Today is a big day for Wisconsin. There is a “recall election” taking place for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor. This historic event is a first for Wisconsin.  In fact, in this article from CBSnews.com, the election is described as “the second biggest contest of the 2012 election cycle.”

There are many words that can be used to describe me – both good and bad, for certain – but “political activist” is not one of them. I care. I pray. I vote. But I generally do not participate in campaigning or in promoting an individual candidate. This year, this election, this blog post, will not break that trend.

Some of you will read that last sentence, huffing as you choose to click on the address bar to head toward a website with stronger views and adamant language for or against particular candidates, and you will choose to think I am weak for not shouting my opinions from the balcony of my apartment.

And that is exactly what I am adamant about supporting. You get to choose.

If we were all completely honest, there are few candidates, in even fewer elections, for whom we would “fight to the end” in every area of their leadership. But I will “fight to the end” for my freedom to cast my vote in an effort to elect the candidates of my choosing.

Yes, I have strong feelings about the people for whom I will vote today. I believe these two people will best represent my interests as a citizen of Wisconsin. And since I’m working diligently for the opportunity to remain in the wonderful state of Wisconsin even after losing my job, I want my interests represented well.

Yes, I’m ready for the political ads to be done. And yes, I’m ready for the bashing of candidates to end – from both sides of the ballot.

I personally believe that yelling, screaming, and hatefully spoken half-truths have no place in politics. But I do support the rights that we have that allow those fervent endeavors and the privileges that we have which permit us to live side-by-side and yet differ in our opinions as though there were a great gulf between us. I do not, however, and will not ever, for that matter, support the hatred and ignorance that breaks laws in order to defend them.

But today, I get to choose a positive way to be heard. I get to mark a box that speaks louder than all of the words and speeches and actions put together. I get to choose the candidates whose political beliefs will allow me to continue to be heard and to continue to live in a state that I have come to love.

But I must choose. I must choose to set aside the convenience of staying home. I must choose to go out of my way to head to my polling place. I must choose to delegate those moments of my day to mark a box that speaks volumes without using words.

I must choose to choose.

So today, Wisconsin voters, choose the candidate that you believe will uphold the best interests of all Wisconsin residents – rich, poor, male, female, employed, unemployed, believing, and unbelieving. For me, there is only one set of candidates that best represent that. But for me today, it’s honestly not about choosing my candidates, it’s about making the choice to choose!

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Thank you for taking time to read this post. Please feel free to leave a comment or question.