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Spotted outside a bookshop... the sign that perfectly sums up 2016

Spotted outside a bookshop... the sign that perfectly sums up 2016

Last week we wrote about a sign outside a coffee shop that seemed to sum up London's feelings towards President-elect Donald Trump.

This week, we present to you a sign that seems to sum up the entire world in 2016...

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A photo of the sign was posted by Massachusetts-based bookshop The Bookloft, on Wednesday morning.

Zazu Galdos-Shapiro, responsible for marketing and for writing the sign, tells indy100: "I'm not going to pretend the sign wasn't referencing the election results, but it's important to note that this is not really about who won or lost an election."

Over the past year, and even more so over this past week, the curtain has been steadily pulled back on the dark underbelly of the US, revealing a deeply problematic and disturbing rash of racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and Islamophobia.

Our bookstore does not promote a particular political agenda or party, rather, we advocate for human rights and freedom of expression. Those ideals are fundamental to every bookstore and every book-lover.

Yes, we're a retail business, but more than that, we are a harbor for every diverse voice and story of the human experience.

Many of those sharing the photo are also presenting the sign as a summation of this entire year.

It's been retweeted and liked on Twitter and Facebook by various outlets, more than 60,000 times - often with embellishment.

Galdos-Shapiro was surprised by how viral the sign has gone, but considers the response of customers to be more important.

"Every day, people have been coming in and saying “thank you” and stopping outside to laugh. We've even had people from all across the country email and call to personally thank us for the signs."

Being able to provide laughter (even if it is about something so sad), comfort, and a safe space for every kind of person is more important than ever these days.

Just to recap 2016:

Oh and, 'post-truth' is the official Word of the Year.

Hello, dystopia.

But this heroic bookshop is striking back with heartwarming messages of hope...

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We are not activists, or lawyers, but we can offer one service: books. By reading, we allow ourselves to sink into others' shoes, to learn about and empathize with people we may not know or understand.

I hope that the more people we get reading, especially children, the more accepting this country will become.

More: This young protester went to an anti-Donald Trump rally with an amazing sign

More: Watching Ed Balls dance to Gangnam Style is a tonic for every bad thing that's happened in 2016

More: Spotted outside a coffee shop in London...

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