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Political orientation and the good will of strangers
From the book: Chum for Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters by David Satterlee
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| Chum For Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters |
Political orientation and the good will of strangers – A personal story
I got a lot of interesting reactions today, sitting with a
“Christie Vilsack for Congress” sign while about ten thousand bicycle-across-Iowa
folks peddled past my front yard in a small, rural town.
The term “RAGBRAI” stands for “[Des Moines] Register’s Great
Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.” This is not a competition. It’s just thousands of
people out for up to seven days in our insane summer heat, enjoying the
camaraderie of “the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the
world.” Christie Vilsack is Iowa’s former First Lady and a Democrat running for
the U.S. Congress in Iowa’s 4th district. She is opposing Republican
incumbent Steve King, an “outspoken conservative who is a nationwide favorite
of tea party activists.” My little town of Dayton, Iowa (population 837) is
half-way through today’s 84-mile segment.
Today was a microcosm of the liberal ideals of community,
fellowship, and social involvement. My 1880’s “workman’s Victorian” house was
right on the route, just after the downtown events that included food
concessions, a live band, and a dunking tank. As the bicyclists accelerated
down a 1-block incline and past me, in my wheelchair by the curb with a
political sign, I still had plenty of interactions.
Also, because my house fronts Main Street with a
shade-tree-packed double lot, dozens of riders at a time stopped to
