U.S. of A.

Seven years and one day ago, I was standing slack jawed in my freshman dorm room as I watched the two towers, towers that I'd grown up seeing outside our third floor window, collapse. Then as my brain tried to register what I was seeing, there was the realization that all those people I grew up with may be impacted by two buildings inexplicably ceasing to exist. I use the word may because it didn't feel real. They were too big not to exist. They were a part of a skyline that I grew up taking for granted.

One of my uncle's accounts was located in the WTC towers. So, I along with everyone else, spent the day trying to get through to the East Coast. Finally, at 5:30pm there was a call from my grandma to say that he was fine, our family at least, was fine. We were left unscathed.

I wasn't in New York then. So I cannot and will not attempt to speak to what that experience must have been for those who lived here or commuted daily from the surrounding cities and boroughs. I just know that today, I feel incredibly grateful to live in a city that has managed to overcome what was an incomprehensible tragedy. I am also proud, that the inhabitants of this city have not (for the most part), let that day serve as justification for the war that we are now still engaged in or as an excuse for an administration that used the emotions surrounding the towers' collapse as leverage for four more years in office. My fear, in facing November 4 is that people will cling to what is familiar and comfortable and ignore the fact that what has gone on for the last eight years has not worked. I realize that personal beliefs often dictate political leanings. Abortion and marriage remain two hot-button issues that seem to separate in some peoples minds the "right" leader vs. the "wrong" one. That said, the conversation shouldn't end there. What happens to the environment, our government's national debt, health care options beyond the flawed system we tolerate today, our ability to mediate between foreign nations rather than dictate what their political system ought to be... these, at least to me, are also worth paying attention to. I do not assume that Obama will be the magical wand to fix every problem our society faces. But for damn sure, I think we ought to at least give him the opportunity to try. And, if our country confirms my worst fears that we're collectively capable of ignoring the facts in front of us, then come November 5th I'll be the one drinking more than is wise and hiding beneath the sheets.

EDIT - Read this and try not to whack your head against the key board. I mean really, this is the woman we're going to comfortably elect as second-in-command to a dude who could kick the bucket at any moment? Come on.

Oh and this. Which makes me all sorts of happy on the inside. I heart you John Stewart. Call me.