14 Comments

Thank you for leading with the heartbreaking story of Rebecca Cheptegei. For anyone who thinks gender equity has reached its peak, the continued violence against Black women, and women around the world, tells a different story.

From Uganda to India, women are fighting for the right to simply live with dignity. We have so much work to do as a society until the safety and value of women are a given, not something they have to fight for. ❤️

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So many thanks for sharing "Long-term illness is Not a Battle to be Won." As a someone whose partner is suffering from a degenerative cognitive disease, it hard. There's lots written about the role of caregivers -- lip service, mostly -- but this piece plows through to what feels like truth.

"There isn’t much understanding of what it feels like to live with a long-term condition, and perhaps even less of what it feels like to live with someone who is living with that. My role is so vague as to feel invisible. I’d say that I share in Ben’s predicament, but that isn’t quite it. You can’t truly share pain or suffering; you can’t share stays in hospital, or scans, or drug treatments. All I think I can say is that I witness it. And that takes its own toll."

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I’m so glad it resonated Lyn. And I’m sorry you’re in this position. Ben has been ill a long time now and I think Tracey would really identify with that. Sx

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Thanks, Sam. On the one hand, you feel good when people you tell you how noble you are, how selfless, how heroic. But it's really a way of distancing themselves from the reality which makes the pain and loneliness that much more acute. Enough for a sunday morning. Just thanks for sharing this lovely piece.

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Sep 6Liked by sam baker

The leading story, and then that NYT story about women and self defense... It's heartbreaking and infuriating.

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Thank you for highlighting the article by Tracey Thorn. EBTG's music has been the backdrop of my life and so many of my formative experiences since my early 20s (I'm 67 now) Wishing them the very best with love and gratitude as they navigate this difficult time 🩷

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I have the best rage friend in the world.

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We all need at least one

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Wow, that Tracey Thorne piece!

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Incredible

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Rebecca 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

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The rage….

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Sep 6Liked by sam baker

Murder. Nothing else.

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Rage friend - yes!

Can’t wait to get into Slow Horses 🙌🏼

I’m particularly fascinated by the life review article. The bit about finding her Mum’s “ventures that had never gotten started” 😢 I have that very feeling when I go into my own Mum’s garden shed back home. Packets of seeds waiting to be planted, etc.

It’s like a snapshot in time. Like she’s just not in there today. Whilst it makes me feel sad, I like going in there. I feel close to her. I’ve added the article-writer’s book to my TBR list.

And the lady who died at her desk. Just heartbreaking 💔

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