Friday, July 30, 2004

Thursday's Watch Party
Posted by tzannos@bostonworks.com">Svetlana Husseini at 11:32 AM -

Ok, so I didn't get credentials for the convention floor.  How was I going to spend the last night of the convention?  Well, the Kerry Campaign took pity on the guests of the New York delegation and provided us with a "watch party" at the Park Plaza. 

It was a wonderful spread and the room was packed.  We watched C-Span's coverage of the convention with cheers, pumped fists, and anticipation.  I know that political conventions are anti-climatic which is why the major networks offered only 3 hours total coverage but the excitement in the room was real and infectious. 

The highlight of the evening was Jimmy.  Jimmy is a 73 year old citizen of Red Sox Nation, a Korean War veteran, a Kerry supporter, and DNC Volunteer.  Because of a broken foot, he was getting around in a motorized wheelchair that had some serious torque and a better turn radius than my Jeep.  He was full of energy, good cheer, and even danced a little when Willie Nelson and Carol King performed. 

We hung out all evening and chatted about politics and the current state of living.  He lives in a Senior Center in Beacon Hill.  He just got an ATM card and local organization helps him manage his income which is very modest.  He seems to be doing ok but just getting by.   This sweet old man with a great attitude just wants to elect a President that he can be proud of.  A President who will provide better benefits and healthcare for the seniors and veterans that have worked hard all their lives. 

Experiences inform what matters to us.  Some people care about a candidate's position on foreign policy, stem cell research, or education.  Jimmy simply wants to live a higher quality of life that, in Korea, he fought to keep.

 

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