Recently I attended a war protest in Veteran's Square located at
the Ammerman Campus of Suffolk County Community College.
Students along side community activists that included Vietnam
War veterans exercised their right to protest and rally.
Verbally they expressed their disgust with President George W.
Bush's policies in Iraq and how the war was faring on our
society. As protestors gathered I asked ten of the students in
attendance over twenty-one years old if they were registered to
vote and if they ever exercised that right. What surprised me is
that everyone of them answered no.
Some of these protestors really worked themselves up over the
issue, degrading our government and our cabinets. Yet in spite
of all the time and energy put into that rally NOTHING will
become of it because of the failure of folks like them to get to
the voter's box. Although I am for the war it pleases me to see
that protestors at least use some of the privileges my fellow
brothers and sisters in arms earned for us all. Until protestors
put their feelings into real power the only result they will
have is an ulcer.
In my opinion the points and arguments citizens make whether
democrat, liberal, republican, or conservative have no validity
unless they voted. So, dear reader, the next time you face a
disagreement with someone over the war issue ask that person,
honestly, if they voted in the last election. Remember it was a
passed vote on a declaration of war that sent us into Iraq. Even
democrat presidential front runner Hilary Clinton went along
with it. Let the people's voice be heard!
- Spc. Esposito
