Marin Voice: Protesting and ‘postcarding’ are good ways to make a difference

Recently, my husband and I were talking about the political mess our country appears to be in. We said we both feel helpless and scared for our country. Displays of love are hard to find in our country right now – mostly it is discourse.

I think it comes down to the two terms of President Donald Trump. From my perspective, former President Joe Biden tried to glue some of the pieces of our democracy back together, but it wasn’t enough. He appeared to run out of glue.

I relate our country to a hand-knit sweater. There are sweaters we have had for years, where the yarn has matted together and kept us warm. But, now that favorite sweater, which took time to make, has been unraveled and become a memory. The way I see it, it will take years before we can reknit the body of a new sweater, let alone the sleeves.

My husband and I have always talked about attending a protest, but until recently we weren’t motivated enough to take the time to do it. There are days when we don’t feel like taking the time to go to the gym, but we push ourselves to do it anyway. Once our exercise routine is completed, we feel great and glad we did it.

Participating in a protest is a little like being motivated to go to the gym.

We decided to participate in a protest, which was something we had never done before. We found pieces of cardboard and figured out appropriate statements. We brought our signs, holding them high in the air so that they could be seen. We shouted in unison with everyone else and waved our signs as cars passed by. Many drivers honked and gestured support for our cause. We felt great after the protest was finished. All it took was the effort to do it, like going to the gym.

We have found that protests can be fun. People are energized and there is a special kind of camaraderie. It is also interesting to see what signs other people come up with. Usually, someone has a megaphone and starts a chant with a simple mantra. We shout in unison to it and then we come up with another chant. Our fears and helplessness seem to be put aside for this moment. There is a feeling of hope, that we will survive these tumultuous times and democracy will prevail.

While protesting can motivate change, getting out the vote can do the same. I do not like “cold calling” people to garner political support, but I do like sending postcards. As “postcarding” is back in season again with upcoming campaigns, primaries and the general elections, writing cards is something I’ve chosen to do. Research shows it really works and it is something that can be done at home or with a group. It’s a way of inspiring people to vote.

Though I can still handwrite the postcards with our scripts, I need to keep Wite-Out near me. It might be a word I left out, or maybe I started to write a name and misspelled part of it and have to correct it. None of that matters. My only \hope is that the recipient reads the message. I figure that with all the handwriting and corrections, at least the reader will know it’s real.

Before sending them, I get out colored felt pens and underline or highlight words I want to emphasize. I complete each postcard with tiny little star stickers that I put next to the name and address of the voter.

I usually order 20 postcards with 20 voters to write to. Right now, I’m ordering 10 at a time. I have the energy to do that much. Per the instructions, we are to mail these out as soon as they are done.

I hold my love for our country dear. If a protest and 10 cards can interest one or more people to vote, perhaps it will make a difference. The U.S. flag at our home is a bit frayed and faded these days, but we still proudly display it in front of our house. I love my country and I hope it will be OK.

Sue Curran lives in San Rafael.