Storm Front

Every winter, around the time that the first big snowstorm arrives, my mother talks about how glad she is that she lives in upstate New York. We don't get hurricanes and we don't get tornadoes - the worst we get is a blizzard and we know it's coming a week ahead of time. Only stupid people die during a blizzard.

That kind of attitude is a very culturally-determined mindset. Consider the fact that Washington, DC shuts down after it snows three inches, and you will see that not everyone would share in my mother's opinion. That being said, for where she is, it works for her, right?

So if you can't judge my mother for her reaction to blizzards when she's spent her whole lifetime dealing with them, it then follows that you can't judge some other person for their reaction to a hurricane when they've spent their entire life on the Gulf Coast.

My mother puts the snow tires on her car every December, keeps the shovel and the ax handy for breaking up the ice and always has a ten-pound bag of road salt on the front porch. The neighbors have an auxiliary wood-burning furnace if the power goes out and could easily put up half the neighborhood if needs be, so my mother feels pretty darn prepared. She's been through hundreds of snowstorms and probably a good dozen honest-to-god blizzards, so who would begrudge her the fact that she's probably going to get through one more storm just fine and dandy?

The people of the Gulf Coast have seen a lot of hurricanes. Some of them were hardly worth boarding up for, and a select few were devastating. But people trust in themselves that they know what they're doing - whether it's hunkering down or heading inland, they've done it a hundred times before. It's a part of their lives and a part of their culture.

Sometimes, they make the wrong choice. The storm changes direction; the wind picks up; the levees break. Unforeseen circumstances interrupt the routine and tragedy occurs.

But you, mister grocery cashier, waving the newspaper in our faces and saying that the people of Texas deserved what they got for not leaving town, for not doing what YOU think they should have done, you who have never lived through a hurricane or ten hurricanes, who have never bought snow tires or boarded up your windows or run for the basement as the sirens blare
-- what the hell do YOU know?

Here's some flowers, baby. Now make me a sandwich!

I'm sorry baby. I don't mean to leave you alone so long. It's just I've got things to do, out in the world, and they can't involve you. I'm sorry, baby. You know I'll come back whenever I can. You just need to be patient with me. Yeah, baby. Yeah.

Hillary Sucks

I wrote this as an article for a local website that never ended up getting off the ground, so I guess it's permissible for me to put it up here. Considering the latest news on the Democrat front, it's somewhat obsolete, but still, I think, pertinent.

I was in Subway the other day, when the two thirty-something men in line next to me struck up a conversation about the current Democratic nomination situation. They were somewhat good-looking, so I put up with it.

“I’m for Hillary,” said the black guy.

“I’m for Obama,” said the white guy, and I replied enthusiastically, “Me too!”

“But you’re a woman,” the first one said. “Shouldn’t you be for Hillary?”

“You’re black,” I replied. “Shouldn’t you be for Obama?”

The above interaction is a prime example of the rather annoying assumption that the average American cares more about phenotype than policy – that similarities in race and gender are more important than differences in thought and action. It assumes a degree of simplistic thinking that really ought to insult anyone to whom it is directed. We don’t have the capacity to decide for ourselves what is best for us, it says, because we’re too distracted by the desire to vote for whoever seems outwardly most like us. And that’s just silly.

Just because Hillary and I are both women doesn’t mean we’re best buddies. Margaret Thatcher is a woman (so I’m told), but don’t praise her in front of me unless you’re aching for an earful of invective. Conversely, I admire the suffragette Elizabeth Cady Stanton because of what she did to attain women’s legal and social rights, not because she’s from my hometown.

And now, Hillary is saying that Obama can’t win the general election because of white middle America. The way she says it leads me to wonder, is it because of his race, or his politics? Looking at his campaign platforms, it’s obvious that his plans are well-suited and beneficial to the segment of the population he’s purportedly alienating; it must be something else, then. What else is left? Well, her emphasis on white voters leads me to believe it has something to do with his race – half black is apparently too black, and half white just doesn’t seem to be enough. Suddenly the fear is that the country will run willy-nilly to Good Old Boy McCain, and the status quo will remain unchanging. Sorry, dear. George W. Bush wooed the country with his down-home, “I’m just a regular Joe” facade, and then spent the next eight years creating policies that completely went against that image, catering to the corporate giants while buggering the common man. Give us some credit. We’re not going to fall for the same trick twice (technically three times, who’s counting?).

I know I’m a part of the demographic that’s supposed to go for Obama, the well-educated 18-25 population of legend. But I just can’t believe that Hillary honestly thinks Americans are so naïve, so obtuse, as to believe that, in this age of terrorism, war, and recession, the all-encompassing question in this election is, “Do I pick the black guy or the white woman?”

Sex doesn't hurt anyone (unless you're into that sort of thing), so why is it a sin?

Several weeks ago when I was still canvassing for the Democrats, I got into a rather interesting conversation with an older black gentleman. He said, "Why do you support the Democrats as opposed to the Republicans?"

Rather than give a snotty reply along the lines of the Democrats being right all the time, or the Republicans being pro-Voldemort, I said, "Because I've looked at their stance on the issues and they're the ones that most closely coincide with my own."

And then he looked me straight in the eye and said, "So you support abortion?"

And again, rather than play into his plan to pick a fight, I looked straight back at him and said, "No, I want it to be safe, legal, and rare."

That got him. Because I think he expected me to blow him off or get angry or give one of ten thousand other emotional, one-sided reactions that add nothing to the conversation and just get people all upset.

I continued, (ticking off each item on my fingers as I went along, echoing my mother's favorite lecture stance), "I want there to be early and frequent sex education that covers all aspects of contraceptive use. I want contraceptives to be inexpensive and widely available so anyone who wants it can easily get it. I want abortion to remain legal, because outlawing it will not stop the practice, just force it underground. Keeping it legal can ensure it is regulated - that every procedure is safe and hygienic. I don't particularly like it, and I wouldn't get one, but I'm not going to prevent someone who wants one from getting it, because that's wrong, too. But if we make sex education and contraceptives widely available, it's going to automatically decrease the number of procedures being done, and that's a good thing for all involved."

I stepped back and looked at him. He looked at me. "Oh," he said.

And we talked a little bit more - openly, calmly, the way people should in a debate - and then we both had to get back to work so we shook hands and parted ways, both a little wiser, I think.

The predominant belief is that abortion is one of those issues in which there is no grey area. Either you're for it or against it. That's a silly way to look at anything, really, assuming that they're only two choices. Get creative and make your own option! Rather than hollering, "Let's make it illegal!", how about, "Let's take preventative measures to make it nominally obsolete!" Then no one's civil liberties get stomped on, the government can get out of my uterus and back in its offices where it belongs, and everybody's happy.

(Especially the condom manufacturers. Purchase Trojan stock while you still can!)

Kindergarten

This week has not been the best of weeks. The weather was against us, we had site mix-ups with Greenpeace that lost us time and money, and the directors were out of the office all week for training and were thus unavailable for proper advisement. Today's events were just icing on the cake of annoyances that has been the last 7 days.

My new trainee and I were sent to canvass in front of a grocery store. We flanked the exit and spoke to people as they were leaving. Let me point out a few key details: we do not approach people or take one single step away from our spots. We do not block any pathways. And if someone says they are not interested, we give them a cheerful "have a nice day" and send them on their way. It's about as non-threatening as you can get while standing on the street asking people if they have a moment for the Democrats.

About an hour in, suddenly the manager comes out of the store, approaches me, and rudely informs me that he has called security and we are to leave the premises right this very second.
I say, "Okay, can I just call my supervisor real quick?"

He then proceeds to tell me that security is coming because we're refusing to leave, and they're going to forcibly remove us; people have been complaining about our presence, and solicitations aren't allowed ("We're not soliciting!" I said, to no avail). I ask him to calm down, because he's getting emotional and I don't appreciate it. The verbal abuse of course continues. Not wanting to get my trainee arrested on his second day, I grab him and leave, but not before telling Mr. Power Trip Manager, "You are being very impolite."

Unfortunately this week has been a practical lesson in Shame 101: People Don't Have It.

Yesterday I had to defend myself from more rude people than I've ever encountered in a single afternoon. What is it about public anonymity that makes people think they can get away with being abusive? Is it because they think no one will know? Is it because I'm a stranger and have no possible means of telling on them to their mother? They want to show off in front of their friends and coworkers?

It is as if my inherent personhood has disappeared and I've become a foil to their wit, unresponsive and unfeeling. The rules of propriety state that I will remain unresponsive and unaffected by their comments. They do not expect retaliation.

Except... I'm me. I have never been able to keep my mouth shut in the face of such poor treatment. I'm sure this will someday get me in large amounts of trouble and perhaps cost me a job, but nonetheless I have no desire to change.

Yesterday I had a man get in my face and say, "I have a moment to tell you you're wrong!"

"How about a moment to teach you some manners?" I replied.

I don't know how many times I had to deal with people like that. As they day went on I started getting gun-shy. I didn't want to call out to people for fear that all I would get for my efforts was, "You've got to be kidding," or "Ha, you'll learn!" or any other comment that made me want to holler at everyone that they need to go back to kindergarten because they obviously failed the first time. I told someone to "grow up!" I told someone to go back to kindergarten. When several people each told me to give a message to Howard Dean, I said, "Yeah, next time I'm having lunch with him I'll pass that on."

It's my hope that perhaps these people will think twice next time. I didn't use bad language, and for the most part simply called them on their rudeness. I wish I could believe it will make a difference.

Oh, yeah, and by the way - Hi Mumsie!

I guess the thing that's frustrating me today is a layover from Friday's events. To make a long story short, I had an observer for the day who drove me absolutely crazy.

Let me lay out the facts for you. First, the unimportant bits: she had unnaturally straight bleach blonde hair, a voice turned to gravel by thirty years of smoking, and she was about fifty years old. All of this is inconsequential of course, but I think it aids in my description especially when I add: she could not shut her mouth for one second, and every word was about her.

Even that could be ignored but for the final kicker. It was my responsibility to train her on the street, but for the life of her she could not seem to bring herself to follow my directions. We're supposed to make the first day fun and happy and exciting, but it was difficult for me to get into that mode when every time I turned around she was either sitting down, wandering around, or just simply not paying attention. And if I tried to correct her?

"I know, I know, I've done sales before, I know what I'm doing."

No, actually. Canvassing on the street is miles away from ringing up sales in a retail store. Just because you're older than me does not give you the right to ignore me - I may be just out of college, but I'm the one with the training, I'm the one with the experience, and you need to respect that and follow my instruction. I don't care who you are or who you know ("I'm friends with the Gore family!"). At some point or another you need to realize that despite the many experiences you've had in your life, that does not nullify my experience. It has value, and you need to recognize and respect that.

My old boss used to completely disregard my suggestions on the basis that she's older and therefore she knows better. Let me point out that I am no longer working for her.

I'm not saying that this new canvasser should kowtow to me simply because I am her superior in the organization. That's not how we work. But to completely disregard my instruction --on the first day-- on the assumption that you already know more than me? That's not going to fly, sweetie. Not at all.

In any case, it's far past my bedtime. SHE called in today (it was raining out, good heavens!), but promised she'd be in tomorrow. I can't help but pray for more rain.

Apples and Fenceposts

I had an interesting conversation with a girlfriend of mine today. She asked me who I was voting for, and I responded that I favored Obama, but would be happy so long as a Democrat won. She asked me why I preferred him. I said, "Because his speeches make me cry."

"Me too," she said. "But I can't figure out if it's because he's right, or because he's a good speaker. Especially compared to what we have right now [George W. Bush]."

"That's because it's like comparing an apple to a fence post. What convinced me was watching the speech he gave on religion. It was like he took all the thoughts I had in my head and put them into words. I stared at the screen and said, Yes! That's what I meant!"

And then she said the words I've been hearing in one form or another for the past three weeks.

"I'm just so frustrated with the process, and them bickering with each other all the time, I feel like nothing's getting done."

My reply, in essence, was this: If Obama and Clinton so much as say hello to each other, the media will report that they were "trading barbs" or somesuch nonsense. The news media has created some fantastical rivalry, blowing every incident completely out of proportion so that they can then make themselves look important by discussing it all day. The important speeches, the important discussions, get pushed to the wayside, and in their place is news stories featuring every sort of gossipy tidbit they can possibly uncover. Landmark speeches on race and religion are cut down to 15-second clips taken out of context and reinterpreted to fit a particular viewpoint.

The important thing, I said to her, is to get the information for yourself and make your own decision. "Obama keeps talking about change, but he never says what the change IS," she lamented. Sure he does. It's just that the news channels don't show those parts. So go online, do your own research, find out exactly what his position is on your particular issue of note, and reach your own conclusion about whether or not he is your candidate of choice. Didn't you learn back in eight grade social studies that primary sources are 100 times better than secondary sources?

There are some things I want to say while I'm canvassing that I really, really shouldn't. The first is, of course, that if you're frustrated with the state of the world you should do something to change it rather than sit around whining. Secondly, before you start whining about the state of the world, you'd better check your facts at the source rather than what trusting what someone else tells you. Whether they intend it or not, simply due to the fact that everyone interprets things differently, whatever they tell you is going to be biased in some fashion. And if they intend to be biased, well, you're up a creek, aren't you? Unless you step up and take the responsibility for your current events education into your own hands. It'll be your own glorious way of sticking it to the man.