While I've been a pretty reliable voter (and always Democratic) most of my life, a number of things, from some social anxiety, to 20 years drunk, to moving, unexpectedly, in mid-life, to Canada (I moved here in June 2000 to marry a Canadian; I'll spare you THAT story) had, until today, left me a 51-year-old political virgin - I can't think of ANYTHING I've ever done that could be considered political activism, outside of a disastrous attempt to hold an anti-war rally here a year ago (no one came...).
The CFL has a tradition similar to the Lions-Packers Thanksgiving game; every Labour Day, the Toronto Argonauts play the Hamilton Ti-Cats (who ALWAYS lose). It is CONSISTENTLY the one, and only, game yearly that Hamilton sells out.
Uncle Sam's over the hump. :)
I'm on the DFA (Democrats From Abroad) mailing list, and they had a gathering last Thursday; I went to hear Obama's speech (I thoroughly enjoyed the entire evening, of course). I was surprised at the group demographics (maybe 2 dozen people over the course of the evening); I was actually about average age, and, after over 8 years, a LOW-TIMER in terms of how long I've been here. The majority have been here over 20 years; some were BORN here and have dual citizenship, yet they are interested enough in US politics after 20 years that they're DFA members.
Our local "fearless leader" was in Denver casting the 1/2-delegate vote I voted for in the Democratic primary. There was a sign-up sheet for volunteers to join him, as 'Uncle Sam', at the football game this evening, trying to locate US citizens living locally (or those who knew such people), and let them know that they CAN vote, and how (we had a brochure).
I signed up. I got an email Sunday from 'Sam', asking if I was still interested. I replied yes, and mentioned I'd be taking a bus to and from the game; where should we meet? He replied by asking for my address, and picked me up and took me home.
Sam showed up a bit before 6 PM tonite while I'm piddling in the garden. He has both a perfect, natural 'Uncle Sam' look (we even have dueling white goatees, LMAO), AND a terrific, 20+ year-old Uncle Sam costume that made him impossible to mistake (he's been doing this a LONG time and has the routine down pat, believe me!). He was a bit older than I, but highly energetic. Does NOT act his age, LOL. As such, we got along fine...
My job was to stand behind him holding and rotating a sign with an Obama sticker on one side, and too much print about why we were there on the other. He was hawking the crowd, "US or dual citizenship?"
At first, it was slow going (even with a large crowd). Further, 12 skydivers jumped in just before the game, and I used to teach skydiving; I COULDN'T miss THAT part, of course. In between, we started getting bites. Some already knew what they needed to do, but a substantial number didn't - or didn't even know they could VOTE! Especially those with dual citizenship, for some reason, it seemed. It got busy enough at one point that I had to do more than just hold a sign, LOL. I'd estimate that we gave out over 50 brochures, and that at least a dozen people were seriously excited they ran into us, and will vote. All for Obama ;) There's really not much reason, logically, for a conservative American to want to live HERE, anyway!
The only 'bad' moments were care of a few hostile Canadians. I've noticed well my entire time here that there are 2 kinds of Canadians: those who can make a distinction between the US gov't and the US people (the 'friendlies'), and those who can't (the NOT friendlies!). I've been here long enough to know that, given where we were going to be, and what we were going to be doing, that we would get some hostility from that latter group. "F*cking Americans!" and "Leave your American politics in America!" were popular with a few people, but I noticed something: EVERY truly hostile comment, EVERY "McCain!" scream as they went by, came from a male Caucasian under 25. One shirtless drunken teen wonder passed by about a dozen times, every time trying to provoke us and then walk within 3 inches as he passed, but both security and cops were everywhere, of course. He weighed about 275 - just about what Sam and I likely weigh, combined. :( ALL we heard from anyone over 35 (from Canadians) was, "Obama!" we also heard such from MANY younger people, as well. We tried to be polite to everyone. We fell into a routine where Sam would give out brochures, and I would then tell them, "Thank You!"
An interesting note: Those kids who were calling us names? THEY were the ones most likely to be painted up in Ti-Cat yellow-n-black (it didn't help that Red-n-Blue are apparently Toronto's colors :( ). They were the most rabid fans. While they were screaming "F*cking Americans", they were paying good money to go see 'their' team; according to Sam, 75% of that team consists of American citizens!
After a few of those hostile encounters (most early, for some reason), Sam started this cheesey call of "Some Americans are here to play football; we're here to play politics!" But that was fine; he was himself; I was myself.
Many locals were downright friendly, especially AFTER seeing the 'Obama' sticker. Many also know 'Sam' from past campaigns. At one point he told me as she was walking into the stadium after saying hello to Sam that I'd just met the owner of the largest Real Estate company in Canada. Not that I'm impressed by, or even care about, such, but it's nice knowing Sam has some connections locally. I've seen his name in other venues a few times as well.
Lots of giggles and silly smiles as people passed, of course; we were looking for about 1-2% of the crowd, and were probably an 'irritant' to the rest. I just looked right past the gigglers and ridiculers, and we just might have picked up a few votes today. As we were returning to his car after the 7:30 kickoff, Sam, who's been doing this for decades, stated that it had indeed been a productive afternoon. That made it all worth it.
We may have 'only' gotten one or two dozen votes this evening, but I'm now ready and willing to do this again (and they'll be hosting buses into NY state closer to the election). That's the important thing.
It wasn't as hard to do as I thought. Anxiety wasn't nearly as bad as I expected (I knew my subject matter well). 'Sam' was a cool guy. Guess what. Yes. Even. I. Can. SO CAN YOU. Whether you live in Bangkok or Bangor, North Dakota or Norway!