I actually felt nervous when I opened my Internet browser around 8 p.m. on Election Night and looked at CNN.com to see a photo of Candidate Romney and President Obama in black and white with dramatic lighting and looming shadows on their faces. Either could’ve won at that moment, and no matter the victor it would still be a work of imagination for me to see what our lives would be like during the next four years. I am only one out of millions and I’m only hoping I made the right decision nationally and locally.
By the end of the counting process, President Obama won the election in the Electoral College and the popular vote. For a while the popular votes between the two candidates were divided with a small marginal difference that I could’ve whipped out every cliché from “they’re neck and neck” to “it’s gonna be a close one,” but the news networks and social media members have already done that, so I’ll spare you from suffering more. Still the country was pretty sure the president would not have to pack up his family and leave 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
The Senate has so far been counted as dominated by Democrats and the House by Republicans. Romney called Obama to congratulate him on his re-election and just before 1 a.m. he addressed a crowd of disappointed supporters with thanks as well as well-wishes for the Obama family. In all honesty, it was a graceful concession speech.
This was the first election I was eligible to vote in. When Obama won the election in 2008, I was only 16 and hadn’t seen the inside of a voting booth since I was only waist-high to my grandmother, who was the one choosing the president then. So, I decided to go in just as the sun was rising on Nov. 6 because it was my first time voting and I wanted to vote on Election Day. I went in, I waited in line, mulled over one tricky ballot full of amendments I wasn’t clear on, and did the best I could. When it was all over I was just glad I wasn’t back standing in line because it had started to drizzle chilly droplets.
Just after 1:30 a.m. the now 44th president of the United States addressed his supporters and the rest of the country about continuing the task of protecting “Our Union.” He also thanked his close circuit supporters, his family, the country’s participation in this election, and particularly congratulated campaign volunteers. “Thank you for believing all the way,” the president said. “I will always be grateful.”
Intermittent conversations by media anchors present the newest triumph for the LGBTQ community: marriage equality brought into law for the first time by the popular vote in Maryland and Maine. Marijuana has also been legalized in Colorado, Washington State, and Oregon for recreational use. This is a huge step forward in broadening people’s perspectives to accept differing lifestyles and the ability to trust consenting adults to make their own choices in all spectrums. I hope the intent to enact laws that protect citizens and their lives, their rights to choose who to commit their love to and what drugs to use, continues. I hope that each and every one of us commit ourselves to staying informed, and in turn teach others about the issues that affect us so that we can continue to protect our own rights.
And no matter what you’ve chosen for your life or for your political views, no matter who would’ve won this election, there is still one perk. With all the serious coverage of the election outcome I’d like to try and make every voter, elephant or donkey, laugh again. Just remember: humans have sex in celebration and in anger. So whether you’re celebrating the turnout or pissed about it, you can still get laid. But please with a consenting partner and protection.