I first came to the US almost exactly 26 years ago. Last year I became a US citizen, so this year (as is my constitutional right and privilege) I get to vote in a presidential election for the first time. I'm lucky enough that I can do so in a year when the California Democratic primary isn't completely irrelevant to the outcome of the nomination, so nobody — not AP, MSNBC, nor anyone else — gets to take away my right to cast my ballot for the candidate of my choosing, nor can they diminish the importance and power of my vote. I derived a strong sense of satisfaction from marking my ballot, and I’m sure I'll do so once again when the time comes in November.
Whether my vote helps to elect the next president or not, I've expressed my preference with a clear conscience (just as many of you have already expressed yours). The choice I've made is mine alone, but the process belongs to all of us, and I strongly believe we should never allow it to be taken for granted, abused, manipulated or trivialized by anyone, including those in the media who might appoint themselves as arbiters of our collective decision.
This election will be finally decided by the electorate in November, and not before. In the meantime, I'm happy that I finally have a voice and a vote in that decision.
~ Trendar
