Tuesday November 02, 2004

Election day shame and honor

I voted today, and I felt honored to do so. I drove my parents down to the local mall-turned-polling place and cast my ballot. A few voting stations were open when we got there, so we didn't have to wait in line. I took my time, making sure to punch through the card and leave no hanging chads (ugh), and handed in my ballot to a little grey-haired lady who gave me my sticker.

After coming home, my friend Sarah called to tell me that some people from her workplace were accosted at the polls by election challengers. It looks like the crime they committed was the infamous VWB - Voting While Black. It's nothing less than a dirty shame that a group would engage in such deplorable racial profiling in order to suppress votes. I'm so ashamed of Ohio.

Although I feel very strongly about this election, which ever way the voters swing I'll still know that my life is not in the hands of George Bush or John Kerry. If Kerry wins, I'll be pleased that my volunteer efforts paid off. If he doesn't, I will be consoled by the fact that Bush will have to face four years of accountability and clean up his own mess. If God can raise people from the dead, he can help keep Bush from creating a bigger disaster.

Daily gratitude: knowing God can work through even the most horrible of elected leaders.