Monday, August 11, 2008

Let's Give Our Politicians the Finger

By now most Olympics fans have heard the news of the American mens' 4x100-meter freestyle relay gold-medal swim. The French team was highly favored and Alain Bernard, French team member, even said before the relay, "The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for."

With 50 meters to go, Jason Lezak, anchor of the American relay team, was at least a half body length behind Alain Bernard. At that point in the race, not even the commentators thought that America would win a gold medal. It seemed impossible that one Olympic swimmer could swim that much faster than another Olympic swimmer in such a short time. But the impossible became the reality as American Jason Lezak touched the wall before Frenchman Alain Bernard.

Commenting on the victory, Amaury Leveaux, one of the French swimmers stated, "a fingertip did the victory. It is nothing."

Leveaux probably wants to believe that, but the truth is that it was everything in that race. A fingertip became a gold medal -- four gold medals to be precise.

At voting time, we often hear people say that they don't vote because their vote won't make a difference. Truthfully, those non-voting people always make a difference. If all Americans voted, many of our elections would have different endings. Interestingly, we often hear people talk smack about our elected officials or the direction this country is going, only to find out that their fingertips made the difference because they chose not to vote.

This election like all elections is important. A "fingertip" can make a difference. It's important that we all take part in the voting process and that we all make sure we are voting for the candidate who will fight for the sanctity of the U.S. Constitution. We do not want more politicians who will sell out the freedoms of the American people or who do not think that the United States of America is the greatest place on earth to live. So please take your fingertip to the voting polls and let it make the difference.

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