It goes without saying that this presidential election has prompted many who might not have previously had an interest in politics to suddenly make it their No. 1 priority to know the latest news in the world of politics. Whether this sudden interest was sparked because the country is in dire need of a change of leadership or whether it happened because of the current economic and social issues, voters need to take time to appreciate the magnitude of this election.

Years from now people will read about this in their history books, and it’s not often when a person can say they actually played a role in making history, but each of us who take the time to vote today will have that opportunity.

This will be the first presidential election I am eligible to vote in, and I will savor every moment.

When I step to the polls today, as an African American, I’ll honor the memory of each of my ancestors who made sacrifices for me to have that privilege, and as a woman I will honor the memory of every woman who fought for the same.

I can only hope that when people cast their votes today, they do so with the same sentiment and with the best interest of this country at heart. This particular election will force people to step outside their comfort zone and look past both race and gender.

Think about it. Both parties have based their campaign on the need for change. If you decline to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama because of his race or you refuse to vote for Republican presidential candidate John McCain for fear that his running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is incapable of being vice president because of her gender, where does that leave us?

Race and gender have nothing to do with running a country. What matters is what the candidates stand for and what they will do to better this country, so make that the basis for your vote.

Even though as a country we still have a long way to go in terms of eliminating the limits we place on others because of their race or gender, the milestones that have been achieved during this presidential election have brought us one step closer to that goal.

Exactly 45 years after Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famed “I Have a Dream” speech, Obama was named the first black presidential nominee of a major political party.

Where Obama stands says a lot about how far this country has come in terms of viewing the world in terms of race. His accomplishments say to every minority in America that with hard work and dedication anything is possible. Although I wouldn’t go as far as saying King’s dream has been fulfilled, I think this presidential election is as close as the nation has been to making that dream a reality.

The same could be said for Palin. Even though the reasons behind her nomination might be cloudy — some speculate it was only because she’s a woman — we can’t ignore the fact that Palin has accomplished something no other woman has done.

Her achievements prove that women don’t have to settle for being housewives and show that a woman can do anything a man can do.

If you go to the polls with an open mind, not only will it allow you to make an unbiased decision, you’ll be helping to break down some barriers that have held us back as a country.

And regardless of who wins, even if it’s not who you might have voted for, just take a moment to appreciate the fact that you’ve directly contributed to making history.

Keiara Tenant is a State News reporter. Reach her at tennan10@msu.edu.