November 6th is only a few days away… and everyone in the United States knows what that means! We are being inundated with the media messages declaring the monumental importance of this mid-term political election. We could all die if the results of this election do not go “our” way (whatever “our” way means to you). The fate of humanity hangs in the balance, as we wait for the election to commence. Insert dramatic music and special effects. And random explosions. And uproarious screams, just for good measure. It is the end of the world as we know it!
Okay, it may not be the end of the world. But, it is an opportunity to start your own riot. When I use the word “riot,” it doesn’t mean a literal riot. No one is visiting this site, then taking to the streets to create a literal violent public disturbance against authority. To me, riot means action; the type of actions that evoke change to yourself, your environment, your community and/or your world.
When I was younger, I never saw a great importance in voting, especially during the lesser publicized mid-term and local elections. I would participate in the major elections, maybe… sometimes…when convenient. I was a punk rocker with fierce political opinions and involved in many community service efforts. But yet, I did not see any link between what I stood for and the act of voting. As a young adult, I failed to see how I could use my vote to express myself.
With approximately only 61% of Americans participating in the last election (according to Pew Research), it appears many others feel the same way. Mark Twain was rumored (or inaccurately attributed) to have said “if voting made a difference, they would never let us do it.” And I get that it often feels that way. I can understand the hopelessness, but let’s not let it lead to apathy.
And history has proven that every vote counts. There are many elections that have been won and lost by small margins, proving that every vote counts. Wikipedia has a list of elections that were won by a mere handful of votes. And many of us remember George W. Bush winning the United States presidency by winning the state of Florida by a margin of 0.00921% (about 500 votes).
Every one of our actions reflects the person we are. Voting may feel like a small action, but it is a way to express yourself, your beliefs and your convictions. And the world can be changed for the better or for worse by a handful of votes. So, no matter what “our” means to you… start your own riot! Vote.