A Part of History

Last night, our family was glued to the t.v.  It has been surprising to see how much Ava understands about the whole election process.   She and I were talking as I got Senya ready for bed.  I asked her who she would vote for if she could.  She told me that she would vote for John McCain.  I asked her why and she said "because he looks like me, with white hair."  It cracked me up thinking about how her little mind worked, and how McCain would have probably been flattered by this 3 year-old's comment.  

As the night went on, I thought about Ava's comment in context of our Country's election of the first African American as president.  I thought about how some people probably cast their vote based entirely on skin color --- because McCain or Obama "looked like them," just like Ava would have.   But then I thought, isn't that what we all do?  We vote for the person who is most like us --- hopefully not just physically like us, but with the same ideals, policies, and hopes for the future.  Time will tell whether Obama will be as great of a leader as I hope he will be. But as for last night, history was made and I was very proud to be a part of it.  

As a final aside, it looks like Proposition 8 will prevail.  It has been an incredibly charged measure, dividing so many of us here in California.  My law firm submitted an amicus brief in support of gay marriage which ultimately was quoted verbatim in numerous places throughout the 80-page opinion issued by the California Supreme Court last Spring.  We have many friends whose families are heartbroken this morning and many friends in the Church who are very relieved.  I voted against Proposition 8 because I believe that all families should be treated equally and I don't believe the argument that allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry takes anything away from my own marriage.   Regardless of the outcome of Proposition 8, I hope that people can now focus on rebuilding those relationships with friends and neighbors that have become so strained and broken over the past few months.