Today was a major election in Israel.

While I have many thoughts on Netanyahu and the candidates in Israel, that is not the purpose of this post - even though many of their desired policies would affect Palestinians including annexing parts of the West Bank.

This morning, I came across this graphic and this image stayed with me for most of the morning.

It illustrates the amount of Palestinians who are not allowed to vote on the government that has complete authority over them. The government that controls their borders, their rights, their lives. They don't get a say. At all.

Unfair and infuriating.

Yet, here in America, as we get closer and closer to our next election, I keep hearing how many of us are "over politics".  Frustrated and exhausted. Sick and tired of the campaigning, the debates, ready for the election to be over.

Trust me, I get it. Politics in our country is pretty depressing and on any given news day, we can become once again, sickened at our politicians and government.

However, we need to step back. Take in the perspective.

When I was a little girl, I remember getting really upset that my city was tearing down a farm to build a shopping center on it.  Literally, I cried over it.  As a 2nd grader, I already deeply cared about not prioritizing commercialism over the environment.  

My Dad instead of being condescending or just shushing me, encouraged me to write a letter to our city's newspaper.  So I did. I also wrote one to our town mayor.  Did he ever read it? I have no idea.  But it was in this simple act that I learned how to use my voice. And I learned the importance of it. That in my country, we had the opportunity to speak up on issues we cared about.

My parents also took us with them to vote, every single time.  In my hometown, these were days off of school.  Very easily, they could have let us stay home and enjoy our free time.  But instead, it was a family lesson on the power of the vote.

How easy it is for us to brush off a right that has become a privilege. A given. How fast we forget the power and the beauty that comes in having a voice in our political system and those we elect to power. Even when it feels like we don't.

Never take your right to vote for granted when so many in our world go without such a basic freedom. 

Educate yourself. Go ahead and have those frustrating conversations. Vent. Read. Make that sign and go protest---but maybe don't post 100 selfies on Instagram (you really don't have to prove that you were there). Support the businesses who support your causes. Figure out what the platforms are that you care about. Be involved. Pick a candidate. Most importantly when the day comes... go vote.  No matter how frustrated you are. No matter how cynical you are.

Let your cynicism be your fuel to continue living and working towards change. Do it for those in the world who don't have the freedom to do it for themselves.

Don't give up on our democratic freedoms of speech and choice.



Resources: 

Common Cause: Know who your representatives and officials are, look them up here.

Vote.org: check your registration status, platforms, where to vote, etc.

Indivisible: This is more liberal/progressive leaning site but lots of advocacy items if you do lean that way.