Jay, 38, Washington, DC - Non-Profit Coordinator for the Washington Peace Center

Are you proud to be an American?

Hell yeah, well I don’t know, I used to… I’m proud to be a human being. If America really represented the ideals that are upheld supposedly in this constitution then of course I’d be proud. One of the best things Bill Clinton ever said was in his second inaugural address when he said America’s not a place its an idea. Its an ideal and it’s a beautiful ideal. Freedom and justice and liberty is something that has inspired the world and will always inspire us. But I’m not really proud to be an American right now. Obviously it’s a shame to be an American right now because we are using this beautiful democracy and all our privilege and all our power and we’re using it to throw our weight around in the world and it’s actually criminal what we are doing. We could do so much better by ourselves and by the planet, we could be setting an example for a sustainable energy future. Imagine if we put 600 billion dollars a year into sustainable energy, renewable fuel right? Solar and wind instead of bullets and bombs and tanks and aircraft carriers. I mean, its madness, we should be so much more secure, we’re acting like an insecure bully. We’re the biggest, strongest economy and country in the world and we should be proud of that and we should not be afraid, cowering. We don’t have anything to be afraid of except ourselves and letting our own government trample our rights.

What are your hopes for the future?

To write and do theater and make music and I hope to get married, have a family and raise them in a positive and sustainable way. And raise them free and not afraid of their government. Not afraid their government’s gonna invade another country on some pretense. And make them not afraid to, for instance, serve in the military. Right now I could not encourage anybody to serve in the military, but that’s tragic. My grandfather served in the military. My grandfather died in world war II. We need to reclaim the integrity of our country.

Sandy, 40’s, Vernon, TX - Homemaker

What do you think the biggest issue facing America is today?

I think the economics and I also think religious peoples rights you know, prejudice. And a lot of people are real prejudice over colored people and all. And I think that everybody should be treated equal. Depending on what kind of… judged as their person not what religious person they are or anything like that. I think they should be judged as an individual. And how they treat others and their view of life.

Do you think the results of this election will change America?

It depends on who gets in there and you know if they have good values that possibly they could do something to help. But unfortunately I have a bad feeling its going to get worse before it gets better. But maybe I’m wrong on that I hope. Its just an intuition that I have you know.. It’s… I don’t know I could be wrong. I just feel like we all need to start using our resources wisely you know not being so wasteful and learning how to grow our own gardens like our ancestors did and make our own soaps and things like they did that they knew how to do that we haven’t got a clue. If they told me to go in and make soap so I could take a bath I’d be like, where do I start?

Darryl, 43, Vernon, TX - Crude Oil Truck Driver

What was your favorite thing about growing up in Vernon?

Huntin’ bullfrogs on my Shetland pony carrying my BB gun. His name was Shorty.

Are you proud to be an American?

Well sure, who wouldn’t be? 

Do you think this election could change what’s going on in America right now?

No. Only thing that can change what’s going on in this world now is Jesus Christ. The way I look at it. 

Colleen, 33, Dallas, TX - Photographer

What are your personal hopes for the future?

My personal hopes for the future are that I’m able to pay off my [graduate school] student loans in a timely fashion because they are fucking killing me.

What are your hopes for America’s future?

And my hopes for America, I suppose that people will maybe learn how to see things from someone else’s perspective. I think that we’ve become a country of people who are entirely too egocentric and even in their day-to-day lives don’t take into consideration other peoples feelings when they make decisions. And I think if they started small by doing that in their day-to-day lives maybe in the bigger picture they could take other people into consideration before we make the big decisions…and obviously that’s true for politicians on the grand scheme. I see it everyday. I can’t believe how selfish people have gotten. Really, really, selfish. And how unaccustomed to sacrifice people are. It’s the little sacrifices that really add up. And if you can’t sacrifice for your partner or your best friend or someone you love, or a job that you care about, if you can’t make little sacrifices there and little compromises then how can the entire country do the same thing and change the worlds’ perspective of us and get out of a war that we don’t need to be in.

Mike, 28, Metairie, LA - Chef/Caterer

Do you think this election is different or more important than past elections?

I’d like to think so. I think ending this whole weird Bush thing will be nice. To me, and I don’t know much about American history, but I know family businesses and I know when the dad of a family business passes his business on to his son nobody thinks its weird, but when fucking country goes from one daddy Bush to the son Bush. Its just… its weird to me. I don’t understand it. And I know Clinton happened in between, sure, no doubt. But I don’t know, its just weird to me that the same last name comes up… Adams… I don’t think Americans are making the choices. I mean yeah the people who are making the choices are Americans, but I don’t think its America that’s making the choices.
So my question’s always been who is the president? I mean, who’s behind these guys? I mean, so yeah, I guess its important every time. It makes people feel good. They’re like, oh I went in the little booth and I pushed the little button, I’m contributing and here we go. Votin’! Presidents! Yeehaw! Freedom! Okay! But I mean I don’t want to get into my theories, but I think its just as important as all the other ones. I mean it’s the same group of assholes running the country. It’s just a different figurehead. I think as far as the public… in the public eye, like the rest of the world would love for us to have someone darker in nature than another exact carbon copy of Bush and that alone would be interesting.

What are your hopes for the future?

Well for my future I just, I want to cook for as many people as I can. I want to make people happy through my food and I want to get paid ridiculous amounts of money for doing what I love. And if that’s not the fucking american dream I don’t know what is.

Lumar, 41, New Orleans, LA - Drummer of Soul Rebels Brass Band

What was your favorite thing about growing up in New Orleans?

The culture and the family life, the music and the food. Oh, playing in the Lafitte House and project where I was raised. Imitating like we were in Mardi Gras parades. We used to march around the court acting like we were in a parade, with a band. And we used a shopping cart for a float. We would save the beads from previous Mardi Gras parades and we would play with them at various times during the year. We’d have the girls, they’d act like they were the majorettes or dancers. Then you’d have some guys with sticks and boxes in their hand acting like they were drummers. Then you’d have the cart which was emulating the floats, someone would sit in the cart - a shopping cart - that we’d take from the grocery store and they would push it and they would throw beads acting like they were in a parade. That’s one of the fondest memories.

Have you voted in an election before?

Yeah, I’ve been voting since I was an adult. It’s kind of stressed to you in black homes… your parents always tell you people fought for you for the right to vote and died so that you can have the right to vote. So you need to vote. So you kind of feel like its your duty to vote.

Donis, 56, Covington, LA - Office Manager

Are you proud to be an American?

Very much, yes. I’ve had nephews who’ve been overseas and fought in the wars. My first husband was in Vietnam. And my father was in World War II. And I’m proud of each and every one of them. My grandfather was actually in the cavalry in World War I. And I have the pictures and certificate to prove it. And I am a daughter of the confederacy because of my background, my family’s background. And you have to be able to prove that and it has been proven and documented and so I’m very proud of that too.

What are your hopes for the future of America?

I’m not really worried. I’m not, I’m optimistic… I’m an optimistic person anyway and I feel like the American people, the majority of the American people will make the right decision and I feel that’s what’s gonna happen. I might be wrong but its my opinion.

Kelly, 40, New Orleans, LA - Artist

What do you do for fun?

Glue. Decorate. I’m a creator. There’s a creative force that won’t leave me alone. So I’m trying to decorate everything I get my hands on I guess. So for the most part I’d say it’s fun to me I guess because it brings joy and happiness to people.

Do you think this year’s election is more important than other years?

I do believe what they are saying on TV and in all of history that this is the most important election, right now, for this country. It’s amazing like how much the times, like right now, is reflected in the 60’s, are rolling back around. Have you seen the movie The Doors? Jim Morrison and The Doors? His organ player, like right before they were getting together, he said, “Nowadays, sides are being chosen and the world is screaming for a change.” Didn’t they learn anything from Vietnam? Like all this war stuff going on overseas right now? Billions of dollars wasted on other countries that hate America and they screw us right here back home. It seems like they deliberately try to screw us out of everything we’ve got to send it over to other countries…

Jesse, 63, Maben, Mississippi - Farmer

Where did you grow up?

Here in Maben. I like to farm. That’s what I did [growing up]. Me and my dad and sisters, mom and all, we farmed. I got 4 sisters now. Two in St. Louis, two down here. And I’m the only boy.

Do you think this election will change the state of America?

Yeah, we gonna have a change. Barack Obama get in there, there’s gonna be a change. I ain’t doubting nobody. I ain’t doubting the black man. I ain’t doubting the white man. I ain’t doubting America. I ain’t doubting nobody. But I believe, I believe in my heart there’s gonna be a change. The bible says, the good book says, a change will come.

Mamie, Nashville, TN - Retired Nurse/works at Ryman auditorium

Where did you grow up?

In Hickman County in Tennessee. [It’s about] 70 miles [from Nashville]. I really was in no hurry to grow up, I was happy as a child. I lived on a farm. I played basketball. I had a big family. We played in the water all the time when it was warm enough. Just the average things…

Do you feel like this year’s election is different than any of the other ones?

I think it’s one of the worst we’ve ever had in my lifetime. I don’t think we’ve got anyone qualified to be president. That’s exactly what I think. And I hate to say it but it’s the truth.

Bobby, 65, Abilene, Kansas - Unemployed

Where did you grow up?

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [Then I went to] Los Angeles, that’s how I ended up in the show business. I worked for Canvas Specialty. They did all the shows, all those fancy tents you see. Conrad Hilton, he was throwing a party up there, and you know them dumb Mexicans, I loaned them my cutters, fancy antique cutters, and they lost them in the bushes. And I never did find them.

Are you proud to be an American?

I’m a mongrel. Now see if I woulda been the Indians when they landed on Plymouth Rock I woulda told them to get back on that boat and float. Cause they didn’t even know how to pop corn. The Indians had to teach them about popcorn. And the rest of the country. It just got weirder. All the runaways from all these other countries come here. It’s getting’ worse. It ain’t getting better.

Kayla, 19, Abilene, Kansas - Student/Gas Station Attendant

What was your favorite thing to do growing up?

Probably livin’ on a farm and raising animals and saying, “Hey you have a pet dog, I have a pet cow.” [Laughing]. I had pet pigs and stuff like that. I had a cow named Cupid. He was born on Valentine’s Day and I showed him as a bucket calf at 4H and then as a steer, like 1300 pounds. He was just tame. Then I had another one that was so tame I could sit on his head and he could lift you up. Thing was when you got up there he wouldn’t bring you down.

Do you think this year’s election is different than other years?

Kinda, I’m gonna vote McCain I know that.  I really didn’t like how Obama was like… well I heard he wouldn’t stand up and do the Pledge of Allegiance and I think to be American you’ve got to do the Pledge of Allegiance. And I just didn’t like that whole thing.

Mike, 59, Cheyenne, Wyoming - Cattle Rancher/Gasoline Truck Driver

How long have you lived in Cheyenne?

Since 1971, so it’s 38 years. I grew up in Nebraska… on a ranch in Nebraska. [I ended up in Cheyenne because I] got out of the army in ‘71 and went to work at what was then the big Wyoming Hereford ranch. Cowboying on it in ‘71. I was very very fortunate I was stationed on the only farm the army has. I was in the veterinary corps stationed in Ft. Meade, Maryland. They drafted me. This was when they still had the draft. I was changing over, I was going to school at Iowa State University. I switched from animal sciences into vet school when they drafted me in between. So instead of taking two years I gave them three. I enlisted. That’ll teach them. [Laughing]. I didn’t have to go to Vietnam and I got in the same field that I was getting ready to prepare to, but I never did go back to vet school.

What do you think is America’s biggest issue right now?

Our biggest issue right now is our economy. We’re seeing more people go into poverty or low income. We just got a sixty cent increase in minimum wage. So what? You don’t even get to buy a gallon of gas. It’s just a joke.

Keith, 35, Cheyenne, Wyoming - Record Store Owner

How long have you lived in Cheyenne?

I’ve lived here since ‘86. So 22 years. I moved from the deep south… Jackson, Mississippi. It was definitely a culture shock moving here when I was in 8th grade, coming from the deep south and I think its an absolute different country to where I live now. General outlooks on life and religion, Wyoming is absolutely one of those places that’s live and let live. And you mind your own kind of business. [The south has] very very heavy religious overtones. And then of course the whole racial thing whether people want to admit it or not its absolutely a separatist kind of area. I remember being a kid if you didn’t say n—-r then you would get beat up by the white kids. It’s like that’s just how you talked, and it was a normal thing. Its weird I mean the clan, I remember having the clan like a mile or two away from me growing up as a kid. I remember being a kid if you didn’t say n—-r then you would get beat up by the white kids. Like, referring to a black person, like, “That n—-r was a good waitress.” If you had said, “That black person was a good waitress” you were like what’s your problem?

What do you do for fun?

I play in a band, Deadspeak - its like heavier than Slayer, so it’s like brutal death. We play pretty much, like, up and down the Rockies. We’ve put six albums out. I go to Denver as far as like going to shows… It’s only a hundred miles from here so its not really that big of a deal. And to be honest with you, going to work is awesome. I got a lot of friends here. I’m a DJ once a week across the street. We do metal night. So it’s like, totally brutal metal in the basement so all the metal-heads in town come down. It’s like a total dram fest and I play brutal metal the whole time.

Do you think this year’s presidential election’s any different than any of the other years?

Definitely, race is more of an issue. I think that people who aren’t even listening to Barack Obama anymore that they could give a shit less that he’s a minority and they are going to vote for him because of that. That’s how he won 99% of the black vote in the south. It’s the same thing, like, they don’t listen. They don’t care. They just want someone in there that isn’t a white haired, white person. Like I said, I think all politicians are full of shit to some, certain degree but I’ll vote for Barack I’m sure.