Giving Thanks Day 6 ~ The Right to Vote

 "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin ♥ Today I am thankful, and truly grateful for the right and the honor, to vote in the USA. Growing up, my parents were hush, hush about who they voted for (and sometimes even to this day still are). They kept their vote "private" and they kept that to themselves even after the election was over. Now, the media, the ads, the debates are exuberant with spending and words bashing one another....friends and family becoming bitter enemies because they do not share the same views, it is clear that the verbal assaults were not limited to just the candidates. Not to mention the amount of money that is spent campaigning could be better spent reducing our debt, helping charities, etc. For this, I am thankful this election will be over, but I feel that the division runs deep and I still predict that one will win the Electoral Vote and the other will win the Popular Vote. This will be a close election which means the division will be there after the polls close and the winner is announced. It is sad to see this great country so filled with bitterness and hate towards their fellow man all because they do not share the same point of view....it's shameful. I respect the right for individuals to exercise their rights to free speech, and everyone is entitled to their opinion, and who they view things presented...I dislike the mean spirited, name calling, the lies, the character assassinations that have seen from both sides, their parties, and their supporters.  "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" ♥ Today is the election at the boys school and Cooper is running for Secretary along with 6 other candidates. They present their campaign speeches this morning and the 3-5 graders will get to view them and then cast their votes. Their speeches were only about who they were and could not be filled with promises like "no homework" or bashing the other candidates. They were allowed to make 2 posters, one speech, and could pass out stickers/candy (only to kids in their class). Our state and national politicians and their campaigns could stand to learn a lot from a simple school wide election and the kids who are running for "office". That is the kind of election I could wholeheartedly stand beside and support. I can honestly say that I would have no problem casting my votes at their Elementary school Election as I do today casting my vote ♥ Maybe they should have elections with a "none of the above" so we can opt not to choose any of the individuals running until someone steps up that can unite ALL Americans in a way that has not been done before. It is our right, and civic duty, to vote....for me, it will be based upon the content of one's character, both mine and the person I am voting for. Henry David Thoreau sums it up best “All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and wrong, with moral questions; and betting naturally accompanies it. The character of the voters is not staked. I cast my vote, perchance, as I think right; but I am not vitally concerned that that right should prevail. I am willing to leave it to the majority. Its obli­gation, therefore, never exceeds that of expediency. Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it. It is only expressing to men feebly your desire that it should prevail. A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority.” ♥ Vote for Obama, or Vote for Romney, it's your Civic Duty...Vote for SOMEBODY!!