Sunday, September 14, 2008

Feeling a Little Less Helpless
Against the Political Machine

'I spend a great deal of time walking during which I listen to a great deal of political discussion. I try to select programs that balance the red and the blue. There is much disagreement between those two primary colors, but there is also one point of agreement: Ohio is a key state in the upcoming election. Some pollsters and pundits believe Ohio voters will determine who our next president will be. "It will come down to Ohio," they say. I am not a big or important person. I often feel helpless against the political machine. But I am in Ohio and I can write. I am using this humble skill in order to promote my political inclinations and I urge you to do the same. Whether you ride the donkey or the elephant, or whether you would prefer to remain neutral and simply promote voter registration, write about it. Use whatever means you have: blogs, comments, letters, publications. This is one power we possess. If there was ever a moment in history when it could make a difference, it's right now.'
--from a note my friend Erin O'Brien recently sent to a flock of fellow writers.

15 Comments:

At 4:00 PM, Blogger Erin O'Brien said...

Thanks for the shout. I hope Ohio writers heed the message.

 
At 10:22 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ohio has been a battleground state for quite some time. I love what Erin has been doing with her site lately. It's imperative we all vote. Even though my state is pretty much decided or "promised," it will not deter me to vote against the grain.

 
At 10:27 AM, Blogger John Ettorre said...

Thanks for visiting Eric, and especially for joining the conversation. We adore first-time commenters around here. I found your blog quite interesting, and your bio even more fascinating:

http://swine.wordpress.com/about/

Here's hoping you'll come back and add your perspectives whenever the spirit moves you.

 
At 12:58 PM, Blogger Geoff Schutt said...

I'm a native Ohio writer (born and grew up in the boomtown, Toledo), and have been following Erin's words for some time now. (Back in April, Erin was kind enough to be interviewed for my site, "This Side of Paradise.") She's tapped into a whole lot of nerves with her recent postings/writings (and probably made "some" people nervous). That is indeed the power of words. I'm for Obama, not only because I'm for change, but because I'm for hope. Without the hope, it would be difficult to keep on writing. Kudos to Erin, and to all writers who are making their words matter.

 
At 1:10 PM, Blogger John Ettorre said...

Dear Alex (Swine), sorry to get your name wrong initially. I hope folks will follow the link and check out your blog. Ditto for you, Geoff. You have some impressive writing credits, and I'm thrilled you've stopped by and left a comment. I fell blessed to have had three first-time commenters leave their thoughts today, and the day is still young. Here's hoping it won't be the last we hear from you.

 
At 1:24 PM, Blogger Geoff Schutt said...

John -- thank you -- for stopping by. And thanks to Erin, I've discovered your site. We're all kindred spirits, with the words.
-- Geoff, at "This Side of Paradise"

 
At 1:26 PM, Blogger John Ettorre said...

You said it, Geoff. Glad that Erin has connected us without even really intending to.

 
At 5:26 PM, Blogger Erin O'Brien said...

Hello gentlemen and thanks,

Erin "No Lipstick Here" O'Brien

 
At 5:29 PM, Blogger John Ettorre said...

Your many fans are coming out of the woodwork, O'B. Glad you've helped turn me on to some of them.

 
At 7:18 PM, Blogger Diane Vogel Ferri said...

I'm also a Cleveland writer and blogger - I promised myself when I started the blog a year ago that I would not touch politics - but the past month has been too good to pass up. I'll stop back.

 
At 7:39 PM, Blogger John Ettorre said...

Welcome, Diane. So glad you stopped by. I'm not sure we've ever had an entire week with four new commenters around here, but you're the fourth one today. So glad to learn about your fine blog, and congratulations on your soon-to-be-published poetry collection. I could almost feel your excitement through the screen.

 
At 7:45 PM, Blogger John Ettorre said...

By the way, I laughed long and hard over your artful description of your husband on your Blogger user profile: "excellent in the kitchen, and in other rooms as well." You probably made him blush (if he even knows about it), but I thought that was a lovely touch. Good writers have a way of leaving a trail of such small but lovely sentiments.

 
At 6:57 AM, Blogger Erin O'Brien said...

To hell with art. I love to screw my husband. How else could I tolerate him for all these years?

 
At 8:20 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

hey now...
some of us are good in other rooms
in other ways, too.
for example,
i'm a wiz with the Dyson.
and i do windows, as well.

John, thanks for stopping by and reading.

My version of writing about politics is incarnated in my post to-day.

 
At 8:25 AM, Blogger John Ettorre said...

There are all kinds of ways of being artful, Erin, and you've artfully made me laugh. I'm so glade to learn the attraction remains.

Alex, I love the poem today. Who, indeed, put these people in charge? I hope other readers will stop by and check you out:

http://swine.wordpress.com/

 

Post a Comment

<< Home