Getting from “Not My President” to “My President”
Shortly after Bush was installed as president in 2001 [elected is not correct as far as I’m concerned] I was in Baltimore drinking beer with business acquaintances from Norway. The question was put to me: “How could the American people possibly vote for this idiot?” I back-pedaled quickly: “Hey, don’t look at me; I didn’t vote for him.” The other day I found out that, even now, in New Zealand “Not My President” bumper stickers are commonplace.
Well, Kiwis can get away with it - I can’t. Coming from me it smacks of “plausible deniability” - I must say that I’m not happy about looking in the mirror and seeing similarities to Richard Nixon.
During that campaign to see who would replace Bill Clinton I didn’t work to get anyone elected to that very powerful position. I want to be clear here - I didn’t lift a finger to try to keep Bush out of office, save for casting an opposing vote. As far as I remember I didn’t contribute any $$ to any candidate during the primaries either. I watched the events [sometimes] leading up to the election; I reflexively grumbled under my breath from time to time. But not once did I actively take any steps to insert my will or worldview into the electoral, or political, process. The election in 2004 was a re-run of my complacency. Hey, I was busy.
This is in marked contrast to my behavior a generation ago. During the Vietnam war I attended every anti-war march within a 1,000 mile radius. As a photographer, I was a high priority target of police at every event. I was arrested in Chicago, Champaign, New York, DC, Oakland. I was tear-gassed multiple times; in DC I was tear-gassed while I was in jail. None of this deterred me. My mother was so worried that we developed a protocol to ease her mind: whenever such a protest was happening I promised to call and let her know I was alive and well. It got so routine, her greeting was literally, “So…what jail are you in now?” But lately? Not so much.
The war in Iraq. Global warming. The bungling of Katrina. Oy vey. I’m not sure what it is, perhaps the cumulative effect of all these and more. But this year I have been contributing regularly to the John Edwards campaign. I liked what he was saying in 2004; I hoped he would get the nomination back then. This coming week, Wednesday June 27, Ellen and I are hosting a house party to support the effort. We would love for you to join us!
I thought it was Abbie Hoffman who said it, but I have seen it attributed to Jerry Rubin, co-founder of the Yippies: “Politics isn’t who you vote for - it’s how you live your life”. Agreed. But silently letting others narrow my choices for the most powerful office is no longer tolerable; it’s not how I want to live my life.
Your thoughts?
June 24th, 2007 at 4:01 am
As said “NMP” kiwi, I applaud you, and hope that more of your fellow country-people do the same.
I could even accept dubya as president if the US people actually elected him. For the people by the people and all that. But reality is kinda different….
June 25th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Allan, I cannot get over the fact that he is a slick opportunistic ambulance chaser who use the emotive sympathy evoked by defective babies to ream hard working obstetricians of their income. This guy did more to set back medical delivery than any other single cause that I am aware of. And, unlike most items, there was and is NO benefit to what he did other than to line his pockets. Furthermore he has not credentials, no credibility, and looked a fool in his debate with Cheney. I have much respect for you and the fact that you live what you represent. Look abit closer at this Pig before you help underwrite him.
GREG