jdmyprez_deo_vindice
Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2007
- Messages
- 5,437
I gave everything I had to give. Not just today.. sure... placing over 100 signs and handing out thousands of flyers at numerous polling locations only to end up sunburned and dehydrated was a task and a half but going back to 2007.. I have given everything I knew how to give. I gave money, I lead a group of 4 people into one of the largest groups in the state, I canvassed numerous towns, sign waved, called, lit dropped, been in local media numerous times, travelled to straw polls, been on radio shows.. I have spent thousands of hours on the road and even more just talking to people anywhere I could find them to listen. God knows I am not perfect and from time to time I dropped the ball but I always got up and dusted myself off and went back to it. Did I do it for a Congressman from Texas? As much as I love Ron Paul, the answer is no. After each mile travelled and every dollar spent and every person talked to I would come home to look three little kids in the eye who will grow up to inherit a world I am responsible for leaving them. I see the debt they will have, the wars they will get dragged into and the loss of liberties I just took for granted at their age.
I have seen so many of my fellow citizens just stick their heads in the sand and pretend like none of this is happening. They act as though our liberties will just always be there and that guardianship of these precious gifts falls on the shoulders of just a few. Through it all.. Through these years that I have done what I have done and through all of these years I have been blessed to call you guys true friends and compatriots.. I have seen a slow turn of the tide. Today, I witnessed people of all ages, races and backgrounds walk into the polling places after proudly calling themselves Ron Paul voters.
With 20 minutes to go I had a nurse walk out of my local polling place and walk directly to me and embrace me. She grabbed me and hugged me and kissed me on the cheek. She did not say anything for what seemed like forever and when she finally let go I saw tears in the corner of her eyes. "I left for work at 5 a.m. this morning and here you were putting up banners and now here you still are." We talked for a few moments and I mentioned how I had been to numerous locations that day and how I was doing this exact same thing in 2008 and the tears came again as she said "I know.. I saw you then as well and I laughed... i'm so sorry". She got in her car and drove away and when I looked at my watch I noticed it was 8 p.m. and time to gather signs.
I placed what few flyers I had left into my truck and tossed the bunch of signs into the back as well. I opened the door and got in and turned the key.. The engine had barely started when I grabbed the wheel and just began to weep. Probably harder than I have in years. Memories both good and bad overwhelming me. The thoughts of so many of my dearest friends in the world also giving everything they had all in the name of liberty.. It was just too much.. I sat at the wheel crying when an election official noticed and knocked on the window. I slowly let it down and she said "are you ok". I smiled and said I was fine. "Well I know your guy probably did not do well but it's ok.. God knows you tried out here". Again I smiled and assured her I was ok. "Are you sad" she asked.. I had to pause and consider that. "No.. I am not sad.. I am happy. I know that none of this was pointless and that we are winning this war". I continued on "So no, I am not sad.. I am happy because in 4 years I will be here again and the seeds planted today will have a fine harvest very soon". She smiled and walked away and finally I was able to drive on home. I walked in.. sunburned, exhausted both physically and emotionally and the first people to greet me were my kids. "Did Ron Paul win Daddy?".. "Not yet guys... but Daddy will keep trying"
I have seen so many of my fellow citizens just stick their heads in the sand and pretend like none of this is happening. They act as though our liberties will just always be there and that guardianship of these precious gifts falls on the shoulders of just a few. Through it all.. Through these years that I have done what I have done and through all of these years I have been blessed to call you guys true friends and compatriots.. I have seen a slow turn of the tide. Today, I witnessed people of all ages, races and backgrounds walk into the polling places after proudly calling themselves Ron Paul voters.
With 20 minutes to go I had a nurse walk out of my local polling place and walk directly to me and embrace me. She grabbed me and hugged me and kissed me on the cheek. She did not say anything for what seemed like forever and when she finally let go I saw tears in the corner of her eyes. "I left for work at 5 a.m. this morning and here you were putting up banners and now here you still are." We talked for a few moments and I mentioned how I had been to numerous locations that day and how I was doing this exact same thing in 2008 and the tears came again as she said "I know.. I saw you then as well and I laughed... i'm so sorry". She got in her car and drove away and when I looked at my watch I noticed it was 8 p.m. and time to gather signs.
I placed what few flyers I had left into my truck and tossed the bunch of signs into the back as well. I opened the door and got in and turned the key.. The engine had barely started when I grabbed the wheel and just began to weep. Probably harder than I have in years. Memories both good and bad overwhelming me. The thoughts of so many of my dearest friends in the world also giving everything they had all in the name of liberty.. It was just too much.. I sat at the wheel crying when an election official noticed and knocked on the window. I slowly let it down and she said "are you ok". I smiled and said I was fine. "Well I know your guy probably did not do well but it's ok.. God knows you tried out here". Again I smiled and assured her I was ok. "Are you sad" she asked.. I had to pause and consider that. "No.. I am not sad.. I am happy. I know that none of this was pointless and that we are winning this war". I continued on "So no, I am not sad.. I am happy because in 4 years I will be here again and the seeds planted today will have a fine harvest very soon". She smiled and walked away and finally I was able to drive on home. I walked in.. sunburned, exhausted both physically and emotionally and the first people to greet me were my kids. "Did Ron Paul win Daddy?".. "Not yet guys... but Daddy will keep trying"
