I am writing this letter in response to the ‘Scorpion’s Nest’ article by Marianne Steffey.
In this article, Steffey proclaims that “if you don’t really care, if you haven’t actually asked yourself why you are voting in the first place and have come up with an answer other than it’s my god-given right, or are only voting because MTV has flashed so many subliminal messages about voting your way, then please stay far, far away from the polls in November.”
My question is, “What gives Steffey the right to say who can and cannot vote?”
I feel that if an individual, no matter how young or seemingly apathetic, makes the effort to register and actually goes to the polls, then he or she should have as much right to vote as the most vehement and outspoken politician.
Steffey stated that “since we are a democracy, Diddy was confused by the title Democratic Convention” when referring to celebrity presence at the political conventions this year.
Perhaps she is also confused by the term democracy, which is defined by Webster’s online dictionary as “Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.
It does not state “by the non-apathetic people, by the well-informed people, or by the properly-motivated people.”
“The people” is just that – everyone.
Voting is not a “god given” right, but it is one provided us by our forefathers and fought for by our ancestors.
I, for one, believe that every citizen of age in this country should vote because whatever reason he or she has is as justifiable as anyone else’s.
People vote on principle – for the same party as a father, mother, spouse or co-worker.
People vote based on what was heard in one speech or because of a politician’s stance on one issue. People vote after carefully considering every issue. People vote because everyone else is doing it.
The point is that people vote. Only 51 percent of eligible voters cast their ballot in the 2000 presidential election. Forty-nine percent of the people in this country were too apathetic, felt that voting was not worth it, did not think their reason was good enough or did not have a reason at all.
I say that if seeing a celebrity at a convention, which is not likely to sway someone who wasn’t going to vote before does cause someone to vote, then “hooray” for that person, who made his or her voice heard. “Hooray” for that person who decided that voting was worth his or her effort.
I honestly don’t believe that watching Jon Bon Jovi shake hands with John Kerry will cause anyone to run to the polls, but again, if it does, then congratulations for becoming an active member of a government, which was proclaimed to be “of the people, by the people, for the people” by President Lincoln.
For those who don’t feel as if they should vote, stand and let your voice be heard, or perhaps, at the insistence of those who feel that you don’t have a right to, you may, one day, lose the ability.
Britni Demma

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