May 15, 2000

Tomorrow is election day. A day we are continually told is paramount to our form of government. vote we are told! Get out and vote. Why isn’t voting easier? What else can we do to encourage people to vote? Participate in democracy!

So, I pick up this morning’s paper and what do I see?!

The Oregonian: “Mothers on violence: Enough!”

Statesman Journal: “Silverton toddler drowns”

Okay. Tomorrow is one of the most important days of the year – or so we’ve been told for several months now. We’ve read every single day about candidates, issues and the importance we voters need to place in these people and issues.

So, I go to the Local section of the Statesman Journal. Headline is: “Mothers revel in their day.” Another article is “Mediator to tackle Gates rift.” “Willamette graduates 630.” So?

I pull the Metro section of the Oregonian. Lead article is, “State agencies to become ‘greener’.” The next article IS political! “For political candidates, a final push.” And tucked in the article is a reminder – finally – finally, they remind us of this important day!

It’s too late to mail our ballot, they tell us, but we can hand deliver it to a drop off site. They are listed on page D11. I have to pull another section from the paper to see it. Multnomah County sites are listed, Washington County sites are listed, Clackamas County sites are listed. No Marion County sites. I keep forgetting. The Oregonian thinks that Marion County does not exist. How much room could it have taken to put a reminder in for all the Marion County readers? Must not be THAT important!

And, no, nothing on the editorial page about the wonderful democracy we have, the importance of voting – nothing! Maybe they are saving it for tomorrow!

Back to the lead Oregonian article. A quote catches my eye. That’s why it’s highlighted before the article even begins.

“I’m really dismayed with the amount of guns in our country. If we reduce the amount of guns, how an that not reduce the use of the guns?”

How profound! Front page of the Oregonian!

I actually read the article and of course, I have empathy for victims. I am alarmed, I am angry, I am disturbed – I share every emotion every one else does about the violence in our society, BUT, what are these women trying to accomplish? What do they want done?

I don’t hear a lot of questions being asked that I think need to be asked?

Is anyone asking why children carry guns – or any weapon for that matter?

Why do children kill? Why are children violent?

Why are some children scared?

Where are the parents? Why do parents let children have guns? Why do some parents NOT know their children have weapons?

All these women parading yesterday – what were their children doing while they were in cities around the nation?

The quote that really has gotten to me follows. I had to read it, reread it and reread it.

“Violence is so much a part of our country given that we were formed out of revolution,” said Sharon Sheeley, 56, of Portland, who came to the march with her son and mother.

Before we limit our constitutional rights, before we disarm law abiding citizens, why don’t we first teach American history to students – adults could use a refresher course. People need to know what the constitution says, why it was written and what it means to us today. People need to learn why the Declaration of Independence was written and what it means today.

Could you imagine if mothers, fathers, if Americans marched on Washington D.C. and cities all around the United States of America to raise awareness of the Declaration of Independence, to fight for understanding of the Constitution of the United States of America – can you imagine what that rally might result in?

If we really want to turn our society around, if we really want an America that is a better place for our children and our grandchildren, we had better begin teaching them the importance of our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America.

If there were a litmus test of what’s good for all Americans, it would be the candidate’s knowledge and understanding of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.

The question we all should ask is, “Will my freedoms and my constitutional rights be protected by this ballot measure or this candidate?”

Vote if you haven’t done so. Vote knowing that your freedom depends on it!

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