I have always thought of myself as very patriotic. My grandparents, who raised their family in the depression of the 1930s, always talked about the American dream, that is the ability to achieve what you are willing to work for, and I bought into it hook, line and sinker. I had a belief that this was achieved because of our unique form of government allowed for self-expression and self-direction. There is usually a tear in my eye as we say the Pledge of Allegiance as I think of what this country has done for me and my family and just what our responsibilities are in turn.
This sense of patriotism was nudged a little in 2003 when my son’s Marine Corps unit was called up to go to Iraq to work for the freedoms of that country’s people. As he was recently married, I worried about him and his sweet wife and just what their future would bring. While he was living in Arizona I would seldom know where he was or what he was doing, but on the day that the war started, I knew he was crossing the Kuwaiti border into Iraq with his brothers-in-arms to work for someone else’s freedom.
Shortly after he came home, it was announced that Iraq would have its first free election. So, in January 2005, I remember Iraqi citizens walking for miles, standing for hours in long lines and then holding up their purple forefinger that indicated that they, for the first time ever, had voted for the leadership of their country. There were nearly 7,000 candidates for 275 seats in their national governing councils — and to think we get confused at our number of candidates and issues! I was so proud! What a grand ideal that my son had sacrificed for and my sense of patriotism was nudged back into place.
Well, we have elections coming as well. It is our right and privilege to participate in determining the course of our community, state and nation —and yes, our school district.
In the primary election, only 23 percent of the registered voters in Chandler bothered to cast a ballot. How sad that is to me. Men and women have fought for and perhaps died for that right. We have until October 6 to register to vote for the November election and I hope all will. Though you might not agree with my candidate or the issues I believe in, the outcome must surely be better when we all participate.
Our school district and many of our neighboring districts have important issues on the ballot. I would love to tell you how to vote, but of course I won’t. I trust you will study and learn, make a phone call or two and use this amazing privilege to vote.
Annette Auxier is a member of the Chandler Unified School District governing board.
mesateacher posted at 10:40 am on Thu, Sep 27, 2012.
"... the outcome must surely be better when we all participate."
Not necessarily. I'd rather have thinking, concerned people vote who have actually spent some time knowing what's going on. I do not want people to vote for the sake of voting, or people who get their news only from Saturday Night Live, or The Daily Show, or the View.
"I would love to tell you how to vote, but of course I won’t."
In fact, you can't. That's illegal.
"..this amazing privilege to vote."
Silly me, I thought it was right.
Deddzone posted at 11:11 am on Thu, Sep 27, 2012.
Thinking and concerned people will be voting. I get my news from various sites and none of those are SNL etc.
I think the fact the thinking and concerned folks are slowly turning AZ purple is a very good thing. It had nothing to do with comedy or talk shows. It had to do with the wrong image the rightwing state Government worked very hard to make it look loony---guns on campuses, heads i the desert etc.
Many of us know a different Arizona because we moved here to take a great job and stayed. We will vote and it IS a right and a privilege.
Deddzone posted at 11:13 am on Thu, Sep 27, 2012.
Heywood, why the fear of more voting? It is more a concern they are not voting for the issues or candidates you wish to win?
StotheizzE posted at 11:20 am on Thu, Sep 27, 2012.
When the stupid people vote, the GOP wins
.
Arizona Willie posted at 11:43 am on Thu, Sep 27, 2012.
StottheizzE, that's why the Arizona Republican dominated Legislature keeps cutting the Education budget year after year.
Republicans hate public education. They believe the riff-raff should be content with some elementary reading and arithmetic.
That's all they need to flip burgers and make change.
But, of course, THEIR kids are different and get sent to private / charter schools.
When have you EVER seen the Republican Party call for an INCREASE in education funding for public schools?
Slabside posted at 11:49 am on Thu, Sep 27, 2012.
When Liberals vote, America loses.
Bluepoet posted at 12:03 pm on Thu, Sep 27, 2012.
Annette,
There's a difference between patriotism and nationalism.
I'm sure, from your letter, that you'd love to tell me how to vote...but, you need not bother...at least, you realise that is something that is up to each of us to decide.
That's more than I can say, for the partisans and the shills, who'd like nothing better than to silence all dissent, merely to make it easier to feed the masses their own party's line, which alternates between Love it or Leave It, and I Did It All By Myself, even though I know it's really God that's doing it all...
Let's all have a nice "bumper sticker" election!
Once again, I'll be voting for Pat Paulson (yes, I know he's dead)...
Here's my bumper sticker--Protect Freedom-Lock Your Mind
chatmandu002 posted at 12:33 pm on Thu, Sep 27, 2012.
Voting is a right, privilege and responsibility of citizenship. It is your "right" because you are a citizen of a democratic republic. It is your "privilege" because of a constitutional system that allows you to vote. It is your "responsibility" to be informed about the issues, the candidates and provide the required documents needed to vote. When you do not vote you are failing as a citizen.
Shinger posted at 3:35 pm on Thu, Sep 27, 2012.
Ah, another feel good column encouraging everyone to do your "civic duty". Here's a secret. Want to know what your real civic duty is? Inform yourself before you vote. If you aren't informed, don't vote. It's really that simple.
I saw a comment here attempting to perpetuate the myth that Arizona is turning Purple. Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's not the case. Flake and Romney will each win by ten points. Parker will win by 5 points. This state is as red or even redder than it has been in the past.
Cerulean posted at 6:38 pm on Thu, Sep 27, 2012.
I have always thought of myself as patriotic too. I vote as many times as I can each election cycle.
Deddzone, it is good to see you.
Shinger, I would not be so sure about Flake.
Richard Carmona has a very good chance to win his district. In fact AZCentral has Richard Carmona up in the polls 44- 39%
You can learn more about Richard Carmona here: http://www.carmonaforarizona.com/
chatmandu002 posted at 11:08 pm on Thu, Sep 27, 2012.
The democrat party slogan "Vote early and vote often". LOL
Shinger posted at 11:38 am on Fri, Sep 28, 2012.
Carmona is running in the Senate race against Flake. Sinema is running is CD9 (I think) against Parker. Sinema is a "kook" in the purest sense of the word, that's why Parker wins there. Rasmussen has Flake up 6 or 7 over Carmona. Don't get me wrong, Carmona is the most formidable Senate candidate the Dems have trotted out in some time, but the Mormon thing will just be too much for him to overcome. The Mormons may never have a shot at voting for one of their own for President and Senator on the same ballot again.
onerebel posted at 1:11 pm on Sat, Sep 29, 2012.
The Democrats have conceived a very clever game plan, the carrot on a stick. Promise the people enough free handouts that they become dependent on you for their very survival, then give them just enough to keep their votes so you can stay in a Government office where the money and power are. Problem is what happens when there are more people with their hands out, then there are people that are working to fill those lazy hands? It's going to be like a steep mountain road that collapse while you are driving over it . You know it's not going to end well, and you wish you could go back in time and taken a different road!