I laughed out loud at your bimodal kindness/turn-signal meme. Thank you for sharing my live humans/hate them in traffic attitude! On a more serious note, half my father’s siblings are red red red. The other half, “my half” are blue. So I’ve lived with the complexity of knowing that these folks I love also hold values that I find repugnant. There is a lot we can talk about. And some stuff we just can’t. Thanks for thinking about all this.
Emrigsby: Not uncommon IMO, even among siblings. Sometimes it's the gorilla (lion?) in the room and is both awkward and uncomfortable. Actually we CAN find more to agree on - it takes a little bit of attitude adjustment to listen and try to understand an otherwise "offensive" ideology. 2 cents from the small brain component.
This is beautifully said . This is what we need right now! Perspectives on how to be patient with each other and view each other from places of understanding. Thank you for the colorful metaphor of the invisible lion from the book by the title of the same name. And thank you for your indomitable humor!
The primary reason for my relocation to Portugal is the amount of anger that is so prevalent in the US population. Your article is extremely open minded and reminds to be so. I'm, at times, ashamed to be Caucasian when looking at the history of our race. One needs to look no further than "Trail of Tears". The white race simply moves in and takes over. Aggressive a bit? The US was founded on a principle of freedom of religion and now we have those that wish to decide for all the population what they should believe. Maybe it's always been that way. There is no longer an acceptance of the views and beliefs of others and the desire to crush is exploding. Is there any hope for the US?
Dear Robert - you certainly picked an apropos day to ask the question "is there hope for America"? You are right. The country does seem more divided and divisive than ever before. People are angry on both sides. That is a hard place to try to find commonality and healing. You are right that America was created with a legacy of genocide and slavery which is abhorrent to any caring and thinking person. Some days when I see the US's foreign policy and domestic policy I wonder if rich capitalists and self serving interests will always prevail. I guess the only antidote I know if for those of us that care to keep caring, keep working for change and to never let the forces that win when we lose hope prevail. Thanks for joining the conversation.
Great read Maureen, I think if more people would actually watch all the political speeches on both sides and not stay within their own echo chambers it would go a long way with the understanding. I ask many folks did you watch the DJT speech? Typically if they are blue they say no, cant stand to listen to that or whatever. I listened to his presentation and the horrific comedian prior to his and I can see why so many folks are going down that path (except for the comedian). Same with the speeches Kamala has given. They are all pretty well orated but then I would hope so they are supposed to be professional orators. Now, the next step is for people to fact check and trust me I find inconsistencies on both sides of the table here as well. As always it is a great perspective on how we've arrived at our current situation in this country!
Maureen, nicely put together. Turn signals and driver behavior are favs. Your composition and concepts are golden. Unfortunately, IMO, those are somewhat wasted in this instance because they're already "over media'd". I admire your spunk for going out on that limb but I admire and enjoy your more typical dilemma essays. My wife and I lived in Germany 2 years and spent a bit of time in South Africa and Zimbabwe.Those times were both eye-opening and treasured.
Agree on all counts! I’m glad you’ve had such varied and rich travel experiences- I can’t imagine existing in the silo of only having lived in one country. I spent time in Zimbabwe as well - chaotic and beautiful… and had good friends I visited regularly in Kaiserslautern when I lived in NL.
Honestly, this surprised me. I read the whole piece, and I'm with you on it all. I kept thinking, I'll stop reading in a second. This isn't how I "do Substack." But I didn't stop.
Living abroad for over a decade has shifted two aspects of my politics in ways that surprised me.
I laughed out loud at your bimodal kindness/turn-signal meme. Thank you for sharing my live humans/hate them in traffic attitude! On a more serious note, half my father’s siblings are red red red. The other half, “my half” are blue. So I’ve lived with the complexity of knowing that these folks I love also hold values that I find repugnant. There is a lot we can talk about. And some stuff we just can’t. Thanks for thinking about all this.
Emrigsby: Not uncommon IMO, even among siblings. Sometimes it's the gorilla (lion?) in the room and is both awkward and uncomfortable. Actually we CAN find more to agree on - it takes a little bit of attitude adjustment to listen and try to understand an otherwise "offensive" ideology. 2 cents from the small brain component.
This is beautifully said . This is what we need right now! Perspectives on how to be patient with each other and view each other from places of understanding. Thank you for the colorful metaphor of the invisible lion from the book by the title of the same name. And thank you for your indomitable humor!
That turn signal reference gets me every time. Ha ha.
Ms Gilbert,
The primary reason for my relocation to Portugal is the amount of anger that is so prevalent in the US population. Your article is extremely open minded and reminds to be so. I'm, at times, ashamed to be Caucasian when looking at the history of our race. One needs to look no further than "Trail of Tears". The white race simply moves in and takes over. Aggressive a bit? The US was founded on a principle of freedom of religion and now we have those that wish to decide for all the population what they should believe. Maybe it's always been that way. There is no longer an acceptance of the views and beliefs of others and the desire to crush is exploding. Is there any hope for the US?
Dear Robert - you certainly picked an apropos day to ask the question "is there hope for America"? You are right. The country does seem more divided and divisive than ever before. People are angry on both sides. That is a hard place to try to find commonality and healing. You are right that America was created with a legacy of genocide and slavery which is abhorrent to any caring and thinking person. Some days when I see the US's foreign policy and domestic policy I wonder if rich capitalists and self serving interests will always prevail. I guess the only antidote I know if for those of us that care to keep caring, keep working for change and to never let the forces that win when we lose hope prevail. Thanks for joining the conversation.
Great read Maureen, I think if more people would actually watch all the political speeches on both sides and not stay within their own echo chambers it would go a long way with the understanding. I ask many folks did you watch the DJT speech? Typically if they are blue they say no, cant stand to listen to that or whatever. I listened to his presentation and the horrific comedian prior to his and I can see why so many folks are going down that path (except for the comedian). Same with the speeches Kamala has given. They are all pretty well orated but then I would hope so they are supposed to be professional orators. Now, the next step is for people to fact check and trust me I find inconsistencies on both sides of the table here as well. As always it is a great perspective on how we've arrived at our current situation in this country!
Thanks Bruce - and glad to hear you too try to keep out of your silos of belief - it’s something one needs to work on but it’s so important.
Maureen, nicely put together. Turn signals and driver behavior are favs. Your composition and concepts are golden. Unfortunately, IMO, those are somewhat wasted in this instance because they're already "over media'd". I admire your spunk for going out on that limb but I admire and enjoy your more typical dilemma essays. My wife and I lived in Germany 2 years and spent a bit of time in South Africa and Zimbabwe.Those times were both eye-opening and treasured.
Agree on all counts! I’m glad you’ve had such varied and rich travel experiences- I can’t imagine existing in the silo of only having lived in one country. I spent time in Zimbabwe as well - chaotic and beautiful… and had good friends I visited regularly in Kaiserslautern when I lived in NL.
Outstanding, Maureen. I love all your writing but this one really resonates and couldn’t be more timely
Thanks Erika 🙏🏻
Honestly, this surprised me. I read the whole piece, and I'm with you on it all. I kept thinking, I'll stop reading in a second. This isn't how I "do Substack." But I didn't stop.
Living abroad for over a decade has shifted two aspects of my politics in ways that surprised me.
1. I no longer see myself on any political team.
2. There was a patriot inside me all along.
I share your one and two sometimes we need to see things from a distance - and don’t worry no more political posts 🤦🏻♀️