“I’m Just Not Going to Vote”
“Who cares? My one vote doesn’t count”
For many years, I taught political science to high school seniors. Seniors: Young adults ready to enter an uncertain and sometimes cruel world. As a teacher, I wanted to give them all the tools in my tool box. Tools I hoped would help them make the right decisions in the future and lead them toward a happy and productive life.
We spent many hours and days talking about responsibility and making informed choices. We attended local debates, political rallies, and listened to countless elected and other influential political speakers. I wanted them to listen objectively, evaluate, and then…make an informed decision. VOTE…their own mind!
With our elections only a few days away, recent posts from former students have motivated me to re-print a story I wrote years ago about the importance of voting. In a couple days, there will be a follow up 'voting' story, and end with a story about immigration. Two of which are found in my books, Life Through These Eyes, Vol I and Vol II.
Today’s story is from Volume I
I hope you enjoy reading this story. But more than that, I hope it makes you THINK!
It is titled:
I’m Just Not Going to Vote!
“Things don’t turn up in this world until somebody turns them up.”—James A. Garfield
“Mike, I’m not voting this year.”
“Why! Before you answer, consider who you’re talking with. Remember, I taught political science for eighteen years.” “Oh, don’t wave your credentials at me. We’ve been friends too many years. Mike, there’s just too much negative campaigning and name-calling. Besides, I don’t have time to vote. Last election, my car broke down, and it was raining. Before that, it was too cold. Also, I’ll be out of town on election day. And I hate those newfangled voting machines.”
“Jim. you haven’t used one!” “I know, but I hate them anyway. I don’t want to be like Florida and have some of those hanging chads or whatever. Mike, quit rolling your eyes. My one vote doesn’t count anyway.”
“Okay, Jim, that did it! It’s lecture time. Your reasons for not voting are...! Listen up. The poles open at 6:30 a.m. and don’t close until 7:30 p.m. About your car, call a friend (me) or call your party headquarters. Weather? Lame excuse. Lost your coat and umbrella? No. Out of town? Forget it. You can cast an absentee ballot, or you can vote as early as two and a half weeks before the election. So there!"
“Being informed about the issues takes a little effort. Watch the news or read the newspaper. Try attending one of the meet-your-candidate forums around the city. You may dislike all the candidates, but remember, one of them is going to be elected!"
“Don’t get me started on the one-vote thing. When you get home, go on the Internet and type in “The importance of one vote.” Remember 1960. John Kennedy won the presidency by one vote per precinct in Illinois. Even in Clarksburg, one magistrate won her position by two votes. Jim, much of the world can’t choose their leaders because the people can’t vote.”
“Mike, please, not the dictator speech again!”
“Oh yea. here it comes! Pick one: Cuba, Syria, China, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, or Iran. When you visit Arlington National Cemetery, look around. Look around at the thousands who gave their lives in the name of freedom and democracy. Remember when we marched in 1971 to lower the voting age from twenty-one to eighteen. You had passion…then. What happened to THAT Jim?
“Just the other day, I found out Clarksburg has 10,578 registered voters, and only 4,576 voted in the last general election. Only 2,567 voted in the city-council election, and 1,745 for the school board. Bridgeport has 6,302 registered voters, and only 3,246; 1,224; and 1,138 in the same elections. Democracy at its worst and apathy at its best.”
“What would happen if we had an election, and no one voted?”
“When I taught government, I did everything I could to encourage my students to register and vote. We went to political rallies, candidate debates, and even had politicians come in as guest speakers. Let me tell you about Maria Gonzalez. Her story was one my students needed to hear.
“When she first started to speak to my class, you could tell she was very nervous. She apologized for her heavily accented, broken English. She talked about living in Cuba under the dictatorship of Batista. When Castro took over in 1959, she hoped for a better life.
“Instead of better, it got worse. Her parents were killed because they supported Batista, and her brother and husband were imprisoned. Her brother was tortured and died in prison. Because of a bribe, her husband was released. By small boat, the whole family escaped to the United States.
“Fearing their oldest son (age twelve) might turn them in, they left with only the clothes they wore. One of my students asked Mrs Gonzalez,"What do you like most about being an American citizen?” Standing very proud and straight, Maria Gonzales said, ‘Being free and voting—for the first time. You see, child, I was fifty-eight and could never vote, until now.’ As she left the classroom, Maria stopped and took a small American flag from her purse. Waving it for the students, she said,
‘God bless America.”
“Mike, June 5 is election day, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, Jim.”
“Thanks.”
Every character in this story is true.
I knew them well, and I grew to respect them.
The only incentive they needed to vote was having the right to vote!