Election Day

Any one who knows our family, knows Election Day is a BIG Day in our household. The months leading up to elections are filled with debate, Maggie's Dad gets so frustrated I don't agree with his every view. (As if..) The night before an election is filled with intense discussions, last minute arguments and attempted bribes. This morning, however, was different for me. The debates ended, he finally gave me up for hopeless, and I felt very reflective about our right to vote.

I am resolved that my kids will go to the polls and vote with me until I can't physically make them go. To me it is simple. I want them to see the process in action and grow up to be voters. I want them to understand and participate in the process. It is irrelevant if they understand it now and whether or not they agree with me in the future. I simply want them to appreciate what an honor it is to be given a meaningful voice in government.

You know, in China, people vote. There is one party on the ticket. People have a month to cast a ballot. It is mandatory that every adult vote. Their idea of democracy is a far cry from ours. And the part of that difference which saddens me, is how undervalued our process is. We do have choices in this country. We do have freedoms the people in China can not fathom. Yet, when it comes to voting, not every adult even registers, let alone shows up to the polls. Isn't that sad? It is to me.

One of the gifts of adoption for my girls is US citizenship. My girls will grow up free, because their birth parent's suffer repression. My girls will not know the repression their birth families know. Ever. Their birth parents set them on the course to be free. It is so important for them to understand that. I hope the girls always honor the repression their birth families experience by exercising the honor of voting as citizens in this country. I know I felt the weight of all of those people today at the polls as I held La Nina in my arms, looked into her eyes and cast my ballot. Of course, she was busy wondering where the "boat" I had promised was. Someday she will understand the difference between a "boat" and a "vote".