The things you miss while on the subway train

I discovered today that you can miss a lot of what's going on in the world while you're on the subway train, riding the rails beneath the city.

No, I don't care about the latest disaster involving Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton. Or which primetime TV show has been shelved because of the writer's strike.

This morning, while on the Metro getting to work, I missed the news that Joe Gibbs was retiring from coaching...from his second tour as the head coach and all-around class act of the highest magnitude of the Washington Redskins.

Joe Gibbs was the coach of my hometown's football team almost my entire life (he only missed a year or so) up until his first retirement. And I remember the sadness then that the region had at his departure. I also remember the excruciatingly painful seasons that followed as the team floundered. And I remember the euphoria that accompanied the legendary coach's return.

And, today, when I walked into my office and the first words anyone said to me were, "Joe Gibbs resigned." This was coming from a rabid Redskins fan in my office. I thought she was pulling my leg. But, alas, she wasn't. She insisted that the Redskins was one subject she wouldn't dream of joking about.

And so it's true. Once again Washington bids farewell to its favorite coach -- a man you can't help but respect, the dictionary definition of a class act.

I'm glad to see him setting an example for what's really important in life. But I won't lie and say that the start of the season next fall won't be bittersweet.

The miracle of democracy

...or the miracle of the American republic if you want to get especially precise with the terminology.

Tonight, as I type in fact, thousands of Iowans are trekking through the snow and cold that is their winter habitat to divide themselves in groups in school libraries, gymnasiums, community centers, etc., to declare their allegiance to one man or woman whom they believe should have the opportunity to become the next president of the United States.

At the start of its election cycle, the world's only remaining superpower, the wealthiest nation in the world, calls the citizens of one state to stand up for their candidate, in front of their neighbors, family members and perfect strangers. The rest of us, or at least the 20-some percent of us who choose to participate in the primary election process, will get our chances to caucus or vote by secret electronic ballot over the next few months.

I love watching politics and government work. As a reporter, I had ring-side seats to two full sessions and one special session of the Maryland General Assembly, arguably one of the most colorful political bodies in the country. Local government I could take or leave. But state and national politics are simply fascinating. Granted, the making of laws and sausages are still two things I don't think anyone should be forced to watch.

And I am weary already of the relentless media coverage of the horse race --- all sound and fury signifying nothing --- and the thought of another 10 months of that is rather nauseating.

But election night never fails to get me.

Right now, thousands of Kenyans are fleeing for their lives because accusations of a stolen election there have erupted into ethnic conflict.

In Iraq a few years back, Iraqis risked death by heading to the polls. Their political leaders still live in fear of assassination.

And in North Korea, Cuba, Myanmar and other countries around the world, the people don't have a voice.

We do. It is a horrible shame that more of us don't exercise this right of our citizenship. And, yes, our political system has its faults. (I still don't see the point of the electoral college, but I'll save that post for later this year. And don't get me started on the amount of money it takes these days to run a successful campaign.)

But when it comes down to it, for 219 years, we've elected the new leader of our country without bloodshed or national uprisings or the outbreak of civil war. And even with an election cycle as unpredictable as this one (the tightest primary race in recent memory), we're not worried about violence or turmoil.

No matter which party you belong to, or what you think of this nation's political, moral or ethical stance, that's something to be proud of.

Good luck, Iowa! And God bless us, everyone.