I got up at six this morning and I saw at my polling place...

...about ten people. I'm a white male who lives in Northeastern Chicago.

These other people were:

A. A lesbian couple - all smiles.
B. An older black lady - who was curious about all the unfamiliar names running for appellate judge and other titles, and who ha her curiosity piqued enough to ask:
C. A woman in a wheelchair - who was taking names an handing out the "paper" ballots.
D: A long-haired dude, about 37-38, wearing a leather jacket with a Merciful Fate backpatch and a Motorhead t-shirt.
E: A Latino family, mom dad, 3 kids.

This is what my section of Chicago looks like in microcosm. All sorts of human beings. They all vote, they all want the best for everybody in the US.

I love my neighborhood and I love my country.

which was just officially designated the International Zone to improve real estate values--"War Zone" just wasn't doing it.

I know and like all my neighbors, something that generally doesn't happen in the cul de sac parts of town.

often overlooks: the US is a great country made up of ALL DIFFERENT kinds of great people, and all of us have one overriding thought that guides our actions, for the most part: we all want to lead a good life and allow others to do the same. It was a diverse crowd, and I got the feeling that no one I saw was voting out of revenge for past slights or to punish others. There are people on the right who, unfortunately, allow that impulse to steer their behavior and their voting patterns. The rest of us are voting - and voting Dem, for the most part - because we want ALL OF US to live better lives. At base, this is an unselfish wish - a rising tide lifts all boats and all that.

ON edit: don't let the mainstream media construct a false narrative: this is a wildly diverse country, and all the better for it. Black people, LGBT people, Muslims, Christians, Atheists, men and women, Asian-Americans, old and young, middle class and poor - that's America. The Tea Party, its old and frightened white gun-clutching paranoids and its promoters and donors are NOT America.

Not a bad turnout for after 9 am, but no wait either. About 10 people voting, as at your polling place.

I felt proud because as I fed my ballots into the machine, the colorfully dressed older black guy tending it said to me, "You vote in every election, don't you?" I've voted in every election, local, state, and national, since 1972, when I was eligible, I told him. I remember seeing you, he said. Cool, I said. Then I walked to the Democratic Coordinated Campaign office on South LaSalle and made two hours of calls to people whose applications for mail-in ballots got sent too late. We were contacting them to let them know they could still vote in person. Most weren't home, but out of 75 or so calls, I got six people to say they were going to go to the polls.

Time for a cup of tea.

:hi: :hug: :bounce: :toast: :woohoo:

:-)

(a rare occurence)

;-)

Hey!

:-)

you're one of my favorite DUers EVER. And I miss you.

:blush:

Thanks. I don't hang out here much anymore but it ain't because y'all ain't good people, I'll tell you that. :hi:

ON edit: and don't worry, I remember you. :smile:

:patriot:

:hi:

:D


mine was pretty well attended, but hard to tell anything since this is very rural NY state. Very white and churchy.