Some things never change…not the promises, not the disgruntlement of so many voters or the old ’saws’ dragged out every election, be it a general election or local. Seems like more and more people, this time around, are determined not to vote at all and I would be one of them. Of course, no…not my first time taking this stance since I’ve done this the last eight years. Why? Because there isn’t a one of them I can, in all conscience, vote for. From a young age I was taught to vote one’s conscience and that is what I did until recent years. Can’t think of a better reason or way to do so. I’ve said before that if there was a box on the ballot which read “Abstain” I would certainly exercise my right to do so but there isn’t. But that is what I choose to do…abstain.
And then comes the critics: “Vote the lesser of the two evils, then”. NO. “Look for something, any one little thing even, that you can agree with and vote that candidate in..” NO. Throw in with that, “lack of love of country, lack of respect for our military men and women who have died and are dying so we have the freedom to vote”…bollocks. Unpatriotic? Oh, I hardly think that’s so.
Let me explain to those who at least care to try and understand. I’ve been a parent, raised a daughter. I loved her like nothing else on God’s green earth and, in loving her, there were certain things I was obligated to do…feed, clothe and house her, for three. More than those love her, keep her safe, raise and teach her to behave responsibly, understand integrity, ethics, values and principles. Loving her ‘to the moon and back’ did not mean I would or should approve of everything she did, right wrong or indifferent. It did not mean believing when she did wrong that she was still right and everything and everyone else was wrong, and it didn’t mean that just because she did it and I loved her she got a pass if she continued to make mistakes, behave in an ugly manner. I knew she knew, and was capable of, better; I expected more and better from her and as proud as I could be of her I wanted her to be even more so of herself. Kids will be kids, they are no more perfect than adults; they make mistakes, poor judgements…and when they do we recognise and acknowledge the flaws, love them more and try harder to make them see a better way. So it is with patriotism. Loving one’s country is no different than loving one’s child, being blind to or ignoring it’s flaws, it’s behaviour…it’s seeing and knowing those things, working to make it better and loving it in spite of them but never being afraid to say “This is wrong and I’m ashamed”, “we are better than this”. Even “what is my responsibility in this…” We have two candidates running for the office of President, neither one of whom (to my mind) is capable of making the changes we need or that they have promised. A year from now can we go back and say “You lied…get out!” No…and even at the end of four years the same people who put whomever in the driver’s seat will be back voting for the same thing, same rhetoric, just a new name, different face.
Change IS needed…much change. I have to say that there a few of Obama’s philosphies and policies for change I more than agree with and have thought similarly for a very long time but maybe change needs to begin with those who will be presented with those policies, bills, changes for a vote. You think it will happen? I doubt it…and if it doesn’t, what then? Start with term limits…almost everyone, regardless of party affiliation, cries out for term limits and they’ve done so for decades but who is going to change that? Those who have already been in a seat far longer than a term limit would allow? Sure! I’m assured “Your vote counts’! How? We have an Electoral College instead of a popular vote…and I’m told “Your vote counts”! How when what we don’t have is a simple popular vote? We scream, advocate and are promised “change” and nothing happens. We keep sending the same people back (under different guises) to do/not do the same ol’, same ol’.
Nah….I’ll certainly show my patriotism, my heartfelt patriotism come November by maintaining my principles, my intergity by NOT voting and not being ashamed to admit it.
