Isn’t it funny how right after I post about how I don’t like to post about politics, there are all these political posts? HAHAHAHAHAHA.

Ahem.

No but seriously, this is relevant to literature, which is the only reason I offer it up here now:

Last winter, Nobel laureate Toni Morrison received a phone call from Sen. Barack Obama, then the underdog to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Obama had contacted Morrison to ask for her support. But before they got into politics, the author and the candidate had a little chat about literature.

“He began to talk to me about one of the books I had written, `Song of Solomon,’ and how it had meant a lot to him,” Morrison said in a postelection interview from her office at Princeton University, where for years she has taught creative writing.

“And I had read his first book (`Dreams From My Father’). I was astonished by his ability to write, to think, to reflect, to learn and turn a good phrase. I was very impressed. This was not a normal political biography.”

For Morrison and others, the election of Obama matters not because he will be the first black president or because the vast majority of writers usually vote for Democrats. Writers welcome Obama as a peer, a thinker, a man of words - his own words.

I wonder if I should read his books? I do love the title “The Audacity of Hope”…

“But finally having a writer-president — and I don’t mean a published author, but someone who knows the full value of the carefully chosen word — I suddenly feel, for the first time, not only like a writer who happens to be American, but an American writer.”

So far I have been careful not to write about politics on my blog(s), with the exception of a few non-partisan posts about design, comedy, and music. I have also tried, usually with success, not to comment on other people’s political posts. I have done this thing which is so strange for me — that is, to NOT say what I think — because while I tend to have strong opinions, I also value and respect the opinions of others, who may not always agree with me, and I do not wish to alienate anyone. To me, people are worth more than politics.

However, Andy has recently subscribed to The Economist, and in flipping through the Oct 30th issue, I came across their endorsement of Obama, which I found to be extremely eloquent. I link to it now because each and every sentence is almost exactly the same as what I have thought, felt, and concluded myself.

America should take a chance and make Barack Obama the next leader of the free world

Before any McCain/Palin supporters get upset, OR any Obama/Biden supporters applaud me, please read the editorial. It’s not very long, and I believe it treats both men fairly, giving due respect to McCain and his service to our country, and expressing legitimate concern over Obama’s potential presidency.

Also, please note that comments have been disabled for the first time ever. I’m not looking for an argument, or even a friendly debate. My mom and I had plenty of those when I was home last week, thank you very much.

Regardless of who you support, I sincerely hope that all of you vote tomorrow. For local concerns, consult your newspaper or Google “[your city] voter guide” to do some quick research on the candidates and issues on your ballot. You can even “vote” ahead of time and then write down or print out your results to bring with you to the polls. (That’s what I did.)

Speak now. Exercise your right, your responsbility, your privilege. Your vote.