I am a pointy-headed East Coast intellectual. Worse, I’m a member of the media, so you know I’m a latte-sippin’, literary-fiction-readin’, ACLU card-carryin’ member with platinum privileges. In the past, when I heard the word “Wisconsin,” I thought of blizzards and bad domestic beer. And I thought of Packer fans, standing in a blizzard, holding a can of bad domestic beer, wearing day-glo orange wedges on their heads that did nothing for their silhouettes.
But I have been closely following the Recall Walker effort. And I stand before you, transformed.
Follow me, if you will, over the Great Orange Satan’s gate-post.
I have never been so impressed with a group of people as I am with all of the Badgers who have quietly and with great persistence fought back against Scott Walker.
Weekly community sing alongs? Standing on cold overpasses holding lighted signs? Corny, as hell! Hello, hello, calling Mr. Capra! And yet, so wonderfully inspiring.
Often, the political news is depressing. I read my favorite blogs, and think “Why am I spending so much time with the nasty and stupid assholes who dominate the public space?”
Then I read a post from GilesGoatBoy, or another Wisconsinite about what’s happening up North and I am immediately cheered.
I say this in all sincerity, and without a hint of hyperbole: You, mighty Badgers, are heroes of Democracy! Keep up the good work! You have many, many fans out there. I know you will not be deterred by sign-stealers, the Koch brothers, poll numbers – anyone or thing that tries to suppress you. And when you choose an opponent, pick a good one, and I’m opening my wallet, because we all have a stake in this battle. You represent everything that is right about America.
As a reporter, I have been watching the wealthy and powerful run roughshod over everyone else for some time: starting pointless wars of all kinds, bullying the vulnerable, taking from the poor to give to the rich. I wrote my little stories pointing these things out and wondered: When will people wake up? People, Wisconsin is wide awake and you are a model for the rest of us.
Keep us posted – don’t leave out any details. I am hanging on every word.
I may not like Pabst and I don’t follow football. I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing cheese on my head, but I love Wisconsin.
All hail the Mighty Badgers!