election day

"go barack go!... what do you say america?..."

the words echoed through the hallway as james and brian from down the hall made their rounds apparently gloating about the positive projections in favor of barack obama. cnn is calling it 174 to 64 right now along with a democrats majority in the senate.

it's just a little past 8pm here in obama's home state of illinois, and polls have officially closed. as i headed to dinner over an hour ago, there were still people streaming into the polling station set up at the main lounge, all looking eager to cast their ballot.

it has definitely been an eye opening experience, as i talked to friends who were eligible to participate in this historic occasion. the political apathy that i thought was so prevalent among the young people here somehow has not reared its ugly head as far as i see. then again, i can't be sure though, because the scope of my knowledge is limited to the circle of people i know.

still it was somehow satisfying to know that EDUCATED voters are going out to make INFORMED choices en masse today, especially people of my generation. these are the same people who will be the deciding factor in the decades of contests to come.

it's going to be hard to go to sleep tonight. america is awake and alert. the way i see it whoever wins doesn't really matter a whole lot. the most crucial issue is that people go out and make that decision for themselves and not let others do it for them.. isn't that the whole point of a free, democratic country? rock the vote -- change or no change.

ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country is doing to you.


+listening to: help help by pearl jam