Letter from America.

Ellen NeumannLiberty, New York, - 27^th October 2011. In Sullivan County, New York, tulips bloom in the spring, roses bloom in the summer and now that election day is just around the corner here in the USA as well as in Ireland, politicians are blooming at every pancake breakfast, spaghetti dinner and fundraiser as well as any other public event where they can "meet and greet; see and be seen”. They even stop by the Saturday Bingo game at St Peters, patting all the nice old ladies on the back as they vie for votes. They walk among us, shaking hands, waving at children and smiling a fixed smile. As the November election nears, I MAY see one or two at my door with some literature or a pencil with their name on it, but not so much.  All of these methods are a fine way for the public to see who is who. The problem is after each election, they seem to disappear like the fading roses of summer, not to be seen for another year.

The above thought occurred to me last May as I stood at the Memorial Day service at our local Veterans’ Cemetery. It was a brutally hot day, temperatures topping 90F, and blazing sun with not a cloud in sight.  I got there early and procured a shady spot for myself. I looked around as the small crowd gathered, some trudging up the hill, pausing at the grave of a fallen soldier or a loved one, some taking advantage of a ride in a golf cart. Solemn and sad, the service started and as I looked around it dawned on me "Must be an off-year for elections because I don't see too many politico's in the crowd". Our sheriff was there, a few legislators, our county clerk, one town supervisor and that was about it. There could have been one or two more in the crowd that I did not recognise.  Nothing compared to the number of political hopefuls we see this month at those church, fire department and other fundraising events. Blame it on the brutal heat?  I don't think so, for the heat did not stop four GOLD STAR MOTHERS from laying a wreath in honor of their dead sons. Instead, blame it on the fact that there were many positions up for grabs come Election Day 2011.

I am going to Bethel Woods today, the site of the 1969 Woodstock Concert. It now is the home not of 500,000 hippies who were gathered to experience peace, love and rock & roll but instead a huge modern theater, museum and concert stage. It is very chic, very hip, very expensive, THE place to rub elbows with “the powers that be”.  I will be attending a musical event that is free to the public [with advance tickets of course]. I would bet my right hand on the fact that there will be scores of political hopefuls in the crowd, pumping hands, talking the talk and walking the walk. Rubbing elbows with the "right" people, *schmoozing at its finest. I will look at them and say nothing [my daughter and my sister, who are also attending, would not like it if I did you see, not politically correct and that matters to them, probably a good thing although stifling my opinion is not my forte].  Yet I will be thinking   "When will the bloom fall off THAT rose?"  .............................. I imagine only time will tell.

Ellen Neumann

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