To vote or not to vote: what a stupid question

If you didn't know that today's election day, you must have been living under a rock for the last year and a half. You must not have watched TV, or listened to the radio, or socialized in any way with anyone from the United States. If that's the case, congratulations on becoming such an effective hermit. The rest of you, listen up. Go vote!

I'm concerned with the attitude about voting, especially at school. So many people I've spoken to say they aren't voting. Their excuse? They don't "do" politics.

I'm not quite sure they get the picture. See, the man they vote for has the power to CHANGE THE WORLD. No exaggeration needed.

But hey, maybe the responsibility speech doesn't work on them. I could do the "you owe it to your country to vote" speech. You know, the one that talks about how hard it was for our forefathers to gain independence. How later women, other races, and eventually young adults fought for this privilege.

 

Or I could talk to them about how their ancestors left everything they knew in their respective countries and came to America hoping for a better life. In this great land, they had the right to vote. Here, we vote for national, state, and local government. WE have a say in that. Do they have any right to scoff at what our predecessors changed their entire lives to obtain?

Chances are, you've heard those speeches before. And if you don't want to vote, I certainly can't change your mind. So, I'll merely tell you what it means to me. I think voting is important! As insignificant as I am, I get to give my opinion and be heard. I get to tell my country what I think.

I'm sure many people believe it doesn't matter if they vote because one person's vote won't change anything. Being from a small-town city in Utah, I know exactly how they feel. Utah will always vote Republican. Surprise! Not. But really, so what? Who cares if your vote doesn't change the world? There are more important reasons to do it. I show myself that I care. I show my community that I care. And I become part of something much bigger than myself. I change from a citizen of the United States of America in name only to an active, participating member. You got that? I am important. Even if I'm the only one who thinks so, I value my vote.

So today, go vote. Please. It doesn't matter if you don't know all the people who are running for every office. If you really care, a quick Google search will help you. If you don't, you're always free to leave that part of the ballot blank. Or choose the name that sounds the most interesting or down-to-earth (guilty).

Go. Vote. Get a cool sticker. Support your country. And be proud of the heritage you get to uphold.