Freedom's Challenge?
Speak Up! Essay Contest Winner
Michelle Eack
University High School
"The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years or older,
to vote shall not be denied or abridged..."
--26TH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION, 1971
It came in the mail last week. It was a small, colorful envelope with an intriguing postmark. I ripped open the top. The flashy graphics immediately grabbed my attention. My voter registration card was here.
As a senior in high school, and only one week away from my eighteenth birthday, I will be able to partake in the local election in a just a few short weeks. My dad even asked me if I would like to go with him to vote early. Although I dearly love my country, I am ashamed to admit that he quickly withdrew his offer when he discovered that I wasn't able to name more than two candidates.
It is our privilege to care,. A privilege and a challenge. Freedom's challenge.
If we don't care about our rights, should we even have the privilege to vote? This is freedom's greatest challenge.
Voter apathy is a growing problem. In 1971, the US government finally realized that it was ridiculous that 18 year old citizens could not vote for the Commander and Chief, yet could be drafted and possibly even die for their country. This led to the passing of the 26th Amendment that lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years old. At the time, President Nixon was optimistic of adding this age group to the mix of voting citizens. However, only 50% of the new voters turned out at the 1972 presidential election.1 Since then, the percentage has steadily dropped; and dropped; and dropped. The number now stands at a horrendous 32% in the recent 2004 presidential election.2 Not to mention that the percentages are much worse on non-presidential election years. Why don't we care anymore?
It is our privilege to care. A privilege and a challenge. Freedom's challenge.
It is a serious problem that my generation, a generation that will soon be handed control of this democracy, is losing interest in the freedoms that we have been given. However, voter apathy extends throughout all age groups, races, genders, and incomes. Plummeting voter turnout is not the only sign of a population that is losing interest in their freedoms. In 1960, 60% of the nation's television households tuned in to the October presidential debates. In the 2000 election, fewer than 30 percent were tuned in.3
It is our privilege to care. A privilege and a challenge. Freedom's challenge.
Voting is a privilege that people around the world risk their lives to obtain. In the first free elections held in Iraq in 2005, 80% of the citizens expressed their desire to vote, despite the fact that doing so placed their lives in danger, with the numerous extremist groups threatening to blow up polling places and shoot those who showed up to cast their ballots.4 The majority of American citizens don't even take the time to hop in their SUV's and drive down the street to cast their ballots in a secure building accompanied by their tall decaf lattes.
It is our privilege to care. A privilege and a challenge. Freedom's challenge.
Our families came to live in America to find freedom. The idea of their rights being protected was something they cherished. They understood the enormous amount of responsibility that this freedom placed upon them, and did not take it lightly. They understood the challenges that went along with the freedom to choose our leaders. It was ultimately them who decided the lives of their children and grandchildren through the leaders they chose. My generation, however, was born with these `inalienable' rights. They come standard, just like the airbags on your car. We are quickly losing interest in our freedoms. We are becoming complacent with letting politicians do the dirty work, and don't even bother keeping them honest. Scandals and corruption are seen throughout our political system and even in our former Illinois Governor George Ryan. Is this why we are losing interest in our right to vote? Are we losing trust in politicians in general?
Voting chooses leaders. These leaders will affect not only your lives, but the lives of your children and grandchildren. The responsibility of shaping the lives of our. descendants lies with us.
It is our privilege to care. A privilege and a challenge. Freedom's challenge.
1 http://www.siue.edu/ALESTLE/library/spring99/mar3099/voter.html
2 http://www.govspot.com/features/youngvoterapathy.htm
3 http://hnn.us/articles/1104.html
4 http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20050128/ai_n9696290
