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Coaster's avatar

I'm sorry that Ashlii Babbit died today. I'm sorrier that after serving honorably, she chose to be led down an angry and self destructive trail, buoyed by social media likes and hearts that led to her death. You're right. We need to focus locally and be rid of the malcontents both far right and far left, who seek only to disrupt and not engage to build our communities into more fair, just, educated and healthy places. But divisions run deep, especially where I live. Today, I received a call from a newly elected city council member. We talked with great enthusiasm about how our smallish city could use the Mayoral office for daily comms during this pandemic to talk about facts by looping in public health officials, first responders, and economic advisers to give clarity about what's being done, and to discuss the impact this year 2 of lockdowns is having on our citizens. He nor I are on the same side of anything, yet we agree that there needs to be a voice of reason that's beyond politics and works for problem solving for the common good. Then, I checked up on my elderly, very left wing neighbor who is in her '70's. She was instantly cynical, saying that we'd never see results from any of this, that polemics would rule over everything. And I just thought.... somewhere her hope got worn down. And that's what we all have to work against. Being so worn down, we stop working toward and with one another, but see some common ground we can agree on.

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Bryan McGrath's avatar

Really well put.

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