#peoplefirst

Keep “Customer Service” at the forefront of your thinking.

As Jill and I reflect on the past week of events regarding Virginia and all that has unfolded since—countless articles, debates, emotional and hurtful comments, statues being vandalized, torn down, and removed—we find ourselves at an impasse. I'm a conservationist, preserving history is literally my day job, my passion, quite literally my obsession. I've restored countless books that as an individual I find offensive, but as a historian I see the need for their preservation. But I'm also a humanist, I live in current day society and hate to see oppression-ist ideals being forced on my neighbors (fellow human beings). We've decided wherever we fall in the debate of preserving history, people of today should come first. Jill and I pray for those who have been hurt and those who now feel they live in fear; may they be healed and comforted, and may this awesome nation find a way to come together. Put aside your opinions, zingers, carefully worded blogs and articles, and for heaven's sakes, if a statue or monument in a public space that we all share is offensive to a large portion of the populace, have a bit of empathy and move it. Let's be good neighbors and just be kind to one another. ❤️🇺🇸 #bekind #peoplefirst #eidolonhouse #notetoself

I have stopped talking to my students about this shit show of an election. We followed some of the campaign but I literally had to preview interviews to make sure they were appropriate for my kids...most were not. We did not watch the inauguration. As a teacher, I am not allowed to share my political stance and opinions with students. While I never confirmed any guesses, many students theorized that I would never vote for Trump. While listening in on a student conversation, one student said, "she wouldn't because he treats women badly and he hates people like us." "PEOPLE LIKE US" My student is Hispanic, eleven years old, reading at a 10th grade level, and so kind. He now has to spend his formative years knowing that the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES believes he is inferior because of where he was born, who his parents are, and what he looks like. I had other students in tears, fearing their family's deportation. Do not tell me to give this man a chance. He has spewed violence and garbage and made my kids feel hated and unwanted. He has openly talked about assaulting women, killing the families (children) of terrorists, how he would date his daughter if they weren't related. I am a mandatory reporter and if a student told me their parent was saying these things, I'd call CPS. He acts flippantly for reaction alone. He stands FOR nothing. He only tells us what he hates. He is a petulant child and bully in an adult costume who has just been given a key to our home. I don't have to give this clown a chance. He's hurting people I love.

🤝 Together, we can build stronger communities for generations to come.

Not every week needs a makeover. Sometimes, it just needs a little more kindness. And a reminder that you're on your to-do list too. ❤️