Use YOUR voice!

Gianna Ortolani

It may be too late now but this message is an important call to do your civic duty!

There is so much going on in this country, yet there are so many people that aren’t using their voice in the most effective way possible….voting! Our ancestors died and fought for us to have our own voice within our government, a government by and for the people. If we want real change we can’t just talk, we need to take action. We NEED to vote!

On July 4th, 1776 we became an independent nation, separate from the British. It was our first chance to start over, to create our own identity as the United States. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to overcome the Jim Crow Laws that prevented African American Voting Rights established in the 15th amendment. Women fought day in and day out for years promoting women's suffrage, until finally we gained the right through the ratification of the 19th amendment in 1920.

All of this was achieved because people believed that voting was a right and not a privilege. At the same time, we have to broaden our scope to other nations who have never even fathom the opportunity to participate in their government. We must realize that because of this, we ARE incredibly privileged to live in a free and democratic nation where citizens have the opportunity to make an impact on the government and the choices being made in society.

Yet, here we are, often standing back and simply watching! We cannot and will not take for granted our obligation and civic duty to vote! We DO have the right! We DO have the power to make a change thanks to our ancestors. Whether you are out of state, an Independent, Democrat, Republican, man, women, black, white, hispanic, it is time to stand up and act! Use your voice effectively! We are the people! We make up these United States!