THE RIGHT, THE HONOR, THE PRIVLEGE TO VOTE
I am a staunch supporter of the right to vote. I believe it is my duty to vote. Susan B Anthony fought her butt off to get me this right, and I won't squander it. But it's not just a right, it's an honor and a privlege to vote. How many countries in the world do not allow their citizens this opportunity?? Too many to count.
I didn't vote for many years. This was during my "young and stupid" years as I like to call them. I was in my teens and early 20's and didn't know much about the world and the workings of politics. I was also self-absorbed with my own life. Then guess what happened?? I grew up!!! I got married, had children, and low and behold--my eyes were opened. It started gradually. I joined the PTO, got elected president of a softball league, started associating with adults who conversed about life and the world around me. My eyes were opened!!!
It is not just presidential elections that are important. tThere are 'every day' votes that matter. A few years ago, our town was having a tough time passing the school budget. The board discussed cutting the music and sports programs to pass this budget. Well, you want to see an irate parent!! For those of you that don't know my family, both my children are immersed in music. Kerri has played violin for 12 years as well as sings. Her violin lessons were free from the school system every day of her school years. She is at University now, in the elite singing group and possibly traveling to Spain for a week in the spring to sing . What an opportunity that was started at the elementary school level. Kaitlin has played flute/piccolo for 9 years courtesy of her school. She has also been in all the school musicals and plays throughout the years. She is going to college next fall to be a music education teacher and hopes to be on Braodway someday!! All because of Griswold High School's music department. When they started talking of cutting this program out of the budget, I took it upon myself to call all my family and friends in our town and told them to "get out and vote"!!! I don't know if what I did helped, but the budget was passed!! It was just a small thing that I could do from home, but I felt as if I was helping, that I was involved: involved in my children's future education, involved in the govermental process, involved in life!!!
I have tried to pass this wisdom on to my children. I have always taken them in the voting booth with me, so they could see the machine and see how it worked. One of the reasons why I never voted was I had never seen a voting machine and didn't know how to work it. I didn't want to be embarrased in front of strangers the first time. But a wonderful thing happens when you grow up. You don't care!!! Or at least, the threat of being embarrased went way down to the bottom of the pile when I decided to vote the first time. I guess I was so excited about "doing it" that first time, I wasn't scared of looking silly. And you know what--it was easy!! Now my daughter, who lives and goes to school in PA, actually votes by absentee ballot!! That is so cool. That was a process I had to learn right along with her. And she did it at 18-not 28 like me!!
Sometimes the big, political elections become so bogged down with name-calling tht a person can get dejected with the process and decide not to vote. Don't let that happen. One vote can make a difference. Even if the win is a landslide in the other favor, it doesn't matter. VOTE. You have been givien a privlege that so many other people on this planet wish they had. Use the gift that our forfathers and Susan B. Anthony gave you---VOTE!!
Have a great day, and stay safe.
Me
I didn't vote for many years. This was during my "young and stupid" years as I like to call them. I was in my teens and early 20's and didn't know much about the world and the workings of politics. I was also self-absorbed with my own life. Then guess what happened?? I grew up!!! I got married, had children, and low and behold--my eyes were opened. It started gradually. I joined the PTO, got elected president of a softball league, started associating with adults who conversed about life and the world around me. My eyes were opened!!!
It is not just presidential elections that are important. tThere are 'every day' votes that matter. A few years ago, our town was having a tough time passing the school budget. The board discussed cutting the music and sports programs to pass this budget. Well, you want to see an irate parent!! For those of you that don't know my family, both my children are immersed in music. Kerri has played violin for 12 years as well as sings. Her violin lessons were free from the school system every day of her school years. She is at University now, in the elite singing group and possibly traveling to Spain for a week in the spring to sing . What an opportunity that was started at the elementary school level. Kaitlin has played flute/piccolo for 9 years courtesy of her school. She has also been in all the school musicals and plays throughout the years. She is going to college next fall to be a music education teacher and hopes to be on Braodway someday!! All because of Griswold High School's music department. When they started talking of cutting this program out of the budget, I took it upon myself to call all my family and friends in our town and told them to "get out and vote"!!! I don't know if what I did helped, but the budget was passed!! It was just a small thing that I could do from home, but I felt as if I was helping, that I was involved: involved in my children's future education, involved in the govermental process, involved in life!!!
I have tried to pass this wisdom on to my children. I have always taken them in the voting booth with me, so they could see the machine and see how it worked. One of the reasons why I never voted was I had never seen a voting machine and didn't know how to work it. I didn't want to be embarrased in front of strangers the first time. But a wonderful thing happens when you grow up. You don't care!!! Or at least, the threat of being embarrased went way down to the bottom of the pile when I decided to vote the first time. I guess I was so excited about "doing it" that first time, I wasn't scared of looking silly. And you know what--it was easy!! Now my daughter, who lives and goes to school in PA, actually votes by absentee ballot!! That is so cool. That was a process I had to learn right along with her. And she did it at 18-not 28 like me!!
Sometimes the big, political elections become so bogged down with name-calling tht a person can get dejected with the process and decide not to vote. Don't let that happen. One vote can make a difference. Even if the win is a landslide in the other favor, it doesn't matter. VOTE. You have been givien a privlege that so many other people on this planet wish they had. Use the gift that our forfathers and Susan B. Anthony gave you---VOTE!!
Have a great day, and stay safe.
Me
posted by katydid @ 9:03 AM
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