Election Season

Woah, woah, woah! Don’t go anywhere!

I know – you’re tired of ANYTHING having to do with the election, and you don’t want my opinion on the matter, and you could actually be doing anything else and be having more fun than you would by thinking about the election. But hear me out, this is something different.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a billion times:

“You have a voice, use it.”

-Elliott J Shindel

When someone brings up the election, this year more than most, you can actually see everyone’s shoulders raise up to their ears. Such a crazy  amount of tension just because I said, “I have to remember to get stamps for my ballot!” It shouldn’t be like this. I shouldn’t have to feel like I can’t talk to anyone unless they share the same thoughts and feelings I have. How would anyone grow if that were the case? How would any of us become ourselves, if we were meant to just take on our parents ideals and go on through life. Therefore only ever being able to contribute to any offspring that you have, because everyone else already has his or her mind made up.

Bleh. I digress. You have an opportunity to do something about how you feel. I keep hearing about how people are so upset about their choices that they aren’t going to vote. How does this solve anything? Look, I get it, the electoral college system is a pretty ridiculous way of doing things, and sometimes it can feel like “what’s the point?”. But the point is, the votes still happen, there is still a voice being recorded and there are people that can see that. Have you ever been in a situation that a question was asked and there was a lot of hesitation, and then, all of the sudden, after one hand goes up, other hands just started flying up!?

To dumb it down (a lot): Who likes the color purple?! I remember this question being asked, and in a room full of dudes, no one wanted to say he liked the color purple. Well, purple is my favorite color, so I raised my hand. In doing so, I think it allowed other guys to voice their liking of the color because they then had proof – “I’m not going to be the only guy who likes purple!”

So I beg of you – raise your hand for your favorite color. You have an opportunity, take advantage of it! Be proud to be an American, and maybe your voice is the voice to make a movement start moving.

You have the power! You silly human being. You have a voice.