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Marie A Bailey's avatar

I’d be an Independent if I lived in a state that allowed open primaries. I like to vote as often as I legally can šŸ™‚ I share your feelings and fears, Charlotte, but I’m feeling a little more hopeful. The hatred and threats of violence and violence is still there, but I want to believe that love and hope will win.

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Charlotte Hamrick's avatar

I want to believe that too. I want to believe people can be civil but I don’t see much civility these days. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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Deb Levy's avatar

Amen, amen, amen.

Beautiful, Charlotte.

I feel exactly the same way.

Your words have captured my heart, head and soul.

Deb

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Charlotte Hamrick's avatar

We are in sync, as usual. XO

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Deb Levy's avatar

šŸ˜‰

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Sheree Shatsky's avatar

A person can be part of a group and feel very much a loner, like voters searching for legitimate news sources. Local newspapers were once go- to trusted sources for news, particularly politics, but many failed due to people getting news online rather than buy a paper. Now, opinion is perceived as news and so many feel safe inside their chosen echo chamber. Our country’s most influential newspapers have recently become the story, created the news - a huge journalistic ethics breach, but opinion makes these papers solvent. A person can be registered as a member of a political party and seek legit info. But it’s tough to get past all the theater. One factual read is the Federal Register to see exactly what our elected officials do on the job.

https://www.federalregister.gov/reader-aids/using-federalregister-gov

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The Root Word's avatar

Charlotte,

I'm so glad you're bringing your voice to this, eloquent and true as always. I never used to think much about hate until this last decade. And while I do believe hatred and othering has been stoked recently in our country, (even battle with a hatred in my own heart that truly makes me sick) I also see it has been this way for(ever)? all over, coming from a deeply rooted part of our condition, tangled with our equally innate instinct to love. I remember going to Rome and walking a botanical garden that sits within eye shot of the Coliseum. Walking there, I could see the artist's eye at every turn, the love of beauty. How to make sense of it existing alongside the savagery that ensued across the street? I keep coming back to John Lennon's Imagine, radical as it is. Wishing for better days, for love and peace for all of us.

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Ani Banerjee's avatar

I hear you, and it seems that we are so divided into the left and right political groups. And my view is empathy is taught by reading, and thus the class who don't read (Trump) have no empathy and thus hate. However, I came here to say that, as a society, we have progressed. The 80s and 90s were so racist.

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Charlotte Hamrick's avatar

Thank you for sharing your pov, Ani. I agree we have progressed in some ways but not all. I have Democrat friends and Republican friends and they all read and have empathy. I can’t speak for the millions of others! Thank you for reading.

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Diane Gottlieb's avatar

I'm with Deb. Amen, amen, amen.

Thank you for saying what I'm feeling.

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Charlotte Hamrick's avatar

You know you’re in my heart & have all my good thoughts for your safety. Always.

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Diane Gottlieb's avatar

Thank you. Being in your heart and having your good thoughts for safety goes a long way, my friend. And back at you!!!

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