Voting (OT)

[Vivienne O'Regan]

No: HPFGUIDX 5386

Responding here to various threads on this topic. I take the
exercising of my voting rights very seriously as while to some
extent I agree with the RA Wilson's observation that 'if voting
made any difference it would be illegal' and 'no matter who you
vote for the government always gets in', it is true that my forebears
did fight hard to gain the universal franchise that we enjoy today
in this country. To note vote in each and every election, including
the European seems an insult to their memory.

I also am aware of how in many countries throughout the world
such rights are not enjoyed. Apathy fuels dictatorships even the
benign variety.

There is no point really drawing comparisons with the US War of
'Independence' or French or Russian Revolutions what happened here was
different to both. We are not a republic in that sense though do have
a democratically elected government.

I was saddened last night to hear a black minister talk about the apathy

among his community towards voting - I also tend here to get angry
when women get very apathetic about politics considering how hard it
was to gain these basic civil rights.

Certainly the American pagan/wiccan community have no reason to feel
good about Bush's election as when directly questioned about such issues

he was empathic about not recognizing witchcraft as a religion.
What this means in any real terms is debatable. One man's recognition
or lack of recognition may not actually effect the First Amendment
Rights that Americans enjoy but such a strong stand on this very minor
issue (in terms of the bigger picture) is of concern to the
international pagan/magical community.


Vivienne