canvassing at the edge of the world

i've done a fair amount of canvassing in my day, for lots of different issues, politicians, etc... while i can't say that i ever "love" canvassing, usually i will have a couple households that are very supportive and really energize me, and that neutralizes the much larger number of negative and unsupportive households. unfortunately, it has not been so here in texas. almost all of the canvassing i have done here is in white working class/middle class neighborhoods, and i will not sugar coat it, it has been really difficult. i have walked miles in the last couple days, and it has been lonely and discouraging. those few who do support obama tend to mention it to me in hushed tones, almost like they don't want their neighbors to know. and i am pleased to note that the republican households have been polite and respectful for the most part, and have said things like "obama seems like an honorable man, good luck" or "sorry, but i have always voted republican, so i am supporting mccain". but those two types of households have been in the minority, while the clinton supporters and outright racist anti-obama households have been more the norm. and each one of those takes a little wind out of my sails.

yesterday, one of the out of state volunteers (peter, 23, who just graduated from columbia university) got attacked by a white supremest while canvassing. when he mentioned that he was an obama volunteer, the man yelled at him and three his beer bottle at him, shattering it on the wall. then he jumped up and chased him off his property, and even got in his car and followed him further, harassing him. but this didn't deter peter, and after a brief break to shake it off, he was back to finish his canvassing route, and he returned to the obama office and continued working with us until 1am. and he was back at the office first thing this morning, with a smile and determination.

there have been several points over the last two days where i have been walking down these quiet streets, alone and discouraged where i didn't want to continue, didn't want to face any more. i don't remember feeling so out of place, such a stranger in a strange land. walking alone in a foreign country, in a completely different culture never felt this alien to me. and i just had to take a deep breath and push on, reminding myself that the only way out is through, the only break is to finish my list of households and head back to the warm embrace of the obama office, where african american volunteers outnumber any other group and all in the room dream of a brighter future. and the irony of this situation is not lost on me, as an educated white male, a person of high relative privilege--i do not mean to sound like i am complaining. the contrast is just hard to take, and i just have to keep focused on the future and not the past.