I spent the weekend walking around Sioux Falls, SD canvassing for the SD Campaign for Healthy Families. I have to admit, I was a little nervous about going out on a Sat. and Sun. morning to talk about abortion. After all, who wants to talk about fetuses before they’ve had their second cup of coffee?
It went really, really well. On Sat. a lot of people weren’t home, which was kind of a disappointment. On Sunday, however, I got such a phenomenal response. People thanked me for doing what I was doing and, to be honest, I was kind of unprepared for that sort of response. All I could stammer out was “oh, no thank you for voting no on 11.” Even those people who weren’t sure were receptive and supportive. I mean, nobody called me a “baby killer” or offered to pray for my uterus.
Now I can say the little spiel in my sleep: “Hi, I’m Ashley and I’m from the SD Campaign for Healthy Families. I’m here to let you know that there is another abortion ban on the ballot this November…” blah blah blah it goes on from there.
It is a little harder than I thought to sound genuinely excited and interested after I’ve said that four hundred times in 2 warm and humid days. I think I do okay– I just keep smiling which, in my mind, counts as genuine. Who doesn’t like a smiling girl on their doorstep?
Once I started canvassing all those fears and concerns I had a week ago went away. It was kind of one of those moments when I thought, “yeah, this is the right thing to do and it does feel good. I do believe in this and I know that I’m on the right side.”
My favorite post-canvas snack: a cookie, some iced cofffee, and my blog…
2 responses so far ↓
1 Carlyn // Jul 23, 2008 at 4:16 pm
You! You’re doing some good things in South Dakota! Me, I’m helping oil companies get away with killing Nigerians. Woops, am I allowed to say that?
Anyhow. 1) Miss you, lady! 2) I need help (if you can give it)!
I’ve decided to write my personal statement for law school on California’s no-fault divorces and how they financially affect the cheated-on spouse. It has personal relevance, since my grandmother has been paying my grandfather spousal support for 16 years even though he cheated on her and has a domestic partnership with the woman he cheated on her with.
I’ve done some research already – I pulled some articles from databases via Georgetown, and I’m planning on going to Stanford’s library, but since you’re an honorary librarian AND an advocate for family rights, I thought perhaps you might know of some resources I’m missing.
I think I want to spin it as a feminist thing (fault having been rid of in marital legislation because of gendered bias) or something like policy designed to protect the innocent/underprivileged does not necessarily work on an individualized basis.
What do you think?
(Goes without saying that I’m ridiculously bored at work, and enjoy your blog.)
2 Ariel // Jul 24, 2008 at 11:33 am
Maybe your going to the wrong neighborhoods for being yelled at. Which is probably a good thing, you probably can’t change the mind in a few minutes of those who yell at you, but you can probably get those who agree to actually get out there an vote.
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