My First Rally

Yesterday was my first political rally. As you know from previous posts, and the name of the blog, I tend to be very far left leaning. A lot of people have called me a commie or a socialist(which isn't at all insulting), but it does not really phase me. I know that I am liberal. Granted just because I describe myself doesn't mean I agree with everyone on the left, but that is just what I rational person would think.

So my mom and brother voted on tuesday morning. Not to get on too much of a tangent, but everyone who lives in the United States and is older than 18 needs to vote. Your vote does count, no matter what you think. Even if you don't live in a swing state, and no matter what political party you belong or what you are voting for. Voting is a great privilege and a necessary duty that is beautiful and wonderful, and you need to take advantage. So as I step down from my soap box, I suppose I should continue with my story. So after they waited for two hours to vote, volunteers from the Obama campaign started handing out tickets to go to a rally in downtown Miami with Michelle Obama. My mom texted me on tuesday if I wanted to go to the rally and I couldn't contain my excitement at the prospect of seeing the FLOTUS. So she got three tickets, one for me, one for my dad, and one for her.

So I got signed out from school, I changed into my LGBT for Obama shirt, and my parents and I headed over from New World and to the Knight Center. We ended up getting there around 1:30 and they opened up the doors around 3:30, but it the people around us were really amiable and I definitely made some new friends. I actually met this really amazing volunteer who was trying to get me to be on the rafters behind the First Lady. Unfortunately he was unsuccessful, it was still really cool meeting him, and I got a super awesome spot. I was almost 20 feet away from the podium. Marc Anthony was there too. I didn't realize how skinny he is. Regardless, he is still very attractive. Then Gabrielle Union was there, and she was phenomenal. At first I didn't recognize her, but she was such a great speaker. Plus she is absolutely gorgeous. Second to Michelle was Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who is the congresswoman from a little bit north of me. She is absolutely amazing, and one of the best speakers I have heard live in a while.

The amazing finale of the 5 hours of standing that I did was Michelle Obama. It was most definitely well worth it. She is so beautiful and tall and fierce. Beyonce best watch out, because Michelle definitely WERKS!!!! She basically makes her point for voting for her husband very well, and if I could vote I would definitely vote for Barrack.

So this was first political rally. I have to say it was very fun. The energy and optimism is intoxicating. I am usually not one for unquestioning support of something. I like to really think about my positions and do thorough research, but to me, this election is now very personal. For the first time in American history, our President has come out in full support of same-sex marriage and equal rights for transgender. For most people who support Romney it is easy for them to say that this is just a pet cause, and that the economy is much more important, but that just shows how privileged they are. They don't understand what it is like to grow wondering if you will have the same privileges as heterosexual couples. They don't understand what it is like to think what if my partner is in the hospital and I can't see them. Or that tons of loving parents want to adopt kids, but are having an incredibly hard time of it. I was handed a pamphlet at the rally of all Obama's accomplishments for the LGBT community

and I brought it to school and showed it to my friends, and the officers of the GSA and I definitely got a marked different response from the different officers. The straight ones were super supportive and impressed, but when I showed the event coordinator, who is a lesbian, and she read over it, and looked up at me and said "It possible isn't it, it could actually happen, gay marriage could be legal". And she was so ecstatic and in wonderment, it was quite beautiful. I went to the sponsor of the GSA and showed it to her, and hung it up in her room and it will be there to remind students what our president has done for us. To remind me why he is my President, why I am so happy to call him that, and why I want four more years of him. This election is personal.