ELECTION DAY IS FINALLY HERE!!!! AHHHHH......

For those of you who think your vote doesn't matter, please know that it DOES.  Even though we have a representative government, each person's vote matters.  Every vote cast shows patterns of how people vote, which people vote, and who they tend to vote for.  This impacts how elections are planned and how politicians shape their interactions with their constituencies. 

Also, it must be said that this election is GOING DOWN IN THE HISTORY BOOKS.  This is not just because Obama is the first non-White person to come so close to winning the Presidency, but also because of many other factors, a few of which are explored below:

- the plethora of art that has been created around Obama

- the sheer numbers of people that have come out to support this man

- the diversity of people that support Obama including all age groups, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, etc.

- the outcry of people AROUND THE WORLD in support of this man (they *LOVE* him in Europe - *250,000 people went to see him in Germany*...they have *Obama billboards in Brazil!!!*)

- the general energy surrounding this election

- the fundamental and unprecedented use of the Internet as a tool to mobilize support for (and against) the Obama campaign

and probably most significantly:

- the stark outlining of the fact that within America there are two Americas.

'Real' America:

And everybody else:

All jokes aside, while the prospect of having the first non-White President is thrilling for many Americans, Obama has gotten the support he has gotten because what’s been happening with this election has been fun, invigorating, thrilling, and interesting.  It has driven people together who may never have seen any commonalities with each other before the election.  This election has caused these people to stand together in the hope that an Obama Presidency will bring about a remarkable shift in all of our lives -- where fear is not the determining factor of how we engage with the world, and where having faith in the justice system is not a fantasy.   It has caused people to get past their differences and simply be PROUD to be a part of a nation where our differences, histories and experiences don’t divide us, but instead challenge us to grow, think, and be better human beings—ever-present in each other's lives.

This election has highlighted that there are many people who have gotten over the race division and see it as an idea of the past.  It has also brought to light the fact that there are many people in this country afraid of diversity because it is not a part of their lives, and afraid of everything because they have been told that fear and mistrust of the unknown will keep them safe.  But this is not reality.  The world is constantly changing and will not stay the same no matter what we do.  This is the beauty of it all!!!!

The future, however, is all of us learning to live together in peace.  The future is purging hate from our hearts.  The future is already here at our door, waiting to come on in and drink a cup of tea.

So when you go out and vote tomorrow, remember - history is NOT bunk and your vote DOES matter.  History is constantly in the making and WE are the future.  Each and every one of our thoughts, actions, and deeds count.

Below, please find information on what to do if you encounter voter fraud tomorrow, straight from the Department of Justice website:

The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the rights of all citizens to access the ballot on Election Day, and to preventing and punishing voter fraud. If you believe that you have been denied the right to vote based on your race, color, or language minority status or that otherwise your voting rights under federal law have been violated, or if you believe that you have evidence of voter fraud, you may contact the Department of Justice.

BY CALLING: POR TELÉFONO:	1-800-253-3931 (voice) (voter access) 1-888-305-3228 (TTY) 202-514-1412 (voter fraud)
BY FAX: POR FAX:	202-307-3961
VIA THE INTERNET:	Complete and submit a form detailing your allegations
POR CORREO ELECTRÓNICO:	También puede someter un formulario detallando sus alegaciones

El Departamento de Justicia se ha comprometido a proteger los derechos de todos los ciudadanos para que tengan accesso al voto durante el Día de las Elecciones, y a prevenir y castigar el fraude electoral. Si usted cree que se le ha sido negado su derecho para votar por causa de su raza, su color ó su idioma natal, ó si sus derechos de votante bajo las leyes federales han sido violados, ó si tiene evidencia de fraude electoral, puede contactar el Departamento de Justicia de los Estados Unidos.

Happy voting day everybody!!!!!