No Thanks, McBama

That’s it. I’m not voting. Or maybe I will. But probably not for either of the “major” candidates. The more I consider the 2 candidates along with the issues they do and don't support, the more I determine that I don't agree with either of them on the things that are really important to me. I mean, if I HAD to vote for one, I know who I'd vote for. But I also know I don't HAVE to vote for either, let alone vote at all. For some people certain issues are what is important. For others it's the party that's important. For some it's religion. For some it's demographics. There are so many things that go into why we do or don't vote. And that's great! We live in a place where we can consider what is important to us and then try to pick a candidate that lines up. I appreciate that. But I also appreciate that we have a choice other than the 2 major choices. Maybe I’m ignorant and you already new this, but I just found out there are actually 136 people running in the 2008 election. Check out this very informative website for more info:

http://www.votesmart.org/election_president_search.php?type=alpha
Also, you don’t have to be Republican, Democrat or Independent. You could also vote Green, Independent, Native American, The Light Party, Free Soil Party, American Independent, Libertarian, Natural Law Party, Peace and Freedom Party, Party for Socialism and Liberation, United Fascist Union, Socialist, Socialist Workers Party, Prohibition Party, and among several others.

I wonder how many of us our not too pleased with Obama or McCain and yet we will still vote for one of them as the “lesser of 2 evils.” And that makes me wonder what would happen if EVERYONE who had those thoughts would research other candidates and vote for someone they can really back, would we make a big enough impact? Maybe, maybe not. But wouldn’t it feel good to know you really made a choice based on your beliefs rather than doing what was easier.

Sure, we work all day, we have things we like to do to unwind, we might rather do almost anything than research candidates and get involved in the political process. Is it important enough to try? I don’t know, ask Martin Luther King Jr. I’ll bet there were plenty of times he would have rather gone home, had supper with his wife and children and read a good book. But he was convicted and convinced that things needed to change and that he would work until it happened. He even wrote a 20 page letter while he was in JAIL in 1960! Check it out, it’s powerful. http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html. The country has a LONG WAY to go, but things have changed in amazing ways because of the civil right movements.

Or ask Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta “who in 1962 founded the National Farm Workers Association, later to become the United Farm Workers ­ the UFW. He was joined by Dolores Huerta and the union was born. Cesar was willing to sacrifice his own life so that the union would continue and that violence was not used. Cesar fasted many times. In 1968 Cesar went on a water only, 25 day fast. He repeated the fast in 1972 for 24 days, and again in 1988, this time for 36 days. What motivated him to do this? He said, Farm workers everywhere are angry and worried that we cannot win without violence. We have proved it before through persistence, hard work, faith and willingness to sacrifice. We can win and keep our own self ­respect and build a great union that will secure the spirit of all people if we do it through a rededication and recommitment to the struggle for justice through non-violence.” http://www.lasculturas.com/biographies/214-civil-rights/112-cesar-chavez

Maybe these are extreme cases in your view, but these are just 2 inspirational examples of people making a difference in this country-starting small! If you want to vote for Obama or McCain because you believe in what they stand for, that’s great, go vote! If you find yourself wondering if they might not be the best candidates for you, just think about trying something new this election. Don’t exercise your right to vote. You don’t have to just because you can. Or pick someone else. We have a choice!