Write for Kids? Then Vote for Them, Too.
There are elections that do little to change the status quo, and then there are seismic events disguised as elections.
We’re in the midst of the latter, and the results will impact future generations in ways we can only imagine. I assume that, as children’s writers, every one of you is concerned about young people, the challenges they face and the future they will confront. And yet, some of you will not bother making it to a polling place on Tuesday.
This is beyond senseless. It’s tragic.
Please, vote.
If you’re not going to vote because it’s raining, bring an umbrella.
If you’re not going to vote because the lines are long, bring a good book.
If you’re not going to vote because the lines are really long, bring your laptop and write a good book.
If you’re not going to vote because you’re convinced your candidate is a shoo-in (or dead meat), you might be wrong, so go and vote.
If you’re not going to vote because you think your vote doesn’t matter, ask some folks in Florida circa 2000 about that.
On Tuesday night, I do believe that the tectonic plates of this republic will shift, and that we’ll find ourselves at the dawn of a challenging, exasperating but, ultimately, grand era in our nation’s history. I’ve already had my say in the matter. Will you?
Vote.
To see what others in the kidlit world are saying about the importance of voting, visit Blog The Vote.
And here’s a video from children’s author Tina Coury on why she votes:
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:51 am
As a former child, I say thank you. I remember those years of being so frustrated that I couldn’t vote and quizzing my parents about the choices they made on their ballots.