I needed to clear my head. Hours in front of the computer screen, working on several projects with impending deadlines, too much caffeine and campaign noise were holding me captive, wearing me down. I needed to chew on some thoughts and digest them. I headed out into the crisp, sunny afternoon, a list of errands penciled every-which-way on the back of an envelope.
With piles of books just about everywhere, I really did not need another, however, when it comes to books, want has always trumped need and there was one book I wanted which was on a shelf of the Thomas Ford Library in Western Springs. A quick internet check of my inter-libary loan catalogue showed the book at this library, which was on my route. This Western Springs Library is a lovely, Lannon stone structure with an exemplary staff. It sits on a busy corner, surrounded by trees and embodies all a public library should be.
I parked my car a block away, had a nice stroll to the heavy wooden door, found the book, perused the sale cart (but did not succumb), and headed back out the door towards my car. Something caught my eye.
A feather and a Q.
I have endeavored, in the 6 1/2 years of rambles here on the Cutoff, to write of nature, books, family, friends, good deeds, bits and bobs of life. I have purposefully stayed away from political positing and views. In the course of time, you, dear reader, have come to visit me here. You come from near and from far. You are family and friends I have known for a very long time, and friends I am just now meeting. You are from Down Under and Across the Big Pond, and so many places in between – and you all matter to me.
All Americans are not what you see in the news these days. If some of the political rhetoric you are seeing and hearing is troubling to you, it should be. It is to me as well. Discourse is healthy and part and parcel where free speech is championed. What I, and perhaps you, are hearing these days is something different.
Rhetoric of hate and blame has been used before in history. The stirring up of crowds who are unsatisfied for whatever reason and willing to blame”others” has led us down some of our darkest hours in history.
A political candidate, whose opening salvo is to immediately forge a wall between neighboring nations and brand a culture as rapists and murderers, shows a glimpse into the character of that candidate. Demeaning comments about women is not a trait I seek in a presidential candidate. From locker room language profanity, to base innuendoes of genitals, this is not the mark of a statesman. Threats and innuendoes of how things will be done, who will cow-tow down to his orders, is not what I look for when I cast my vote and it is not what I hope for my children and grandchildren, my country, and for yours.
Campaign rallies have always been raucous events and a place for protestors, but, the outlandish, dangerous taunting that is meant to incite from the podium by a presidential candidate leaves me fearful and alarmed for our common good.
In a place in time when we are working to halt bullying in our young, how do we explain to our children this man, a contender for the office of the President of the United States, who has bullied workers, businesses, war heroes, reporters, women, and the men and woman he has been running against, that bullying is not allowed. How do we make a country safe when such a candidate shouts from the podium for security to go ahead and beat up a protester and that he, himself, will pay their legal fees – or even proclaim he would like to punch someone in the mouth?
It was seeing the feather and the Q that brought me to this point where I need to say what I need to say. I am embarrassed and I am appalled. We are better than this. American is better than this. Our political parties are better than this.
The letter Q and the quill have long symbolized mankind’s ability to write. It is fitting to be on a public library, where we can freely read what is written. I thought of this, of the freedoms we have, of the power of the pen and of a candidate whose security staff bowled down a photographer. Other photographers and journalists were right there, recording it in their varied professions. This candidate has implied, in what I deem a loosely veiled threat, that if he is president, he will change all this – and more.
I think not. I wasn’t trumped when I went looking for a book, and I pray we will not be trumped by a bully.
Birds will keep flying and quills will fall – and we are better than this.
Well said, thank you! I only hope we are at the tipping point because I just don’t want to see our country go further down this road.
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Thank you. I hope we are at a tipping point as well. This goes way beyond the differences of two political parties and is a very slippery slope.
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Thank you so very much Penny. I wish I could express my thoughts as lucidly as you have done. I have read many op-Ed columns (even those from conservative columnists) saying why we cannot let this happen, but honestly none have done it as well as you do here. I too am upset at this spectacle. And embarrassed at what my blogging friends from other countries must think. But that is as nothing compared to what will happen should this bully and blowhard somehow get elected. I fear for the future of our country and of the world . And I pray and hope that we are better than this.
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You are welcome, Sallie – and I thank you for your kind words. I shutter to think of what our world will be like should this bully get elected. Let us keep up those hopes and prayers, my friend.
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I am going to visit my family in Germany and people will ask me a lot of questions.They have such a great politician in Angela Merkel.
This campaign here in my country that I have chosen as my home and love makes me sick. It is appalling. I am sorry to see President Obama leave office.
Penny , you said it so well. Shall we all go out and start protesting .
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Please tell your family that there are many of us in your chosen home (of which I am glad you have chosen) abhor this spectacle of a campaign. Angela Merkel has been an example to us all, as has our president.
I will enthusiastically hold hands with you in protest, Gerlinde. Thank you.
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At first we laughed and said “only in America”.
Now that this campaign is getting ever more surreal and Trump seems to be gathering ever more momentum we are afraid. Very afraid.
Thank you so much for restoring my faith in the saner aspects of your great country. I must say that I have yet to see any positive comments about Trump among my own readers.
It’s not polite to comment about other nation’s politics here in blogland, but I’d most probably invite Trump followers to unfollow me.
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Oh, boy, do I understand that sentiment , Friko! What seemed like a lark has turned into a very bad dream. My hope is that it doesn’t become a national and international nightmare .You are right to be afraid – and I am as well.
What astonishes me and troubles me at the same time is the following he has.
Thank you for taking the time to comment here. I really hoped my overseas readers would know that not all Americans are taken in by this bully.
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What a superb post. You always put things so lucidly, Penny, and express your yourself with such dignity. Over here, across the pond, we are more than a little alarmed. America is my favourite country in all the world, apart from my own, and I feel a depth of sorrow so vast that this awful man is seeking to represent my wonderful American friends who are intelligent, warm, witty, dignified. I will not allow myself to believe that he will be elected. It’s unthinkable that someone who appeals to the very worst in human nature should end up leading the western world. To go from the very best in President Obama, to the very worst is just too bizarre to contemplate. I’m not a praying person but this could very well change that. You’re in my thoughts as it’s very obvious how distressing this is for you.
And that really is a very beautiful library building!
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That is so kind of you, Cath. Thank you for all your encouraging words.
“a depth of sorrow” truly describes my own feelings as well. I am hoping that there is a tipping point, as Janet says above, and that it comes very soon in this campaign season.
It is as beautiful on the inside as well, Cath.
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Thank you so much, dear Penny, for so eloquently expressing how so many of us are feeling!! As each week passes, the news becomes more and more frightening. We work so hard to teach anti-bullying programs in classrooms across our country. Then the children watch crowds cheering for a bully on every news broadcast. We also watch the international news during the week, and my heart breaks for what the world is seeing and must be thinking! So often, there are tears in my eyes. We are so much better than this! Thank you for using your quill to share your important thoughts, my friend! ♡
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Even after I wrote this and hit “publish” , this seemed to grow worse with rally images that do not fit with what I believe we are – and these images and words DO have an effect beyond our borders on the world stage. Let us hope for the best and do what we can in our small ways. Thank you, Dawn.
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You put your thoughts into this post and echoed those of most of your readers. We are ashamed, embarrassed, afraid and discouraged that our fellow citizens have been lead to this false prophet. The rhetoric escalates and no one seems to remember his/her own immigrant background. We are a nation composed of people wanting freedom from all that Mr. Trump stands for. We are a new country relatively speaking and have not had to deal with despots.
I have been confused by the great number of people who agree with his distaste for America and for those who try to govern fairly and justly. It has broken my heart to learn of people I had respected for knowledge and common sense, be taken in by this charlatan, a P.T. Barnum full of hot air who spews stupidity and his own ignorance with each passing day and crude comment. He is not Presidential material and I trust he cannot buy the votes to put him in office.
My faith is more strong than ever that my candidate will prevail and I will do all I can to defend Her on this journey.
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Marilyn, you have touched upon so many of the many ways this is so unsettling and breaks my heart as well. It is not only the venom this man spews, but, I cannot believe those who are buying into it and their abominable behavior as well. I expect whomever is president to comport him or herself with the dignity of the office – and I expect whomever it is to be well beyond 5th grade bullying. Oh, my friend, I am counting on your faith right now.
Thank you, thank you.
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Beautifully expressed, Penny. We are watching this from afar with a mixture of disbelief and horror. Your post is a timely reminder that ‘we are better than this.’ And what you say has the perfect backdrop of that warm, solid library wall, a home for good thoughts and reflecting thinking.
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Oh, Juliet, thank you. I can only imagine how terrible this must look from your wonderful, peaceful country. I am hoping for better days and a brighter tomorrow.
That wall seemed to be waiting for me the other day – to bolster me up and provide some solid strength.
On a different note, should you come back, do you know of an artist – Theo Schoon?
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Yes I do. He incorporated Maori motifs into his work, which was quite unusual at the time.
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I thought you might know of him, Juliet. The reason I asked was that I had the pleasure of interviewing a woman for a gardening article who was, among many talents, a gourd specialist/artist. She met Theo Schoon in New Zealand and had a long correspondence with him about his artwork. When he passed away, she was asked to send his letters to be archived, which she did. Virginia is turning 107 in May. 🙂
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Penny, you have said “it” so well, my friend. I recently responded to a blogging friend from Ireland that I’ve been bothered, annoyed, appalled and shocked at the actions of some of our past Presidents, but I’ve never been really embarrassed. I am now embarrassed–and maybe a little afraid! In the beginning we all laughed and said it wouldn’t get to this place–within 8 short months of a national election. I don’t know what is really going to happen, but it’s frightening to contemplate the ugliness that is bound to proliferate over the next few months. I know you rarely, if ever, write so openly about anything political, but I am really glad you did this time. And on a much lighter note–you didn’t buy anything from the used books at the library? Good for you! 🙂
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Oh, Debra, our friends from abroad are as concerned as we are here. This goes far beyond the differences of political parties – embarrassed and afraid are ever-present in my own thoughts. Thank you. I have some pretty strong beliefs, but, prefer not to air them here, but, it overwhelmed me to the point that I just had to speak out, in part for our friends from other countries, in part because sometimes we need to speak out.
No. I practiced self-control. Good thing that stone wall was their to give me much needed support. 🙂
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Thank you dear friend for taking a stand. As Martin Luther said, “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrates it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”
The media, political figures, leaders in communities, even my priest said nothing about the rhetoric that Trump was saying. I could not believe my ears when at the last GOP debate Cruz, Rubio and Kasisk were asked if they would support Trump if he were the nominee. They all said “yes”.
Like so many of the comments stated earlier, I am very, very scared that Trump might get elected and be the next president. I have had my golden days so I worry more for the future on my children, grand children and all the thousands of Americans who have worked so hard to make a good life. I fear there will be much turmoil under a Trump leadership.
Thank you again for eloquently writing what I feel and sharing these thoughts with so many. Hopefully these friends will share your blog..
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Martin Luther, and you, “tell i”t beautifully, Marilyn. After I wrote this, I was even more appalled at a video of Trump having his rally supporters raise their hands in a pledge. It sent chills up my spine.
I have heard some words of chastisement from the pulpit and noted in print many speaking out against this inflammatory and dangerous rhetoric, but, I fear there is not enough. Let’s just hope this train wreck is halted and that our children and grandchildren can have their own gold days.
You are welcome, Marilyn. I always appreciate and treasure your words. I have the best friends and I really felt a need to let my friends from other countries know we are not all like this candidate.
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Amen, Penny! So well put! It’s impossible to teach kids to avoid bullying if we tolerate this kind of behavior ourselves. I’m so tired of this horrible, horrible political season. You are so right. We are better than this.
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I agree 100%, L. Marie.
High School is usually a time when we teach governance. I was part of registering high school students to vote as a voter registrar, some years ago. It was always a rewarding experiencing. High school students, in fact even elementary students, often have mock elections. How do we do this as adults, when the example/candidate are not showing adult behavior? It has already been a long, long season.
Thank you.
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Thank you. I needed this. I can’t understand what it is that so many people see in this person. I don’t normally speak out on politics either, but I have been unable to keep my mouth shut, at least on Facebook. Please. Wake up people. This hateful rhetoric can only lead to terrible things for our country. I hope and pray he will NOT be the Republican candidate–but it appears I am foolish to continue that optimism. Please, God, do not let this man be the leader of our nation.
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Susan, I keep praying the same words, but, am not feeling very optimistic at the moment. There are so many short and very long range consequences for this man’s words. Let us keep on hoping and praying.
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Hello Penny, I feel that I educate myself by reading blog posts such as yours. It is an intelligent, eloquent and heartfelt post. Thank you! I will never vote for a politician who incites violence and vile rhetoric,and who panders to people’s fears, and condones the kind of school yard bullying behavior we have been seeing on the news. It is all very shocking. (I came over from Sallie Rainville’s blog).
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Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and comment. I appreciate it – as well as your sentiments. I agree – “school yard bullying” is behavior we do not condone in school yards and must not condone in governance. I am dismayed that he has not toned down his rhetoric since I first wrote this, which heightens my concerns.
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I know what you mean. I have never seen anything like this in all the years I have lived here. I know many people and not one person agrees with his vile opinions. We are after all a country of immigrants and are very proud of that. And let us never forget our humanity.
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Hello Penny, I read the re-blog of this post on Sallie’s blog and came to read more of your offerings. Donald Trump is all these things you write and more. I’m not American, but I am worried about a future where he could be one of the most powerful men in the world. But I don’t think this is just a US thing; I think Trump represents everything that is wrong with the world right now.
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Thank you for reading and for commenting, Janice.
I appreciate having your viewpoint. You give me a much needed pause to reflect what this rhetoric and its response represents globally. Someone said he wasn’t so much the problem as the message. Let us all hope for a brighter tomorrow. Again. Thank you.
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Yes – not the problem so much as the message – that’s a good way of putting it. We’re facing Putin, Kim Jong-Un, ISIS…. bullies and warmongers all. And like Putin, Trump is all about Trump. He may talk about the US, but it’s Donald J Trump he’s promoting.
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Leaders with large egos have taken the world down horrendous paths before. I hope and pray it will not happen now. Thank you, Janice.
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Thank you again Penny for allowing me to re-post this.
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You are very welcome, Sallie – and thank you.
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Yes clearing your head comes in handy. I run a business, have a family, and try to blog on the side. I find taking a 30 minute walk helps. Thanks for the post.
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