I voted yesterday. I almost didn’t. I forgot to send in my mail in ballot and therefore had to go to my local polling place. I started seeing it as a hassle and felt it wouldn’t make a difference. I almost succumbed to apathy — almost.
I then reminded myself that when I was born (1968) many people who looked like me couldn’t vote in U.S. I reminded myself that people kill and were killed for the right to vote. Most importantly, I believe in voting and not doing so would go against my own beliefs — so I voted.
Voting is the way we participate in government. To not vote is the equivalent of abdication. I’m not OK with that. So I voted.
I was asked a great question yesterday. “Which is worse, ignorance or apathy.” I thought it was a good question. At first I thought ignorance. As I thought about it further, I changed my mind. It’s apathy. When apathy is present people just don’t care. You can’t mobilize the apathatic. Ignorance can be addressed. You can educate the ignorant.
Whether or not I can be called ignorant remains to be seen, but I can’t be called apathetic. I voted!