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Voting Time
When I was a teenager, my dad worked with the civil rights side of the U.S. government, traveling to southern states and signing up voters. I never gave much thought to this, as everyone in my family voted except my grandmother. "MeMaw" was not registered to vote, and I never really understood why. She was not a suffragette, so perhaps that was the reason.
In my family, we considered voting to be a privilege, not a right. My dad fought in World War II, and when he came home, he continued to do his share for the citizens of our great country. He worked to make sure that people who never had the chance to vote got their chance. Apparently, he even had an armed bodyguard that we kids didn't know about. We find out the strangest things about our parents when we grow up!
Sometimes I hear people say unflattering things about the U.S., and I do not like the negativity. We live in the greatest country in the world. Why else would we have people begging to live here? Think about our freedoms and our way of life. And don't forget about our generosity. When other countries are in trouble, we are first in line to help, no matter how difficult the work is. Our country isn't perfect, but I love it just the same.
Today, the U.S. (and subsequently the rest of the world) is in a mess, not because the masses are evil, but because a few are greedy and shortsighted. Voting is the one thing we can do that gives us a voice-a voice that is heard around the world and back.
I voted early, and now I eagerly watch and wait. Whatever the outcome of the election, November 4, 2008, will be a momentous day, not only for the U.S., but for the entire world.
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