Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 10 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds   

Voting: A Privilege to Hold Dear

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   4 comments
By John E. Carey
November 7, 2006

My wife came from Vietnam "the hard way." She was on the run from the Communists, in and out of prison and on and out again. Hiding in her own house like Ann Frank with fear of capture.

She and about 50 others spent 22 days in an open boat without food. Their only fresh water was rainwater collected in little cups. Four people died.

After reaching the Philippines, my wife, mixed into a horde of other Vietnamese refugees, overwhelmed the Philippine government. They built small huts in a kind of "stalag" to house the refuges for ten years.

Saigon fell and was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1975. My wife made it to safety in the United States in 1998!

Today, along with millions of other legal American citizens, my wife is voting for the first time in her life.

She was just reaching voting age in a Democracy, South Vietnam, in 1975. Now she is a citizen of the world's premier and longest lasting Democracy, the United States of America.

Many Americans take voting for granted. Many Americans, more than half, do not vote at all.

In our family we discuss the issues and we vote. We hold our democratic privileges dear.
Rate It | View Ratings

John Carey Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

John E. Carey is the former president of International Defense Consultants, Inc.
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Myanmar Shuns Best Hope For People

Human Rights Issues In Communist Southeast Asia: Red Alert

Memorial Day History, Tradition, Honor: Remembering the Fallen

Persian Gulf Ship Inspectors-- The Brits Captured by Iran

Baker, Hamilton Commission on Iraq Reports

World Alzheimer's Awareness day

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend