A couple of weeks ago I spent a considerable amount of a beautiful autumn Saturday knee-deep and totally involved in the exciting and glamorous world of politics and intrigue, out there amongst The People. Me with ponytail and clipboard, voter registration cards and a friendly spunky smile with attitude…in my long-winded way I am saying that I was registering people to vote.
I know, the activism gig again. I can’t help it. I am a bit of a nut when it comes to well….a lot of things and one of them is democracy. I am big on voting. It may sound corny but I am what I am and I had a blast!
True, there was some hard work involved but it was fun work. I got to meet so many interesting people! It was fantastic. Portland is such a quirky town and I savored all that quirky goodness.
I was just recently downtown and was ecstatic to be back. My turf was a section of The Portland Farmer’s Market at PSU. It is a lovely and lively place full of Farmer’s market type of people, college students and tourists.
If you are ever in Portland on a Saturday visit this place! It is full of good food and an eclectic and interesting mix of musicians and street performers all under beautiful trees in the south park blocks.
So there I was with a huge smile plastered on my face asking anyone and everyone who passed by if they wanted to register to vote. I found out that Portland, being the kind of town that it is, a lot of people have already registered and so it seemed more to me as if I was taking a poll than really helping anyone, but I was enjoying myself in the morning sun, talking to citizens about really how crappy the world is and laughing a lot.
Perhaps I was enjoying myself too much. An especially loud guffaw marked a change of tone just as old sourpuss entered stage left; apparently my spot was high on the list of appealing spots for do-gooders to stand. He made it clear through a series of looks, handshakes and innuendo that I was late on the scene; this was his spot.
“I’ve been here quite regularly. Several Saturdays in a row.” He told me.
His lips were moist and his breath reeked of old coffee. He stared at me with big bulbous fish eyes that quivered as he spoke. I’ve dealt with this kind before. I knew his type…
This was a prime spot–must be because of the close approximation to the coffee tent and Pine Street Biscuits which I hear is very good. I had a cute little grassy knoll with a street lamp to lean on. I liked the spot and I know this sounds a bit much but I wasn’t going to give it up without a fight!
I gave him one of those looks I sometimes give to my teenagers: it’s the “Don’t even try it or there will be hell to pay” look. I have perfected this and it never fails to work. Today was no exception. Mr Sourpuss moved on to the other end of the park. I would catch a blurry glimpse of him from time to time fueling up on coffee: he’s quite the drinker. He gave me a sourpuss smile. I beamed my bestest fake smile back, after all, aren’t we on the same side here?
I registered 12 people that day. Probably not a lot. Perhaps old SP made out better. I did however talk to a lot of people. I have found in my travels through life that we are more alike than different.
I talked to some independents, a smattering of Republicans (Blue State here) lots of Democrats (again Blue State) and a few alternatives; two leaning toward socialism and one anarchist. I was surprised by the number of people who choose the option not affiliated with any party.
Most of the people I talked to were articulate and engaged and passionate about our community at large. Many of us talked about how life was changing. We spoke of the economic downturn. I did not meet one person who hasn’t been affected. Most were hopeful, but wary and many were confused. Everyone I talked to agreed on one thing: this partisan bickering fighting between the two major parties must stop if we are to move forward and fix what is wrong with the country, not to mention the world.
I encountered some indifference, though not as much as I imagined. I didn’t try to sell anyone. I wasn’t aggressive. I represented myself with dignity. I was knowledgeable and engaged. I was polite to everyone and felt that I was an ambassador of sorts. Maybe not so much just to register people but to raise awareness about the importance of voting, because it is important. Many people have given up their lives for this right!
Too many….
So when THAT date rolls around, whether it be November 6th, 2012 or some other date, if you are fortunate to have the right to vote do me a favor, do yourself a favor, do your fellow citizens a favor and let your voice be heard.
VOTE, dammit.
One voice may be so quiet it is difficult to hear…keep adding voices and it becomes a roar of a sound that cannot be put asunder…
“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt
BEST WISHES,
Strawberryindigo.
“It is better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don’t want and get it”
Eugene V. Debs
I agree with you on this post, my country is soon on this kind of situation by 2013, and as a citizen it is our obligations and duties to vote and choose the right one….
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Hi Willofheart: I appreciate your involvement. Too many people don’t care. They think their vote won’t count. A lot of people in this world would love to have the right to vote as we do.
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My best wishes for the U.S. to vote in an intelligent President. By the way, I’ve been to Portland several times. Actually my partner will be cycling into town in a few days..he’s been on the road solo by bike for past few months. Hopefully it won’t be too rainy!
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Hi Jean: Thanks for the best wishes, my hopes are the same as yours; that we can elect an intelligent President. I will cross my fingers that your partner won’t have to ride in the rain–although it can be quite nice this time of year…
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He, every single one will count. It’s the only way we can still hope to have any semblance of fairness.
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Hey likeitiz; Yes. If the will of the people is to be done, the people need to be heard…and for the people to be heard, the people must speak up…Thanks for the comments.
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Your positivity shines through in this post! And voting is so close to my heart, so many people in the world don’t have a proper chance,!
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HI Promenade Claire: Thanks so much. Nice to see you here. I’m glad you feel voting is important.
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Thank you for reminding and advocating the right to vote!
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Thank You for thanking me Amy–I had fun doing it.
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You did a valuable service. When my kids turned 18, I nagged them to register, but it was the volunteers standing on campus that made it happen. I’m going to use that motto if you don’t mind: Vote dammit.
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Hello Lutheran Ladies, I was afraid the the “dammit” may be a bit too much…thanks. 🙂
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I think it shows your passion.
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It is an important right and anyone who tosses that right away should be ashamed. 😉
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Thanks for saying that E–I totally agree! 🙂
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Amen! One of the best moments with my mother was when I turned 18 and she drove me uptown to register to vote. That was the most important part of my turning 18 for her – that I now could, and would by god, participate in elections. When I think about how many people in this world do not have any opportunity to have a say in their government, and also of how many people struggle for the privilege of voting, to ignore this bedrock right and responsibility we have to vote is criminal! Thanks for your efforts to give people the opportunity to participate by registering them. And I loved the pictures of Portland. I still remember the Saturday market from when I visited in 1978. It was great then, and could only be better now.
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Hi Janet: Thanks for thanking me. I had fun. I also came home with a deeper understanding of your average person on the street. I talked to so many interesting people. I had a reason to talk to them. I was surprised on how many people are just waiting to be engagaed by another citizen–so many people where eager to talk.
Before that day I was afraid to ask a stranger if I could take their picture, I did on that day twice. I am proud of my shy self for that.
Portland is great, I love living here. Maybe someday you may make a return visit?
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Congrats on talking to strangers for photographs! I liked your Portland street and people scenes. I would love to make a return visit to Portland and the Oregon coast. I camped in all the state parks on the coast, and wanted to stay forever. But there wasn’t anyone who would ship the cats to me, so I went home. I still make regular deposits to the travel fund, so maybe a west coast trip will be possible.
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Hi Janet: I really hope you do make a return visit here! If you want you can stay at my place–I’m serious! I have 2 cats you can borrow while you’re here. I would love to meet you in real life. We could tour crazy Portland together.
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That would be way loads of fun. Can you imagine both of us with our cameras taking to the Portland streets and accosting strangers wherever we go?!?
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I would LOVE that Janet!!! I think you are a kindred spirit for sure.
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Good for you for getting out there and getting people registered. In my twenties I was a spotty voter at best but now I am all about voting.
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HI Shoes: I’m glad you vote. We need people like you who care. Thanks.
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I’m with you there Strawberryindigo! Sounds like a great day’s work too. I took on German citizenship (managed to keep the British too 😉 ) for exactly that reason – so I can vote! 😀
Great post! 😀
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Good for you Cathy. You seem the type that cares about that sort of thing. I think that it’s very cool that your president is a woman. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Alastair's Blog and commented:
I’m not an American, but a lot of the bloggers who follow mine are. You need to VOTE ….
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I so much appreciate this Alastair! Thanks for the reblog! 🙂
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You’re welcome 🙂
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