While this is actually my first blogging, and I am somewhat nervous by doing this, I will leave the introductions for later.  The issue that I would like to mention today deserves far more attention than a personal introduction.

    In my constant craving for knowledge and information, I stumbled across last week the articles that have been discussing Republicans either voting for the other side or choosing not to vote at all.  This severely disturbs me, and to be quite honest, it has bothered me for the last 10 years, when I was 16 and I started to really get a good glimpse of what some of the things are that we lump into "politics".  I remember hearing now for 10 years very similar remarks, not only from Republicans, but Democrats as well.  The reason - it's the same reason that is being pushed again this year that it has been before.  Some of the best examples are the following: "Well, I don't like both candidates, so I'm not going to vote."; "The government really doesn't think about me, so why should I vote for them?"; "Well, my vote will not count anyways, so there is no need."

    For many years, long before I was of the age to exercise my PRIVELIGE to vote, I started to think about the issues that are poised to our government.  Sometimes, I think we as a country have started to forget what the real issues are; instead, we are focused on so many small issues that we allow those to consume us.  Abortions, equal opportunity, rights for minorities... these and many, many other issues that we as individuals may think about are given the chance because of one major issue.  And that is that we are Americans, and we fight every day to keep these privileges alive.

    Now I do want to emphasize that, that the things we take for granted on a daily basis are truly privileges.  They have been treated as rights because we as a country voted to make them a right.  But if one really thinks about it - without the privilege of being an American, and the things that as an American you stand for (the basic being freedom) - one would not have the other privileges that come with that.  And what is the cost of being an American?  If you think you were given that by your birth, as so many people try to say, think again.  That cost someone's life, whether to create this beautiful nation in the past or those that put themselves in harm's way every day, so that you can be an American.  I will say that at one point, living in a mainly liberal area for a period of time in my life, I too started to think that this was a right to me, and that I didn't need to earn it.  I was wrong.

    We all have our ways to commit ourselves to being a true American.  The first way, which I had chosen, was to serve in the forces that protect our way of life.  While I did not serve the 20 years that my father did, I am very proud for the time that I did give to my country.  Some of us in our United States cannot join the military.  That doesn't mean that they could not serve our country in various other ways.  And one of that ways is voting, and being a truly informed voter.

    So why do I say that being a truly informed voter is serving the country?  Well, that's very simple.  It means really determining your morals, and being thankful for the privileges that you have every day.  Not everyone has those, and that is definitely something to be thankful of.  You can also walk around in the assuredness that for the most part, nothing bad will happen to you while going about and living your life every day.  For those that do not even think about this, and say this should be a given, I would say shame on you.  It was not just given.  If you see a US soldier, thank them for giving their time to support your country.  It doesn't matter if you agree with the policy or not, but I say thank them because when push comes to shove, it's these brave men and women who put their necks out to protect us.

    Secondly, gather information.  This does not mean just gathering information from the news sources such as television and newspapers.  If you hear about something, really try to break it down and recreate what was fact, not what you are being told in the newspapers.  Then take that information that you have gathered and prioritize it, logically (not emotionally).  Obviously national security should take precedent; it's sad to see that many people don't think about it in the same manner.   Once you have this, I hope you have been able to really see what you think about as being important.

    Lastly, choose YOUR government representatives.  This is where I want to stress that voting makes a difference.  You may not find someone who agrees with you 100%; that's part of every human being different.  However, I do suggest you align yourself with the one that you can share the most.  Don't just look at the issues by themselves, but see which candidate prioritizes things the closest that you do.  Realistically, if you want to have your voice heard in government, they are your best choice.  And then do the final step.  Go out to that polling station, and make your voice heard!  Choose that candidate that best represents you, and be proud that after all of this hard work you know you made the right choice.

    After you have voted, the job's not over.  I would send a letter or email to that chosen representative, whether it is your candidate or not.  Get involved in what is going on, and continue to have your voice heard!  And what is wrong with thinking ahead for the next election?  Work with your elected officials to get done what you can.  Now, for those that say they didn't choose their representative - I've got news for you.  That's the time you REALLY need to contact your elected official and let them know, "OK, you won that election, but it's time to represent those that share your views - and those that do not.  I hope you keep that in mind while you serve your time in office."  And if that falls on deaf ears, don't just switch to the other party in defiance.  Chances are that if you start looking early enough, and enough people feel the same way, another candidate will be found and will start making their way to the next primaries.

    Being active in your government is every American's responsibility.  After all, through all the compromises and fighting, it is still YOUR government.  Work with the system instead of trying to circumvent it - and you'll see that the founding fathers of our country really did a great job when they sat down and thought about what our country would need for not only their present, but our present and future as well.

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My thanks in advance to all who vote - don't just sit at home and let it pass by.   And my thanks to all those that I know and do not know who are in uniform protecting me while writing this blog, as well as all other Americans while we live our lives.  And I hope that this will bring a good dialogue for those that read it.  This is simply an opinion, so if you want to share your opinion, that's fine, but please do it in good taste.  Thank you.