Nov. 6 was a good day.
I voted.
I drove into town and parked in front of our local library.
I visited with one of the poll workers about her son. My husband was his high school welding teacher and he’s currently loving welding technical school.
I cast my ballot, added the “I voted” sticker to my shirt (I was ballot #23) and went to work.
That’s it. There were no riots. No armed guards were standing at the door.
I voted for the people I wanted to vote for. While my vote may have been for losing candidates in some races and winners in others, I am certain, as the election results were announced, that my vote was counted.
Say what you will about politics, the mind-numbing ads, the mudslinging and the name-calling—the political process in the United States works. It may not be perfect, but it works.
As you read this, the country will also be celebrating the reason that political process is still intact—our American veterans.
It’s all too easy to forget the reason you get to hear why candidate so-and-so voted for increased taxes 657 times, is because of generations of men and women were willing to serve in the U.S. armed forces. Time and time again, when democracy was threatened, these soldiers put their lives on the line.
In that same town where I cast my vote, the entire city of Bucklin, Kansas, will shut down to celebrate Veterans Day. School is closed. Many of the businesses either close or celebrate Veterans Day in some way. Mid-morning, the entire town gathers on main street for a parade celebrating the area veterans. Local groups host a community chicken noodle dinner. It makes me proud to be part of a community that honors those who have served their country.
All across the rural communities of America, it is the same. We celebrate the sacrifice America’s veterans have made.
My wish, this November, as we complain about campaign fliers in our mailboxes, the arguing on social media and the onslaught of political advertising, is to instead be appreciative of our political process. Let’s be grateful to those who are serving or who have served their country in the military. Because of you, we can have a peaceful political process. You have given us a representative democracy and our right to participate in it. For that, we say thank you.
Holly Martin can be reached at 1-800-452-7171, ext. 1806, or [email protected].
