[IP] What makes America great
Begin forwarded message:
From: Tim Bishop <geodog@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: November 1, 2004 1:40:52 AM EST
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: What makes America great
Dave,
For IP, if you want.
From Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo:
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_10_31.php#003880 He
writes:
Received yesterday from a reader down in the trenches ...
Still in Florida.
This was one of the most moving, meaningful days of my life.
My job is to get people to the polls and, more importantly, to keep
them there. Because they’re crazily jammed. Crazily. No one expected
this turnout. For me, it’s been a deeply humbling, deeply gratifying
experience. At today’s early vote in the College Hill district of East
Tampa -- a heavily democratic, 90% African American community we had
879 voters wait an average of five hours to cast their vote. People
were there until four hours after they closed (as long as they’re in
line by 5, they can vote).
Here’s what was so moving:
We hardly lost anyone. People stood outside for an hour, in the blazing
sun, then inside for another four hours as the line snaked around the
library, slowly inching forward. It made Disneyland look like
speed-walking. Some waited 6 hours. To cast one vote. And EVERYBODY
felt that it was crucial, that their vote was important, and that they
were important.
And there were tons of first time voters. Tons.
Aside from some hassles from the Republican election commissioner ( …
[ed.note: Here the letter writer describes various shenanigans intended
to exacerbate the difficulties of waiting hours in line to vote. I’ve
censored this detail to preserve the anonymity of the writer.], I
actually had an amazing experience. No, actually, in a way because of
that I had an amazing experience. Because these people know that the
system that’s in place doesn’t want them voting. And yet they are
determined to vote.
The best of all was an 80 year old African American man who said to me:
“When I first started I wasn’t even allowed to vote. Then, when I did,
they was trying to intimidate me. But now I see all these folks here to
make sure that my vote counts. This is the first time in my life that I
feel like when I cast my vote it’s actually gonna be heard.”
To see people coming out elderly, disabled, blind, poor; people who
have to hitch rides, take buses, etc and then staying in line for
hours and hours and hours... Well, it’s humbling. And it’s awesome. And
it’s kind of beautiful.
Sometimes you forget what America is.
I think there’s hope.
ES
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* November 2, We Decide *
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