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A look at 'Why It's Important to Vote'
McCOOK, Nebraska -- In the early years of America's existence, only male landowners over 21 years old were allowed to vote. No one under 21 could vote, no women of any age, no one who did not own land.
"Only one person in 150 was able to vote," says McCook Senior High sophomore Chessney Friehe. "That figure was eye-opening for me."
Chessney learned that surprising fact of history during a three-day conference this fall in Philadelphia -- the trip was first prize for winning the 2013 Nebraska AmVets Americanism essay contest, "Why It's Important to Vote."
Two speakers at the conference told Chessney and 119 other high school students from across the nation that only 35 percent of the American public votes today. Chessney's disappointed in that figure. "There's lots of thing you can change with one vote," she insists.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO VOTE
By Chessney Friehe
It is important to vote because today as a citizen in our country we have certain rights and privileges. We also have certain responsibilities. One of these responsibilities is being able to vote. To vote is to give a voice, your voice of what you think is best for your country, state or community. All policies affect each and every citizen. Each one of us has a job to do in society.
My first reason for why it is important to vote is because not everyone can do it. There are hundreds of nations in the world. Only a fraction of these nations are democracies or constitutional monarchies. Only part of the world's population enjoys the right to vote in free democratic elections. The most basic rights that U.S. citizens take for granted. If these countries have elections at all, they are usually a sham. Only a few candidates are listed on the ballots, and those are for local office. The people do not get to choose their leaders.
My second reason for why it is important to vote is because it's your right. As the 14th amendment says all persons born within the U.S. are citizens and guaranteed rights and privileges. One of these rights is to vote which is why more people should vote and express their opinion. Many think that their individual vote doesn't matter in the large scheme. Never underestimate your single vote. Granted, it alone is not going to be the deciding factor, but if a large majority of individuals thinking on similar lines decide to cast their votes, that certainly will make a difference.
If we consider a 55% voter turnout, that equals 45% of votes that are not going to make any difference at all. How can a decision made by only about a half of the population represent what the community wants? These are reasons why a good citizen should always exercise his right to vote. As Robert Frost said, "thinking isn't agreeing or disagreeing. That's voting." Voting is one of the easiest ways you can voice your opinion in a democracy. It gives you a chance to choose your own leaders and make them accountable for your development.
While participants in the conference could not change history regarding slavery or the Bill of Rights -- which historical re-enactors and speakers debated and explained at the conference -- they were given the opportunity to study and propose rewrites and revisions to the "Proposed American Security Act of 2013-2014."
The introduction to the exercise stated: Congress is now considering a measure to promote greater domestic security and secure law and order. Now be it resolved that the President of the United States is empowered to take appropriate measures to maintain the domestic security of the United States. Accordingly, the President is authorized by this act to exercise the following functions:
Section 1: Registry of all handguns rifles, shotguns. 2. Non-citizens must register every six months with Immigration and Naturalization Service. 3. A "Bureau of Internal Security" will compile a list of organizations that advocate violence to bring about political change. 4. If the United States is engaged in armed conflict, the Department of Homeland Security is authorized to require prior submission of any publications. 5. All American citizens must apply for a national ID card and carry it on their person when not in their own homes. 6. Visual recognition software searches will be made of drivers to and from transportation centers and historic landmarks to prevent acts of terrorism against them. 7. A new anti-terrorism special operations unit of the FBI will be trained and readied for deployment within the country's boundaries for "special national security situations" based on information gleaned from suspected terrorists. and 8. All new computers will be registered with the government and outfitted with chips that allow the government to decrypt all files.
Chessney's group was assigned Section 6. "Ours was vetoed," she said.
Students also sat in on a mock trail at the Criminal Justice Center: On trial were breast cancer awareness fund-raising bracelets imprinted with "I (Heart) Boobies," and whether they're inappropriate -- because of the "boobies" language -- for students to wear to school.
The American Civil Liberties Union argues that students have a free speech right to wear the bracelet.
Chessney said that both sides were presented, and "Supreme Court judges" made the final ruling -- determining that the bracelets should be banned in schools.
Chessney said that the AmVets shared with students facts about their organization, and the daughter of an American "Medal of Honor" recipient explained the surprising pressure associated with winning the medal. "It's like taking their worst day ever and plastering it on the wall, and they see it forever," Chessney said.
The conference wasn't all serious subjects, Chessney said, as students had fun at a "Leadership Carnival" where they were quizzed on the names of all 50 states, abbreviations, and capital cities; ranks of the military; and the Bill of Rights and Amendments.
Each student had been asked to bring a small trinket of some sort representing his/her state to trade at a "swap meet." Chessney took popcorn -- "because Nebraska is No. 1 in the production of popcorn," she said -- packages of Kool-Aid, because the popular kids' beverage started in Nebraska (in Hendley and in Grand Island); and face tattoos rooting for the Nebraska Huskers.
At the Reading Terminal Market, she ate a traditional Philly steak and cheese sandwich.
Chessney's favorite conference speaker, Dan LeClerc, "was very, very funny," she said. "He grew up in a town with eight streets," she said. "He understands small-town life."
The students became tourists when they visited Colonial Philadelphia, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell. Chessney learned that pennies and quarters thrown on Benjamin Franklin's grave -- they throw pennies, Chessney said, because Franklin believed, "A penny saved is a penny earned," and quarters because Washington's head is on the quarter -- helps his church maintain his grave site.
They toured the small, scattered bunk houses that George Washington's soldiers lived in at Valley Forge. "The men lived in these bunk houses -- with their wives and children," Chessney said.
Chessney's participation in the AmVets' conference, she said, "was life-changing. I've learned how to become a better citizen ... how I -- and other young adults -- need to become more involved in politics."
It's increased her self-confidence, Chessney said. "If I want to become an officer in an organization, I will now understand better the responsibilities of leadership," she said.
The experience also afforded Chessney the opportunity to see the potential in others. She said, "I was there with some very amazing, incredible people. You only have to look at them to know they're going to go somewhere."
Chessney, the daughter of Brad and Jennifer Friehe, lives on a farm near Culbertson, where her family raises cattle and a herd of eight horses.
After high school, Chessney wants to attend the University of Wyoming, to become an animal nutritionist or a horse chiropractor.