By Mildred Robertson
We have seen
a resurgence of protests and other political action across the United States as
we face perhaps the most challenging attack on civil liberties since the 1960’s.
Many are alarmed at the attacks on our fundamental constitutional rights,
explicit displays of racial hatred and the misogynistic treatment of women and
minorities.
As many
Americans look back with nostalgia on the “good old days” when they say America
was great, many of us see a return to rampant racism and social and political
exclusion. Their nostalgia harkens back to a time when women were consider of
lesser value than men, and blacks and other people of color were considered
less than human. The backlash occurring due to social and political gains by
blacks and women has resulted in the emergence of a far right wing conservatism
that threatens to destroy the foundational concepts that undergird our
constitution. This right wing movement wrested control of the wheel of power in
Washington D.C. while the majority of Americans were engaged in inter-party
politics, or were not engaged at all.
The result
has been a resurgence of political practices that include street marches,
sit-ins, and other tactics to bring attention to a swing away from commonly
held American political principles and practices. While all these are positive tactics,
the most meaningful action a citizen can take is to vote his or her
convictions.
This
right-wing takeover did not occur because there were not motivated patriots
knocking on doors, raising funds, supporting positive candidates or pushing progressive
initiatives. It happened because of the people who did nothing. It happened
because some people decided to opt out of the political process and not vote; a
decision that affected us all. I say this not to blame anyone, but to
educate. Many of us embrace the fact
that we have a right to vote, but do not hold that same passion for our
obligation to do so.
Much of what
is our civic duty is mundane and boring. Mid-term elections are not sexy like
presidential elections. In presidential elections we tend to get caught up in
the horse-race…the personality of the front runners…the polls...the party
intrigue. We choose who we hate and who we love. And then, many of us vote. But
far too many do not. And when we move to mid-term elections, only a handful of
eligible citizens show up at the polls.
It is clear
that elections have consequences. We are living the result right now. And that
result has caused a swell of protests and political activism.
While it is
good to march and protest leadership that has gone astray, it is equally
important to let elected officials know that their failure to represent us
effectively has consequences. We must let them know that we will not only scold
them, but we will hold them responsible at the ballot box.
Our
collective outrage at the poor representation of our current leadership is
palpable. However, the solution will not be the result of a collective
decision. It is an individual one. Each of us must commit to remain politically
engaged. We must pledge to understand the social and political issues that
affect our lives; and then we must each exercise our right to vote.
There is power in the ballot box. Become
informed. Become motivated. Exercise your power. Vote!
