I posted a memory last week from 2016. This has been a brutal election season. This year I decided not to have discussions about politics. It was a horrible year for me on so many levels and I could not take losing friends or family over the presidential election.
When this memory popped up I could picture their faces. It was a bucket list trip that left me in tears.
A brother and sister from Kent, near London, came to my Expedia desk in Hawaii along with his wife. She had moved to Florida, he to Brisbane. He had pancreatic cancer and would likely be dead in four months.
The reason they were there was to tour Pearl Harbor. He wanted the full day which his wife said was too long. He would get tired. Could he really navigate the steps on the submarine? But he was adamant. It had to be the the full day. The Arizona, the Missouri, the submarine , and the aircraft museum were all a must. He’d forgo the luau or the another tour if he had to, but the full day was non-negotiable.
“America is the greatest country in the world,” said the wife. “My David wanted to go to every significant place where a battle was fought or a place that was attacked. This is our last stop.”
The had gone to Gettysburg, the Twin Towers, the field in Pennsylvania, the Pentagon, and now they were going to Pearl Harbor.
It was about two weeks before the 2016 election. Every day people from all over the world wanted to talk about the outcome and David was no different.
“Trump can’t take away America’s greatness,” explained the dying man. “Clinton can’t either. America is great because it is. America is why the world works.”
I remember thinking how amazing it was that a man who could not vote in the election had hit the proverbial nail squarely on the head.
Neither Trump nor Harris can take away America’s greatness. I’ve reminded myself of this several times as we get closer to electing a new president.
Our ability to vote, to let our voices be heard is part of what makes America great.
When my boys were little they played one year of softball. At the end of each game they lined up, winners against losers, and faced their opponents and slapped each hand and said, “Good game, good game.” Then all the boys and their parents went out and had pizza and laughed and had fun.
This election season has not been a good game. But on Wednesday, or whenever the winner is declared, if your candidate wins, please be gracious and not gloating. If the opposite happens be gracious in your defeat.
Most of all, be part of what makes America great. It’s not slogans or sound bites. What makes us great is our ability to vote and then to get up the day after a new president is announced and work, parent, volunteer, help those in need, and help our communities. That’s really what matters.
