the joy of democracy

"we have never been just a collection of individuals... we are and always will be the united states of america."

to live in a democracy is not just a privilege, it is a responsibility.

and a joy. today it was a joy.

today was election day. i woke up before dawn to report as a poll volunteer for the no on eight campaign. at ten, i strolled to my polling place to vote, then to at election day service at PSR's chapel. lunch and back to the poll for a couple hours to wave a sign and talk to people.

i got the bug. i was inspired. every where i looked, people were getting off their ass and doing something about what they believed. i needed to be one of them.

and here i was, standing with strangers, for a common cause, finding things in common we never guessed would be the case. talking to voters, sharing a vision of community. i was standing outside a berkeley poll... and no, every voter wasn't voting no on prop eight. many of the no on eight voters said "well this is an easy place to stand." yea maybe. but, as the campaign told us, EVERY VOTE COUNTS. doesn't matter where is was cast. the more no votes we get in berkeley, the better. the more people we ensure aren't confused by the campaigns, the better. and no matter how they voted, we told every person who came out of the poll: "thanks for voting." because every person, whether they agree with me or not, deserves to be thanked for making the effort to have their voice heard, for participating in the democratic process. we are not just individuals. we are a community--the UNITED states of america.

"put there hands on the arch of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day."

a four year old, going with her mother to vote, as soon as she saw me, said "OBAMA!"

i heard stories of independent identity developed through political opinions. i heard stories of love that transcend civil law.

these stories bend history. these small faces learning to vote today, will continue to bend history.

"change has come to america."

i learned about community today. i learned how to put myself out there. i learned how to listen, how to open up, how to smile, and what a smile and a thank you can mean. you cannot build community inside your apartment. you cannot serve God completely inside your church. we have to step out.

"this victory alone is not the change we seek, it is the chance to make that change...new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice... where each of resolves to pitch in and look after not only ourselves but each other."

i have to step out. i cannot take what i learned today, what i learned in seminary, what i learned in san francisco, what i learned from my family, from my parents, from my hometown and NOT change. i cannot NOT do anything. i have to change how i live now, tomorrow, not being the same when i wake up each day as i was the day before.

"that is the true genius of america. that we can change."

amen, Mr. President Elect, amen.

quotes from the 44th President of the United States speech from Grant Park upon his election