By Karessa Cunningham
This year’s election has been deemed more important that many of the past. Contrasting the 2004 election, this president will not decide if we should go to war, but whether we should stay in Iraq, enforce stricter immigration laws and homeland issues such as gas prices and the urgency of the economy making it crucial for every registered citizen to vote.
The 2004 election set a record of 64% percent of the voting population turning out to decide the fate of the president between the reigning president George W. Bush and democratic contender John Kerry. Now with our country’s state resting on Republican representative John McCain and Democratic representative Barak Obama we are forced to ask ourselves whether we want a president who is 2 years old and probably 3 days older than dirt or a candidate who had a preacher swearing curses upon our country. Since many find it hard to relate to one candidate because they are extremes and do not represent the “common man,” people have turned to the vice president aspect of the race to help sway their votes. Now citizens are forced to either choose a woman who has been photo shopped onto bikini bodies and can “see Russia from her back yard” or a candidate who, quite frankly, never really makes many public appearance.
Because of the lack of interest in the candidates, many citizens, independent, republic and democrats alike are choosing to “sit this one out” and see what happens. If one does not vote, how can he call himself an American? Using the democracy which thousands have given their life to build and protect only seems right and just because if we do not, these soldiers died in vain.
This also reflects another crucial point. If one does not vote, then he should not complain about the current commander in chief’s policy. To aggravate one’s neighbors over gas prices and George Orwell’s idea of government corruption is like bombing for peace. The next time one does bother us with his snide comments on how Barak Obama is a Muslim who has no loyalty or how McCain is old enough to be every citizens’ grandfather. We, as American citizens, should turn to this antagonist and slap him or her and scream how they should move to “Canada.” Since every man has an opinion and the right to express it, try to express it at the polls if you are going to make any comment on the country’s status.
Although African American and women voting is on the rise, it still is not sufficient. If women are to march to receive the 19th amendment and African American’s were to sing songs of freedom and equality, they should take their constitutional rights and apply them. Even still, these two groups are not representing the country enough. It is time that Hispanics, Asians, Irish, and Russian population to stand up and voice their opinion. Part of the American dream is to come and live a life where one can say and do what he please. This part of the dream is lost to many if they do not vote for the candidate that represents their interests best.
Being faced with candidates who have been war veterans and ambassadors, it is time to take the stand and vote. Picking a party is not important, nor is trying to devise ways to assassinate a potential candidate. All that matters now is that citizens vote in order to determine the direction the country takes. With early voting going on now and the regular voting on November 4, there are plenty of opportunities to vote and get one’s voice out into the public.
