Walden Pond II

Walden Pond II

The streets of Bangalore
Millions of people and all they do
The livestock road that takes me to work
To a fantasy city of
Computers and electricity
While so many see their floors wash away
With every rain
But the mangos are delicious, papaya too

The cool night breeze on my balcony and
A new hammock I’m excited to nap upon…
i-Tunes has a direct line to my bank account
Steve Jobs owes me a Christmas card

I’ve learned to see the world
Through eyes more than American
And less than American

Are the lights I see from my balcony
In Bangalore or
Reflected in Walden Pond?
Henry David may be waiting on my balcony tomorrow

Incredible India with all her faults and promise
Has shown me I want to live deliberately
Front only the essential facts
Suck the marrow of life
And not, when I come to die
Realize I did not fully live.

Does Your Lawn Have Political Views?

This is an open letter to anyone who reads it as I am looking for an answer to a question that has bothered me for a long time:

What is the purpose of lawn signs for presidential candidates from the 2 major parties?

Note that the scope is limited to:
- Presidential elections and the major parties. I'm not talking about school board or park and rec elections where name recognition is probably the biggest factor (unfortunately) in the decision process for many people.
-I'm also not referring to fringe parties like the People's Socialist Vegan party.

No this is strictly limited to the Republicans and the Democrats.

-Are people looking for validation of their choice: "If I put a lawn sign out and enough other people also put the same sign up I must be making the right decision."

-Is it just to get back at the neighbor who still hasn't painted his fence and you know is a die hard supporter of the opposite party?

-Is it to aerate the lawn?

Does anyone really base their presidential voting decision on a cheap cardboard sign stuck in a lawn, be it their neighbor's or a stranger's? If so should they really be allowed to vote?

So I ask again, what is the point?

Other than emphasizing and exacerbating differences, getting neighbors angry or distrustful, looking ugly, and wasting money that could be spent on more top notch television commercials the focus so well on the issues, what purpose do they serve?

If you have ever put up a lawn sign for a presidential candidate please let me know what you were hoping to achieve with it.

Personally I don't think anyone needs to know who I will vote for or why. I also don't feel any need to broadcast this information.

Is it just me who is a little "off" or out of touch? It wouldn't be the first time.