My Vote Counted and other Election Debris.

Today I called the number.  I got the feeling that they don’t get many calls like mine, following up on an affidavit ballot.  But, after briefly describing my voting experience to the nice lady at the Chancery Clerk’s office, I now know that my vote was added to the tally.

As I’ve written before, occasionally media debris gets piled up in my brain–those random thoughts and observations that need an outlet before the maid service comes in.  Hence, the random Election Debris: 

1.  ABC news sported 50 states in 50 days during the primary season, an impressive endeavor.  I saw one woman and daughter from somewhere in the east (maybe West Virginia, I wasn’t paying attention).  They said their key issues for the election were “choice” and “equal pay for equal work.”  I’m wondering when we got to the place in our society when one word– “choice” –could immediately be understood my men, women and children alike to mean there’s no law that would prevent me from choosing to abort my unborn child.  Is that progress?

2.  ”I’m pro-life and pro-gun.” — from U.S. Senate candidate’s ad.  Life and gun.  Strange bedfellows.  But, there’s the Republican Party for you.

3.  Seeing the electoral map in all it’s red and blue glory a full (count them) six weeks before the election.  There’s something troubling about that.

4.  And, the Contrived-Programming-While-Trying-Our-Hardest-to-Look-Natural Award goes to… CNN! For the program (which I only caught a few minutes of) featuring a discussion of politics and the economy held at Delmonico’s in NYC around a poker table (3-sided, mind you. must leave room for the cameras).  Men and women with poker chips and high ball barware — what, no cigars?  Not politically correct, I guess.

5.  Roger Wicker & Ronnie Musgrove Senatorial ads ad nauseum.  Where’s the Pepto when you need it.

6.  General amazement at what makes it above the cable/digital fold:  Sarah Palin’s pregnant daughter segues to Barak Obama’s terrorist neighbor segues to John McCain’s campaign suspension segues to Joe the Plumber’s tax returns segues to Mickey Mouse registers to vote

7.  Sometime during October, I sensed a strange absence.  Where is Joe Biden?  His name wasn’t even on the Obama ads.

8.  And, the You-May-Think-It’s-About-News-But-It’s-Really-All-About-Me-and-My-Profession Award goes to… A string of top news topics: Tina Fey.  Katie Couric’s interview questions.  ”What [insert candidate name here] needs to do is - ahem - as if [insert candidate name here] watches this program - chuckle chuckle.”  CNN facts across the bottom of the screen — thank you CNN, especially for letting me know the accomplishments of your reporters.

9.  What’s up with the trend showing the tv screens within tv screens?  Flipping your laptop around so the tv cameras can see it?  Tellistrating on the electoral maps?

10.  Bites:  Spread the wealth around.  You betcha.  I am not George Bush.

11.  The View.  There’s Joy sounding cantankerous and all Democratic.  There’s Elisabeth being the token Republican with a “yeah, but” when she could get a word in — although I appreciate that she brought notes on her research a couple of times.  There’s Barbara sounding like the voice of journalistic legitimacy, although didn’t that train leave the station when “daytime talk show host” was added to her resume right after “interviewed Fidel Castro.”  Then, there’s Sherrie–not sure for the longest where she stood, but saw her try to get loud on Elisabeth about McCain divorcing his first wife. I’m sensing some relationship/single motherhood issues from a couple of other comments on non-election segments.  And, then there’s Whoopie trying to appear fair while acknowledging her Democrat allegiance, refereeing the others, making a joke, declaring her friendship with John McCain and the Clintons (there’s a dinner party) and getting to commercial break so everyone gets their paycheck.  Ugh.

12.  Fox News website breaking news — “President-Elect Obama to Step Down From Senate” — duh!

This is EyeJunkie, and I approved this list.

Did My Vote Count?

I cast my vote yesterday at Fire Station No. 3.  Election officials had raised the garage doors to a beautiful Mississippi day, and it made for a nice open-air exercising of my “right” as an American citizen.  It took me about 45 minutes, including the drive across town from work–and that was a long time for my neck of the woods.  I went during the lunch hour expecting some sort of a line, but there were only two people in front of me at the M-Z table.  Yes, I live in a precinct requiring only two alphabetical tables.  The reason it took me so long was that my name was not on the registered voter list.  

I’ve voted in this location before, but only by affidavit.  I had also failed to return the change of registration form I got in the mail after the last election, so the absence of my name was only a minor surprise.  The ladies checked my street name to make sure I was at the right polling station, and then called over an apparently more authoritative poll worker to find out what to do.  He decided to call the Chancery Clerk’s office to determine how best to afford me my one vote.  The Clerk confirmed that another affidavit ballot would be the answer, and I was ushered to a table for further instructions.  The table happened to be in full sun, and I was somewhat blinded by the ballot.  But, having come this far, I was eager to let my voice be heard.  After a brief disappointment that I would not get to use the new electronic voting machines (yes, further evidence of my rural setting), I grabbed my nubby Ebony pencil, ready to avail myself of my enfranchisement.  

Another poll worker showed me the parts of the ballot envelope to complete with my personal information and after a few “hey theres,” “hellos,” and “I’m retired nows” in response to passing voters, he demonstrated how to fold the ballot so that the poll worker initials were in the right spot.  Interesting that no one requested to see any identification, but I suppose Starkville, Mississippi is not a hot bed for over-zealous ACORN voter registration volunteers.  The poll worker signed his name below mine on the completed ballot envelope and gave me a sheet of paper explaining affidavit ballots.  He pointed out the telephone number that I could call “not less than 10 days from this date” to find out (in his words) if my vote counts.  Hmmm.

After a few more reiterations of how to insert my folded ballot (apparently the location of the initials is crucial), I was left to my own voting devices.  When I had finished blackening circles for president, a senator, a representative, a few judges and a hospital bond issue, I inserted my ballot appropriately into the envelope and called over the poll worker.  He again reminded me of the phone number determining if my vote would count and directed me to the ballot box.  It was not the rough wooden ones I’d used in previous years, but a nice, blue canvas one with a seamed slit in the top.  I dropped the envelope in, said my thank yous, and voting was complete.

After what seems like years of campaign coverage, the election is over.  Regardless of which camp you favored, we now know the next president of the United States (and not just because CNN said so.)  Barak Obama has already been declared the 44th president, and I’m still left to wonder (and wait ten days to discover): did my vote count?  

This election was different, somehow.  News reports and candidate speeches indicate that there was a healthy voter turn-out, particularly among younger voters who haven’t been as engaged in the process in previous years.  The sheer months of constant news coverage has given the impression of greater interest this time around.  We’ve been trained by the last two presidential elections to monitor electoral votes, and cable news has been sporting the maps for weeks now.  I noticed that even in my small town precinct there was fallout from voter fraud concerns.  My polling station offered a tabletop display of voting “rules”, the reasons voter identification might be required and the appropriate documents or cards that might qualify.  I haven’t noticed that before.  There was also a huge stop sign printed with a warning that state law prohibits campaigning of any kind within 150 feet of the polling station.  That’s always been the case, but given the overload of media coverage, ad spots and road signs we’ve seen for almost two years now, that 150-foot campaigning-free zone around Fire Station No. 3 was a welcomed relief.

Still,  I’m left to wonder:  did my vote count?  A winner has been announced in most races.  Mississippi belonged to John McCain for the night, and not by a close margin.  News anchors had all but declared Obama the next president before the polls had even closed in California.  The final word on whether my ballot was thrown out will not be determined for 10 more days.   So, did my vote count?  Was it worth the time if my state’s six electoral votes are only a drop in the margin of victory bucket?  Was my trip to Fire Station No. 3 important even it had little to no effect on the election’s outcome?  

The answer:  Yes.  My vote does count.  It may not be the one vote that moves the ticker to 50.1%, but it counts.  Even ten days later, it counts.  It counts when it motivates me to form an opinion.  It counts when it makes me consider how government will effect my life.  It counts when it engages me in debate over where our country is and where it’s going–even when I’m only debating the tv screen.  It counts when it entwines me in an historic moment–for African Americans, women and elder statesmen, nay, for all Americans.  It counts when it attaches responsibility to my citizenship.  It counts when it inspires me to write a post.  

In our great country, voting is a “right” of birth and the completion of a few forms.  In a generation when we, as United States citizens, have become numbed by our own entitlement to speak and be heard, my vote still counts.  It counts because it can impose a term limit that dictators around this world dread and war against.  It counts because it celebrates a “right” that many of the poorest, sickest, most uneducated and displaced citizens in this world would consider a “privilege.”

I’m marking my calendar for Friday, November 14th.  I’m calling the number.  I’m going to find out if my ballot was accepted.  Because my vote is my privilege.  And, it counts.

“Increased Religious Security”

Cultural Context:  The explanation given in a FoxNews.com article by C. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance, for some of the findings about Americans and Religion from a Pew Forum study surveying 35,000 adults.  The results of the study were recently released. The quote:

“It shows increased religious security.  People are comfortable with other traditions even if they’re different.  It indicates a level of humility about religion that would be of great benefit to everyone.”

Really?  Hmmm…

What does it mean to be secure?  
My dictionary widget tells me that “secure” means 

• fixed or fastened so as not to give way, become loose or be lost
• not subject to threat, certain to remain or continue safe and unharmed
• protected against attack
• safe, stable and free from fear or anxiety
• certain to achieve

When I read the article highlighting some of the Pew findings, the word “security“  as revealed in these definitions did not spring to mind.  In fact, my first thought was “all over the map.”  Reading the article was a study in contradictions.  Looking at some of the actual statistics, there seems to be no mistaking the rampant confusion that exists with Americans regarding their own professed religious “beliefs”.  We have become a belief-addicted culture ready to accept anything because the act of “believing” is the answer.  Just believe.  The object of belief apparently doesn’t factor in. 

Some of the statistics:

70% of those with a religious affiliation said there was more than one way to gain eternal life (even when that belief was contrary to their own professed religion’s teachings).  This percentage includes 57% of evangelical christians, 83% of protestants, 79% of catholics, 82% of Jews and 56% of Muslims.

Don’t even bother picking a “way” because they all lead to the same place.  Don’t bother learning what your own religion believes.  You don’t have to believe to believe.  Just believe.

92% of those studied professed belief in God.  But 1 in 4 also express doubts about His existence.
21% of professed athiests said they actually believed in God - 8% are “absolutely certain” of it

Not believing just doesn’t measure up to believing.  Make no mistake, it takes just as much faith to believe there isn’t a God as it does to believe there is one.  For sure, almost the same percentages in both camps have achieved the same level of confusion about the issue.  Oh, who needs that kind of scrutiny?  It doesn’t matter if you jump around from one belief to another.  Just believe.

44% of those with religious affiliations felt their religion should preserve its traditional beliefs and practices, but many believe in multiple interpretations of their religion’s teachings.

Keep the old ones, interpret new ones?  It doesn’t matter.  Just believe.

D. Michael Lindsay (of Rice University) offered a very astute evaluation of the report:

“The survey shows religion in America is indeed, 3000 miles wide and only three inches deep.”

Not exactly the picture of stability.  At three inches, we have no roots, no foundation.  Without a full depth of truth, we have no hope to withstand being “tossed about by every wind and wave” (ephesians 4:14) and the rudderless doubt that inevitably ensues.

It seems that Mr. Gaddy’s coveted “humility about religion” really translates as a meandering lack of commitment.  In our culture, commitment has now been deemed intolerance, and a lack of commitment has been transformed into a virtue.  This mentality grossly underestimates the God-given mental capacities of human beings and completely negates the political ideals we so stringently seek to uphold.  To imply that non-commitment is the only viable option in maintaining “tolerance” is preposterous.  To assume that a person can’t whole-heartedly disagree with another’s beliefs without persecuting him is a complete injustice to “freedom” of religion.

When, in our culture, did it become questionable to stake yourself, your words, your money, your free time — your life on something you believe and stick to it?  

Alexander Hamilton said “Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.”
Hook. Line. Sinker.

Threebie 01: STOP THE PRESSES

(Here is my first installment of “Threebie” posts.  Read about “Threebies” here.)

At 5pm EST on June 1, 1980, after an introduction by Ted Turner that declared “I dedicate the news channel for America — the Cable News Network,” CNN began its first news broadcast.  Its lead story covered President Jimmy Carter’s visit to Vernon Jordan in a Fort Wayne, IN hospital while the Civil Rights attorney and activist recuperated from an attempted assassination.  Just minutes after launch, the program “cut-away” from it’s first commercial break to offer live coverage of the visit.  (See CNN’s first broadcast here.)

And with that, the face of television and media in general was forever changed.  

Almost 30 years later, as I check out CNN.com for the 5th time this morning, in my mind I want to shout “STOP THE PRESSES!” — but, not until I check out FoxNews.com and Eonline.com one more time.  It’s addictive!  And, I’m just an information junkie looking for one more fix.  We have developed into a media-hungry (even obsessed) culture where even the most trivial items are elevated to “news” status by sheer virtue of their ability to fill up airtime and fulfill advertising obligations.  How did we get here?

CNN, appropriately named, was the first 24-hour cable news network.  Its format allowed viewers to gain information about breaking stories faster than they ever had before — almost immediately, in fact.   The network’s premise and programming philosophy made broadcasting live events a priority while maintaining a regular news oriented schedule.

This concept that has become so completely ingrained in our culture and expectations was actually foreign in 1980 and had many doubters.  What was the difference?  In essence, CNN did not stop the presses.  Where newspapers had multiple edition deadlines throughout the day (and night) and traditional networks broadcast news within strict programming schedules that governed when all but the most crucial news could be shown, CNN offered new “news” at every moment — or at least a re-telling of old news and the opportunity to engineer live coverage at the first inkling of a newsworthy crisis.

Now that other news networks and the internet have jumped on board, how has my understanding of news changed?

• Thanks to 8 months on the campaign trail and 4 more to go, I now know more about the Electoral College than my 7th grade Social Studies teacher — and a lot more about hairstyles of candidates and candidate’s wives, way more about that church in Chicago and it’s outspoken pastor, and more than enough sound bites trying to match the power of “I have a dream” or “Ask not what your country can do for you.”
   
• TMZ.com is a bona fide news source.  Hmmm.
   
• Instead of just leaving troop movement to the Pentagon, I can follow a map drawn in the sand by my trusty embedded correspondent.
   
• News reporters are now the newsmakers, using terms like “rednecks” to describe entire voting districts.
   
• Instead of waiting for the next magazine issue covering all the latest starlet styles, I can get a panty shot every time they get in or out of a car.  And, with the advent of high-resolution digital cameras, someone will even let me know the brand — eeew.
   
• Al Gore can concede, retract, concede, retract right up until the Supreme Court gets involved because after all if CNN said it, it must be true.
   
• Forget gas prices and the 2008 presidential election, the top 4 stories in the U.S. section of FoxNews.com include an environmental rant of the Mayor of Ocean City, MD, population 7,173.  Talk about your 15 minutes!
   
• After tuning in to the multitude of ambidextrous political pundits and their daily programs, I am now psychic.  I know what the president is thinking before he does.
   
• Instead of writing about the things that are important to me — like my family, my job, the Bible verse on my mind, and my life — I’m writing about CNN!  What?!?

Stop the presses, people!

“Victimized”

Cultural Context:  The term used in a statement by Entertainment Tonight to describe their position regarding a false news story they published last week about the birth of Angelina Jolie’s twins.  See the quote from the FoxNews article:

“Entertainment Tonight’ takes this very seriously and is, of course, concerned that the show may have been victimized by someone allegedly posing as a member of Ms. Jolie’s team,” the statement said. “We are actively investigating the matter and are reaching out to law enforcement agencies.”

Hmmm…
I find “victimized” an interesting choice of words in this relatively trivial situation.  I would encourage Entertainment Tonight to check out how a few other news outlets have used the term “victim” or “victimized” recently:

U.N. to pursue Darfur ‘war criminals’
CNN.com ~ June 5, 2008

70 arrested in Austrailia in pornography sting
CNN.com ~ June 5, 2008

Judge allows sect girl’s release, with conditions
CNN.com ~ June 4, 2008

U.S., Libya agree to try to resolve terrorism claims
Reuters.com ~ May 30, 2008 

Cyclone Survivors Victimized by Burma Soldiers
USAToday.com ~ May 28, 2008

Treaty to ban cluster bombs within 8 years
USAToday.com ~ May 28, 2008

Pushing the Envelope with “Swingtown”

I’ll bet you’re familiar with this little experience of human nature.  Just pick one – one or more tend to be daily occurrences in my household.

I say, “We don’t need to throw our toys.”
My preschooler says, “But, I’m just dropping it.”

I say, “Let’s don’t bang our toys around so much.  We need to take care of our toys.”
My preschooler says, “But, I’m just ‘working’ on it.”

I say, “Ooooo.  It’s too loud right now to hit the coffee table with that wooden spoon.  Let’s put the spoon down.”
My preschooler says, “But, I’m just playing my drum.”  And then, with a gleaming look over at Mommy he ever so slightly taps the wood with the spoon and then holds it just above the table in anticipation of another word of correction.

I’m told that these types of experiences are not unusual with 3-year-olds, and I’m proud of how much my sweet little guy is learning in this area when he tells me out of the blue, “We don’t need to throw.”  Despite our usual assumptions, not much escapes the 3-year-old mind.  But, that’s another post.

Yes, these little snapshots of human nature are sometimes cute at 3 years old when paired with the process of growing and learning our boundaries – not so pretty, however, at 38 when boundaries (or the lack of) are still blurred.  At our house, no matter how cute the phrasing or creative the excuse, we call it doing wrong, in this case disobeying Mommy.  When we get to be grownups, however, we and our culture tend to call it “testing the waters,” “pushing the envelope,” or even “groundbreaking.”

Enter “Swingtown.”
“I don’t understand why this show is so threatening, but I don’t understand why gay marriage is so threatening either. I understand there’s going to be a portion of the available audience that will just say, ‘I can’t do this, I can’t go there.’ Too bad, because there is so much to embrace in this show. I think people who reject it have a problem with fear in general in their lives.“

~ Mike Kelley, creator of “Swingtown,” a new television drama premiering this week on CBS.
As quoted in a LA Times article about the show 
(I’ll let you read the article to discover the premise of the show, if you haven’t seen the less than subtle ads.)

Continue reading »

Daytime Television Debris

Recently, I spent almost a week at home with bronchitis, and along with stints of checking email and obsessing about the work projects I wasn’t getting done, I had the occasion to tune in to daytime television.  Now, I’ll admit that I can be up for a good soap marathon with the best of the couch potatoes, especially when I’m sick.

However, during my recent bronchitis soap marathon, somewhere between meeting Victor’s long lost son, watching Katie grieve for her brother who committed suicide so he could be her heart donor (it’s a soap, people!), rolling my eyes at Jack and Carly’s argument because we all know they really love each other, and conniving with Lizzie to keep Bill from taking over Spaulding Enterprises… I started surfing channels.  Channel surfing always yields some interesting moments when paired with being tired, bored and on meds.  I found that in those circumstances, you’ll pay attention to almost anything which obviously leads to lots of thought debris – those random observations that really have nowhere else to go.  So, here they are on EyeJunkie! Continue reading »

“Jihadi Chic”

Cultural Context: The term used by conservative columnist, Michelle Malkin on her blog to describe a scarf worn by Rachael Ray in a recent Dunkin’ Donuts ad.  The scarf supposedly resembled a “keffiyeh” worn by Arabs which is sometimes considered a symbol of radical terrorist activity.  The ad was pulled by Dunkin’ Donuts after receiving criticism from Malkin and others.

Hmmm…

This example of “hate couture,” as Malkin calls it, is new to me. And if you believe some of the coverage of the issue, this form of so-called subversive support of radical muslim terrorism is apparently pretty widespread.  Who knew? Continue reading »