BRATTLEBORO-I am a Connecticut-born Yankee American, second-generation Irish immigrant, raised-Catholic, 62-year-old woman working in Brattleboro.
I am your neighbor.
I am Israeli.
I am a Jew by choice.
I was raised with liberal (old-school liberal) and American values.
And I am open to dialogue.
There seems to be too much polarization everywhere these days. About nearly everything. Depending upon who you hang with and what news you watch, it may feel like we are living in different worlds.
My heart and half my life belong to the people of Israel. And I want to offer dialogue as a service to my communities there and here.
I am not an expert at anything. I am, however, fairly well read on the subject. And from 2001, when I took my first trip to Israel, until today, I have been immersed in Israel's culture and people. From 2003 to 2012 I lived, worked, and voted in Israel. I have lived here since.
So, how about Monday afternoons between 4:30 and 5:30 at the Pliny Park benches as a meeting place? If you went to the 4th of July parade you might recognize me: I was the white-haired-white-woman with U.S. and Israeli flags.
I will be there when school is in session.
Eileen Hayes
Brattleboro
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