I’m sending this via mobile blog from my phone. Today is so special of a day due to the oh-so obvious worldwide event happening. It was awesome this morning waiting in line at the polls. To see the line grow as I’m waiting for the doors to open. To see so many young faces was motivating and encouraging. The ‘usual’ voters couldn’t stop chattering about how surprised they were at what they were seeing.
I’m not one of the ‘usual’ voters. But I shared the same sentiments. It’s history in the making. I was humbled and warmed when I looked ahead of me while waiting my turn. A father, dressed in his business attire, patiently waiting his turn. And next to him, with such a look of bewilderment, was his preschool daughter (I only assumed) holding his hand. I thought that was such an insightful act. How better to serve as a role model than to share this experience first hand with her. It was even more ‘special’ for me. It was my first time voting. (Blushing)
No matter the outcome. No matter who wins. This experience has changed the way I view my participation in my freedom.
Please go out and vote. It’s worth it.

And once again:
“If you don’t vote, you have to shut up.” – Will Smith

Carpe diem
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Posted by email from My Strong Medicine (posterous)

Today is the day you get to exercise the inalienable right that we fight for everyday.

“If you don’t vote.. then you have to shut up.” – Will Smith

Nuff’ said.

Carpe Diem

Image source: Google

Where will you be Tuesday November 4th, 2008?

It’s a date everyone will soon remember, and never forget. History is in the making.

As you may have figured out, I’m not what you would call an avid follower of ‘politics’. In fact I’d say it’s one of my biggest handicaps as an American citizen.

I don’t belong to a specific political party. In fact I could only tell you that they exist. I have no idea which is which, and who stand for what. I’m told that one represents the blue-collared worker, while the other represents the ‘rich’. (As you can see my definitions show just how much I really don’t know).

I’ve never voted. In fact I don’t believe I was even registered to vote, until my most recent State Driver’s License renewal. I think it was either by accident, or once again everything happens for a reason. On a whim, when I was asked if I wanted to register to vote while renewing my driver’s license I said, “Sure, why not.” I can’t say I had any intentions on actually voting.

It’s sad to admit. I’ve served my county. I served my time in our country’s awesome military, and yet I still have not participated in the very rights I fought to defend.

I’d like to plead ignorance, but that would just be a smokescreen for my embarrassing political laziness.

I am not ignorant of the issues we as a society face everyday. Everything from the War (which so many have brushed off), healthcare reform, Social Security, the ever elusive taxing plan and of course our failing economy that doesn’t seem to have a good leg to stand on.

My political laziness stems from my idea of what our president should stand for, what politics has turned into, and how our nation has failed to hold ‘the man’ in the oval office accountable for not only their proposals, but their actions and their non-actions.

It down right pisses me off that we as a nation still cannot agree on what is just and unjust. Their is a right and wrong, but somehow we’ve masked every issue at hand into some sort of bland greyness that rationalizes incompetency and neglect.

We reap what we sow these days, and most of our mistakes are now biting us in the proverbial ‘ASS’.

I’m nobody special. I don’t have the foresight, nor do I have the working knowledge to defend or abolish any of the candidates. I simply haven’t paid enough attention.

The political race turned into a circus parade of finger-pointing antics and sly negative advertising actions that simply made me disgusted. My attention span for the political race was non-existent due to its commercialization and business-like atmosphere. It was quite the over-kill.

I have no idea who I am going to vote for. Everyday is different. I hate that all my choices are split. Each candidate has a ‘piece’ of my vote. They both possess and equal amount of positive and negative attributes and beliefs that sway my decision. It sucks and once again infuriates me that I can’t hone in on one candidate. Each time I lean towards one, there is more information out there that has me question the validity of my decision.

Which is why I will never become affiliated with a specific political party. Neither party supports all that I believe in.

I’m nobody special, but I am one voice. I am one voice that realizes how special and how important this year’s political race really is. We are making history this year because we are either going to have our first African-American President, or our first Female Vice President.

I truly was going to continue my habit of not participating until I visited this article over at Mashable.

The videos made me think twice about my stance and my actions(or my lack-there-of) on politics.

Here are just a few, including the last one, which is more comical then anything. And just to be clear, I am in no way professing or publicizing the value of one candidate over another.

I was particularly moved and motivated by something that Will Smith said in one of the videos.

“If you don’t vote… then you have to shut up”

Nuff’ said.

Where will you be on November 4th, 2008? Will you be a part of history?

Carpe Diem