Friends,
Thousands of Bloomingtonians filled Kirkwood Avenue last Sunday the 29th for a Bicentennial Party, making a spectacular scene. We weren’t sure how many would show up for the event – first of its kind – but beautiful weather and bountiful imaginations brought a flood of people enjoying food trucks and art booths and reenactments and music and poetry and more.
It was a reminder that as a community we need to keep trying new things and seeing what fits. For example, this coming weekend welcomes our first “Granfalloon,” a three-day celebration of Hoosier writer Kurt Vonnegut. Check out details here. (Btw spoiler alert – be ready for a new Fourth of July experience! Stay tuned for details....)
And it’s a really important reminder that change happens because people make it happen.
Today is Election Day – an ultimate example of people making change happen. Voters making changes. And candidates putting themselves on the line forchange.
So first – BE SURE TO VOTE!! I know most of you have or will. Just be sure, and tell your friends and family too. It’s the foundation of our democracy, and how we improve things.
And second – HUG A CANDIDATE!! I don’t know how our elections will turn out, but I know EVERY Democratic candidate deserves a hug thanking them for putting themselves on the line and advocating for progressive change. I really mean it, whether a candidate prevails or not, they deserve our thanks and respect for competing and making this big messy democracy better. I promise you, candidates appreciate a sincere hug of thanks after a tough campaign.
So: Vote and Hug! And no doubt many will be doing FAR more than that today for candidates. Thanks for ALL you do, as supporters, volunteers, candidates, advocates.
Democratically Yours,
John
Ps: Consider gathering at Democratic Party Headquarters Election Night to watch returns come in (116 S. Madison Street), or at Liz Watson’s watch party at Nick’s on Kirkwood.