Norman Rockwell- Election Day
Those who stay away from the election think that one vote will do no good. ‘Tis but one step more to think one vote will do no harm.
–Ralph Waldo Emerson, Journals and Notebooks 1852-1855
I shared this post ten years ago as the 2016 election cycle was coming to an end. It was, as I write below, a nightmare election season, one that was unlike any before, with the twisted concept of alternate facts coming to bear. Russian Kompromat and a desire for oligarchic rule was in the air and though many dismissed it as election season noise at the time, the reality of it is now nakedly apparent. The years after that have been a struggle to deal with a constant daily onslaught of misinformation, disinformation, lies, empty promises, corruption, criminality, cruelty, brutality, and treason.
That nightmare election season from back then has continued as an ongoing national nightmare to this very moment.
But we still stand- for now. Today is an opportunity to change the direction of this nation. A choice to begin to bring this nightmare to a close with true justice and accountability. To begin to bring about change that serves the masses and not the privileged few.
As I said, I shared this 10 years ago. It’s short so I hope you’ll take a minute to take it and the Rockwell images in.
Well, we’re finally nearing the end of our national nightmare. With that in mind, I thought I would show a couple of paintings concerning our election process from Norman Rockwell who chronicled this country for many, many decades and often seemed to get to the core of things in his work.
I have also included a couple of his most famous paintings to show that our elections are something more than popularity contests. They do indeed have consequences. They shape our daily lives as well as our view of the world and our place in it.
Voting is our right, one that has been hard fought and bled for. But more than that, it is an obligation. For a democracy such as ours to survive, each of us must play our part. We must let our voice be heard in the form of our vote, so that our democracy might continue in a way that best serves the people.
Do not take this right and obligation lightly. Let your voice be heard. Vote.
Norman Rockwell- The Right to Know
Norman Rockwell- The Golden Rule
Norman Rockwell- A Time For Greatness
Norman Rockwell- Undecided
Norman Rockwell- At the Polls
Norman Rockwell- Obvious Choice 1948
Norman Rockwell- Election Debate 1920
Norman Rockwell- Elect Casey
Norman Rockwell- Election Day with Dog
Norman Rockwell- The Problem We All Live With
Norman Rockwell – The Four Freedoms