As I mentioned earlier, I am a bit of a political nerd and slightly addicted to FOX news. All this election talk has got me thinking of the first Presidential election I ever voted in. President George Bush was running against Bill Clinton and I was so excited to be a part of an election for the first time. I entered the voting booth and pulled the lever that closed the curtain behind me. (Can you say old school) I voted with pride for George Bush and then went home to watch elections results unfold on tv. Needless to say, my exhuberance in the election process faded through the night as I realized that President Bush was only going to be a one term president and my one measly vote did nothing to keep him in office. I was a bit disillusioned.
The last time I had the priviledge to vote was in the Presidential primary. I got up that morning to vote and I wasn’t quite as excited. It was raining outside and the thought of taking my 5 month old out in that weather was not appealing. Also, if you know me in real life, you know that rain does horrific things to my hair. I had actually reasoned myself out of going to vote when a picture popped in my head. I remembered the purple-stained fingers of the Iraqi people who had just voted in their first elections. They held those fingers up in pride all the while risking their lives for the opportunity to vote. How could I let a little rain, and a potential bad hair day, stop me from voting.
So we braved the weather and I voted and even though my candidate ultimately didn’t receive the nomination, I did my part as an American. I’ve actually heard people say that they may not vote in this Presidential candidate because one candidate is too liberal and the other in not conservative enough. Wake up people! We live in the greatest county on earth. Join in and participate. We owe it to those who have so bravely fought for our freedoms and protected our rights. Research the candidates and make an educated choice. And come November, don’t let anything, even a bad hair day, keep you from the polls.