From the Inbox: Readers Share the Reason They joined

When people sign up for the newsletter, we ask them why they became a Builder. The responses range from heartbreaking to hopeful, surprising to comforting.

Keep going to see what brought them here.

To Build a Better World for Our Children

I feel like with all of the division, some of us are at risk of violence due to having different political views than others. I try to remind folks that a different political view doesn’t make me or others Satan or a traitor. I try to remind them we all want similar things. A full belly, a better world for our grandchildren, love. 

—Kim P

To Make Democracy Stronger

I see polarization as a catalyst for autocracy. I’m Venezuelan and I’ve seen solid democracies fall. I trust Americans are meant to make democracy stronger if we do something about it. 

Also, we Americans agree more than we disagree. We are united, but the powers that be want to convince us we are not. 

—Deborah M.

To Build Bridges with Friends and Family

I joined because I want to be a bridge builder to my MAGA friends and relatives. I want to meet them where they are, really listen, and reaffirm that we want the same things for ourselves, our families, and each other. So, how do we band together instead of polarizing

I joined because I believe even a small ripple has power, a voice should be used for good, and we are more intelligent than the algorithms that funnel us into fear, hate, despair, cynicism and apathy. Whew!

—Pamala R

To Cut Out the Distractions

I’m tired of divisiveness about problems that don’t impact my neighbors nearly as much as a strong local community. I believe politicos have learned to leverage this divide for their benefit. They will continue to do so if we the people don’t fix it.

—Steve F

To Demand Accountability

What brought me here? The battle between corporatists and oligarchs leaving out the people that actually make the country run. Taxation without representation. Military Industrial Complex redistributing of wealth. Corrupted 2-party system that is right of center compared to the rest of the “civilized” world. Term-limits. Campaign financing. Corporate Personhood. Politically manipulated and biased Supreme Court. Separation of Church and State. Using Military against citizens. No accountability from either side.

—David P

To Practice Love and Compassion

I am exhausted. I cannot stand the state of our country or our world. Everything is going to hell so fast it’s (perhaps, purposefully) impossible to keep up, much less keep smiling. I’ve worked hard on overcoming my “Snowflake” fragility. I’ve worked hard to curb my demonization of those who vote/choose to support people and policies that directly oppose my own political, ethical, and moral principles. I have done much to practice love in the face of hate, from others and from the hate fighting to be heard within me.  

But try as I might, I succeed far less than I fail.   

I am exhausted by my own unceasing judgment and lack of forgiveness; my endless failure to possess in my heart the compassion—the humanity—I need and expect from myself. I am exhausted by the feelings of alienation, of being seen as “other,” of being “nasty,” of feeling unwelcome and unwanted in my own country.  I’m so tired. And I need a tool or resource or some sense of support to help me overcome these obstacles, so that I might spread wisdom to others suffering the same exhaustion.

Here for the reconstruction,

—Anna P

To Prove We Aren’t Enemies

I am tired of hearing that I am the enemy and my neighbor is the enemy, when actually we want the same thing, but we just look at it from different angles. I would like perspective on what is actually happening in America instead of what the media tells me.  

—Rogina

To Help Us Evolve

We have not been made for the modern world. The arrival of the modern world came too fast for normal evolution to keep up. But fortunately, that same evolution gave us a brain that allows us to evolve rapidly.

If we don’t use that brain, we will quickly extinct ourselves. We may already be past that critical brink, but we still have to try to claw ourselves back from the ledge.

—John R

To Grow Together

Good to be here. I joined because I believe that all meaningful and lasting change has to happen at the citizen level if we ever hope to elect (and hold accountable) representatives who share our interests. 

I think the most fundamental change happens in the way we interact with information, circumstances and people. 

I’m excited to grow together in sentiment and action. 

—Ted W