Two Letters, One Election

My Fellow Americans (and anyone else who gives a dang),

I would like to thank you for stepping out of the dance of your day, pausing the rhythms to which you run, and voting (if, that is, you voted - and if not, why???Why would you leave that up to me??). Thank you for taking your children with you, if you did. Thank you for pestering your family, friends, and co-workers to go collect their little sticker and scoop of Ben and Jerry's finest, on the house.

As I write this, I don't know who the winner is; there is quite a bit of celebration by Obama fans, and a lot of silence on the part of McCain's supporters, and bugger-all coming out of Barr's camp, but it's still early and I hesitate to celebrate or mourn when I don't know which speech my candidate will be making later. Of course, I hope my candidate wins (Go, Minnie Mouse!!!) because I voted for the one I thought would best represent myself, my family, and my nation for the next four years; the one who I hope will be the very best person to lead us through whatever comes in their not-quite-half-a-decade in office.

Before I voted, I am not ashamed to say, I prayed. Dear Goddess, although I am choosing This one over That one, please let the Best one win, whoever will be the one to handle my beloved nation's needs. If I voted for the one who loses, then I accept that he wasn't the best choice for my nation. I will continue to decry laws that restrict freedom, whoever they come from, and I
will continue to do my best for my family and my nation.

My fellow dwellers in these peculiar times, I have faith in you, too. I believe that you voted as I did, for the person you believe will support and protect your rights, your family, and me. Thank you for looking out for me and mine. However divisive we may have been, I know that we will face our future together, ever doing our best to ensure that the generations following us will inherit a strong, vital, living, and free nation. We made history, this election.

For the next four years, whatever else we have, I wish us all Shade and Sweetwater,
K

~~~~~
Dear Mr. President (whoever you may be),

Please remember that our wonderful nation is founded on the basic principal that government is not here to protect us from ourselves, to regulate us into submission, or to quash our freedoms; it exists to help us maintain our freedoms and to ensure that we are equal under the law.

Please remember that we are a disparate people, and we are passionate about so many things, but we are all Americans and deserve to be treated with dignity and concern by the people we've elected to watch out for us while we go about the business of raising our families, enriching our nation, and living our lives.

Remember that you made promises, and whether I like them or not, you should be a man of your word.

Remember that it says "Freedom of...", not "Freedom from..." and try to take it to heart.

Try to maintain the dignity of your office and remember that there is always someone watching, someone listening, someone who knows what you are doing.

I wish you luck in the next four years - we are an obstreperous, rowdy bunch to manage, and we're awfully unapologetic about it; you've got your work cut out for you, and I don't envy you one little bit.

Shade and Sweetwater,
K