We own a farm in south central PA and live amongst Brethern, Mennonites and some Amish. We are the only observant Jews for miles and miles. These are the kindest most generous people amongst whom we’ve ever lived.
I love hearing your comment. I grew up on a farm in Oregon and have great love for farmers and people of faith, including your faith as observant Jews. Yesterday we watched the newly released movie Bonhoeffer. Very thought provoking. We are Christians and faith is central to everything in our lives.
Hello Ed! We are also a Jewish family living on a 10 acre horse farm in rural Georgia. I have to echo your comments that we live amongst some of the kindest, most generous people I have ever met. We were worried about how we would be received before moving here from the city a few years ago, but I’ve never been treated better by neighbors and coworkers.
Do yourself a favor and read “Love Thy Neighbor “. Larissa’s articles are alway eye-openers! Always such a pleasure to see what she has to say and how well she says it! Love her!
one of my favorite poly sci nuggets is from Hamilton's Federalist 65. He sneaks this little two-word phrase in which, for me, essentially addresses the success and failure of all our modern politics: THE PRUDENT MEAN. The amorphous but stable and balanced center. The nucleus of the political atom. The place where conversations between rational ethical parties take place. Where science and medicine and technology exist. And where civilization tends to flourish.
I read that piece on The Free Press and loved it. I'm an ex-pat New Yorker, and though I don't have a farm, I live rural, have a wood burning stove and, to the point, my neighbors and I don't always think a like, but some of them are very special people to me.
Having, now so thankfully, grown up on farms in N.E. PA, after earlier years in NYC, I can also testify what an enormous gap there can be in an everyday life, between one of compartmentalized city isolation living on a land of concrete, and one on the soil that feeds you. As much as possible I have chosen ever since to be closer to the land itself. Small towns and nearness with natural nature have been my choices. And always with a garden to make good use of my energies!!
This is exactly what Romans 1 and 2 talk about. We should always build a bridge and polarizing politics is only a conflict if you make it one. It is crazy to think we always have more in common than we are led on to believe. Congratulations on the recirculation and keep hammering!
Wonderful news! I’ve shared your essay with so many people. I have a very similar experience, in the same area of NYS. So glad you’ve shared it and provided a much needed and real world perspective. Love reading your stories! Congrats.
I'm a bit late to the game having recently discovered Substack (just this month) after having heard it referenced for some time now. It's my new favorite thing because of content like this. I spent my childhood in rural southern Oregon and the rest of my life in and around Austin, Texas. I long for rural life again as the political polarization has grown exponentially in Central Texas over the past four decades. It is beautiful to find an online community/platform where thoughtful dialogue occurs between people of various political persuasions and demographics, where I can speak freely without fear of vitriolic attacks. Congratulations Larissa! You have given me hope. I'm off to read your essay!
Hi. I learned about your essay from watching BM and simply had to follow and support. Looking forward to what comes next and reading back on your past works. Thayos.
Larissa: “After months or even years of often disparaging bits about Trump voters…”.
I am not sure I agree with this characterization of Bill Maher. While it’s true that Jon Stewart along with Steven Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and John Oliver can only parrot woke nonsense, Maher has always been more than willing to take on the stupidity of the left. That’s the reason that he along with Ricky Gervais and Dave Chappelle are consistently funny and the others come across as tiresome nags.
So great to see Bill Maher bring attention to this most important issue and highlight your elegance and revelation. I often do not agree with Maher but he’s honest and critical and credits you with getting this right.
We own a farm in south central PA and live amongst Brethern, Mennonites and some Amish. We are the only observant Jews for miles and miles. These are the kindest most generous people amongst whom we’ve ever lived.
I love hearing your comment. I grew up on a farm in Oregon and have great love for farmers and people of faith, including your faith as observant Jews. Yesterday we watched the newly released movie Bonhoeffer. Very thought provoking. We are Christians and faith is central to everything in our lives.
Hello Ed! We are also a Jewish family living on a 10 acre horse farm in rural Georgia. I have to echo your comments that we live amongst some of the kindest, most generous people I have ever met. We were worried about how we would be received before moving here from the city a few years ago, but I’ve never been treated better by neighbors and coworkers.
I love this thread so much! So happy to hear these comments. 🙌
Do yourself a favor and read “Love Thy Neighbor “. Larissa’s articles are alway eye-openers! Always such a pleasure to see what she has to say and how well she says it! Love her!
one of my favorite poly sci nuggets is from Hamilton's Federalist 65. He sneaks this little two-word phrase in which, for me, essentially addresses the success and failure of all our modern politics: THE PRUDENT MEAN. The amorphous but stable and balanced center. The nucleus of the political atom. The place where conversations between rational ethical parties take place. Where science and medicine and technology exist. And where civilization tends to flourish.
That’s a great phrase. It would be great if it were in more common use!
I read that piece on The Free Press and loved it. I'm an ex-pat New Yorker, and though I don't have a farm, I live rural, have a wood burning stove and, to the point, my neighbors and I don't always think a like, but some of them are very special people to me.
Having, now so thankfully, grown up on farms in N.E. PA, after earlier years in NYC, I can also testify what an enormous gap there can be in an everyday life, between one of compartmentalized city isolation living on a land of concrete, and one on the soil that feeds you. As much as possible I have chosen ever since to be closer to the land itself. Small towns and nearness with natural nature have been my choices. And always with a garden to make good use of my energies!!
This is exactly what Romans 1 and 2 talk about. We should always build a bridge and polarizing politics is only a conflict if you make it one. It is crazy to think we always have more in common than we are led on to believe. Congratulations on the recirculation and keep hammering!
Wonderful news! I’ve shared your essay with so many people. I have a very similar experience, in the same area of NYS. So glad you’ve shared it and provided a much needed and real world perspective. Love reading your stories! Congrats.
I'm a bit late to the game having recently discovered Substack (just this month) after having heard it referenced for some time now. It's my new favorite thing because of content like this. I spent my childhood in rural southern Oregon and the rest of my life in and around Austin, Texas. I long for rural life again as the political polarization has grown exponentially in Central Texas over the past four decades. It is beautiful to find an online community/platform where thoughtful dialogue occurs between people of various political persuasions and demographics, where I can speak freely without fear of vitriolic attacks. Congratulations Larissa! You have given me hope. I'm off to read your essay!
Thanks Jennifer! I feel the same way about these online platforms that are delivering this thoughtful dialogue in a way that my real life is not
Hi. I learned about your essay from watching BM and simply had to follow and support. Looking forward to what comes next and reading back on your past works. Thayos.
Thank you so much, Mario! I’m honored and grateful!
"Thayos is thumb code on my phone for "thanks." For the insights and the courage to put them out there.
Larissa! So happy for you. It was a beautiful essay and you are a great writer. I look forward to reading more blogs from you! Congrats!! 🎉
Thank you Dana!
Yes, you have a lot of new followers now lol.
Aye Begorrah .
I had to look that one up. Thank you, I think!
Irish ☘️ up
Larissa: “After months or even years of often disparaging bits about Trump voters…”.
I am not sure I agree with this characterization of Bill Maher. While it’s true that Jon Stewart along with Steven Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and John Oliver can only parrot woke nonsense, Maher has always been more than willing to take on the stupidity of the left. That’s the reason that he along with Ricky Gervais and Dave Chappelle are consistently funny and the others come across as tiresome nags.
So great to see Bill Maher bring attention to this most important issue and highlight your elegance and revelation. I often do not agree with Maher but he’s honest and critical and credits you with getting this right.