Good Trouble

In November, I wrote the following on Facebook after Ralph Northam was elected governor of Virginia:

The first time I ever worked for a political campaign was in 1996 when Mark Warner ran for Senate for the first time. He lost, but would go on to serve as governor of VA from 2002-06 and is now my senator - I love him. I was 17 years old and couldn't even vote yet, but I didn't care. I guess first political campaigns are a lot like first loves; they last forever. I have worked on many campaigns over the years, including Ralph Northam's campaign (although not as much as I would have liked). I have been called horrible things by seemingly sweet old ladies in SW Virginia (rhymes with punt). I was asked if I wanted to send the world to hell because I was supporting Obama. My patriotism was questioned because I was part of the Women's March in January. But that's why I do it; it does not get old and it is never dull and it's not easy. Working on campaigns, voting, watching the election returns - this is exactly why I love this country and why I volunteer and protest and get out the vote. It's exhilarating and infuriating. And it matters. It matters so much. I know sometimes it feels like it doesn't but it really does, I promise. On to 2018!

I was thinking about this statement yesterday while attending the Women's March in DC. This year's theme, "Power to the Polls", is about exactly what I wrote back in November. It is not enough to attend a march or declare that the 45 is "not my President," action has to be translated to the polls. Yesterday's march was about action and what we do next. Right around the time the 45 was elected, I would get into conversations with friends who were shell-shocked by the election. They were walking around in a daze of anger, sadness, and apathy. I always asked the questions: What have you done? What are you willing to do next?

If the last year has demonstrated anything, it is that most Americans are unwilling to sit by and watch this country fall into the dumpster fire the 45 and his administration is trying to throw us into. Marches, protests, demonstrations, and sit-ins reminded us all that we can be a voice against hate, stupidity, and basic violations of human rights. The rise of #metoo and Time's Up have helped hundreds of people feel safe in talking about sexual harassment and abuse. I'm not going to pretend that all these efforts are perfect. We have a lot more work to do on listening, particularly to women of color, across these issues. Let's face, black women save our asses over and over again. Let's do a better job listening from the start rather than waiting for them to save the day. 

Yesterday's march was a re-energizer for me. It reminded me to commit to the issues and candidates I support even more than I did before. Since my first campaign at age 17, I have registered voters, I've canvassed, I've phone-banked, and I've worked at polling places. I've donated time and money to candidates and causes I care about. I want each and every person I know to figure out how they get involved. In the world we live in today, we need everyone to participate. We can't afford for people to stay at home. 

I know it's scary. Going to a protest or demonstration for the first time is overwhelming. If that's how you feel, maybe don't make that your first thing. Because I love a list, here are some suggestions on how to get started:

• Be informed. Do your research on candidates, issues, and laws. Look for credible resources online before you post on social media. Ask questions when you don't know about something.
• Volunteer. Volunteering is one of the best ways to become part of your community. Find organizations that support the issues you're passionate about. Volunteer your time for candidates that need help. You don't have call people or canvas if that's not your thing. Voter registration is another great way to volunteer your time. Check out your local political party for opportunities to help with voter registration. 
• Have a difficult conversation. The time for jokes about your racist uncle or your sexist co-worker is over. As someone who has reported sexual harassment in the workplace and told a former friend their Trump apologist language was no longer acceptable, I know this is hard to do. But you will feel better when you stand up for yourself and for others.
• Protest. Get yourself out there! Again, I know it can be intimidating to go to a protest the first time. Find some friends and go as a group. Make signs. Take snacks. Being around people who are energized and passionate about the issue(s) you are, will help you take more action. Protesting is patriotic; don't let anyone tell you differently. In the words of Rep. John Lewis, get in "good trouble, necessary trouble."
• Run for office. I have no interest in doing this, but I applaud every person who does. I'm especially impressed by the women in Virginia this past year who ran and won when no one thought they would be able to accomplish anything. Start on the smaller side with the PTO or city committees. Run for school board. Run for city council. If this isn't your thing, support local candidates. They don't always get the support they need.
• VOTE. Voting matters. If anyone tells you differently, they are trying to keep you from exercising your rights. They are trying to take your voice away. So vote. Vote in local, state, and national elections. Vote on ballot initiatives. VOTE! 

The reality is that we have a long way to go with this administration. The 2018 elections are the next step in moving this country forward. Get involved and get out the vote!

On a side note, I was interviewed by AFP during the march yesterday and my photo was taken a lot during the rally (Anita and I were right up front and had signs). If you see my picture anywhere, let me know.

 

You're Doing Everything Wrong: Civic Duty Edition

I enjoy being a good citizen. The citizenship award in elementary school was one of my favorite things and I wanted to be the good citizen of the month every month. That's probably not fair since a true good citizen would want to share the award but 3rd graders are selfish. Anyway, as an adult I've strived to do the things I can do to be a good, productive member of society. I was a high school Civics teacher which means I'm a super citizenship nerd. I vote and pay my taxes and I always put my cart back at the grocery. When I was younger I was much more of an activist, participating in protests more and being a more active volunteer. I've come to the realization that I don't love crowds as much as I used to so I tend to support the organizations I love and believe in through donations, background activities, and being an advocate. I enjoy writing strongly worded emails and letters to my congressional representatives and the county officials where I live. I describe this as "quiet activism." We all have to opt for the level of activism that we feel comfortable with in our lives.

One thing has been missing all these years: I've never served jury duty. I know most people would jump at the chance to not serve on jury duty but I am not most people. I received a jury summons once before from the state of Hawaii. However, I had recently moved back to Louisiana so Hawaii didn't want to spend the money to bring me back for jury duty. I guess I understand their reasoning but I was a little disappointed. I was never called in any of the other cities/counties/parishes I've lived in since. No jury duty in Metairie (Jefferson Parish), New Orleans (Orleans Parish), the City of Alexandria, or the City of Alameda. Sad. I've even been a little jealous of my friends and family when they've been called. Why did they get picked and not me? Yes, it's weird. I know that and I'm ok with it.

To say that I was pleasantly surprised when I received my jury summons from Arlington County would be an understatement. I was excited - finally I would be able to complete the good citizenship puzzle I've been working on my whole life. I would see the inside of a courtroom. I would listen intently to the lawyers argue their cases and make a decision based on the evidence presented. I would do my civic duty. Finally, my jury duty week arrived.

And I failed. I failed at jury duty.

This is not to say I did anything wrong; I did nothing wrong. I arrived on time (early because it's me). I dressed appropriately. I brought my jury duty lunch (which was super sad but still I did it). I read The Answer Book for Jury Service cover to cover once I checked in. I vowed to answer all the questions asked of me during the selection process truthfully. I binge watched the tv show Conviction (more on this shortly) because that's what one should do to prepare.

I didn't get picked. I didn't even get the option of being an option for a trial. Here's what happened: we watched a surprisingly well made video featuring the Chief Judge and met with the Clerk of Court, an incredibly polite gentleman who took us through what would happen over the course of the week. Apparently, July is a light month for jury trials in the county. There were only three cases set for the week and they couldn't be sure if the cases would actually go to trial. There was also a second jury pool that would be called for the week so they could take the spots on the actual jury instead of any of us. We were told we would all be going into the court for the one case being heard on the first day but it never happened. Between the clerk briefing us and lunch time, the case was either dismissed or settled without the need of a jury. We were let go for the day and told to check the jury site for our next report date.

I gathered my things and made my way back to work (like a good citizen). I was disappointed and I was the only one in the room that was disappointed. I'm 100% sure of that. I checked the jury site over the next few days and was told not to report. On Wednesday afternoon, I received an email from the jury coordinator:

"Your service is complete."

My jury duty had come to an end without ever seeing the inside of a courtroom. I didn't get to make jury summons room friends or find out if the security guard at the court entrance won her Fitbit fitness challenge for the week (because we Fitbit people always find each other). I fulfilled my service but didn't really do anything. My friends tried to convince me that I had fulfilled my duty and should be okay with what I did accomplish by simply showing up and being a good sport. I think they're wrong.

The one thing I truly accomplished was re-watching the show Conviction, a short-lived addition to the Law & Order universe. The show focused on a group of young Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs) headed up by Alexandra Cabot (Stephanie March), before her character fakes her death on SVU, and Jim Steele, played by a favorite actor of mine, Anson Mount. The show only lasted one season which in Law & Order terms is the equivalent of one minute. I was a fan when the show when it originally aired and was disappointed when it wasn't brought back for a second season. I don't really watch procedural dramas anymore; once Lenny Briscoe died (on the show and in real life), I just couldn't do it anymore. But this was for jury duty so I watched. My binge watching brought back the same unanswered questions I had way back in 2006 when the show originally aired:

• Are all ADAs incredibly attractive? Is there a section of the bar that rates attractiveness and somehow that impacts a lawyer's employability? Exhibit A:
  
  
  
• Did Jim Steele ever figure out which lady he really loved? Was it Bureau Chief Cabot, poised to marry another man and a few years away from faking her death on SVU? Or was it Jessica, ADA with amazing cheekbones and a super sassy attitude? How would this have impacted the larger Law & Order universe had it actually been resolved? Steele and Jessica would have had impossibly attractive children. 
• Does Erik Balfour ever look trustworthy? I can't recall any movie or tv show I've seen him on where he didn't look sweaty, shady, and like he has a secret family somewhere. Exhibit B:
• Would my jury service end in a hostage situation as the two part series finale ended? Would I be one of the people forced to stand in a window because the guy holding court hostage thought that meant the SWAT team wouldn't shoot? For the record: they always shoot.
• Why did the priest in the episode about the kid who stole money from the church poor box have an Irish accent in some scenes but not others? Did they think no one would notice?
• Did Finn and Peluso make it? There were an inordinate number of couples on this show who all worked together. Did none of them realize that dating at work is a poor, poor life choice? 
• Did rich boy turned ADA Nick Potter stay with the job or go back to being an insufferable rich person like everyone else in his family? I like to think he stayed.

I'll continue contemplating these questions while I wait for my next jury summons. I can be called again in the next three years or sooner if needed. Or it could be another 15 years before I'm called again (the time between my Hawaii summons and Virginia summons). Or never. I guess I can live with that.

Next week: It's Sharknado Week on the Island of Misfit Toys! During the week I'll repost my previous blogs on the first three Sharknado movies in anticipation of the premiere of Sharknado 4 on July 31st. I'll fulfill my other civic duty by watching the fourth movie so you don't have to. Check it out next week on the Island!

Someecards
Conviction cover
Conviction cast photo
Erik Balfour

You gotta participate for your right to party

Hello Patriots! It's almost Election Day! A time when we get to participate one of the great parts of the civics experiment that is the United States of America. A time when people wear their "I Voted" sticker as a badge of honor and take their young children with them to vote so that they can experience the awesomeness of being American and participating. And possibly in that one moment of watching their mom or dad vote, they too become a civics geek like me. I can dream.

I try to stay away from the political on the Island as much as possible. I know I wrote about my distaste for/loathing of Rush Limbaugh several months ago and showed my patriotism by attending the 2nd largest Fourth of July parade in the US (or so people tell me), but I've never been overtly political on this blog.

And I will not start today.

I'd rather spend today discussing citizenship and participation. By citizenship, I don't mean nationality or the legal rights to live in a place. What I mean is the other part of citizenship: the rights, privileges, and duties of being a citizen. I take being a citizen very seriously and you should too. Being a citizen is no laughing matter AND it is not something that any of us should take for granted ever. I did mean to shout when I typed that and. That's how important citizenship is to me. I was that kid in elementary school who got upset if I didn't win citizen of the month or get a good mark in citizenship on my report card. I still have the report cards to prove this.

We have a very powerful role in the way that our country works. Unfortunately, we tend to only think about what it means to actually be a citizen every four years during election cycles. We forget that citizenship is a 24/7, 365 day a year responsibility. Voting is only one part of being a citizen. It's a fundamental and very important part of being a citizen but it's not the only part. If you are voting this year, good work! I'm proud of you. You are participating and using your voice. We may not agree on the candidate or the issue (or maybe we do-who knows?) but I like you and appreciate you. If I was at the polling place with you, I'd give you a gold star to wear along with your "I Voted" sticker. I care about voting that much.

Seriously, I get mad and feel ill when people tell me they're not voting. Why is this even a choice a person would make? Do you really want other people to be your voice? That doesn't even make sense to me. And don't tell me it's because you're tried of the rhetoric or the negativity of the campaigns. I get that but I also know that if you don't vote, you can't change either of those things. Your voice and vote matter. So make it happen, Patriots. Get out and vote.

And yes I understand that we all have a choice in life especially when it comes to voting or not voting. That's part of being American and having freedom and all. I just think it's a bad choice and you know, I only want you to make good choices. Because I care.

Moving on.

Voting is not the only way we exercise our citizenship. Paying taxes, serving on a jury, taking your garbage out on the appointed day, volunteering your time to a cause - these are also ways in which we participate in our communities and our nation. Many of these things seem like chores and are boring but they're important for the social fabric of our nation. And I think we've forgotten one of the most fundamental ideas of citizenship.

Being nice to one another.

If I learned anything from my teaching days, it's that teenagers have a hard time understanding the larger concept of citizenship because the majority of the actual activities typically associated with citizenship are activities that they are not really able to participate in. You know what they do understand? Being nice to people. And caring about the community they live in. When I taught civics (particularly 9th grade civics), I spent a lot of time discussing these aspects of citizenship. And I think that my students got it. I keep up with many of them on the FB and they seem to be living extraordinary and interesting lives. Many are politically active (high five!) and seem to be good citizens (double high five!). I'm proud of them and hope they pass that down to the next generation.

In honor of my former students and because I want you all to participate, here are 10 non-boring, non-political ways that you can be a good citizen:

1. Put your shopping cart in the shopping cart return area rather than leaving it in a parking spot. If you can't return it to the return area for a legit reason (being in a hurry is not a legit reason by the way), at least try to leave it in such a way that would not prohibit the next person from parking in the spot.
2. When driving and trying to merge into a lane, wave when a person lets you in. They didn't have to and it will make them happy that they did.
3. If someone drops something, pick it up for them and return it.
4. Hold open doors for people. I come from the South where people, particularly men, do this naturally and without pause. The rest of the country needs to get on board with this.
5. Talk on your cell phone in appropriate places and at appropriate volumes. For real, I don't care how much of a jerk so and so is, turn the volume down because it's early and I just want to enjoy my coffee.
6. Volunteer your time to an organization or cause. Make sure you pick something that you truly believe in and are passionate about.
7. Agree to disagree. And move on. If someone believes in something you will more than likely not be able to change their minds. It's not worth frustration, screaming, and a stream of curse words (and I swear like a sailor sometimes so I get it). Just agree to disagree and move onto a topic that's less controversial like the fact that puppies are cute.
8. Go to the Fourth of July parades/events in your city or town. Seriously, nothing is better than a parade and you can't get better than a Fourth of July parade.
9. Get a library card and use it. I love, love, love libraries and I fear for their safety some days. Reading is fundamental friends but libraries are also so much more. They can be the center of a community. Libraries often host events too (book clubs, lectures, artist talks, family events). There's something for everyone at your local library.
10. Be nice to people. If the Dearborn Police can put this on the side of their cruisers, each and every one of us can do it in our daily lives (see above photo). It takes more energy to be a jerk.

There you have it - ten ways to easy and non-politically be a good citizen. Try doing at least one of this things this week. I think you'll enjoy it and want to do more.

Happy citizening! (Yes, that is a made up word but isn't it glorious?!)

And because I borrowed a little from a Beastie Boys song, here you go. Kick it!