Canvas(ser)...
Good Morning America! (Jesus I hope that isn't trademarked or some such shit...)
Anyhow...
We voted. We ALL voted. (Or, at least a hell of a lot of us who had been apparently hiding in the woodwork all these years...not to be a bitch but I guess I have to say nice of y'all to finally show up and make your voices heard...)
Now what? Now what are YOU (and I) going to do. It seems we get on this 'we want change band-wagon', go out (well some of us apparently again not all), do our civic duty and then sit back and 'Monday-morning-quarterback' the rest of our lives, expecting our so-called elected leaders to do the rest of the work. You know what, democracy is a participatory sport. Get off of your asses and continue to exact the change...or as Gandhi said: 'Be the Change You Wish to See in the World.' You don't just sit back now and relax. You stay on these new elected officials, you volunteer, you speak up, you attend meetings, you do your civic duty, 24/7...
Yesterday, I went door-to-door asking people to vote. Yes, I went out for the Obama campaign - frankly with Sarah Palin I just could not stomach John McCain - I don't know what he was thinking - I am guessing he wasn't...
I actually didn't care about whether or not you voted for McCain OR Obama, all I cared about was that you voted.
I began by showing up at a house up the road where people were gathered to help the campaign. This house was gorgeous and it was set over-looking Lake Erie. There was a positive energy to the house and to the people there too.
It was a beautiful day to be out. Nearly 70 degrees and a beautiful blue sky. I learned my way around a part of the Mentor neighborhood. Mainly the people on my 'list' were not home - out at work I suppose. But there were some memorable moments and conversations. The people I did manage to encounter had gone to vote early that morn. They were very pleased in general with the process. I was surprised to see how many young people were on this list - there had to be more than a dozen 18-20 yr olds. (YAY!) At one house with an 18 year old voter, an older woman answered the door, she informed me that the young man was her grandson and he had 'opened up the polls', she went on to say he got a standing ovation from the poll workers for being so young and exercising his right to vote. I thanked her for having a hand in his upbringing. Another man answered the door, the van parked in his driveway clearly demarcating his choices, and he told me he was personally taking both of his kids later that night to vote and, 'they know who to vote for' (which was kind of authoritarian but OK I guess).
There was the house with the 93 year old woman whose son assured me she had voted (laughingly, he said for FDR - I laughed too)...
Then there was the person who saw me approaching her door, shut it as quickly as she could and drew all her blinds (and yes, I still rang her bell and put the door hanger on her car windshield instead of on her door - not to be mean - just a reminder...we know where you live LOL, seriously tho, how the hell did you think *I* got your address lady?). There were people I passed as I walked the neighborhood, I merely asked them if they had voted I did not ask for whom...none of my business really. They were very happy to tell me they did indeed vote.
At one point there was a teen on a bicycle. She was busy looking down and texting while attempting to ride her bike. I scared the living daylights out of her by speaking to her and asking her if she really thought it was a bright idea to not watch the road while she was riding her bike - I am glad I scared her (and yes now I AM being a bitch - but hey if it saves her life or at least her from getting into an accident that's a good thing - friggin' idiot - hopefully she won't breed...).
All in all it was a positive and wonderful day, made all the more wonderful and positive by the fact that I got to hang out at home off and on with my husband and we voted together (something he has never done with a loved one).
So yeah America, you have spoken - now just remember how important your voice is, not just on voting day, but everyday.
Anyhow...
We voted. We ALL voted. (Or, at least a hell of a lot of us who had been apparently hiding in the woodwork all these years...not to be a bitch but I guess I have to say nice of y'all to finally show up and make your voices heard...)
Now what? Now what are YOU (and I) going to do. It seems we get on this 'we want change band-wagon', go out (well some of us apparently again not all), do our civic duty and then sit back and 'Monday-morning-quarterback' the rest of our lives, expecting our so-called elected leaders to do the rest of the work. You know what, democracy is a participatory sport. Get off of your asses and continue to exact the change...or as Gandhi said: 'Be the Change You Wish to See in the World.' You don't just sit back now and relax. You stay on these new elected officials, you volunteer, you speak up, you attend meetings, you do your civic duty, 24/7...
Yesterday, I went door-to-door asking people to vote. Yes, I went out for the Obama campaign - frankly with Sarah Palin I just could not stomach John McCain - I don't know what he was thinking - I am guessing he wasn't...
I actually didn't care about whether or not you voted for McCain OR Obama, all I cared about was that you voted.
I began by showing up at a house up the road where people were gathered to help the campaign. This house was gorgeous and it was set over-looking Lake Erie. There was a positive energy to the house and to the people there too.
It was a beautiful day to be out. Nearly 70 degrees and a beautiful blue sky. I learned my way around a part of the Mentor neighborhood. Mainly the people on my 'list' were not home - out at work I suppose. But there were some memorable moments and conversations. The people I did manage to encounter had gone to vote early that morn. They were very pleased in general with the process. I was surprised to see how many young people were on this list - there had to be more than a dozen 18-20 yr olds. (YAY!) At one house with an 18 year old voter, an older woman answered the door, she informed me that the young man was her grandson and he had 'opened up the polls', she went on to say he got a standing ovation from the poll workers for being so young and exercising his right to vote. I thanked her for having a hand in his upbringing. Another man answered the door, the van parked in his driveway clearly demarcating his choices, and he told me he was personally taking both of his kids later that night to vote and, 'they know who to vote for' (which was kind of authoritarian but OK I guess).
There was the house with the 93 year old woman whose son assured me she had voted (laughingly, he said for FDR - I laughed too)...
Then there was the person who saw me approaching her door, shut it as quickly as she could and drew all her blinds (and yes, I still rang her bell and put the door hanger on her car windshield instead of on her door - not to be mean - just a reminder...we know where you live LOL, seriously tho, how the hell did you think *I* got your address lady?). There were people I passed as I walked the neighborhood, I merely asked them if they had voted I did not ask for whom...none of my business really. They were very happy to tell me they did indeed vote.
At one point there was a teen on a bicycle. She was busy looking down and texting while attempting to ride her bike. I scared the living daylights out of her by speaking to her and asking her if she really thought it was a bright idea to not watch the road while she was riding her bike - I am glad I scared her (and yes now I AM being a bitch - but hey if it saves her life or at least her from getting into an accident that's a good thing - friggin' idiot - hopefully she won't breed...).
All in all it was a positive and wonderful day, made all the more wonderful and positive by the fact that I got to hang out at home off and on with my husband and we voted together (something he has never done with a loved one).
So yeah America, you have spoken - now just remember how important your voice is, not just on voting day, but everyday.
posted by Colette at 8:43 AM
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