Not an obligation where you have to do it, but one in which you ought to do it.
Do what? On election day the only proper answer is, "VOTE".
Angie and I just returned from dropping the kids off at school where we made a detour and stopped at our local polling location. Together, we've been exercising our obligation to participate in our Democracy for the past several elections. We've come to believe that this awesome right transcends it's "rightness" to actually be an "obligation" to participate in the election process.
When we vote, we honor the men and women throughout the world that are defending this nation, the idea of liberty, and the process of participating in electing government officials. I believe that it is an obligation to do so as much as it is an obligation for me to defend the rights of some yahoo whom is communicating something in which I don't agree. I have this argument with my nephew all the time. He criticises incessantly our government and the people within it. I don't agree with what he says, but I agree that our government gives him the right to say it. If he really understood the implications of this, I think his criticism would be lessened. I told him to go to another, less open, country and see if he likes the government better.
Jeane Kirkpatrick, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, defined Democratic elections as such: "Democratic elections are not merely symbolic....They are competitive, periodic, inclusive, definitive elections in which the chief decision-makers in a government are selected by citizens who enjoy broad freedom to criticize government, to publish their criticism and to present alternatives."
In line with honoring those serving our country, Angie had a great idea to have our Girl Scout troop donate a portion of their candy and to send it oversees to soldiers in the Middle East. She found an organization that helps hook you up with soldiers, and we were connected with Jeffrey in Afghanistan. I don't have too many of the details yet, but when I do, I will post about it.
Here is the picture we are sending alone with the candy - thanking Jeffrey and Stephen and the entire 715th MP Company for their service. Apparently, not only do the soldiers love the candy themselves, but they use it to spread goodwill and to reduce the fear of the children that with which they come into contact.
So do your part...go vote and visit Aunt Nancy's blog for more information on supporting our troops.
SL
Posts
1 comment:
Well said bro....I was up at the crack of dawn and at Hauppauge Middle School placing my vote at 7am this morning. I too believe it is not only our right to vote but also an obligation to exercise that right. I think having the Daisy girls send part of their candy oversees to our troops is a great idea. When I am finished commenting on your blog, I will check out Aunt Nancys blog and see if there is something I can do. Not only today being Election Day, and Veterans Day next week, but our Holidays are a time I try to do something every year for the men and women fighting for our country. Thanks for the nudge...if we all do a little something, it sure does make the world a little nicer.
Post a Comment