![](https://lindahourihan.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/flag-waving.jpg)
Just like Tantasqua Regional School System, including the towns of Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Sturbridge (Fiskdale), and Wales is a unified system, the United States of America is also unified, composed of 50 states, federal district and five inhabited territories. Note that Alaska, Hawaii, and territories are shown at different scales and that the Aleutian Islands and the uninhabited northwestern Hawaiian Islands are omitted from this map.
![](https://lindahourihan.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/map_of_usa_with_state_and_territory_names_2-1.png?w=1024)
The following was so well written by my author husband that I am sharing his pearls of wisdom with you here in this post with his permission.
Just a note for my right leaning friends from my left leaning self as we near voting day:
![](https://lindahourihan.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/police-kneel.jpg?w=1024)
They say we want to disband police departments (and that we hate the police): we don’t, that’s a lie. We want to weed out racism and unnecessary police brutality and for those who abuse their power to be held accountable.
![](https://lindahourihan.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/hate-groups-in-usa.jpg?w=797)
They say we want to release all prisoners: we don’t, that’s a lie. We want to weed out racism and ensure the punishments match the crimes and to de-privatize prisons.
![](https://lindahourihan.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/boat-people.jpg)
They say we want open borders: we don’t, that’s a lie. We want asylum seekers to be given their chance to seek asylum. We want to help people who are coming from unimaginable terror and poverty help to give them the chances we have. We want to ensure children aren’t separated from their parents and that nobody is kept in cages. But we do want proper vetting.
![](https://lindahourihan.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/sandy-hook-victims-graphic-super-tease.jpg?w=1024)
They say we want to take away your guns: we don’t, that’s a lie. We want logical gun control to help prevent mass shootings.
![](https://lindahourihan.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/humans-all-the-same.jpg?w=593)
They say we want to wage a war on Christianity and Christian values: we don’t, that’s a lie. We want people of all religions to be able to practice and worship freely.
![](https://lindahourihan.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/health-literacy-1200x1200-1.jpg?w=1024)
They say we want to get everything for free: we don’t, that’s a lie. We want to work hard and make sure that healthcare and education are affordable for all.
![](https://lindahourihan.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/cropped-wedding-picture.jpg?w=244)
They say we want a war against traditional marriage: we don’t, that’s a lie. We want people of all sexual orientations to be able to love freely, no matter who you love.
![](https://lindahourihan.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/failed-coup.png?w=700)
They say we want to destroy or rewrite history: we don’t, that’s a lie. We want to recognize the ugly parts of our past and do everything we can to say, “that’s not okay, let’s not honor those aggressors, let’s not let those things happen again.”
![](https://lindahourihan.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/thanks-science.jpg?w=1024)
They say we want to take away your constitutional rights: we don’t, that’s a lie. We choose to believe science and wear masks and try to prevent the spread of this disease.
![](https://lindahourihan.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/ethnic-groups-image1.jpg)
They say we hate America: we don’t, that’s a lie. We just recognize our faults and want us to do better, be better.
Stop with the us vs. them.
Stop with the straw man arguments.
Stop with the fake news. Stop with Fox News.
![](https://lindahourihan.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/fake-news.png?w=200)
Our position is one of empathy, compassion and logic.
Stop believing the hype.
Stop with the division.
![](https://lindahourihan.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/bowing-eagles.jpg?w=720)
We want equality for all. That doesn’t mean we want to take anything away from you.
God Bless Everyone Everywhere