a few more responses … and an apology

Here are a few more excerpts of interest from the dozens of emails I’ve received about the election … plus an apology …

Here’s a previous non-voter who voted:

We live in Michigan, which was pretty much a no-brainer, but it’s nice to know that our vote went the same direction as our state. I’d like to thank you for having the courage to publicly support a candidate that others have seen fit to brutally demonize.
I haven’t voted since 1992, partially out of disenchantment with the process, partially because of disappointment in America itself, partially because I never felt comfortable with the choices. I decided to vote again, to participate in the democratic process, because I feel the global crises you write about in EMC cannot be tackled without also engaging the “system” and harnessing our collective energy for good. I decided to vote for Obama because (among other reasons), the problems are bigger than America and are out of reach of an imperialistic US agenda.
Obama has already demonstrated that he can mobilize people across lines of race, class, and gender to accomplish something historic. I believe he has the potential to redirect the US away from arrogant hegemonic posturing and toward the cooperative, multilateral approach to global governance that is crucial to our survival as a species. It is this combination that I voted for, that I see as the right choice at the right time. Time will tell, of course, but for the first time in a long time I felt, well, hope.

And this from a person who is very honest about the pain of stepping out of familiar territory …

Thank you for your series on why you are voting for Senator Obama. I have already voted—rural areas such as mine do not travel to a polling place—and I voted for Obama. It was one of the hardest decisions in the history of my civil life as a Christian because of the abortion issue. Thank you for clarity and thinking outside the box. Some have questioned my faithfulness for my voting choice. I have questioned myself every day. It is very difficult to change one’s habit of political thinking, for the patterns are deeply ingrained and often become creedal confessions of faith. Of late, I feel somewhat cast adrift from the familiar and comforting…
We are all sinners voting for sinners.

Regarding the apology – a few people interpreted my thank you note here … as an insult to all people who voted for McCain. I’m so sorry for giving this impression. I keep trying to figure out how I could have worded this differently to avoid offense. Please be assured, I believe that many people voted for McCain for reasons that had nothing to do with entrenchment, fear, homogeneity, and division. I simply wanted to thank everyone who voted for Senator Obama for reasons of hope, diversity, and unity. Thanks for understanding.