Ilona. I'm reading a book right now called "Love Wins." It's about a tragedy that happened in our town in 2003. We were here for the weekend when, unbeknownst to us (as we live 7 miles away from town up on a hill), a man opened fire on a group of young people and killed one of the town's beloved sons. The book follows the case up through the trial and beyond, and is mainly about how the townspeople supported and showed love to each other through the following months and even years. No one asked if someone was a Republican or Democrat (over twenty years ago). I thought about that as I got a box of yard signs in the mail yesterday. Even though I live far enough away from people (so the yard sign won't even be seen), I had a fear thought..."could this bring danger to my door?" I really thought about that and realized that the fear came from the rhetoric from certain persons at the top of this election cycle, and not from people I actually see in my day to day life. It comes from the images I can still see from January 6th, not my friends and neighbors in my own life.
Yes, he has laid the groundwork for us fearing each other, and unnecessarily so. The over-sized all-caps signs and trucks I see around town don't help the situation. It's like they're shouting at us, and perhaps they are, because they feel like they've been overlooked.
Regarding the book, Love Wins, that reminds me of America after 9/11. I think we always revert back to the way of love, but have trouble maintaining ourselves there, myself included. The opposite of love is fear, and I think it's good to remember that as we go about our days. Thanks, as always, for your beautiful, wise insight.
This is great, Ilona! Very encouraging, and good for you! My yard sign says, “Don’t forget to vote,” which hopefully is too neutral to offend my landlord but yet puts a little peer pressure on folks. I also have a t-shirt that says, Harris Walz obviously” and I feel so powerful wearing it around town and get at least one compliment each time I wear it.
Thanks, Jill! I never knew anyone who canvassed until I joined the Democrat Club. None of my friends have done this, and I thought it might be a bit educational for my community. I think canvassing is a great way to know your neighbors, and that alone is worthwhile.
I think we have moved into a time when unfortunately 'fear dictates how we live' maybe because of many things. Not connecting with people (or community) for sure being one. We should not let fear dictate and you and your canvassing warriors are not letting it dictate what you stand for, believe, and share with others.
Canvassing warriors! I like that. You're right. We live in dystopian times where fear is created by lying. On last night's debate, Vance didn't like that the moderator corrected him re: Haitian migrants, and he says, "Oh, I thought we weren't going to fact check." In other words, you were going to let me tell my BS stories. Lying lays the groundwork for us to fear immigrants. We simply can't stand for that.
Fear is so powerful and I am a person who will usually do anything to avoid conflict but I’m learning to see that having a strong opinion doesn’t have to mean conflict. You can share your view while listening to another person and attempting to understand them, knowing you are different but at the end of the day, human. Bravo for getting out there!
We have a month to go, let's see how the signs fare down the homestretch. But I agree, we can't let fear win by hiding our beliefs because some people don't like them, that's no America! PS My wife agrees with you too! :)
Wonderful post, Ilona! Reading it makes me feel so good about you, your community, your activism, your energy. And about America. Decades ago, we used to put Dem signs at the top of our mile-long one-lane dirt driveway in this remote rural area. Once in a while they'd get knocked down, but rarely. There was ugliness in our tiny reddish village contained within a blue county and state, and it was sad, but it didn't make me despair the way the past nine years did. You can come knocking on my door any day - it's just quite the hike in the wilderness! But the view is great. You might even see whales.
Well, after decades of working on one "bar" of random connectivity, as of two days ago, thanks to Presidents Obama and Biden (project shut down during you know who), we remote rural folks out here on the edge of the world now have high-speed internet! Meaning I can maybe learn how to Zoom, although I don't like screens and would rather talk to or meet people in person. I'm back in my writing cottage for the first time in six months, my OWN SPACE, surrounded by my lifetime of writing and views of nature. As to why I was stuck in the main house for six months: installation of the high speed was extremely difficult due to the terrain here, and the bulldozers and workers cut off the little internet connectivity we had, so I had to operate off a weak and random hot spot on my husband's i-phone.
Ilona. I'm reading a book right now called "Love Wins." It's about a tragedy that happened in our town in 2003. We were here for the weekend when, unbeknownst to us (as we live 7 miles away from town up on a hill), a man opened fire on a group of young people and killed one of the town's beloved sons. The book follows the case up through the trial and beyond, and is mainly about how the townspeople supported and showed love to each other through the following months and even years. No one asked if someone was a Republican or Democrat (over twenty years ago). I thought about that as I got a box of yard signs in the mail yesterday. Even though I live far enough away from people (so the yard sign won't even be seen), I had a fear thought..."could this bring danger to my door?" I really thought about that and realized that the fear came from the rhetoric from certain persons at the top of this election cycle, and not from people I actually see in my day to day life. It comes from the images I can still see from January 6th, not my friends and neighbors in my own life.
Yes, he has laid the groundwork for us fearing each other, and unnecessarily so. The over-sized all-caps signs and trucks I see around town don't help the situation. It's like they're shouting at us, and perhaps they are, because they feel like they've been overlooked.
Regarding the book, Love Wins, that reminds me of America after 9/11. I think we always revert back to the way of love, but have trouble maintaining ourselves there, myself included. The opposite of love is fear, and I think it's good to remember that as we go about our days. Thanks, as always, for your beautiful, wise insight.
This is great, Ilona! Very encouraging, and good for you! My yard sign says, “Don’t forget to vote,” which hopefully is too neutral to offend my landlord but yet puts a little peer pressure on folks. I also have a t-shirt that says, Harris Walz obviously” and I feel so powerful wearing it around town and get at least one compliment each time I wear it.
Well done, Cherie! Keep up the good fight using whatever means available, including that T-Shirt!
I love that you shared this. I am for democracy, voting, truth, and conversation.
Right now Kamala Harris and Tim Walz sure have a lot more of each of those things than their opponents.
Caring and reaching out make a difference.
Thanks, Jill! I never knew anyone who canvassed until I joined the Democrat Club. None of my friends have done this, and I thought it might be a bit educational for my community. I think canvassing is a great way to know your neighbors, and that alone is worthwhile.
yes, and I would post a Kamala Harris sign anytime!
I think we have moved into a time when unfortunately 'fear dictates how we live' maybe because of many things. Not connecting with people (or community) for sure being one. We should not let fear dictate and you and your canvassing warriors are not letting it dictate what you stand for, believe, and share with others.
Canvassing warriors! I like that. You're right. We live in dystopian times where fear is created by lying. On last night's debate, Vance didn't like that the moderator corrected him re: Haitian migrants, and he says, "Oh, I thought we weren't going to fact check." In other words, you were going to let me tell my BS stories. Lying lays the groundwork for us to fear immigrants. We simply can't stand for that.
Fear is so powerful and I am a person who will usually do anything to avoid conflict but I’m learning to see that having a strong opinion doesn’t have to mean conflict. You can share your view while listening to another person and attempting to understand them, knowing you are different but at the end of the day, human. Bravo for getting out there!
Thanks girl. I think age makes you less fearful. Apparently old ladies like me like to fight.
Right on!
We have a month to go, let's see how the signs fare down the homestretch. But I agree, we can't let fear win by hiding our beliefs because some people don't like them, that's no America! PS My wife agrees with you too! :)
Wonderful post, Ilona! Reading it makes me feel so good about you, your community, your activism, your energy. And about America. Decades ago, we used to put Dem signs at the top of our mile-long one-lane dirt driveway in this remote rural area. Once in a while they'd get knocked down, but rarely. There was ugliness in our tiny reddish village contained within a blue county and state, and it was sad, but it didn't make me despair the way the past nine years did. You can come knocking on my door any day - it's just quite the hike in the wilderness! But the view is great. You might even see whales.
LOL! I'll be right over. I guess I'll have to meet you in person since you don't do Zoom.
Well, after decades of working on one "bar" of random connectivity, as of two days ago, thanks to Presidents Obama and Biden (project shut down during you know who), we remote rural folks out here on the edge of the world now have high-speed internet! Meaning I can maybe learn how to Zoom, although I don't like screens and would rather talk to or meet people in person. I'm back in my writing cottage for the first time in six months, my OWN SPACE, surrounded by my lifetime of writing and views of nature. As to why I was stuck in the main house for six months: installation of the high speed was extremely difficult due to the terrain here, and the bulldozers and workers cut off the little internet connectivity we had, so I had to operate off a weak and random hot spot on my husband's i-phone.