I spent election night with some high-level Danish civil servants and businessmen in Washington, D.C., speaking to them about the U.S. electoral system and the presidential campaign. They knew that I hoped that Hillary Clinton would win. We watched TV as the returns came in. They realized that, like many Americans, I was shocked by the results and deeply concerned about the election’s implications for the United States.
I was with them for three days. During that time on several occasions, various members of the group offered me their sympathies and said they hoped things would turn out all right for my country. I had experienced something very similar the day after the 9/11 attacks when I was in Copenhagen. Both times the outpouring of concern and emotional support from foreigners whom I barely knew was impressive and personally moving.
I hope that the Trump administration will be as compassionate toward people in the United States — both citizens and foreigners — as the Danes were toward me.
John Campbell
Lyme
Don’t Reward GOP Obstructionism
The Republicans are now claiming that they will get to replace Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. The Democrats need to act now to make it clear that if the current Senate does not approve President Obama’s choice of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, then the Democrats will filibuster all the judicial appointees of the next president. This is not about obstruction. This is about fairness and democracy.
We must not reward the GOP’s obstinance by giving them what they want. I know that Americans are fatigued by these acts of gamesmanship, but if we do not stand up to these bullies, we will surrender our freedoms and our democracy will wither. They can’t be allowed to succeed by making a mockery of our political processes.
I’m asking Vermont Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders to lead the defense of our system of justice. They are both in the “safest” districts in America. They can withstand the ire of the GOP. Help us, Senators! You’re our only hope!
Robert O’Leary Fairlee
Changes at Youth-in-Action
Youth-In-Action, a nonprofit organization based in Hanover that offers volunteer opportunities to Hanover High School students, would like to give a shout out to our former director, Chris Lord. After six years at the helm, Chris has moved on to teach full time. During his tenure, Chris more than tripled the number of projects we offer. We now provide more than 100 opportunities for students to give back to their community a year.
Chris also created a student leadership council to help recruit volunteers and spread the idea of volunteerism throughout the high school. Chris had meaningful relationships with many students and was a wonderful resource for connecting agencies looking for help with students willing to give a hand. Thank you, Chris.
Coinciding with Chris’ departure, we were lucky to find Beth Kopp to take over as our new director. Beth has experience working with a variety of nonprofits and community initiatives. She is excited to be working in this role and to bring Youth-In-Action to its next level. Please feel free to reach out to Beth if your organization could use a hand or if you have an interest in learning more about our program.
Amy Creagh Good and Beth Phillips-WhitehairCo-Chairs, Youth-In-Action BoardHanover
They Made America Weaker
For years, Washington has been undermining our economy through deindustrialization. They’ve been subverting our sovereignty through open borders. Our political leadership has been working on behalf of their corporate masters. Presidents Bush, Clinton and Obama need to be seen for what they are — domestic enemies and war criminals. They’ve badly damaged the security of the world.
Increasing numbers of Americans are finally aware that it’s time to drain the swamp.
Neil Meliment Hanover
Like many of your readers, I have tried to understand the meaning of the recent election. My reaction is both disappointment and a humility over the fact that I missed, or did not understand, many of the undercurrents that affected the outcome. We live in a bubble in Hanover, and I had forgotten many of the frustrations to be found in places such as the rural farm town in Illinois where I lived most of my life.
Also I forgot the message of a book published in 2010, The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Naasim Nichols Taleb. It is actually a book about mathematics and probability, but its message is very simple. It is not what we know that is important, but what we don’t know. It is humbling because many of us suffer from intellectual hubris. Our press, government, leaders and candidates suffer from the same thing. It is only through our seeking imperfect knowledge and trusting in a guiding light greater than our understanding that we are assured that the sun will rise with hope every morning. That sort of hope was captured in a hymn written by Dietrich Bonhoffer in the last day of his life before being executed by the Gestapo in 1945. He wrote:
By gracious power so wonderfully sheltered,
and confidently waiting come what may,
we know that God is with us night and morning,
and never fails to greet us each new day.
Jim Baum Hanover