Wow, Sharon. This might be the most beautiful writing we have seen from you so far. I am in tears this morning. Turning my head toward the rising sun. PLEASE let that be how we react to this moment. Thank you for this beautiful edition of The Preamble.
Once again, Sharon relates a very interesting and timely bit of history that I wager most of us were unaware of. It is yet more proof of the maxim that history repeats itself because here we are again at an existential crossroads for the great American experiment. We won’t know until after November if the sun is ascending or descending. I have hope for the former, justified or not but I believe hope is not enough, not when so much is at stake. I’m here in this community and others, because I hope, by reading these newsletters, exchanging comments and countering misconceptions and misinformation with facts, people will vote for the sun. I was a member of one political party for 48 years. Then I started to pay more attention, research more and listen more. I discovered some of my opinions were not based on facts. Instead of sinking further into denial or seeking the comfort of like-minded people, I simply changed my opinions. Personally, the process is a little uncomfortable but a small price to pay for the good of the country and the well-being of us all. I hope Sharon takes a look at the major issues on voters’ minds over the next five months and we get into some good fact-based discussions about them.
Amen!! I was a member of a political party from 18yo to 59yo, because it was the party of my parents and grandparents. And the early days of SharonSaysSo my daughter brought me to SSS instagram and light bulbs came on as truth replaced ingrained thoughts from drinking the koolaid and not fact checking or investigating.
Now, I am divorced from the party, remaining single as far as political parties, and looking for men and women of principle and character. I fact check and double check before I post anything. I’m open to listening to understand anyone who can chat without attacking. And my views and opinions have shifted a little here and a lot there.
Marti. We have a similar story. Good for us for recognizing our own humanity and course correcting. My DIL shared SSS and then a Governerd was born. I’ve never looked back. There is power in the Sun shining on your face. There is power in seeking out the facts, scrolling by the sheep on the internet, and standing strong in your integrity. I have hope but as a previous commenter stated we need more than hope.
I, too, was introduced to SSS many years ago through my daughter-in-law (sadly, now "ex-DIL" (we continue to be friends). I was never aligned with one party, but have learned to seek facts and form opinions based on those facts. Very thankful for all the parts of this "factual" machine we call Governerds.
Wow, I really enjoyed reading these words and they give me a lot to ponder. I see myself in what you wrote about Franklin "realizing that he was old and he had experienced many instances of being forced to change his opinion once he had better information". This is me. Here's to the rising sun in America!
I have been a Republican my entire adult life. Like Benjamin Franklin, I have changed my mind when presented with new and better information - I now disagree with the anti-democratic positions of many in Republican leadership, but I have remained a registered Republican so that I can cast my vote in the Primary elections here in Arizona. As a Moderate, I don't agree with all of the policies of Democratic candidates, but I am passionate about preserving our democracy, so policy is of much less importance to me at this time and in this election. I am helping the rising sun by hand writing postcards to less active voters, encouraging them to get out and vote. It gives me hope because it is something that I can do right now, with the resources available to me, and it has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of real people I have never met. If anyone else might be interested in this project, here's the link! ❤️ https://www.activateamerica.vote/postcards
This is an optimistic piece to read, which feels like a warm hug. Unfortunately, I'm not feeling very optimistic. Do I have hope that this is a "Rising Sun Moment"? Yes. Do I believe this is a "Rising Sun Moment"? No. Sharon, it would be really great if you could maybe provide a newsletter with data about why it may be a Rising Sun Moment. I'll do my own research, but I'm not naturally optimistic... although I am swayed by data that points in optimistic directions! Not trying to give you an assignment, I just know you are more optimistic than me and you're a great researcher with a POV broader than mine.
I understand, and I feel similarly. I need hope, but I'm having a hard time finding my way to it. It spurs me to do what I can, but I'm not super optimistic. That said, I think that there is a campaign designed to make certain people feel hopeless because hopeless people are often powerless people. I believe it's intended to create behavior that will allow power to be consolidated. I believe it's designed to fulfill the prophecy of hopelessness. It's ok to not be ok in this political climate. But I hope you can join me in finding some hope of finding hope because it might just thwart the conspiracy to snuff out hope.
I am a naturally optimistic person, but I am not optimistic about this election. I am however HOPEFUL. The alternative to keeping our democracy intact is just too sad & frightening to allow me to sink into despair. If Gilead is our future, then we will deal will that as it comes. In the meantime, I intend to work in my own way to maintain our democracy.
Please tell me I’m not the only one in tears after reading this. This was beautifully written Sharon. Thank you for always being our beacon of hope. ❤️🇺🇸
Sharon, I really enjoyed this post. It gave me a lot to think about. I'm hopeful that it is our rising sun moment, for sure, but it's also fairly terrifying that so many people don't seem to "doubt a little in their own [or a leader's] infallibility." This is what makes me concerned.
Just as Sharon has said many times about there not being a bunch of backup teachers waiting in the wings to jump in and save America's public schools during this great teacher resignation period, I don't think we can sit back and just hope that someone is going to jump in and save America from itself! We actually have to take action. I am sometimes left wondering what exactly those actions can be - and thinking things like I'm just one person and my actions won't make a difference. So I think we have to keep ourselves grounded in the idea that we don't have to change the whole system ourselves - but we can do what we can, with what have right now. We can make choices as we are faced with each new situation. We can plant seeds - as many as we can, because some will definitely grow roots. We can at the very least, show up and vote on election day rather than sit it out because the candidate isn't "ideal."
Amen! I am slowly finding my new political leanings. My mind and feelings have shifted significantly over the last 4 or 5 years. I feel like I'm much more comfortable with my thoughts and opinions - political, spiritual, and emotional -than before. Thank you for your role in that change. And even though I'm in my 50's, I feel the sun rising, and my knowledge and faith increasing.
Well shoot, guess I need to change my profile picture to a rising- rather than setting- sun…
I am, at my core, an optimist (hello, enneagram 7). And even when I joke that DC has made me hard and cynical, I still see the good, hard work people in my city and around the country are doing to preserve democracy. I know good people, on both sides of the aisle, who see America’s best days before us.
But I also want to add that sunsets aren’t always bad. Round of applause for the sun setting on divine right of kings. Praise be that the sun has set on the British empire (and look- they survived! And are maybe…even better now?!) I think I can say we all think there are certain parts of American life/government/economy that maybe needs to see the sunset. I sure as heck don’t want to see that for our democracy as a whole, but maybe a little sun setting is what will get us to the sunrise of a *new* day. Because as Anne Shirley told us “tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it…yet.”
I believe this moment in time calls for realistic optimism vs a naive optimism. I think being realistically optimistic leads to acting with courage and bravery (facing facts of a situation and displaying a willingness to do something). When I have experienced moments of naivety in my own life I find that I have an attitude of burying my head in the sand and not wanting to face facts and do something (just want to hunker down and hide away).
Thank you Sharon for helping us face facts, be realistically optimistic, and piece together the hope we need to do something about the state we find ourselves in.
I am not even an American and this has me in tears this morning ❤️ Feeling all the feels. Let this moment we are in right now become a beautiful moment in history someday where the sun rose and shone bright for freedom and democracy ☀️❤️🇺🇸
I really appreciate these thoughts, and I think it is one of those seasons heavy with possibility. Despair and hand-wringing is too easy. I think we need some more "volunteer projects." (And it gives me comfort to know that the American experiment was almost too difficult and too fraught with doubts to pull off. That's how I feel about many projects I take on.)
Ben got it!! Listen to understand!! And while not obligated to agree he found himself in a position from learning to sometimes change his views! If we can all learn to do this I believe the sun can rise on democracy!! While we may not all agree on everything, I think when we have a shared reality (love that), listen to understand, and approach the table with open minds, we can find enough common ground on issues that we can agree on to move forward.
Wow, Sharon. This might be the most beautiful writing we have seen from you so far. I am in tears this morning. Turning my head toward the rising sun. PLEASE let that be how we react to this moment. Thank you for this beautiful edition of The Preamble.
Once again, Sharon relates a very interesting and timely bit of history that I wager most of us were unaware of. It is yet more proof of the maxim that history repeats itself because here we are again at an existential crossroads for the great American experiment. We won’t know until after November if the sun is ascending or descending. I have hope for the former, justified or not but I believe hope is not enough, not when so much is at stake. I’m here in this community and others, because I hope, by reading these newsletters, exchanging comments and countering misconceptions and misinformation with facts, people will vote for the sun. I was a member of one political party for 48 years. Then I started to pay more attention, research more and listen more. I discovered some of my opinions were not based on facts. Instead of sinking further into denial or seeking the comfort of like-minded people, I simply changed my opinions. Personally, the process is a little uncomfortable but a small price to pay for the good of the country and the well-being of us all. I hope Sharon takes a look at the major issues on voters’ minds over the next five months and we get into some good fact-based discussions about them.
Amen!! I was a member of a political party from 18yo to 59yo, because it was the party of my parents and grandparents. And the early days of SharonSaysSo my daughter brought me to SSS instagram and light bulbs came on as truth replaced ingrained thoughts from drinking the koolaid and not fact checking or investigating.
Now, I am divorced from the party, remaining single as far as political parties, and looking for men and women of principle and character. I fact check and double check before I post anything. I’m open to listening to understand anyone who can chat without attacking. And my views and opinions have shifted a little here and a lot there.
May we all channel old Ben!!
Marti. We have a similar story. Good for us for recognizing our own humanity and course correcting. My DIL shared SSS and then a Governerd was born. I’ve never looked back. There is power in the Sun shining on your face. There is power in seeking out the facts, scrolling by the sheep on the internet, and standing strong in your integrity. I have hope but as a previous commenter stated we need more than hope.
I feel like the Governerds are a force with the ability to influence change. We are the change we want to see, and it is contagious
I, too, was introduced to SSS many years ago through my daughter-in-law (sadly, now "ex-DIL" (we continue to be friends). I was never aligned with one party, but have learned to seek facts and form opinions based on those facts. Very thankful for all the parts of this "factual" machine we call Governerds.
Marti, reading your story gives me hope.
Volunteer group project has me cackling 🤣
"Would you like to volunteer for this group project that you can complete in this really hot room all summer? No?" ;P
Oh and you must wear a wig. Non-negotiable.
"Would you like to volunteer for this group proj.." ✋️Let me stop you right there. No, the answer is no.
Same
Wow, I really enjoyed reading these words and they give me a lot to ponder. I see myself in what you wrote about Franklin "realizing that he was old and he had experienced many instances of being forced to change his opinion once he had better information". This is me. Here's to the rising sun in America!
I have been a Republican my entire adult life. Like Benjamin Franklin, I have changed my mind when presented with new and better information - I now disagree with the anti-democratic positions of many in Republican leadership, but I have remained a registered Republican so that I can cast my vote in the Primary elections here in Arizona. As a Moderate, I don't agree with all of the policies of Democratic candidates, but I am passionate about preserving our democracy, so policy is of much less importance to me at this time and in this election. I am helping the rising sun by hand writing postcards to less active voters, encouraging them to get out and vote. It gives me hope because it is something that I can do right now, with the resources available to me, and it has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of real people I have never met. If anyone else might be interested in this project, here's the link! ❤️ https://www.activateamerica.vote/postcards
This is an optimistic piece to read, which feels like a warm hug. Unfortunately, I'm not feeling very optimistic. Do I have hope that this is a "Rising Sun Moment"? Yes. Do I believe this is a "Rising Sun Moment"? No. Sharon, it would be really great if you could maybe provide a newsletter with data about why it may be a Rising Sun Moment. I'll do my own research, but I'm not naturally optimistic... although I am swayed by data that points in optimistic directions! Not trying to give you an assignment, I just know you are more optimistic than me and you're a great researcher with a POV broader than mine.
I understand, and I feel similarly. I need hope, but I'm having a hard time finding my way to it. It spurs me to do what I can, but I'm not super optimistic. That said, I think that there is a campaign designed to make certain people feel hopeless because hopeless people are often powerless people. I believe it's intended to create behavior that will allow power to be consolidated. I believe it's designed to fulfill the prophecy of hopelessness. It's ok to not be ok in this political climate. But I hope you can join me in finding some hope of finding hope because it might just thwart the conspiracy to snuff out hope.
I am a naturally optimistic person, but I am not optimistic about this election. I am however HOPEFUL. The alternative to keeping our democracy intact is just too sad & frightening to allow me to sink into despair. If Gilead is our future, then we will deal will that as it comes. In the meantime, I intend to work in my own way to maintain our democracy.
Beautifully said. I agree with all of it. I have hope, but see little that will change.
Thank you for always being a ray of sunshine in a fraught time. 🥰
Please tell me I’m not the only one in tears after reading this. This was beautifully written Sharon. Thank you for always being our beacon of hope. ❤️🇺🇸
You definitely were not alone! I had tears streaming. This was beautiful.
🥹 you were not alone!
Sharon, I really enjoyed this post. It gave me a lot to think about. I'm hopeful that it is our rising sun moment, for sure, but it's also fairly terrifying that so many people don't seem to "doubt a little in their own [or a leader's] infallibility." This is what makes me concerned.
Just as Sharon has said many times about there not being a bunch of backup teachers waiting in the wings to jump in and save America's public schools during this great teacher resignation period, I don't think we can sit back and just hope that someone is going to jump in and save America from itself! We actually have to take action. I am sometimes left wondering what exactly those actions can be - and thinking things like I'm just one person and my actions won't make a difference. So I think we have to keep ourselves grounded in the idea that we don't have to change the whole system ourselves - but we can do what we can, with what have right now. We can make choices as we are faced with each new situation. We can plant seeds - as many as we can, because some will definitely grow roots. We can at the very least, show up and vote on election day rather than sit it out because the candidate isn't "ideal."
Amen! I am slowly finding my new political leanings. My mind and feelings have shifted significantly over the last 4 or 5 years. I feel like I'm much more comfortable with my thoughts and opinions - political, spiritual, and emotional -than before. Thank you for your role in that change. And even though I'm in my 50's, I feel the sun rising, and my knowledge and faith increasing.
Well shoot, guess I need to change my profile picture to a rising- rather than setting- sun…
I am, at my core, an optimist (hello, enneagram 7). And even when I joke that DC has made me hard and cynical, I still see the good, hard work people in my city and around the country are doing to preserve democracy. I know good people, on both sides of the aisle, who see America’s best days before us.
But I also want to add that sunsets aren’t always bad. Round of applause for the sun setting on divine right of kings. Praise be that the sun has set on the British empire (and look- they survived! And are maybe…even better now?!) I think I can say we all think there are certain parts of American life/government/economy that maybe needs to see the sunset. I sure as heck don’t want to see that for our democracy as a whole, but maybe a little sun setting is what will get us to the sunrise of a *new* day. Because as Anne Shirley told us “tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it…yet.”
I believe this moment in time calls for realistic optimism vs a naive optimism. I think being realistically optimistic leads to acting with courage and bravery (facing facts of a situation and displaying a willingness to do something). When I have experienced moments of naivety in my own life I find that I have an attitude of burying my head in the sand and not wanting to face facts and do something (just want to hunker down and hide away).
Thank you Sharon for helping us face facts, be realistically optimistic, and piece together the hope we need to do something about the state we find ourselves in.
I think you are spot on!
I am not even an American and this has me in tears this morning ❤️ Feeling all the feels. Let this moment we are in right now become a beautiful moment in history someday where the sun rose and shone bright for freedom and democracy ☀️❤️🇺🇸
I really appreciate these thoughts, and I think it is one of those seasons heavy with possibility. Despair and hand-wringing is too easy. I think we need some more "volunteer projects." (And it gives me comfort to know that the American experiment was almost too difficult and too fraught with doubts to pull off. That's how I feel about many projects I take on.)
Ben got it!! Listen to understand!! And while not obligated to agree he found himself in a position from learning to sometimes change his views! If we can all learn to do this I believe the sun can rise on democracy!! While we may not all agree on everything, I think when we have a shared reality (love that), listen to understand, and approach the table with open minds, we can find enough common ground on issues that we can agree on to move forward.