Civic Duty

Two of my classmates hosted an election party Tuesday night.

There was curry, pasta, two kinds of chili, chips and salsa, and a plethora of the usual sweets. There was a hand drawn map of the United States on one wall, red and blue markers waiting on a nearby table for us to color in each state as it was called. There was a chart on the opposite wall where people could keep track of their predictions of results for the whole country as well as select "swing" states. There were at least a couple of dozen people in attendance, representing--quite vocally--both sides of the political aisle. And there was a good time had by all.

When my area studies instructor turned out to vote in 2004, he waited in line for an hour and a half to use the single voting machine at his polling place. This year, he waited for more than two hours for his turn at one of eight voting machines, and he had never seen nearly so many young people at a polling place in his life.

Regardless of anyone's political affiliation, it's heartening to see young people turn out to vote, actively taking a stake in the future of our country. It's such a small thing to do, and yet it has such far and long reaching consequences.

I am firmly of the belief that if you are eligible to vote and don't, that you cannot complain about the outcome. I don't care who you decide to vote for. I just ask that you take your civic duty seriously and make an informed decision when choosing a candidate. If you don't vote, you effectively forfeit you right to disparage the result. You have given up your voice. And in a nation where free speech is so highly prized, not having your say in deciding the outcome of an election is nothing short of tragic.

Perhaps one vote won't change things, but just imagine the result if each person raised their little voice, if they each voted.

So. Thank you for voting.