Dunkin' Politics

The other day... on my way back home from seeing family, I find myself in the Bronx with a sudden coffee crave (not unusual) so I head into a local Dunkin' Donuts...

The middle-aged African American woman ahead of me in line sports an OBAMA '08 button on the lapel of her nice church coat. The younger woman behind the counter – another African American in her early 20s – sports a black wrap under her Giants cap. Yeah, you voting for Obama?" she says to the customer.
Her older Latina co-worker asks, "And who're you voting for?"

"Me? Clinton, baby," she says, wagging her finger. "Last time, under Clinton, I had a good job making $52,000 a year. Then, Bush comes along, and now I'm here working at Dunkin' Donuts." All of us smile, appropriately... like we understand that it's funny but not that funny. (OK to smile, foul to laugh), you know!

So the middle-aged woman (sporting the Obama button) explains the reason why she is not voting for Clinton. She says it's time for change, that her (Hilary's) husband was in there before, and so she's made her connections and deals, and that they owe people. So if Hillary gets in, she's going to be paying them back, and we don't need that. Same with Bush. First the father, then the son, the same ol' nonsense. "At least with Obama, we start fresh", she says.

Hmm, never thought of it that way, and I guess there's something to that. Not that Obama won't have some cronies to grease for helping him get into office if he becomes president. That just may be the way things work, but I kept my opinion to myself. Don't start none- won't be none!

Then, the cashier says, "No more Republicans." We all laugh, seeming to agree with that. As she hands the woman in front of me her coffee and change, she adds, "They're not for us. We all agree on that, too! At least, the Democrats are for us!" (Aye -I-I don't know about all that, but I understand why she feels that way! )

The older woman heads for the door with her coffee and her button (and her change). But before she steps out onto the street, she says, "Vote for whoever you want," she calls over her shoulder. "Just vote!"

I'm at the counter- its my turn, "hi! A small, with cream, not too light, and 1 Splenda, please?" Everyone just goes back to their business. No further questions or arguments, no bickering, no hastiness or name-calling, thank goodness. The conversation couldn't have been wrapped up any more nicely. So while fresh coffee continued brewing that evening, fresh, political thoughts & opinions continued to brew in our minds... and I'm not pouring mine into anyone's cup until I'm done brewing!