Election Day

It's on everybody's mind. Almost every single person who came into the store the past few days have had something to say about the election. Some were worried. Some were confident. All were ready to cast their vote.

Never have I seen an election with this much hype, this much at stake, this much interest. I have a memory of being in the living room with my family the night that Clinton was elected. We were allowed to stay up late, but I was already starting to fade. I couldn't understand what was so important that my parents had actually let me stay up that late. They were watching the TV screen intently, but I was slipping into a doze. Then, suddenly, I came awake as they began cheering. We weren't a big sports-watching family, unless you count the Olympics, but this wasn't that, so what were they celebrating?

It would be much later that I would begin to understand the importance of politics. And even more important: voting.

I take the right to vote very seriously. I read through my entire absentee ballot three times before I made any marks. I wanted to be sure I understood what and for whom I was voting. I sent it out over a week ago, so I've missed out on some of the fun of voting, though I won't be sorry to miss the lines from what I've heard. Still, I would have liked to go into the little booth, make my choice, and get my sticker. It makes you feel like you're contributing. Remember, people died to give you this right. It shouldn't be taken lightly.

So, when I read an article about the number of Republicans who try to prevent people from voting, I was outraged.

In Virginia, a town was covered with fliers on official-looking stationary which said that due to the high number of voters expected to turn out for the election, they would split it up over two days; to vote Republican, you should go on Tuesday, whereas Democrats should go on Wednesday.

In other areas, people were warned that if they had previous convictions or unpaid parking tickets, the police would be waiting at the polling place to arrest them.

Thousands of people received phone calls from people pretending to be with the Democratic party, urging them to vote over the phone instead of waiting in the long lines at the polls.

This is just a handful of the tactics used, and all of them are disgusting.

I cannot believe that McCain would be behind or even approve of such schemes. I would hope that he is a better man than that. However, as Deirdre pointed out yesterday when we were discussing this at work, he is the leader, and so the ultimate responsibility lies with him. It is his job to set an example to those who follow him, and that example should show that this sort of thing is unacceptable.

I can not understand the hypocrisy of people who claim to value America and all she stands for, while violating the very cornerstone of our government: the right to choose.

Everyone has the right to vote, regardless of which button they press (or name they mark).

And with that, I would like to finish this post by sharing something with you. A comic book. I know, I know, but just hear me out on this one.

DC comics published a four issue miniseries called DC Universe: Decisions, the last issue of which, came out last week. The story centered on the presidential elections, and while the candidates in the book did not bear the same name or even really resemble the real-life candidates, you could certainly see the parallels. The basic plot was that someone was attempting to assassinate every single candidate. No party was safe, all were targeted equally. Naturally, our heroes were called in to protect them. It's what they do, after all. Unfortunately, this led to some heroes going on record as endorsing certain candidates. Green Arrow, for instance, endorsed the candidate that was farthest to the left of the political spectrum. Hawkman, on the other hand, went with the candidate who had the most military experience.

Naturally, the public wanted to know how Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman were going to vote. Well, actually, Wonder Woman isn't a citizen, so she can't vote...

Throughout the four issues, reporters tried to get Superman to go on record with his choice, and in the final issue, this is what he had to say:

Who do I wish to see as the next President of the United States? I do have a choice. (...) But it would be unconscionable of me to share that with you. As I feel it has been wrong for any of us who battle injustice, we so-called "heroes," to allow our opinions to be known on this most important of occasions. (...) You understand, and have always understood, that our mission is to protect not only this nation but this world...and all the worlds beyond the stars. We answer to no one...therefore...we do not govern. We are heroes. And we serve.

The privilege of choosing who will lead you is, I believe, a sacred right. One that should forever remain unmolested.

You choose.

You decide.

And we will, as always...

Protect.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Happy Election Day everybody!

Jules