For me, this is easy. I want to retain the hopeful energy I felt walking up and down the long line of people stretching across both sides of that bridge in Red Bank, N.J. While capturing the content of favorite signs - wearing a NYC People's Climate March t-shirt to signal solidarity - most everyone I interacted with was kind, thoughtful, positive. I purposefully steered clear of bad energy and quickly ended any conversation I sensed was headed toward a divisive rant. I wanted to return home infused with hope, not weighed down with despair. I succeeded.
Next question if you participated. Which were some of your favorite signs? Below are three of the more than fifty I jotted down traversing that bridge a half-dozen times. My blog is PG; give me as many of your non-profane favorites as you like.
"Our Constitution is not a suggestion."
"Science: Because you don't figure things out by praying."
"We don't disagree politically; we disagree morally."
By accident, I also learned at this event that carrying a book while walking and copying signs was a useful entree to conversations with my brethren. I lost count how many times people commented when they noticed my copy of Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (2022) which I was using as a hard surface while capturing favorite signs on scrap paper. A few of these brief conversations remained on Zevin's book - or literature, in general - while most others morphed into a dialogue about shared values and/or the issue(s) that brought each of us to be on that bridge on that day.
What do events like these accomplish? Instead of spending precious time debating or arguing over that unanswerable question, I offer the words of one of my heroes to assist those of us who wish to retain Saturday's hopeful energy: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
My husband and I went to the one in Tinton Falls. Like Red Bank, it was full of positive energy and peaceful with lots of great signs. My husband's said "No Faux-king King!" with a slashed crown illustration. Some of the others I remember aren't PG, so I will refrain. There was one touching one about people remaining silent in Nazi Germany. That was prescient to my way of thinking. The only negatives we saw were in people driving by: a thumbs down and two MAGA vehicles decked out with flags. That is three out of hundreds of cars that went by where we were sitting. This is what Democracy looks like!
ReplyDeleteInes; Thanks for the comment and for respecting my PG policy.
DeleteWe were there also with friends and neighbors from WSL. It was wonderful and exactly what I expected from our town. People were enthusiastic, friendly, and engaging. Amazing we were able to squeeze 3,000 plus people on that small bridge! I went hoping and expecting to find like minded people who wanted to share ideas and foster a sense of community….and that’s what I found. Kudos to the Red Bank police department for their very calm and courteous presence.
ReplyDeleteWe walked back together and retired to the garden balcony with several shared bottles of wine and snacks and continued with enriching conversation.
Cookie; Thanks for the comment. No doubt you were on the opposite side of the bridge as me or else I would have seen you as I walked. I planned to cross the street early on but then, as more and more people showed up, I was able to find new and arresting signs each time I walked on my side. Never got around to crossing. And you are right about the RB police; they handled it well.
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