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Dr. Heather Cox Richardson and herd, enriching solace and call to action here, every day. Rest well, all.

PS: I am an LFAA long-time reader and lurker, a bit intimated by this sagacious and beautifully-knit tapestry of “my people.” Finally subscribed, to more actively wade the waters. Thank you for all you give!

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Welcome! Hope you enjoy the community here. It is truly amazing -- in its wisdom, in its humility, and in its openness to a truly unusual amount of sharing---personal stories, give and take, concern for each other --- and concern for this country, the idea, the diversity, and, hopefully, the future. An unusual community has gathered around HCR and her daily blog, and more. Be sure and join the discussion.....

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Many thanks, G. Zinn!

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Welcome, AshleyR, from an East Tennessee neighbor.

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I am in ET also!

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Hi, Marcy, I’m in West TN (a too-small blue spot in this long, red state)!

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Thanks, Andrea, my neighbor, across the Vol state!

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Well said 👏🏻🙏

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A voice! A voice! My kingdom for another voice! And yours, AshleyR, is just the one we had in mind! I hope you will find it to be the best subscription you ever chose to make. I sure did.

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Morning Lynell, Coeur de Lion. We'll defeat our local "John" and impose our Magna Carta and Charter of the Forest together with Ashley and millions more. I kinda like the role of Robin Hood and his Merry Men.

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Morning, Stuart!! I've always been partial to Robinhood!

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Good Morning, Lynell. Same here. I always fancied myself as Little John...

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‘Twas always Will Scarlett for me.

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Many thanks, Lynell! Your poignant words shared here in Heather’s herd-dom have spoken deeply to me many a time!

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Welcome, from a little ways South of you, AshleyR! Hope we give you as graceful a reception as I received a short while ago, when this long time reader and lurker took the plunge. Wade on in!

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Thank you, Gustav (such a regal name)! These waters are fine and then some.

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Hello @AshleyR TN!! You’re among a wonderful, enriching cadre. Great to have your voice in the chorus.

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Thank you, Leslie!

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Welcome, fellow "South-dweller"! (I was actually BORN in Tennessee!) For those of us living down here in the "Belly of the Beast", as it were (I'll let others define what the "Beast" is...), a community like this can be a valuable lifeline when you feel surrounded by folks who virulently oppose your beliefs. As I'm sure you know, it can be exasperating and can make one feel hopeless at times. The LFAA group is an invigorating antidote to some of the scary stuff going on. Even more, I also think our experiences "down here" can add some valuable perspective to ongoing issues roiling this country right now. DO chime in on occasion! There are some SUPER people on here to engage with!!

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Speaking of virulently oppose, I was helping with a community project last week. A very nice lady my age was chattily working alongside me. Then she said the virus was ridiculous and she refused to be vaccinated! I responded we’d have to agree to disagree whereupon she said “I vehemently disagree” and moved away from me. So hard to have a conversation…

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I'm a subscriber to "Next Door", a kind of neighborhood/community billboard for all various things. Most often it is lost/found pets, advertising/searching for various services, buying/selling things, etc. etc. It is centered around whatever community you're in. It can come in VERY handy on occasions. Aside from being a source of remarkable and "creative" uses/spellings of the English language, it can also be scary sometimes in revealing peoples' true natures. We got it recently with people objecting to fireworks because of what it does to kids, animals, people with PTSD, etc. Overwhelmingly people were against them. However, there are always the ones who then bring politics into it, calling everybody "Karens" and "snowflakes" because of the noise they're making. (For the record: I am opposed to people exploding what sound like heavy mortars in their yards that make my house and windows rattle for SEVERAL HOURS. That has f***-all to do with celebrating freedom and independence, IMO!) Just try a minimal amount of reasoning with some of these people?? Good luck. Best not to waste your breath. Don't think there are Q-Anon believers in our midst? (Oh yeah...I've learned Biden is a pedophile and the entire pandemic is fake and staged for the government to take over our lives. Handy to know, I guess.) Just scroll through some of this invective if you want to lose your faith in humanity. I don't engage these people and try to ignore them, but it is nevertheless disheartening to feel you're surrounded by this mentality. Sad to know it's in Vermont too!

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You are absolutely correct. NextDoor is a sesspool of vitriol. I never engage these people but they are so dense and not open to dialog at all.

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BUT, that doesn't mean I won't use them to haul away junk, sell stuff, or do some work for me!!

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Bummer, Sally.

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Hi, TN-GA, Bruce!

As I was born and raised a passionate, involved, suthuhn belle-gone-bad deep down in the Heart of Dixie, we’re kin💙. GA has been a love of mine for years, thrilled to support Dems there. I’ve enjoyed your contributions here so very much!

Looking forward to engaging with you and the rest of this wonderful herd.

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I share your discomfort about the things happening in this state.

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Welcome Ashley, G Zinn said it all. There are many scholars here and lots of heart. It’s a safe place to learn and grow.

We just escaped the Florida heat for a few months to the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. We have a lot in a beautiful wooded campground where nature still reigns. Good for the soul.

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My grand daughter escaped Covid lockdown by transferring from UVM to UT totally randomly . She was supposed to have the semester abroad in Florence so picked Tennessee . She’s so happy and now her sister is going next year . Long time New Englanders we’re a bit baffled but happy grand daughters are what we want . We’ll be visiting

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It’s a beautiful state. We celebrate nature, food and friendship here and generally avoid politics. We do, however, gently disagree with untruths.

And you should know that “bless your heart” is not a compliment here. ❤️

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There’s a wonderful witty poem Bless Your Heart and I’ll remember the post eventually . My biggest concern with my grand daughters going south is political . I’m hoping both remain as open minded as they are now . I look forward to visiting them and having first hand experience .I appreciate all your comments and of course this whole wisdom

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I understand your bafflement! TN is an interesting state, dotted in blue, thankfully, along with the lush greens…and the red and yellow leaves that nod to the unrivaled New England ones.

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Thank you, Diane! I’ve definitely noted you among this wise and thoughtful bunch. Enjoy your slice of wooded beauty here in TN!

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Lurking is what many here do until they "take the plunge" and find the water is fine. Welcome AshleyR. Swim away!

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Many thanks, Pam. Ready to swim through the waters with this great bunch.

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I'm glad you made the leap. I don't consider myself to be sagacious but that doesn't stop me from sharing my thoughts! :) Your thoughts are important!

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Thanks, Kimberly! Here’s to wading these waters together.

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Good morning Ashley. Thank you for your fine post. Let’s go lurk and see what those rascals in Congress are up to. HCR sure lends a hand with that. And then we can make sense of it here to keep our focus on true north!

Welcome!

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Thank you, Christine! With the brilliant HCR as our guide, true north bound we are!

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Welcome, and jump in.

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Thank you, Nancy!

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welcome to the herd !! Many of us comment every day, many not so often, but we are all part of the whole.

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Thank you, Pamela!

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Welcome aboard. This community (and I use that term intentionally) has become a huge part of my daily routine. I learn so much, both from the Professor (and don't miss her Facebook Tue/Thur livestreams or her "Now and Then" podcast on Tuesday mornings.

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Ally, your voice in this community encouraged me to take the plunge! Here’s to Heather’s herd and the many gifts she and all here offer.

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<blush> Thank you for your kind words.

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Welcome Ashley!! Lurking is just fine--an excellent activity indeed.

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Thanks, Linda!!

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Another "my people" ❤ Happiness🎶🌹

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Yes, Gailee 💙

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Come on in. The water is fine.

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Yes, indeed, Charlie. Many thanks!

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Welcome AshleyR from a fellow Volunteer!

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