We had a really nice 4th. I live in a small town, just north of Dallas, and we have a little parade every year. You may know what it I am talking about. The fire department color guard with the flag. The High School marching band. The World War II vets in an old convertible. The Lions Club. Our town's winner of Miss Teen Texas.
And new this year, the mothers of soldiers who graduated from our High School and have now died in Iraq.
Where we were sitting everyone was cheering and waving the little flags the Exchange club had handed out. Then the float came by, with the mothers and young brothers and sisters of the dead soldiers.
Everyone got very quiet. The people on the float were smiling and waving, but you could see that the parade watchers all stopped to think about the real impact of what they were seeing.
I think this year we will see a huge increase in first time voters. And not just people who are only now old enough to vote. I think this terrible war will force many people to stand up and get involved in the democratic process, maybe for the first time.
At least I hope so.
This year, the election is about something real. It is not about whose pastor said what, or whose campaign contributors are in prison. It is about the simple fact that it is time to end this war, right away.