For the last year I have been holding on to a frayed thread of hope, and I have to work extra hard to remember that the state of our current political environment is temporary….but is it really?!  We are witnessing unprecedented actions that will have devastating and lasting effects…

Dear Neighbor, 

Finding joy in the moment has been my go-to antidote during times of sadness and stress. It doesn’t erase reality; however I do believe it is how some people manage to find that elusive resilience that I often read about or hear discussed. It’s much more than an escape hatch and most recently, “joy as a form of resistance,” has been touted as a daily survival tool for those who remain engaged in the promise of our imperfect nation through positive actions.  Lately I am having a very difficult time using “joy as resistance”. 

For the last year I have been holding on to a frayed thread of hope, and I have to work extra hard to remember that the state of our current political environment is temporary….but is it really?!  We are witnessing unprecedented actions that will have devastating and lasting effects on our planet as well as future generations  – deregulating EPA guidelines, shooting citizens in the streets, having windows smashed by masked humans, pardoning convicted criminals. And I’m sure these atrocities are just the tip of the iceberg. I feel these behaviors are being normalized by mainstream media and the current administration. We are being told not to believe what we see with our eyes, but to believe the lies spouted by those in charge. I for one refuse to be tolerant of criminal behavior and to stay silent. 

I weep for our neighbors who are afraid to come out of their homes and the children who are afraid to go to school. I weep for my own grandchildren who are witnessing hate and division. I weep for a country that used to be a beacon of hope for thousands of people worldwide who depended on American generosity for food and medical supplies. I weep and am ashamed of the actions by the administration. I will, however, hold on to my frayed thread of hope and look for small moments of joy as resistance each time I breathe in fresh air and hear children laugh. 

“Dear Neighbor” authors are united in a belief that civility and passion can coexist. We believe curiosity and conversation make us a better community.