Deaths at Kent State, assassinations or attempts on Martin Luther King, John and Robert Kennedy, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan. History is both kind to America and not.
Fortunately the extraordinary accomplishments both small and large light the darkness. And that brings me home as we seek to stay in the light.
Friday night in Thompson Park, downtown Easton, a “Hopeful” campaign had its kickoff. Begun as a community reaction to the Covid lockdown it also expressed an expansive hope for neighbors being, well neighborly.
A half block away from the microphone, which amplified great music and heartfelt expressions, had been a promenade experiment. The experiment ended a few days after it began, in heated accusations. Unfortunately heated accusations are often the jargon of today’s public affairs.
Communities are diverse and if they aren’t they are probably not doing well. Easton is a mix of new capital and ideas and entrepreneurship. Of natives and people who were attracted by nature’s diversity, expansive not-for-profits that add an immeasurable depth of services, and a splendid for-profit sector that makes being locked down (sort of) all the more painful.
We should all keep “Hopeful” in mind while understanding that the use of incendiary language in public affairs will hurt our community and has a dark history in our great nation.
S. Swan says
I’m in.
Ethel Lanahan says
Some people aren’t even aware of a decent language. They use what they’ve learned.
Vickie Wilson says
Hope is commonly used to mean a wish: its strenght in the strenght of the person’s desire. But in the bible hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strenght is in His faithfulness. I am hopeful. We should all be “Hopeful.”
Anthony C. Parkinson says
That is the kindest and nicest comment I have ever read in the digital pages of this publication.
Richard Marks says
Thanks, Al, for reminding us what we can accomplish by appreciating that varied interest and goals can be met by working together civilly.
Voices of reason are most welcome!!! Thanks!