Letter to the editor

My fellow Norse,

I hope you don’t mind if I take this time to personally congratulate the LC Democrats, the LC Students for Obama and any other overly-obsessed organizers of the Obama “Rally for Change Ice Cream Social” that took place in the Brunsdale Lounge recently. It certainly got me “Fired Up!” and “Ready to go!” Shut off the constant thumping and droning that was keeping me from my homework!

But now that I’ve had some time to think about it, I may have been overreacting. All you did was play your music so loudly that it penetrated the walls of my room, and that’s really not such a rare occurrence when you live in Dieseth.

I mean, it’s not like you were plastering “Vote for Obama” décor on every single door handle, wallpapering the insides of the elevators with Obama-Biden propaganda or handing out pro-Obama leaflets under the guise of “Information for Early Voting.” And you certainly did not stake Obama Banners into the ground by Ylvi on Early Voting Day (may I also mention it is illegal to advertise at a polling site?). That would have been extremely irritating, obnoxious and downright annoying.

Oh, wait…

Now, I have no problem with political gatherings or people sharing their views; on the contrary, I was impressed by the fact that many of you came door-to-door to speak with those of us who remain in that “undecided” category (I did not receive such a personal visit from the LC Republicans). But I do not appreciate having that “O” stare me down everywhere I go. It’s now emblazoned on my retinas. I should make an appointment with the “O” doctor—no, not that one—the optometrist. But perhaps I’m not the only one who should go; many Obama supporters seem to share a resemblance to blind lemmings…

To the Barack-backers: if you’re reading this and getting emotional, you’re proving my point; I’m not criticizing your boy or his campaign. In fact, he may very well end up being a better president than McCain could ever be, but “Yes, we can!” say something about how the local O-team presents itself.

Most of us will not meet either of the candidates in person, so our only contact with them is through local outreach groups and how they conduct themselves. Over-zealotry will not win my vote. Neither will loud music or ice cream sundaes, for that matter. To be sure, Ol’ Johnny M. and Sarah P. don’t impress me much, but their followers generally do. They have a regal sense of class about them that doesn’t make me feel like I’m joining the mob. They share a rational, rather than emotional attraction to their man and woman.

Something can be learned from this, and it is a simple concept: don’t tell me who to vote for, explain to me why. Emotional attachment to a candidate is a dangerous phenomenon; don’t let yourself become a rabid lemming.

Convincing a fellow citizen to vote is a very patriotic and noble goal, but telling him or her who to vote for is another thing entirely. Go ahead and post the generic “Vote Early” posters, but don’t put an Obama-Biden placard (or twelve) right next to them. Save those for your room and your door, not mine.

Sincerely hoping for change at Luther College,

Don Stein (‘11)