Some Election Day Thoughts,

written before the results are in. 2020.

"I pledge allegiance

to the flag,

of the United States of America.

And to the republic, for which it stands. 

one nation. 

under God. 

Indivisible.

With liberty, and

 justice 

for 

all."

• I'm not sure if it is 100% correct, but that is what I remember from reciting it every day in elementary school, leading each day on the intercom in junior high, and saying it into the school news broadcast camera each Friday in high school. I dunno, I guess I thought I was important and should be constantly talking, ha ha. I always felt the pledge was important and sacred, like a privilege and a duty to recite and uphold. Now, for the past 7 years when I have been doing a very silly magic show at any elementary school, I feel honored if I am there in the morning, at a time when the pledge is said. I tear up absolutely every time, it just hits me so hard. It's beautiful, idyllic, and was written as a prayer for a nation freshly built.
  

• Allegiance, United, Republic, One, Nation, Indivisible, All. 
• All terms, of which there are many, to indicate UNITY. Not group think, but group effort. A united front for freedom, liberty, justice, thriving, and for family. Terms that I feel reflect the core values of our founding fathers and mothers, inviting us to work, hard, together. Love each other, stick up for ourselves and one another, and help out and deal with situations that seem unfair. 
• I am so grateful to live in the United States of America because: 
• Access to education. I know that sadly, this is not the case for all women yet. But my parents, community, religious group and peers encouraged and celebrated me in my educational pursuits. Overall, I was taught that I was smart, capable, and worthy of investing in; and gender or sex had nothing to do with it. I know living in a country where school is available, encouraged, and attainable is absolutely a blessing and a superpower.
• Ability to thrive in the family. Our country has resources to support families in their pursuits for survival, thriving, and progress. In good times and in rough, generally, families are able to live in a place that is safe and with opportunities for growth. Obviously, opportunities and protections for many are lacking, but I believe we live in a country that can improve this over time with great effort, as we already have. 
• Freedom to believe in God and Jesus Christ. My religious beliefs are precious and essential to me. To be able to inwardly believe and outwardly worship my God is a blessing I am extremely grateful for and which I cherish. 
• French fries, desserts, fruits, vegetables, and so many ice cream flavors. Yum!
• Freedom of speech. When I was younger, I was scared of new ideas. Now, I enjoy the mental exercise I get from reading Facebook every week and seeing what people are passionate about, and meeting new people and adapting my world view according to what I learn from their experiences. Naturally, this causes a lot of contention. But how wonderful to generally be able to voice what you feel is important. 
• I am sad to live in the United States of America because:
• Though I hold onto some hope, I think we are lacking much of what the pledge of allegiance pleads for in UNITY. At times, alignment with a political party has been the source of enacted hate, greed, dishonesty, convolution and more. Sometimes I see online posts declaring something along the lines of "If you're not voting for [candidate] go ahead and unfriend me now." How sad and short-sighted this is! Ideals like this driving us away from one another...it will not make for a peaceful space where one party's ideas can easily take over. We cannot cancel each other and ignore them. We're stuck, like siblings. We can and must work together.
• A tainted history of prejudice continues to burden our culture. Black lives matter. Regardless of sexual identity, the pursuit of happiness applies to all. Sexual assault absolutely must be condemned and taught to cease. These and other roots of hate and abuse unfortunately persist, but I do believe and hope, beginning in our own homes, we can end these unkind behaviors and truly hope for a better world. 
• Air pollution and other environmental concerns. Sigh. 

I love my country, the United States of America, and I am proud and grateful to be an American. I hope and pray I can be an active help to bringing together a better country and world.