Yesterday my wife was "paced" for 6 miles on our local freeway by a driver who came up fast behind her as she merged onto the interstate, then this guy slowed up considerably and settled in along side her. My children were in the car. We have an "Obama '08" sticker in the back window.
After 6 miles of being virtually glued to the side of our car, the guy finally pulled ahead. When he assumed his duct-tape position, my wife figured it was strange and kept her eyes forward and on the road. Me? I'd have looked over with a menacing stare--the professorial kind my students like to tease me about (big pussycat that I am). As the guy finally pulled on ahead (6 minutes or so later) my wife drew a deep sigh of relief; but now she could see the "McCain/Palin" sticker on the back of the SUV. Have you ever seen one that wasn't on an SUV?? Prius drivers for McCain?
Back in February we had our Obama yard sign defaced with a marker--"F*** Obama" it then read. My dear sweet wife called the local office and they said they'd bring out another one. In the meanwhile she scrubbed that stuff off somehow. So we figured, hey you vandalize our sign, we'll put out 2 of them.
About a week ago both signs were stolen.
I grew up in Wyoming--a primary state where Obama creamed that "gal he was up against." If you know much about Wyoming you probably know that it's not a "diverse" state--I had 4 black students in my entire HS (2 sets of twins--go figure!). There may have been a dozen other black students in WY high schools that year. The point of this I suppose is to show that there is very little suspicion, mistrust, deeply-rooted hatred, or whatever where I grew up.
While in graduate school at Florida State University, I had a very close friend--cohort/classmate for three years of doctoral study--that was black. The only true friend that I've had, sadly enough, that isn't as pale as me; he had grown up in rural Mississippi.
One day he was driving me along I-10 near Tallahassee and a car passed him only to slow up and fall-in along side of us for 5-10 minutes--seemed a hell of lot longer than that to me. To make a long story short, I was pretty freaked out. I'm not saying that he took it in stride or with a grain of salt, but about all he could say was, "Welcome to my world." And later, optimistically, "That's nothin', really."
Perhaps that's what Senator Obama would tell my wife regarding her experience, "Welcome to my world. You just drove 6 miles in my shoes. But, you know what? That's nothin', really."
Here we are today, in the midst of the ugliest campaigning ever. The hate, the fear-mongering, the riotous incitement of large crowds. Thank God that McCain finally "took the mic away" late yesterday. But the damage has been done, frankly. John McCain: Too Little - Too Late. The venomous radio crap my boss listens to every day in his office has served to tighten the base, enrage the fringe (as in Knoxville, TN), and divide our country into those with gold-starred "Navy" blue bumper stickers and those without. Those in SUVs and those in hybrids. Those holding a bailout parachute, and those simply left holding the bag.
I'm upset. And a little bit scared. We've thought about taking down the NEW yard signs--regardless, they'll come down the night of the election, but maybe sooner. We have kids--they were in the f***ing car as this SOB paced my wife. I suppose I'll scrape the bumper sticker off Tuesday, Nov. 4th, 8:00 p.m. too--maybe sooner; I mean, we've got kids! I cannot wait for an America under President Barack Obama, but I fear for this man's safety and well-being, and ours.
THIS is why I stand with kos--let's break them, wound their spirit severely, and bury them; not just win. The world is waiting. GO VOTE!