THE UNITED STATE
A yearly festival is a symbol of how Americans can get along even in our divided times
OHIOPYLE, PA. — For eight years Jim Oppman has prided himself on arriving at the Wilderness Voyageurs Beer and Gear Festival before anyone else, staking his place first in line before the crowds rush in.
This year, he got beat by a group of 20-somethings.
“Sometimes you have to pass the torch,” says Oppman, 51, smiling and pointing to the youths ahead of him.
In return, they raise their cups in respect.
For 16 years, the Beer and Gear Festival has sought to bring people together to celebrate the great outdoors and enjoy the fruits of an emerging microbrewery movement in the region.
What started out as a small happening every June showcasing outdoor gear and bluegrass music has grown into a major event attracting 1,000 people from across the country, including Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and, yes, New York.
In the distance the sounds of the swift-flowing Youghiogheny River barreling over the gorge add to the ambiance of the day. Dense groves of rhododendron and mountain laurel climb sharp hillsides as hawks and eagles soar overhead.
This is a place of escape, adventure and camaraderie. And absolutely no politics.
“You’ll hear no politics from us,” declares John Lively, lead vocalist for his bluegrass band. “Music is the great connector. It is what I love about it. People want to come here to escape all of their worries. Nobody cares what my political opinion is and I don’t care what theirs is. Who cares? Pull up chairs and we’ll dance and we’ll play music. And we’ll go back to work Monday.”
Since the 2016 election, Americans are more politically divided than ever. The conversation has become so polarized and turned up to a decibel level so high, the dial has broken. An August 2017 survey by the American Psychological Association reported that 63 percent of Americans said they feel stressed about the future of our nation — more than they feel stressed about money (62 percent) or work (61 percent). Amazingly, every generation said they feel that “this is the lowest point in our nation’s history that they can remember,” with 59 percent of millennials, 61 percent of Gen Xers, 57 percent of Boomers and 56 percent of older adults agreeing with that sentiment.
“It used to be you could have a civil conversation about politics, but since the presidential election, politics has been beaten over our heads in everything we do — from entertainment to sports to the things you buy,” says Oppman, from Hermitage, Pa. “Everyone from employers to corporations has picked a side and it’s just everywhere. It’s just nice to enjoy people as people, not as someone who holds a particular political position.”
Ashok Raja and his group stand out in the crowd. The IT specialist and his colleagues from Mylan labs in Pittsburgh are dressed in Hawaiian gear, including intricate leis, gaudy grass skirts and floral shirts. The moment they hear a mandolin plucking away, they start dancing.
“Don’t ask me why we picked Ha- waiian in the backwoods of Pennsylvania,” says Raja, who grew up in India. “But we are here to have fun, put all of our cares away and enjoy the day.”
With the summer now in full swing, all of us will be flocking to our barbecues, beaches, picnics and parades. More than ever, we need escapes like the Beer and Gear Festival, where we can put our anxieties aside. As we relax and unplug, we should also remember that this nation has experienced far worse for far longer than this moment in history. No matter how awful it seems in the news or on social media, Americans can come together.
And maybe — if we pause and talk face to face instead of lobbing barbs from behind a screen — we can even try to understand each other.
Toward the end of the afternoon, Rose Hines sits beside me on a haystack. The Philadelphia native admits it is refreshing not to talk politics, but then adds: “For the longest time I didn’t understand the Trump voter until I met someone at the Falls City Pub after I was done with work. Once he explained to me why he voted for Trump, I got it. Why did I get it? Well, I decided maybe I should stop being angry all the time about Hillary losing and listen to why she did. Before that conversation I was always mad at people that voted for Trump. “Now?” she adds. “Not so much.” Then she raises a peace sign with a smile.