Encouragement for Democrats is few and far between these days. But during the recent campaign, I did some canvassing for Democratic candidates, and I have some excellent news to deliver (besides the fact that Patsy Keever won).
Many of those who answered the door when I knocked were octo- and nonagenarians (during the day, they’re the ones at home), and I am here to report that being a loyal Democrat seems to be a wonderful preservative. The elders I spoke with were bright-eyed, nimble and unafraid — even as a scruffy looking stranger (me) knocked at their door with only a couple of stickers on his T-shirt and a clipboard to identify him. Despite the proliferation of evils reported by the Tea Party and the GOP, the folks I met (Democrats) on my knocking tours have been bright and hopeful, and have displayed a resilient cheerfulness that I believe has to do with more than mere politeness. I believe it has something to do with what they believe in their hearts: that kindness is good, that the down and out and underrepresented deserve our compassion and our support, that government can be helpful in improving our world — and above all, that just because you’re loud and pushy doesn’t make you right.
We Democrats have our work cut out for us now, so in the next couple of years if you need some encouragement, I recommend helping out in upcoming campaigns. And meanwhile I want to thank those who came to the door on my canvassing tours. It was a pleasure meeting you.
— Ken Abbott
Asheville
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