today, i voted...and cried
This evening, I was drawn to a post with a graphic stating "I Voted Today and Cried" (not the one to your left). Because I too, cried when I voted today. I anticipated that the blogger's tears and mine were as a result of having voted for Barack Obama. Much to my surprise, however, our votes were not the same, as "none of the above"-type vote was the vote cast by the blogger.
I certainly respect the blogger's right to cast the vote based upon the clear and concise reasons stated. But, I must say that I was deeply saddened by that decision. Even my sadness, however, could not negate the fact that one of the greatest gifts we have is the freedom to vote for our leaders. Our right to vote is a gift for which struggle, tears, and even blood were the price. We have the gift of being able to engage in a revolution of sorts to say "enough is enough" or "its all good" or to even "none of the above".
Having said that, however, the following is a repost of the comment I left to the blogger who exercised the gift and right to cast a vote, albeit different from my own:
I, too voted today and cried. I cried because today my daughters voted for the first time. I cried because today I voted for a man I believe to be better suited for this nation than his opponent. I voted for a man…and only a man…that I pray will live up to his desire to make this a better nation for my daughters. Who did I vote for? Does it really matter? I voted for a man…and only a man…who, in the end, will be judged by the same standard and measure that we all will be judged and measured.Yes, today I voted. Today, I voted without reservation or concern. Today I voted and cried. Today, I WAS PROUD!
It has always bothered, saddened, and even infuriated me that as an African-American you must be better than, smarter than, grander than others in order to be validated. You must walk in two worlds to be Black enough and not too Black. You must please everyone, agree with everyone, and be down but not too down. Yet, others not of our hue do not have to do the same.
In the history of this Nation, no other presidential candidate has been held up to such scrutiny. No other presidential candidate has been required to throw or not throw an associate under the bus. No other presidential candidate has been required to defend his judgement, integrity, or family. No other candidate, not one. And why? Is he not a man and only a man as each of the 43 other presidents of this nation? Why must he be held to a higher and different standard or measure.
Today, I voted for a man…and only a man…who I believe is the best candidate in this presidential election. In the past, I have voted for the man…and only a man who I believed was the best candidate in that presidential election. Today, I voted and cried because I voted for Barack Obama who is a man and only a man.
Obliged to you for hearing me,
and now old SjP ain't got nothin' more to say...
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