To the editor:

Everyday driving to work I pass by Alan Zielke's business and see his signs. Where long ago I would have a strong negative response to his language of divisiveness and yes, “hate,” I have come to view his perspective from a larger cultural view, which I admit is probably a way that I can process what I read and not have a bad day.

The larger picture is one that speaks clearly to these times of fear and anger which many of us are experiencing, yet at the same time, when what is needed most is communication and understanding, our culture has become fragmented and our sense of the common good shattered. As individuals there is so much greatness all around us. As a country, perhaps we are not able to look honestly at the whole story of who we are, where we came from and what we inevitably came to do in order to become "great.”

The myth of America's greatness contains a continuing thread of brutality and inhumane domination, which to this day we have not, as a united country, fully come to terms with. The truth of our beginnings as a country is not "great.” The long and continuing culture of slavery (today’s incarceration industry), the toxic domination of  men over women in all structures of institutions of our society, and even written into our Constitution, the set-up for income inequality and a culture divided by race and class, all work to separate us.

Whoever it is these days that brings up anger, whether it's Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton or Alan Zelke, the deeper truth is not personal but collective. What lies underneath all of these stories we tell and hear is undeniable and transcends all our anger and fears. Outside the realm of our thoughts and ideas we are all connected; what happens to anyone happens to everyone. Our natural state of being connected is far greater than the sum of our collective fears which exist only in our minds, not our hearts.

America is in a state of crisis. At its very core it's existential. Let's not be “great.” Let's wake up from our technological media and consumer driven stupor and not buy into anything other than that, together as a community of varying points of view, we can move from the personal to the collective, become more accepting and prepared to deal with some serious issues that are right here and now. We need each other more than ever. 

Rob Yaffe

100% unaffiliated

Little Compton