Exercise . . . Especially on Apr. 2

This is the time of year that we generally think about exercise. We want to get ‘back in shape’ to feel like we look good on our vacations, on our sporting teams, and in our increased outdoor activities that come with the advent of Daylight Saving Time. And, as the winter coats make way for shorts and short sleeves, many of our heads and bodies turn toward increasing the amount of exercise we do.

I want you to do a special exercise on April 2, 2013. I encourage you to exercise your right to vote.

The battle for the right to vote has been a long process for some here in the United States.

Originally, only white men who owned a significant amount of land or had considerable wealth were allowed to vote. A few states allowed freed male slaves to participate in the process.

By the time of the Civil War, most white men, whether or not they owned land, were allowed to vote.  Following the Civil War, the 14th Amendment to the Constitution allowed both natural-born and naturalized male citizens the right to vote in 1868. On its tails, the 15th Amendment in 1870 gave the right to vote not discriminating for race, color, or prior ‘condition of servitude’. Some places required prospective male voters to be tested for literacy. Others tested for religious reasons. Still others instituted a ‘poll’ tax.

Yes, there were still places in the United States that had work to do to secure the vote to the multitudes – even though ‘the multitudes’ only meant men at the time.

Women were allowed to vote by ratification of the 19th Amendment (1920), although the fight for that vote took years. This past March 3 marked the 100th anniversary of the Women’s March Parade on Washington, D.C. The Parade of 8,000 women included Helen Keller and the famous journalist Nellie Bly. The day was picked because it was the day before Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration. Presidential inaugurations used to be on March 4, the anniversary of the day the Constitution went into effect in 1789. The last March 4 inauguration was FDR’s in 1933. These women in 1913 met with crowds along the parade route – mostly mean -  who shouted at them and shoved. Since the streets were not shut down for the parade, the men stood firm in the streets, forcing the women to push past them. About 200 were taken to hospitals with injuries. Seven years later, women received the right to vote.

Even Washington, D.C. was not immune to strict voting policies. Since it is not a state, its residents were not allowed to vote for President and Vice President of the United States until the ratification of the 23rd Amendment in 1961. Now, they hold three electoral votes. Residents still do not have voting senators or representatives in Congress.

It has often been said that voting is a right. It is also said that voting is a duty. I believe it is both. Many Americans who came before us fought for the privilege to cast their ballots for the candidates of their choice.

Perhaps we do have an obligation to continue that for which they fought.

Please exercise your right, and vote on April 2.