Shari Dunn. Thank you. Now that I've found you on Substack, I zealously read your posts. We're definitely on the same wavelength, although you're far more eloquent than I am. Case in point: There's a large family unit of Middle Eastern women living out of a single or double bedroom apartment across the way. Lots of very young children. Several women. One man that I see every 2 weeks or so. I worry about us all, but especially them. So, one day when some of them were sitting on the patio, I walked over to them with a box of nut bars. They looked stunned and affronted when I approached them. Box of snacks in my hand, I held up my hands, which shocked them even more. I said, "For the children..." A young boy, about 10, the only male present spoke brusquely for them all. He asked, "What is that!?" I repeated, "For the children." He rushed towards me and snatched the box from my hand. I simply turned and walked away from them. I understand their wariness. God only knows what they've been through. Even though I see them every day, I didn't approach them again until about 2 weeks ago. This time, a young girl, also around 10 years old and a woman nursing a baby were there. I handed the girl a brown paper bag. "What is this?" she asked. It was a challenge. As I walked away I said, "It's bread." The nursing mother laughed and the young girl smiled. ... We have got to start building bridges! It's the way to survive this madness. That group of Middle Eastern people may have far more resources than I have. What they have is not the point! "Hi! I'm here. I'm your neighbor, not your enemy. You can approach me and hopefully rely on me in a crisis. If I have something you need, ask. I will give what I can." That is the point. "Building Community." We MUST start right where we're at in any and every way we can! This is how we win.
Don’t worry about your oped not being picked up by the mainstream media. They have failed us. They’re part of the problem. We have to save ourselves.
Shari Dunn. Thank you. Now that I've found you on Substack, I zealously read your posts. We're definitely on the same wavelength, although you're far more eloquent than I am. Case in point: There's a large family unit of Middle Eastern women living out of a single or double bedroom apartment across the way. Lots of very young children. Several women. One man that I see every 2 weeks or so. I worry about us all, but especially them. So, one day when some of them were sitting on the patio, I walked over to them with a box of nut bars. They looked stunned and affronted when I approached them. Box of snacks in my hand, I held up my hands, which shocked them even more. I said, "For the children..." A young boy, about 10, the only male present spoke brusquely for them all. He asked, "What is that!?" I repeated, "For the children." He rushed towards me and snatched the box from my hand. I simply turned and walked away from them. I understand their wariness. God only knows what they've been through. Even though I see them every day, I didn't approach them again until about 2 weeks ago. This time, a young girl, also around 10 years old and a woman nursing a baby were there. I handed the girl a brown paper bag. "What is this?" she asked. It was a challenge. As I walked away I said, "It's bread." The nursing mother laughed and the young girl smiled. ... We have got to start building bridges! It's the way to survive this madness. That group of Middle Eastern people may have far more resources than I have. What they have is not the point! "Hi! I'm here. I'm your neighbor, not your enemy. You can approach me and hopefully rely on me in a crisis. If I have something you need, ask. I will give what I can." That is the point. "Building Community." We MUST start right where we're at in any and every way we can! This is how we win.