Vote

By the time these words will be read by Monroe Dispatch readers three days from Nov. 5, 2024, the nation should know who the next president of the United States will be. This writer says "should know" because coming off the heels of the last presidential election, the trust in this nation's electoral process of counting votes has been seriously eroded. The kind of turmoil, anger and bitterness by the side that lost over the results of 2020, showed us how much some will go to cling to power. As voters head to the polls in a few days, there is widespread concern that there might be a repeat of Jan.6, 2021 if the results are not favorable to one opponent. The seeds of doubt have already been planted in the minds of millions who despite the numbers indicating a close race, seemed poised to somehow "snatch victory from the jaws of defeat" if they are given the word. If one of the hallmarks of this nation is showing the world that the "peaceful" transfer of power will occur every four years when a president is sworn in, then measures must be in place to make sure that happens. We shall see. Voters have a choice of picking between two opponents who are about as different as night and day. There is striking contrast between them that plays to their character, honesty, morals, respect for others and where their faith is. Voters have heard each candidate lay out their visions for the nation, their ideas (or concepts) and policies on how the nation will move forward. Both candidates have a record of public service, and it is their records where voters often make their decisions hopefully not with their hearts, but from the facts. We are told from the scriptures that it is not what goes into a person that defiles them, but what comes out of the mouth. Clearly, we have heard the words that have come out of the mouths of both candidates, as voters must decide which candidate offers words that strive to unite a nation rather than divide it. There's another scripture in that. We have heard many "doomsday" scenarios about what will/can happen if a certain candidate wins. Chaos and violence will reign. The words in the Constitution won't matter, power and authority will be in the hands of one man. Would that happen here? There are those who would love to see that happen. There is a way to ensure that doesn't happen. Vote. Millions have already done that. By now, there are few "undecideds" left, as the candidates will be making their "closing arguments" on why voters should vote for them. One has made a career of making closing arguments while the other one lets someone else make the argument that is who the candidate is. Whatever you do on November 5, make sure that one of the things is that you voted. Remember, the world is watching. So is God.