11 Comments
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OldnTired's avatar

"Everyone is hurting"?

Yeah, I can feel the pain of the multi-millionaires and the billionaire families.

Most of us are hurting. Some worse than others. There are all sorts of hurts. Financial, medical, emotional. But the perceptions are there among the Trumpers that they're the 'real victims' and the rest of us aren't suffering in some way too.

But yes, the overall suffering is a result of the 'policies' of a angry, senility ravaged egotist who somehow got re-elected. But to the right, that guy is their savior, not their oppressor.

Sad country we got here.

Now, excuse me while I roll down the back seat side window of my limo and ask my chauffeured limo riding neighbor if he has some Grey Poupon to share. Sorry, he says times are tough all over.

Rolls eyes. (that was sarcasm. I drive a pickup that I can't drive right now. (not a law restriction)

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Alana's avatar

Everyone has a story. Unless we have lived it we have no idea. All stories matter. Listening to others stories without judgement or comparison is an art worth practicing.

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Amy Hendrickson's avatar

Spot on, Evan. Thanks for writing this. In recovery, we all share the same story it's just the details are different. None better/worse than the person going through it. Been there/done that looks different to everyone but what matters is how we heal.

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Nenapoma's avatar

Until people stop acting like the grass is greener on the other side the pain will not stop

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NANCY Jambor's avatar

Thank you so much for this thoughtful and clear eyed commentary about our current state of affairs in USA. The fear constantly stoked by SOME (I won’t say their names!) makes an ephemeral yet daunting mountain to true social solidarity. In my smallish community I see and hear empathy and compassion for our collective experiences. At the same time: Our limbic brains are hard pressed by the onslaught of terrible events not to succumb to fight/flight/freeze. I am committed to connecting. That’s my path forward through this grievous time.

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Maxine Hunter's avatar

A deeply touching and soul-searching article. As I read, I thought of this old proverb: "I wept because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet." Trite? Maybe. But back in the day, it did make one straighten up and reconsider what they were whining about. Hopefully it helped nurture compassion and empathy, and compassion and empathy still need to be nurtured. Thanks, Evan, you laid it out so clearly. Take care.

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Mombeka's avatar

Thank you Evan. Right on as usual.

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Mike Klein's avatar

If you are trying to avoid dividing or alienating people, why did Lincoln Square publish CJ Penney's inflammatory piece about the Gaza War? It had zero to do with the US pro-democracy movement and led many readers and subscribers to question your sincerity on this.

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Carol Moore's avatar

Excellent article and reminder…well worth reading.

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Linda Roberta Hibbs's avatar

Good, article, Evan, everyday, America, lives, in, fear! As, for, myself, learning, to, help, each, other, today, in, this, country, countless, people, struggle. Families, struggle. They, wonder, 💭 where, the, next, tank, of, gas, to, fill, there, car, is, coming, from. Food, on the, table, ? Who, will, watch, my, children, while, working. As, for, me, I, already, went, hungry, as, a, child. Why, did, mother, walk, out! Why, she, kept, my, biological father, a, secret. She, was, raped, by, a, family,member. She, is, very, miserable. She, refuses, any, help, with, her, problems. I, feel, nothing, but, compassion for her. Support, from, me, comes, from, a veterans, compensation, receive, from, the department, of, veterans, affairs. Oh, yes, by, they, way, ( POTUS ) has, problems, like, his own, revenge, against, this, country, and, others. Have, a, nice, Sunday!

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Andra Watkins's avatar

Evan, this is such a great reminder. I've seen this also, and it is so cringe. We are not in a "suffering" competition. We can carry each other through it.

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