4 • The Southwest Portland Post
FEATURES
November 2011
Local author urges readers to give democracy a chance
By Polina Olsen
The Southwest Portland Post
More than two dozen people crowd-
ed Annie Bloom’s Books in Multnomah
Village on October 6 to hear Mary M.
Clare, a Lewis and Clark College coun-
seling psychology professor, talk about
her new book 100 Voices.
The emphasis on change during the
last presidential
election inspired
Clare to under-
stand America’s
yearnings. She
took a cross-coun-
try road trip, in-
terviewed people
from all walks-of-
life and wrote her
book around the
question, “What does change mean to
you?”
Gregory Ayres, director of operations
for Loudmouth Press, introduced the
speaker by noting this was the inde-
pendent non-profit publisher’s third
book. Located in Brooklyn, New York,
the press is dedicated to advancing
civil rights and important social issues.
Clare’s story of the power of listening
made a perfect fit.
“I’m a social psychologist,” Clare
began. “I know that a good way to get
information is to ask big questions and
not know where it will go.”
“ During the last presidential election,
everyone was talking about and excited
about change. I was curious to see what
everyday Americans meant. With all
this change, what should remain the
same? What are signs that positive
change is coming?”
Clare’s book includes stories of her
cross-country road trip, which she
started after Barack Obama’s presiden-
tial inauguration.
“As I’m sharing the voices, I write
about my own experiences,” she said.
She knew about half the people she
interviewed and found others at coffee
Mary M. Clare talks about her new book "100 Voices" at Annie Bloom's Books.
(Post photo by Polina Olsen)
shops and family restaurants. Subjects
ranged from children to seniors and
covered the political spectrum.
In Georgia, a Sarah Palin supporter
felt change meant less strife and more
understanding of differences. An eighth
grader in Long Island, New York said
change was waking up and doing
something for the community. Most
people saw change as positive and felt
individuals could be a catalyst. Some
people saw extremes.
Clare spoke to an African American
talk show host in Jackson, Mississippi
the day after Obama’s speech to a joint
session of Congress.
“He was off to the races and upset,”
she said. “He was critical of Obama and
progressive causes but as I listened long
enough, I heard things where we saw
the universe the same way. He said,
‘Tomorrow we’re having a meeting of
like minded people who are going to
influence the next election.’ I wondered
if he meant the Tea Party.”
Another time Clare overheard two
men make plans for a Baptist youth
group. “I walked over and introduced
myself,” she said. “At one point, the
older one said, ‘I’m a Republican and
you’re a Democrat. We’re good at de-
monizing each other.’ Another said,
‘We’ve been majoring in the minors
instead of the majors. We need to con-
centrate on the important stuff.’”
Clare hopes her book will motivate
people to listen with an open mind. She
urges everyone to set aside resistance
and blur Democratic and Republican
distinctions.
“It’s easy to get offended by people,”
she said. “We have to stop the chatter
in our heads long enough to see if we
have something in common. The take
away is, give democracy a chance. It’s
up to us.”