A Memorial Day Dedication

Short essay on voting rights

Every year we dedicate a day to honor the memories of those men and women who had served our country by giving the ultimate sacrifice, their lives. At no time in recent history has this day taken on a more significant purpose. We, as the citizens of this nation, face as voters the challenge of having to decide the course that will influence where this war may take us. By exercising the right so hard fought by our troops in the past we truly honor them by practicing our civic duty and vote.

 

 

There are many who scorn and complain about the electoral process claiming that it is broken and no longer represent the common citizen. That special interest and lobbyists have taken over and robbed us all of our rights for fair representation. That those who we elect to represent us no longer hear what we, the majority say, and instead listen to that of the minority. Although it is the purpose of a just society to protect the freedoms of all its citizenry, it must never ignore the purpose of a true democracy- one person, one vote. If the system is truly broken, who are we to blame if not ourselves. Who truly has the power to make the changes necessary to fix that which does not work.

 

 

Through apathy we have given away that which others have died for. Can we not give back to them in a more meaningful way by choosing to take back that which was given to us. The political process is long and the issues- particularly in this time in our history, are confusing but if we take a moment to care, to listen, to take action gives more significance to their sacrifices then any speech or parade could ever do. In this thought, maybe November 2nd would serve a better Memorial Day then the last Monday in May.