A Word About Yesterday

After the sad events near my hometown yesterday, I feel the need to speak my heart today.

All who have read this blog from the beginning know that I stand for living Progressive values always, and this has not changed.

As much as I find Donald Trump and most everything he stands for detestable, neither he nor anyone deserves violence.  This blog decries and condemns the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.  I am glad to hear that he was not seriously injured.

Yesterday was a sad, sad day for our democratic republic.

People, we are better than this, and we must, with great deliberate consciousness, be better than this.  There comes a time to stop in our tracks, ask ourselves hard questions, and course-correct; that time is now.

The political divisions in this country are profound.  There are issues that many of us feel deeply about, and we may disagree about them.  I have neighbors who still sport a Trump/Pence sticker on their mailbox.  But when I couldn't get my lawn mower started, there Bobby was, helping me get it running, affirming my choice of a mower with a Briggs and Stratton engine, and letting me know he was there for us.  As long as my mum was alive, Bobby's wife Denise would engage her in conversation every time she saw her, and ask me about her when she saw me.  

Our neighbors Dan and Debbie, though not out front with their political choices, are most probably also affiliated on the right hand side of the aisle.  But they have brought me food and inquired about my well-being every holiday since my mum passed.  A few weeks ago I had a survey done on my property as part of many improvements I want to make -- new deck, porch, landscaping and such.  Dan saw me outside one day right after the survey was completed, and came over to ask if I was planning on selling the house.  When I told him about the improvements, Dan, the neighborhood gardening expert, immediately volunteered his considerable knowledge and assistance.  After finding out I intend to put in a maple tree to replace the one that our borough had ripped out when they carried out a drainage project, Dan told me he will buy that tree in my mother's honor.  And he will help me optimize my soil, find the best plants and trees I want at the best prices, and though he never said so, he will probably help me put the things in, too, as he and Debbie have helped us in a million ways.  He never asked my political affiliation; I don't know his.  We just know we're neighbors, and have been for more than 30 years.  Same with Bobby and Denise.  And I hope they all know that I would help them as they have helped me, flaming Liberal that I am.

We are all neighbors in this way, whether we realize it or not.  We all need each other.  This democratic republic of ours needs us, all of us.  We must work together, do the right things, and steer our ship, our country, on a better course.  We can disagree, and we will.  We can do our work to bring about the country we want.  I believe if we really try, we can make the compromises that will be required to bring so many divergent viewpoints together.  We can make this choice, and I believe we must, every day.  I hope to see you out there!

Our country, our lives, the next generations' lives, depend on it.