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Janice Airhart's avatar

Thank you for this. We all need a good bit of hope to get through the next few years. I feel the best way to remain hopeful is to be kind to all, help those I can, and contribute monetarily to causes with greater reach or expertise than I have: food banks, ACLU, programs that make lives better. And march with like-minded people. Your book will be useful to many people. I look forward to seeing it.

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Gena Olson's avatar

Thank you! I need an infusion of hope! It’s refreshing to read about your approach, a new way to address racism, to see errors in an earlier approach. I am a 76 year old white woman raised in Birmingham, Al., now living in Michigan for the last 50+ years. I would like to be part of a change! I just hope to see our country start to reconstruct ourselves after the scourge of this administration is past. The same ole same ole just won’t do!

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Clark Walker's avatar

A 76 year old white woman from the deep south and an openminded thinker, too !

Who would have thunk it?

All power to you, Gena, in your quest to make a difference for good in your life.

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Maria Brunko's avatar

Marie, your pieces are often my favorite to read, and the hope that you hold to is always evident in your writing. I’m thankful for your work at a time like this. I’ve learned so much and still feel optimistic about our future. Thank you.

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Clark Walker's avatar

Me, too, Maria.

Not everyone in America is a MAGA bigot and for that I am deeply grateful.

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Jennifer Adams's avatar

Thank you for keeping on with your work! I learn so much from you. And like Sharon always reminds us, hope is a choice. The undercurrent of hope is felt in your writing, and it makes it so accessible and satisfying to read.

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Ethan Mook's avatar

Thank you for this piece, Marie. I always look forward to any articles you write, and this one resonated with me deeply. I'm an Asian American that's around your age and felt very similar to you during Trump's first term. I often find myself still thinking in an us vs them mentality and having feelings of doom about the future. Little by little, I'm working to get to a healthier place like the one you're in now. Having hope without shying away from the hard topics.

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Chris Myers Asch's avatar

I enjoyed reading about your journey to hope, Marie. You discovered some important lessons in the last few years.

I have found that my own profession, history, often encourages students to spiral into the despairing ways of thinking that you mentioned in your peace. That is part of why I started writing stories of hope in my own Substack, “What’s Gone Right.”

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Danielle Sweeney's avatar

Thank you. I needed to hear this. You are in the place you need to be. At the heart of of everything is education. About ourselves and about each other. From that place of real learning, can we go forward to do what we were put on this earth to do. Care for each other and care for our world, each in their own unique way.

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Clark Walker's avatar

Well said , Marie .

I wish the best for you and applaud you for your hopeful message and outlook.

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Beka's avatar

This is the way forward. Thank you for continuing in your work. Your voice is needed!

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Nancy Cozzi's avatar

I needed this today. I wish you luck on your book!

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SarahJane's avatar

Thank you. Very helpful

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