Clippings, Cancel Culture & Human Connection

Does anyone still get “clippings?” As a teenager, my grandmother used to carefully curate ziplock bags full of newspaper and magazine articles that she thought might be relevant or interesting for me and every few weeks she would send along an envelope full of them. 

When I hiked the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail, my aunt kept the tradition alive by sending me a few nutritious food items to my mail drops (she was very worried about my diet) and another envelope labeled, “food for thought,” stuffed full of thought-provoking clippings. 

I liked to pull out a paper article during my lunch break or at night in my tent and consider what it had to say. I don’t know that any of them drastically altered my thinking but there were a few that nudged the needle. Some combination of being physically worn down in a dramatically beautiful setting with little other entertainment enabled me to fully digest and absorb the stories, thoughts and ideas sent my way.

Still, nothing written could transform me like the experiences and relationships on the trail. No paper clipping, no matter how well written, held the same sway as a morning spent with another hiker, an afternoon spent walking through a new landscape or resupplying in a small town. 

I learned about the Rust Belt as I resupplied in declining industrial towns in Pennsylvania. I learned about John Muir while sitting on top of a mountain in the High Sierras. I hiked with electricians and truck drivers and waitresses and engineers (lots of engineers) and biologists and university professors. I shared conversations with people who were Christians, and people who were atheists, Jewish, Muslim - hikers who were interested in exploring the natural world and the supernatural. I made my miles and climbed up and down mountains with individuals from all across the social-political landscape.

And that challenged me. That changed me. Those experiences and relationships caused me to reconsider my beliefs and my values. Some were strengthened and sharpened, others were loosened or let go. Most of all, it made me appreciate people who were different from me, not because of our shared belief system but because of the balance and breadth found in our differences. 

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When I owned Blue Ridge Hiking Company, our most successful offerings were backpacking trips designed for specific groups. We discovered pretty quickly that some women prefer to be placed in a female group. And, it makes sense. It can be uncomfortable dealing with your period or sports bra chafing in the backcountry with guys you don’t know. Then we took it a step further and offered women’s 60+ trips. When you take away the intimidation that comes from being placed with an overly enthusiastic 30-year-old, the trip fills up fast!

The experience of backpacking was new or uncomfortable (or both) to so many of our clients that the more comfort and comradery we could provide through targeted trips, the more popular our programming became.

The downside was that we lost the benefit of being mixed at random with people who were very different from us and our groups were often seen as homogenous, solitary circles rather than part of a larger Venn Diagram. 

As the business owner I felt the tension of supporting these self-selecting silos while also wanting to support diverse connections that come with open registration. We made it a point to always offer specified group trips and outings that were all-inviting. But guiding is a game of small margins, high liability, and lots of environmental factors outside of your control and I was never in a position to be too ideological about our “bestsellers.” 

Once after posting and promoting one of our LGBTQ trips online, we received some social snark and shame for it. The person who left the comment wanted to know why we supported this programming but didn’t host other groups – specifically Christian ones. And in a polite way, we responded with a list of the many churches, youth groups, and faith-based communities that we had served, pointed out that comments like the ones above provided the basis for individuals to feel more comfortable in a known community, and mentioned that there are many people who identity as Christian and part of the LGBTQ community. 

In response to the social media situation, I reached out to the guide who was scheduled to run the trip to hear his thoughts. As a member of the community, he had the most to offer the conversation and he was supportive of keeping it as open-hearted as possible. “Every interaction we have is an opportunity to open a door or shut it.” He said, “ And, we’re not going to get anywhere by slamming and locking doors.” 

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I miss clippings. Every now and then my dear aunt sends a one-off article, but now most of the time my family or friends want to pass on information it’s in the form of an email, text, or social share. Maybe it’s a coincidence, but I cannot remember one link or forwarded email that has substantially changed my mind. These days, the media I digest through my phone, computer, or TV does little to persuade my thoughts. On the contrary, it’s self-selected and pre-programmed to affirm my inclinations rather than challenge them.

An essay or poem by Wendell Berry will make an imprint. And a show, such as Ted Lasso, helps us all to “stay curious.” But more than ever, experiences and relationships are what transform and alter the way I think and feel.

Since the election, I have heard and seen a lot of doors slamming shut. I've heard people say they can’t be friends or associate with people who voted for President-elect Trump. And I've seen folks say they no longer need to in any way acknowledge the left. We’re not just slamming doors, we are twisting the lock and throwing away the key. 

But here’s the thing… If you lock people out you will never find the understanding you want or the support you need to create a sustained difference. Politically, if we are not willing to engage with the other side then we will continue in an on-going four-to-eight-year cycle of policy tug of war and two-party whiplash. 

I know it’s a tough, heated, and hurtful time for many, and an exciting and hopeful time for others. And you might need a minute to shut and lock the door. We all need space every now and again - and the ability to be with people who "get it."

Just remember that there is good and there is overlap in the communities outside our inner circles. And that the most convincing articles and infographics will never create as much change as an outstretched hand. And that, ultimately, the key to change is the one that unlocks the door.