RES GESTAE
One vote has power (2)
(A series of thoughts and perspectives about May 10, 2010 national and local elections)
One vote can make a difference. And history can show proofs that one vote has power to determine the result of the election.
In 1977, the mayoral election in Ann Arbor , a city in the US state of Michigan , was decided by a single, solitary vote. Also in 1960, John F. Kennedy won the election as the 35th President of the United States of America by as small a margin as one vote per election district in 12 states.
These records were amazing and history may repeat itself in any election, in any place. History may repeat in our country, Philippines . It may repeat this May 10, 2010 national and local elections.
This thought must be enough force to pull each registered voter out of their homes, offices and places of work on that day to cast their vote and make a difference.
Our country, Philippines , urgently needs each Filipino, unregistered voters included, to participate in this solemn exercise of casting our votes. Our vote this May 10, 2010 national and local elections is a line in the blueprint of our future as a Filipino nation.
With the longest ballot to be printed in the history of Philippine election, we may find casting our votes more difficult than what we were used to. We can also feel a lot of pessimisms with our having the first fully automated elections. We can’t help but fear the Commission on Election’s non-meeting of timetable.
These thoughts are just a fraction of litany of apprehensions that each of us can feel, imagine, and predict. But these thoughts and all other apprehensions we have are not enough to discourage us. Our feelings, imaginations, and predictions must propel us to exercise our right with more diligence, sincerity and love instead.
The May 10, 2010 national and local elections is our defining moment as a Filipino nation. Let each of us therefore participate in defining our future. Our ultimate task to cast our vote and be counted is simple, though not easy. Yet we have to find no other reason to let that day pass without putting our indelible ink on the page of our history. We have to forge our commitment to our beloved Philippines . We have to re-affirm our being as Filipinos.
And that can happen with our one vote!
(Send reactions and comments to rogatepnp@yahoo.com)
