We The People

I was inspired and encouraged by the people I saw at the polls this morning. Not just the by the number of them, but by their diversity. Young and old; men and women; affluent and otherwise; Hispanic, Indian, Anglo, and citizens of European heritage, speaking to their children in native tongues…

In this season of Thanksgiving, I am extremely grateful for our founding fathers, and their vision of democracy; for the generations of men and women who have protected our freedom; for women who fought for my place at the polls; for African Americans who fought (and still fight, in some places) for equal rights; for children who came with parents today, to witness their legacy of freedom; for friendly volunteers who keep things ticking, so that i don’t even have to wait in line for an hour (or 12) in order to do my civic duty.

Furthermore, I give thanks for those who continue to work for progress; to speak with prophetic wisdom about what it means to be free people; who lead us in new frontiers of equality and inclusion, and who remind us that freedom does not just mean ‘liberty and justice for me,’ but “liberty and justice…for all.”

Thank you, America. Thank you for voting, thank you for engaging in public discourse. I realize that our diverse language of faith leads us to different conclusions about which leaders we should choose; but my prayer for all of us is that we vote from a place that seeks progress rather than fears it; from a place that values diversity over conformity; and from a place that honors our history of abundance, sanctuary, and the right to pursue happiness. I pray that we always vote ‘yes’ to making more room at the table; ‘yes’ to whatever is next; ‘yes’ to our identity as a varied and diverse nation of forward-thinking people. Because somebody did it for us. Somebody saved our spot in line, preserved for us a place of belonging. And well, here we all are.

This is our story, this is our heritage, and this is our great duty to all who will come after.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.