I nearly skipped reading a full-page story in the June 23 Recorder because the gigantic all-caps header, “MAGA AND THE SINGLE GIRL,” followed by the subheader, “Conservative women attend conference to discuss careers, marriage, children” initially put me off. I figured the article was replete with tropes and tiresome, divisive rhetoric, none of which I personally need more of these days. I forced myself to read it, though, because I’m trying to broaden my perspectives and better understand our struggling human family.

Although the headline was fairly misleading (it wasn’t actually about MAGA), the story contained reasonable and realistic amounts of confusion, nuance, and contradictory viewpoints — all of which characterize this eye-crossing era. Humans are famous for trying to slot each other into neat and tidy boxes, and the truth is, life just isn’t like that.

Eveline MacDougall

Greenfield