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Election Day 2014 has been announced and this might sound strange, but I’m looking forward to it with the same enthusiasm as I would a long-awaited movie release date or mid-season sale.
I get seriously excited at the prospect of making my X – but if you’re among those in need of some extra motivation to get out of bed early on May 7th, here are a few good reasons why you should:
Because you’re reading this post
You cared enough about our nation’s upcoming election to spend some time looking through this list as opposed to say, your slow-on-the-uptake friends’ Facebook Lookbacks, or yet another gif of the little Olympic ring that couldn’t.
That alone means you’re already thinking about our country’s future, and your capacity to play a tangible role in it. Thank you for being awesome.
Because the right to vote is something special
The right of women to vote is a relatively (alarmingly) recent development in world history; as is our right to an education, our right to earn a living and our recognition as equal citizens.
Even today, rights like these are still denied to women in some parts of the world. They are not something we should take for granted.
Today, our Constitution is among the most progressive in the world – thanks to the efforts of the courageous women and men who took a stand against injustice.
And yes, we have a long way to go before our country’s ideals are as superb in practice as they are on paper. Making an informed decision about who you want to see in power is a step towards making that a reality.
Because it’s a mark of respect to these women
Lilian Ngoyi. Helen Joseph. Rahima Moosa. Sophia Williams-De Bruyn. Jean Sinclair and her Black Sash co-founders.
The 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956, and the countless others who fought for our equality over the years – be it in large, bold, headline-making movements or in quiet determination behind the scenes.
For those who sacrificed their time, their safety and even their lives for the sake of a free and fair South Africa, the most appropriate way we can honour them is to exercise those rights they fought so hard to win.
Because that one simple letter X says more than words could ever express
We lost our collective father a mere two months ago, and while it’s almost impossible to put into words what former president Nelson Mandela and his legacy meant to us, the simple action of exercising your democratic right says more than words ever could.
This year, I’ll consider my “X” the equivalent of blowing a kiss – a mark of true affection for our troubled but beautiful country, and the exceptional man who made it what it is today.
I’m not advocating that anyone vote for the mere sake of voting. This right is accompanied by a responsibility to make a calculated, informed decision – if you’re in search of some recommended reading, FeministsSA is currently running an Elections Analysis series, providing insights into each party’s ideology, female representation and their support of womens’ rights.
It’s well worth your time.
What motivates you to vote? Are you looking forward to Election Day, or do you think I’m a naïve idealist?
Follow Women24 on Twitter or like us on Facebook.
I get seriously excited at the prospect of making my X – but if you’re among those in need of some extra motivation to get out of bed early on May 7th, here are a few good reasons why you should:
Because you’re reading this post
You cared enough about our nation’s upcoming election to spend some time looking through this list as opposed to say, your slow-on-the-uptake friends’ Facebook Lookbacks, or yet another gif of the little Olympic ring that couldn’t.
That alone means you’re already thinking about our country’s future, and your capacity to play a tangible role in it. Thank you for being awesome.
Because the right to vote is something special
The right of women to vote is a relatively (alarmingly) recent development in world history; as is our right to an education, our right to earn a living and our recognition as equal citizens.
Even today, rights like these are still denied to women in some parts of the world. They are not something we should take for granted.
Today, our Constitution is among the most progressive in the world – thanks to the efforts of the courageous women and men who took a stand against injustice.
And yes, we have a long way to go before our country’s ideals are as superb in practice as they are on paper. Making an informed decision about who you want to see in power is a step towards making that a reality.
Because it’s a mark of respect to these women
Lilian Ngoyi. Helen Joseph. Rahima Moosa. Sophia Williams-De Bruyn. Jean Sinclair and her Black Sash co-founders.
The 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956, and the countless others who fought for our equality over the years – be it in large, bold, headline-making movements or in quiet determination behind the scenes.
For those who sacrificed their time, their safety and even their lives for the sake of a free and fair South Africa, the most appropriate way we can honour them is to exercise those rights they fought so hard to win.
Because that one simple letter X says more than words could ever express
We lost our collective father a mere two months ago, and while it’s almost impossible to put into words what former president Nelson Mandela and his legacy meant to us, the simple action of exercising your democratic right says more than words ever could.
This year, I’ll consider my “X” the equivalent of blowing a kiss – a mark of true affection for our troubled but beautiful country, and the exceptional man who made it what it is today.
I’m not advocating that anyone vote for the mere sake of voting. This right is accompanied by a responsibility to make a calculated, informed decision – if you’re in search of some recommended reading, FeministsSA is currently running an Elections Analysis series, providing insights into each party’s ideology, female representation and their support of womens’ rights.
It’s well worth your time.
What motivates you to vote? Are you looking forward to Election Day, or do you think I’m a naïve idealist?
Follow Women24 on Twitter or like us on Facebook.
