Don’t get your dander up. Although this is a post about the upcoming election, it’s not one that bashes either candidate. In fact, while eating lunch with a friend yesterday, we concurred that while our presidential choice differs, we still feel that both candidates are men of integrity. That said, I’m tiptoeing away from further discussion and want to write just a little about the importance of voting.
We live, hands down, in the best country on the face of the earth. Naturally, I haven’t visited them all, except in books and other written material, but I feel fervently that this is a land choice above all other lands. I just finished reading The Lizard Cage by Karen Connelly, and in it she describes the solitary confinement and brutal treatment of Teza who is serving a 20-year prison term for singing about politics and power in a country (Myanmar) where political dissent was (is?) forbidden.
Here in America, people sing against, laugh at, and show disrespect for leaders and candidates, and nothing happens. I’m not saying that something should. I’m just saying that we take our freedom to speak and voice our opinion for granted. Last night I watched a SNL video of the debate between vice presidential candidates, and while I thought it was amusing, I was again struck by the incredible freedoms we have. In many countries, the actors would probably be dead by now. Or no, I doubt that some spoof like the one I saw would have even gotten off the ground.
Back to The Lizard Cage. I might never have known about this book had I not been introduced to it in The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe. In this book, the author also relates three of “The Ten Commandments of Voting,” a pamphlet that his mother had been given while visiting an African country in which people were allowed to vote freely for the first time. I’m listing these three commandments right from Schwalbe’s books in the hope that they’ll move you as much as they did me.
- You have nothing to fear. Remember that your vote is secret. Only you and your God know how you vote.
- People who promise things that they never give are like clouds and wind that bring no rain: do not be misled by promises.
- Your vote is your power: use it to make a difference to your life and your country.
What can I add to these statements written in a pamphlet encouraging people who were able to vote freely for the first time, people who were well aware of the privilege and power of casting their vote? Nothing, unless it’s to remind everyone of our insanely wonderful (and sometimes wacky) American culture and all of the freedoms we have.
mom's musings 
The one thing I always try to remember is that your vote is NOT about winning or being right. It’s about expressing your opinion. I hear a lot of people claim that their vote doesn’t matter because they are in the minority party within the state, but winning the election isn’t the point of voting. At least it isn’t for me.
It’s a remarkable right and privilege to vote. I would hope we would all recognize that and not allow “winning/losing” to clutter this wonderful opportunity.
Nice to hear from you again, Dave. Lately, I’ve been reading books that have reminded me of the privilege, responsibility, freedom, and downright awesomeness of voting.