This made me happy...

[dreamflower]

There was some coverage of the voting in OKC, as a reporter interviewed people at one of the local polling precincts. She stopped one lady (she looked like maybe in her mid-60s).

This lady said she did not know how to read and write, but with help, she had voted for the first time in her life! She said it was too important to vote this time to be proud.



I'd have been happy for her even if she was voting for the "other guy", but she had voted for "my guy Obama", and someone who was running for sheriff in that precinct. I don't know about the candidate for sheriff there, but am quite glad for her vote for the President.

Comments

[addie71.livejournal.com]

That is wonderful! What an exciting day for her.

[dreamflower]

I know! She seemed so happy.

[drummerwench.livejournal.com]

I love stories like this!

She must have been so excited!

[dreamflower]

She was, you could tell how much it meant to her!

[ellynn-ithilwen.livejournal.com]

What I just can't understand is how can a person, living in one of the most developed countries in the world, and not being older than 80, not know how to read or write? Education should be obligatory for all.

Edit: I mean, I know that many people in Uganda or Somalia (or any other poor African country) can't read and write. And I know that there are old people, really old, living in US, who were born way before WWII, who never left the village they were born in, who worked on they farm all their life, and who never learned to write. But being born in US, after WWI (that is, in modern times), and being illiterate... difficult to understand.

[dreamflower]

In the US, illiterate does not necessarily mean "unschooled"; even to this day, some young people fall through the cracks getting passed from grade to grade without ever understanding the rudiments of reading and writing. Such people often are very clever at hiding the fact from their teachers.

Sometimes it's because of a bad teacher or a poor school, sometimes the child may have a learning disorder or other problem that went undiagnosed, sometimes problems in the home are such that the child never has the support of his or her parents in schooling.

It's called "functionally illiterate", and it is much more common than many people suspect.

[baranduin.livejournal.com]

Well, good for her. It's hard not to let pride overtake you so that's fantastic she got over that to vote. For Obama. Yep.

[dreamflower]

I would have been glad for her, whoever she voted for, but yeah, it made it even more special.

[obeliamedusa.livejournal.com]

Aww, that's great! Especially that she voted for Obama. I can't imagine that happens very often in your area. :(

[dreamflower]

OK went 69% Romney, 31% Obama. That was actually better than I expected. But then sometimes I feel like I'm the only Democrat in town. (The DH considers himself Independent.)

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

awww...That's fantastic! Of course it's more fantastic that it's for Obama, but yeah, just fantastic that she was able to do that! :)

[dreamflower]

I know. I am so glad that the reporter picked her to speak to--that was such an inspiring moment.