In the news....
Women picketed the house of leadership, petitioning for the right to vote in their home country. Viewed as a seditionist act by many of the men of the country, since the nation is involved in a war, the women's picketing was attacked by counter-protestors. Law enforcement was called to the scene and promptly placed the women under arrest. Because the current law of the country did not outlaw peaceful protest demonstrations, the state's solicitors decided instead to charge the women with obstruction of traffic. At trial, the women were offered the opportunity to pay a small fine instead of serving time in jail. None of the women agreed to pay any fines, so they were promptly jailed. In statements in court, the women who had been arrested also claimed there would be other women resuming the protest the next day.
***
It is a possible story about women in some developing nations today, and if it would come to pass, it would be absolute proof that history repeats itself. This is a story that could have been found in the pages of the Washington Post or the New York Times at the start of the First World War.
Suffragettes in America were picketing the White House, demanding that President Wilson grant them the ability to vote in America. The history of some of these courageous women is hopelessly lost, with very little written documentation of their work remaining. HBO Films attempted to fill in some of the blanks by offering a dramatized version of their fight in Iron Jawed Angels. Although not absolutely correct according to historical documentation and correspondence, the movie has at least shed some light on the true nature of the life of women in the United States previous to obtaining the right to vote.
Women have been voting nationwide in the U.S. for about 84 years now, and are still fighting similar battles. At that time, they fought to be in the workplace; now, they battle for equality in wages and advancement opportunities, beginning in the stores of retailers like Wal-Mart, and ending with the boardrooms of multi-national corporations.
I have no great penchant for statistics, as they typically cause my eyes to glaze over. On a very non-scientific level though, I can see a very disturbing trend in voting habits. The number of voters under the age of 55 is far too low, particularly amongst women. For the past 20 years, I have been fairly active in politics, beginning with my parents taking me to the polls to pass out handbills for a candidate they were supporting. At just 12 years of age, I knew that it was extremely important to take the time to vote. I actually looked forward to when I would finally be able to fill out a registration card of my own. There were a few like-minded people in high school with me, but most of them let their passion for democracy falter. Now I rarely see them at the polls, even though they still live in the district.
Over the years, I have seen many voters pass me on the way to cast their ballots, and sadly, especially in recent years, the majority of them are from my parents' generation or older. A friend tried to ease my worries a little by pointing out that we do have a great number of senior citizens in our area, but it was not much help. Most of the people I know around my own age are generally apathetic. One that cuts me to the quick is a woman who serves in the Army reserves and has no interest in voting.
It was a hard-fought battle for everyone - from the Revolutionary War through the various suffrage movements over the years since - for us to have that precious right to vote. There are so many who wrap themselves in a false patriotism, flying flags, but neglecting to take the time to go to the polls. It is being taken for granted by women and by all Americans. History shows that what isn't actively protected is lost, and that could be the fate of our right to vote. What could stop leaders in this country in the future from abolishing elections if the apathy toward the process continues to increase? Those old people won't live forever to keep those ballot boxes around.
One thing I didn't hear through all the campaign rhetoric was that the American people should teach by example, and actively involve themselves in the democratic process. Yes, there were many promotional programs encouraging voters to go to the polls, but they centered on just having our voices heard within our own borders. What are we showing the women in the world, those who are undergoing the same battles that the suffragettes underwent 84 years ago? Freedom taken for granted is freedom lost; the fights for freedom on this soil cost earlier generations dearly. I'm not a superstitious or religious person, but I know it isn't a good idea to spite the memory of the dead, so my vote will be cast in every election, in deference to their sacrifices.
It is too late for this election, but not for future ones. Americans, particularly women, need to remember the sacrifices of the past which allow us to enjoy freedom today. Equality is possible and must be won, not expected. To acquire equality, one must be willing to speak one's mind in affairs of politics, and the loudest voice in that arena is the vote. Women have come a long way, but we haven't reached the end of the journey. There are still some battles to be won. Perhaps we should set our sights on having the first "First Sir" in the White House?
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