Happy Elections Day!
Posted: Tuesday, November 04, 2008
by Mogama
http://www.mogama.info
You arrive at your precinct, your
polling station, where you vote for the candidates of your choice.
For four years or so, you've waited for this day. Happy Elections
Day!
Are there no soldiers around here with
guns and boots ready for action on your head, legs, stomach,
wherever? No police officers with faces of steel, machos to keep you
in line, slap you if that's what it takes to get you to behave? Happy
Elections Day!
Where are the ropes to keep the line of
humans straight and orderly? Where are the partisans with their
flags, banners, T-shirts, still electioneering to win you over to
their side? Happy Elections Day!
Are there no verbal threats from
fanatics of the ruling party? "If you vote for the president's
enemies, you'll be in trouble! You know the president is the only
choice for this country! Why would you vote anyone else?" None
of that. Happy Elections Day!
When will a fight break out between two
voters, or between a gang of voters, representing opposing political
parties? And what weapons will they fight with? No fuss or fights
around here. No weapons either. Happy Elections Day!
You reach the table. You exchange
friendly greetings with the worker there. It's all smiles. Wow! The
guy or lady with the book of registered voters asks you for an ID.
You present your driver's license, your social security card, your
credit card, some other form of valid ID. The poll worker locates
your name and verifies your address. S/he writes a number on a yellow
card, or some other color card, hands it to you, and wishes you well.
Happy Elections Day!
At the next stop, you hand your ticket
to a volunteer, who greets you, again, with a grin, a smile. Double
wow! S/he hands you a ballot and points to an empty voting booth,
where it's just you. No government or party official looking over
your shoulder. Happy Elections Day!
You get busy blocking in your choices
in black ink. You feel powerful. In charge. This is what freedom
means. This feels good. It's the right thing to do. What a privilege,
a painless responsibility. Happy Elections Day!
Minutes later, you're done. Did you
notice that for some positions you were to select more than one
candidate, say for your city commissioners, or for candidates to your
school board? And good for you, you did not put an X or a check mark
in the boxes. You did completely fill in each box with black ink. You
read and followed the directions, so your vote will actually count.
Happy Elections Day!
Finally, you tear off the bottom stub
of the ballot. It's trash. You hold the treasure in your hand. Paper
never felt so precious, so special. You place it face down or face up on the
ballot scanner, and the machine pulls the ballot in. It's gone.
Ahhh, the feel, the sound of democracy. Happy Elections Day!
The worker by the scanner tears off and gives you THE
STICKER that says, "I Voted", with the American flag waving
above those words of authority. Happy Elections Day!
You leave the precinct. No one shouts
insults at you. No checkpoints to clear you as you depart. Instead,
smilers return the favor, as they wave you goodbye, hoping their time
in line will be as enjoyable and brief as yours. O the glory, the
bliss, the blessing of elections peaceful, free and fair!
I voted. Have you? Did you?
"Which candidates did I vote for?"
What? Was I supposed to remember their names too?
This is America!
Happy Elections Day!
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No one can take away the joy I feel tonite!!! God bless America!!I hear you, Jennifer. Relish the joy, especially if you voted! ~mogama~
