My voting experience in Tennessee - Reflection

[ravencalling]

I voted weeks ago in Memphis Tennessee. I waited for at least an hour before I could vote. The line was very long, it was raining and cold. However, no-one budged which is a good sign. I could afford to take off work early to stand in this line. But I bet that I was one of the few standing there that could have said that. It was around 3pm. I looked around me at the line of people, majority black in this neighborhood. I was probably one of about perhaps two in the entire line that was white.

The church where I voted was surrounded with McCain Palin signs. You don't see many Obama signs in this part of town. There in none in my majority black neighborhood. To date, I have seen only one on my way to work. And to date, I have only seen one Obama sticker on a vehicle again on my way to work. My guess is that people don't want to be threatened because of what they believe in. McCain supporters are verbal, in your face, insulting, caustic, and yes, racist, whereas it seems like, based on my observations where I work, that there is a silent majority of Obama supporters that just smile, don't say a word, don't show anything, quietly do their best to ignore the ugliness around them. And let's face it, they are experts in this red state of Tennessee.

Back at the church were I stood to vote, most comments, "I've waited all my life for this!", beaming smiles as people walked out of the church after voting. They greeted people they knew. There were knowing hugs and hand shakes and pats on the back.

I felt great to be there. It was the most wonderful feeling of camaraderie in this historic time, and I felt privileged to be able to witness the hope that was visibly drawn on the faces around me. My life is way too busy. I rush from work, to school, to daily chores only to repeat the same week in and week out, with hardly a breath allowed for reflection. But the day I voted seemed like a time where everything in the world had stopped. To see that look of hope, that look of pride, the tears in the eyes. You don't see that everyday. And you can feel it. The memory will be with me for a very long time!