David's Daily, Day Journal of a Freelance Reporter 09-22-2008, "Signs Of Hope"
By : David Lee Frater, Freelance Reporter, Writer, Photo-Journalist
Title : David's Daily, Freelance Reporter, Writer, Photo-Journalist, "Signs Of Hope"
Subject : The American People in Recovery
Dist : Free Press Release, NO compensation is required, but it is appreciated. If your publishing enterprise feels that a modest contributors fee is appropriate for my work, then, make checks payable to: David Lee Frater, 1312 West Maryland Street, Suite 102, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 90017, (213) 481-3899,
davidleefrater@yahoo.com David's Daily, Day Journal of a Freelance Reporter, "Signs Of Hope"
I spent the latter half of the week, in a numbed state of anger, fear, uncertainty and a compelling urge to get involved, get active, and try and put my slim, frail shoulders to the wheel of a stuck wagon, mired in sinking in mud, in the hopes that my meager efforts might somehow help all we face today.
I am sure, nearly all other Americans, and indeed, even international citizens, feel exactly the same way, or nearly the same way, these past few days.
I divided my time just about evenly, between, writing scathing articles on the short sighted, myopic, self driven perspectives of Republican "Leaders" and modern "Econo-Wizards", deriding their lack of action, their lack of real substance, their insistence that the common man should give all they have left and turn it over to the same persons responsible for ALL of these massive failures and collapses. Without question, and quickly, before anyone has any time to study the matter at all. It is precisely, this Bush Agenda, of "Act Now, Think Latter", that got us into the mess we are in right now, Iraq, is only the most obvious example of this "leadership" style, a monumental MISTAKE, using up most of our military, and costing the US BILLIONS of Dollars every month, month after month, and NO END in sight. Not, this time, me thinks, this time, Congress must THINK FIRST, ANALYZE, then act, but act CAREFULLY. No more "Act Now, Think, and PAY, latter" "Plans" for this President.
And the other half of the time, I spent volunteering for the Obama Campaign, I am now a Regional Deputy Field Organizer at the State Offices of Obama/Biden '08, State Of California, and a local Neighbor to Neighbor outreach organizer for my own neighborhood, in my Congressional District. My home, is now, a grass roots Neighborhood Obama '08 outreach office for the Latino Community of my District. No, in case any Republicans are wondering, I am NOT being paid for this, THERE IS NO COMPENSATION at ALL. In fact, I have to go around to the local businesses in my area, begging for donations of supplies and services to meet my office needs such as ink, paper, copying, et all, any money donated, is forwarded directly onto the main State Office, not one penny is withheld, not ONE CENT. I had to buy my own "T" shirt, my own posters, my own button I wear, myself, there is NO MONEY for these offices, they are ALL DONATED by the People !!!
But in the middle of all this concern, and devotion, I have been getting weary, I never wanted to be a political organizer, I wanted to take lovely photographs, make fun and lighthearted commentary on common people, being themselves, enjoying their lives, and the beauty of the cities they have built themselves, many with their own hands.
I compiled a few photographs, and a few endearing stories, in a composite, view, of Common Americans, getting back to normal, what I see as "Signs Of Hope".
In the dark, and roughly finished interior of an old office building dedicated to promoting the Arts, all the Arts, as a community outreach tool to improving the lives of all citizens in Los Angeles, there stands an organization known as The Los Angeles Art Complex, at 801 East 4th Place, Los Angeles CA 90013. There, the Local Congressional District 34, Obama Organizers have met for their staff meetings. At the last meeting, a slim, outgoing, very vivacious and forward 8 year old Latino boy, showed up, all by himself, and introduced himself to me as his local elementary school's Obama Motivator. He was accompanied by his best friend, a very pretty and devoted little 8 year old Latina girl., whoes name I believe is Adrian. The boys name, is Manlio Adrin Torres, but he, and his friend proudly announced to me, "Everyone just calls me Chicken Little!". Most 8 year old boys private rooms are filled with toys, posters of Harry Potter, or Disney Characters, baseball mitts, soccer gear, all the stuff that most 8 year old boys regard as their priceless treasures. Manlio's room, looks like an Obama Field Office, He has Obama Posters, Stacks of Obama Literature, in BOTH English and Spanish, Fliers, Door-Knob Leaflets, buttons, T Shirts, he even has "Contact Lists". Most 8 year old boys, spend their recess and free time after lunch, playing with their friends, or just being with their friends.
Manlio does have many friends at his school, and many admirers as well, But Manlio, spends his time promoting the Obama/Biden Ticket to his school mates, hoping his message to them, will reach home to their parents, uncles, cousins, and all the people in their extended family contacts. He is tireless, ceaseless, filled with HOPE, DEDICATION, LOYALTY, and HEART, and regards Barack Obama as his PERSONAL HERO. Manlio's friends may
currently call him "Chicken Little", but, I see him as a young LION, I see him as "The Little Boy Who Can!". Manlio took, Mr. Obama's message of "We Can!", and PUT IT TO WORK, he is living PROOF, of HOPE, And a fine young man, by anyone's standards, Republican, Democrat, or anything else. Please join me in saluting this fine young person, for his personal efforts and contributions to his community at the tender age of 8. He is an INSPIRATION to ALL of us in these hard times we face ahead. Manlio asked me, before my parting, if he might ask a "Big Guy" like me, if I could get him a signed photograph of Mr. Obama for his wall. Rest assured Manlio, one is ON THE WAY. (It may even have a special message attached, just maybe....)
Down the street, from the Arts Complex, in the Latino section of downtown Los Angeles, was a family, buying hot dogs, from a local hot dog street vendor parked in front of a downtown store. The boys, and the parents, were gobbling down their bacon wrapped all beef grilled hot dogs smothered in freshly grilled onions and green peppers. The activity, the innocence, of this, struck me as lovely, beautiful, Americans, being Americans, having a good time with just a simple hot dog, and each other. I couldn't resist snapping a few pics of them, and of course, I HAD to sample a couple, or maybe THREE of those DELICIOUS street dogs MYSELF !!!
Around the corner, from my humble little apartment now turned into an Obama Field Office, was a film crew from CBS, channel 2, filming an episode of "Numbers". They do this a lot on my street, my street is filled with old brick
multiple storied apartment buildings, with exposed iron fire escapes, that double as balconies in the hot summer nights for all the residents seeking relief from the relentless California Summer Heat. It looks like the Bronx, in New York, or Manhattan, in the early 1920's, and is one of the favorite sites for many, many film crews of Los Angeles. And it occurred to me, this too, is a sign of HOPE, people back at work, people making movies in Tinseltown,
I felt a little re-assured that not all companies have gone bankrupt, some are just fine.
I hope you all enjoy my little departure from the depressing, I know I needed some reassurance myself.
David Lee Frater, Reporter At Large, Village Of The Angels, Los Angeles, CA
Love First, Love Always, Love ONLY
davidleefrater@yahoo.com http://www.myspace.com/davidleefrater 