The right to vote is not for sell

I know I’m usually heartfelt in my weekly column, but this week is one, and possibly the only week, where I need to be allowed the liberty of digression and the freedom of speech.

This past week I was checking my emails. I received a message in regards to a petition where President-elect Obama’s first act in office should be to help protect the forest animals and the environment. When I checked another activist page that was pushing for this same cause, their reason for the petition was “That’s why we voted him in office.”

First of all, I didn’t agree with their reason behind voting President-elect Obama in office at all. To be perfectly honest, it really made me doubt if a few people should even possess the right to vote, if their motives are selfish and not for the well being of this country and its citizens.

Don’t misconstrue what I’m saying by any means. Whether you voted for President-elect Obama or not, I’m sure we can all agree that we hope he can pull us out of the recession we’re in and become the best President this country has ever had.

Also, being an animal owner myself, I am a firm believer in the prevention of cruelty to all of God’s creatures. Also, I do believe that we need to do our best to keep the air we breathe as well as our lakes and rivers clean from pollution so future generations can enjoy what we enjoy today.

Why don’t I agree with the reason behind the petition? We need jobs in this country, first and foremost. I’ve heard so many horrific stories in regards to families that are having a terrible time due to a job layoff, foreclosures due to the rising costs of mortgages, and being in the midst of a recession.

People and families come first before anything in regards to turning this country around. Animals in the wild have the God-given ability of survival while hard-working families don’t have a choice when faced with a terrible hardship.

I hope those who voted for anyone to fill a political office, whether it’s on a local or national level, voted for that particular candidate for all the right reasons and not because of personal selfishness or other enticing factors.

We’ve got to set an example for one another and especially the generations to come.

Don’t ever vote for anyone because it’s the popular vote. Do it because it will make a better life for us all. Do it so the American dream will no longer lay dormant in some grave with a bottomless pit.

Most of all, do it because this right was fought by those brave men and women, past and present, who loved you just as much as you should love and respect one another. An old saying says, “If you’re reading this, God bless America. If you’re reading this in English, God bless an American soldier.”  

God bless America, forever and always.