Today is the day

I have waited four years for this day.

At about 7:59 AM, I cast my vote and I happily waited in line several minutes to do so. Many of my neighbors in Harlem/Hamilton Heights were voting for the first time and needed assistance from poll volunteers. Many seemed not to care about any of the local elections (we are also picking congressional and state legislative races) but came to vote on the presidency. That to me was a beautiful sight, because at least they understood the significance of this election and their need to get involved.

Today, America will either elect George Bush, for the first time (he was illegally appointed by the Republican-dominated Supreme Court in 2000), and continue to
- move in the direction of religious and political extremism, waging open-ended wars against nations that pose no immediate threat to the U.S. while allowing real terrorists to escape and make videos;
- alienate our overseas allies;
- give tax breaks to those who don’t need them (thus driving up the federal deficit) and large no-bid defense contracts to companies with personal ties to the administration; and
- overturn laws that protect our individual civil liberties, while creating policies that pry, snoop and impose a rigid conformity to their limited definition of patriotism.

Or we can vote for Democratic challenger John Kerry, and put in office an administration that
- demonstrates an understanding of complex world issues and avoids quick simplistic absolute responses;
- is willing to forge better relations with other nations and position the United States as a partner among international coalitions, not a heavy-handed bully only concerned with getting its own way;
- grasps the consequences of neglecting domestic issues and shows a receptiveness to finding solutions from a variety of sources;
- but more importantly, won’t insulate itself from differing opinions, or refuse to admit when it is wrong.

If the heavy turnouts I am seeing in New York are any indication, a clear and unambiguos message may be sent to whomever wins. Ten million new voters registered across the country. Black voters, and many Muslim and Arab Americans who have felt the sting of Bush anti-terrorist/anti-Arab rhetoric, may very well spell the margin of victory should Kerry win. Disaffected moderate Republicans who feel their party is being highjacked by fanatical conservative religious fundamentalists, may either switch parties or stay home.

Today, and tonight will be nerve-wracking. I pray America comes to its senses and ends this four year nightmare.