An Anecdote From Rural Louisiana

[distantearlywarning]

I just thought I'd share a little story I heard tonight.

So my in-laws called tonight to remind us to vote. They live in W. Monroe, a medium-sized town in northwest Lousiana, a few galaxies away from my own big latte-liberal blue-state city life in Pittsburgh, and in a pretty deep red part of America. West Monroe is the kind of place where the biggest attraction on a Friday night is the local football team's drive towards the state championship, the police are suspicious of men with hair below their collars, and nobody's ever really forgotten about the War of Northern Aggression.

Well, anyway, both of my inlaws are both voting Obama, but that's not surprising given that they are both former hippie types. They're kind of the token town progressive agitators, always writing letters to the paper and all of that.

But what they told us about my husband's grandpa and his friends did surprise me. My husband's grandfather is in his '80s and has lived in small-town Louisiana his whole life. He probably never thought he'd see a black man running for president, much less want to vote for him. But want to vote for him he does. And he's the kind of man who isn't afraid to say how he feels about stuff. So a few weeks ago he was down at the barber shop with all of his old cronies and they were all shooting the breeze about politics, and everyone was hemming and hawing about the candidates. My husband's grandpa spoke right up and told everyone he was voting for Obama. There was some silence at that, and then all of a sudden it happened: all these other men started admitting they were voting for him too. They just didn't think they could tell anyone else about how they felt until someone else spoke up first.

I guess my point here is that I think this story is an indication that Obama might have even more support than the pollsters and pundits might realize, and from some surprising places. And it's also an indication that he's changing some fundamental things about America...for the better. Because here's all these old southern small-town white guys who grew up with segregation and probably would never have believed when they were 18 years old that they might have a black president to vote for in their lifetimes. And they are willing to vote for him! It's just kind of amazing to me. And it makes me feel so optimistic about the future of America. I really feel like President Obama will start to heal some of the rifts between people in this country.

Also, apparently my husband's 92 year old great aunt who hasn't voted in 10 years is also going to the polls tomorrow in Louisiana, to vote for, you guessed it, Obama!!!

Anyway, I just thought I would tell you all this story because I thought it was cool. I hope it gives some of you hope for tomorrow...

[princehal]

1. Their lips to God's ears.

:)

[WritersBlock]

2. Thank you for your post.

It *is* cool. And so are your in-laws!

[distantearlywarning]

10. They work hard to be a little island of sense in a sea of craziness down there.

I actually worry about them sometimes - they're so outspoken and they are constantly challenging people about longstanding beliefs and social identities.

But hearing this story tonight made me think maybe some things are changing even in the reddest corners of this country.

[WritersBlock]

17. I'm registered to vote in Louisiana.

I sent my absentee ballot in a few weeks ago, so my Obama vote will join theirs - it'd be nice if we could turn LA blue tomorrow!

[HowHasItComeToThis]

3. DEMOCRACY IS BREAKING OUT EVERYWHERE

:party: :bounce: :toast: :bounce: :party:

[barbtries]

4. i never get enough of these stories

thank you for sharing. good news!

[Lancer]

9. I never get tired of these stories, either.

We are experiencing a true sea change.

[immoderate]

5. They call that the reverse Bradley effect.

Love it.

--IMM

[distantearlywarning]

11. Let's hope we see more of the reverse Bradley effect tomorrow night!

:hi:

[VAliberal]

6. Thanks!

It would seem that a happy by-product of electing a progressive Democrat to the presidency might be
further movement toward reconciliation between races in America and equality.

I've seen some similar sentiments in southcentral Virginia.

It's exciting and hopeful! America onward and upward.

[Kali]

7. I LOVE these stories! Thanks.

I wish somebody with more patience than me would gather a bunch of these and make a big single post with them. I live in a red rural area and was tickled to learn the local feed store owner has decided to vote for Obama too. (He is a con-trail, anti-UN conspiracy tin foiler, but with a good heart. Was originally for Ron Paul, of course)

[distantearlywarning]

12. That's a great idea.

Unfortunately, I have some Steelers to root for tonight, but maybe somebody else would take up that cause before the election tomorrow.

[demigoddess]

27. it would make a great book or part of a book about this historic election

it would also make a lovely tribute to his Grandmother.

[arthritisR_US]

8. great story and thanks so much for sharing it...deserves to be read by all :-) n/t

[distantearlywarning]

13. You are welcome!

:toast:

[xochi]

14. GREAT STORY!

Thank you for posting this! I agree with these commenters. And kudos to your husband's grandpa for speaking up like that. What a great example for everyone! Sheeple he ain't.

[TripleKatPad]

15. Wonderful post

I hope someday there are many books written filled with these little vignettes. I've read so many here just on DU, and there are so many more out there. Very powerful.

[Duncan]

16. cool!

[huachucalady1]

18. Thanks for your story

It was great, I think there will be a lot of people out there, that are not saying who they are voting for because they are afraid of the problems in there area.

[Wiley50]

19. Those guys are old enough to remember FDR and all the good he did for the US

and they are finally seeing that spirit again...in Obama

and that spirit trumps black any day

[JimWis]

20. Thanks for sharing that terrific story. And I agree, the polls don't

show that kind of stuff.

[BrklynLiberal]

21. That is a great story. It is amazing how many different kinds of, and

unexpected kinds of people Obama has gotten thru to.

[hvn_nbr_2]

22. Yeldarb! Yeldarb! nt

[tonycinla]

23. my own story

I have lived in central Fl. for 40 years .I do believe Obama will probably win Florida .I have personally asked at least 20 people ,all white ,but of different genders and social economics groups.The result at least 70% McCain.

[nosillies]

24. They won every freakin' football game when I was at a rival high school

I hate the WMHS Rebels.

But I luv your in-laws!

[KamaAina]

25. Minor quibble: West Monroe is in northeast La., not northwest

otherwise :thumbsup:

[distantearlywarning]

28. Sorry, you're right.

I actually knew that - it was a typo. :-)

[MadMaddie]

26. Bless them because they have come a long way to the point where

they will vote for Obama.

This just proves that humans are always capable of growing when they open their minds and their hearts!!

K & R:grouphug: