Categories: uncategorized
Date: 18 September 2004 23:09:11
I figure the last place where EVERYONE shows up on even, equal ground is the at the voting booth.
Or maybe Wal-mart.
But anyway, today's an election day here, and my sister is one of those who work for the election commissioner, manning the polls, checking ID's, etc. I went in to vote and we did the usual fun song-and-dance about how we really are sisters-- really -- we really are -- never mind that I am big enough to make three of my sister, we really truly are sisters!
Then I went in and saw her again in the afternoon. I think when you work the elections you have to open the place up -- maybe 6:30 a.m. here -- and stay all day and close it down. Until 8 p.m. at least. Long day!
I was thinking that even in these modern cynical times, this is even ground. Holy ground, in a way, in the sense of reverence for a system of government "by, for, of" the people. So much potential for good here. The ways people mess up that potential has not hardened me up. I still believe in it and live happy under the light hand of a representative democracy.
But, here, at my designated polling place at the public library branch near my house, everyone shows up. There is every manner of dress, males and females, all ages (since kids come along even tho they ain't voters). There's every sort of car and truck outside, in every sort of condition, rusty hard-used work trucks and sparkly pampered zippy little expensive cars.
I used to sell cars for a living. It is a mark of my lowly economic state that today I cannot think up an example of the brand or model of one of those expensive little toys the Junior Leaguers drive here to vote.
All of us come here, entitled as citizens to make our opinions known.
I like it.
There are not many places in the world where I would have that free choice. I wouldn't have had, always, even here, either. Darken my skin and deny me a penis and I'd not have been able to vote, here, not that many years ago.
(Oh, please, imagination, let's not even go off into the tangent about wanting a penis... That's not why I'm here...)
Anyway-- Today -- Everyone who wanted to, came in, and proved who they were -- only fair to show some ID -- and they marched into that voting booth, and they drew the curtain for privacy, and they voted.
We mustn't take it for granted.