Reflection #8

I'd feel weird reflecting on anything else today, so I'll talk about how exciting it is to live in Washington, DC on election day. Sitting at my desk right now, I can see the Washington Monument and the heart of DC from my window, and it's strange to think that in a few hours our country may or may not go through a dramatic shift in power. What I love about this country is that however divided we are on the candidates, whoever the majority elects is unquestionably elected into power. The is no question after those ballots are counted of who runs our government. Elections are an exciting experience in this country, and although the campaigns may leave a sense of division throughout the American people, when all is said and done, we respect our right to vote so whole-heartily that when a winner is determined, that person is accepted. I feel like this feeling brings us together, regardless of our political affiliation, but it may also be something we take for granted. In so many regions around the world, especially the MENA region, elections are much different. Where we have a sense of excitement, they feel a sense of fear or unrest. In places like Syria and Egypt, the people fight so hard for free elections, but once these elections are provided their work is still unfinished. It will take years and generations to achieve the kind of democracy the American people experience, without fail, every four years. It is something that really allows us to take pride in our country, even if we don't agree with who's running it. So even though tomorrow may bring huge change for our country, that monument will still be outside my window and the basis for our government will remain unchanged.