I grew up in a state where "Wisconsin nice" was not only taught by parents, but practiced at all times. As a child, if you weren't polite, there was hell to pay when you got back home.
Gemütlichkeit was an unwritten law.
Gemütlichkeit means a situation that induces a cheerful mood, peace of mind, with connotation of belonging and social acceptance, coziness and unhurry.
The Wikipedia definition doesn't really convey what Gemütlichkeit really is. This example does:
If we saw someone lost who asked for directions, we would routinely say we were "going the same way" and saw to it that they got to their destination even when were actually going in the opposite direction.
We wanted people to feel comfortable, welcome, and at ease. It's what Top Comments tries to do every night.
This is a nice refuge since an onslaught of polarization starting with the hate talkers in the 1980s has made my own state virtually unrecognizable. So, sit back, take your shoes off, and make yourself comfy.
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Please come in. You're invited to make yourself at home! Join us beneath the doodle...
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I had something else planned for tonight, but seeing this changed my mind.
If you click over to the link you'll see a diary written by Mary Burke, who lost the Wisconsin Gubernatorial election Tuesday (please take the time to read the whole thing). She stopped by to say thanks to the DK community and to remind us:
13 months ago we started an improbable, incredible journey together. And soon after, I hung a poster on the wall of my campaign office that has always had special meaning to me.
It's a poster of Coach Lombardi, with my favorite quote of his, it reads: "It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up."
Yes, Vince Lombardi is still a god-like figure in Wisconsin.
I have often said it this way:
It's not how many times you get knocked down, but how many times we get up that counts.
What's remarkable is that she took the time other candidates haven't - to come back AFTER an election is over to say "thanks" for all the support she received.
We always have a parade of candidates coming in to fundraise, but few, like Alan Grayson and Bernie Sanders, stick around between elections. And I can't think of another one who stopped back in to express their appreciation (I'm sure someone will remind me of any I've forgotten) after an unsuccessful campaign.
Mary Burke lost to the Scott Walker juggernaut and we are all having a sad over that. She remains a class act and great example of "Wisconsin nice".
Thank you, Mary. You're classy.
And many thanks to all the Kossacks who donated time, money and effort to defeat Scott Walker. Particular thanks to all the remote phone bankers who gave their time and intellect for hours at a time to talk to voters. You had to be knowledgeable about what's going on in Wisconsin to even start to talk to folks on the phone which meant additional preparation time.
While we didn't get the results we all wanted and deserved, it wasn't in vain. In Wisconsin we had record turnout for a mid term election, nearly as high as turnout for the 2012 recall and Presidential elections. And that's a big accomplishment.
Thanks, Kossacks. You rocked the vote.
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