Dear Reader,
Well, we are here! The day when the people of our country elect our national, state and local leaders. This seems to have been the most divisive campaign season I can remember since I was old enough to participate in our democratic process. At times it’s been downright painful to watch. But like it or leave it, this is our system of democracy and you must take part in it. Today, you must vote.
I developed an acronym to remind you of the importance of voting. I define VOTE as the Voice Of The Electorate.
[tweetthis]VOTE — Voice Of The Electorate. [/tweetthis]
The electorate is you…and me…each of us eligible to vote. Regardless of the special interests, the big donor dollars that get poured into our elections, or the skewed media coverage, our system is based on the principle that you have a voice in who represents you in our government. You have an obligation to use that voice. It is your power. That power still belongs to the people of this country.
The 15th Amendment to our constitution guaranteed the right to vote for citizens regardless of that citizen’s “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” The 19th Amendment guaranteed women the right to vote. And if you didn’t know, Jim and Jane Crow segregation restricted the enforcement of these amendments and African American women and men were denied the privilege of voting until passage of the Voting Rights Acts of 1965. That Act made the federal and state barriers to voting illegal. Unfortunately, the Voting Rights Act was not renewed and many states have again put voting restrictions in place. That, unfortunately, has to be the conversation for another day.
Because of the history of struggle of the generations of women and men of every race and creed who came before me to get the vote, I wouldn’t dare not vote. And neither should you.
I know some of you have cast your ballot early, but if you have not yet voted, make plans to get out to vote today, Tuesday, November 8. If you know of family members or neighbors who need transportation to their polling places, help them out.
Vote. Make your voice heard.
[tweetthis]Raise Your Voice by Casting Your Vote![/tweetthis]
That is all…for now.
Dr. Jeanne
Well done! I struggled also with the results. I also didn’t get how Christian leaders voice pro-life, but didn’t voice against an unarmed black man being gunned down by the police. I realized that it was more about the majority now being a minority. The tactics of fear was implied to gain control. When God did not give us a spirit of fear. We have love, power and a sound mind. It’s now time for us to stir up the gifts!