I vote because I can, while millions of people around the world cannot.
- I vote to honor the memory of my father, who came of age during the occupation of his country by Nazi Germany in WWII, and saw firsthand the destructive force of authoritarian regimes.
- I vote for the kind of future I hope my children will enjoy.
- And I vote to make up for lost time because for many years I was not eligible to vote due to my citizenship.
But I must confess feeling guilty for all the years I did not think much about it. I was in the midst of raising a family and felt that politics was something “out there” beyond everyday life. How very false that idea now seems to me. The policies that are implemented at every level of government profoundly affect our lives. You might think to yourself that you fail to notice much of a difference from one administration to the next, but there are many people more vulnerable than you who will feel the effects of those same policies that you have the privilege to ignore.
The very first time I voted I was terrified and filled with emotion. Would they look askance at the middle-aged lady who didn’t know what she was doing? How the heck do all these light up buttons work? But I took my time and made sure I did not exit the curtained booth until I was ready. And since then I have also thought about excuses I have overheard as a justification for not voting. “I don’t like any of the candidates” or “I am making a statement by not voting.” You might not like any of the candidates, but you are still making a choice if you choose not to vote. You are choosing to let someone else make the choice for you. And if you dig a little harder, you are sure to find one candidate who is more acceptable to you than another.
So, when election day comes, please go to the polls and cast your vote.
Kirsten H. Gyllenhaal
