Since 2 AM, November 3, 2004…I’ve had a permanent smile on my face…if you don’t know why, read on.

I wasn’t feeling too well Tuesday morning due to my wisdom tooth extraction I’ve been whining about. But you know what? Fuck that.

I went to work puffy, lightheaded, feverish, but ready to take the day on, and, I had something to look forward to. Tuesday was Election Day [Tuesday was also the anniversary of me being a United States Citizen]. I didn’t play the sick card while at work, but people noticed my glassy eyes, half swollen cheek, and I guess since I wasn’t playing pranks on anyone while on the job, it let on to the fact that I wasn’t ‘myself.’

I was told to go home but no, I pushed on. I spent lunch with some of the CO’s. We watched the news, watched as Americans stood in long lines to cast their votes. I noticed something though. With all the talk about the election, no one asked who you were voting for. No one bashed either candidate. It was a respectful conversation. I liked it. Someone broke the ice though. It was me.

“This election is very important to me. I’ve never paid so much attention to an election before so much as I’ve done with this one. This is going to be the first time I vote.”

Congratulations went all around, and soon everyone else opened up. I found out that the majority was also voting for my candidate. For some my candidate wasn’t a favorite but he was their better choice of the two. I live in a state which is very anti- Emma’s candidate. I had only told a select few of my choice and views because I noticed that the majority of people I’ve encountered were very hateful, obnoxious, and angry. So angry, they would resort to calling me moron, idiot, and I’ve even encountered some threats.

The moment I was having with these people was such a fresh breath of air. It brought my hopes up. Sure, I knew that my vote wouldn’t matter here [but it did to me as I marked off my ticket], but it was just such an uplifting feeling.

I left the CO’s and headed back to HQ, rushing to get some work done, and, to head over to a local school to vote. I was bombarded with questions by some people at HQ regarding the election, and I blew them off, which aggravated them. It was weird though, their demeanor was very apprehensive. They were so nervous…I wasn’t. My thoughts, “Whoever wins, wins…hopefully it’s my candidate.”

As I said my goodbyes, I could hear them say, ‘Visualize Kerry winning,’ I turned around to look at them and watched as they put their hands in front of their faces. I guess it was their mantra. I shook my head and snickered to myself. But you know what, please don’t take this as me making fun of them…I know this election was important to them too…I’ve had to hear about it every day, and it was all about bashing my candidate. I kept quiet the whole time, and let me digress for one moment to a conversation I had which confirms the reason why I try not to talk about politics.

“I don’t get it. You’re so weird. You don’t voice your opinions. You’re a minority, an Asian, plus you’re a woman…statistics show that you should be a staunch Democrat.”

After that was said, there was a heated argument. And from then on, I stayed the course of not talking about politics with certain people, at all.

You’re a minority. You’re a minority. You’re a minority. You’re a minority.

How does one answer that question?

Well, I’m sorry I wasn’t born a rich white person?

Don’t look at my skin color, my hair color, or the shape of my eyes and assume that I’m a minority. You do not know what I am all about. You do not know my parents, both born in the Philippines, and now US Citizens. You do not know my father, who retired from the Navy after 23 years. You do not know my mother who is a retired school teacher and currently works for the U.S Government. You do not know where I’ve lived, and what my parents have worked for…and they sure as hell didn’t work for it to be considered the minority. Ditto for me, too.

*End of digression.

So there I was, off to vote. It felt good ya’ll. There was a line and I was eager. I made my mark on the election. I went home, put an ice pack on my cheek, took some meds, and joined my fellow citizens from the Rott. I will admit, when the polls started to close throughout the country, I became nervous…I prayed for my candidate to win. I refused to go to bed until the EV’s were in his favor, but 11 PM became midnight…and soon I was smiling. Midnight became 2 AM; I took a deep breath and could not stop smiling. I still am.

I went to HQ today and they seemed so devastated. I did not gloat [At least, I don’t think I did] I didn’t even bring up the fact that my candidate won. I listened to them bash him, and yes the hairs on my neck stood up but I kept quiet. I tried not to listen, but it was hard not to. I heard a lot of people say they were moving overseas. The funny thing was, I think the more I stayed quiet and worked, the more upset they got. I don’t work well with sore losers. But hey, I respect their views.

I’m sorry to the people out there who make comments like, “I’m gonna move to Canada,” or “overseas,” because Kerry didn’t win. I’m sorry your hatred for the President is so seething that you think it’s the end of the world.

In my opinion, maybe people like myself were tired of being called the minority and those people voted for the party who never made them feel like the minority…Another reason, they didn’t trust Kerry enough – I know I didn’t. There are more reasons as to why I voted for my candidate, too long to list but…

My main reason for voting for him? September 11 and the fight against Terrorism.

All the other issues fall under that, (i.e., Gay Rights, Abortion)

So go ahead. Call me all the names in the book…It doesn’t change this:


GEORGE W. BUSH
4 MORE YEARS!

KEOKI 2004 YA’LL!





Amen to that.


P.S. The stitches are finally out of my mouth. I feel much better...much, much better...especially now that the election is over.

Oh, and Kerry's wife being a total asshat didn't help him either.