So, I'm going to preclude this post with a simple
disclaimer; I really don't get into politics.
I know that there are some out there that absolutely love it for one of
several reasons. It could be that they
love knowing the issues and how our country will be affected moving
forward. Or it could be that there's a
certain amount of pageantry and drama on display for all to see. For me, one of the only reasons that I'm even
paying attention is that I feel like I have to.
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| Seriously, WHAT AM I DOING??? |
Don't get me wrong. I
love the fact that the people in America have a say in who will be leading this
country. However, I, meaning me
personally, don't feel like my vote makes a difference. Whether I vote for the lady with the e-mails
or the guy who's going to build a wall, I'm just one man with one vote. Maybe
I'll feel differently whenever I see an election come down to just one
vote. You know, like the movie 'Swing
Vote'. The one with Kevin Costner
basically playing Kevin Costner in your typical Kevin Costner-esque role.
As for now, my primary reason for voting comes down to one
simple fact. There is a large number of
men and women who gave their lives for me to have the right to do so. To not take advantage of that is to
trivialize their sacrifice and that's just wrong. Honestly that's something that has just hit
me in the past couple of years.
So keeping all of that in mind, this morning I set out with
Ellie in tow to go cast my vote. I really wanted to walk with Ellie strapped to my chest, but she was
having none of that. Instead we drove
the mile to our local polling place. As we
arrived, we were directed to the grass to park and then headed to the big line
stretching all of the way around the building.
After about twenty minutes though, we were told that we needed to be
standing in the long line on the other side of the building. So Ellie and I headed to the other side of
the building to hop in line.
As I was standing there, minding my own business, I hear a
familiar voice. Glancing around, I see
one of my neighbors standing four people behind me. Hopeful that she doesn't notice me, I
actually strike up a conversation with the random gentlemen ahead of me. Before I know it, my four person buffer is
gone and my neighbor is right behind me.
Now she can be a very nice lady, but she's also super opinionated and
not easy to have a conversation with.
Unfortunately, I now knew how I was going to spend the next hour of my
life. It would be full of complaining
and bitterness on her side and lots of nodding and pretending to pay attention
on my side.
Once we finally made it inside, I was more than happy to
retrieve my ballot and relieve myself of my company. Places to fill out my ballot were pretty scarce
so I found myself seated on the floor next to Ellie, using my knees as a hard
surface to fill out my ballot. Of
course, like a whole lot of America today, I felt pangs of uneasiness as I slid
my ballot into the bin watching my number pop up on the screen; 1145. With that, I picked up Ellie's carrier and
headed to the car to go back home.
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| Come back Mr. Ballot!!! |
Some closing thoughts about this whole voting process. By the time most people have read this,
America will have a new President Elect and Barack Obama's time in office will
be winding down. While a lot of people
will not be happy with the results, there is one simple truth that I can think
of. Ironically enough, it came from a
t-shirt of a volunteer working at the polling place. That thought is simply 'Vote Jesus'. Meaning, that the decisions we have made
today are not eternal. I truly believe
that God knows exactly how all of this is going to play out and as I pray for
our country, that gives me peace. More
importantly I know that I've put all of my faith in Jesus and my decision to do
so will never disappoint me, even if the new President might.
Also, it helps to know that Ellie won't
remember any of the tenure of this new President so I'm safe from this
question; "Dad, why did you vote for him/her?". What?
You really thought that I was going to slip up and tell you who I voted
for in a public blog post? As if.
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| At least we're not electing Terry Crews in a bad wig... |
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