By Nellie Curtiss …
Our voter ballots are in our mailboxes or on their way there. It’s an important midterm vote for all of us. As you ready yourself for this responsibility, I hope you’ll consider the wisdom from voters who came before us.
“Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country, and this world.” — Sharon Salzberg, author, Buddhist, co-founder the Insight Meditation Society
“We need to get better at voting and be a voice for the people who do not have one.”— George Lopez, comedian
“It’s not the voting that’s democracy; it’s the counting.” — Tom Stoppard, playwriter, human rights author
A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.— James Freeman Clarke, minister, theologian, author
“If American women would increase their voting turnout by ten percent, I think we would see an end to all of the budget cuts in programs benefiting women and children.” — Coretta Scott King, author, civil rights leader, wife of Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.”— Abraham Lincoln, lawyer, statesman, 16th US President
Our political leaders will know our priorities only if we tell them, again and again, and if those priorities begin to show up in the polls.” — Peggy Noonan, columnist
“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt, attorney, politician, 32nd Us President
“Democracy is about voting and it’s about a majority vote. And it’s time that we started exercising the Democratic process.” — Debbie Stabenow, Senior US Senator
“A man without a vote is a man without protection.” — Lyndon B. Johnson, senate majority leader, 36th US President
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” — Martin Luther King, Jr, minister, activist, renowned civil rights leader
“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” — Thomas Jefferson, American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, 3rd US president
“I encourage all Latinos to go out and vote and have their voice be heard because we do hold a lot of power in that sense.” — Jennifer Lopez, singer, songwriter, producer, artist
“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.” – John F. Kennedy, author, Pulitzer Prize Winner, WWII hero, Senator, 35th US President
“Your voice matters. . . . I hope that you guys get out there and do everything you can. Please, Please vote in person.” ― Selena Gomez, American singer, songwriter, actress, and producer
“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.’” ― Isaac Asimov, Russian-born American writer, professor of biochemistry, and science fiction author
“Choose a leader who will invest in building bridges, not walls. Books, not weapons. Morality, not corruption. Intellectualism and wisdom, not ignorance. Stability, not fear and terror. Peace, not chaos. Love, not hate. . . Truth, not lies.” ― Suzy Kassem, American thinker, poet, writer, and philosopher
“Election Day is right around the corner, and I want to be clear about what’s at stake. Our fundamental rights are on the ballot—especially women’s reproductive rights. So don’t sit this election out. Make a plan to vote right now at IWillVote.com.” ― Barack Obama, author, attorney, senator, 44th US President
— Nelda Curtiss is a retired college educator and long-time local columnist. Reach her at http://www.columnsbynellie.com or email her at columnsbynellie@gmail.com
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