Buffalo Gal

The front page of the New York Times proclaimed a recent surge in voter registration, generally a good sign for the challenger. Today is the registration deadline in most swing states... and bright red ones like Georgia.
When my daughter got home from class I asked if she had yet received her registration card. She mailed the application more than six weeks ago.
Discovering she didn't, a quick call to the courthouse said the only way to make sure she was on the rolls would be to register in person today. We quickly decided to make it a lunch date on the mainland.
Remember this is a small town, there are less than 60,000 people in the entire county.
Yet three of the other four people in the elevator with us at the courthouse followed the same path we did to the Voter Registration office.
As Jen filled out her card, a long line formed at the window. One clerk was punching buttons as quickly as she could to get through a constant cycle of callers inquiring about how and where they could register.
That there was a line in this sleepty little town was good news. That it included obvious racial and economic diversity was even better.
A well-dressed Black man in front of us presented his driver's license to the White woman behind the counter. As she started looking up his polling place she mentioned she didn't recognize the street name.
"That's by Bennie's Red Barn," she assumed out loud, referring to a small enclave Black neighborhood that traces it's working class roots to reconstruction.
"No," he said, without a hint of irony. "It's a new subdivision at the other end of the island."
Maybe things aren't going to be the way they seem (or at least the way they seemed last week).
Could it be folks recognize what's at stake? Is it that the closeness of the last election makes one feel like their vote can make a difference?
It doesn't matter why. It's great to see people have not surrendered to a flawed process and apathy.
I'm not ready to print the November 3 headlines yet, but it feels good to have the option to believe.

Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs

Buffalo Gal Judi Griggs I'm a communications professional, writer, cynic, mother, wife and royal pain. The order depends on the day. I returned to my hometown in November 2004 after a couple of decades of heat and hurricanes. I can polish pristine copy, but not here. This is my morning exercise -- 20-minute takes without a net or spellcheck. It's easier than sit ups for me. No guarantee what it will be for you. Clicking on the subscribe link will send you an email notice when each new entry is posted.
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Previous Entry :: Next Entry Read/Post Comments (0) Share on Facebook		2004-10-04 1:49 PM It could be registering.... The front page of the New York Times proclaimed a recent surge in voter registration, generally a good sign for the challenger. Today is the registration deadline in most swing states... and bright red ones like Georgia. When my daughter got home from class I asked if she had yet received her registration card. She mailed the application more than six weeks ago. Discovering she didn't, a quick call to the courthouse said the only way to make sure she was on the rolls would be to register in person today. We quickly decided to make it a lunch date on the mainland. Remember this is a small town, there are less than 60,000 people in the entire county. Yet three of the other four people in the elevator with us at the courthouse followed the same path we did to the Voter Registration office. As Jen filled out her card, a long line formed at the window. One clerk was punching buttons as quickly as she could to get through a constant cycle of callers inquiring about how and where they could register. That there was a line in this sleepty little town was good news. That it included obvious racial and economic diversity was even better. A well-dressed Black man in front of us presented his driver's license to the White woman behind the counter. As she started looking up his polling place she mentioned she didn't recognize the street name. "That's by Bennie's Red Barn," she assumed out loud, referring to a small enclave Black neighborhood that traces it's working class roots to reconstruction. "No," he said, without a hint of irony. "It's a new subdivision at the other end of the island." Maybe things aren't going to be the way they seem (or at least the way they seemed last week). Could it be folks recognize what's at stake? Is it that the closeness of the last election makes one feel like their vote can make a difference? It doesn't matter why. It's great to see people have not surrendered to a flawed process and apathy. I'm not ready to print the November 3 headlines yet, but it feels good to have the option to believe. Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs Read/Post Comments (0) Previous Entry :: Next Entry Back to Top