Janet CollinsAFTER NOVEMBER 4TH
October 28th 2008 23:20
Life will be pretty boring and mundane for many after November 4 who have spent so much energy and thought in what has to be the longest and most exciting American election that I can remember.
No matter who wins, I for one will miss all the speculation and commentary of the Presidential race that has consumed populations all over the world. Something will certainly need to fill the void for me. I have watched all the news coverage, listened to the radio coverage, read an extensive amount of newspaper coverage but what has really swallowed me up into the whole race for the presidency has been my membership of Orble.
It’s been a bit like being in a continual and long Don’s Party only better - much more fun than what many generations had before internet discussion was a possibility. On Sundays people used to actually traipse down to the domain in Sydney to watch anyone who had the urge get on a soap box and scream and shout their views to whoever was willing to listen.
Of course what followed that was that period of rebellion in the 60s and 70s where protesters mobilised groups through word of mouth, made up posters with ugly signs and took to the streets where they spat at police, trampled passers-by and beamed with pride over their daily score card of arrests.
Orble has been far more civilised. I’ve heard a whole range of views from abortion to health care, deregulation to the economy, agriculture, to environment, gay rights to workers rights, trade to the ailing market economy. And all those ism’s…fascism, communism, socialism, liberalism and capitalism all got a pretty good airing. So have wars and dubious connections and of course, the good old family laundry bits.
Oh, I put my two bits worth in here and there as I usually do, but I think I was more or less swallowed up by the intensity of political commentary from all the passionate political animals on the site. There were definitely some spits and spats. Oh yes, passion for this election did reach such heights at times and the debates got so serious that I could almost feel the stones hitting. You don’t get much better entertainment than this these days. Who says this generation is apathetic?
The race has been a long one. First it was Hilary and Obama. Then it was Obama and McCain. And then it was Sarah Palin! They all got their fair share on this site. I know who I want in the White House but that’s really very irrelevant.
I have to thank everyone for their posts. Some have enlightened me and some have been really informative. Some have irritated me. Some have even made my blood boil.
But that’s all what politics and differences of opinion is all about. And it’s been all in good fun. Like the good old saying – we can all agree that we can disagree. We in Australia don’t even get to vote so It’s almost like watching a game from the sidelines. We can’t really do anything about how the game is played but we can get excited or angry about it anyway. I don’t know about you but I am pretty sure I will be into one hell of a withdrawal after it’s all over.
Maybe we should all dress up on Tuesday 4th (even though it will really be Wednesday 5th here on Election Day) and have our own Orble election night party.
GOOD LUCK AMERICA! MAY THE BEST MAN WIN.
(PS: Don’s Party was originally a play which was made into a movie about an election night party held by Don in 1969).
(PPS: I thought I’d get in early for this one. There’ll just be too much excitement on Orble over the next few days to leave it to the end.)
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Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
How will I feel when it''s all over. Either elated or unbelievably depressed. I'm sure you can guess which outcome will have me feeling what.
I don't know that I'm going to miss it though. It's exhausting just watching. No wonder Obama has gone grey.
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
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Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
I mean, it's entertaining reading, certainly educational--but I can't help but wonder if it's an exercise in futility sometimes.
Neither of the candidates for corporate blue or corporate red is likely to read all the protest and demands for change on some blogging site. A huge mass of unhappy voters gathered outside of Capitol Hill or marching down main street in their town would make a better impression on our elected representatives, I think.
At least something like that would get some television coverage. >: (
Comment by Janet Collins
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Blogging certainly doesn't trigger sensational television coverage. The defiance of sreet protesters in large numbers is just so much more colourful.
Janet