Stand for Something or Fall for Anything

 
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, remains in our American history, one of the greatest and most prominent figures of the women's rights and suffrage movements. She was passionate, believed in a cause, and rallied those around her to join her in the fight for among other things, the woman's right to vote. For most of her adult life, she organized conventions, gave speeches, authored books and fought for what she believed in. She died in 1902, 18 years before the 19^th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed, prohibiting any U.S. citizen denial from the right to vote based on sex.
 
To put this in perspective, as an organization, Tri Delta was 32 years old when the 19^th Amendment was passed giving women the right to vote. There were 61 collegiate chapters.
 
Elizabeth Cady Stanton fought for what she believed was right. She, along with so many other integral women during that time, paved the way for all of us to be familiar with the issues affecting our country, to know what we believe in, to look out for what we feel is the good of the whole and to play an active part in the future of our country. Many of us have never known not being able to vote when you turn 18. Many of us probably take that right for granted.
 
How often do you stop to appreciate your ability to vote? How familiar are you with the issues of this presidential election? How prepared are you to exercise your right to vote? With the obligatory campaign ads, mudslinging, celebrity endorsements, conventions, Facebook status rants, bumper stickers and speeches, it can be easy to be overwhelmed with the presidential race. It can be easy to become disengaged with the campaign. It can be easy to just not care.
 
It can be just as easy to be swayed by friends or commercials, convinced by politicians or debates. During any time of election, it's important to realize that if you don't stand for something...you can just as easily fall for anything. So we challenge you to get involved. Know the issues. Just in case you aren't sure where to start, here's just a few of the top issues that are important in this presidential election:

• Abortion
• Economy which includes the National debt ceiling and student loans
• Environment 
• Healthcare 
• Foreign Policy
  

Aren't completely sure where to even start? How about www.procon.org an "independent, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity" that helps educate on the issues. Not sure how you even feel about any of the issues? Or check out this great website www.isidewith.com. Through a series of unbiased questions, this site helps identify the candidates that support your particular stance on the various issues.

Determine how you feel about each of this year's presidential candidate based on how they plan to tackle the issues that are important to you...are important to our country. And then on November 6, 2012, stand up for what you believe in.  Exercise your right to vote, a privilege that many of you have never not known, a privilege that Elizabeth Cady Stanton stood tall for and never experienced.