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  • From: Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] was Powell endorsement--Palin
  • Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:32:15 -0700


On Oct 20, 2008, at 10:07 AM, SJC wrote:

Lumping folks into groups usually gets us nowhere, in my
experience---simply delineates division lines, which isn't usually very
useful for learning to get along with each other. Like minds are easy,
comforting, but unlike ideas spark new thinking, alternative
ways.....there is much value in both, IMHO.

Thank you, Susan Jane. Those are important words.

Labeling people has become ubiquitous. Seems to me it is a lazy, disrespectful and non-profitable way to think and talk. Homesteaders, whose self-image is sovereign independence and self-reliance, may well be sympathetic to any of the political parties because, alas, many people, including homesteaders, are one- or two-issue voters and knee- jerk to a candidate's position on Roe v. Wade, guns, taxes, and other issues.

Depending on the issue, I might be seen and labeled as conservative, liberal, libertarian, green, socialist or constitutionalist. About the only label I use for myself is homesteader mindset. To me, that denotes one who is self-reliant, independent, responsible, sensitive to nature, and close to the land. None of that negates my respect, sympathy or empathy for those of other mindsets. We all come from unique beginnings, have traveled unique paths and had unique experiences.

The key to civilized discourse is open-minded respect. Without that, there is no gain for anyone.





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