Faith is a word that I’ve studied all my life too. I come from the Midwest of the US and am replanted near DC. I’ve always believed that humanity was the beginning of having faith in hope. How can you have faith in hope? You work for it. You encourage it as if it is a small child or a flower that needs just a little extra to grow. You help your neighbor. You help a stranger that needs you for a moment in time. You trust in the good that is inside most of us. I used to believe it was in all of us, but I have met too many selfish people, cruel people who don’t cherish that seed of humanity. I’m part of the Godless Horde of non-believers in religion, but I believe and have faith in all of you out in the world. I believe that we must stand up to those who control us, teach us fear, and keep us in our “place.” There are parts of the US that are so afraid because of Fox News and Commentary. Polite people turn away and think by shunning bullies that the bullies will leave. But it doesn’t work that way. The only way to stop a bully is to stand up and make it known that we who have faith in the human community know what they are doing and reject it. We believe that no one should be hungry, cold, lacking in medicine or education. We reject the idea that education is only for the rich. We understand that the Arts are an important message even if we miss it sometimes. It gives us pause to see things in a new way. We believe that responsibility for others is equal and greater than our personal wish for acquiring things. We believe that greed and manipulation of the economy so that only the top benefit from it is something we must deal with as a society. With great anything comes the chance to change the world.
You spoke beautifully of faith. I wish I was as lucky as you to have faith that things will work out. I trust that it will. I’m working on having faith in a system that seems sadly broken. I’m working on having faith that all of the loud screamers, killers, thieves and disenchanted will recover their faith in humans or at least acknowledge that we all have a right to exist. I’m horrified by the resurgence of violence against people who don’t fit the bully’s life view.
Voting is one of the most important duties in a democracy. Holding our elected officers responsible for making the world a better place is something people forget to do once the election is over. Writing, calling, nagging like an old fish wife is just another part of our duties.
I’ll vote. I’ll make my vote count, and I do it for you, for your family, for the world. I’m not afraid. I truly believe that we are an educated public who cannot put a joke into office (we did that before and survived but really, I’d like us to evolve.)
If you let the fear mongers win, if you let them immobilize you, then you betray your own faith in good.
I haven’t met God. Looked for him, out there in the nether world. I have met some wonderful people including those that taught me as you were taught. My family had little, but when someone had less we shared. We shared clothes, food, books, sofas, beds, toys because my mother and father showed us that we can raise the whole world, if we just care enough. My mom is 80. She is still my role model. Oh we have a normal mother daughter relationship and drive each other crazy on occasion. She is, however, the most open caring woman I know. She hides it well sometimes, seeming totally introverted but if there is a need, she’s the first person in line to help someone. She’s not perfect although she gets close but she inspires me to live the values I was taught. She inspires me to be brave and face the world willing to learn about it.
You inspire me too. You took a risk by writing so openly about your faith, your fears, your family.
You aren’t alone. I have faith your message will reach out to others who believe too. I bless then for their faith and hope that it grows. Thanks for sharing your message.
Ann WJ White 
Faith is a word that I’ve studied all my life too. I come from the Midwest of the US and am replanted near DC. I’ve always believed that humanity was the beginning of having faith in hope. How can you have faith in hope? You work for it. You encourage it as if it is a small child or a flower that needs just a little extra to grow. You help your neighbor. You help a stranger that needs you for a moment in time. You trust in the good that is inside most of us. I used to believe it was in all of us, but I have met too many selfish people, cruel people who don’t cherish that seed of humanity. I’m part of the Godless Horde of non-believers in religion, but I believe and have faith in all of you out in the world. I believe that we must stand up to those who control us, teach us fear, and keep us in our “place.” There are parts of the US that are so afraid because of Fox News and Commentary. Polite people turn away and think by shunning bullies that the bullies will leave. But it doesn’t work that way. The only way to stop a bully is to stand up and make it known that we who have faith in the human community know what they are doing and reject it. We believe that no one should be hungry, cold, lacking in medicine or education. We reject the idea that education is only for the rich. We understand that the Arts are an important message even if we miss it sometimes. It gives us pause to see things in a new way. We believe that responsibility for others is equal and greater than our personal wish for acquiring things. We believe that greed and manipulation of the economy so that only the top benefit from it is something we must deal with as a society. With great anything comes the chance to change the world.
You spoke beautifully of faith. I wish I was as lucky as you to have faith that things will work out. I trust that it will. I’m working on having faith in a system that seems sadly broken. I’m working on having faith that all of the loud screamers, killers, thieves and disenchanted will recover their faith in humans or at least acknowledge that we all have a right to exist. I’m horrified by the resurgence of violence against people who don’t fit the bully’s life view.
Voting is one of the most important duties in a democracy. Holding our elected officers responsible for making the world a better place is something people forget to do once the election is over. Writing, calling, nagging like an old fish wife is just another part of our duties.
I’ll vote. I’ll make my vote count, and I do it for you, for your family, for the world. I’m not afraid. I truly believe that we are an educated public who cannot put a joke into office (we did that before and survived but really, I’d like us to evolve.)
If you let the fear mongers win, if you let them immobilize you, then you betray your own faith in good.
I haven’t met God. Looked for him, out there in the nether world. I have met some wonderful people including those that taught me as you were taught. My family had little, but when someone had less we shared. We shared clothes, food, books, sofas, beds, toys because my mother and father showed us that we can raise the whole world, if we just care enough. My mom is 80. She is still my role model. Oh we have a normal mother daughter relationship and drive each other crazy on occasion. She is, however, the most open caring woman I know. She hides it well sometimes, seeming totally introverted but if there is a need, she’s the first person in line to help someone. She’s not perfect although she gets close but she inspires me to live the values I was taught. She inspires me to be brave and face the world willing to learn about it.
You inspire me too. You took a risk by writing so openly about your faith, your fears, your family.
You aren’t alone. I have faith your message will reach out to others who believe too. I bless then for their faith and hope that it grows. Thanks for sharing your message.
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Same here … same here …
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Thank you for sharing the Open Thought Vortex piece and your own thoughts about faith, Ann. Both are calls to thoughtful arms where the voting booth is our chosen battlefield. I will approach it with faith that reason and optimism, humanity and hope will emerge victorious.
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❤️❤️
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