Untangling Knots

We’re Better Together

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I had a blog post about my recent personal-knitting slump lined up, but once again this year, I’m finding it difficult to write about crafts as if nothing else is going on. I can’t just chat about knitting like everything is normal because everything is not normal. My country elected an openly-bigoted man with no political experience to be Chief of State. That’s not normal, and it shouldn’t be acceptable. The hateful, sexist, racist, homophobic, and xenophobic rhetoric used by our soon-to-be leaders cannot be normalized.

I want to make it abundantly clear that I will do everything I can to ensure that my corner of the knitting community is a welcoming place for knitters of all colors, genders, sexualities, and abilities, and I hope you’ll do that same. It’s important to do more beyond that, but making sure that our community stays welcoming is a good starting place.

Not only is it the kind, compassionate thing to do, but it also benefits the community as a whole. Creativity thrives with diversity. Crafts, fashion, music, and arts have a long tradition of borrowing from a variety of sources of inspiration for exactly that reason, and diverse creators bring new perspectives that benefit everyone. We are better for our diversity, so do everything you can to push back against hateful people who try to make anyone feel unwelcome simply because of who they are and politicians who try to legislate diversity away.

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Andi

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Comments

30 responses to “We’re Better Together”

  1. DWJ

    I’m with you too. I wrote about this yesterday. I refuse to let this hate hold me back and I will do everything that I can to help our country progress.

    Reply
    1. Andi

      It was a good post! I’m glad you’re at a place where you’re feeling proactive again.

      Reply
  2. Constance

    Thank you for this post.

    Reply
    1. Andi

      I saw your tweets last night and was wishing I could reach through my computer and give you a hug.

      Reply
  3. Graceann

    Thank you for this. I’ve felt so awful since Weds morning.

    Reply
    1. Andi

      You’re not alone, which is sadly a bittersweet sentiment.

      Reply
  4. Jude

    Thanks for this. Been crying since Tuesday night, and have been worried and concerned to see other knit blogs I follow normalizing this election, and what this election says about our county and our fellow citizens, and it’s been making me wary of reading even knitting blogs this week. Thanks for being stalwart, clear, and adamantly welcoming.

    Reply
    1. Andi

      I know from talking with friends that they’re struggling to know whether they should provide a little bit of woolly escapism or to speak out. It’s a tough decision to make because it feels like everyone could use a break from worrying about the world, but at the same time that can look like indifference.

      Reply
  5. Leslie

    Thank you for publishing this post. It is important for us to continue to remind each other to be our best selves. And our community needs to stay strong and keep spirits up, even though it is so hard.

    Reply
    1. Andi

      Yes, it’s all tied together.

      Reply
  6. Btim

    You could make it better by keeping it to what you obviously know something abounot to atopic of KNITTING not to

    Topic which you apparently have drunk the kool aid
    I follow you for KNITTING NOT POLITICS
    BTW, you must be proud of all those paid fools doing “protests”
    As I don’t see that you are st all concerned about that and the media was SPINNING
    ON HOW BAD IT WAS WHEN TRUMP WOULDNT ANSWER THAT QUESTION ABOUT SUPPORTING HILLY HAD SHE WON?!! Can you see how foolish you all look??

    Reply
    1. Andi

      I’m a well-rounded human, not a knitting entertainment robot. I know quite a bit about politics, and I learned the exact same way I learned about knitting: I read a lot and listen to others with more experience.

      If being asked to be kind and compassionate and to fight against bigotry is offensive to you, by all means stop reading this blog and avoid my patterns and Ravelry group, because we don’t need that kind of hatred.

      If you’re just tired of everyone talking about politics all of the time, please try to see it from the perspective of the people who are being targeted with hate and do not have luxury of ignoring it and knitting. Instead of lashing out, open yourself up to hearing other perspectives.

      Reply
    2. Cheryl Stern

      Really, even if you have differences of opinions, there is no need to shout at someone who is in pain. What makes this country the place that it is….is the strength of each individual and what that adds to the whole. It costs nothing to be kind to everyone, and it shows an element of maturitu and character that not everyone has learned as yet.

      Reply
  7. Cheryl

    Thank you….I’ve struggled with my emotions this week, and find I’m still in a deep hole. This post has been a lifeline.

    Reply
    1. Andi

      It’s been a hard week. I hope you take the time you need to process. Be kind to yourself.

      Reply
  8. Richard (in Charlotte, NC, USA)

    Thank you for this post! I hope and pray that Donald Trump becomes the President that we can be proud of but, I have my doubts and fears. When I see what I consider “New Age Hitler Youth” on my national news chanting “Build the Wall” in a school cafeteria, I only have to wonder what else is in store for our country. Hatred has to have an audience, let’s not give it one that it can feed on.

    Reply
  9. Shelley

    Thank you for gently and intelligently speaking your truth. I’m not particularly politically oriented, but this presidential outcome has shaken me to the core. I’m having a similar physical reaction to what I felt on 911. I’m afraid for our country, our world and our planet. I hope this is some kind of cosmic wake up call, and we will wake up.
    Blessings

    Reply
  10. Cheryl Stern

    It takes all parts of the body to make the body whole.

    Reply
  11. Caroline aka FiberTribe

    I’m with you and thank you so much for speaking up and out. the silence on a lot of knitting blogs hurts my heart. You replied with such grace to that…credit to her master, above. Hugs to you and the vast majority of good humans who stop in here.

    Reply
  12. Beth

    Well said! We need to pull together to do the next right thing more than ever!

    Reply
  13. francesca

    As a non-American all I can offer is my deepest sympathy – and admiration for a great, thoughtful post. Admiration too for your calm and polite response to incomprehensible sbouters….

    I like what you said about bloggers trying to give a bit of respite – I have to admit I have been judgemental and unsubscribed from the ones who acted like nothing happened – unlike you – maybe I should rethink that.

    As a non-American may I say also that we in my little European island are also deeply concerned about the impact this will have on life for many in the US. So sad. And for our planet too. Scary doesn’t cut it.

    Reply
  14. Leea Nutson

    As a Canadian, my first impulse is to invite you to move to Canada – I would be happy to offer you refuge. Our Prime Minister is everything Trump is not: Mr Trudeau is compassionate, thoughtful, kind and a feminist. He is bucking the trend by welcoming refugees and believes in a “sunny ways” policy. I have met him several times and I can attest to his quality of character. Even though we speak the same language and share a border, the culture in Canada is very different.

    But my advice to you is to get involved. I was highly dissatisfied with out last government and local Member of Parliament. So during our last national election, I offered my services to our local candidate. She is an amazing woman: a doctor, an AIDS activist, as well as a wife and mother. It was my great privilege to work hard, along with many others to get her elected. I am proud to tell you that not only did she win her seat in Parliament, but she is also our Federal Minister of Health. It was truly a grass roots movement.

    Your country is worth fighting for, and the rest of the world is watching. I pray that the next four years will not be as dreadful as I fear. A man like that can do a great deal of damage, not only to your country, but for all of us. Climate change has no borders, and it is hard even for us, to ignore lies and messages of hate.

    Reply
    1. Marie Bryan

      You are very lucky, Leea, to have Mr. Trudeau as your PM! And Canada should be a role model for us for so much compassion.

      Reply
  15. Marie Bryan

    Thank you sincerely for this post! We need to be reminded that there are warm and welcoming places and people in this world. I am sad about the election results (and a little angry too!), but I will do what I have to do to overcome the anger and hate that are hallmarks of the new President-Elect, jst as I have all my life. It’s comforting to know that we’re in it together, Andi!

    Reply
  16. Betty

    Courage!!

    Reply
  17. Donna

    I am amazed by how graceful and open-hearted people are able to be when I know they are suffering. I only post a blog about once a month, and I have a very small readership, so I haven’t thought about how I will approach this subject. I appreciate your words and they give some solace. I hope you have a solid support network in place – wishing you the best!

    Reply
  18. Anna

    Thank you for your clear words.

    Reply
  19. Wendy

    Thanks for writing this post. I am in the UK so maybe not as directly affected but I am watching from here in absolute disbelief and confusion.
    It is is nice to be reassured that there are people like you, so many people like you, who did not want this.
    Love from the UK.

    Reply
  20. Heather

    Thank you for speaking up. I feel comforted seeing both are as horrified as I.

    Reply
  21. Angie

    We can only hope that as a reaction, to prove that people do not think as HE does, that good things will occur in spite of him

    Reply

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