On Saturday, I was interviewed by Brad Mielke for the Start Here podcast on ABC about the election, but alas, my comments didn’t make the cut. I was at the Doylestown Dems table much of the morning. Then I was interviewed by a journalist from New Zealand.
It was an informative morning at the table. As usual, the other table was next door, and the same man with whom I had a conversation over the summer was there, as intense as he had been then. A man who was visiting from Paris wanted to know why this election was so contentious. I explained calmly that there are two world views that are hard to reconcile and that the other candidate has clearly stated that he is bent on revenge and retribution while Kamala Harris has campaigned on uplifting and not beating down. She has said she will be a president for every American. No so, the would-be autocrat.
The man at the R table said that the difference between the parties is that theirs is against government interference and ours has too many regulations. Ahem… how about the government interfering in women’s reproductive choices? He volleyed back with, “Democrats want women to have abortions at 6 months.” I responded that by the 6th month, the baby’s name has likely been chosen, the nursery decorated and perhaps a baby shower has occurred. Something must have gone terribly wrong medically for abortion to be considered at that point. I added that pro-life extends to the life and wellbeing of the mother. He then launched into a tirade about violence in the streets after DT was elected the last time. I reminded him that the BLM protests were about Black people being killed in the streets by police officers and while I don’t condone violence, the anger was understandable. After a while, I had to walk away since it was exhausting keeping up with this man’s distortions.
A few minutes later, a couple who had stopped at the R table came over to chat and the man asked about Kamala Harris’ policies and tax plans. I referred them to her website where he would likely find his answers. He was carrying a red yarmulke with DT’s name imprinted on it in white that he had picked up at their table. I was gobsmacked as he put it on his head. He told me he was Jewish and had no problem with it. My parents would have called it a ‘shonda’ which translates to shame and disgrace.
I asked if he was going to recite the Shema which is a signature prayer in our tradition. He accused me of baiting him, and I replied that I was challenging the use of a religious symbol to glorify an anti-Semite who wondered why ‘his generals’ couldn’t be more like Hitler’s generals and who said that if Jews didn’t vote for him, terrible things would happen. He then pointed to the I VOTED sticker that I was wearing that was in the colors of Old Glory. He said that there are people who revere the flag and might consider the sticker disrespectful. I started to ask, “Do you mean like the ‘patriots’ who stormed the Capitol and wielded the flag as a weapon?” but he said goodbye and headed off.
On the uplifting aspects of the morning, lots of people stopped by who said they had already voted or would certainly vote on Tuesday. A woman said that she was going to be driving people to the polls. A few who stopped to chat are poll workers. Others told us about their voting age children who are going to the polls for the first time. Many blessed and thanked us for our service. Some told us that they were optimistic and had a good feeling about the outcome. The flag wavers were not standing on the corner as they had been on previous Saturdays. There were many more folks who stopped by at our table where we had hugs (courtesy of this Hugmobster Armed With Love) American and Pride flags, chocolate and dog treats. And love and joy and hope.
I voted in early October in the pivotal country of Bucks, in the pivotal Commonwealth of PA. I have volunteered at our local Dems table, sent out postcards, written numerous articles about the election, spoken with many people about the importance of voting for Kamala and Tim, donated to Dem campaigns up and down the ballot, display lawn signs, and attended a few rallies, most recently, a week ago in Philly where she rocked the house. I affirm over and over, many times a day “President Harris, Vice President Walz.” That helps calm my nervous system. Here’s to a massive affirmation of all that is good and loving and uniting in our country! True Blue, through and through.
I admit that I still teeter back and forth between faith and fear, leaning on my spiritual beliefs for comfort and also having feisty ‘Godversations’ with the God of my understanding as I attempt to get a handle on how we got here and how so many people are unwilling or unable to see past the anger, vitriol, violence, greed, dishonesty, dishonor that their candidate embodies. There are a growing number of moments when I am confident that she will win in a resounding victory and then the thoughts of ‘what if?’ sneak back in and I fall backward into despair. I find that having focal points helps. A friend gave me a Kamala Harris action figure who is on a bookshelf in my room with a campaign mailer behind her. I had ordered a poster (pictured above) that arrived last week that is now hanging on my living room wall. I smile each time I gaze it. I watched with delight, the Cold Open on SNL last night and have since viewed it several times, tearing up at the end as I said, “Yes, yes, yes!”
Here’s to a massive victory for Democracy, the Constitution and our first woman President!
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Amaury Laporte on Flickr Under CC License
