Double-Consciousness

"It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others. . . . One ever feels his twoness,an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warrings ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder."

-- W.E.B. Du Bois(1868-1963), The Souls of Black Folk

Hope Network: Election Edition!

This campaign has gone on quite a while, huh?! Sure there is negative campaigning going on, yet I find great hope in the numbers of people turning out to vote! Ok, I admit we as a nation have a rather sad record in terms of voting rates--Australia and Malta are at like 95%-(I'm all for tax breaks for voters, like $50: who's with me?) But early voting has caused quite a stir across the country. According to the AP, early voting has tripled since 2004. And voters in one Georgia county stood in line until 10:30 p.m. last week to cast ballots.

In Florida, there were such long waits for early voting- over five hours in some places- that Gov. Charlie Crist had to step in and sign an executive order extending early voting hours to accommodate the masses. And the Florida A&M marching band entertained one group of early voters at a polling station (right).

So let's get out there on Tuesday if you haven't already done so! This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land...