One of France’s three major television networks was in Shorewood last week, at the Alliance Francaise, to put together an election story scheduled to air after the election. The reporters wanted to know how women here feel about the candidates and the possible impact of the results on our corner of the country. So about ten of us became a backdrop: we sat at a table, nibbled cookies, sipped tea, and listened to the interviewees give concise descriptions of Obama. As you’ve probably noticed, there aren’t many McCain supporters in Shorewood, and none showed up.
Afterwards I got to thinking about the impact of the election here even before it has taken place, the plethora of signs, the neighborhood filled with canvassers for Obama, the excitement,
the endless political conversations. Almost everyone I know, even those who have never volunteered before, is working for Obama.
At the Fitness Center on Saturday, every thread of conversation I picked up was about the election. “Did you vote yet?” “...two hour wait in Milwaukee.” “In Shorewood there’s no wait at all...” “Thank God, it’s almost over,” said someone, but the discussion didn’t stop there. It continued from weight machine to weight machine. Politics and fitness seem to go together. It’s all I’ve overheard for the past several months! At the gym. And at the cafes, the meetings, the grocery stores, in front yards, from passers-by on cell phones.
Yes, there’s relief that we nearing the end of the line, there’s excitement, there’s hope. Then there’s the other strain, the main strain, everywhere I go: “I’m so scared!” People are worried, that’s getting more prevalent. What’s going to happen? What if they steal it again? There’s the sense that we all might be in a sinking boat, togetherness in fear. Then there are those who say it can’t happen when there’s a landslide. This morning I heard a sobering interview of Mark Crispin Miller on DemocracyNow. Read the whole interview, and I’m sure you’ll remember to bring the number, 1-866-OUR-VOTE, to the polls. If any problems arise, use it.
