I Don't Care How You Vote, Just Do It!

This Wednesday, I did the Scout the Vote badge with my Brownie Scouts.  These girls are 7, 8, and 9 years old.  Everything was age appropriate and we didn’t go back and forth on who was the better candidate, etc.  I leave that to their parents.  As I was going over this badge with them, I learned a few things myself.  You see, I am not a very political person, and I remember some things from school, but overall, I know who I am voting for, and I’m not debating it with anyone.  The only thing that does is cause an argument.  Anyway, onto business.

As I was going over the History of Women’s Rights, given to me in the Scout the Vote program, I was reminded of how bad women had it back then.  They were property.  Plain and simple.  Property.  Let’s start with the Constitution.  In 1787, when it was drafted in my hometown, women weren’t included in any kind of discussions on how the country should be run.  When the Constitution was passed, white men had the right to vote.  White.  Men.  That was it.  I looked around at these amazing, intelligent girls and realized that not one person in that room would have been able to vote back in those days.  Not. One.  In 1870, the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment granted the right to vote to black men.  Again, Men.  Not women.  Not one of us would have been able to vote even then.

It wasn’t until 1920 that women were granted the right to vote.  That number jumped out at me.  Ladies, that is LESS THAN 100 years!  It’s only been 96 years since we were able to walk into that booth and press those buttons.  LESS THAN A CENTURY!  We were awarded this right because of women like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucy Stone, among many, many other women (and men too.)  It blows my mind.  It hasn’t even been a century!  These people fought for our right to vote, starting in 1848.  Most didn’t live to see that right granted.  It took 72 years after their fighting for our voices to be heard.

So, here’s my plea.  I don’t care if you’re a Democrat.  I don’t care if you’re a Republican.  I don’t care if you’re Libertarian.  I don’t care if you’re Green Party.  Whatever party you are, I DON’T CARE.  Please, go out and vote.  Ladies, you especially.  We all say that we want to be treated equally yet, we squander this right every year.  I have been guilty on occasion too.  Go out, push those buttons.  It only takes a minute.  Get your voice heard, if not for you, or your kids, for the men and women who, literally, died for that right.  If you don’t vote, I won’t judge you.  I don’t judge.  But, know that you have that right and know what cost was paid to gain that right.  Vote for who you think will do the best job.  Let your voice be heard.

Remember, no vote is a wasted vote, except for the one not cast at all.