By Jueseppi B.
I am not writing to you as a black voter, or a woman voter, or as a voter who is over 70 years old and six feet tall. I am writing to you as a representative of this great country — as an American.
It is your job to vote. It is your responsibility, your right, and your privilege. You may be pretty or plain, heavy or thin, gay or straight, poor or rich.
But remember this: In an election, every voice is equally powerful — don’t underestimate your vote. Voting is the great equalizer.
Your vote might make the difference. Don’t fool around with this: You can vote early in Iowa, so find your early vote polling location and do it now.
Once you’ve done that, make sure your friends know exactly where they can vote early, too.
As a country, we can scarcely perceive the magnitude of our progress.
My grandmother and my uncle experienced circumstances that would break your heart. When they went to vote, they were asked impossible questions like, “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” When they couldn’t answer, they couldn’t vote.
I once debated with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. about whether an African American would ever be elected president. He believed it would happen within the next 40 years at the time — I believed it would never happen within my lifetime.
I have never been happier to have been proven wrong.
And since President Barack Obama’s historic election, we’ve moved forward in courageous and beautiful ways. More students can afford college, and more families have access to affordable health insurance. Women have greater opportunities to get equal pay for equal work.
Yet as Rev. King wrote, “All progress is precarious.”
So don’t sit on the sidelines. Don’t hesitate. Don’t have any regrets. Vote.
You don’t have to wait until Election Day. Voting has already begun in Iowa — so go, rise up, and cast your ballot early:
http://my.barackobama.com/Find-Your-Early-Vote-Location
And make sure everyone in your life knows where they can vote early, too:
http://my.barackobama.com/Help-Your-Friends-Vote-Early
Your vote is not only important. It’s imperative.
Thank you,
Dr. Maya Angelou
Dear Jueseppi,
I am one of the women Joe Walsh tried to sweep under a rug last week when he said that abortion is never necessary to save a woman’s life.
I had to terminate a pregnancy at 17 weeks due to medical complications. I lost a baby. For Joe Walsh to suggest that my story and the stories of so many other women do not exist is both inaccurate and offensive.
In the 112th Congress, 55 votes were taken against women. These votes were on healthcare, domestic violence, education, etc. We can’t continue to allow this right-winged agenda to proceed into the next Congress.
Fortunately, we have a fantastic alternative to Joe Walsh in the form of Tammy Duckworth. Tammy is exactly the kind of strong advocate for women’s health that we need in Congress to fight back against Republican attacks on access to women’s health care and the right to choose.
I don’t know what these Republican congressmen drink that make them experts on women’s reproductive health, but I do know that a woman’s personal medical decisions should be made with the counsel of her doctor – not with the interference of a politician as ignorant of science and medicine as Joe Walsh.
Thank you for helping Tammy. I look forward to serving with her in Congress and continuing to advance a proactive agenda for women and families.
All the best,
Congresswoman Jackie Speier
Filed under: "BARACK" The Vote, 2012 Election, Abortion Rights, Bad News, Campaign Ads, Causes, Celebrity, Democrats/Democratic, Education, Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security, News, Politics, POTUS Obama, The White House, Voter Suppression, Women's Causes Tagged: | BarackObama, Early voting, How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?, Jackie Speier, Joe Walsh, Martin Luther King Jr, Maya Angelou, Tammy Duckworth
Jueseppi B.
It’s odd how Americans have different views on the issue of electing a Black president. I did not regard Obama’s skin color as essential to anything in 2008. I just figured I’d take a chance on his vision as opposed to McCain’s insistence that we continue with the Bush policy disasters. I met John McCain when I was on active duty. I like and admire the man. But he was not the guy to lead us out of the crash of 2008. It was by no means an easy choice, because Obama was still pretty green. I just went with my gut.
Mitt Romney is no John McCain, and now Obama is a proven leader. Easy choice this time. And I still don’t understand the fuss about race in all of this. I’ll leave that to the bigots and the academics to roll around about. I honestly don’t give a damn. But when it comes to the president, I think it’s pretty simple: Just pitch in and help, or get out of the way and let the man work. Simple as black and white.
Beautiful words from Maya Angelou. I just don’t see color with President Obama. I pay attention to his words, ideas, thought process, and character; all of which are top-notch. I view Dr. King and President Obama as much alike. They both are patient, long-range thinkers who were attacked from all sides as being too radical, or not radical enough. In the end, with an avoidance of boastful bluster, and brimming with dignity and compassion even for their enemies, they got the job done.
A critical prayer and message…thank you!!
We need God on our side.