I was heartened to read today reporting by CNN that revealed some lovely stories from yesterday’s historic election. They are perfect examples of what we’ve been advocating about voting kindly. As they point out in their article, despite the negativity that infected the campaign toward the end, and even when faced with long lines to vote, many people remained in good spirits and dealt with Election Day problems with good humor and grace. Here are a few choice excerpts:
In a culture that emphasizes “me,” voting creates the sense of “we,” said Robert Cialdini, a psychology professor at Arizona State University who studies group behavior. A long line to vote creates the sense that everyone is “all one here, united under the common identity. I think it created the sense of ‘we,’ not ‘me,’ ” Cialdini said. “Inside the boundaries of ‘we,’ people treat each other well.”
CNN then gave some great examples of people behaving, well, kindly toward fellow citizens:
• People trolling for parking spaces at Atlanta, Georgia, polling stations were directed by other voters to available spots.
• At a polling place in Richmond, Virginia, voters waited in the rain, sharing umbrellas with strangers.
• In North Carolina, strangers standing next to each other played games to pass the time, quizzing each other on their knowledge of the amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
If you experienced or witnessed similar things in your area, please share your stories here. And remember, the spirit of kindness can be shared year ‘round, not just on the first Tuesday in November.
Read the full CNN article here.
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