I haven't had an update of the last few weeks in Dayton, Ohio, but it will be coming soon. Meanwhile, I guess the one thing I do hear a lot from people we meet here in my neighborhood regarding the Obama/Biden ticket from supporters is this familiar refrain: "Where can I get a sign for my backyard?" I try to get a few for them from my office and tell them other areas they can get, but I had a few minutes to think about why signs are so important in the first place.
Don't get me wrong, I do have a sign in our front yard and I've given a couple to my neighbor and one supporter who asked for one. But if we really think about it a sign in the front yard is good letting our neighbors know about our household, apartment, or farm supports Obama/Biden. But truthfully does a sign tell you about what the candidate is about, the excitement they bring to the populace, and the hunger for a change in direction for our nation tell me, does a sign do the times justice?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/...
The truth is WE are the signs for Barack Obama's campaign!
If any of you Kosacks go out for the campaign canvassing on any day when we meet up with our neighbors we are the best advertisement about the campaign. We are the ones who can tell why we support him, our story of how we came from being passive voter and supporter into active supporters, and why we don't let anything keep us from getting the word out to our supporters.
We are the signs to the undecided voter who are just on the edge of choosing who to vote for president. I've talked to several undecided voters in my neighborhood who can't support McCain, can't stand Palin, but are still having questions about Obama and some of his stances on the issues. I talked to one guy who happens to have his kid play with my daughter on the same soccer team and he asked me about the whole "Islamic" issues with Obama. I cleared it up for him and finally he said, "Okay, that was it! I'm going Obama in November!" No sign can do that sitting on a lawn letting the wind whip it around.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/...
It's not a bad thing to have a sign in the backyard or on the car, but to tell you the truth signs are a good thing but lives speaking out about their support for their candidate speaks volume.
What amazes me is how there have been NO McCain/Palin supporters out hitting around the neighborhood talking to their neighbors. Not one I could see. What kills me is the signs for McCain/Palin are surrounded with tons of other candidates on yards and land free and plentiful. But sadly, not one person goes beyond putting a sign on the yard because in many minds, "I did my part to support my candidate." How sad.
The brilliancy of the Obama campaign is how he is able to spur people of all walks of life to get out and tell their stories sharing why they are doing what they are doing. They speak out to anyone who will listen to them with respect, dignity, and the type of competency Obama shows in his day to day operations.
I told my area organizer for the Obama campaign here in Dayton about my epiphany regarding signs. He had me repeat my thought to a couple of people, sat back, and said "Eddy, if we can get that through to other supporters it would really change the whole campaign dynamic." Mind you, I'm not dogging signs on your yards; by all means, do get signs and bumper stickers to tell the world of your support of Obama/Biden. But if you want to see the real signs of a candidate with a message America needs look no further than here:
http://photos.oregonlive.com/...
And then look at yourself!
We are 28 days from Election Day! What can you do to be the sign people need to see regarding why they should vote Obama in November?