The Epiphany

It took me almost a month to realize that I'd actually enjoy listening to the political news here in Massachusetts.

I grew up in Florida and my first presidential election was an embarrassment to my ideals. I first voted for John Kerry in 2004 and watched with horror as the votes were counted. My mother is a Northerner by birth, Southerner by fate and raised me in the Democratic ways, despite my Republican father's disapproval. The conservative climate of Florida and eventually the country depressed me thoroughly, and in 2004, I wound up being one of those people who felt like my vote didn't count much at all. So I avoided expressing my political opinion in college (I went to a conservative school and barely survived) and left Florida in a hurry after graduation.

About a month after I'd moved to Massachusetts, I accidentally turned on the news to see happy faces of people across Massachusetts after the failure of the referendum to put a gay marriage ban on the next ballot . People everywhere were ecstatic; I was thrilled. Then one woman got on TV and actually THANKED the politicians who made it happen. She expressed her pride to be a voting citizen; she applauded those who stood up for the issues that they supported on their roads into office; and she commended those who took a stand on something they did not personally condone in order to better serve their constituents and their country.

I was shocked. I'd never heard someone actually express such adoration for politicians. I'd never actually heard the phrase "Proud to be an American" used outside of the context of international politics and war. And for once, I WAS proud of my citizenship. I saw and appreciated how "the system" works. I, too, am proud of those involved in that successful movement. I'm proud of the people who work every day for the issues that I find important, that I care about, that will affect me and my family for generations.

I hope that I can continue enjoying my citizenship, my right to vote, and the progress of my state and national government. I plan on becoming as active as possible in the next election--primaries included--and hope that I will never again feel like my work, my voice, and my vote don't really count.