It is still possible to register and vote right here in Japan. Democrats Abroad is setting up Voting Centers in Tokyo, Nagoya and Kyoto. You can register on site, just bring your passport or ID. Details at demsjapan.org.
If anyone has any questions, please email me at rainadale@hotmail.com or lauren (email below).
The very most important way we can help Barack is by VOTING for him! Tell your freinds.
If you are not in Japan, go to Democrats Abroad. org and see if there is a chapter in your country of residence.
TokyoTuesday, February 5th 09:00 – 21:00Forum 8 Shibuya, Shin Taiso Bldg.1st 8F 2–10–7, DogenzakaContact: lauren.shannon@gmail.com
NagoyaSaturday, February 9th 12:00 – 20:00Nagoya Int’l Center, Nagono 1–47–1, Nakamura–kuContact: lauren.shannon@gmail.com
KyotoSunday, February 10th 09:00 – 17:00Hito Machi Koryukan, 83–1 Umeminato–cho,Shimogyo–kuContact: lauren.shannon@gmail.com
Happy Voting!
Well, I have spent all morning on the internet trying to learn more about what happened at the debates last night. Interesting experience. I compared the coverage between NBC, BBC and AlterNet. NBC and BBC both made me very angry by forcing me to watch advertisements before I could see the actual video clips. They both also tend to marginalize non frontrunner candidates. Lots of hubbub about Klucinich's UFO comment on both. However, AlterNet's's article was pretty good. Regarding front runners, I continue to be not impressed with either Edwards or Clinton. On a visceral level I just feel that they can't be trusted. As evidenced by both Clinton and Edwards having voted giving Bush authorization to begin the war in Iraq back when it was popular, but both talking about ending the war now. I'm tired of double talk. I still feel that Obama is our best hope. If he can win, it will be by mobilizing a wider base than has been involved in the political process up until this point. That wider base will include people like me, educated members of the younger generation. People who want to see us out of Iraq. People concerned with the money our government is spending on ridiculous mistakes, when there are so many other ways that our money desperately needs to be spent. Obama was against the war in Iraq from the beginning, and he has a credability because of this that the other candidates just don't have. And I feel that Iraq is a big issue on voters minds this time around.
I believe, also, that Obama can appeal to family values type people without sacrificing his soul. Reading a speech of his on the role of faith in politics convinced me of that. He is a Christian, himself, and he believes in the Christian ideals, like respect for working people and the poor, that the rest of us non-Christians can also agree with. The Christian right has been such a headache to real, everyday Christians for so long. I believe Barack Obama is a man who can well represent the mainstream Christian community as well as non-Christians. In this, as in so many areas he shows how and/both is a viable alternative to the current either/or atmosphere in American politics. Many people, including the BBC and my brother Loren, seem to worry that he can't win, especially in the Southern states, because he is non-white. The BBC had a psychologist on screen saying basically that. Now, I have never lived in the South, but I believe the real American people, including southerners, are bigger than that. And if more of us Americans, black and white, rich and poor, young and old, actually voted, our government would reflect the fact that we Americans are bigger than that. It's a big if, but I believe we can make it happen. Unfortunately, up until now, our elections have been won by various special interests mobilizing small minorities of the electorate to have disproportionate effect on election results. I don't want to see that happen again.
It's time for a change. Learning about Obama and getting involved in his campaign has got me interested in politics again after a long period of relative isolation. It has motivated me to send emails to every open-minded American on my email list. And a few of my non American friends as well. Please write me back. Not just if you agree with me. No, especially if you disagree. Because I consider myself to be an open-minded American. And this is a dialogue that we desperately need to be having.
