Categories: fear, gratitude

And unlike what the news says, I don’t believe this is the most important election I’ve ever voted in. That was my first one - when I cast my ballot for Bill Clinton in 1992, shut my eyes, crossed my fingers, and hoped for the best. If the election hadn’t gone “my” way, my mom and I were moving to Canada. (Yeah, right… at least that’s what we thought at the time…)

I will say this is a phenomenal election. Sexism and racism are rampant all around. Nasty political tactics are taking place by people I voted for, people I voted against, and on both sides of most measures in the state. Except for the humble school and local municipality bond measures, politics is messy.

Not afraid to get messy, I’ll tell you that I voted for Barack Obama today. I voted for Jeff Merkley today. I voted against every measure supported by Bill Sizemore and Kevin Mannix, and voted for a local bond measure to support the Portland Community College expand its facilities and services. I voted for what I believe in. I voted with the combination of my heart and mind. I voted for me.

I know that many people are afraid to speak openly about who they’re voting for. They feel it’s private - and for many reasons I understand and respect that. The instances of voter intimidation and coercion that still go on across the country is good reason for privacy and protection of votes - I am so grateful that I personally don’t have to worry about that, being a white male in a very blue state.

I announce proudly who I’m voting for and what I believe in. I am excited to have a voice, I am grateful to participate, and I am honored to be a part of changing the world for what I believe in.

The night that Bill Clinton was elected in 1992, I woke up in my college dorm room at about 3 in the morning with a nightmare that results over that night had swung the election to Bush. It took eight years for that nightmare to come true, and I’ve woken up in that same nightmare every day since 2000.

I let people know how I feel and what I think in my blog. I often ask people to do something as homework. So here’s my homework for you. I’m not going to give you a song and dance about voting. If you’re reading this blog, chances are that you’ve already voted, or are going to vote on election day and you most likely share most of my political views. What I do want you to do is find the gratitude in the process of elections. I really want you to explore how many things you can be grateful for in being able to cast a ballot, make a decision, and play a part in the democratic process. And tell the person working at elections, “Thank you.”

Truly Yours,

Joseph Lyons

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