Jess, thank you so much for this podcast. My mom and dad grew up in Wauseon, Ohio, a small town outside of Toledo. My mom's father was a farmer, my dad's was a doctor. My folks ended up in Berkeley, California, after the war, where they adopted my brother and me. We spent lots of summers in Ohio having family reunions. I have a lot of good memories of my relatives, fireflies, homecoming parades, corn on the cob, and elderberry pies. I also have a lot of memories of perfectly decent people who valued education, art, and other cultures. So it didn't make sense when people started referring to the Midwest as "fly-over states." It hurt my heart.

We need all our voices in this fight. This is an all-American fight, and we are certainly not going to win it on money alone. Money helps, but without ideas and spirit, we will lose. We also need young people. Like you, I want to trade in my postcard writing for my garden, my potter's wheel, and my grandchildren. But, like you, I hate being bullied and I hate having the rug pulled out from under people. We need to see one another again and not be divided by corporate media, fundamentalists, and spin doctors.

Thank you for sharing this podcast, and I am relieved to know the Midwest I remember still exists. Let's work together for the benefit of everyone.

Thank you for showing the way, Jess. You give us great ideas. This helps more than I will ever be able to express. THANK YOU