They drove in the dark of night, snow flying in the frozen February air. It was still hours before the doors would open, but they wanted to make sure they were in line. An ordinary mother, we'll call her Lisa, pulls her minivan into the parking lot. Her heart sinks when she sees the line of cars waiting before her. She thought she had arrived early enough to be one of the first, to make sure she had a spot in line. How wrongly she had misjudged her neighbors. Each of the people waiting had just one thing on their mind, their children's future. They wanted their voices heard, their preferences known. They couldn't take another year like this past year. Things had to change. They demanded more for their children.
As the doors opened, people charged. Tempers rose. Panic began to set in. The horrible, sinking truth hit Lisa, she was too late. She would not get in. Her opinions would be tossed aside. Her desires left unfulfilled. "This is America!" Lisa yelled. "I was here three hours before the doors opened. I should have gotten in. I should have had my say!" But Lisa was just one of many passionate women, left out in the cold on Super Tuesday, just one of the many who arrived too late for preschool registration at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Preschool.
Yes, I will admit it. My cover is lame. I am Lisa. I am that mom who foolishly thought I could show up three hours before registration and get a good spot in line. The verdict is not in yet, but I think I have failed my precious Emily. I think she may not get in to two day playschool for 3 year olds next year. I know… you can say it … it's tragic. People actually went to the church at 9:30 last night for registration that started at 9:15 this morning. Those are some really passionate parents. (feel free to substitute the word "passionate" with any other word you see fit.)
Since today actually is Super Tuesday, it made me start thinking about the larger decisions that are being made in our country. I wonder how many passionate voter and caucus goers are out there? Anywhere in the 24 states that are holding primaries and caucuses, did people line up at 9:30 last night just make sure they had their say today? Wouldn't it be amazing it people did? Can you imagine a country where people got so passionate about the state of our country (and the world for that matter) that they stayed up all night to make sure their voice was heard? Can you imagine a country where people took their children's future so seriously, that they were as passionate about their country's leadership as they are about their toddler's preschool teacher? Wouldn't it be amazing?
With over 29,000 soldiers and nearly 1 million civilians dead in Iraq, with a deficit to large to comprehend, and an educational system failing so many of our children, maybe today would be a good day to start creating that America, instead of just imagining it.
Primaries and Caucuses really do matter, if you live in one of the following states, yours in today.
Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia
