across our country, fundamental rights are being challenged in ways we once thought unimaginable. Freedom of speech, the right to vote, reproductive autonomy, the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals, and the dignity of refugees and immigrants — all are under relentless attack. We can fund tax cuts for the wealthy and lend billions to Argentina, but not help low-income Americans put food on the table and pay for health insurance.
Human rights begin at home. The same values that guide our work here at Prosperity Candle – fair wages, opportunity, safety and respect – are the foundation of every just society. We cannot remain silent while those principles are eroded.
That’s why we donated 10% of sales in October to the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU’s work is essential in the fight for justice. Their courage and persistence inspire us to keep pushing for a country where human rights are not privileges, and dignity is not conditional.
We also draw inspiration from the No Kings protests in which we participated, where 7 million Americans across the nation gathered to say “enough.” Enough division, enough cruelty, enough disregard for the humanity of others. The extraordinary turnout showed the world that compassion and conscience still run deep in the American spirit. It reminded us that democracy is not a passive inheritance but an active practice, renewed every time people stand together for what’s right.
We are hopeful, as is Jon Stewart. On a recent New Yorker Radio Hour hosted by David Remnick, Stewart said “think of the amazing people that you see every day... I will always believe that the odds are in our favor. Always."
We agree.
