Election Day

Today I exercised my right to participate in the democratic process. I stood in lines, I showed my I.D., I signed my name, I sat down with marker in hand -- and I then stuck an almost empty ballot into the voting machine.

I did not vote for either McCain/Palin or Obama/Biden.

I could not vote for either candidate with confidence as I don't think one is any more equipped than the other to lead this country. I couldn't justify not voting, though. I went so far as to mark a name, but -- and it probably shouldn't have had this effect on me -- I couldn't convince myself to insert that ballot. So, I sheepishly asked the elderly voting matron for a new ballot, she made me sign a "spoiled ballot" form, and I purposely but peacefully left the President of the United States' ballot empty.

Maybe it's more accurate to say I exercised my right to be dissatisfied with the choices presented to me, my right to question the leadership of this country.

Maybe in four years I will regret not filling in a name, but I don't think so. Yes, it's an historic election no matter who wins. My children will be reading about the first time A) a black man was president or B) a lady was vice president. That being said, I felt just fine walking from that little church without voting for either one.