Our Time Is Now

Our Time Is Now

Adult nonfiction
"Voter suppression--from getting on the rolls to having those
votes count--is real. But Americans need a robust understanding of
what suppression looks like today. Today the ones barring access have
shifted from using billy clubs and hoses to using convoluted rules to
make it harder to register and stay on the rolls, cast a ballot, or
have that ballot counted. To move forward, we must understand the
extent to which the shrinking conservative minority will go to create
barriers to democracy..."
I voted a little differently this year out of COVID caution. I
received my ballot in the mail and turned it in early. Normally on
election day it takes about ten minutes from having my name checked
off to getting an I voted sticker. I've also had the surreal
experience of seeing my name on the ballot a number of times. And,
yes, I did vote for myself.
I knew that for a lot of people this rite of citizenship is
nowhere as easy or even possible. I'd keep reading news stories of
the disenfranchisement of people, especially Black people, by all
kinds of devious means. But I had no idea what I could do to help
improve matters when I couldn't even grasp the whole picture. It was
like getting a few pieces of a jigsaw puzzle here, a few there. I
couldn't even fill in the edges.
In Our Time Is Now Stacey Abrams gives us the whole boxed puzzle
with the picture on the cover. Through a seamless blend of research
and anecdotes (some of them heartbreaking) she shows readers all the
points at which the most basic right of citizenship can be stolen.
She also goes into great detail in a discussion of why the census
really matters and why the usual undercount of the most vulnerable
residents is a very bad thing.
One of my favorite parts of the book is the one in which Abrams
totally trashes the electoral college. It was created as a desperate
bid to keep the slave holding states from fleeing the union before it
even got off the ground. It let their slaves be counted as 3/5 humans
while not being allowed to vote. It's equally dysfunctional today.
Candidates have lost by millions in the popular vote and won in the
electoral college...
...Isn't it time for a more representative process?
I also love how Abrams reminds us that national and state level
offices aren't the only ones that matter. She explicitly mentions
school boards as legislative bodies that can make a difference or fail
to do so.
When Veazie was part of RSU26 (along with Orono and Glenburn) we
were debating adding prekindergarten classes for four-year-olds. The
possible benefits to children conflicted with the perrenial OMG! This
will cost money! It wasn't a done deal. Another member stood up and
said it would be a waste of taxpayer dollars. The parents in low
income families didn't care. They didn't even go to meetings. I saw
red. I didn't wait to be called on. I stood up and enumerated all
the reasons (shift work, lack of transport, babysitter unaffordability
etc.) these parents couldn't come. I told him that those parents had
to deal with challenges he couldn't imagine and that they cared very
deeply about their children's education.
I sat down. The rest of the board looked stunned. I didn't
show the customary restraint expected of elected public officials out
in public. But the audience (and the place was packed) was on its
feet agreeing with me. The chair called a ten minute break. When we
reconvened we voted in favor of preK.
I think Abrams would have enjoyed that meeting. What we did was
take a step toward not leaving our more vulnerable kids behind.
Abrams believes that there are a lot of ways we can work on
making our nation great for the first time in gauranteeing this
fundamental right. If you want a clear picture of the evils of voter
suppression and ways to help end it you'll find Our Time Is Now to be
a must read.
On a purrrsonal note, I hope you had an awesome weekend. I sure did!
The highlight, of course, was Adam and Asia coming by to deliver
presents. We had a wonderful visit. They got to meet Tobago for the
first time which was really special. No matter what they delivered
for presents, the biggest gift they had for Eugene, Tobago, and me was
showing up to deliver rather than going the FedEx route.
I went to zoom church which was good. I also received an unexpected
food box from my church.
Eugene bought some treats when he did shopping: two boxes of
raspberries which are a favorite delicacy of mine, bagels and cream
cheese, a big old pizza which meant no supper cooking last night, and
tonight, ingredients for cookie baking (today I'm gonna bake chocolate
chip cookies and later in the week I'm gonna try a sugar cookies with
crushed peppermint candy canes), and flowers. He also got cat treats
and cat toys. Tobago is going to have her Christmas stocking. (Jules)
A very special day is coming up in two days: my fourth birthday and
my first anniversary of being a Hathaway. I decree that all shall
celebrate. I like that word decree. Gotta use it more often. (Tobago)
A great big shout out goes out to Adam, Asia, Eugene, our church
family, and you, our readers, with wishes for a solstice renewal of
hope.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway


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