"I WILL!" VOTING IN THE GEORGIA RUNOFF ELECTION.

I have sent out 15,300 texts as a volunteer with the Poor People's Campaign to Get Out The Vote in the Georgia runoff.  I want to tell you today about the reply that meant the most.

Parenthetically, the Poor People's Campaign GOTV texting is nonpartisan, although I can tell from many of the replies that some people perceive a partisan bent toward the re-election of Senator Warnock, which is not the case with the PPC's texting.  I have also sent out 50 nonpartisan GOTV letters for a different organization, and 100 partisan postcards for other organizations to re-elect Senator Warnock in this runoff.

The replies to my texting have used one certain curse word, many of them.  A significant percentage, but not nearly half, maybe 20% of the replies have used the "f" word.  They do not use any curse words that begin with b, d, s, or any other letter except f.  I put the lack of vocabulary down to the sad state of American education.  But that's another issue.

Today I want to tell you about the text reply that meant the most.  Our standard Poor People's Campaign text to Get Out The Vote is a straight-forward message to vote in this important election, that every person's vote matters, and for more voting information such as voting hours and locations to click on the link provided in the text by the PPC.

The one reply that meant the most to me was more of an exchange, or in EMail terms, you might call it a string.  I do not remember the voter's name, and I would not tell you her name if I did remember it.  She replied: 

"Thank you."

I wrote back:

"Thank you as well.  Stay well and stay safe.  And … keep on voting!"

She replied again:

"I will!"

Out of the 15,300 texts I have sent so far in the Georgia runoff, this exchange means the most.  Oh, I am not saying that 15,299 texts are not good; they were and they are good.  What I am saying is that this exchange alone makes it all worthwhile for me even if there had not been 15,299 other texts.  So far.

Before I conclude this simple report, I want to add a simple message.  We, all of us, me included, often go through each day without realizing the positive effects our words and actions have on other people every ordinary day.  We don't have to be a United States Senator or something like that in order to have an effect.  We can make a contribution even without special words or actions.  I knew that, but I kind of forgot it for a while.  This unknown person texting replies in Georgia has reminded me of that.

Please read the disclaimer.  ©2022 Dennis J. Wall.  All rights reserved.

Comments

[Jay4Earth]

Hi Dennis! Wow. "I Will!" How simple, and yet a great reminder of what even getting out ONE vote can do for our democracy and future. Thank you for this sharing, and for everything we've done together in this season of action to bolster the crucial nature of our Democracy.

Forward Together,

Jay and the PPC Texting Team <3