cheap thrills

Cheap Thrills: Getting to the Inauguration

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

ThCharlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-20050715091937147ese Inauguration Day tickets have taken on a life of their own. It’s like some Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Golden Ticket madness up in here.

A virtual friend of mine (we met through a blog—so millennial!) wrote a heartfelt letter to her senators requesting inauguration tickets… and received a pair, on the spot!  That’s an impossibility today, though, because every senator and congressperson is keeping a 1,000-person wait list.

Knowing this, I decided to draft a letter of my own, send it to PA senators Specter and Casey, and also send a copy as a submission to Philly Daily News’ opinion section. And just my luck, they published my letter today!

Here’s a link to the Philly Daily News publication, and here’s a copy of the full letter.

________________________

Dear Sens. Specter and Casey,

I’m sure you’ve both heard it a million times.

What an Obama presidency represents for this country. How invaluable a ticket to his inauguration would be. And, finally, a request for one. I can’t say that my reasons for writing you are any different, or that my claim to a ticket is any stronger than the next Pennsylvanian’s.

What I can do is tell you a short story.

The story takes place in Port Richmond, Philadelphia, where my father grew up. The second oldest in a family of four Italian boys, my dad spent his childhood skinning his knees alongside neighborhood buddies in a schoolyard across the street from his family’s modest middle-class row house.

Grammar school became Junior High. Stickball bats became cigarette butts. And my studious father became the outsider. He was teased for his love of music, his glasses, his clothes… even his hair.

His thick, curly hair. His “nigger” hair, as the kids put it.

Fast-forward 20 years to find his nine-year old biracial daughter, me, playing with my Caucasian cousin in the exact same schoolyard of my dad’s childhood.

It’s the moment when I am first called the n-word to my face. And the moment when an inexplicable bond forms between my cousin and me. Because my cousin not only came to my aid, but he actually chased away my aggressors—who were about eight years older and 18 inches taller than him.

I’ve noticed a new energy across the country since Obama became the Democratic nominee, and even felt it among complete strangers. It’s in the slight upturn of the corners of their mouths. In the knowing glow in their eyes. And in the pronounced statement they made on November 4, 2008.

I think of this energy as the same inherent urge to overcome ancient barriers demonstrated by my cousin so long ago. It’s also the reason why I’d like to attend Obama’s Inauguration on January 20th. To witness the strength and the courage of Americans like my father, my cousin, and the millions of strangers in between—Americans who made their will for something new loud and clear.

Because Obama’s Inauguration is a celebration of his presidency, sure, but to me it’s more a celebration of all the Americans who made this day possible.

Please let me know if there’s a ticket available for me.

Sincerely,
Ms. Ryan D’Angelo Barrett

_________________

I’m traveling to D.C. for Inauguration Day regardless of whether or not I receive a ticket to the event. My whole family lives in D.C., and I’d be remiss to miss this opportunity to witness history being made alongside my family. But still… having a ticket would be pretty sweet ☺

What are your Inauguration Day plans?

This post originally appeared on Ryan Barrett’s blog, Cheap Thrills.

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Cheap Thrills: Celebrating Obama’s Blackness

Monday, November 10th, 2008

Newsflash: Obama is the first (half) African-American president of the United States of America. He’s Black! Yay!

I recently attended Essence Magazine’s Woman Who Are Shaping the World Leadership Summit—an event attended nearly exclusively by African-Americans. And in this company, we as a group enjoyed what I like to call “first Black president glee”… and we enjoyed it with pride and vigor.

But conversely, I’ve found that in mixed race or predominantly White company (where I usually dwell), I feel an urgency to either dampen or gloss over said excitement. To subtly sneak it in between praise of Obama’s healthcare and tax plans. Perhaps I assume that mentioning my joy, as a single-standing issue, will prompt eye-rolls.  Anger. Or worse, fear. And, judging from comments made by McCain supporter Leah Moreland on NPR’s October 24th episode of All Things Considered, perhaps I’m right.PH2008110102403

But maybe not. Because just this weekend, I’ve read numerous stories from major news outlets  discussing the historic nature of Obama’s presidential bid as it pertains to race. One piece in particular really got me: the Washington Post profiled 3 African-American voters, all of whom are over 90 years old. Here’s a clip from the article:

Arthur Greene, 91, uses a wheelchair and rarely leaves his Arlington County home except for church on Sundays and doctor’s appointments. But he wasn’t going to miss this chance to vote.

About a month ago, when Meals on Wheels brought Greene his meal, they also dropped off an absentee ballot. Greene remembers growing up in Jim Crow Virginia, looking for restaurants that didn’t display “white only” signs in Rosslyn or Baileys Crossroads, or being forced to ride in the back of the trolleys between Arlington and the District.

“I never thought it would happen in my lifetime,” he said of Obama’s campaign. “I think if I can see this and if it happens, I’ll thank my lucky stars and my God for letting me live so long to be able to see the advancements of my people.”

Greene spent most of his life working as an exterminator, traveling to large houses in the white, affluent Virginia suburbs such as Vienna and Falls Church. At times, some of the homeowners wouldn’t allow him inside.

“I was trying to make a living the best I knew how,” he recalled.

(P.S. That’s not Arthur Greene pictured above. That’s Ruth Worthy, 91, who has been canvassing for Obama once or twice a week in Washington, D.C.)

I know I support Obama for the whole package and not just the packaging. But, for better or worse, the packaging still makes a difference in this country. And these testimonies… wow. They hit me on such a deep level. A level no economic policy speech can reach.

And I know I’m not alone in this. Black people feel the pride, but I’m guessing people of other races do too. So let’s all try just being OPEN with our “first Black president glee”. We can all embrace it, because we all made it happen. Together.

Related: NYT – Obama-Inspired Black Voters Warm to Politics

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Cheap Thrills: Ryan Barrett Discovers Black Voters for McCain

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

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Strange election anecdote from Miami Beach, FL—

Just got back from a fun-filled weekend with friends in South Beach, Florida. Though dancing ‘til 5am was top-of-mind for me and my cohort, we kept two other current events at a high second: the ALCS and, of course, the presidential race.

It seemed two Obama spots ran on a loop during each baseball game: the “unravel” ad, and the one I like to call  “many faces of McCain” (an ad that I find equal parts hilarious and unsettling).

We also spotted quite a few Obama signs in store windows, Obama bumper stickers (including one on a taxi cab—is that legal?), and a bonafide Obama-gear store.

On the McCain end? To our observation, no T.V. spots running (we even tuned in to Fox News… for as long as we could stomach it) and limited support signage. However, on our last vacation day, we did run into some HARDCORE McCain supporters, out in full force.

Who were these McCain fans, you wonder? Three Black supporters! Ingenious. One—an older gentleman—was clearly native African; the other two (both women) might have been African-American. Though I didn’t get a photo of them, I did obtain one of their most peculiar fliers. It got all crumpled in my bag (oops!), but I have included a photo regardless.

I’m particularly impressed with the fifth line: “Adding ‘sexual orientation’ to the definition of hate crimes”. Obama supports it, McCain opposes it. Maybe you aren’t for same-sex marriages. Ok, fine. But to be opposed to providing protection against violence directed at LGTB individuals? That’s flat-out brutal and heartless.

And, of course, the eighth line, “US Senate vote declaring English as the official language of the U.S. Government” (McCain supports, Obama opposes). How ironic—it was clear the African man who handed me this flier spoke very limited English.

Anyway, early voting in Florida begins today. So we’ll see if these three represented a larger Miami voting block… or just themselves.

This post originally appeared at Ryan Barrett’s Cheap Thrills.

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Cheap Thrills: Ryan Barrett on McCain and Palin’s Angry Mobs

Friday, October 10th, 2008

“Kill him!”, “Terrorist!”, “Sit down boy!”— Sounds from the latest McCain/Palin rallies

UPDATE: (10.9.08) Just found this on Ben Smith’s blog over at Politico. Man-on-the-street interviews from a McCain/Palin rally in Strongsville, OH.

Secret Service is looking into the “KILL HIM” threat yelled during Palin’s rally in Clearwater, FL. No thanks to the McCain/Palin campaign.

I attended two Obama rallies during the primaries. At each one, Obama made a point of praising Sen. Clinton for her many achievements, calling her a worthy opponent. At one of the rallies during this praise, someone in the audience booed. No words, no threats. Just a boo.

(more…)

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Cheap Thrills: Thoughts On Last Night’s VP Debate

Friday, October 3rd, 2008


The spin room…get it???

I haven’t yet read anything from the spin room. I’ve only talked to a handful of people at length. So I thought this’d be the optimal time, before my mind gets totally corrupted, to give my short two cents on last night’s debate.

  1. Most importantly – Biden kicked ass. He was clear and straightforward, but also honest and gracious. When he spoke, I believed every word he said.
  2. Biden also showed tremendous restraint. I know that’s what he had to do, but man I really wish he had pounced on some of Palin’s responses. She flubbed names and circled the issues, and I really wish Biden had called her on it.
  3. On that note – umm, seriously Palin? Winking at the audience and dodging literally ALL the questions? We must have heard about her energy policy 5 times, if not more. We know she governs the HUGE, energy-producing state of Alaska, but she have anything else to talk about?
  4. But because Palin sounded literate, we will hear the “she nailed it!” spin. Of course. So, Palin, bravo for stringing sentences together. You get a Reading Rainbow certificate of appreciation.
  5. And I’m just going to throw this out there: How the HELL are we going to solve the environmental crisis if we don’t first acknowledge the cause of the problem? Logically, that makes ZERO sense.
  6. The format sucked. Big time. It favored canned speeches and memorized answers.
  7. Along those lines, with all due respect to Ifill, I really wish she had demanded that each candidate (Palin more so) stick to the issue at hand. I remember watching the primary debates, and man oh man Tim Russert really forced the candidates to answer the actual questions. I would have liked to see something similar from Ifill. Oh well.
  8. And one other thing, are you kidding me with the “McCain suspended his campaign for the economy” play? McCain didn’t save the economy. He barely “suspended” his campaign, if at all. Can we just call that for what it was – a pure political play?

There’s my pre-spin room rant. If you watched the debate last night, what did you think?

This post originally appeared on Ryan’s blog Cheap Thrills.

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