Many many years ago, I am guessing it was in 1984 (which would have made me about 8 years old), my parents took me to a political rally. Both of my parents are pretty a-political (or rather they were way back then*), but I think they kind of liked Reagan. Apparently, the entire country liked Reagan it seems.
We went to the nearby train station where we saw President Reagan waving from the caboose of a train. My parents had dressed my sister and I up in red, white and blue and had us paint big signs saying “Reagan and Bush!” Those pictures will one day be used to blackmail me, I am sure.
While that rally clearly didn’t make me a Republican, I do remember the excitement of seeing The President. To an eight year old, I think that is a pretty big deal.
There was a rally with Senator Obama here today. I had idealistic ideas about taking the girls so they could see a little bit of history being made. Even though Mr. A and I have agreed to not dress them in campaign Tshirts until a democratic nominee is selected (after that, they may have an entire Obama wardrobe), it would still be fun to try to get their picture with Senator Obama.
Then I realized that the doors opened at 8:30 and I usually don’t get up until 8:00. And I would have had to take M out of school for the morning (thus no time to hear myself think today). And we most likely would have had to stand in a couple inches of fresh snow while waiting to get in. And they probably wouldn’t let me bring my stroller so I would have had to lug all 24 lbs. of bundled up L in her ergo carrier.
So I weighed the benefits of being a part of American history against being cold, tired and annoyed. In the end, sleeping in won out.
Maybe next time.
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*This was back before I tried to convince my swing-voter mother to listen to NPR. She tried, but thought the droning was too boring. So she started listening to Rush Limbaugh and became a crazy conservative Republican footsoldier. Why can’t I just keep my damn mouth shut sometimes?
I never ever loved Reagan and I’m still not sure what his appeal was all about. I really don’t understand the Rush Limbaugh-school of broadcasting (propaganda). To me, NPR just makes more sense since it’s not people shouting among themselves and at everyone else. It’s people speaking at a sensible level about the events of the world.
OMG I would have sold my grandmother to go to that rally. Well, hopefully you will have many more opportunities… I can’t wait for him to win the nomination and come back to my state.
I wanted to go but couldn’t steal away from work. Then I found out it ran late and didn’t start until noon. So now I’m really glad I wasn’t stuck there.
Next time I will go with you, too. As much as we loved seeing Robert Post, it PAINED me to be at the Wexner Center mere steps away… Rats. (I didn’t even know when Hillary was in town. I would have liked to take Noah to hear her, too.)
i’m pretty sure sleeping in *always* wins for me.
i LOVED president reagan when i was a kid. i wanted him to be my grandpa.
one day during the last campaign i went to my parents’ house to pick up fisher and he was wearing a 48570 sizes too big bush/cheney shirt that my dad had put on him. that went in the
fireplacegiveaway pile REAL quick-like.Ha! The thought of you wearing red, white, & blue at a Reagan rally is really….strange.
When I was about 7, I asked my mom what party we were and she said Democrat. I’ve been loyal to the party ever since (at some point I did actually look at the issues and make that decision for myself.) Of course, I started indoctrinating my own children before they’d even graduated to solid food.
Do you read “Daddy, Pappa, and Me?”
Trey and his (5 year old?) daughter are split Clinton-Obama.
See http://www.lathefamily.org/2008/02/a_personal_primary.shtml
I tried to see him here…love him…but when I drove over I could already see the lines were 5 people wide and completely wrapped around the Target Center. When I turned the corner I noticed the lines stretched two block long. Needlesstosay, I decided not to try to find a parking spot or to find the end of the line. I was bummed.
I’m guessing that it would have been insane with two kids waiting in the line. But still, it would have been cool!
Go Obama!!
I Voted Against Reagan in the children’s poll that year. I was the only child in my entire elementary school who did so, and I paid for it, too.
My mother has become ultra conservative too in her old(er) age. I remember the 1984 election because I was walking around with a Mondale/Ferraro bumper sticker across my back as I shoved campaign literature under windshield wipers and tried to get away before people starting screaming at my 12 yr old self.
About 10 years ago (maybe longer) I had a VERY long commute and would listen to Rush ’cause it would keep me awake (Dr. Laura too…gross)….I’d be sitting there, driving alone screaming and yelling and cussing at the radio. You should have seen the looks I got from other drivers (they stayed away!LOL). I’d get home all riled up and still upset and tell my husband all about and he’d say “why do you listen then?” and I’d reply “gotta know what the enemy is up to…besides….it keeps me awake” – it was better than coffee I tell ya.
I keep thinking I want to take my kiddo (she is 9 so at least I don’t have to worry about strollers) to a political rally or something meaninful but I’m slightly afraid of crowds and crowd mentallity…I have a hard enough time at a movie theater…but maybe in the future (if it’s not early…I don’t do mornings either!LOL)
Huh, and here I was imagining you at that rally and looking forward to reading a post about it ; )
I of course voted for Fritz (Mondale) in my first election, but outside of MN, the country was indeed in love with Reagan. My little sister still hasn’t outgrown that love. I don’t get it, at all-except that the 80s were a very scary time economically-several of my friends’ parents lost executive jobs, the kind you don’t usually lose- and people needed something-like a movie star, I guess. ~lmc
My mother started watching Fox News all the time and she loves Bill O’Reilly. It’s painful. I find myself constantly surprised that my mother now holds some of the views she holds. Has she changed them drastically, or did I just not really know what they were growing up? I dunno. I do keep wondering how I came from the home of these people. We have a rule against Fox News being on in our house. It will interesting to see how that goes when she comes to visit.
My Dad starts twitching at the mere mention of Ronald Reagan. Thank God!
Bummer that you missed the rally, but being in that key Ohio swing state, I’d say you’ll get another chance.
You don’t have to get up util 8:00am?
Our daughter had been home less than 48 hours when we went for a walk in our neighborhood. My spouse pointed at the houses with American flags and explained, “Our neighbors our republicans, but we believe in respecting all people, even the ones we don’t agree with.” It was our little political orientation program!
OMG, how unfortunate that you unwittingly handed your mom over to that Limbaugh guy!! I’m sorry for you. And although it’s probably extremely embarrassing for you to have those photos, I feel SO CURIOUS to see them!
I’m sorry you had to give up on your thoughts or making history…
Thanks for the link to the “Obama wardrobe” photos — awesome!