Voting and Aging

Voting and aging persons is a subject of much debate of late. A lesson can be learned from our elders about the right to vote. The turn out is generally high for older voters and there could be many reasons for this. I like to think that they value their rights as Americans who have lived through many threats to our country's democracy.

The "greatest generation" lived through World War II and all that our country's citizens had to live without. My own husband still has some of the rationing coupons that his parents used to get food and sundries during that war.

During the depression, my grandmother stood on the sidewalk and sold sandwiches dressed up like a gypsy to help keep the family restaurant business going. They all went and excercised their right to vote for "a chicken in every pot" during the Roosevelt years.

They saw wars in Korea, Vietnam and more. We Baby Boomers remember those, and the Gulf war and what is going on now. I recently was at a dinner for a friend on leave from Bahrain where authorities there had shot both his dogs, because they could. He is going back for two more months and then will be home for good. I thanked him for supporting our country and protecting our freedoms, and that includes the right to exercise our vote.

So, now matter what the outcome is for this election, let us be thankful for what our aged friends have done, and how they led the way in safekeeping our right to exercise our vote! Thank one of them the next time you see them, it just might put a smile on both of your faces!

Thanks for reading from your Foster City friend ;-)