Yes we DID!

I cast my ballot at a church by my house this morning because I like the whole ritual and tradition of going out with a group of people to exercise our rights as citizen to be part of democracy. I waited in line for about 15 minutes and had a delightful chat with Bernie Kaplan, the poll volunteer that when I asked how he was doing today, he said he "couldn't be better without bursting into a song and dance." Needless to say, I loved Bernie.

I picked up my daughter at school today and they held a mock election. They explained to the kids what the election was, what the president does, what the parties are and who is representing what parties. I asked who Caroline voted for and she told me the "blue guy." "Obama?" "Yeah, Orama!" I told her that it was a really important night and we were going to watch the news all night. She was game.

I voted for Obama.

21 months ago I had no idea who Obama was but I was reading a book called Bowling Alone - The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert Putnam. My friend Todd recommended it to me after I caught a scrolling quote from it as his screen saver. "Community happens when local people gather. The rest is metaphor." The book discusses the full realm of social capital. Social capital is the basis of the idea that norms of reciprocity and trustworthniess come directly out of social and civic connections. Pretty much sums up the entire reason for my being. Build social capital.

The book was completely inspiring. So much of what is wrong with our country comes as a result of absence of social capital. People come home, drive into their garages and close the door. We've lost social and civic engagement. As a result of the book, a group of leaders across the nation were called forth by the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard to review the implications and determine what it means for America, now and in the future, and what can be done to create a better America. The result was the Saguaro Seminar that summed up their findings in a report called Better Together. It was nearly 10 years ago and a member of the Seminar was a then completely unknown state senator from Illinois. That's when I started following Barack Obama.

When Obama got mocked for highlighting his work as a community organizer as work that could help him as president, I was more than a little perturbed. I work to build community and get paid to do it. I sit on three different boards because I want to create a better community where I live. If I had the time, I would serve on three more. It's my passion and now when people ask what I do, I just smile and say, "I'm a community organizer." It pretty much silences them. They have no idea what that means and most don't ask.

So much of what Obama believes in and speaks to goes back to social capital. And I am a bleeding heart liberal. I am an optimist. I am Pollyanna. I don't think that building a better America is all about economics and it infuriates me that when most Republicans heard I was voting for Obama their first response was, "So you're okay with the 'redistribution of wealth?'" Yeah, I sure as hell am! Back it with solid consideration from a Senate Appropriations Committee that will fund meaningful social programs that aren't considered a "handout." I've read the entire US Constitution. I'm smart enough to know these things need to pass through House and Senate. But I like the idea of a man leading the process that believes in people.

This country is about people. Bottom line. Obama is about people. I love what he sees and I love the sense of hope he has put back into the people of this country. He inspires people. He is the voice of "if I can do it, so can you." I think that anyone who said that hope doesn't win elections just learned a hard lesson. I think those people may also be shocked at what inspired people can do. I feel good. I feel hopeful.

Comments

[KimmyDarling]

Nina Simone speaks for me today--

"Birds flyin high, you know how I feel..."

[Nicole]

what you said is my hope for him. My hope that he can take everything he knows and the fact that he is a parent, single parent raised child, and just a giving person and make the US better.

[Sheila]

Lots of great people have been "community organizers". I know I have been my happiest when I was involved in community work. I think more people should do it.