US

I’ve noticed.

Some of you, dear Readers - a couple of times a week - check to see if Quing has anything new to say.

38 months since my last post, and you’re still looking for the old girl.

I love that about you!

It just so happens that tonight, I’ve something to say.

FACT: I’ve actually had quite a lot to say throughout this election ‘season’, as I’ve watched our country being twisted and wrung like a worn, shredded, foul-smelling old rag. But many I know and love do not want to hear 4,386 reasons for selecting one candidate over the other on Election Day.

So I’ve waited to comment until this Election Day eve; sifting through facts, opinion, offenses, scandals, falsehoods and endorsements to make one suggestion:

Vote.  Vote selflessly.  Vote as US.  

Yes, dear Reader, I am suggesting that we vote as The United States of America - a diverse, evolving democracy that’s been twisted and wrung like a worn, shredded, foul-smelling old rag these past two years. Imagine she’s stuffed into a tiny booth, about to pull one of two levers that will ensure her survival. And you can help.

Yes. It would be lovely to vote for party platform, policy, Supreme Court nominees, experience, patriotism, and all the other important and politicky kinds of things Americans usually consider on Election Day.

It would be great to pull the lever for common decency, to set an example for our children, to shun dangerous ‘–isms’ or other not so politicky, but important considerations on Election Day.

But, dear Reader, as we’ve heard a zillion times, this election is different. I implore you to don your Statue of Liberty crown, and your red, white and blue stars and stripes cloak. Go to your local polling place and vote not for, but as, America.  

It’s imperative.

Because, through all the noise and turmoil, anger and divisive rhetoric of these past two years, it’s likely that one comment, one belief supersedes all else.

I am your voice, says Donald Trump. I alone can fix it.

It - being countless problems and challenges that face our nation.

Consider those words, that belief. Consider that in this 240 year old democracy, we’ve never had a candidate for the presidency say, or believe, that he alone can fix us. Fix the U.S.A.  

Donald Trump is not running for President of US. He’s running for Superhero. He says, and believes he is wiser than generals, politicians, economists, foreign and domestic policy makers; smarter even than the constitution. Most Capable Man in America. He’ll even decide when the election is over.

Spoiler Alert (with apologies to Marvel): Superheroes are pretend. Heroes are real - men and women who’ve sacrificed life and limb to protect Americans’ right to speak, worship, assemble, and select the leaders of government.  Men and women who’ve fought and died so we can complain about our government without fear of reprisal, and maintain an independent press that  keeps our leaders from interfering with the sharing of information and opinion.

If America’s brain is the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, her heart is the memory of all the patriots who died defending her. Five of my mom’s brothers fought in WWII. I’ve thought of them often throughout this election. A few may have admired or supported the brash, squish-the-status-quo billionaire early on in the primary process. Other brothers would have despised the candidacy, the rhetoric, the man.   

Still, I’m certain that once my uncles heard Mr. Trump list many of the significant challenges confronting the country they were willing to die for, declaring: I am your voice. I alone can fix it, they would have rejected his candidacy outright. Their history and sacrifice would demand it.

One person cannot fix US, this complicated democracy  - not a King, Quing or Despot.  

Like it or not, we’re in this together. The people, and all our voices. Together is messy, frustrating, difficult, infuriating. But it’s also ideas, compromise, action, and sacrifice for our common good.  

On Election Day, after I don my Statue of Liberty crown and Quing cloak, I’m going to vote on behalf of my uncles and all patriots who have fought and died defending this country - and the world - from leaders who believed they alone had the answers, the fixes, the plans.  

History demands it. Democracy depends on it.

Vote as US.

QUING Hereby Decrees: You’re missed, dear Reader. And deeply appreciated.