Typically I avoid driving straight into the insanity of national politics, but today I felt an exception is warranted. Although I read widely and consider myself well-informed, I’ve not had a television for more than 30 years so I’m mostly spared the crazy world of competing “news” programs. This week’s visit by Donald Trump to Vermont made avoiding that world unavoidable.
When we work together and put aside irrational fear, the family I was fortunate to marry into is how I know the world can be, in fact, is in many instances:
No, it is not “perfect.” We regularly have our tussles and growing pains. Yet we span from 3 to 96, and come in many shades of the “rainbow,” and we have differing abilities, interests, and sexual preferences. What binds us together is the knowledge that we are family and, of course, a love for all of life that is larger than our individual differences.
Some will argue this is not “real.” Perhaps but, when the poisonous fears so many actively foment are stripped aside, a family like this is actually what is normal.
Still Learning To See 
I was “gobsmacked” (as the Brits say) to read about Trump’s VT visit and stunned at the number of people who wanted to attend. His crass remarks about sending people out in the cold without their coats unless they supported him is a chilling indication of how frightening this man’s continued popularity is to me. And how totally egotistical and brazen of him to hold his event near Bernie’s town of Burlington 😦
Your family photo gives me hope, but the political climate today has me considering repatriating to Switzerland, the country from which my grandfather came in 1904!
Yes, it was pretty crazy. His campaign gave out over 20,000 tickets for the event in a space that held only 1200. In the end it appears 700 people actually attended, only those who passed the “test” at the door given by his security team. Yes, around the world there is so much fear-mongering. Fascinating, however, that on our recent trip to NYC 99% of what we saw was people simply being peaceful, even polite, with each other. So what is really true?!?!
As always with the paradox of human beings, BOTH are “truths”, depending on whom you ask! I also don’t have television, which helps–but the media is still ubiquitous, and thrives on “doom and gloom”, alas. You’ve heard my belief that we become what we choose as our focus–and you’re so right that people can be wonderful. I found 30 examples here: http://www.viralnova.com/30-nice-things/ 🙂
Thanks to you both, John and Julia, for your comments and thoughts. I enjoyed the blog…and the 30 acts of kindness, often with tears. THREE CHEERS to life, diversity, kindness!
So true, Karen. I always hold Anne Frank in my heart when times look bleak. In the midst of her two years+, hiding in that attic, she was able to write: “In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness, I hear the ever approaching thunder, which will destroy us too, I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again.”
Choose hope, always 🙂