Today, I voted
Iraq, National Politics, Texas Politics Comments (0)
Today, I made my voice heard.
Today, I made a difference.
Today, I voted.
Voting is one of the most important things we do as Texans or as Americans. It is our chance to raise our voices and declare our intentions as to how the country should be run. If we neglect our vote then we allow someone else to make choices for us.
How sublime! Our forefathers set up a nation of laws that is also dependent upon forcing our leaders to present themselves before the people from time to time in order to secure their blessing for continued governance. This concept is the one behind President Lincoln’s statement in the Gettysberg Address that ours is a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Another phrase of that same speech seems somehow appropriate. President Lincoln said just before that “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.” In essence, this is what happens every four years, no matter who is (re-)elected: our nation has, indeed, celebrated a “new birth of freedom” because only a free people can dictate that their leaders follow their wishes and only in a free nation does a leader find himself in the unique position of going to the governed for permission to govern.
The peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan are only just now beginning to taste of these freedoms. It is significant that the first ballot cast in the Afghan elections was cast by a 19 year old girl. Not merely because she is female, but because of the unique quality presented by having someone who was unable to make her voice heard because she was not allowed to make her voice heard being the first person to do so under their new form of government. There is something symbolic and important there. I trust that the Afghan and Iraqi peoples will find these things called “freedom” and “liberty” to be as intoxicating as I do.
It is easy for a free people to take their leave of liberty. We constantly see low turnouts at our voting booths. Apathy is widespread. That is sad. It is sad that something which reduces grown men to tears in other, less fortunate nations is so taken for granted here in this nation. But it becomes less easy to take it for granted when you think of the simple things. Things like that 19 year old woman who cast the very first ballot in the elections of a free Afghanistan. That 19 year old woman who was prohibited from speaking to a man without permission when the men and women in our nation last stood to make their voices heard. When you think of what “freedom” and “liberty” mean to her it becomes all the more difficult to take those things for granted.
Today, I made my voice heard.
Today, I made a difference.
Today, I voted.
Won’t you do the same?
MickC @ October 19, 2004