Midyear elections are tomorrow...and you know what that means: not that many people will be out at the polls. Sorry to bust your democracy bubble, but people don't turn out for these elections like they should. These elections are probably more important than the Presidential Elections. Some will argue against that, but this is going to determine who is in charge of the House!!! I know this may not seem like anything, but this is big. I have my voter registration card ready to go and I will be in my PJs at 6am at my polling place to cast my vote. It is times like this that I am proud to be an American. This is one thing that we have control over, you can have your voice be heard if you just vote. I taught high school government and it was so sad to me that many of my students did not see the significance in being able to vote when they turned 18. I tried to explain that it is something they have always known they will be able to do, because so many people before them died for this basic right. So many countries intimidate voters and prevent democracy from happening, and they just take this right for granted. Maybe, just maybe, if they lived in a world where this wasn't a basic right they wouldn't take it for granted. I have a former student who lives in Egypt and she gets to see first hand what voting can do and how powerful the vote can be.
When my mother was growing up the right to vote was not for everyone...she went to a segregated school as my father did, even though they grew up practically in the next town. Their worlds were completely different living in the South. In my family, only half of my ancestors had the right to vote from the moment they were born. (my father's side.) My mother's side of the family had to fight along side countless people that felt voting was a basic right and not matter who you are you should have that right. I have never asked my parents what it was like during the 60 and 70s...they were young and the world was their oyster. I called to talk to my mother today about what it was like, but of course she won't answer any of her phones...but I am getting off the point. I remember back when Obama first ran, my mother and I decided we were going to cast our vote early that year. We stood in the cold for about 40 minutes at the polling station. An older black man was standing behind us and he was sooooooooooo excited to vote. He had his young grandson with him, and he was explaining that this was an election that he never thought he would see in his lifetime. That is what I am talking about...this man's grandchild will not have to ever think that a black man running for office is impossible, he will not have to every doubt if it is safe for him to go to a polling station. Why? Because people came before him and paved the way.
So at 6am Tuesday I will be standing at the door of the church down the street, not only casting my vote for people I believe will make a difference, but I am casting my vote for my great grandmother Mamie Davis and my great great grandmother, and all the other ancestors that never got the chance to vote and know that they are making a difference.
VOTE on Tuesday!!! and be kind.
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