I am 42 years old and have never been in a voting booth. Before you say "ABM, you've never voted?!", let me explain. I am in the military and am a resident of Florida but am never there at voting time so I have always voted absentee (and for the record, since I turned 18 I have never missed a presidential or congressional election). Today I filled out my abseentee ballot and sent it off. Since it is such a historic time for America, I wanted to capture my vote in a photo. Now that I've done my duty I will continue to spur others on to do so, because if you don't vote...you get no love from the ABM.
Voting today made me very reflective. As I have shared before, I am very fearful about our country's future. Maybe I've been spoiled, never having to worry if the sun will come up for America tomorrow, but I worry more than ever what kind of America my kids will inherit from my generation.
So today...I voted for them. I voted my interests and I voted theirs. I cast a ballot to protest the sad state of affairs that the Repugnicans have created in the country I call home. I voted to say, "No more". No more of the insanity we call the US government. No more to a myopic, disasterous foreign policy. I voted for democracy...not that sham of a system we have lived under for 8 years and try to force on others.
While I was at it, I voted for justice. No more to the erosion of our civil rights, to election manipulation, to bold faced lies and outright theft. Yes, today I voted for truth, saying no to a government that would not know the truth if it hit it square in the face.
Today I didn't vote for a candidate...I voted for a philosophy. I would never vote for a candidate just because of the color of his skin....Dr. King wouldn't be proud of me for doing that. Rather I voted for the philosophy that government is supposed to protect us...rather than hold us down while rich thieves steal from us. And I voted for the belief that torture is wrong even if the torturer speaks English as a native language.
Finally, I voted for hope. I didn't even read Obama's book about hope...didn't need to. All I needed to do was look around me and see the devastation wrought by the party that promised everything and delivered less than nothing. The Repugnicans have destroyed hope and I want a President who will bring it back.
We as a nation have been sleep at the wheel. Meanwhile we've been raped, pillaged and plundered. Something has to change...and today I did my part in making that change a reality.
I won't even think about telling you who to vote for, ABM would never be so presumptuous, but here in ABM's house if you don't vote you get no love. In fact nothing makes ABM angrier. If you are happy with your present and optimistic about your future then stay home, don't even waste the gas to get to the polls. Sleep in late that day and have a two hour lunch. Make sure you hit a happy hour before going home...while you still have one. If you wake up one morning and no longer recognize the country you live in, suck it up, deal with it, apply for your unemployment and food stamps, find a good homeless shelter and a nice soup kitchen. Do what ever you have to do to survive, but, whatever you do, don't blame me...because I voted today.
2 comments:
It's wonderful you've made your voice heard. I truly agree that 8 years is definitely enough. I feel like the nation has been living a lie during those years.
With the bailout to consider, I have yet to hear about what contributions the CEOs of these failing companies will make. This has added to my disgust as well as to a good part of America. I look forward to election day. I had thought about doing an absentee ballot, but I want to be seen when I make my voice heard.
Wow. Easy on the eyes AND powerfully eloquent. No WONDER we are such perfectly-matched friends!! LOL Love this post!!
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