Two weeks ago a friend called me up to tell me that she had just voted early for Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente and she was so overjoyed she had to call someone and tell them (and she knew I would answer my phone).
Last week my mother-in-law in Iowa, who is not very political and has likely voted Republican most of her life, called us with some “big news”, she was excited. She called to say that she “Voted Green Party for the first time ever, and it felt great!”
Early voting in my city has involved two hour waits, but this morning I had no wait at the polls (I guess everyone voted early) and got my ballot in minutes. Yes, there was a sense of exaltation to cast my vote for Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente. No doubts, no second thoughts, no throwing my vote away. Voting your values just feels good.
Loading ...
7 responses so far ↓
1 Tichaona Chinyelu // Nov 4, 2008 at 10:31 am
I, too, feel the exaltation of voting my values. It is TOTALLY different from the last time I voted (2004) when upon leaving the voting booth, I felt such a strong sense of disappointment it verged on depression. I am so thankful that Cynthia McKinney is running. It truly makes a difference. Let’s keep moving and reaching for that 5% goal!
2 Green Ferret // Nov 4, 2008 at 10:58 am
Yes!
I still remember when my younger friend asked, with trepidation in her eyes, how it feels to be Green. My answer surprised her completely and made her smile: “it feels great!”
We sometimes forget to tell people just how good it feels to work for something you know is right. Just how right it feels to work for something good.
When I think about it, it seems that a lot of the angst that my generation feels probably comes from the cognitive dissonance of being told to compromise with a world that we know is not in alignment with our values. Declare your independence and step away from the mainstream, the center, the status quo, and you start to see how unhealthy and unreasonable it actually is.
And it just feels so good to be Green!
3 Gregg Jocoy // Nov 4, 2008 at 11:42 am
I just got back from voting myself. Voted a straight party ticket, which for me meant a vote was automatically cast for Cynthia and Rosa. In addition I voted for a Constitution Party candidate for Congress, a Republican for Coroner, and a write-in for Town Council who isn’t even seeking write-in votes.
Here in South Carolina a straight party vote casts your vote in the races where your party has candidates, but can be overridden by casting particular votes in particular races. It essentially amounts to a vote for the party’s principles.
I was thrilled to cast my vote for Cynthia and Rosa. I only wish there were more Greens on the ballot here.
4 joetruss // Nov 4, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I felt pretty excited this weekend to vote early. I voted for Green Members, independents, peace and freedom candidates and anyone I wanted to. What a concept?
In other advancements, my mother has changed her long history of voting for TV touted candidates to voting Green, and a close friend who usually doesn’t vote for presidential elections voted green and felt good about it. That makes me feel good. Another close friend “almost voted green” which I consider a huge victory. It takes time, but we are moving forward!
5 breaks5 // Nov 4, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I don’t know where else to post this question so I’m going to try to ask it here. If anyone has seen the following video from McKinney filmed last week while in Texas protesting an execution, you know that she has made a statement accusing Nader of being “engaged in an effort to destroy the Green Party.” You can see the video on her YT channel at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYPDXsAj_Xo
The question I’m trying to get an answer to is does this statement also speak for the GP’s stance on the issue? Do we as a party stand behind this statement? I’m frankly in agreement with it. But I’m not clear from the statement that was posted on the GP’s website yesterday appealing to potential Nader and Obama voters to vote for our nominee, whether 1)McKinney’s statement represents the GP’s views or 2) We take no stand on the issue because we don’t want to discuss it or 3) We take no stand because we have no position as such, or for any other reason. I’m not trying to start a debate, I’m simply trying to find out where the party stands.
6 Anonymous // Nov 4, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I’m guessing there a a thousand different positions within the green party on this question. The Green Party boasts ‘de-centralization’ and concensus, and I can’t imagine there ever being concensus on a topic like this.
7 breaks5 // Nov 5, 2008 at 12:41 am
Well, that’s the first straight answer I’ve gotten. Maybe that sums it up. Thanks.
Leave a Comment