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To The Person Who Chooses Not To Vote
Election Day is November 6th.
To mark that occasion, I want to stand alongside the many people encouraging everyone to have their voices heard. I am grateful to join a chorus of concerned citizens. I have several thoughts for people who are considering not voting. President Obama made a video that addressed excuses for not voting. Another video tells young people not to vote, so their concerns can continue to be ignored by political leaders. At this time when the right to vote is being attacked across this country, in big and small ways, voting has never been more important.
Do not wave the flag and claim to be patriotic if you do not vote.
People have died and continue to die for the right to vote.
Not caring about politics does not mean politics does not impact your life.
I know the appeal of taking an ostrich with your head in the sand approach to life and politics. It can be easy to choose cynicism and apathy. The sea can seem so big and our boats can be so small. That does not work in life or in politics. It especially does not work when issues like health care, climate change, and human rights are being debated and acted upon by sides with very different views. Simply understood, It does not work when the things we need to face are bigger than politics. What I have seen is that people get active when something directly impacts their life – a health crisis, gun violence, and/or civil rights violations, for example. We can’t wait to care about issues until they impact us directly. The issues already impact us all directly. We are interconnected. Our stories are one story.
Are our leaders acting in ways we want our children to act?
That should be a simple question. One that should not require “What aboutism?” or justification by quoting bank account balances. In last night’s Florida gubernatorial debate, Ron DeSantis was asked if he agreed with Donald Trump’s behavior as a role model for his children. DeSantis could not answer the question. That question is particularly important to me and his nonresponse says everything. Many current leaders, not just Trump but he is the President, do not behave in ways we accept from our children. The more children learn to view lying, bullying and cruelty as normal, the more they will act in those ways. Voting for people who don’t not lie and/or act in violent and/or unlawful ways, or enable those that do, is a step toward teaching our children to be best. (Pun intended.)
I vote for my children’s, children’s, children’s.
We have to think about future generations when living our day-to-day lives. Voting is part of that. We have to create a better world than the one we received. That is what we must do as a world in which short term gain for a very few are wrecking the future for us all. Whether we are young or old, rich or poor, conservative or liberal, all labels must fade when we think about our collective future and make decisions. Do we want to live in and pass on a more peaceful world? Do we want to live in and pass on a world guided by generosity and kindness? Do we want a world that celebrates the truth and makes decisions accordingly?
Truth Is Truth
This is the most important reason to vote, to me. Everything springs from telling the truth. Even when it is tough. Especially when it is tough. I tell the truth. I want leaders who tell the truth. I want leaders who defend the truth tellers. I want policy decisions made by an assessment of truth. I want the backbone of our government to be returned to truth. That happens by being a truth teller in your day-to-day life and voting for people who are not liars.
About Katie
Born in Louisville. Live in Atlanta. Curious by nature. Researcher by education. Writer by practice. Grateful heart by desire.
Buy the Book!
The Stage Is On Fire, a memoir about hope and change, reasons for voyaging, and dreams burning down can be purchased on Amazon.