A bit of hope: My neighborhood unites against Bush

[Arugula Latte]

I live in a nice, quiet, leafy Portland neighborhood, in the less-liberal part of town. Before the 2000 election, I didn't know the political affiliations of my neighbors. But since that travesty, we have connected. We've met over chance comments and referrals "well, you know, the people who live in that house are also very much against the war." We've met on the cul-de-sac walking dogs or watching the kids play to talk about how disgusted we are with the evil cabal in power. We've connected over bumperstickers. We've invited each other to screenings of the anti-war documentary, discussed what we'll bake for the Move-On Bake sale, passed along info. on meet-ups, and, last night, came together for a Kerry fundraising party.

In a very short stretch of street, there are many families who are not just enraged, but actively mobilizing to against Bush. I like to think it may be the flip-side of what the right-wing did in their churches in the 80s. It gives me hope when I think about it. Just thought I'd pass that along.

[MarLopez2]

1. Nice.

That's a swell story! Sure wish I could share the community. But, I'm an enemy of my neighborhood. A marked man.

Last time I went to my neighboorhood meeting the entire meeting was about me and how I cut my grass too infrequently. I tried to argue something about ecosystem viability that I was making up as I went along. Didn't work out and I got fined! Judging from the yard signs, my Kerry bumper sticker made me the target. Grumble. Grumble.

[Lenape85]

2. Same thing

We've got a couple of Bush fanatics next door to us, and we decided not to put bumper stickers on our cars because it would start a war.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. Which neighborhood?

I lived in Portland till August of last year.

Now I live in a leafy and liberal Minneapolis neighborhood that reminds me of a combination of Irvington and Multnomah Village. :-)

[Eloriel]

4. I lived in Portland for 3 glorious years in the early 80s

And haven't stopped grieving my loss fully YET. It was the happiest time of my life in one of the most beautiful and high quality of life places on earth, and I felt more at home there than any other place I've ever lived. Whew, even now as the mental pictures come flooding back (I spent time "memorizing" all those favorite places and scenes before we left -- big mistake), I could just cry all over again.

Heck, just the fact that you don't need air conditioning in the summer and there's virtually no humidity are reason ENOUGH to love the place! But there's so much more. Oh well.