In what feels like several lifetimes ago, I was part of a machine that obliterated the status quo of an entire region of people. We went in and irreversibly altered the courses of, essentially, every life there; many of us, all these years later, still search for the true meaning of it all. While this was mainly Iraq, the ripple effects continue to be felt elsewhere, and be felt today. As part of our efforts to transition power, and sovereignty, back to Iraqis, a major election was held in early 2005. Voters held aloft their purple fingers, showing they voted. In the Kurdish north, the turnout percentage was incredible. It became a point of pride and excitement, having your purple finger. Such a concept is a stark contrast to the reality here at home.
The reality here is grim. Apathy dominates elections. Apathy is further assisted by active measures by some to prevent others from voting at all. Why were we sent to help others be able to vote, when we can’t even do so here? Between: gerrymandering (often racially motivated), voter suppression efforts (often racially motivated), voter machine failures (lack of paper trails, vote switching, drives being erased when summoned), clear conflicts of interest going unchecked (Kemp in Georgia comes to mind immediately), polling places being closed (often racially motivated), ID laws being set up with no offices to fulfill the requirement (often racially motivated), and more, it is clear we need to invade ourselves for the purpose of nation building. We have third-world poverty levels here. We have election failures here. We have education failures here. Let’s invade ourselves.
America needs a purple finger point of pride. I enjoy wearing my ‘I Voted’ sticker, but we need more than just that. We need people on the news, social media, and at local businesses with their purple fingers. When having your purple finger is the ‘cool’ thing to do, more people are going to do it. It is saddening we have such a low turnout, historically. We make voting as difficult as possible. As stated above, there are people who truly do not want you to vote. I just fail to understand why we do not have more people kicking in doors to do it.
I listen to stories of old Black folks, who describe memories of their parents being unable to vote. I think of my experiences abroad, and how they treasure being able to self-determine more than they could before. I think of the people around me and all the common excuses I hear, that turn to complaints the rest of the time. I wonder how many of the complaining non-voters simply allow everyone else to make decisions for them in other aspects of their lives. Do non-voters let other people choose what they wear, eat, watch, etc.? If I walked up to a non-voter in the streets and told them how they were going to spend their money, I doubt it would go over well. However, by not voting they are letting other people tell them how they are going to spend their money.
I understand I’m a deep thinker with a big heart. I care, as much as caring does drive me crazy from time to time – ok all the time. The idea of not caring is not something I can truly understand. The idea wherein one is content to sit by and watch the world collapse around them and do nothing is foreign to me. The notion of “this election is the most important ever” is likely cliché at this point, but it feels no less true. I am happy to see early voting numbers are high. I am glad to see so many voices of caution, temperance, and maturity. I, myself, remain optimistic but my feet remain firmly planted on the ground. I will be there Tuesday, without fail. While my finger will not be purple in actuality, it will be in spirit. I hope yours will be too.