Democracy on Vashon

The Island-wide gathering of Vashon’s 19 precincts on Saturday was chaotic, messy, disorganized and a hassle. It was hard to hear, hard to follow and at times even jarring. It was also deeply moving.

More than 1,600 people participated in Saturday’s Democratic caucuses; add all the kids who also attended, and we probably had 2,000 people crammed into McMurray Middle School — an ultimately beautiful snapshot of democracy in action. People spoke passionately — and, yes, loudly — about their candidate of choice. Young people, some not even voting age, carried placards. Elderly people participated. People were there with seeing-eye dogs and in wheelchairs, with their babies and with their teenagers.

What was most moving was not simply that people wanted their voices to be heard; they believed their voices mattered. Islanders were invested both in the process as well as the outcome, clearly motivated by their deep desire to see a change in the White House as well as by Sen. Barack Obama’s remarkable and inspiring campaign.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, this wasn’t simply a Vashon phenomenon, another example of how delightfully different this Island can be. The scene on Vashon on Saturday was unfolding in communities across Washington. Precincts across the state reported record turnouts throughout the region.

Far from apathetic, Islanders showed through their actions that the political process is vibrant, important and very much alive. Sore throats and ringing ears were a small price to pay for such a lovely reminder.