Election at Sea

Hello All

I'm taking a break from writing about my experiences in port to talk about today on the ship. As much as I love ports, the ship life is what makes me want to do this job again. Today was another day that exemplified my life for being on the ship and being in this community.

Today, Wednesday November 5th, I woke up at 7am to follow election coverage in the Union. Seven other people and the Election Committee joined me in the Union. The Committee was streaming in CNN Radio and flipping through different sites like CNN, MSNBC, and The New York Times to show off electoral maps. We are currently 13 hours ahead of Eastern time, and it would be an hour until most polls closed. I flipped through sites on my laptop, craving even innuendos about possible outcomes. As the time creeped closer to 8am, more people shuffled into the Union. We heard that Vermont had gone to Obama, and Kentucky to McCain. The people in the center of the Union clapped and cheered for Obama, while the people on the right side cheered for McCain. Polls rolled in slowly, as I sat with fellow Democrats in the front of the room. The pace picked up at 11am, Virginia and North Carolina were being contested, but Pennsylvania had gone for Obama while Georgia and South Carolina going to McCain. Most of the room cheered as the states started coming in for Obama.

Tracy Ehlers, the faculty leader for the Elections Committee, reminded all students that they should go to class if they had it, but it was not enthusiastic and obviously said to just serve as a reminder and not as a suggestion. A streaming feed of MSNBC was piped in after some not so gentle reminders for the shipboard to community to abstain from using the internet. Larry Butler, a faculty member looked scared and anxious; he cupped his hands in his face and rubbed his temples. People were giddy with excitement. Florida, surprisingly, was a contested state. Ohio went blue and I was certain that Obama would win. People cleared out for a quick lunch, but I stayed put, watching from the TVs in the Union. Heather had come up to me in the Union and hugged me and cried with happiness and excitement. It was wonderful how excited people were

The event began again in earnest at 11:15pm, as more states began to roll in. Obama was at 207 electoral votes, with Hawaii and California still waiting to be counted. The Republican contingent, unfortunately, did not return with the numbers they had at the beginning and soon left the liberal festivities. Then Oregon and Washington came in, and the room erupted with cheers when MSNBC called the election. People started singing the National Anthem. The Election Committee played “God Bless the USA”, then Will.i.am’s “Yes We Can”. Heather, Brooke R., Amy Hill, Cindy, and I sat and cried. Even Garrett sneaked some tears. We were so proud, happy, and relieved.

We clapped appropriately during McCain’s speech, appreciative that he wanted unity and reminded us all that we were all Americans.

Then Obama came on stage; the Union erupted! Again, we cried and sang and clapped. To think that we will have our first Black president! That our First Lady, like Hillary was, will be an educated and strong woman, and a woman of color! Hooray! It was a great day.

I’m now excited and tired. My eyes burn from crying. I’m coming down from my high, but my pride and happiness has yet to dissipate.

Congratulations America! Si Se Puede!!!