In the United States, we have this incredible power to make our government how we want it to be. We get to vote. Not many people can say that they have that power, and those that do, often times can not truly exercise that power. An entire war was fought for our ability to have this great power and yet too many of our fellow Americans are blinded by their luck. All we have today is taken for granted by a generation that has no interest or knowledge in how we came to attain it.

I was watching the Sox game with my friends and somehow the topic of voting came up. I asked them if they were all registered. Not one of them were. In a room of five women, I was the only one registered to vote. I asked them why they were not yet registered and I got a varying degree of answers, none of which sufficed or were justified. Two more of our friends came down, two men, and only one of them was registered.

I was able to help register one of my friends, but the others did not have their licenses on them or cared enough to go get them. It took only a minute or two to register, and yet they still thought it to be too inconvenient. How funny is that? It's too inconvenient to fulfill their civic duty. And it angered me, and still does, that they were so nonchalant about voting. I cannot fathom their thinking that tells them it is okay to not care or want to vote. Especially as women, we have only had the vote for less than 100 years and yet my friends do not understand how substantial that is. I understand everyone participates at their own level of enthusiasm and effort, but to put forth zero effort or care is just disrespectful and incomprehensible.

They told me to relax about the situation, but I could not. How could none of them understand how imperative it is that they vote? I just cannot understand why people feel that it is okay to let others vote for them, to not have a say in their government, to not even register. They acted like I asked them if they have ever seen a movie and I was overreacting that none of them had.

People tell me all the time, "my vote doesn't matter." Well let me tell you, I'm sitting in a room with seven people telling me the same thing, so don't tell me your vote doesn't matter. Think about all the people saying that same thing! Now think if only they all went out and voted, they could have made a difference. Maybe they would stop, unjustifiably I might add, complaining about the present situation. If you don't vote, don't complain.

I had another friend tell me that they'll only vote for the President but that our State election meant nothing. I wonder how someone could make such an ignorant statement so boldly?

The point is, get out and vote. Advocate for what you believe in. I'm not saying you have to become a lobbyist or even donate to a campaign, but make yourself and others aware of the situations and make an educated decision. Voting is beyond cornerstone to our Democracy, yet it is neglected. We must be careful to not lose our system that our forefathers created and generations have sustained. We have more power than we realize, and we are called to use it for good. Go vote.