The memory of my 10th grade European History teacher came back to haunt me last night.
I was watching Keith Olbermann as he interviewed Loretta Nall, the well-endowed libertarian candidate for Governor of Alabama. Her campaign slogan calls for "more of these boobs" (her own) "and less of these boobs" (her challengers).
As I watched, I feared for Nall's mental stability, pondered the third-party campaign strategy, and decried the farce of the modern democratic process. Which brings me back to 10th grade.
Dr. Harper was a demanding teacher, an odd woman, and a brilliant mind. She knew her subject matter inside-out, but the moments she connected with us seemed to be accidental. One day late in the school year, we got into class and Dr. Harper was all excited--the UK just held elections and she got to see the coverage on BCC America. Honestly, I don't remember many conversations in my life verbatim, no less an obscure aside during high school history, but this one seemed to stick.
"Election day in Britain is very much like a carnival. There were men on stilts and women dressed in costumes, and well, there were these MEN! with...BOOBIES!!" [makes hand gesture to signify the abundant fake breasts the men had].
After she got over the curious fascination with cross-dressers, she went on to tell us how elections are the farce of democracy, even in the US, and how fun they really can be. I spent the rest of class trying to stop reliving the moment she said "boobies", and wondering how anyone could find elections fun. What is there to enjoy about the process at all? All it is is boring speeches and debates, right? What's so fun about Washington anyway?
3 years later at age 18, I got hooked on the process. It was Gore v. Bush, 2000--although that sparked my hatred of all things republican, it was another race that really grabbed my attention. A friend of the family was running for local office and I canvassed and did visibilities all summer and fall. Holding signs and waving at cars actually is fun! Dr. Harper was right, elections are fun!
As I watched Keith Olbermann and Loretta Nall, it all came flooding back. Thank you, Dr. Harper!
So last night I wondered...Why do you do this? Who or what got you interested in elections? Tell me your story.
(I found myself googling the 1997 UK election story, thought I'd pass on the link. Now I see what she was talking about. Of course a landslide like this would be exciting!!)