By Sally Harryman, headquarters manager

With the local elections over and Thanksgiving vacations underway, headquarters has been pretty chill. Our purposes are being served, and we shall breathe for a while. Those purposes are:

To provide a safe, centralized meeting location, a comfortable and efficient workspace for the party, social support to our members and reliable information to the community. If you’d like to contribute to our purposes with your time, energy or money, you know where we’re at! (217A North Broadway, Pittsburg)

If anyone has a lead on how to get some Crawford County Democrat shirts and stickers printed, please let me in on it.  Several people have asked for merch and ‘tis the season for gift giving. Just not sure where to get some made and your input is appreciated.

Headquarters will be open for the Christmas parade, starting tonight, Dec. 1, at 6:30pm. Please come by and warm up.

Do what you like with the below, it happened to one of my Chicago clients a couple of weeks ago. 

Operation Midwest Blitz – no byline desired

My friend heard a commotion outside his apartment, saw a crowd gathered and was screaming about ICE. Two gardeners working nearby were clearly the mark. Joseph went out and stood in front of the unmarked SUV, blocking it long enough for the workers to run. That’s when the masked and armed ICE agents, an older, meaner guy and a couple of twenty-year olds with sheer terror on their faces, threw him to the ground, zip tied his hands and put in the ICE ride. They drove around Chicago for four hours, picking up other random brown people to take to the detention facility.  The scared-kid-ice agents herded their captives through processing and into a holding area. Eight-foot chain-link fencing divided the huge room into cages for sorting people based on the time they came in, not considering their sex, disabilities or criminalities. Except for the children, they were held in another part of the building and could be heard crying the entire time. I can’t remember if he was there one night or two, but I do know he was fed an orange and one packaged honey bun during his incarceration. At check-in everyone was given a 12-ounce paper cup for water. A guy brought a hose around every couple of hours. His girlfriend bailed him, no charges were filed, and he might get in on a civil lawsuit.

There will be no county party meeting in December.

The next meeting will be on Jan. 18 at 1 pm at the Crawford County Democratic Headquarters.

We are hoping to see everyone there!

There was a time when our nation was mannered.

When we guarded our speech like it mattered.

It’s not like that today, it’s all gone away,

We’re seeing the fabric of civility fray.

Truth was the first thing to go.

The abundance of lies made it so.

When a lie is told often, it seems somehow to soften

The impact and lessen the blow.

Civility is the next virtue in decline.

As a virtue it’s not hard to define.

Speak to others in a way that will brighten their day,

And give thought to whatever you say.

Look around and you’ll see that it isn’t just me,

People are more rude than ever.

With Trump holding sway, he’s made it OK,

He thinks that his rudeness is clever.

It’s all fun and games when he comes up with names

That embarrass or even demean.

He’s cruel like no one we’ve seen.

If he thinks that you’re fat, he’ll tell you that.

And the ultimate curse that he’s made even worse

Is to prey on the way people look.

Now that’s not to say that there isn’t a way

To walk in the path Trump took.

It would be kinda fun to be the first one

To ridicule “old tubby” with praise.

That he has lots of guts is universally felt,

Since we can see that his guts provide shade for his belt.

— Mike Sand

Managing difficult conversations

By Harriet Bachner, PhD, LCPC, LCMFT

The personal is political (Hanisch, 1969), and as many have cautioned, religion, politics, and sex are not discussed in polite causal conversation. This is especially the sentiment during holiday gatherings if we want to maintain peace and respect among friends and family.  Considering the daily deluge of social and political news that is dividing and oppressing so many people, it is a challenge to engage in conversation that is not impacted by current political, religious, or sexual issues and opinions. Thus, misinformation or disinformation about the news somehow creeps into the family holiday dinner conversation and complicates our intentions to keep this gathering respectful and light-hearted. As we struggle to refrain from arguing, we also feel compelled to correct what we perceive to be harmful and wrong contentions held by those significant folks we hold near and dear to us. Given the severity of the social and political climate, maybe it is crucial that we try to have a respectful conversation about very personal issues and the future of the well-being of our country and loved ones.

We may anticipate the possibility of difficult conversations during this holiday season following years of contentious and unsettling local, national, and global events. How do we prepare ourselves in ways to manage our feelings and responses without becoming highly reactive? Are we able to listen to understand, rather than listen to respond or react?

Maybe even before these gatherings we can examine our own cultural background, political opinions, and emotional responses to these current events. Our biases that have been shaped from years of experience may subtly create blind spots. These may unintentionally invalidate others’ feelings and lived experiences (Frye & Frye, 2025). We can also anticipate the areas of disagreement, identify the arguments, and then imagine that those perspectives to be our own viewpoints. Then we ask ourselves how we would have reached these opinions and what would possibly shift or broaden our perspective. It is best that we prepare ourselves before we become engulfed in emotional disagreements with family and friends. The communication approaches that have shown to be most effective in having difficult conversations are borrowed from counseling methods and deep canvassing strategies that are used in speaking to people about social and political issues. These require us to practice reflective listening and respectful curiosity in our daily interactions, aside from the challenging conversations.

The most powerful way to connect to another person is to listen and give our full attention when an individual is speaking. Reflective listening and attending with genuine curiosity and open questions will have long-term impact. Take a breath before responding and ask oneself, “What needs to be my response?” vs. “What do I want to say?”  This slows the pace of the conversation allowing for emotional calm (Kalla & Brookman, 2018; Resnick, 2020, Jan. 29). Candid 2-way compassionate conversation, that includes asking others to share and reflect upon their own significant experiences impacts how they think and act over long term. Sharing our personal stories about how these social and political issues affect us is a powerful way to connect.

Creative questions stimulate possibility thinking and can “reflect inquisitiveness about alternative perspectives and realities” (Cormier, Nurius, & Osborn, 2017, p. 350). Through open questions we can identify shared values, for example: care, fairness, authority, liberty, loyalty, reasonability (Descalzi, 2025, Feb. 27, March 13). Being curious through reflective questions stimulates critical thinking. Consider what it would be like to ask these questions: Why is that the right idea for you on this issue? What’s another side of this issue? What’s a reason you’d support or wouldn’t support this issue or person? Was there a time before you felt this way? What experiences have you had with this issue?

Exploring and generating counter points helps us and our family members or friends balance perspectives or prejudices in a new way not previously considered. Maybe they never had direct conversations about the issue. With compassionate listening we all are able to reflect upon our own lived and shared experiences.

Most of the time facts don’t change opinions, so we need to refrain from argument or persuasion. In addition, being judgmental leads to reactive oppositional folks feeling the need to preserve a sense of freedom and do the opposite of what is suggested or implied. Being argumentative contributes to people’s resistance to acknowledging flaws in their views or recognizing inconsistencies in their thinking. They also don’t want to see themselves as easily manipulated. People’s actions are based on emotions rather than on facts or opinion.

“Reality is constructed in the moment through human interaction and dialogue.… and constantly changing and constructed” (Cormier, Nurius, & Osborn, 2017, p. 354). Non-judgmental listening reduces perceived threat to self-image, increases respect, promotes active participation in conversation, open engaging with alternative viewpoints, feeling less manipulative and more engaging than facts. Thus, sharing common concerns creates emotional connection, and moves beyond surface level talking. We can enjoy conversations with fewer questions or directives, and with compassionate curiosity provide gentle agitation to shift emotions and beliefs.

Managing difficult conversations in short

1. Anticipate the possibility of difficult conversations during this holiday season.

2. Before these gatherings we can examine our own cultural background, political opinions, and emotional responses to these current events.

   a. Then we ask ourselves how we would have reached these opinions and what would possibly shift or broaden our perspective.

3. The most powerful way to connect to another person is to listen with our full attention when an individual is speaking.

   a. Take a breath before responding and ask oneself, “What needs to be my response?” vs. “What do I want to say?” This slows the pace of the conversation, allowing for emotional calm.

4. Use creative questions to stimulate possibility thinking and reflect inquisitiveness about alternative perspectives and realities.

5. Identify and point out shared values, for example: care, fairness, authority, liberty, loyalty, reasonability.

6. Be curious through asking reflective questions that may stimulate critical thinking.

7. Help others to explore and generate counter points to balance perspectives or prejudices.

8. Most of the time facts don’t change opinions.

9. Refrain from argument or persuasion. Being judgmental leads to reactive or oppositional folks.

10. Enjoy conversations with fewer questions and no directives. So with compassionate curiosity provide gentle agitation to foster connection and hooe to slightly shift emotions and beliefs.

By Janice Arthur

Liberal Ladies met this past month on the 5th and the 19th at the Crawford County Democratic Headquarters.

We started on the 5th with a discussion of the previous day's election. For Pittsburg USD 250 School Board, Dr. Mickey Painter was re-elected, J. J. Karlinger and Emily George were elected. For city commission Cheryl Brooks and Stu Hite were re-elected, and D. J. Perry was elected.

Ruth Miller talked and said she is not too unhappy about not being elected because as a non-member she can speak up with more freedom.

Harriet said she had positive responses regarding Ruth while canvassing. Her take away from that: we need to talk to more people.

She also shared copies of an article about the importance of public education and the dangers of vouchers and said we could use the article when communicating with legislators.

Harriet suggested that LL network with women Democrats in Topeka to learn from them about the underlying reasons for legislators' actions. She wants to form committees assigned to each legislator to watch their actions and share that information. She is also planning more deep canvassing sessions.

Kay Long suggested sending postcards to Crawford County Kansas residents rather than out of state. A personal handwritten note is more likely to be read.

Next, we talked about supporting food banks. Wesley House needs groceries this month because they already spent their budget. However, for the coming months cash is preferred because they can get more for the money than we can.

Nancy Tomassi talked about Robert Reich's film, "The Last Class." She talked with Josh Letner who said it would need a PSU organization to sponsor it. He will look into it. Nancy will also reach out to AMC.

Harriet said a research librarian at PSU is also looking into getting the film shown here.

Nancy recommended a show on PBS about Hannah Arendt which you can also catch on YouTube.

Tim Shallenburger will be at the Homer Cole Center on Nov. 7 at 10am.

SEK Recycling is reopened on Friday and Saturday.

Wesley House needs plastic bags. They have to buy them to give out the groceries to families.

Kay Long talked about another essential service that is being lost, the public transportation bus. Someone said that Community Health has a transportation service. It will take people where they need to go but requires the person to sign up at the clinic. Helping Hands is also a transportation service but charges $6 one way.

Susy talked about a list of how to live longer and better. At the top of the list is "Have a group".Susy also told our guest, Pat Martin, about the origins of Liberal Ladies.

On the 19th, Susy was not feeling well so Harriet led the meeting. She talked about needing content for the newsletter and passed around a page of ideas. She also said she had done a deep canvassing training session. Lillian and Karen attended. Harriet said they had fun. 

Women for Kansas asked Harriet to write an article on how to communicate with those who disagree with us (Republicans).

Nancy Tomassi talked about a program at Westside Elementary, where her daughter teaches. The school will have a gift shop where the students can shop. They need volunteers to help the students make their choices in a timely manner. She passed around a sign-up sheet for anyone wanting to participate on Dec. 9 and 11.

Shirley Beer talked about how good the Rachel Maddow podcast is with many other journalists joining her.

Ruth Miller said Kansas has lost 55,000 students since 2008. The reasons for this huge drop are being investigated. 

Patsy Lawson said we need a plan to offset how the Republicans will respond to release of the Epstein files. What will the current occupant's next action be? She thinks they will go after Democrats and ignore everything else. If the DOJ is still aligned with the occupant, nothing will happen.

Penny Mayfield said she is worried about the money going to Argentina. She and Shirley Beer are worried about war with Venezuela. Harriet said call our legislators. They have to log communications and issue conveyed. Kay Long said she tried to call Marshall's D.C. office and the number did not work! Hariet said Schmidt's office answers the phone.

Nov. 22 is both Patsy Lawson's and Joy Leeper’s birthday. We signed cards and sang Happy Birthday to them.

Joy attended a Crawford County commission meeting about the proposed solar farm. She is disappointed that it failed. She stated the opposition used outdated data to push their point of view.

Where and when to have Liberal Ladies Christmas was discussed with a plan made to hold it at HQ Dec.10 and resume meetings in January. As usual, we will take up a collection for Safehouse. Harriet will contact Safehouse to ask what they need. 

Since August, 15 people have completed the two-part training in deep canvassing. In November, four folks completed the training:

Mary Bess Albritton, Lillian Bosseau, Cheryl Craig, and Karen Peternell.                                             

We enjoyed lively discussion and sharing our personal experiences in some difficult conversations.

These folks completed the two-part training in August and September

Jim Brumfield, Blaise Jacks, Michael Nagle, Margaret Neil, Jim Orwig, Bert Patrick, Avery Rowland, Jenna Spencer, David Su, George Sypniewski, and Lynette Wescott

There will also be deep canvassing training sessions in January through March with refresher meetings in early spring when we begin canvassing.

— Harriet Bachner, deep canvassing facilitator

Article submissions are needed from Crawford County Democrats and friends about issues and topics we should all be thinking about. Let us publish your thoughts in this Revue, for distribution to county Democrats and others across the state. Back issues of thr newsletter are also on the website at https://www.crawfordcountyksdems.org/newsletter.

Please email your thoughts or those of your caucuses and interest groups for publication in the county party’s newsletter to news@crawfordcountyksdems.org. Accompanying photographs or other ideas for illustrating your articles are also welcome. Feel free to ask questions by text or phone of newsletter crew Harriet at 620-704-8566 or Phil at 708-466-0659. Also please include your phone number with your message in case we have questions for you.

We look forward to hearing from you!