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Jan Sutherland's avatar

Wow. I love this. I'm making some huge changes in my life right now. After losing Pamela, my partner of 34 years, suddenly, I feel lost. I look at what's happening in the world and it makes me glad that Pamela isn't here to see this. She wept when Roe V Wade was overturned. And we are Canadian. She wept for a law that would never touch her or those she loved. But she wept so hard IMAGINING what women would suffer. In March I am taking my grown foster son and we are leaving Canada for Scotland where I have family. Your words have helped me see that my fear about this change is about how I imagine it's going to be. And my failure to be creative with my imagination. So, thank you Jeanette. Words matter. We matter. I'm on the front line of battling hate and cruelty. For Pamela and me. In honour of the tears she shed for people she would never know. I want that kind of imagination. So. Here I go.....

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Mary Lynn Futers's avatar

I am so so so so sorry about Pamela. May your courage buoy you on this journey. xo

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Jan Sutherland's avatar

Awe! Thanks! she was an amazing woman. I miss her everyday.

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Linda Aspey's avatar

I’m in tears of admiration and gratitude for Bishop Mariann’s courage every time I have today read those words or watched the recording. I keep going back to her words. As I think we all must, to the clarion call for compassion. So I’m delighted and grateful that you’ve come back to Substack Jeanette, because your voice matters, and all our voices matter. ❤️

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wrencomma's avatar

Well said!

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Dawn Burns's avatar

Glad to have your voice back in this way and especially at this present time. Though I've technically been on Substack a few years, I'd not written a thing...until two days ago when I channeled my own anxiety into a commitment to share things that bring me joy as an act of resistance. Leaning into imagination and community building myself right now. It's all I know to do.

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Mars's avatar

I'm so happy to hear from you again. I've checked so many times and thought, she needs her own time, her own privacy. But thank you for coming back because you write it the way i/we cannot, but want it to be said. THANK YOU SO MUCH FROM MY HEART. A brightness in such dark times. Onwards, don't despair ♥️❤️

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Liza Green's avatar

A great comeback prompted by a wonderful woman. The Bishop is indeed brave but she’s confronting a coward and will win. Look forward to more wisdom from you Thank you.

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Maria Emerson-Smith's avatar

We have missed you!

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Ruth F's avatar

A mediocre day is now a more resplendent one, so pleased to see this post!

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Carole Shadbolt's avatar

Timely honest useful and powerful thank you…and welcome back..

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Anna Dreda's avatar

Thank you - “When we read, look at pictures, go to the theatre, listen to real music, take a walk for no purpose, look at the sunset and love it, drift a bit and dream a bit, we are claiming back the right to exist free of the cynical values of Self=Data.

You are not Data. You are a human being and you have an inner life.

Own it. Protect it. Don’t apologise for it.”

Exactly. 💜💜💜

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Melanie Wilson's avatar

Made me think of Diane Di Prima’s poem, “Rant”:

“THE ONLY WAR THAT MATTERS IS THE WAR AGAINST

THE IMAGINATION”

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Whitney Huston's avatar

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budd- she was amazing. Her courage, her kindness, and her awareness were inspiring. That entire day was such a waste, except for her. And despite all the terrible looks thrown at her, she never wavered. I hope she knows that she allowed hope to shine through on a day when many of us found no reason for hope. Thank you Bishop Mariann Edgar Budd! And thank you, Jeanette. Glad you are back. I've missed you. Looking forward to your future posts. Thank you!

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Carlyn Beccia's avatar

Forgive my Jeanette Winterson fangirl gush…please, please don’t leave us again. Now more than ever, we need writing that speaks to virtue.

Recently, my teenage daughter was in the disenchantment phase of higher learning. She had just slogged through Les Misérables, and with all respect to Victor Hugo…it just wasn’t hitting her in the ole’ solar plexus. So I told her to read two books to find her muse - Murder in the Cathedral and Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. Those were the two books that saved me as a teen.

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wrencomma's avatar

I am beyond excited to see your voice again!

Yes, the Bishop is a treasure.

And......I met you 13 years ago today in Dallas at a librarian convention.

Timing. p

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Adrian Gamble's avatar

Welcome back and bravo Jeannette. Your wise and well crafted words just made me feel a lot better.

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AmyMo's avatar

Always glad to see you.

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Alison Watson's avatar

The Bishop was very direct and did not hold back. A great speech. The sneers especially from the VP were abhorrent.

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