I'm going to take a walk today.
I'm going to put on shoes that fit, that I had money to buy. I'm going to put on a pair of headphones so I can listen to music. I'm going to take a walk today, a clear-sky, sun-filled crisp fall day, through the crackle of leaves and the busy hum of my town. I'm going to listen to music, and walk.
While no place is perfect, and anything can happen, I can be reasonably assured of arriving at my destination safely. And safely returning home.
I'm going to walk into a polling place. It will not be surrounded with sandbags and armed soldiers. I will walk in there because it has been designated for me personally for proximity and convenience. My name is on a list saying I can be there, that I can participate in the process regardless of race, party, gender, orientation, or religious affiliation. People, lots of people, have died to make it so. And I can make choices based on my own convictions and informed desires without fear of violence or intimidation, and be reasonably certain those choices will be counted as equal.
I'm going for a walk because I believe in this process. And I believe that the only antidote for shabby attitude and inexcusable indifference is to participate in all forms of dialogue, of entreaty, available to us. To say "This matters" with one's voice, one's labor, one's aspirations. And at absolutely every opportunity, in large battles and small, one's vote.
Hope I see you on the way.
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
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8 comments:
Amen!! I'll be joining you.
I'll be there. And I'll bring my 7-year old, because I grab every opportunity to show him what it means to be a part of this country.
I voted, as I always do. But I'm sad about 2 things: 1) with 10 offices on my ballot, 9 candidates are running unopposed; 2)as of 4:30, less than 15% of the registered voters in my district had voted. The 2 facts may be related.
I voted, as I always do. But I'm sad about 2 things: 1) with 10 offices on my ballot, 9 candidates are running unopposed; 2) as of 4:30, less than 15% of the registered voters in my district had voted. The 2 facts may be related.
Elections are about freedom and choice and sometimes I exercise the freedom and the choice NOT to participate in voting. I like local elections where I actually know the issues and how the candidates feel on topics. Sometimes I just feel like my voice isn't heard on the national level and so I don't waste the 10 minutes on it. Most times I'm frustrated that unless you are either red or blue you won't get elected--or the media coverage.
We didn't have elections here this week so I couldn't join you on your walk.
It does matter, and you summed it up beautifully.
I envy you your walk, so I took it with you. Here we don't stroll to the polls anymore; we voted in an all-mail-in-ballot system. I thought I'd hate it, and I voted against it. But now I'm voting even better. You know all those measures and oddities that you seem to have seen for the first time when you pull that curtain? And you're not completely sure how you should vote? Now we have our ballots open on the kitchen counter for weeks before the election. We fill it in as we become informed, and figure out what we need to learn. We can turn them in early and turn OFF the election mail and telephone calls. Maybe I can walk to the old school basement for nostalgia purposes, but I'm a convert.
Election is a freedom to choice , select the best leaders that can lead, guide and bring his people into a better brighter future, not a leader that full in personal selfishness. choice the great,best and honest responsible servant to his people.
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