The Power of Choice: Our Readers Comment
The question for this Forum centers on how members of the international Persimmon Tree community are choosing to regard the U.S. midterm elections—in which American voters will be making crucial choices—and how each of our disparate members anticipates dealing with the results, whether those are negative or positive from their perspective. Furthermore: how do we, as individuals, tied to other individuals who may not believe as we do, cope with our political differences? These questions are particularly fraught for U.S. citizens, of course; but they are also of concern to our readers around this increasingly troubled planet, where many representative democracies are facing daunting challenges.
“We’ve taken for granted it would be with us always, and it’s shocking how easy it is to lose our much-loved democracy,” writes Nancy Lee Woody of Roseville, CA. “[D]epartment by department, the government was dismantled,” she continues, “as we the people marched and protested by the millions. . . .”
“Last week I agreed to be a ‘Democracy Champion,’” Pauline Nunez of Lakewood, CO, writes. As a member of this organization, she has pledged “to help eligible voters understand the voting process and vote without fear this fall”—a challenge with the state’s complicated ballot as well as “confusion about mail-in voting and rumors about ICE showing up at the polls.” She wonders how current circumstances would have affected her father, who “signed up for military service during World War II which provided a fast track to citizenship. Besides filing a petition for naturalization, he swore an oath of allegiance. All his life he remembered that allegiance and treasured his right to vote as a citizen of this country.”
While fear and anxiety are very much present in the contributions to this Forum, so is the belief in our common humanity—though just how to commune with family, friends, and acquaintances with whom we don’t see eye-to-eye politically can be a problem. Mel Pitts of Wilmington, NC, chooses to discuss “issues rather than politics . . . . There is a better chance when issues are the topics of conversation.” “I will pay attention on Election Day with the same hope that kept me kneeling in pews so many years ago,” writes Antonia Lewandowski of Largo, FL, “the view that beyond me there are many mysteries. One of them is the force of good people everywhere, who, enlightened, stream like a mighty river to renegotiate its direction.”
We thank all the women who sent us their hopes, fears, and enlightening suggestions regarding the approaching U.S. elections and the general state of democracy. Remember: this issue of Persimmon Tree will be on our website until mid-December; throughout that period this serious discussion can continue via the comment pane at the end of the Forum page.
The Viewing, mixed media sculpture by Linda Rathkopf
Our Choices, Our Power
This November, regular Americans have an unparalleled opportunity to make a difference. In recent decades, powerful people have surged ahead, leaving ordinary folks behind. Humans can only be pushed so far before they must push back. Signs indicate we are reaching that point.
It will take more than “throw the bums out.” We’ve tried that; it didn’t work. Removing the status quo with no plan to move forward simply invites more of the same. We’ve identified what’s wrong. That’s the easy part. Now it’s time to ask tough questions—not just “How do we fix it?” but “What kind of a society do we want to live in? What actions can we take to get there?”
I hope that Americans will elect new or reinvigorated leaders who offer realistic goals and detailed plans for fixing the problems and building a better society. We must be prepared to be part of the solution, not just observers. Democracy requires our participation. So, vote—and then help blaze the path forward. We each must engage fully and set an example of good citizenship. No matter the election outcome, our continuing efforts will ultimately see us through.
This November, regular Americans have an unparalleled opportunity to make a difference. In recent decades, powerful people have surged ahead, leaving ordinary folks behind. Humans can only be pushed so far before they must push back. Signs indicate we are reaching that point.
It will take more than “throw the bums out.” We’ve tried that; it didn’t work. Removing the status quo with no plan to move forward simply invites more of the same. We’ve identified what’s wrong. That’s the easy part. Now it’s time to ask tough questions—not just “How do we fix it?” but “What kind of a society do we want to live in? What actions can we take to get there?”
I hope that Americans will elect new or reinvigorated leaders who offer realistic goals and detailed plans for fixing the problems and building a better society. We must be prepared to be part of the solution, not just observers. Democracy requires our participation. So, vote—and then help blaze the path forward. We each must engage fully and set an example of good citizenship. No matter the election outcome, our continuing efforts will ultimately see us through.
Warne, NC
A Canadian Woman’s Hope for the U.S. Midterm Election
“We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right.” – Aretha Franklin
As a Canadian woman, I don’t have boots on the ground in the U.S. I do have my ear to the ground, though, and I can only interpret the things I’m hearing from my American sisters as a discouraging lack of respect for them:
“We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right.” – Aretha Franklin
As a Canadian woman, I don’t have boots on the ground in the U.S. I do have my ear to the ground, though, and I can only interpret the things I’m hearing from my American sisters as a discouraging lack of respect for them:
- Far-reaching funding cuts are exacerbating a maternal health crisis.
- Thousands of research grants for studies on uterine fibroids, pregnancy risks, and reproductive care have been cancelled.
- Female reporters were called ugly, insubordinate, nasty, stupid, and piggy by the current administration on six different occasions in less than one month.
Women in the U.S. hold the power to ensure that they, along with their daughters, mothers, sisters, and friends, are treated with respect. On election day, I’ll be watching closely from my side of the border. I’ll be hoping women use that power to start reclaiming the respect they rightfully deserve.
All of us must stand up together and say, ‘No more’ – Gloria Steinem
St-Lazare, Quebec, Canada
Five years ago, my essay, It’s Getting Harder to Vote Again, was published in Under the Sun magazine. More prophetic than I realized, it focused on actions—closing poll sites, purging voter rolls, and gerrymandering—designed to restrict, not facilitate, voting. I compared these actions to Jim Crow tactics and recalled my southern relatives who couldn’t vote until the Civil Rights Act was passed.
Fast forward to the 2026 mid-term elections. More stringent laws have passed, with the administration pushing hard for more restrictions. Why the rush? I ask. The answer scares me. Call me a pessimist, but an honest election seems a long shot. Still, I hope. And donate money to candidates I support.
With people of like political beliefs, we talk politics. We commiserate; we condemn; we curse. We blame current conditions on them. And when I’m with them, (acquaintances, not friends or family) political talk is rigorously avoided.
Regardless of mid-term results, life continues. Determined to do something I joined a political action group. I increased donations to “at risk” organizations. But I also cushioned my daily life: I limit news about court rulings or bombings. At bedtime I watch sitcoms or read mysteries. Then I pray.
Fast forward to the 2026 mid-term elections. More stringent laws have passed, with the administration pushing hard for more restrictions. Why the rush? I ask. The answer scares me. Call me a pessimist, but an honest election seems a long shot. Still, I hope. And donate money to candidates I support.
With people of like political beliefs, we talk politics. We commiserate; we condemn; we curse. We blame current conditions on them. And when I’m with them, (acquaintances, not friends or family) political talk is rigorously avoided.
Regardless of mid-term results, life continues. Determined to do something I joined a political action group. I increased donations to “at risk” organizations. But I also cushioned my daily life: I limit news about court rulings or bombings. At bedtime I watch sitcoms or read mysteries. Then I pray.
Toledo, OH
Yes, our democracy is deeply threatened; to counteract it I spend one to one-and-a-half hours daily on progressive causes online. We have generous, loving friends who are in the thrall of Trump. She volunteers at a food bank, serving mostly immigrants, yet doesn’t oppose his immigration policy. Other super-wealthy friends are MAGAs. If not for them, I’d imagine that all Trumpites are Deplorables. It’s tragic; they have morals of convenience. Trump is equally as sadistic and amoral as today’s worst despots, which he aspires to.
As a daughter of Holocaust survivors, I’ve always been grateful that America let my parents and older sister into this country when Switzerland turned them back to Vienna. Now I’m ashamed of America.
I was naïve to believe that in our country, we wouldn’t tolerate such evil behavior. Despite benefiting from experiencing the Third Reich, the Taliban, many want to purge this country, make it White, with haves and have nots. To guarantee their riches, Google and Apple changed their maps, renaming Lake Ontario Lake America. I still hope that November’s elections can restore faith in humanity; that those with a moral compass outnumber those with a Geiger counter or calculator where their heart should be.
As a daughter of Holocaust survivors, I’ve always been grateful that America let my parents and older sister into this country when Switzerland turned them back to Vienna. Now I’m ashamed of America.
I was naïve to believe that in our country, we wouldn’t tolerate such evil behavior. Despite benefiting from experiencing the Third Reich, the Taliban, many want to purge this country, make it White, with haves and have nots. To guarantee their riches, Google and Apple changed their maps, renaming Lake Ontario Lake America. I still hope that November’s elections can restore faith in humanity; that those with a moral compass outnumber those with a Geiger counter or calculator where their heart should be.
Danbury, CT
My hope is that the November elections won’t be thwarted by the current administration; my fear is that they will be. It’s already in progress. I generally vote by mail in Florida and requested my ballot some time ago. Depending on the circumstances, I may deliver my ballot in person instead of relying on the postal service. This election is too important to take any chances that my vote won’t be counted. If we do not have free and fair elections, or if we do and the Trump administration nevertheless claims the results aren’t valid, I’m not sure what I’ll do. With the Supreme Court continually siding with Trump on issues that once were considered settled, I fear the courts won’t provide a solution. In the past, I’ve thought about moving to Canada, which I realize is both impractical and probably impossible now that we’re at “war” with them. I limit interactions with family and neighbors who I know are MAGA. Thankfully, my close family members and I agree on matters of politics; I avoid talking about politics with neighbors who I know lean MAGA, but I’m always kind and willing to offer a helping hand. I pray for unity.
Sanford, FL
My reflections from here in the UK on the midterm elections in the U.S. are: How much have the people of the USA learned by electing President Trump? And will this lead to more consideration when voting for midterm candidates?
We see this here in the UK with Nigel Farage and his Reform Party, and in Germany with the far-right party AfD. These leaders use certain issues to stir up discontent, anger, and anarchy in the name of changing things for the better for those who feel voiceless and don’t see a future that offers hope and a measure of prosperity, stoking fears over things like immigration while denying that our natural world is suffering as a consequence of human behavior.
It is important to think and to ask questions about what candidates are promising, because egos can soar too easily in this volatile world, and greed for power is rampant. Surely, quieter, thoughtful voices that reflect an inner strength and give logical, inclusive solutions for people’s benefit, as well as for our natural world, are what we need going forward.
However much we might disagree with those closest to us, the truth from within our hearts should be our guide.
We see this here in the UK with Nigel Farage and his Reform Party, and in Germany with the far-right party AfD. These leaders use certain issues to stir up discontent, anger, and anarchy in the name of changing things for the better for those who feel voiceless and don’t see a future that offers hope and a measure of prosperity, stoking fears over things like immigration while denying that our natural world is suffering as a consequence of human behavior.
It is important to think and to ask questions about what candidates are promising, because egos can soar too easily in this volatile world, and greed for power is rampant. Surely, quieter, thoughtful voices that reflect an inner strength and give logical, inclusive solutions for people’s benefit, as well as for our natural world, are what we need going forward.
However much we might disagree with those closest to us, the truth from within our hearts should be our guide.
Laxfield, Suffolk, UK
Movie Critics, mixed media sculpture by Linda Rathkopf
Election Insurrection
It seems like only yesterday, and also like light years ago, that breaking news videos captured the mayhem at our nation’s Capitol on January 6, 2021. Those images are seared into my brain.
Now, with the midterm elections fast approaching, my brain hurts from imagining the scenarios likely to unfold if the Republican stranglehold is threatened. Regardless of which side of the aisle we sit on, as Americans it is our duty to uphold free and fair elections, a cornerstone of our democracy.
In order to protect their precious power, will the powers that be station ICE agents at polling places? Will our right to vote – which women and Blacks fought so valiantly to earn – be endangered? Will our democracy survive?
These are the questions that keep me up at night. I wake each morning with renewed purpose: to ensure election protection, not insurrection.
It seems like only yesterday, and also like light years ago, that breaking news videos captured the mayhem at our nation’s Capitol on January 6, 2021. Those images are seared into my brain.
Now, with the midterm elections fast approaching, my brain hurts from imagining the scenarios likely to unfold if the Republican stranglehold is threatened. Regardless of which side of the aisle we sit on, as Americans it is our duty to uphold free and fair elections, a cornerstone of our democracy.
In order to protect their precious power, will the powers that be station ICE agents at polling places? Will our right to vote – which women and Blacks fought so valiantly to earn – be endangered? Will our democracy survive?
These are the questions that keep me up at night. I wake each morning with renewed purpose: to ensure election protection, not insurrection.
Burlington Township, NJ
Every day, I wake up with a sense of dread and doom, hoping that the monster of fascism has not extended its grasp. What can I do to push back against this onslaught on our democracy?
I have to help make this very consequential midterm election put the right people in power. I put out my nonpartisan yard sign that reminds people to vote: Your Vote is Your Voice. As a member of LWVL, I help to register voters in schools, at Farmers’ Markets and in assisted living residences, with the hope that policies to discount their mail-in ballots will not prevail. I try to participate in Defend Democracy Forums’ rallies and programs, like the talk by David Stewart on “The Democracy We Must Keep: Why the Ideas that Built America Still Matter.” Dissemination of information is important.
I realize that a community of solidarity moving towards the goal of preserving our democracy is building up. Individually, my effort may be an almost inconsequential nudge, but together with a multitude of pushes and shoves, I can be part of a tsunami that will sweep away the threats and reinforce democracy.
I have to help make this very consequential midterm election put the right people in power. I put out my nonpartisan yard sign that reminds people to vote: Your Vote is Your Voice. As a member of LWVL, I help to register voters in schools, at Farmers’ Markets and in assisted living residences, with the hope that policies to discount their mail-in ballots will not prevail. I try to participate in Defend Democracy Forums’ rallies and programs, like the talk by David Stewart on “The Democracy We Must Keep: Why the Ideas that Built America Still Matter.” Dissemination of information is important.
I realize that a community of solidarity moving towards the goal of preserving our democracy is building up. Individually, my effort may be an almost inconsequential nudge, but together with a multitude of pushes and shoves, I can be part of a tsunami that will sweep away the threats and reinforce democracy.
Highland Park, IL
Sometimes, Silence is Golden
Living in Rural-By-God Virginia, politics are so red, it’s hard at times to see green trees. I get challenged by this, but sense an undercurrent this upcoming voting season that may surprise.
We’ve lost health care in real ways around here. Expenses are up for everyone, and not all of us can take the hit. People are quieter on Trump, and I don’t see the MAGA hats once defiantly displayed.
I suspect many won’t show up at the polls. Maybe a few courageous ones might even switch parties, no matter how much it pains them, although they’d never confess it.
What I do is say nothing. I used to say a lot. Everyone knows which side I’m on. The proof, as my grandmother would say, is in the pudding, and all we have to do is look around.
Rural folks are clannish and superstitious, (they still believe solar farms cause pollution). But they aren’t stupid. Cause and effect cannot elude them for long; they live practical lives. They are also, for the most part, polite, decent people whom I respect.
Living in Rural-By-God Virginia, politics are so red, it’s hard at times to see green trees. I get challenged by this, but sense an undercurrent this upcoming voting season that may surprise.
We’ve lost health care in real ways around here. Expenses are up for everyone, and not all of us can take the hit. People are quieter on Trump, and I don’t see the MAGA hats once defiantly displayed.
I suspect many won’t show up at the polls. Maybe a few courageous ones might even switch parties, no matter how much it pains them, although they’d never confess it.
What I do is say nothing. I used to say a lot. Everyone knows which side I’m on. The proof, as my grandmother would say, is in the pudding, and all we have to do is look around.
Rural folks are clannish and superstitious, (they still believe solar farms cause pollution). But they aren’t stupid. Cause and effect cannot elude them for long; they live practical lives. They are also, for the most part, polite, decent people whom I respect.
Cumberland, VA
Choosing the WOW
Executive Branch actions since 2024 have devastated the environment and environmentalists. The Administration has dismantled public land and environmental protections: weakening regulations on air and water pollution and wetlands, opening protected lands from Big Bend to Denali to Bear’s Ears to mining/drilling, eliminating the Roadless Rule that has limited logging on 45 million acres of public forests (areas that nurtured biodiversity and recreation). Congress and the Supreme Court have imposed few restraints. I have contacted elected officials and submitted public comments but have felt voiceless, powerless.
So I pivoted to nature. I started monthly woods and wildflower (WOW) walks in my Michigan county (Washtenaw’s Own Wildlands, WOW). Each month, we explore the marvels of plants and animals in our public lands. Walks are free and open to all. I hope that helping people learn about the land will help them love it, and that when they love it, they will work to protect it—which cuts across political boundaries. Each month I highlight a conservation cause or candidate (endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters) that participants can donate to. Whatever happens in the election, I will keep walking, working, and connecting people to nature: wonder, conservation, and community.
Executive Branch actions since 2024 have devastated the environment and environmentalists. The Administration has dismantled public land and environmental protections: weakening regulations on air and water pollution and wetlands, opening protected lands from Big Bend to Denali to Bear’s Ears to mining/drilling, eliminating the Roadless Rule that has limited logging on 45 million acres of public forests (areas that nurtured biodiversity and recreation). Congress and the Supreme Court have imposed few restraints. I have contacted elected officials and submitted public comments but have felt voiceless, powerless.
So I pivoted to nature. I started monthly woods and wildflower (WOW) walks in my Michigan county (Washtenaw’s Own Wildlands, WOW). Each month, we explore the marvels of plants and animals in our public lands. Walks are free and open to all. I hope that helping people learn about the land will help them love it, and that when they love it, they will work to protect it—which cuts across political boundaries. Each month I highlight a conservation cause or candidate (endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters) that participants can donate to. Whatever happens in the election, I will keep walking, working, and connecting people to nature: wonder, conservation, and community.
Ann Arbor, MI
Silly Putty
We probably all played with Silly Putty, that clay-like ball that we pressed against the Sunday comics—because they were in color—and lifted an imprint of the comic off the page. Then we rolled the Silly Putty back into a ball and imprinted a different comic. The putty was a mirror, a transmitter; it had no message of its own.
Presently we have too many congressional representatives and senators who resemble Silly Putty. They have no message of their own, no message that represents their constituents. They’re simply imprints of their party’s leader.
I am so very tired of Silly Putty representation. Of mindless imprints who let children go hungry, take health care away, serve up toxic food, and do nothing to prevent a useless war.
In my own congressional district, many of us are knocking on doors, writing postcards, and making phone calls to assure that a competent thinker will replace our current Silly Putty representative.
It’s my hope that the same will occur across the nation. I need to believe that voters have had enough of Silly Putty.
We probably all played with Silly Putty, that clay-like ball that we pressed against the Sunday comics—because they were in color—and lifted an imprint of the comic off the page. Then we rolled the Silly Putty back into a ball and imprinted a different comic. The putty was a mirror, a transmitter; it had no message of its own.
Presently we have too many congressional representatives and senators who resemble Silly Putty. They have no message of their own, no message that represents their constituents. They’re simply imprints of their party’s leader.
I am so very tired of Silly Putty representation. Of mindless imprints who let children go hungry, take health care away, serve up toxic food, and do nothing to prevent a useless war.
In my own congressional district, many of us are knocking on doors, writing postcards, and making phone calls to assure that a competent thinker will replace our current Silly Putty representative.
It’s my hope that the same will occur across the nation. I need to believe that voters have had enough of Silly Putty.
Ligonier, PA
With so much conflict, negativity, and hatred permeating our every interaction, I shake my head every time I read or listen to how we are treating one another. I say to myself, “What is wrong with people?” Then my next thought is that I wish I could do more than just be sad and disgusted. But what can I do? I’m not able to carry signs, knock on doors, or even try to address the people who are intentionally wrecking our world. But then one day, I was talking with a young man who was also shaking his head in disgust. He said he wasn’t going to vote, because his one vote couldn’t make a difference. I urged him to vote. It sounds corny, but if everybody who disagrees with the way things are going says their one vote doesn’t count, then we’ve essentially let them run over us. Stand up and be counted. We all need to do that, even if it seems that nobody else is standing with us. And for Heaven’s sake, go and vote in person if at all possible. In America, this is what we do. It’s important for the world that you do.
Gahanna, OH
Mah Jong, mixed media sculpture by Linda Rathkopf
My long-time friend and I have been on the same page about pretty much everything – until recently. “I hate Trump,” she told me. “But—I am a Republican and fiscally conservative. So, I vote for the Republican party.”
I originally thought this would be a deal breaker in our friendship. It isn’t. Has the relationship changed? Yes, somewhat—because in my opinion, this president and administration are destroying the fabric of the country.
Like many others have done, we agree not to talk about it. The silence speaks volumes.
My two first cousins are Trump supporters. I love my cousins. We grew up together. We’ve had one or two uncomfortable exchanges, but that’s about it. We give each other grace.
More than the huge divisiveness in our country, I am moved by another phenomenon taking place. One I always believed in is young people.
My immediate family and close friends are united in our beliefs. When I listen to my two young grandsons (ages 11 and 14), I am encouraged by their political awareness and their energy. Sadly, I may not see the change I hope for in this country, but I am confident they will make it happen.
I originally thought this would be a deal breaker in our friendship. It isn’t. Has the relationship changed? Yes, somewhat—because in my opinion, this president and administration are destroying the fabric of the country.
Like many others have done, we agree not to talk about it. The silence speaks volumes.
My two first cousins are Trump supporters. I love my cousins. We grew up together. We’ve had one or two uncomfortable exchanges, but that’s about it. We give each other grace.
More than the huge divisiveness in our country, I am moved by another phenomenon taking place. One I always believed in is young people.
My immediate family and close friends are united in our beliefs. When I listen to my two young grandsons (ages 11 and 14), I am encouraged by their political awareness and their energy. Sadly, I may not see the change I hope for in this country, but I am confident they will make it happen.
Kirkland, WA
I’ve enjoyed the efficiency of mail-in voting. I used to drive to the polls, circle the parking lot, walk through the gravel, wave off sample ballot pushers, and exchange idle chit-chat with others navigating the system. Now I complete my ballot at home, deposit it in the center’s drop box and wait for the email confirmation of receipt and subsequent “your vote has been counted” email.
I am concerned about whether I will receive a ballot for the upcoming mid-term election. I’m a divorcee who chose to keep my ex’s last name because it was/is part of my identity and I like it (not him). I wonder how names will be scrutinized and pulled from eligible lists by the Post Office in compliance with looming White House threats.
If my ballot does not arrive, I’ll pack a snack, drive to the designated polling location, stand in line, and commiserate with fellow citizens. I prefer to have control over my choice, my time, but I’m prepared to sacrifice. If my name has been erased, I have my birth certificate, divorce papers, driver’s license, passport, and comfortable shoes. I won’t be intimidated. My vote matters.
I am concerned about whether I will receive a ballot for the upcoming mid-term election. I’m a divorcee who chose to keep my ex’s last name because it was/is part of my identity and I like it (not him). I wonder how names will be scrutinized and pulled from eligible lists by the Post Office in compliance with looming White House threats.
If my ballot does not arrive, I’ll pack a snack, drive to the designated polling location, stand in line, and commiserate with fellow citizens. I prefer to have control over my choice, my time, but I’m prepared to sacrifice. If my name has been erased, I have my birth certificate, divorce papers, driver’s license, passport, and comfortable shoes. I won’t be intimidated. My vote matters.
Oxon Hill, MD
Recently, I spent several hours over many days sitting in a dentist’s chair because menopause has apparently decided I should become a toothless crone. I am fighting back.
As my dentist rebuilt the left side of my mouth, she leaned toward me and said, completely unprompted, “I just want all the old men politicians in the world to go away.”
I nodded and managed, around the tools in my mouth, “Ninety-year-old men are making laws that will affect my three-year-old granddaughter.”
Our last election was about saving democracy. America could not bring itself to elect a woman, and we are now living in what I believe is an authoritarian kleptocracy.
For me, this election is about saving the planet. The planet is on fire. Our air, water, and food are being poisoned. We are approaching what is predicted to be our strongest El Niño year on record, and old men are still fighting wars over oil.
I want my granddaughter, and someday her grandchildren, to inherit something better.
That is the energy I am bringing into the midterms this year.
As my dentist rebuilt the left side of my mouth, she leaned toward me and said, completely unprompted, “I just want all the old men politicians in the world to go away.”
I nodded and managed, around the tools in my mouth, “Ninety-year-old men are making laws that will affect my three-year-old granddaughter.”
Our last election was about saving democracy. America could not bring itself to elect a woman, and we are now living in what I believe is an authoritarian kleptocracy.
For me, this election is about saving the planet. The planet is on fire. Our air, water, and food are being poisoned. We are approaching what is predicted to be our strongest El Niño year on record, and old men are still fighting wars over oil.
I want my granddaughter, and someday her grandchildren, to inherit something better.
That is the energy I am bringing into the midterms this year.
Mountain House, CA
With midterm elections only about 55 days away, anxiety is increasing. Luckily, in Colorado, we automatically receive mail-in ballots and have exceptionally prepared elected officials. At a recent fundraiser, our candidate for secretary of state shared contingency plans for bad weather, undelivered ballots, etc. That gave me hope!
Democrats must regain control of the House, and hopefully the Senate. In Colorado, we expect to win major seats. Before the elections, I will donate to candidates as I can, write postcards, communicate information to as many as I can reach, and offer to take ballots or drive anyone to the polls. We are also encouraged to work on election day, too, as I have in the past.
Political conversation remains minimal with a few family members I see rarely. But often I engage in lively discussions with many friends and acquaintances who have similar beliefs. Our hope is to celebrate victoriously in November, unlike the last election where I cried all day! Should we experience major losses or interference, despair may creep in and take time to recover. However, as a feisty senior, I will renew the fight for a brighter future for my son, grandson, and others. Hope springs eternal!
Democrats must regain control of the House, and hopefully the Senate. In Colorado, we expect to win major seats. Before the elections, I will donate to candidates as I can, write postcards, communicate information to as many as I can reach, and offer to take ballots or drive anyone to the polls. We are also encouraged to work on election day, too, as I have in the past.
Political conversation remains minimal with a few family members I see rarely. But often I engage in lively discussions with many friends and acquaintances who have similar beliefs. Our hope is to celebrate victoriously in November, unlike the last election where I cried all day! Should we experience major losses or interference, despair may creep in and take time to recover. However, as a feisty senior, I will renew the fight for a brighter future for my son, grandson, and others. Hope springs eternal!
Denver, CO
The time for being a nice, fair-minded liberal is over. Now, there’s only one realistic solution to the nightmare of DT and his minions, and that is to vote, and VOTE DEMOCRATIC. (Other solutions – legal or not – are fantasies!)
The Progressive Turnout Project (https://turnoutpac.org/) is a grassroots organization whose focus is getting Democrats to vote. Their main method is sending postcards with messages handwritten by volunteers to registered Democrats in any of several swing states. Statistics reportedly show that handwritten postcards are effective in getting targeted people to vote. The PTP also engages in other related actions.
While this is not exactly radical, it’s something. Focusing on people who might be on the fence, or apathetic, is a great strategy, considering how difficult it is to get someone to change their political beliefs. Just think what it would mean if all the “swing states” turned blue!
Since January ’25, DT has been steadily chipping away at the foundation of this country, focusing on whatever will help him remain in office. As many of us anxiously await him being elected out, he’s trying to ensure that he’ll stay! That’s his fantasy. Obviously, we’ve all got to act… Now!
The Progressive Turnout Project (https://turnoutpac.org/) is a grassroots organization whose focus is getting Democrats to vote. Their main method is sending postcards with messages handwritten by volunteers to registered Democrats in any of several swing states. Statistics reportedly show that handwritten postcards are effective in getting targeted people to vote. The PTP also engages in other related actions.
While this is not exactly radical, it’s something. Focusing on people who might be on the fence, or apathetic, is a great strategy, considering how difficult it is to get someone to change their political beliefs. Just think what it would mean if all the “swing states” turned blue!
Since January ’25, DT has been steadily chipping away at the foundation of this country, focusing on whatever will help him remain in office. As many of us anxiously await him being elected out, he’s trying to ensure that he’ll stay! That’s his fantasy. Obviously, we’ve all got to act… Now!
Yonkers, NY
Dark Thoughts on a Fall Day
I’m not normally a pessimist, at least I hope I’m not, but I’ve gotten more and more disillusioned and skeptical these days, and my fears often usurp my hope. More immediately, I fear that we will not even be allowed to vote because of a contrived “National Emergency.” Or, I fear that, worse yet, we will go to the polls and proudly vote, but by some nefarious means, our hopes for some meager checks on megalomania will be dashed, leaving us in despair because the machines “malfunctioned,” were “tampered with,” or were “hacked.” I fear that we are being naïve to think the greedy monsters in charge will allow us with the pull of a lever to rein them in from gorging themselves while destroying the soul of this nation. I fear that we have entered a dark, dark time in our history from which it will take decades, perhaps hundreds of years to recover. My greatest hope is that, long after I’m gone, the recovery will be glorious and will fulfill the dream of a free nation that allows everyone to thrive in ways I could never have imagined.
I’m not normally a pessimist, at least I hope I’m not, but I’ve gotten more and more disillusioned and skeptical these days, and my fears often usurp my hope. More immediately, I fear that we will not even be allowed to vote because of a contrived “National Emergency.” Or, I fear that, worse yet, we will go to the polls and proudly vote, but by some nefarious means, our hopes for some meager checks on megalomania will be dashed, leaving us in despair because the machines “malfunctioned,” were “tampered with,” or were “hacked.” I fear that we are being naïve to think the greedy monsters in charge will allow us with the pull of a lever to rein them in from gorging themselves while destroying the soul of this nation. I fear that we have entered a dark, dark time in our history from which it will take decades, perhaps hundreds of years to recover. My greatest hope is that, long after I’m gone, the recovery will be glorious and will fulfill the dream of a free nation that allows everyone to thrive in ways I could never have imagined.
High Springs, FL
Friday Night at Mom’s, mixed media sculpture by Linda Rathkopf
Will my vote count? I will be overseas during election time. I will vote online, and use VoteFromAbroad.org to verify my registration. I fear loss, as registration and voting itself are attacked in every way possible by the president and his minions. Meanwhile I meet with Democrats Abroad, stay current, and engage.
What matters most to me is climate change, which affects not just human rights, but the ability of our interconnected web of being to survive. Life will survive, but maybe not in the forms that we are familiar with—one square foot of ground supports many less insects (food chain basis) than when I was a child, or when my child was young. Count ‘em and weep. People feel the heat. Yet lies persist, fueled by greed, and I only wonder how many can be fooled all of the time. I want to elect people who are aware of the danger and will do what they can to mitigate it.
I find it disheartening to attempt dialog with old friends and relatives who support Mr. Trump; we both grow emotional and I forget that the question “Why?” could be constructive for all.
What matters most to me is climate change, which affects not just human rights, but the ability of our interconnected web of being to survive. Life will survive, but maybe not in the forms that we are familiar with—one square foot of ground supports many less insects (food chain basis) than when I was a child, or when my child was young. Count ‘em and weep. People feel the heat. Yet lies persist, fueled by greed, and I only wonder how many can be fooled all of the time. I want to elect people who are aware of the danger and will do what they can to mitigate it.
I find it disheartening to attempt dialog with old friends and relatives who support Mr. Trump; we both grow emotional and I forget that the question “Why?” could be constructive for all.
NC
For many years, I felt alone as an activist, witnessing the horrors of my country’s ongoing wars and the suppression of the poor and disenfranchised. How could I share my grief with friends who were already struggling and looking to me for comfort?
Filled with grief and rage, I engage in embodied practices to counteract states of freeze and flee. As the drumming begins, my body starts to move. To my surprise, I morph into a Maori Warrior as I connect with my ancestors and the earth. I no longer feel alone and take refuge in the words of Ilya Prigogine:
When a complex system is far from equilibrium, small islands of coherence in a sea of chaos have the capacity to shift the entire system to a higher order.
The midterm elections look scarier by the day. I work on Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate campaign. Whether he wins or not, I must accept that reclaiming our democracy may take many years. Today I feel strong enough to hold on to this dream for as long as it takes.
Filled with grief and rage, I engage in embodied practices to counteract states of freeze and flee. As the drumming begins, my body starts to move. To my surprise, I morph into a Maori Warrior as I connect with my ancestors and the earth. I no longer feel alone and take refuge in the words of Ilya Prigogine:
When a complex system is far from equilibrium, small islands of coherence in a sea of chaos have the capacity to shift the entire system to a higher order.
The midterm elections look scarier by the day. I work on Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate campaign. Whether he wins or not, I must accept that reclaiming our democracy may take many years. Today I feel strong enough to hold on to this dream for as long as it takes.
Chelsea, MI
This fall I hope we turn back the tide of pain and cruelty that has swept over our nation. I’ll continue to protect my sanity by somehow pretending that the world is going to right itself, and allowing myself some joy with my friends, family, and community. I’ll also do what I have done each election since Hillary Clinton lost in 2016, and volunteer on phone banks, write postcards to voters in swing states, and attend monthly meetings at a local Swing Left/Target Majority in my neighborhood. And if it feels perfunctory, and I think I’m falling short in an attempt to fight the authoritarian movement, I will commit to these small acts of resistance. I’ll remind myself that many small drops of water make up the vast sea. I’m not sure what more to do. Shouldn’t all decent, kind people be in the streets, turning out every single day? But that is not happening. What is happening are elections, and we need to show up and fight for free and fair elections in the United States and pray one more time for the fever to break.
New York, NY
Of course I am worried about the upcoming election. Who isn’t?
But no matter what, I resolve to keep on speaking about and acting on behalf of the basic, not-complicated rights of human beings. This includes supporting people with ties to Palestine and other places in the Middle East. It means supporting the rights of immigrants who are legally and morally entitled to due process, a cornerstone of what the Right (who are Wrong) considers "The Greatest Democracy on Earth."
Will anything change if the Democrats gain power? It depends on how corrupt the particular candidates are to start with. Have they sold out to dark money like AIPAC? I am heartened to see leaders like Mamdani be not afraid. More elected officials like those could bend us closer to justice.
As far as neighbors and friends who feel differently, I can't control how and when they will recognize their supremacist, racist, and sexist ways. My conscience is clear: I will die knowing that we are all worthy human beings.
Am I perfect? I wish. But on this topic, I will always stand firm. I will continue to preach to the choir, even if no one else is listening.
But no matter what, I resolve to keep on speaking about and acting on behalf of the basic, not-complicated rights of human beings. This includes supporting people with ties to Palestine and other places in the Middle East. It means supporting the rights of immigrants who are legally and morally entitled to due process, a cornerstone of what the Right (who are Wrong) considers "The Greatest Democracy on Earth."
Will anything change if the Democrats gain power? It depends on how corrupt the particular candidates are to start with. Have they sold out to dark money like AIPAC? I am heartened to see leaders like Mamdani be not afraid. More elected officials like those could bend us closer to justice.
As far as neighbors and friends who feel differently, I can't control how and when they will recognize their supremacist, racist, and sexist ways. My conscience is clear: I will die knowing that we are all worthy human beings.
Am I perfect? I wish. But on this topic, I will always stand firm. I will continue to preach to the choir, even if no one else is listening.
Austin, TX
Garden of Eden, mixed media sculpture by Linda Rathkopf
I have friends and family in both camps. They are good people. They are loving and kind. Some of them are heavily engaged in their points of view. Others are not. I love them all.
For many years, I believed I knew the right stuff to believe. Life has been a stern teacher. Lessons for me come, not through a gentle tap on the shoulder, but rather, something akin to a two-by-four to the head. And I have no desire for more of those, so am learning to pay attention.
As nuts as it may sound, I am at peace. I am no longer stressing about what I think should or should not happen. My stress came from thinking something has to change. It doesn’t. Even if I would like it to.
What I know to be true is that the trees are beginning to change color, the air has become cooler, I want a warmer shirt today, and I am grateful for everyone and everything that has been a part of this life journey so far. Especially grateful for this woman, this child, this young mother, this grandmother, this curious, brave, funny, loving person who is all of me.
For many years, I believed I knew the right stuff to believe. Life has been a stern teacher. Lessons for me come, not through a gentle tap on the shoulder, but rather, something akin to a two-by-four to the head. And I have no desire for more of those, so am learning to pay attention.
As nuts as it may sound, I am at peace. I am no longer stressing about what I think should or should not happen. My stress came from thinking something has to change. It doesn’t. Even if I would like it to.
What I know to be true is that the trees are beginning to change color, the air has become cooler, I want a warmer shirt today, and I am grateful for everyone and everything that has been a part of this life journey so far. Especially grateful for this woman, this child, this young mother, this grandmother, this curious, brave, funny, loving person who is all of me.
Lincolnville, Maine
Annunciations
Poems by Buffy Shutt
Annunciations explores the frame that art—and life—erects around women, investigating notions of self-determination and consent in a woman’s life.
“In this astounding book, the reader is led into and out of scenes that consider art, power, gender dynamics and how expectation can be upended. The female figures are aware of how they are needed — and used — and what they must do to reclaim agency.” ——Elline Lipkin, author Girl in a Forest
“Buffy Shutt’s Annunciations examines the fraught place of women in art history alongside those striving for agency in society at large, all while returning to representations of the Annunciation, a moment of intimate tension between the human and the divine, implicating the reader in a web of complicity, desire, and violation.” —–Luiza Flynn-Goodlet, author most recently of Mud in Our Mouths
“Through the lens of exploring annunciation artwork, this collection investigates and then transfigures the violence women face when agency is denied or stolen from them. These poems provide a much-needed reclamation of the narrative around the annunciation and is a delight to read from start to finish.” —-Katie Richards, author of Apple Mind.
Available from Rockwood Press.
Linda Rathkopf has been a cabaret performer, an award winning artist, an illustrator, and a playwright whose plays have been produced in New York, Vermont, Kentucky, California, Florida, and Colorado. Her writing has been published in numerous anthologies. She's a member of the Dramatists Guild.
I feel for all Americans in the midst of this maelstrom of uncertainty, but heartened by the many positive thoughts and actions. Hope, in my view, needs to be matched with some kind of endeavour, and I believe we all have a gift to do or be something that benefits others. I echo those who raise concerns about nature and its destruction through climate events and other means, and I wonder whether the consequences we are already witnessing will soon supersede much of what is currently in political discussion. In these difficult times, we must come together in whatever way we can to support and help one another, wherever we are in the World.
I have fallen into those sculptures by Linda Rathkopf, and been enchanted by the humor and the amazing detail. Thank you for a whimsical look at our lives!