Countrywoman inspiration

From rural Missouri's Jess Piper:

Sometimes I can see something that might be missed by others.

We are on a journey to reclaim our country and our very existence. Our country and our morality are decaying before our eyes. We have a rapist and cruel fascist in control of our country — he has employed other rapists and fascists. 

We are on a quest to not only survive this current regime, but to come out better on the other side. We can do just that. We do that by going back to our roots in the heartland. By remembering who we are and what we believe in. By shaking our neighbors awake…by showing them the decay creeping in and how we root it out.

"Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa" ~Field of Dreams

The space we currently inhabit is strange and dark, but I can see the light. It’s in the cornfields and the beanfields and the rural spaces I travel into. It’s the people standing for their neighbors and shielding them from the worst. It’s a failed ICE raid and women in their golden years standing with signs on old highways.

I may be a failed Missouri Democratic candidate, but I speak the truth and I am not scared of the fascist party trying to upend our country.

I don’t think they will win.

I see the truth in the heartland. I see the power in the people and the resolve to be better.

Let’s chase away the boogeyman together. We can do this. 

I sure hope Jess is right. I mostly think she is; those of us who give a damn are hearty survivors, whether in the country, or in the barrio or the urban 'hood, and in places in between. Some of our neighbors think there is a cut rate solution, bowing to a strong man who is really just an energetic, fast talking swindler. We can do better.