"I'm not voting", "My vote doesnt count anyway" and so on and so forth. These are the type of statements that I am hearing from some of my super conscious brothers and sisters in the "community". Many of us have taken the stance that voting doesnt count. I've raised many an objection to this baseless and emotional position based on the history of our people... Based on the hell that our brothers and sisters had to go through for there to be a voting rights act...Based on the works of so many from the civil rights era and even based on one, Fannie Lou Hammer. You've heard all of that before...So let me raise another objection based on shere common sense.
We all know that tomorrow is an exercise in the popular vote where the Presidential Election is concerned. The Electoral College, which meets in December actually DECIDES who the next President is. Hell we may never interact with the President. So why stop and dwell on this. MOVE ON.
There are, however, people on the ballot that we WILL interact with. There are state senators who create laws, the state representatives, The Sheriff, The Clerk Of Superior Court, the Supreme Court Justice (who recently decided the fate of Troy Anthony Davis) and over 22 judgeshipsthat are up for grabs in this election. As sure as my name is Karen....we KNOW that we or many we know will come face to face with these judges. Some of us already have.
Don't get caught in the hype over presidential politics. All politics is local ANYWAY. If you feel strongly about not voting then skip the presidential ballot. You are not obligated. Move down lower in the ballot where the people that will have a hand in deciding the fate of our brothers and sisters (and US) are listed. Look beyond where we are. Exercise your natural vision and see what is surely ahead. Take the time to find out who they are and consider making a difference where it counts.
Karen Marie Mason
