So the election happened. That was definitely a big part of our week.
The main highlight of our day on Tuesday was definitely going to vote. This was Allie's and Jess' first time voting which made it even more awesome that I got to tag along. I managed to vote, in person, in Concord before I left for my trip, so it was cool to experience going to the polls with them. We documented the experience (Obviously. Have you met us?!) and got in and out pretty quickly. I even picked up an "I Voted" sticker even though it really said "I'm a Georgia Voter" over a picture of a peach. So I'm kind of a fraud. But I love it.
Four years ago I voted in my first election. I was newly eighteen, excited about the plans I was making for my future, and so confident in my maturity and the decisions I was making. I voted for Barack Obama, and for the first time really I felt like I was "old" and that my voice mattered.
I went to boarding school in Vermont, where I pretty much turned into a hippie hipster. I was already a vegetarian before I got there but it was something about being surrounded by so many different people, being exposed to some really freethinking learning environments, and, of course, being in Vermont that really got me interested in issues of equality. Obama's vision was like a breath of fresh air and I quickly realized that my newfound political beliefs lined up pretty nicely with his.
The night of the 2008 election, I watched the CNN coverage from my dorm's common room with one of my teachers. A few girls poked their heads in every once in a while but for the most part we were alone. I was on AIM (yuuuuup) with Carra, who was following the election results at home. We were both so passionate about Obama being elected and so hopeful for the future.
One week before this we both turned eighteen, and naturally we were intrigued by the idea of getting a tattoo. I mean, totally typical...right?! There was one particular tattoo idea I was interested in, and Carra and I had joked about going to a Keene or Bratt tattoo parlor. Welllllll on election night, in our emotional states, we realized how fitting it would be to get our tattoos the next day if Obama won. And we all know what ended up happening...
Four years later I look down at the tiny peace sign on my wrist and I'm reminded of so many different things. I didn't get the tattoo because of the election, or because of Obama winning, but to this day it reminds me of that time in my life when I had so many plans and so much hope, when everything was falling into place and I was surrounded by some of the best friends and most influential mentors I've ever known. To this day it reminds me to stay strong, to be honest with myself, and to put my health and my happiness above everything else.
It's hard to believe that four years have now passed. Carra and I have been obnoxiously obsessed with this current election as well, and are constantly texting and Facebooking each other random articles, memes, and frustrated rants related to the political craziness. In some ways it seems like nothing has changed, but I think we both know better.
Sooooo back to Tuesday: Allie and I spent the rest of the day hanging out around the house being productive and attempting to track election coverage online. We watched a couple of movies, made some jewels, and Allie made us some kick ass avocado quesadillas.
As it got later and later Allie and I just got more stressed about the election results. Once Jess got home we waited anxiously to see whether we would find anything out that night or if it would be too close to safely call. Well, we finally got our answer!!!!!! The three of us were happy, relieved, emotional, and in a general state of disbelief, trying not to get too excited just in case something crazy happened to turn it all around. Well, once we watched Romney concede we went ahead and celebrated. And waited. And waited. And waited some more for Obama to speak. When he finally came out on stage with his beautiful family? That's when I began to lose it. Malia and Sasha have grown so much over the last four years and seeing them and Michelle just made me realize that their family is one that I want to root for. Their family is one that I want to hang out with. And most importantly, their family is one that I want to represent my country.
Now I'm not saying that President Obama is perfect (because no one is) or that he hasn't made mistakes (because he definitely has). I see some major flaws in our two party system and I wish we had a larger group of candidates to realistically choose from, but unfortunately that's not the case. I'm not going to go into the many factors in my voting decision right now, but one of the things I will share is that I could not get behind someone who is so disconnected from the bulk of this country. I honestly don't think it's naive of me to want my president to treat people well and advocate for equality, generosity, and respect.
The disrespect hurled at so many groups of people during this election is just sickening to me. The fact that it is 2012 and I have to deal with politicians taking ignorant stances on issues that are not theirs to judge? I, as a woman, lost a lot of faith in this country during this election.
You can have different political views than mine. I mean, hell, I expect that and I welcome that. But similar to my views on religion, once you start putting other people down in order to lift yourself up? That's when I have an issue. I won't apologize for wanting to fight for the rights of some of my closest friends and family members. And I never will.
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