Living in LoCo
A Kind Gesture of Crossing Party Lines
Erica Garman at 4:27 p.m., October 28, 2008 (38 comments)
The Nov. 4 races are coming to a head in our area with campaign canings, testy (and some just downright nasty) blog comments, and neighborhood yard sign controversies.
It’s safe to say that most of us are looking forward to Nov. 5, when we can once again collectively gear up to start blaming just one person for our country’s ills - whichever candidate will be inaugurated president come January.
To make it through the divisiveness of the next seven days, here’s a heartwarming story to remind us that first, and foremost, we’re neighbors here in Loudoun County, despite our political preferences.
Kapil Kapoor and his wife, Anshu, are originally from India and will vote in their first U.S. election next Tuesday. As die-hard Democrats, the Kapoors, who live in Belmont Country Club, purchased an Obama sign from the national campaign and proudly displayed it in their front yard.
They were disgusted to wake up Sunday morning to find their sign missing.
Kapil, quite disappointed that someone stole his sign, asked his good friend and neighbor Tag Greason, “Why would someone do this?”
Jokingly, Greason offered Kapil one of his many yard signs, but understandably, Kapil refused the gesture. Greason, you see, is actively involved with the Loudoun County Republican Committee and has been campaigning across the county for the GOP's McCain/Palin ticket.
But to assist his neighbor, Greason shot off an e-mail to Tim Buchholz and Bob Moses with the Loudoun County Democratic Committee and asked if they would be so kind as to replace the Kapoors’ Obama sign.
Buchholz and Moses both e-mailed Greason with the news that they’d be happy to do so immediately.
“Thanks for the heads up,” wrote Buchholz in his reply to Greason. “Tag, I appreciate that you crossed party lines to help a friend.”
Kapil sent a follow-up e-mail to Greason Monday morning, copying Moses as well. And he gave me permission to reprint it here:
Tag,
I say this as you are not only a good neighbor and a good friend, but because I truly believe this. You reinforced my belief that America is the greatest country in the world. I know you are a Republican and still, you went out of your way to reach out and get an Obama sign on my front yard . . . that is priceless.
This gesture of yours is what we should be talking about and not focusing on any negatives. Only if our media were to listen and broadcast something like this . . .
You know that I have seen thousands of people massacred just because they had opposing views . . . something I don’t like to talk about. For us to live in a place where we can be free to have any political views and still meet up for beers in the evening is outstanding.
Tag & Bob, thank you both . . . really.
Thanks, Kapil
I'm with Kapil on this one. Maybe we should all keep this in mind in the coming week.
Anybody else have a feel-good story to share about this campaign season?
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Great story! Thank you for sharing!
Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on October 28, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The local GOP is filled with people just like TAG. We love our process, and we actively try to take care of our neighbors with as much as we can do for them.
And TAG is even a step ahead of many on Loudoun's Republican Committee much of the time, we find.
Kapil, you are indeed blessed to have TAG as a friend and a neighbor, as I and many more on the committee have him as a friend.
Dean Settle
Posted by honchonumberone (anonymous) on October 28, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hi Dean,
I am indeed blessed to have a neighbor like Tag but I think America in general is filled with people like him, not just GOP. Political views are where we agree to disagree but overall, I find that the society here is so mature and giving that it makes me wonder why more of that is not propagated worldwide.
Thanks, Kapil.
Posted by universal_force (anonymous) on October 28, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I will feel pretty good when we finally vote all of the CRIMINAL REPUBLICAN politicians OUT - both locally and nationally. It will take years however, to make up for the money they stole from the public and the damage they have done to the country. Unfortunatly there is no getting back the lives that have been lost on the needless Iraq war.
Posted by RhumbLine (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rhumbline: Please this was not time or place for your silliness. This is a touching article, well written with a meaning. No matter who you are, no matter where you’re from, no matter your personal wishes and desire in the end most people leaving in this county are good people. Nice article nice message. Thanks.
Posted by Funnyguyva (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rhumbie ... Did you forget to take all of your pills this morning? You sound a little anxious/nervous. Things will be better once ObaMarx is at the helm, right?
Serenity Now ...
Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am with Funnyguyva on this one. Could you please post your sarcastic, hateful or otherwise degrading comments someplace else?
This isn't about politics people!
Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Felons are felons - not exactly "silly" unless you are a republican I guess. Dead Americans and those in harms way are not "silly". The mushrooming of the national debt and the relentless greed/crime on Wall Street that threatens all of us are not silly. None of these comments are degrading or hateful - they are about fixing the things in this country that have gone so wrong over the last 8 years. That is, unless you are in denial and want to continue to lie about it. If the tables were turned and the democrats were as guilty as the republicans you all would be shrieking about it - now you want to talk human interest and make light of the situation. The election on Tuesday is just the starting point of trying to fix this horrible mess that 8 years of republican leadership (or lack thereof) has caused.
Posted by RhumbLine (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WAKE UP DA, the article was about UNITY!
Posted by Funnyguyva (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OK funny guy - then unify and quit condoning things like OTH's snide and childish comments like obamarx, meds etc? How is that unifying? The divisions here locally and nationally will run well beyond Tuesday. This country is ready for change and Obama is the one is going to bring it about - not the tired policies and politics of the GOP and their inane supporters.
Posted by RhumbLine (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
RU once again you have missed the point of the story. I am fully aware that the "change" theme is making everyone walk around with big saucer eyes. I am also aware of the buracracy that actually runs this county. Change may come someday and it maybe for the better but it will come slow because thats how this county works. Its not an over night fix.
Posted by Funnyguyva (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rhumbline thinks he's being clever with his "talking points".
What is crystal clear is the demonstration by this person to step right over the actual story here to yell "talking points" in spite of such a deep American story.
Let's leave the campaign trail for a couple of minutes Rhumbline, and talk about how human and outstanding one individual is because he dropped politics for a day and did the right thing...it's a testament to TAG's character. He didn't do it for glory...he was just being the TAG that his friends have come to know and appreciate.
Jeez. Do you even realize the harm you're doing to your own party when you minimalize the human element in all this?
Posted by honchonumberone (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
whatever
Posted by RhumbLine (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Agreed, thank you Honcho. The human element is what this is about, and that would be just as much the case were the party affiliations reversed. The only irony I see - and I think it only adds to the human element - is that it's the Obama campaign which has from its inception tried to bring out this kind of human unity and transcendence of divisions. We are not red Americans or blue Americans, just Americans. What a great story.
Posted by daviddanaan (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
RhumbLine, I suspect, is of the "younger" generation, who, no matter the era, always rails against the party and individuals in power. Watch "Forrest Gump" and laugh at the hippy character who uses his anger at that "lying <expletive> Johnson" to excuse hitting Jenny. His generation protested against LBJ and the democrats only to vote in Nixon, who with the republicans were subsequently seen as the root of all evil.
This is a lovely story that, along with the comments here, demonstrate 3 inherent truths:
1. There are always basically good human beings among us if we just give them a chance.
2. All politicians are the same regardless of party and the party in power is no better or worse that the last or next one in power.
3. Young people will always seek to blast/blame those in power in the most obnoxious manner possible, just to get a rise out of us "oldsters." Don't take the bait.
Posted by AngelaB44 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 4:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great story Erica!!
Posted by chelsivia (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Such sweet sentiments - now lets get on to investigating and prosecuting those of both parties responsible for corruption and violating the public trust.
Posted by RhumbLine (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Erica: thanks for the reminder that this country is more about neighbors looking out for each other, and less about the silly, partisan name calling, by adults, of the sort they don't even tolerate at my son's elementary school. A simple gesture but with a profound impact. Good job, Tag.
Posted by thoward (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 8:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I really wish they would've made it a requirement for Rhumb to actually take his Valium - and not just have it on hand - at his commitment hearing.
Posted by Hoqenishy (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 6:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just like most people I am a law and order guy. I am not a registered democrat and, in the past have voted for republican candidates. What has occured in our country with the corruption, needless war, and wasteful spending is an OUTRAGE. My sense is that most of the so called republicans on these blogs and in this county pick their political party almost like they support a sports team. In other words, my team is the red team and there is no changing my mind - no matter what happens. People, as seen on these blogs, rationalize their support of their party by finding excuses like the "elite liberal media" to pin excuses for not prevailing on. My anger comes from the fact that people arent paying attention to the facts. The current administration is hemoraging our tax dollars in the middle east and with the defense contractors. If you are an anti-tax person (as we all are) then how in the heck can another dose of republican rule ever bring down your taxes? Here is my point - this 8 year crime spree makes me sad for our country and worried about my kids futures. Yet the dummies on these blogs wont own up to the reality of what is going on in their midst because they picked the "red team". When I exercise my constitutional right to express my opinion about this serious situation I get shouted down and insulted with a variety of STUPID comments. I really thought I lived in a fairly well educated and sophisticated place. Based on some of the comments from people like Hoqenishy, Honchonumberone, and ohthehumanity, it is evident that not eveyone is a smart as I thought.
Posted by RhumbLine (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rhumbie ....
"it is evident that not eve[r]yone is a smart as I thought." (That's code for Rhumbie being unable to handle the fact that approx. 50% of America disagrees with him). Those are the facts Rhumbie ... Like em or not.
"I am not a registered democrat ... have voted for republican candidates" Did you vote for Bush in 2000? 2008? Bob Dole? Bush sr.? Reagan? ...
Your insults and shouting have filled these pages, quite nicely; I admit I did my share, but please look in the mirror, Rhumbie.
Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Like I said - not nearly as smart as I thought....
Posted by RhumbLine (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"The Nov. 4 races are coming to a head in our area with campaign canings, testy (and some just downright nasty) blog comments"
Such a shame, a great article about people doing good things and putting party differences aside, and then there are more nasty testy comments coming from people of BOTH parties on the same article. Some people just don't know when to stop complaining. I wish that those people would learn from the great example set by Tag.
Posted by llm (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I knew you couldn't answer honestly, Rhumbie ...
llm, I only posted here once yesterday (and THAT was only a response to one of Rhumbie's many li'l tantrums); I ceased after that.
I guess he realized he found a forum where he could get the last word in ...
Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No doubt about it, great article - great gesture - sweet sentiments. However, it still does not change the facts of what has been perpetrated on the US Taxpayer and where this country needs to go with regard to NEW leadership.
The divisions regardless of the outcome are more like scars on the US psyche rather than simple differences of opinion.
Posted by RhumbLine (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
RhumbLine,
You troll...
Why don't you post your positions on another article... something that has to do with the election and not this one?
Posted by llm (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How about them personal attacks? Nice one! Typical response from a bully and a LOSER.
Posted by RhumbLine (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It really is a pitty isnt it that opposing opinions and remarks dont fit into the tiddy little world some of you people think you live in. You dont and cannot control the message or the context of a message last I checked. Unless you want to eliminate that from the Bill of Rights as well. Maybe by eliminating free speach things will suit your political ideology better. HA! Get over it.
Posted by RhumbLine (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's been my experience in life (and I'm really , really old...)that when someone points a finger or pokes a chest and calls someone else a loser...well, they don't have a lot to stand on, themselves.
That's been MY experience.
TAG would never, ever call anyone a loser. It's just not his manner.
Posted by honchonumberone (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 11:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rhumb, I don't buy your crap, because if you were really as intelligent as you claim, you'd be able to differentiate between fiscal conservatism and the Republican party. Bush NEVER ran on a platform that was particularly fiscally conservative, and that has probably been the most constant complaint about him from the right for the last eight years.
So you claim that fiscal responsibility is your beef, and that you're taking your vote... to the guy proposing TRILLIONS of unfunded dollars to go to overseas aid programs in the next ten years, not to mention the social programs, "creating jobs", and "spreading the wealth around." You're either stupid, or worse, you're a hypocrite. Also, in the "tiddy" [sic] world, the Bill of Rights does not protect speech on a private message board - otherwise, in your case, the founding fathers would've penned "... life, liberty, and the pursuit of idiocy." And just like how your fanatical ravings on here are free speech, us calling you out on your mental deficiencies is also free speech.
Posted by Hoqenishy (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 6:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rhumb,
You are a troll because you are posting controveersial, inflammatory and irrelevant off topic messages in order to provoke others. See below for the full definition of an internet troll. I was not calling you names, just pointing to your actions and calling it like it is. Get over yourself, please and learn from Tag. Your actions on this thread are bad...
"An Internet troll, or simply troll in Internet slang, is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory or irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum or chat room, with the intention of provoking other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion."
Posted by llm (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rhumbie,
You can't spell, don't know correct grammer, and don't know that in Virginia, you don't register by party, so your comment that you didn't register as a Democrat is full of hot air. If you're going to accuse people, Miss Manners requires certain standards. You ain't got em. :)
Tag Greason, on the other hand, is a total gentleman and Miss Manners applauds him.
Posted by LoudounWatcher (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Happy Hallowe'en Rhumbie ...
Have a good time stealing political signs tonight. Watch out for the ones that have wires attached to them!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00fSCVfbq...
Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The kindness of Mr Gleason reminds me very much of the following story that occurred last week in Ohio. Although not quite the same situation it touches the heart nevertheless:
3 elderly Jewish ladies were denied entrance at their voting precinct because they were wearing Obama/Biden t-shirts and hats. (like many states Ohio bans political paraphernalia inside polling places). Another voter wearing a Dale Earnhardt jacket & Bengals cap overheard their dilemma and immediately offered his jacket so that each of the women could wear it into the polls and vote. After he voted himself, a bystander asked this good Samaritan if he was also a Obama supporter and he replied that he was not but had a change of heart while in the voting booth and voted for Obama:
“he explained that while he was waiting for his jacket he got into a conversation with one of the ladies who had explained how the Jewish community, and she, had worked side by side with the black community during the civil rights movements of the ’60s, and that this vote was the culmination of those personal and community efforts so many years ago. That this election for her was more than just a vote … but a chance at history.
Mike looked at me and said, “Obama’s going to win, and I didn’t want to tell my grandchildren some day that I had an opportunity to vote for the first black president, but I missed my chance at history and voted for the other guy.”
Posted by starburst03 (anonymous) on November 1, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I need to brush my teeth; After reqading that syrupy treacle my teeth hurt!
Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on November 1, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wednesday morning things will be looking a little brighter I suspect.
See you at the polls!!
Posted by RhumbLine (anonymous) on November 1, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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