Affirmation for November 2, 2010: US Election Day
Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be.- Sydney J. HarrisThought of the day:There is a saying: "You can't complain if you don't vote." It's election day today in the U.S., and today is a good time to remember that democracy is a cause that was hard-won if we look back at how we actually achieved this system that we enjoy today.
One only need to look back to the story of women's suffrage, made part of the U.S. Constitution as late as 1920 as the 19th Amendment. To put that struggle in perspective, here is an excerpt from an argument against women's suffrage, written in 1911 by J.B. Sanford, Senator:"Suffrage is not a right. It is a privilege that may or may not be granted. Politics is no place for a women consequently the privilege should not be granted to her.The mother's influence is needed in the home. She can do little good by gadding the streets and neglecting her children. Let her teach her daughters that modesty, patience, and gentleness are the charms of a women. Let her teach her sons that an honest conscience is every man's first political law; that no splendor can rob him nor no force justify the surrender of the simplest right of a free and independent citizen. The mothers of this country can shape the destinies of the nation by keeping in their places and attending to those duties that God Almighty intended for them. The kindly, gentle influence of the mother in the home and the dignified influence of the teacher in the school will far outweigh all the influence of all the mannish female politicians on earth."Looking back, it seems so natural that women succeeded in gaining the right to vote. But the reality is there was very vehement opposition, and it took a multitude of women raising their voices for what they believed in to earn that right.Take a lesson from this and exercise your right to vote, wherever you have a chance to in whatever country you're from!Have an outspoken day!TeamDS
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The challenge we pose to you today and the rest of this month is to ask yourself: What Are You Thankful For? Join our Fall Affirmation Contest Member Group and tell us what you're thankful for, and your entry could be printed on a special edition Fall Affirmation T-Shirt. We'll even send you one for free if you win!
Remember, you can also receive DailyStrength updates by following us on Twitter and Facebook.
One only need to look back to the story of women's suffrage, made part of the U.S. Constitution as late as 1920 as the 19th Amendment. To put that struggle in perspective, here is an excerpt from an argument against women's suffrage, written in 1911 by J.B. Sanford, Senator:"Suffrage is not a right. It is a privilege that may or may not be granted. Politics is no place for a women consequently the privilege should not be granted to her.The mother's influence is needed in the home. She can do little good by gadding the streets and neglecting her children. Let her teach her daughters that modesty, patience, and gentleness are the charms of a women. Let her teach her sons that an honest conscience is every man's first political law; that no splendor can rob him nor no force justify the surrender of the simplest right of a free and independent citizen. The mothers of this country can shape the destinies of the nation by keeping in their places and attending to those duties that God Almighty intended for them. The kindly, gentle influence of the mother in the home and the dignified influence of the teacher in the school will far outweigh all the influence of all the mannish female politicians on earth."Looking back, it seems so natural that women succeeded in gaining the right to vote. But the reality is there was very vehement opposition, and it took a multitude of women raising their voices for what they believed in to earn that right.Take a lesson from this and exercise your right to vote, wherever you have a chance to in whatever country you're from!Have an outspoken day!TeamDS
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The challenge we pose to you today and the rest of this month is to ask yourself: What Are You Thankful For? Join our Fall Affirmation Contest Member Group and tell us what you're thankful for, and your entry could be printed on a special edition Fall Affirmation T-Shirt. We'll even send you one for free if you win!
Remember, you can also receive DailyStrength updates by following us on Twitter and Facebook.
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