 kmccarthy, Tue, November 4th, 2008 That felt good. With the flip of a few switches, I voted in the most historic election of my lifetime. And for a few minutes, I felt important and part of something so much bigger than my regular life. It’s great to vote in Bethlehem; the poll watchers greet you, there’s the man who collars you to explain the proposition, and there’s always a friend to chat with. At 8 this morning, things were moving quickly at the school district office, and all the people working the polls were noticeably pumped. “One hundred and fifty people so far,” two of them said. “Are you going to vote with your dad?” another asked a man with his two little kids. “Don’t tell anybody who you vote for.” “Did you get your garden all cleaned out?” Kathy Agneta asked about the community garden where we both have plots. “Thank you for voting,” a man said as I left, and I could honestly respond that it was my pleasure. Twenty-four hours from now, we could still be bogged down in results; acrimony from the losing side could be creeping in again; gloating from the victors and worry about the future will be happening, but for right now, on Election Day, small-town, upstate New York voting is America at its best. I just walked into the polls - no police, no armed guards, no inked fingers. I am confident that the transfer of power will be smooth, that I will be allowed to settle back into my quotidian worries without fear of riots, rebellions or food shortages. No mistake, it’s tough times and we all have a lot to face as a nation. But for right now, I am celebrating the ease with which I helped set our nation’s course for the future. Make sure you do the same. CATEGORY: General Society
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