Letters

As some of us are willing to realize, what we watch as news, or “not news,” what we read as facts or slogan-talk substituting for substance, is very telling. Try having a calm, respectable conversation about politics or the state of our country and world. It’s frustrating, to say the least. Could drive a person to drink, even.

Sometimes people will sell their souls for shiny objects. Face it, sometimes people are just not that bright. And, sometimes, there’s nowhere to go with those existing facts. If someone is hellbent on a fantasy or imminent destruction, for instance, far be it from you or I, or any sane, sensible person, to convince them they will be disappointed at the very least, or may not survive their choice at the very worst. When you don’t live in a dystopian mindset or a doomsday make-believe existence in your own head, it’s hard to witness a large potion of our country following the rest off the proverbial cliff.

What to do? Gather yourself, keep reading the truth, keep talking to those who have not succumbed to the lies, and be strong in your knowledge that this too shall pass. The rest is depressing, frustrating and a dead-end.

At the end of the day, “Stupid is as stupid does,” that great ol’ line from “Forrest Gump” applies. You really can’t fix dumb. You can’t enlighten with eyes wide shut.

Know this: We will prevail, in our democracy and in our knowledge that positivity is as contagious as the virus of stupidity. Keep the faith. Our country is depending on us.

If you love the circus, go watch one, maybe under Pee Wee’s big top. But please don’t vote for the one playing out publicly like a sick joke, for the most important job in the land.

As the kids go off to school, do some homework yourself. The first thing might be never watching Fox (We Aren’t The) News again. I know, you’re addicted. It’s titillating and feeds your habit. It’s like free drugs.

Well, there’s a cure: Read a book. Talk to a smart person, or at least someone who doesn’t agree with you all the time, and won’t blow smoke up you know where. Go for a nice swim. A slow walk. Have a thoughtful cup of coffee staring at the ocean. Or the night sky. See how small we are? That’s good. It puts everything into perspective.

Good luck.

Nanci Lagarenne

East Hampton