Community events can relieve today's stress

Listening to all the political rhetoric on TV and social media this summer has been very stressful. The Democratic debates left us clueless as to who the candidate will be that can defeat Donald Trump and bring the country back together. The pictures of children in cages at the southern border, children left alone after their parents were arrested by ICE agents in Mississippi, and mass killings in El Paso and Dayton have left people saying, "Enough is enough! When is this all going to stop?"

It's difficult to shut out this madness that's hovering over us. But, several evenings a week, for a few hours, you can be transformed by the wonderful free concerts that are available through park districts, art councils, libraries throughout the Northwest suburbs. Schaumburg Township Library has had wonderful performers this summer. From country western to Beethoven /modern music, seated on the library lawn, with hundreds of others, you can leave the stress behind for a short time.

Hoffman Estates Village Green concert of Billy Joel and Elton John music was so popular there was barely any room for late comers.

These free concerts throughout the suburbs can't eliminate the chaos in Washington. They can't eliminate Donald Trump's hateful speeches and policies that have energized white supremacy. These concerts cannot whitewash our present political climate. But, for a few hours, men, women and children, young and old, white, black or brown, can gather together and enjoy wonderful music in a peaceful setting.

We can put aside our stress for a few hours and bolster ourselves against the next onslaught of bigoted tweets from Donald Trump.

Kudos to all those who plan these free concert and those who perform. We are so fortunate to find some peaceful time.

Judy Miller

Hoffman Estates