Editorial of March 27, 2025

Finding Commonality in a Time of Great Divides

Things are pretty tumultuous right now in the U.S. and throughout the world, with political unrest both here and abroad. Those of us who live in the United States are extremely fortunate in that we are not facing warfare within our borders, as so many other nations are. However, as the divide between our two major political parties continues to grow, it seems more and more as though we are, indeed, fighting a sort of war here at home—philosophically, at least. Republicans can’t understand Democrats, and vice versa. Democrats believe Republicans to be ill-informed, and vice versa. Bipartisan cooperation has become an oxymoron.

Are we really all that different, though? What do Democrats and Republicans really want, at the end of the day? We all want to be able to feed our families, heat our homes and educate our children. We want to be safe and have access to affordable healthcare. We want to be treated equally, and with kindness and respect.

This week, we reached out to our Otsego County friends and neighbors to find out what helps them relax in this heated political environment—what brings a smile to their faces, or reminds them that, regardless of our differences, it’s good to be an American.

Cindy Falk spends time in nature to decompress and rejuvenate.

“During the winter, thanks to my son, Isaac, who gifted me with cross-country skis, I often ski along the lake shore. There is nothing like the serenity of being surrounded by freshly fallen white snow with only the sounds of trees swaying or, as spring arrives, birds chirping to escape temporarily from the cares of the world. Being outdoors reminds me that we are a small and short-lived part of something much bigger.

Cass Harrington finds solace in the changing of the seasons.

“Pretty soon, Cooperstown will be abloom with flowers and the visitors will return, once again breathing life into our small business community. The temperatures will rise, bringing about both softball and paddling seasons. Spring migration will usher in snow-birds, both literal and proverbial, that retreated south for the winter. We’ll once again be lulled to sleep by peeping frogs after a day’s work in the garden. The world may be amuck, but life in this community is about to be that much brighter.

Ellen Pope turns to our beautiful surroundings for solace: “Healthy forests and working farmlands, and the delicious foods they produce. A placid lake early in the morning. The smell of soil in spring.”

Bryan LoRusso takes a more utilitarian approach, “finding a piece of property and rehabilitating it back to its original glory. Our town [Hartwick] has that Norman Rockwell potential.”