Today I voted for someone to be the next president of the United States of America. I have spent the last several months listening, watching, discussing, researching, reading, and doing everything I can so that I could make an informed decision. I looked at both candidates and discovered I had strong leanings towards both of them in certain areas. I also found several things that turned me off.
I looked at issues.
I looked at communication styles.
I looked at their personal lives.
I looked at their voting records.
I looked at their choices for running mates.
I did my best to cover all of the bases. To my surprise I found that I actually liked both candidates. This election is the first time where I felt like I really had a choice to make. In previous years the choice was easy. I mean you can not convince me that John Kerry was the best the DNC had to offer 4 years ago. Puhhhhleasssssse.
So I left my office today still unsure of who I would vote for. On my way out the door one of our daycare teachers challenged me to "think of your daughters future". That stuck with me all the way to the precinct. So that's what I did.
There is a good chance that whoever is elected will be president for the next 8 years. That will mean Natalie will be 10 years old when a new president is chosen. Our next president will be a major part of Natalie's first political memories. Soooo...
Do I want Natalie to experience a world where the norm for her is an African-American president? Do I want her to see the "dream" of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. be a reality? Do I want her to see a world with fewer racial barriers?
or
Do I want Natalie to see that women are capable of achieving even the high office of Vice-President? Do I want Natalie to see the world as an open door of possibilities just waiting for her to let her own dreams soar? Do I want her to see that the "glass ceiling" is not so much a factor anymore but rather a shattered former reality?
So that's what I did. I thought about my daughter's future and I voted. All the research I did came down to what kind of world do I wish for my daughter. I made a choice. I hope you took advantage of your freedom and made a choice too.
Whoever wins...I want my daughter to see her parents praying for and supporting the leaders that are in place.
