nov 2, 2004 4: 20pm
6 hours ago we dragged ourselves out of bed. "Let's go vote", Lyle said while pulling up his pants. That's the first thing on the list of errands for Lyle today, follows by a meeting with the landlord, checking the new studio space he might move in next month, and a job interview at a bookstore. For me, I have to dye a couple pounds of sand for my students, write up this web page, and an election party at Seth's tonight.
We joined Heidi at my apartment and had the final discussion about a few local measures and propositions. In addition to the presidential election, Californians have to vote on over 20 local measures and propositions, which comprise the seven pages of the electronic ballot.
At 11:45am, we hopped across the busy Martin Luther King jr. Way and arrived at the Senior Center where the polling place is located. There are half a dozen computer voting booths and a line of 8 people. Among them were Jim and 2 year-old Brannon, Lyle's friends from back home - Rochester, NY, who also live in the our neighborhood, North Oakland.
The polling place is full of friendly faces. The atmosphere is surprisingly calm and relaxed.
"She will turn 86 next month, " George, an African-American who is sitting next to me, tells me that he is accompanying his mother to vote. I made a compliment about the high computer literary rate among Americans. I told him that my 85 year-old grandma wouldn't know what to do if she had to use a computer to cast her vote.
Lyle holds Brannon in his arms while Jim is concentrating on the computer screen.
"Da da da da da..", looking over Lyle's shoulders, Brannon watches his father with his big, curious hazel eyes.
"Daddy is voting for your future, "Lyle said gently, leaning his face towards Brannon's. "He wants to make sure things will be good for you when you grow up."
It's hard to believe that these words came out from Lyle's mouth. A few months ago he told me he didn't give a shit about this election.
I sat down by the window, watching Lyle and Heidi working on their ballots. Heidi requested a paper ballot because she deems that electronic data is more prone to manipulation. I don't know anyone in my circle of friends who doesn't have a mixed feelings of hope and disbelief for this election: Can we trust this voting system? Is it going to be a fair election? Those who are disappointed with the Bush administration can't help to ask if his/her vote is going to change anything.
A musician as cynical and abrasive as Eminem, however, is trying to find some kind of order in the midst of this political darkness.
http://gnn.tv/content/eminem_mosh.html
My friend, Mark Nicola, is one of the men behind of the scene of Eminem's newest MTV.
I would vote for Kerry if I could vote in this country. I would make sure he gets the 55 electoral votes from California and kicks Bush out of the office.
Kerry is an eloquent speaker, but what really matters to me is ABB - Anything But Bush.
In the last few years since I returned to the U.S. from my travels, after I witnessed what Super Power really meant, I saw American people being torn apart by fear, disappointment, shame, and lies. Young people, as they are about to step out into the light and shine, become reluctant and cynical. The ever so powerful spirits of the youth, now fill with anger and guilt. They are wounded. Everywhere I go I see bleeding hearts. The big let down of humanity of our era, we are shakened, our souls disturbed, and cynicism spreads like an infectious disease.
They call us the Liberals.
Henry shared with me what he had voted for and explained the complications of certain measures and how he researched on them. He joked with me that I must be a Bush supporter - he voted for Kerry.
I didn't bring my cell phone and join the volunteers for MoveOn.org today to call up voters in swing states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida. I worked on this web page instead.