Election Reflection

Those stopping by last night used Dots to voice their opinions.

We all have dreams.

Much to say ... where to start ...

Last night Oldest Son, Youngest Son and I had the opportunity experience community in an impromptu and stimulating gathering of friends who mostly live within our neighborhood and few extras. It was a simple invite of pizza and come by if you have time.

It turned out to be a collection of impressive diversity surrounded by happy chaos.

The diversity included (WARNING: I am going to use labels):

• Ages spanned from 2 years old to teenagers to young adults to mid-lifers to 50 years+
• Democrats, Independents and Republicans
• Conservatives and Liberals and everything in between
• Americans, British Citizen and Guatemalan Immigrant with birth countries including USA, Guatemala, China and England
• Language fluency included Spanish, French and Proper (British) English 
• Atheists, Christians, Jews and Searchers
• Students in Elementary, Middle School, High School, Bachelor of Arts & PhD Programs
• Educators, Doctor, Nurse, Non-Profit Professional, Artist, Stay-At-Home Moms, Stay-At-Home Dad, Nanny, Waiter, Real Estate & Financial Executives, Corporate Drones
• Lower to Upper Middle Class and maybe a bit beyond and under
• Straight and Gay 
• Married and Single
• White, Asian and Hispanic
• Men, Women, Boys and Girls

The chaos included:

• Kids running to and fro while busy with football, ping pong, basketball, legos, red/white/blue bracelet making and peg board peace symbol creation BUT each child stopping on occasion to get updates, voice their opinions and check their election predictions
• A very focused, intelligent and enjoyable 15 year old absorbing all that is fascinating in American politics
• Many Laptop, iPhone and iPad screens with Electoral College Map 30 second updates, Twitter, Facebook, videos and Skyfall
• CNN blaring over the constant hum of voices, discussions, exclamations, screams of delight and disappointment
• Placing dots on Issue Flip Charts (see above) - very fun but I was the lone Term Limit Dotter!
• Fun food, healthy & not-so-healthy snacks and alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks

We all thought the election would not be decided for many, many hours but we were wrong about that prediction - by around 10pm President Obama was announced as the winner. Wow.

I stayed up to bask in this slice of history. President Obama's concluding remarks hit the mark:

"I believe we can keep the promise of our founders, the idea that if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love.  It doesn't matter whether you're black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you're willing to try.

I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as our politics suggests.  We're not as cynical as the pundits believe.  We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states.  We are and forever will be the United States of America."

We only have one more election before Oldest Son (age 12) and Youngest Son (age 10) vote. We have savored this past election cycle by watching the debates, discussing issues and celebrating the election process. Next time they will be 14 and 16 and then we hope for citizens of the world who take a stand ... whatever that may be ...

And on that note I am glad marijuana is legal in Colorado and Washington and thrilled that gay marriage is legal in Maine, Maryland and Washington.

Oldest Son & Youngest Son when results hit!