Saturday, April 5, was a beautiful day for the Hands Off! rally at the state Capitol. With their delicate pink and white flowers, the Yoshino cherry trees bloomed peacefully as 10,000 people, including my fellow Parkites, gathered on the steps to say: “Hands off Social Security, the Department of Education, Medicaid and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Hands off our trans community and our national parks!” Rallies were happening in 50 states, also around the world, on a single day. International voices were rising to express opposition to the actions of our federal and state governments. I have felt powerless amid these radical changes in the country’s management. The rally was an invitation to act.As I sat on the Capitol steps, basking in the sun, singing along with a folk guitarist with a handlebar mustache, I wondered, “Why do people go to rallies? Do rallies change anything? Or do they just make us feel good?” I wanted to find my role in promoting a dignified presentation for the United States in our global community. I wanted to push back against an administration that is dismantling the initiatives that encouraged me to believe we were moving towards more tolerance and inclusion. This country has earned my honest critique, as well as my patriotism.But other than showing up and singing along with the handlebar-mustached guitarist, I didn’t feel useful. Then it occurred to me: Maybe we go to rallies for the same reason we go to family reunions or Christmas parties. Not to settle a score or enact an agenda, but to be comforted and inspired — to reconnect to our foundation. Perhaps a big, dignity-affirming rally isn’t so much a patriotic duty as it is a gift. Perhaps the purpose of a political rally is to reconnect with hope, to be surrounded by the familiarity of things and people and traditions that comfort us. At the rally, speakers and musicians reminded us that it’s patriotic for America to be governed by a sense of dignity and community. It’s patriotic to behave civilly with our international allies and have consideration for the people in countries who have relied on our support. There were anti-protesters in the crowd, and the organizers encouraged us to refuse to fuel their mission by debating with them. I thought about dear friends and family with whom my opinion differs so dramatically. I’ve felt fear whenever our conversation turns down a dark corner where we cannot agree. I’ve learned that it’s vital to steer those conversations back to common ground. Civility, dare I say love, is not only for the people we agree with.  As the rally closed, the crowd was encouraged to leave the Capitol with an action list — something that could transform our anger, anxiety and fatigue into action. One suggestion was to tell people what you’re really worried about when they casually ask, “How are you?” Instead of responding with “fine,” you might say, “I’m worried about the 1,000 National Park Service permanent workers that were fired by DOGE. Will families be able to visit the Arches this summer?” or “I’m concerned that our government won’t honor promises to our seniors and veterans.”I’ve written this letter to encourage others who might also be feeling disempowered. If you pass me on the street, you’ll know it’s me because when you casually ask, “How are you,” I’ll tell you I’m worried about lawful residents being removed from college campuses because they voiced their opinion. How are you? And maybe I’ll see you at the Fighting Oligarchy rally Saturday in Salt Lake City with Bernie Sanders. We’ll recognize each other, because when you casually ask how I am, I’ll tell you I’m distressed about my retired friends watching their retirement funds disappear while the president announced in a press event with Netanyahu that the upcoming pentagon budget would be “in the vicinity of” one trillion dollars.So, how are you?Britt SadyPark CityThe post So, how are you? appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less