The World

[Samuel Rutledge]

Hello Village,

I just needed to write this morning to tell you how much I love you. Please remember that the work this community does is important and essential. The work of the Community Village is massive and important. 

Every day, Villagers are engaging in nonviolent direct action for peace and justice, advocating for the ecosystems and non-human communities of our planet, advancing science in the service of preserving and understanding our natural world, sharing ancestral skills and knowledge of the edible and medicinal plants and fungi of our bioregion, creating art that inspires and uplifts, healing our bodies, our minds, and our spirits, teaching us to teach and learn gently and lovingly, opening the doors of consciousness and expression to new ways of thinking and being, strengthening our communities with intention and compassion, nurturing children and youth and helping them to grow into fiercely courageous and loving adults, supporting all kinds of women in a world that still conspires to diminish feminine power, celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer, trans, nonbinary, and all other manner of people living the truth of their wild and untamed gender and sexuality, embracing the whole world of cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity, and fighting oppression everywhere. This work matters.

I have felt tender, these days, about the state of the world. I have been in grief for all of the murders the government has committed, and particularly the two recently in Minnesota and the disgusting bald-faced lies the government has told to justify them. I have cried easily these days and I have wanted to give in to unfocused rage and helpless despair. The Community Village has been an anchor keeping my hope alive. We are, every day, an example of people working together to achieve all these amazing things in the world, sharing and supporting one another, and always holding fast to the belief that a better world is possible and we can, by our example, lead the way.  

In the words of our own Steel Wool, Love is the Power. This community's love is powerful, and I appreciate it and I am grateful to each of you for being a piece of what keeps my hope alive in dark times (and in turn, I hope I can be a piece of what does the same for you.)

Yours in Solidarity,

Sam

[Tim Mueller]

Sam, I hear you, I feel you. During this, our 50th year as a village of progressive activists, our world is facing a serious and profound challenge. The many goals we have pursued all these years are under attack by powerful forces. But our dedication, our experience, our community, will respond with renewed purpose and strength. The power of love, the power of the people, will rise up and show the world around us the way forward. Yes we will!!

"Not gonna give in, Not gonna give up.
Not gonna sit down, Not gonna let up.
Gonna keep shouting out, Gonna keep holding on.
Gonna keep standing up, Gonna keep loving strong.

Let's have a great year!!!

Tim Mueller 541-521-7208

Love is the Power

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From: new-c...@googlegroups.com <new-c...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Samuel Rutledge <samuelr...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2026 10:19:47 AM
To: Community Village Drum - New <new-c...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [CVDrum] The World

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