American Spirit

My husband went to vote last Friday since he knew he'd be away on Election Day. He went down to Abbot Hall, Marblehead's town hall, which was constructed in 1870. The town clerk mentioned that Big J could fill out his ballot across the hall, if he wanted privacy. Big J entered the meeting room across the hall and found himself in the presence of American history. The famous painting, Spirit of '76, by Marblehead artist Archibald MacNeal Willard, is housed in this room. In addition to this famous painting, there is an oil painting of Washington crossing the Delaware with men from Glover's Regiment of Marblehead. Big J told me that as he filled out his ballot, suddenly all the knit-picky details about the election fell away. The negative sound bytes, the political jockeying, the fear, the ulterior motives -- all of it-- faded into the background of what it means to be an American and what a privilege it is to vote. This election brought us 9 million new registered voters! So, regardless of who won the election, there were more people than ever involved in the American political process, which means more people than ever care about our country. All Americans should be proud of this year's Election Day participation.