There’s nothing like standing in line for 5 seconds, filling out a provisional ballot form, and then snapping some pictures of goofy kids at the polls to make you crave a hamburger and fries, and a Coke. Unfortunately, it was only 10:23 am, and McDonalds doesn’t turn the hashbrown-makers into fry vats until 10:30.
But, dadgum, we voted, and I didn’t cry until I was out in the car! Of course, I had to sing Nine Inch Nails lyrics under my breath every time I welled up, but NOT A TEAR WAS SHED until after I had safely voted.
In other news, I have now recognized people I know at both the Walmart and the voting booth, and so I feel as quintessentially American as Barack Obama and John McCain.
Sally didn’t get to see me vote this year, and I don’t know if she remembers my tearful explanations at our polling place in Florida four years ago. So this is how I’m going to explain the voting process to her today:
For Sally
We have two major political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans. The Republicans are red, and the Democrats are blue, so you pick your favorite color and vote for it. No? Okay: the Democrats are donkeys and the Republicans are elephants, so you pick pachyderms or cloven hooves (kidding!).
Okay, for real: the red people are like the blood that takes oxygen to your muscles — muscles need oxygen just like we need freedom. The blue people are like the blood returning to the heart to get oxygen. We need to recycle and care for our environment just like our bodies care for our muscles.
If she asks me about abortion, I’ll tell her to go read my post and then pray about it for herself.
If she asks about taxes and welfare I’ll tell her that:
Democrats want to trust those who don’t have enough to take only what they need.
Republicans want to trust those who have extra to give as much as they can.
Which is why I wrote in George Washington, and I’m going to be mighty disappointed when he doesn’t win.
How do you explain to your kids who you vote for?
*I didn’t really vote for George Washington. He’s dead, you know.
***Updated to add***
I had some good, all-American pizza ready for my hungry second-wave voters. Sally asked me after school if I voted for Obama, because Carson’s dad says that McCain wants gas to be higher, like 300, while Obama wants gas to be 100. I had to disappoint her, sadly.
Tags: 2008 election, democracy, democrats, election, republicans, united states of america, voting
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Shannon (4)
Emily H. (3)
memarie lane (2)
Beth (1)
gurrbonzo (1)
I told little d that we voted for McCain because Obama wants to take too much money away from us, and that his friends, the Democrats, want to make too many rules. He seemed to buy that.
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Don’t say you’re not funny. You make me laugh.
Is it that hard to tell people who you voted for? I don’t like argument either but I think I avoid it by sympathizing with the other side’s point of view. And you can’t sympathize without really trying to understand all their points. And I find it so fascinating.
I think a lot of Mormons are having a hard time knowing how to vote this year.
Natashas last blog post..Messes that Test My Sanity 2: The Misuse of Food
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Whoa. Christan would not like my most recent blog post, huh?
Natashas last blog post..Messes that Test My Sanity 2: The Misuse of Food
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All I have to say is…Now I want McD’s…lol
Terra Joness last blog post..#15 & Oatmeal Cookies
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Now I want a cheeseburger and fries and I haven’t even voted yet. Honestly I woke up feeling great but sick to my stomach too. How do we deal with the fact that this country is headed is a very scary direction? All morning I’ve been praying that people would vote right. Whatever the heck right is! I think I need to go lay down before I hit the polls….
Sharlas last blog post..We’ll get our own dinner, thank you very much.
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You explain what is important to you.
I explained to my kids that we vote for life. And why. According to God.
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I recently read a blog written by a conservative woman who shared that she was overwhelmingly stressed by this election. She cited some examples of the put-downs that liberals use for Conservatives. She feels insulted by the implication that Republicans are stupid for having the beliefs that they do. Here’s my issue—I get so tired of conservatives and religious people feeling that they have a monopoly on God’s way and God’s truth. Are conservative Christians able to see how insulting their world view is to liberal Christians and those who aren’t even especially religious? It’s very frustrating and a true barrier to working together to hear people say that they are voting “God’s Way”. Talk to your kids about justice and poverty and tolerance. And quit being so smug that you’re doing it the “right way”
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Only because it is you Jane am I going to reveal who I voted for. I explained to the kids that everybody in the country gets together and decides who THEY think is the BEST leader. The Big Guy. The Person in Charge. Each person votes for said person and then we count up the votes and the person with the most wins. I told Lucy that women have only recently been allowed to voice their opinion and that as great-children of immigrants we in particular have had even less time. I then sat at the voting booth and thought who did I REALLY think was the best candidate? I wrote down Hillary Clinton and cast my ballot.
Beths last blog post..Halloween 2008
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Our last federal election was almost a year ago, and M was barely a year old, so not much explaining! Not sure when the next one will be, as our elections can be called at any time, they’re not scheduled. Anyhoo, explaining how we vote will be fun, as DH and I don’t always vote the same way. I guess I’ll discuss why I think a particular local rep would be best for our area, or even why I’m voting for the local rep in order to get the State Premier or Federal Prime Minister in (Mayor is the only level of representation we vote directly for). I’ll discuss the issues that are important to me, and the values in my life that lead me to vote that way, how I think a particular party is going to benefit what groups in our society and why I think that will be A Good Thing. And I’ll explain why I think it’s so darn important to number every single box on the Senate voting paper (it can be easily 60-70 boxes and over a metre wide).
I’ll also explain that in time, she will get to choose who she votes for. And I’ll hope fervently that I never try to tell her who to vote for, just to exercise her right and avoid being fined!
Kirstys last blog post..The Colouring Pens were Yummy
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I try to be really careful to not say things like “so and so is an idiot and that’s why I’m voting for the other one.” I tell them why I am voting for someone and not put down the other side.” I’m sure they hear me yelling at the tv during the debates and figure out that I’m not always so democratic. I just don’t want them to vote Democrat or Republican because that’s what I do. I’m sure I’ll influence their decisions but I don’t want them to be like a friend of mine who’s 7 year old told her 9 year old that “their mom would not vote for Hillary because she isn’t a Republican.” This was after the 9 year old said he thought it would be neat that a woman might be president. That kind of stuff makes my skin crawl.
Sheas last blog post..Halloween
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Jane, donkeys do NOT have cloven hooves. Did you know that and were pulling our leg?
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captain kirk — Actually, I wondered about it right after I wrote that, and thought that I should look it up, but I was in a big hurry, and figured it was funny either way. I think “unguent” (which they really are, right?) would’ve been just as good, bec. it’s an odd word too.
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Explaining to my kids is tricky because my spouse and I have differing opinions. We DO NOT talk politics around here. Out of respect for my husband I try not to sway my kids’ decision one way or the other. I will explain briefly why I voted as I did, but then encourage them to ask their father the same.
Rebeccas last blog post..Covering All Your Bases
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We’re Californians and the hardest thing I’ve had to explain to my daughter is why people keeping knocking on our door saying that they can judge whether or not someone should be allowed to marry someone else. It’s hard for me to understand that side that’s for a gay marriage ban. Honestly, my heart hurts that it has passed and I don’t know how to explain it to my kids, saying that if they ever realize/decide that they are gay that they can never have a relationship that is recognized by our government (and we do love our country)!
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Jane, I just had another thought (and it’s all done and dusted now, but still) – Thank You for teaching your girls about voting. There are so many other countries in this world who care about who the American President is, and I cannot understand people who do not vote. Yes, we can get fined for not voting, but I believe passionately that citizens should care and participate in their electoral process. So Thank You to you and Dick for teaching your girls in this way.
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