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Jacque's avatar

Yes, all of that is here. and it’s all very real and heavy to hold with our heart and hold with our hands.

But you know what else is here? All of us. All of us to hold onto each other. All of us to care. All of us to keep fighting back the fascism, the hate, and the horrors

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Lisa Weikel's avatar

Grateful for so much.

And yet.

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Susan Meeker-Lowry's avatar

Yes. Simple and to the point.

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Susie Middleton's avatar

Feeling this.

That top photo of your grandparents' farm - amazing.

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Melina Rudman's avatar

Oh. My. Goodness. Yes, we are living in the points of tension between worlds. Which will we release? Which will we hold? Will we bind our own wrists, or free our hearts? Thank you Maria.

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Lynda Rees Kling's avatar

Currently in the UK for 2 weeks visiting my son and his family.. you can’t believe the weight and anxiety I left behind in the States…

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Jenn Sharp's avatar

Maria, Elizabeth Pizzinato and I were just discussing this struggle…what a day. I am beat down. But tomorrow I will rise. And the next. And the next. Thank you for your strength. You are appreciated.

Holding the line in NOLA—-

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Richard Lane's avatar

Another beautiful day. Cutting various invasive vines, especially asian olive bittersweet and wild grape vines, every day also. There is a constant thread. And about fascism, I regularly read paragraphs from "The Road to Serfdom", F.A. Hayek (written so clearly, pointing out all the signs, right after WW II). The playbook is concentrated right now in the Executive Branch, the fawning over the President by the Cabinet in the almost daily for the media scrum. The Legislative Branch sparring weakly. The Supreme Court standing back. We are instead, democracy rising, everyday citizens all over the country... Gradually growing, needing the further gathering of disparate offenses against us, people are seeing, feeling every day. Hold on to our democracy, do not let gerrymandering the states, do not let quashing mail in ballots, do not let demeaning of us the voters divide or confuse us. This is a long long fight and we are slowly awakening to the abuses, the attempt to seize power, we the people must hold. Remember, fear exploits and divides us. Steady together. Reminds me of how to deal with something as basic as invasive vines. ; )

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Dee Kattkatt's avatar

You painted with words, and spaced paragraphs exactly the way it feels we are living. How do I have many joys-- family love, garden, food, great grandbabies-- in the midst of huge ugly tragedies invoked on others among us? Your words always define for me the oddly surreal place we live in the US. I do resist, am building community in unique ways, but still feel helpless. Thank you for uniting us..tis valuable and more important than ever.

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Maria Rodale's avatar

❤️

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Scott Ettinger's avatar

Hi Maria - Always enlightening to get your thoughts! I’m sorry to bother you or your column, but it’s the only way I know how to contact you. I’ve been working with your families Rodale Institute on what I perceive as a golden opportunity to move Regenerative Organic farming forward in Washington for personal health and that of the planet. If you give me an email or some place to send you information, I’ll send you further information.

Thank you for all you do!!!

Scott Ettinger - Macungie, PA

610-709-4371 - Cell

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