Kindness is stronger than hate
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Editor,
Kindness creates connections. Connections build community. Kudos to Lake County Connect for sponsoring a gathering recently for people seeking both. It was held in the lovely Bickford Building in downtown Polson. The hosts were warm and welcoming, the atmosphere congenial and the unexpected meal and beverages were greatly appreciated. People mingled, making new friends.
Montana Poet Laureate Lowell Jaeger facilitated a lively, meaningful conversation by opening with a poem by Stephen Dunn. “People are hungry for kindness,” was just one observation made while discussing the poem.
After an enjoyable evening of reflection and sharing, my takeaway was that kindness is both complicated and simple at the same time. It’s complicated because of the multiple elements of nurture and nature, time and place, and experience and ego. Yet it can be as simple as a look or a smile; a moment of connection.
We know there will always be hate. Someone will cut you off in traffic. Internet trolls will spew vitriol. Certain politicians will engage in name-calling and denigrating behavior. Mean letters will still be written. Others will be unkind for unknown reasons. Bullies will still bully.
And yet? I believe that kindness is stronger than hate. My hope is that these types of conversations continue. We need all the connections we can get. And we need to participate in building strong community to enhance our small towns, our cities and our nation.
Nancy Teggeman
Polson
