Deceptively short line at my polling place. 11/06/2012
Today is the big day, Election Day!
It is only Election Day when Americans come together to make our collective voices heard. It isn’t a holiday, it’s a work day where we share the labor of governance.
All of our collective experiences are holidays shaped by religious or cultural traditions that not everyone participates in or even recognizes, for instance Columbus Day which is offensive to Native Americans. Universal celebrations like Labor Day, the 4th of July, and Memorial Day are holidays that we chiefly view as vacation days that we celebrate in individual ways.
The fact that many choose not to participate on Election Day does not diminish its importance or important work that is done.
Today I got to my polling station at about 8:30 a.m. It was a cool, damp and overcast day. The short line out the front of the Martin Luther King Park building was deceptive. It was for another precinct. I had to go out the back of the building to get into the right queue.
The queue coiled around itself and then out and up the walk. Before getting into line I walked around to see what was going on and ran into friends and neighbors.
All along the line people were talking and laughing. The spirit of the moment was uplifting.
There were numerous parents with children, many multi-tasking trying to balance their busy lives and still participate in this historic day.
It took me about 45 minutes to get in and vote: nothing compared to what voters are facing in other parts of the country.
Afterwards, I went to my favorite haunt, Patisserie 46, where I found many folks sporting the red and white I Voted stickers. Over my daily latte I talked politics with friends.
Voting isn’t an exercise in futility. It is a pledge of commitment to the well being of our nation and American family. While our government is genuinely screwed up, only voting can turn it around. Walking away from the process does nothing.
I voted! There is still time for you.