An Election Day Experience in Virginia

When asked about 9/11, most Americans will be able to give you a vivid recollection about what they were doing when they found out the World Trade Center and Pentagon had been hit. Such tragedy will stay fixed in the American psyche for decades to come as it was a traumatizing event.

I'm realizing that today, November 4, 2008 is having the same pyschological effect on me as that gloomy day in United States history. The difference though, is that my recollection of today won't contain memories of a horrific display of terror, but of the truest illustration of the feeling of "hope."

My father wrote a great letter today to all of the members of my family. It made my eyes well up. He senses that "hope" too and feels "vindicated and affirmed of service proudly" given that more Americans than ever are exercising their right to vote ...

Well, Nov 4 was a day full of rain and wind. Mom and I hit the polls at Nansemond River Baptist Church on Highway 17 at 0530 before dawn's break properly attired in sailor foul weather gear. Fortunately, we got into the building at the end of a lengthy serpentine line that would make any football game queue look small.

The Obama-McCain contest clearly generated more voter participation than any other American political contests that I have seen in my life time. Voters arriving 15 minutes later found themselves outside in the downpour in a line stretching from the poll door to highway 17. There were more cars in the parking lot than on Sunday. The voting finally started at 0600. The voting crowd was in good spirits and very patient. No wonder, most of us were still half a sleep. Before you know it we were done and out the door by around 0730. All in all the anticipation of voting malfunctions as in images of Florida in 2000 did not happen.

Personally, I feel good. I believe this election is a singularly significant moment in American history to select a President and representatives to successfully lead us into the future while working to deliver us from the crises confronting this great nation.

This said, election comparisons are difficult to make, and imperfect at best, but this Presidential election is not unlike that of FDR in the early moments of the Great Depression. It has generated excitement not seen since the election of John Kennedy. It is even more noteworthy in that Barack Obama is the first minority individual ever to be a major candidate. If he is not elected his candidacy will still have been a remarkable accomplishment a scant 44 years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

However, if the polls are right, Barack Obama will be the first minority President in our history. If this watershed event does happen the world will take note, and we Americans are likely to see an improvement in our global image if not our relationships with friends, allies, and much of the rest of world. The words in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution will take on greater significance in the perceptions of many around the globe. Just as important for us citizens will be the symbolic crossing of the often unspoken bar of race and inequality that has always lurked at various depths of American life.

Clearly, the Obama campaign has been acclaimed by many as nothing short of brilliant in ideas, strategic focus and discipline. Comments of many of his critics also echo agreement. John McCain's campaign efforts have taken a different, more strident approach and style, but they have been no less dedicated. In a few short hours all of us will know whether Obama, or McCain has been successful. Regardless of whom each American voted for, the fact that we can hold a free election even with its imperfections is a continuing testament to the American experiment begun over two hundred years ago. As a veteran who has been in harms way for this country it is also a vindication and affirmation of service proudly given.

After today the victor of this Presidential contest will be the heir apparent to the toughest job in the free world. And, with this new found responsibility comes the great expectations of citizens that our President lead, unify, and deliver. I wish him Godspeed, every success, and blessing.

Dad