Are we stranger... or stronger?
Nov. 4th, 2008 12:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sinkwriterIt's a gorgeous day here in Illinois. The sun is shining, the breeze is warm, and the falling leaves are vibrant and colorful.
As soon as I'm finished posting this, I'm going outside to savor a walk, but for now, I wanted to say that I have just returned from my polling location.
My vote has been posted. My voice has been heard!
Over the past months, my voice has been generally quiet, as I've become exceedingly weary of all the campaigning and the ever-present, often heated political discussions. I admit I'll be relieved when all the votes have been counted and this election process is complete.
Putting personal exhaustion aside for a moment, I cannot deny that today is a significant day. History will be made. We will either see the first African-American President, or the first female Vice-President, of the United States. That is so remarkable, I could cry.
Last election, filled with civic duty pride, I posted a humorous quote (to MySpace) from one of my favorite politically-themed television programs. Today I shall post a new quote, this one exemplifying why I think it's so important to vote. And why it's important to be informed and get involved.
As said by Leo McGarry (the beloved, magnificent actor John Spencer), during an episode entitled "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part I," from The West Wing:
"Because I'm tired of it. Year after year after year after year, having to choose between the lesser of 'who cares'? Of trying to get myself excited about a candidate who can speak in complete sentences. Of setting the bar so low... I can hardly look at it. They say a good man can't get elected President. I don't believe that, do you?"
***********
I want to believe that a good man or woman can get elected President. I want to believe that despite our political differences, we all want something positive to happen in this country, and for everyone, everywhere around the world. I want to believe that things can change for the better.
In order to make those changes, in order to demand what it is we want to see from our own government, we all must vote.
As I said in that first post over on MySpace, and I think it bears repeating, it's important! It's our right and our privilege. And you know what they say: Do it or don't do it, but if you don't do it, you don't get to bitch about the state of the country. You never know, your vote could have swung things in a whole other direction.
Go vote!
Now, for a bit of levity:
LEO: Let's take a break.
PRESIDENT BARTLET: (pointing to his speech script) We meant 'stronger' here, right?
SAM: What's it say?
BARTLET: "I'm proud to report our country's stranger than it was a year ago"?
SAM: That's a typo.
BARTLET: (shrugs) Could go either way.
~ The West Wing, "He Shall, From Time To Time..."
;D
As soon as I'm finished posting this, I'm going outside to savor a walk, but for now, I wanted to say that I have just returned from my polling location.
My vote has been posted. My voice has been heard!
Over the past months, my voice has been generally quiet, as I've become exceedingly weary of all the campaigning and the ever-present, often heated political discussions. I admit I'll be relieved when all the votes have been counted and this election process is complete.
Putting personal exhaustion aside for a moment, I cannot deny that today is a significant day. History will be made. We will either see the first African-American President, or the first female Vice-President, of the United States. That is so remarkable, I could cry.
Last election, filled with civic duty pride, I posted a humorous quote (to MySpace) from one of my favorite politically-themed television programs. Today I shall post a new quote, this one exemplifying why I think it's so important to vote. And why it's important to be informed and get involved.
As said by Leo McGarry (the beloved, magnificent actor John Spencer), during an episode entitled "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part I," from The West Wing:
"Because I'm tired of it. Year after year after year after year, having to choose between the lesser of 'who cares'? Of trying to get myself excited about a candidate who can speak in complete sentences. Of setting the bar so low... I can hardly look at it. They say a good man can't get elected President. I don't believe that, do you?"
***********
I want to believe that a good man or woman can get elected President. I want to believe that despite our political differences, we all want something positive to happen in this country, and for everyone, everywhere around the world. I want to believe that things can change for the better.
In order to make those changes, in order to demand what it is we want to see from our own government, we all must vote.
As I said in that first post over on MySpace, and I think it bears repeating, it's important! It's our right and our privilege. And you know what they say: Do it or don't do it, but if you don't do it, you don't get to bitch about the state of the country. You never know, your vote could have swung things in a whole other direction.
Go vote!
Now, for a bit of levity:
LEO: Let's take a break.
PRESIDENT BARTLET: (pointing to his speech script) We meant 'stronger' here, right?
SAM: What's it say?
BARTLET: "I'm proud to report our country's stranger than it was a year ago"?
SAM: That's a typo.
BARTLET: (shrugs) Could go either way.
~ The West Wing, "He Shall, From Time To Time..."
;D
