Monday, October 24, 2011

Simple Suggestion #91... Vote

As I write this, I am listening to a radio report about the first free vote in Tunisia in some peoples' lifetimes. The young woman they just interviewed was so excited to be able to vote, she couldn't sleep the night before. With her in spirit, my almost-eighteen-year-old daughter is chomping at the bit to vote. Would that all Canadians were like these two!

What non-voters don't seem to understand is that we have no right to complain about government or civic leaders if we do nothing when it comes to their election. We are blessed to live in a country where we have the right to vote, but if we're too apathetic to engage in the democratic process or talk to our politicians about what's really important, corporate greed may yet win over human need.

At the moment, the jury's still out as to which will come out on top. We can still remind our leaders that we all need clean air, fresh water and good soil to support the web of life on our planet. We can tell them that we ALL deserve a roof over our heads, clothes to keep us warm, food to sustain us, and community to support us. We can let them know that extravagance and greed are non-essentials, and encourage the positive works our politicians undertake. But if we're silent, they can't read our minds.

We ALL need to vote, engage, and join the discussion, for our sake and the sake of future generations. It's that simple.

P.S. Looking for more Simple Suggestions? Try here.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for suggestion 91. I was delighted to read this one. In my country, we are mesmerised by the sight of young people and senior citizens risking life and limb for the opportunity to vote, while more than 50% of our electorate never goes to the polls. Thanks for the reminder. Every voice helps. Would that every young person had your daughter's passion for the democratic process.

Laeli said...

My kiddo is able to vote this year, yay!

Maria K. said...

You're right... we take so many things for granted, and voting shouldn't be one of them.