Election Day

I have actually made a concerted effort to avoid political discussion on my blog. Or maybe it's more like a concerted non-effort to get into political discussion, even in this most interesting of political seasons.

But since the election is finally passed and what's done is done for better or for worse, depending on your perspective, I'll go ahead and say a few words. And because I feel like I've heard a lot of negativity during this campaign season, I'm going to keep it positive. I hope if there are any comments you will keep them positive as well.

First off, my decision about who to vote for this election was a very difficult one to make. Some of you will be happy and some will be disappointed, though most will probably not be surprised, to know that I did vote for Barack Obama. I will also say that I think that some of you who are not surprised should maybe be a little more so - the decision was far from inevitable for me. I made my decision several weeks in advance, partly because I felt I finally had good reason to go one way or the other, and also partly because I needed to just stop wavering and take a side in an argument where I really didn't think either side was wrong or evil or stupid. In the weeks after making my decision, I heard many good arguments against an Obama presidency - I still don't think it's clear what will be best for our country, and really only time can tell, although at this point we have closed the other door and will never know what a McCain presidency would have brought.

But what I will say, with confidence, is that I really do believe an Obama win is good for our country right now. My personal feeling is that there is a lot of ill-will and cynicism in our country right now, and a lot of divisiveness. A lot of people see a huge divide between "us" and "them," whoever "us" and "them" might be - wealthy versus not, Main Street versus Wall Street, Democrat versus Republican, capitalist versus socialist, religious versus atheist. It makes me tired even to think about it.

The thing is, while I know there are people out there who really dislike Obama, people who are scared of his policies, people who fear the socialization or liberalization of America, I still believe that our nation will experience greater unity, enthusiasm, and hope (yes, I did just use that word) around Obama than it would have around any other candidate. No, Obama is not going to change the world. Reality is going to set in eventually, and I think most of us, Obama-supporters or not, realize that. But success here is not just about policies, it is also about our confidence in our leaders, our democracy, and especially ourselves. America needs some more faith in itself, and what I have seen in the last 24 hours is a renewal of faith in ourselves and our fellow countrymen that I like to think can last enough to power us through some of the difficult decisions ahead.

Maybe the new direction we are taking will not prove to be a good one, but I think it's good for us to be able to give it a try, better than letting angst and bitterness build up for another four years. Whether or not there is change for the better ahead, just the idea of change that is floating around is refreshing, and I think we need to feel that. And the world needs to feel that. I know some of you who read this are going to disagree with my sentiments, whether with my optimism, or my belief that what is happening is a genuinely good thing even if the future doesn't turn out as bright as we'd like it to, or even with the very fact that my optimism is cautious. But right now, I am happy with the outcome of the election, and I am hopeful for the future, and I am praying for a continuation, and even growth, of unity, support, empowerment, and optimism in myself and the people around me.

Those are my post-election-day thoughts. I like to hear contrasting opinions, but for now please reserve them for another time and place. Today I feel happy that I live in the place I live in, and the time I live in, even in spite of all our imperfections, and I'd like to continue feeling that way.