Alas, it is Thanksgiving Day in Canada and I have many, many things to be thankful for. However, before I cover the topic of things I am thankful for I want to talk about the federal election tomorrow!
It will be my first time voting in a federal election and I’m excited about it. I’m not overly interested in politics or even have that much faith in the government. However, I am going to vote because it is my right and it is not a right that came easily.
I would like you to take a moment now and read this article that I found online, http://www.fwhc.org/why-women-vote.htm.
How can any woman read that and not want to vote? These women risked their lives and succumbed to TORTURE just to gain the right to vote for other women in the years to come. Women like YOU and ME! Are we going to let their actions and suffering be in vain?
What about the men who fought in WWII to prevent Hitler from taking over the world? Your great grandfathers and great uncles who sacrificed their lives so we could continue to live freely and democratically. Are we going to let their actions, their sacrifice be in vain?
How about people ALL over the world TODAY who would and are dieing for the right to vote? People in Zimbabwe are fighting for the rights to hold fair elections, they think we are one of the luckiest countries in the world because voting is a RIGHT not a PRIVILEGE. How do you think they would feel if they knew less than 75% of our country exercises that right?
It’s not hard to vote. All you need is proper identification, (go to http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=ele&dir=ids&document=index&lang=e&textonly=false for more details) and a measly half an hour out of your day. No one is asking you to give up your life or succumb to torture. Simply take one half an hour out of your day, go to your local polling station and VOTE. It really is that easy.
If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain about gas prices, food prices or health care. You have no right to complain about taxes, the economy or the school system. You had a right to make a difference in these things and you didn’t use it. I don’t care what anyone says: Every. single. vote. counts. period.
It’s not that hard. Go vote tomorrow.
Okay, my rant is over, here is my list of the top five things I am thankful for:
1. Friends, they are my support system and I don’t know what I would do without them, even the ones who are far away! I miss them everyday.
2. Eric, he is the best thing that has ever happened to me, without his support I don’t know if I could have moved so far from home, I love him more every day.
3. My parents(and other family), they support me through everything I do, I wouldn’t be where I am today without them, and I have my parents to thank for my education, which is one of the most important things I have.
4. My able body, there are so many people suffering from disabilities who are unable to perform every day tasks that we take for granted, like walking or climbing stairs. I love being active: running, swimming, sports everything. I am so thankful I was blessed with a strong body that enables me to do these things.
5. My Country, Canada is a beautiful, peaceful country and I feel very lucky to live here.
I am thankful for many many more things, but I think these top the list.
Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
