On July 19th, 1848 a convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. It was the first convention for women's rights held in the United States. This convention was the beginning of the movement for women's suffrage in America. After 72 long years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice by women all over the country the 19th Amendment was at last added to the Constitution. Finally, no one could be denied the right to vote because of their sex.
Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were the masterminds behind the women's suffrage movement. They dedicated their lives to the cause and worked tirelessly until their deaths. This week I watched the Ken Burn's film, Not for Ourselves Alone, a superb documentary about these two women and their amazing accomplishments in American history. I've seen this film many times before and have always been inspired and touched by it, but even more so this time. We have spent many months watching an interesting and tough campaign during a critical time in our nation's history. Tomorrow is election day, because of these two women and many more like them, I can take part in this election and have a say in my future.
Now folks, I live in Utah. As far as voting is concerned, it isn't too exciting here. I think it would be great to live in a swing state where it would feel more like my vote actually makes a difference, but nonetheless, I always vote. I owe it to Susan, Elizabeth and all the other women who went before me who didn't have the right, wanted it desperately, and worked for it so tirelessly. I simply won't take for granted my hard earned right.
Female or not, I hope we will all take the time to vote tomorrow, even though we may spend hours in line. It's our right, our privilege, and our responsibility, swing state or not.
There, I climbed on my soap box and said my peace, now I can go to bed and sleep soundly. I voted earlier this week thus wont be at the polls tomorrow, I will be home, glued to my television set, watching this amazing event in America history. May the best man win.
by this sign. I took a picture to remember two of my hero's.
6 comments:
I am excited to vote! There are so many issues. I get what you're saying, though. In California, it seems like a lot of my votes don't count, but I love at least the hope of having my opinion heard! I too am grateful for the women who made it possible for me to vote! Thanks for the post! :)
Great; now I'm going to have that song from Mary Poppins stuck in my head all day long. Maybe it will help me remember to vote. You should read Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History by Laura Thatcher Ulrich, if you haven't already. I think you'd like it. As a side note, I'm famous because she's in my stake and she won the Pulitzer (for a different book).
Good soap box! I am upset because my ballot never came so I can't vote on anything!!! I hope it doesn't come down to 1 vote on prop 8. Anyway, thanks for reminding us of our history!
I voted! When I was a little girl (about Mary Kate's age), my school librarian Mrs. Denniston recommended that I read the biography of Susan B. Anthony. I did and loved it so much that I re-checked it out a couple times a year until I got to middle school.
jill, you know how much i love votes-for-women and so many other things like that...beautiful tribute. mama. i dispatched my vote from here - feeling grateful all the while...
I think I take for granted the fact that I was able to take a few minutes out of my day to go to the school and vote. That process is so high tech now. I thought the lines would be so long but that wasn't my experience. When I went, I didn't have to wait even a miniute to get to the voting booth. I wished I had studied up on all the other ammendent issues and other local candidates. That was a nice tribute to the women that made all this possible.
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