Three year-old Syrian Alan Kurdi, and the sweet, sweet sound of a voter's pencil



Alan Kurdi - from www.canadim.com

If you're not voting in tomorrow's federal election, or if you make it a regular practice not to vote, let me guess your reason. Is it:

 

Because one less vote won't matter?

Because the polling station is too busy?

Because you don't understand the political platforms?

Because you don't know the candidates?

Because many politicians break their promises?

Because you don't believe in the pledge: "We stand on guard for thee"?

Because you are exercising your right not to vote?

Or maybe...just maybe...not enough people died for your right to live in freedom. Maybe 42,000 Canadian military casualties in World War II wasn't enough for you. Maybe the civilian deaths of an estimated 29,000,000 from related military activity during WW2 were too few. Maybe the ultimate sacrifices made by millions of men, women, and families for the sake of freedom wasn't ultimate enough, or sacrificial enough. Maybe the cries of a child learning that Daddy isn't coming home again because he's dead isn't sorrowful enough. Maybe the tears wept by our aging veterans every November 11 aren't genuine enough.

 

 

Or maybe...you just don't care. You don't care about your rights and freedoms set out in the Canadian Charter of Rights. You'd be perfectly at peace with giving up your:

• freedom of conscience and religion;
• freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of press and other media of communication;
• freedom of peaceful assembly; and
• freedom of association.

If that describes you, I know of a few places in the world where you could live. Places controlled by ISIS, al Qaeda, Boko Haram, and Al-Shabaab (to name a few) all seem 'very welcoming'. They'll even take away your mother, wife, and daughters...you don't even have to ask! And, the best part is: you won't have to worry about such silly and time wasting activities such as casting a vote.

Who knows? Maybe the millions of Syrians trying to escape their homelands have it all wrong. But I doubt it. I do know this, though - Alan Kurdi, the 3 year old Syrian boy (pictured above) who was found dead on the shores of Turkey last month, will never know the sweet, sweet sound of a graphite, HB #2 pencil checking off a name on a voter's ballot. Never.

 

For the love and honour of those who sacrificed their lives so you can vote, and out of thankfulness and gratitude to God for our country - Canada, I urge you to vote.