Democracy in Action

We're busy today and I hadn't planned a blog post, but I want to quickly write about our experience this morning. We were scheduled to stand in front of a local polling place during the high traffic hours of 7:00-9:00 AM with our Yes on 8/Support Traditional Marriage signs. We arrived to see voters ligned up outside the building waiting for the polls to open, and opponents of proposition 8 distributing handbills (100 feet away from the polling place, of course). We proceeded to set up with our signs, talking to voters to make sure they know what they are voting for (there's been a lot of confusion--people voting no on proposition 8 because they think they are voting against gay marriage). We exchanged greetings with the No on 8 folks, and chatted about non-political things in between times. What I felt, and really don't know how to capture in writing, was appreciation for our democratic political process. It was inspiring to see so many people lining up early in the morning to go cast their vote. It was equally inspiring to be able to stand side by side with someone supporting a position opposite to mine and know that that was OK, we can disagree and even hold strong feelings on an issue, but still treat one another with courtesy and respect.
This is democracy in action.