A Rhode Island political debate

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I went to a debate the other night. It was fabulous, in a dull political way. It was all Democrats, so you can imagine the crowd: old ladies, gay men like me, some politicos from around the state (and it ain’t a very big state). Our US congressman was there. So were several of the other members of the Rhode Island General Assembly. (It’s a very small state, and we don’t take these things lightly, even when they’re held in a neighborhood bookstore.)

 

 

First up were our current State Representative and his opponent. Current Representative is young, tall, handsome, charming, and very well-informed. Opponent was terribly nervous; he mostly agreed with what Current Representative said. His one talking point was that a local (mostly forgotten) business leader should instruct us on how to bring jobs back to Rhode Island. He was harmless, and everyone treated him with respect.

 

 

The other race, for a seat in the Rhode Island State Senate, was more serious

 

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The incumbent is leaving, and has endorsed a candidate who’s never been in office before. Fine, right? Except, under scrutiny the other night, Endorsed Candidate was smug, and very sure of herself, and kept saying: “I don’t know the answer to that question, but I’m sure I can figure it out, once I’m in the Senate.”

 

 

Her opponent, on the other hand, was passionate, and well-informed, and spoke very well.

 

 

If Rhode Island politics-as-usual take place, Endorsed Candidate will get into office, just because she’s been endorsed.

 

 

And this is exactly where we need help.

 

 

The RI House is very liberal; the RI Senate, while Democrat, is pretty conservative. We need more liberals in the RI Senate.

 

 

I’m voting for the smart opponent over the snippy presumptuous endorsed candidate.

 

 

And I’m telling all of the people I know. Because I’ve actually seen these people in action.

 

 

And this, children, is how democracy works.

 

 

Tell everyone you know.

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Maira Kalman

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Maira Kalman is a writer and artist and thinker. She has created something I can only call the “graphic essay,” and which can only be understood by looking at / reading one.

 

 

Her graphic world is full of bright colors and unusual angles. Her unique calligraphy swoops and flies among her images. She loves capturing Daily Life: hats, kitchen sinks, burger platters.

 

 

 

One of Maira's great themes is ephemerality: the preciousness of every moment that passes, under the threat of mortality. Every moment, for her, becomes a visual poem.

 

 

Here are the first few images from one of her “And the Pursuit of Happiness” pieces:

 

 

 

Never in a million years could I have come up with “soigné diatoms.” Nor could I have rhymed “Beringia” with “herringia,” nor seen the obvious link between motorcycles and dinosaurs.

 

 

The sketches and paintings and drawings are all her own work, and the photos, and that candy / cookie / Play-Doh single-celled creature at the beginning.

 

 

But the real magic lies in the combination of all these with her words, and her thoughts.

 

 

She described herself in a recent Thinkr video as a “loopy optimist,” and I think that’s appropriate, but I think she’s too modest. Here’s the video:

 

 

 

 

She has written on history, and democracy, and travel, and music. She has shared chocolate with both Kitty Carlisle Hart and Louise Bourgeois, and shown us both encounters:

 

 

"Nature is the guarantee of sanity. Or maybe love. Or both. Or not. Anyway . . ."

 

 

I feel extraordinarily encouraged when I read her essays. They make me feel that it might actually be worthwhile to continue for a few days or months more on Planet Earth.

 

 

And for that: thank you, Maira Kalman.

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