An Open Letter to Virginia

Dear Virginia,

You mean a lot to me. You educated me from grade 3 through college and my aborted master's degree. Many of my fondest memories are of times spent in Virginia. I met my wife there, and we started our lives together on your side of the Potomac.

You mean a lot to the country as well. Sons and daughters of Virginia guided us to independence, crafted our Constitution and Bill of Rights, and set the foundations of our judicial system. You gave America its first African American governor. You gave us Five Guys.

But, you have a dark side, too, Virginia. America's first African slaves came off the gangways on your shores. You certainly weren't eager to accept racial integration. Without you there would have been no Confederacy, a fact you seem awfully proud of to this day. Virginia, you have a disturbing number of monuments celebrating and roads named after the leaders of America's most violent insurgency. Don't even get me started on Lee-Jackson Day.

The larger point, though, is that you have often set the pace for the country as a whole. Tomorrow, you have the chance to make history yet again by voting for Barack. Sure, we can win without you, but you can settle the election before many in the West even get to vote.

Regardless of what you do, I will always have love for you. But, I'll be a little prouder of my affection should you help usher Barack into the White House.

Sincerely,

Dave