than in theeraofmillennials in the21st
century.We forget thepowerofourvote,
andwe’reblindedbyourskepticism.But
ifeachofusremembered thesacrifices
made togiveusparticipatorygovernment
and thegravityofourparticipation in the
politicalprocess, stayinghomeonElection
Daywouldn’tbeanoption.
Whetheryouareamanorawoman,
andnomatteryourrace, ifyouareacitizen
of theUnitedStates, youhavearight to
beheard.And, again, this isnotmerelya
matterofprinciple,becauseourelected
officialsaffectallofour lives inarealand
immediateway.Notpayingattentionand
notparticipatingmeansyourneedshave
lessofachanceofbeingmet.
Yourparticipation isyourvoice.Need
moreresources foryourchild’sschool?
Vote.Unhappywith theway thegovern-
ment isspending taxes?Vote.Badroads in
yourhometown?Vote. Itsoundssosimple,
andat theendof theday, it is.Payatten-
tion.Dosomeresearch.Andshowupevery
ElectionDay. It isnotonlyyourright, it is
yourresponsibility.
RANIABATRICE
is the founderandpresident
ofBatrice&Associates, anot-for-profitcrisis-
managementconsulting firm.Shehasworked in
politics invariouscapacities for 15years.
awareofhowdifferentmy lifecouldhave
been.While the traditionandcultureof
myPalestinianCatholicparentshasmeant
livingadifferent life frommanypeople
aroundme, Ihavealwaysbeenaware that
merelybeing in theUnitedStatesoffers
freedom.Growinguphere, Iwasallowed to
dreambigandbelieve thatIcoulddoand
beabsolutelyanything.
Incontrast,mymothergrewup ina
timeandplacewhereheropinion, like the
opinionsofwomen ingeneral,wasnot
valued.Therewasn’tanopportunity fora
woman’svoice tobeheardat theballotbox,
andsadly, therearemore thana fewplaces
in theworld thatcontinue tosuppress
andoppress theircitizens. It’sasobering
reminderofhowmanypeople foughtand
died toallowus theright tostandupand
beheard. It’salsoareminderofwherewe
started,how farwe’vecome
andhow farwehaveyet togo.
Evenaftermoving to the
U.S. and livingasacitizenof
thiscountry formore than
30years, itwasn’tuntil2006
thatmymothervoted for the
first time.After leaving the
pollingstationat theelemen-
taryschoolaround thecorner
fromherhome, shecalled
meatwork to letmeknow
thatshehadusedhervoter-
registrationcard tocasther
ballot.For thefirst time in48
years, shewasable tostandup
andbecounted. Iwillnever forget thepride
andexcitement inhervoice.
We’veallheard thatwhatsetsus
apart from therestof theworld isour
commitment todemocracy— theright
ofourcitizens todecide, asawhole, the
directionournationwill take.But thatright
isoften taken forgranted—nevermoreso
70
FEBRUARY2016
AMERICANWAY
POLITICS
VOTING101
If you’renot registered tovote,
noworries: It is super easy to
get involved indemocracy
when you signuponline
(it takes threeminutes or less).
Here’s how:
1.
Logon toRockthevote.com
2.
Clickon “Register toVote.”
3.
Enter your personal information
(name, address, cell number, etc.).
4.
Download, print and sign.
5.
Mail the form to the address
provided.
6.
A fewweeks later, youwill
receive confirmation that you are
registered.
7.
VoteonElectionDay!
IT’SASOBERING
REMINDEROFHOW
MANYPEOPLE
FOUGHTANDDIED
TOALLOWUSTHE
RIGHTTOSTANDUP
ANDBEHEARD.
PHOTO
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