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Stephanie Bernier's avatar

Sylvia, thank you so much for the time you take, not only to write "One Good Thing," but for relaying historical and personal stories which help me not to give up on the things I CAN do in the face of such horrible actions by our leaders, and by default, by us as Americans.

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Sylvia Stocker's avatar

Thank you so much, Stephanie. Writing is one thing I can do, and it helps to keep me sane (ish) ... and I suppose that helps the world, too!!

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Kate Hart's avatar

Off topic but I have just been going through some of my children’s books and came across a Ukrainian folktale The Mitten illustrated by Jan Brett. I had no idea when reading it so many years ago what pleasure it would give me today with my new found respect for the Ukrainian people.

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Sylvia Stocker's avatar

Oh, I love that story! And Jan Brett, too! She illustrates the story beautifully! Thanks for reminding me of it.

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Cathy Meaney's avatar

Thank you Sylvia.

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Sylvia Stocker's avatar

Of course, Cathy!

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Judy Chamberlain's avatar

Well said, Sylvia. I share your horror and embarrassment about what Trump and his buddies did in that so-called briefing. I even found it hard to laugh at the SNL parody of that meeting last night, although there were some pretty funny lines! We have to stand together. We have to speak to those we know in other countries (as we did in the Viet Nam era) and say, "We love our country, but we are endlessly sorry for what our leaders have said and will presumably continue to say."

Judy C.

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Sylvia Stocker's avatar

Thank you, Judy. I might be able to stream the SNL parody, but I don't know if I have the heart even for that. Maybe with a little more distance ... I know. It's hard to love one's country and hate what it and its leaders are doing, isn't it?

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Maryli Tiemann's avatar

Thank you, Sylvie, for once again sharing your very personal reaction to our days, these days.

I don’t read your podcast.

Instead, in the early morning hours, after you’ve posted it, I listen to your messages. Another voice speaks your words, and I close my eyes and see and feel YOU in my mind’s eye:

You, the high school girl befriending the exchange student

You, the American daughter-tourist in the butcher shop

You, the young mother, creating a time-out for your three year old son

You, my friend, struggling to grasp just HOW are we supposed to “respond” during this unthinkable pandemic of evil surrounding us?

We are seemingly without a vaccine to help us avoid this plague.

Thanks for recommending books. Maybe we could gather and read them together? And explore how to stand up to the bullying… which is truly designed to beat us down.

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Sylvia Stocker's avatar

Once or twice I have found that computer voice by accident. I wish I could figure out how I did it, because it would help me to proofread my posts before I make them public. It's so hard to find one's own typos!

And/but, thank you, Maryli. I, too, wish we could inoculate ourselves against the evil. Oh, but they fired all the scientists!

Somebody whose judgment I respect just recommended Timothy Snyder's book On Tyranny. I think I will see if I can get it at Gulf of Maine. Interested in joining me in reading it and then discussing it? Maybe gather a group?

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Maryli Tiemann's avatar

Dunno if I can read a book about tyranny right now…

Could show you how to find the AI voice, though. Let me know when you’d like me to come over…

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