You were so close to me yesterday and yet so far away. You and your motorcade, yesterday, visited the upstate New York area where I live. Presidents visit so rarely here. This isn't Iowa, where people breakfast with Presidential candidates daily (or so it seems, sometimes.) I rarely get political and I promise I will keep this non-partisan.
I think the last time a President visited us was 13 years ago. So this was a big deal for us, here in upstate New York. You thrilled people in Auburn by exercising at the "Y". You gave a speech in a high school in Syracuse, a city which has, sadly, seen much better days.
So has the area where I've lived for many years, what we call the "Triple Cities" of Binghamton, Johnson City, and Endicott.
You came, and you conducted a town hall in a university and then you sped away to your next stop. You saw students, and you saw a lot of protesters. Such is the life of a President. You can't get out among the people, because that's too dangerous. It's a lesson several previous Presidents, sadly, learned the hard way years ago. So everything is carefully planned for you.
But this is what you could have seen, if only you could have escaped from your security bubble and walked our streets. You could have seen people shopping at a farmer's market, enjoying the fresh air (wasn't it nice, yesterday?) and filling their stomachs with good, locally produced food.
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| Downtown Binghamton Farmers Market 8-23-13 |
It's nice to talk about college affordability, but people have other things on their mind here. Jobs. Health insurance. Fracking. And yes, food. Affordable, high quality food.
It would have been nice if you had seen what committed people are doing to try to relieve the food crisis here, with an organization called VINES. They will be selling at another farmers market today.
Still, I'm glad you came. Everyone I spoke to yesterday, regardless of political affiliation, was also glad that you came. It will probably be a long time before any President shows up in our Triple Cities again, as I said earlier.
But, Mr. President, you really need to truly get among the people.
Maybe next time?
Well & carefully said. I, too, understand security. Perhaps they could travel with an "ambassador" that could interact with local people during such trips?
ReplyDeleteIt is great what people are doing to make life a little better, Alana!
ReplyDeleteI could not of said it any better. Presidents do not visit our state either. Not many people in the state of Maine. Bush had an estate here but you could not get close to it to see anything. He definitely did not help our state at all. Love all the pics of the veggies. I love farmer's markets. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIf only such an important person could mingle with the people. Guns are such impersonal means of killing. Anyone could be hiding out there. I bet he would have love it though.
ReplyDeleteAlana,
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous market photos! Here in Nebraska we rarely get a presidential visit, though I can't say that I mind it much this time around. I guess we did have President George W. Bush come on 9-11, to the Air Force base in Omaha, I think. I wish the President would have been able to take a walk-about with you. You could have shared some wonderful things with him.
He came here after he finished up by you! We also got Biden. To hear our Vice President talk, Scranton is the Land of Milk and Honey. If he or Mr. Obama did get out and talk to the people, they would probably hear something different. I still think they do a better job relating to real people than some others have, though.
ReplyDeleteToo bad Michelle Obama didn't come. Now SHE would have loved to see the farmers' markets and fruit trees!
Music garlic? What a wonderful name. I have to find some.
ReplyDelete