Tuesday, November 07, 2006

A Vote For Papa

I got up early this morning to vote. I was so proud of myself because I arrived at my designated elementary school at around 6:30am. The booths didn't open until 7am and I was the first in line! Well, once they opened and they checked for my name and address I found out that I was supposed to be at another school down the street. Doh!!! So, I ran to my car and sped down the street (No school children out yet) to stand in line at the correct elementary school. So, in the end I went from first to around fifty first. I was only 30 minutes late for work. It felt good to cast that vote. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't know all of the candidates I voted for because I'm new to the county. I knew most of them though. I've even met some of them at political rallies.
I hope that you cast your vote today. If you're not registered get registered for the next election. It's important for you, your family and future generations. That's just my humble opinion. *smile* I'm dedicating this vote to my great-great grandfather, Ezekiel Roberson. He couldn't vote, but I can. Peace~

Note: Click the title of this post for more info about registering to vote

36 comments:

Professor Zero said...

VOTE VOTE VOTE everybody! I don't have class today, and I should be working, but I am at a phone bank! It is almost noon and only 3% of the precinct I am calling now has voted! VOTE VOTE VOTE!

Stephen A. Bess said...

Great message! :)Good to see you.

Tafari said...

I wanted to vote before work today but as always I was running late. Now I am doomed for the long afterwork line.

My iPod will mos def be in effect for the cold wet wait.

for those who need a reminder; the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965, which means that Blacks across the country really only had the right to vote without drama (or less drama) for only 41 years!

Stephen A. Bess said...

bygbaby-
Thanks for that lesson in history. Preach on! :)

Yeah, I was trying to avoid the line after work. It may not be that bad, but I wanted to get it over with. Now, I can just go home and look at Good Times. :)

Cergie said...

Yes, it's important to vote
One voice can be important and one voice plus one plus one do much
We heard about American elections in France, we are very interested about them

oh ! stephen, i'm always surprise when I discover your "avatar", the last one was pretty, but we are accustomed to see your smiling face
You are always changing and we are always amazed !

Ahaha !

Stephen A. Bess said...

Cergie-
Yes, the results should be interesting.

Yes, I like to change the avatar now and then. Well, a lot lately. Smiling is important. It's so human. :)I'll try to keep on smiling. I have much to frown about, but I have much more to smile about. Always a pleasure!

Dance_Soul said...

kudos for this post. the information, the encouragement, and the dedication to someone without the option. loved it. appreciate it.
~dance

Shaggy said...

Glad you voted, I get to vote in a few minutes on my way home... Papa will not be on my list but will surely vote his party in, know what am saying???

Anyway, am so mad right now with the Falcons following their defeat to Detroit. SO will holler at some other time...

Peace

Professor Zero said...

"...really only had the right to vote without drama (or less drama) for only 41 years!"

This explains something about my phone bank experience: every time I get an African-American senior citizen, they have either voted first thing in the morning, or are stressing out about the fact that they will not get to go until their children take them at 5. I always thought this was just cranky old folks' ways but: these people (I just talked to a lady 97) are definitely old enough to have seen some voting drama, maybe they go first thing to give themselves time to resolve anything that goes wrong?

African girl, American world said...

I couldn't vote not being a citizen and all! I thought I could cause in some states permanent residents can vote at local elections but of course I don't live in one of those states!!!!

Oh well, glad you honored those you fought for your right.

Anonymous said...

Good man. Those who do not care for voting don't know what it is not to have the possibility, the choice, to abstain or to go ahead and vote. I voted for the first time when I was 40 years old. It was an electric feeling, like a damn weight had been taken off me.

Nabeel said...

glad to know that u voted .. and the pleasure becomes even more given the fact that u were the fifty first ..

Geoffrey Philp said...

Voted early this morning too. My daughter, who just got her license, was a first time voter too.

Gooders Girl said...

You know I can't vote!

But if I could I would -- great Pic, it moved me...If you can check out the doc on HBO...Hacking Democracy.

Excellent but does make you wonder what the hell am I really voting for. Featured some very brave individuals.

Think you'll like it!

Jenell : BlakIzBeautyful said...

Voting is sooo exciting!

I had an adrenaline rush today Brother Stephen.

Check out my post and learn why.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Dance-
Thanks! We have to honor our ancestors. It's our tradition except some of us don't know.

BroJero-
I'm hearing you. The results are in and I am happy!

Profzero-
This is true because I'm sure that my grandfather never voted in North Carolina. He is 87.

Mwabi-
Yeah, I had to vote for my house too. Immigrants! :)

Rethabile-
Yes, my wife spoke of that feeling this morning when she voted for her party in the early 90's.

Nabeel-
Yes, it was a pleasure. This was especially true when i saw the results this morning.

Geoffrey-
That's beautiful! I know that you were a proud papa to see your baby moved to the next level. :)

Gooders-
I can dig it. Hey, thanks for that info on HBO! I don't have HBO but my sister does. I know...cheap! :)
It sounds like something worth watching though.

JB-
I'm on my way.

Jenell : BlakIzBeautyful said...

So your an independent eh?
So do you find yourself choosing the person and not the party?

If, so, does that not conflict?

I ask because, for Rhode Island, we had a Republican Senator by the name of Lincoln Chafee. You may have heard of him because he put his party in an uproar as the ONLY Republican who voted against the War.
Rhode Islanders were happy he did that, but in the end he was still a Republican and voted in view of the Republican party 81% of the time (or very close to that).

Great man. Wrong Party.
Yesterday he lost his seat to a Democrat.

I don't mean to intrude, but did you vote Republican in the 2004 election?

Jenell : BlakIzBeautyful said...

Oh yea.... I have a new Book Indulgence, "The Audacity of Hope" by Barck Obama.

Stephen A. Bess said...

JB-
Why, you won't be my friend if I say yes. :)
Nosy. :)

Stephen A. Bess said...

Obama is the man! :)

African girl, American world said...

I agree you must watch Hacking Democracy.

Anonymous said...

Ezekiel- one of my favorite Biblical names! =)

Stephen A. Bess said...

Mwabi-
I'll check into that.

UB-
Yes, grandpa was an escaped slave and soldier in the Civil War.

Bougie Black Boy said...

Mwabi is back?! OMG! the world is about to cave-in!

Stephen A. Bess said...

SEJ-
Yes, check out her beautiful mess on my link. :)

Jenell : BlakIzBeautyful said...

:-)
Maybe I will
Maybe I won't

But I asked a few questions...

I made another post.
Im on fire today!

I have another question for you.
How do I get folks to really get engaged in my blog?
Better yet, how do I get more readers?
I know you don't have all the answers, but you have all that going on here so I want to learn from you.

black feline said...

what's the score? Democrats or Republicans?

Stephen A. Bess said...

lol! :)
You're funny Princess. I've never voted Republican, but who knows? Maybe one day I'll look at a candidate and think that he/she is the best for me and the people. That candidate might be a Republican?

As far as the blog goes, I think that consistency and communication are key. People tend to fall off when your absent too long. I've been going strong for over a year now and I made a few friends.

Stephen A. Bess said...

BlkFeline-
According the Assoc Press, "...Democrats were likely to win 232 seats and the GOP 203 — a pickup of 30 seats for the Democrats."

Good to see you.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your dedication Stephen. Well, I would like to impose a little Moratorium on your post :)
Whereas I Tryphina dedicate this post to all the peoples of African heritage all over the world, who have been deprived of their innate right to vote for a party of their choice in any country based on their citizenship by birth or naturalization. Hereby acknowledge the special circumstances surrounding the dedication of this significant post to great-grand father Roberson as outlined by Stephen Bess ****wink****

Let us remember those who died for the right to vote. Remember those who disappeared without trace, before they could vote. Remember those who made it possible for us to vote!!

GTG to class,

ciao

Stephen A. Bess said...

Amen sista Tryphina! Good to see you. Look at you showing up like a ghost in mid air. :)
I like and appreciate what you said because it is real. Peace to you~

ciao bella

to touch a unicorn said...

Hi Sephen, Love the photo.
From the news hee in the UK seems like the Democrats have it....guess that says it all for the Bush man. Now if only Blair would go then maybe out boys could come home.
Peace
Sandy

Stephen A. Bess said...

Sandy-
Yes, it would be nice to see those men and women return. Rumsfeld's resignation is a start. :)

Rose said...

We did good.........

NML/Natalie said...

I have to say that I am very, very pleased at the outcome of the election. Things are a changing!

Stephen A. Bess said...

Rose-
I agree!

NML-
I sure hope so.

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