Sunday, February 11, 2007

Vote - It's Your Right!


A Chara,

An Assembly elections has been called in the North of Ireland for March 7th.

Ógra Shinn Féin are urging all youth who have registered, to come out and vote. The right to vote was not something that was easily granted - the right to vote was fought for by a risen people, who where censored, batoned, shot and murdered in the pursuit of suffrage.

Voting rights where dragged from the oppressers, by Women suffragettes in the early twentieth century, by Black's in the US in the early 1960's and by Irish Civil Rights activists in the 60's/70's marching on the streets and countryside across the North.

Voting today may seem like a luxury, but it is a right that was hard fought to achieve and therefore should be used wisely. It is powerful tool that allows all citizens to exercise their democratic choice in the party which best expresses and delivers on their politics.

A vote is a instrument of change that that all citizens should cherish, every vote counts and makes influence. The Dalai Lama once explaining the importance of the individual said,

"If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito."

All citizens especially the youth, should feel empowered in this election and vote for change, in the words of Che Guevera,

"I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves."

If you will not be home on March 7th for any reason (student, work commitments or travelling to Milan for the Celtic match), you are still entitled to vote and can apply for a postal or proxy form before Thursday 15th February.

Forms are available from local Sinn Féin offices or can be downloaded (please print double-sided) from:

www.eoni.org.uk/av_form_-_rpf9a_ni_-2.pdf.

If you require assistance or further information contact your local Sinn Féin office.

Is mise le meas,

Ógra Shinn Féin





1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Excellent piece - u should have mentioned the Gildernew's in Caledon!