Epiphany at the polls

Whether you are a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Independent, or what have you, if you believe in America, then you must be impressed with the recent presidential election. History was bound to be made with either the first woman vice president or the first African American president, yet the magnitude of the decision never hit me until about midnight this past Tuesday.

Obviously someone had to win, someone had to replace G. W., but, because of this seemingly never-ending eight years, his presidency has dragged on, and I have been lulled into thinking this downward spiral would simply result in a chasm or a hole of some kind. The "change" t-shirts, the "hope" posters, and the ridiculous amount of media coverage never really hit home. Let me make an analogy some of you may be able to relate to; imagine you are a senior in high school, researching, visiting, talking about, and being absorbed in college preparation. You apply, you get into a bunch of places, and you pick one and send in your deposit slip. All this time you never really understand the results of your decision, never understand that you will not sleep in your bed every night, eat dinner with your family, or kick it with your friends constantly. You end up in early September with this "home-sickness," but really it's just you being thrust into reality, for good or for bad.

This election was like that for me. Tuesday I just pondered, sat with a few friends and a couple beverages, and just let the wave of reality wash over me. Something happened, and maybe I still do not fully grasp it, but something definitely went down. Listening to Obama's speech and hearing the commentary, I was inspired. I was inspired by this over-cliché, ridiculous, over used word (I cannot believe I am even saying this): change. Not like we have just entered the Promised Land and the wine will flow like salmon, but things will be different. Our nation's image will be different. Obama is not Kennedy, or Lincoln, or FDR, or anyone except himself, and we really should not put him on this pedestal of fanaticism I see some people doing. I want to use the President elect's own words to describe what should be etched into everyone's minds now that the votes have been counted: This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. We now have the opportunity to change things and make our lives better, and it may not come all at once, but I was inspired.

I was also inspired when I went to vote for the first time. I realized it was not some high-tech fantasy world where adults mull over decisions of the world, but rather a beautiful place. People I know were running the polling station; people I have known my whole life were voting. I understood that this is America, and these people are not foreign, they are my friends, family, neighbors, and some randoms I see walking the streets of Worcester daily, but I know them. I felt a part of something that is hard to explain. I became a part of something bigger then myself, yet very familiar.

I saw some friends my age who I hang out with occasionally. To be honest, I was shocked, not because I see these people as apathetic or unmotivated, but because I saw what makes our generation different. We care. We care about our future, about our parents' future, about our children's future, and we care about our planets future. Yes, we party, say completely unintelligent words, use slang, and listen to dumbed-down music, but we care. It's amazing, actually, to think that no matter what lifestyle, age, or whatever (I'm not going to list the differences people have in the world, I'm not a politician), we come out to vote and say, "I want my voice to be heard." Voting is purely symbolic individually, but for the masses it means so much. I was inspired.

I voted for Obama. My father, mother, grandfather, aunts, uncles, cousins, and really good friends voted for McCain. My brother is a hippie, he said he would have voted for Obama, but he is only 17. But does who we voted for even matter? We voted, and we took part in history. Whether you voted for or against the first African American president ever really does not matter. We did our part. But we are not done. Just like Obama now has to work harder than he did on that long hard campaign trail, we now have to get our minds right and unite.

It really does not inspire me when I check Facebook and see people's status lashing out against Obama and those who voted for him. What does that accomplish? Like Socrates said, if you do not like the rules of your country (or ruler), you always have the opportunity to leave. So leave, or, if you do not want to leave, at least respect the necessary solidarity of our country. You know what a country divided and hateful gives us? Murder, civil war, racism, economic downfall: all together very bad things. Sure, I talk bad about politician, laws, and the war on drugs; I even believe in civil disobedience, and I think Thoreau knew what was good. But civil disobedience and opinions are meant to accomplish something. Bad-mouthing a president does not do anything, especially when a country is down on its luck like ours. Have your opinions, but recognize what's good for you and what's good for the gander, your country.

I am excited to see what is ahead. Will Obama do a good job, end the War in Iraq, save the sinking economic ship, and provide health care to those who need it? I do not know. I know he cannot do it alone; he needs some solid people around him. He needs us, the country, the people (ya dig?). We need to learn and act to let our representatives know how we feel. I guess this election is like New Years for me, making resolutions and all, but I do not think it is dumb to think this way. Why not now become better? What is a better day than today?

I am inspired and excited, and I hope you are, too.