I woke up at 6 a.m. on my day off to avoid the long lines
and make sure I got it in. I walked all of two blocks to the elementary school
in my neighborhood. Figured out what line to stand in. And waited. Silently,
like everyone else. As I stood there I swelled with so many emotions. All of
these people are waiting for their turn to say what matters. I've never stood
in line to make a choice like that before. Last time I sent an absentee ballot from
college. But today I was going to see democracy in person. I was moved by the
number of people filing into the hallway. My choice doesn't matter more or less
than the young hipster couple in front of me or the working mother behind me…
But this ballot, this weirdly long paper with a billion languages on it, was
all mine.
All these poll workers were here to help me make my beliefs count.
Literally. I made sure to thank them knowing all the torture coming their way
from all these crazy New Yorkers. But I’m glad I got to do it here, especially
in Queens . It made me realize how many
different kinds of people get to make their voices heard. On the surface we’re
just filling in bubbles on scantron sheets. But inside we’re all hoping that
those pen marks transform into something better. Hoping that this whole system
isn’t just a charade. Hoping that all this money, and time, and arguing has
been a catalyst for us all to move forward. Even though the voting lines will
be gone tomorrow, we will still have a choice to make. I choose to focus on the
potential of this country, the spirit of the people, and the unity that a day
like today reminds me can be possible. I choose to not forget that change
starts with one person and that tolerance goes a long way. And most importantly
I choose to stay awake the next four years and not forget everything that just
happened. The 2016 candidates are out there and watching this competition. They
are already planning their moves and I don’t want to notice them only after
they’ve been plucked and teased by someone else. If we notice them earlier,
then maybe we have a chance at doing some of the plucking.
