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Rick Olivier's avatar

Man, I knew you were a brudda. New Albany! So much of your point-of-view matches my own. I feel fortunate to have been raised in a small town, in the American South, connected in many ways to nature and physical reality (vs. virtual). Social media eventually rotted out some of my "friendships" (NO dissent allowed!) to where I simply deleted all of my accounts and set out looking for other ways to "connect". Substack has been very satisfying as a way to feel like I'm not a solo voice in the wilderness. Thanks for your eloquent contributions.

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KEVIN HALL's avatar

Michael - look up the word Hiraeth, a Welsh word that does not have a one word English translation.

I feel this way towards my home town that was literally destroyed by the progressives in what was called Urban Renewal. They even used the word Progressive in their selling of the concept to the townspeople during the 1960's.

It was a town of around 10,000 people, where we knew most everyone. We have great friends that we road bikes with, had picnics and cookouts with, studied with, and just hung out with. It was a very comfortable and safe place to be. And most all did not even lock their doors at night.

It was a town where many had guns, as it was home to Remington Arms, and never a school attack, or mass shooting, but there were shooting contests, and gun safety, and fish and game club, etc.

I so long for the old town, and the feeling that it held for me. Hiraeth - perhaps is what may be happening in several parts of the world, and yet not within reach.

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