The Dichotomy of Pensylvania

From Lebanon we went to have lunch in Clinton. Absolutely lovely place, with restaurants along the river and some local tourism. Again no signs of the election but photos of the fallen heroes of the American wars in display along the streets.

As you stroll along the main street, you get the feeling that this state, a swing state, is split even emotionally, e.g. the antithesis of the absolutelly hidillic peace of places like Lebanon and Clinton, in the countryside, are the wars, the far away wars that people born and rasied here have fought simply because they are American. And Pennsylvania, the key swing state which has 19 electoral votes is a shining example of such duality, the dichotomy at the heart of the nation. Clinton, Lebanon are a few hous away from Philadelphia or Pittsburg, traditional industrial cities, these duality runs across all aspects of life including economics. And I am looking forward to test my thesis in Harrisburg, tomorrow when we will address the American Civil war. For now we are experiencing the rural and industrial Americas.

This is in Clinton, in front of an icecrean shop. A tree made of plastic spoon in memory of the fallen son of the owner. A soldier who died in the Vietnam war. This month is dedicated to the memory of the fallen solider all over Pensylvania. I think the above image well captures the existential duality of the state.

Joy is what you feel strolling through Clinton

but when you lift your eyes up you see the images of the fallen soldier, joy on earth and sorrow in the sky?

Of course this existential dichotomy n is a heavy burden, especially for the young.

This is a cafe in Clinton. the waitres must be 18 years old, she is efficient but young. When I asked her how are you she smiled and them I talked to her for a few minutes. She was busy and had not a lot of time to chat, but I dropped the questiom: What do you think of the election? and she said I do not know, meaning I will not vote.

Kamala Harris is trying to convince young people to vote and she is using digital propaganda to do that. She want to reach them through TikTok, you tube, Instagram ecc. but in rural Pennsylvania may not work. This section of the country seems to be stack in the past, unwilling to jump into digital modernity. I did not see young people looking at their phone, I did not see people sitting at a cafe or restaurant watching their screen, the were talking to each other..

(October 5)