Yes We Can

Since we moved to the South some five years ago from New York, I have been faithful to my dog by taking her on a half hour fast walks everyday around sunrise time. I would meet other dog owners who would stop and ask for my dog’s name to which I would reply that MY name is Ariel, and my dog’s name is Sheebah, and when they would comment on how good looking was my dog, I mistakenly took it as a compliment for myself. Living among southerners meant that I’d be expected to let all know what church I go to, so when I told anyone interested that I was Jewish, and from New York, I heard the comment: ...“then you must be a Democrat.” So I decided to start introducing my dog as the “southerner democrat Jewish dog” to every new walker who bothered to ask for her name. And so I earned the reputation of being the only democrat dog owner in the neighborhood. I also learned to enjoy some bad jokes and to ignore some bad comments. But mostly I had good exchanges. And above all, I thought that a common thread united us all—democrats and republicans alike—we were masters of great dogs. So this morning I took my dog out, passed by our Obama yard sign, and went on to join my fellow republicans dog walkers, on this celebrated day after the election. And there it happened, the most unbelievable sight: My old daily republican friend, whose dog has always stopped to greet and sniff my dog, was passing me without acknowledging my dog or even me. My poor dog could not believe her nose; her best pal just passed her ignoring her! I thought, poor dog, how can I explain her that some republicans will hold a grudge and not join the rest of us, humans and dogs, in celebrating the new future in American history? That’s stupid, I thought to myself, a dog would not understand that.