Something I've learned during this very long primary and general election is that we, as a people, both individually and collectively are capable of changing this country. I'm 24 and this will be my 2nd Presidential election I am voting in. I never believed my vote matters but Obama has finally convinced me that yes, if I am hungry enough for change, I can do it, neighbor by neighbor, town by town, county by county, state by state.
This is the first election I believe in a candidate. I voted for Kerry in 2004 but it was the "I hate GWB" vote. In no way, was I enthusiastic about Kerry...he just wasn't Bush. This election, I decided to get involved more than just talking about the candidate or slapping a sticker on my car. I canvassed multiple weekends, finally getting over my fear of getting out there; I made calls in my spare time from home; I spoke to family and friends, got them registered, and am making sure they all vote. I did something today that I thought wouldn't make a difference, but in the end, I felt as vindicated today as I did meeting the 76 y/o African American woman voting for the first time this election in Falls Church, VA.
I was driving back from my office (had to work on a Sunday), and I saw McCain supporters waving signs - I've seen them all over the last week doing visibility. I thought I might as well get out there on a corner and wave my Obama sign - it doesn't equate to votes necessarily but it still helps.
I got my Obama sign, walked over to a corner in Arlington, VA (Ballston neighborhood) and enthusiastically waved that sign - smiled, gave thumbs up, and felt encouraged by the response I got (somewhere around 75 honks, thumbs up, smiles) and 5 (FIVE!) thumbs down/fingers.
I was approached by pedestrians all thanking me, giving me high-fives, asking how long I'm supposed to stand there - when I said I'm doing this on my own, they thanked me even more.
It was only one hour standing on that corner, smiling, waving, and cheering for Obama...but in that one hour, I gave hope to the young generation driving by honking their horn, the mom in her minivan seeing someone support her right to choose, the elderly couple waving at me from their car knowing someone will fight for their social security, the African American family in their SUV who knows their son will grow up in a country where skin color doesn't disqualify you for anything (even being President), for the Metro bus driver who sees Obama as a champion of the union, and to the real "Joe" out there who is inspired by seeing a young voter involved in the political process.
It was an hour out of my day today - but it was an hour that I felt the enthusiasm for this campaign running through my blood.