Encourage Patriotism, Urge Voter Turnout

"Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote," said the American writer George Jean Nathan.
http://tinyurl.com/vhksg

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Something in me couldn't conceive of *not* voting when I turned 18. Admittedly, at 18, I'm not sure I had any understanding of government policy. Presently, my comprehension possibly makes me dangerous with every election cycle.

What amazes me is that from 1971's 26th Constitutional Ammendment, this nation broadened the right to vote to include 18yr olds. I suppose, because we as a nation send those folks to fight wars when we deem it fit to do so. (Someday, we'll give Puerto Ricans - also serving in our Military - the right to vote in presidential elections.)

Over a very short period of time really, from the '20s to now, we've seen fit to legally grant women (1919,) african americans (1965,) and 18 year olds (1971) all the right to vote. People have struggled, even died to secure that right.

I humbly feel it is my duty as American citizen to find my way to the polls on Election Day. It seems to me, the first duty of anyone who's "PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN."

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"Why You Should Vote"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu_989Y557I

Evening After-Work Totem Message

11.01.06 (9:05 pm)

When I got home this evening (after a twelve hour day) I was greeted by our household dog-friend, naturally. That would be Gracie. Nothing strange in her behavior, though she's sometimes a little mopey after being so long home alone (John's away in the DC-Baltimore area on business.) Well! Apparently she hadn't been quite so alone ...

Unloading my burden, (don't get me started on all the *stuff* I carry around when working) I stepped my usual path through the first floor of the house. Once in the living room I stopped cold. There lying in front of the television cabinet, was an opossum, looking quite worse for the wear, sourrounded by its own feces and spots of blood on the rug.

Geez - okay Andrea, think this through. Gathering my steele as quickly as I could, I started gathering supplies to bundle this poor beast and launch into cleanup. Great first order of business at the end of a long day, eh?

Anyway, once I was prepared to gather this critter with plastic bag, I saw that the opossum was clearly breathing. Alright. Then I grabbed an old towel, and thinking better of it got John's new work gloves - those teeth looked really impressive.

Soooh, at last, gloves donned and with the old towel, I scooped up the opossum and carried it to the fron door. It dropped lovely dollups of black tarry possum-poop along the way (thank you fella.)

Left the guy on the fron porch, wrapped nicely in the old towel and returned to the business of cleanup, now made more expansive by an act of kindness. Now it stinks to high heaven with the combination of "I'm dead Opossum smell," poop, and Pet Fresh anti stain products which has a horrendously strong anti-stink stink.

Fed Gracie - and I couldn't eat if my life depended on it now. Just minutes ago, I stepped out to check on my opossum friend's status, and guess what?

IT'S GONE!! Nothing there but my old towel.

Here's the message from the totem web-page I referred to for the Bat the other day. (I love the final line, "Congratulations and welcome home." Yeah, great ...):

http://www.sayahda.com/cyc3.html

"The Opossum

The opossum is a crafty animal that shows us how to play different roles. It knows when to act, when to hide, and when to show its true colors. Opossum is a master at recognizing truth as well as falsehood. When it wants attention it gets it. When it wants to be left alone it plays dead. It is a strategic animal that knows how to mold each situation according to its needs. It has the ability to decode hidden messages and read between the lines.

A supreme actor, the opossum can be aggressive or submissive depending on the situation. The opossum knows that each situation has commonalties as well as differences and reflects on them carefully before it responds. This links the opossum to the energies of practicality and ingenuity.

Always full of surprises and unpredictable opossums are masters at playing dead. When the time is right they can suddenly spring back to life. Playing dead is a self induced state in which the heartbeat actually slows and the pulse becomes minimal. This ability serves to confuse many predators giving the opossum an escape from life threatening situations.

Opossums are nocturnal and raise their young in a pouch on their mid section. The young are born blind and rely on their feelings to guide them to their destination. They learn to sense their way around at an early age developing strong instincts by the time they reach adulthood. These instincts are complimented by their inherent ability to disguise themselves. The opossum is a multi-faceted actor that continually changes its appearance. It does not allow its emotions to consume its actions and partakes in the game of life with strategic maneuvers. Part of what the opossum teaches to those with this totem is emotional and mental stability.

The opossum is a craftsman in the art of appearances. When it appears in your life it is telling you to wake up and pay attention. Things are not what they seem to be. By observing your actions, reactions, thoughts and feelings, deeper insights emerge. This emergence leads to self-empowerment. Congratulations and welcome home!"