Thankful Thursday

I was chatting with a friend who seemed disappointed with the result of the presidential race. I said they should have voted and they said NO! I got the impression that this person feels that their vote doesn't matter and it really got me thinking. In the grand scheme of things my presidential vote didn't make a difference...I am from Illinois and we all knew that Obama was going to take Illinois long before the election. Then there is the whole electoral college vs. popular vote thing. I am not even going to get into those or the candidates qualifications and viewpoints. Really...what is one vote?

Well, one vote is important! While my vote was just one of 130 million (I don't know the overall count)...just a drop, it was a vote for our future, for my children's future, for our country's future. And there was much more on the ballot than the presidential race. We had 3 tax increase proposals here in our county plus many city/county races. One vote wouldn't make a difference in any of those, but what if even 10% of voters just didn't vote cause their vote didn't matter?

I vote to be a role model for my children and because I am part of a great democracy. I want my children to know that they have a choice (and yes that choice might be to not vote at all) and a voice. That their points of view are important. But I also vote as a fellowship with family, friends, neighbors, fellow citizens, and more. I had a comment left on one of my blogs from an online friend in the UK who was anxiously watching the election because what happens in our country largely affects her country and the world.

Tuesday was a magical night. I watched NBC (my fav news...although I missed Tim Russert) and all the great coverage, but I wished I was out in the crowds. I sat on the edge of my seat as McCain gave his amazing concession speech. It was so eloquent and gracious. I wondered how different the election might have been if he had spoken from the heart like throughout the campaign. While the result would probably have been the same, it might have been a much closer race. I sat in amazement and pride as all the images from Grant Park, just a few hours away, streamed into my home. Our country has come a long way with race relations and now we have elected a racial minority to lead our country. It makes me so proud. Proud to be an American, proud that I voted, and proud as a mother of a racial minority. Yes, this election was so much more than race, but it was certainly a turning point in history! I felt like like the whole country (and probably world) was silent as McCain and Obama spoke. Even though I reclined on my backside, I felt like I was part of something great...of something historic. We all know that change is coming in January (good riddance W!), but change is already here.

45 years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr, made his famous I Have a Dream Speech. In that speech he said,

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

He did not just make this speech on behalf of African-Americans, but for all mankind. While I always admired that speech, it became very important to me when we adopted a child from China. It is my hope that my daughter is never judged by the color of her skin or because she is of a different race than the rest of our family. I hope the people of our nation and the world can live in peace and harmony and not judge/hate because of differences. Although there is much more peace needed in our world, Tuesday's historical election goes a long way with making Dr. King's dream reality. While my daughter is unable to run for president, I hope that by the time she is old enough to vote that this historic vote is just the tip of the iceberg. That 16+ years from now that a woman has served a president. That people aren't discriminated by their race, gender, abilities, or sexual preference. That our country and world are ruled by peace and love!

So what am I thankful for this Thursday? I am thankful to be an American. Thankful for my right to vote. Thankful for the great job that my husband and I have done with teaching our children to accept others. I am thankful and proud of our country for coming together on Tuesday.