Political Topics as Squirrels & Top 15 Events This Week

Best Bets 7/25-7/30: Gilbertsville Hullabaloo, Blend-a-Rama 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, C3 Art and Music Show, Boogie Nights Dance Party and more

Editor’s Letter: Talking Politics is Like Chasing Squirrels & Breweries Are Fun

Last weekend, a friend who lives in Bainbridge and I drove down a dirt road in the forest near her house to Forged Brewery, where we sat outside, sipped pineapple-flavored beer, and enjoyed entertainment by Peaches and Crime, a musical group that performs ragtime-inspired songs and does cheeky crowd work. 

It was a delight. My friend talked about how the proprietors might have different political leanings than her, but when it comes to a communal business like a brewery, politics shouldn’t matter. It’s a place for everyone, regardless of why they have an American flag on their shirt, to come and do non-political things like drink beer and enjoy live music. 

Not thinking about politics feels refreshing in a current climate that can seem like either a battle of wits unfettered by logical fallacies or a lost cause inspiring helplessness or apathy. 

During the class I’m teaching this summer at SUNY Oneonta, I asked my students what the meaning of democracy was, to which one replied: “Well, there’s democracy on the left and republicans on the right.” Another commented that democracy is not a government run by the people but by “the men in black suits.” 

At a family dinner on Sunday after Biden dropped out of the election, my loved ones of mixed political parties brought up issues like immigration and reproductive rights, repeating rhetoric we’re all fed through social media and sound bites. 

When I start thinking about politics, my head zips in different directions like a dog chasing squirrels. Climate change. Squirrel! Individual rights. Squirrel! Broken political system. Squirrel! Nuclear war. Squirrel! It feels overwhelming–the urge to learn more about what current politicians have done while in office, what politicians’ stances are on policies, what those policies mean for America, how to elect more qualified women into office, why we’re more divided than ever. 

Like my old dog, Zelda, even though she never caught any of the hundreds of squirrels she chased throughout her life, I still feel compelled to chase more and better information, regardless of whether I catch the solution for any of our political problems. 

What I can do is be kind and generous with others regardless of their political views, continue to seek factual information to develop informed opinions, and say something when others are destructively lying or being hateful. I can fly an American flag outside my house as a symbol of belonging–not to a single political group or ideology–but to a country that is indeed great.

I hope to see you out and about this week, regardless of whether or not we support the same political party.

In solidarity,

Cassandra

Cassandra Miller is the editor of Townie, a publication of Culture Rally Communications. Connect with her at: 💌 townieny@gmail.com

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