In an approach that is open to interpretation, the owner of Penzey’s Spice Company, based in Wisconsin, has penned a letter to his customers telling them that it’s time to heal the Republicans, although he says everyone has a right to be horrified by them.
Bill Penzey is not suggesting reeducation camps, but he’s asking his customers to help Republicans get past their anger and accept the new reality. He advises special unnamed treatment for those who “crafted and told and broadcast the lies that made these last four years happen,” who he says “have to be held accountable.” Here’s what Penzey wrote:
“Certainly not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but most likely soon all of us will find ourselves doing our part to help heal Republicans. Seventy million Americans have been lied into voting for the most un-American administration in our lifetimes. As much as we don’t need the approval of those seventy million to get America back to being America, those seventy million are our family, co-workers, neighbors and friends and they need our help.
“At this moment after all the cruelty they made possible you may well be thinking: I’m not helping that. I get it, but I also know as a cook your heart is not one that can stay closed for long to anyone in need, even if they brought that need upon themselves. What will your help look like? You have some time to plan that out. From grief there is the path of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance. With just how long Republicans have been in denial, I’m guessing the anger stage we are now beginning to enter will be both long and intense. Once they start getting past the anger our chance to help will begin.
“As much as we have a lot of Republican anger, and even a fair amount of denial yet, to work through we can still begin planting the seeds for what comes next. Though this administration never did make much of an effort to build the promised wall around our borders, like so many cults they were very successful in building a wall around their followers to block out any voice of reason. Breaching that wall with a simple text or email with something along the lines of: “Saw a clip of that movie we liked, thinking of you” to let them know you have not given up on them might be the first step. You are creative and have good judgement. I trust that you can figure this out.
‘You certainly have every right to look at the horrors of this week and be horrified by them, but this really has been the first so very needed step in getting our loved ones back. Those who crafted and told and broadcast the lies that made these last four years happen have to be held accountable. But if we can find a space in our hearts for those who believed the lies there is hope that our children and grandchildren will never again have to repeat these last four years.
“Everything that has made you a cook has prepared you to heal this world. These next few years will need your healing more than you can possibly imagine.“
Penzey takes off from there with his sales pitch for various spices, including cinnamon, pepper, and garlic. Those who shop with Penzey’s and load up enough on herbs and spices will get a free “victory” pin commemorating the election. But he’s warning Democrats:
“…but seriously the Republicans are entering their anger stage of grief big time right now. From the angry responses I’m receiving it’s clear this weekend’s emails will at least temporarily cost us more customers than we’ve lost in quite some time. Please don’t worry, business-wise we are doing better than ever before. But if you wanted to make up for any losses by placing an order at penzeys.com or by forwarding this email to a few possible new customers that would be sweet and greatly appreciated. Thanks!”
“And thanks for caring, and thanks for at least considering opening your heart to those who, through their voting, have done such great damage to our country and to so many good people as well. Not everybody has your strength and that’s why everybody needs you so much. Thank you for making us possible, but thanks even more for being you…”
