Election Day

If ever a secular day deserved sacred status, it would be Election Day. The right to vote, to make our voices heard, to weigh in on the issues that affect our lives, is a precious gift that is perhaps only fully appreciated by those who have had to struggle to gain that right.

Whose struggle for full enfranchisement will you honor as you cast your vote?

4 thoughts on “Election Day”

  1. As a Liberal, I see our experiment with Democracy as an institution that thrives best through inclusion, equality and ever expanding freedoms for all of its citizens. In my lifetime we have made great strides in extending those rights and opportunities to others in terms of race, gender, disability, and sexual orientation. Today I will cast my ballot for candidates who support my values and have promised to further this cause.

  2. Whose struggle for full enfranchisement will you honor as you cast your vote?…
    Being Canadian, I hope nobody will be offended by an opinion from North of the “Border” … Politics is much the same here as for my American friends – though, perhaps not as intensely followed. But, I have found that in defining “politicians”… a lot of “good” people (at their core), come forward with a lot of “good” ideas (from their perspective); and they all mean well and are sincere. But whomever gets elected – he/she gets into office and they are all gung-ho and full of good intentions …. but, the first thing they run into is that damnable wall of bureaucracy! Canada/USA – most “democratic” countries, anywhere in the World – are no longer TRUE “democracies”. We have become bogged-down in narrow-minded, partisan-focused, “bureaucracies” ……. So, no matter who “wins”; it becomes impossible for him/her to keep any promises. And that makes me …sad.
    Namaste!
    Dwayne

  3. I have a family member who can not vote because he is a convicted felon who has served his time but continues on probation. I do not understand the intent behind disenfranchising people who have committed a crime – with the possible exception of crimes relating to voting fraud. All being disenfranchised does for my brother in law is give him another reason to be “outside the law”. Felon disenfranchisement is used as an excuse to purge voter roles and challenge voters. It is of course a burden that falls esepcially heavy on African- American and Latino citizens who are statistically more likely than a white citizen to be convicted. Further, my contact with prisoners through CLF has thought me that there are very thoughtful people in prisons who could be engaged proactively as citizens even while serving a sentence.
    I vote today for those who are disenfranchised because of archaic and discriminatory laws.

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