Our First Big Guy Speaks Out
“The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered… deeply, …finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.” First Inaugural Address, Apr. 30, 1789, George Washington First president of US , US general & politician; led Continental army in American Revolution 1775-1783
Washington, DC, is a perfect place to live during elections. The Capitol City reminds its residents daily of our amazing history. It was always such a joy to vote there. It reminds me of my grandfather who came to America through Ellis Island, brought all his worldly goods and invested in his new country. He became a citizen as quickly as he could. He shared in giving me my most valuable gift the day I was born: His immigration made my mother, then me an American citizen.
That said, I love national elections in Washington because that’s our “I voted” day. At Washington voting precincts, whether in elegant Georgetown or less prosperous neighborhoods, we show off our red, white and blue voting stickers as quickly as we can. On buses, subways, or in elevators, we wear those “I voted” stickers as if they were Hope diamonds. We smile at strangers who wear one plastered on themselves. We paste it where it will show – snow, hail or rain. We are full of ourselves, no matter which party we gifted with our vote.
Yes, we see our votes as grand gifts – a sign of our trust in the political party we choose to lead our country. We trust their fairness, their dedication to the United States Constitution and long honored Declaration of Independence. In Washington, it’s hard not to know of all the people on this planet who don’t have the right to a democratic one person, one vote. On election days, we know we are privileged. We are special, no matter our income, nationality, race, religion or gender. And we are proud of each other for having made the effort to be a good citizen. Even the crisp winter air feels special. We are united and we believe that our country will live on as a democracy because we voted. Silly? Maybe. However, I agree with President Washington. This is our experiment.
Meditation for the Day
“Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.”
George Jean Nathan, American Journalist, Critic, Essayist and Editor
Action for the Day
This year, I will love my country enough to check out candidates’ track records, their past patterns of truth and transparency, their concept of good government and I WILL VOTE!
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