The hacknyed phrase "All politics are local" is where we all can start.

Hearing what your neighbor have to say is a daunting challenge when they will not speak to you. I moved here in 2004 and said at a neighborhood gathering that George Bush was a captain leading us all into an iceberg. The retribution by my neighbors was costly, in ansering over 12 annymous accusations and investigations. It cost about $8,000 dollars and established an appearence of guilt from the unsubstantiated accusations alone.

I am talking about real Glen Beck and Limbaugh worshippers here.

I started with one person who would talk and then with her friend and they eventually told their personal stories about their experiences at or near the PEntagon ground zero on 9-11.
It was good for them and I learned that they had somehow equated anyone critical of George Bush was a person who wnated 9-11 to happen. Yeah I know its crazy but trauma and status quo patriotism is hard to juggle for people.

All I can hope for is an end to the active harrasment. Maybe they will one day let their children play with mine. But in the meantime the smallest local improvment in neighborly relations is a plus, economicly and emotionally.



A mean spirited person with or without a vested interest to "Get the LIberal!" need do is spread another tale of fear and loathing and things could go south again but at least I may have 2 more people who could express their reasonable doubt.

In short reconcilliation is slow. Resolving takes 7 or more generations. Peace will be slow to come but it will be due to all the little things that led up to it in the meantime, for we are indeed still living in mean times.