In “Stand Up or Stand By – Is Moral Courage the Revolution We Need?”, Tara Setmayer examines the critical role of moral courage in today’s society. Drawing from her own experiences in politics and media, Setmayer emphasizes that standing up for one’s beliefs—even in the face of adversity—requires an unwavering commitment to ethical principles. Through compelling anecdotes and insights, she highlights the difference between passive support and active advocacy, urging individuals to rise beyond complacency. Setmayer calls for a collective awakening, encouraging viewers to embrace moral courage as a powerful catalyst for social change. In a time when division and uncertainty abound, her message resonates: the revolution we need may very well depend on our ability to confront injustices and champion what is right. By fostering discussions around moral responsibility, this TEDx talk inspires not just reflection, but action, inviting us all to consider what it truly means to stand up for our values.
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Author Video Description
Tara Setmayer is co-founder of the award-winning Seneca Project, a women-led messaging and content organization defending democracy and women’s rights.
With over 30 years of political experience, she is a nationally recognized commentator, former CNN and ABC News contributor, guest host on The View, keynote speaker, and Resident Scholar at UVA’s Center for Politics. A former Harvard Institute of Politics Fellow, Tara champions speaking truth to power in the face of extremism.
Setmayer offers a clarion call to reject apathy and embrace speaking truth as a radical act. Imagine a society where standing up for what’s right is taught, expected, and rewarded. In a culture drowning in deceit and cowardice, she challenges us to see neutrality as unsafe and truth as revolutionary.
When it’s time to choose, will you stand up or stand by? Tara Setmayer is Co-Founder and CEO of The Seneca Project,
A former CNN political commentator, contributor to ABC News and former GOP Communications Director on Capitol Hill, Tara currently serves as a University of Virginia, Center for Politics, Resident Scholar. In collaboration with the Center for Politics, she narrated the Emmy nominated 3-part documentary, Dismantling Democracy. Prior to joining UVA, she was named a Resident Fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics.
Today, she regularly appears as an on-air commentator on MSNBC and various other news outlets in the US and abroad.
Setmayer has also been a frequent guest host on ABC’s The View and has several appearances on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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Video “Stand Up or Stand By – Is Moral Courage the Revolution We Need? | Tara Setmayer | TEDxPacific Avenue” was uploaded on 09/25/2025 to Youtube Channel TEDx Talks