I, too, believe it is urgent that we who are the majority participate as never before—we must not be discouraged by reports suggesting our votes won’t count!
In Italy, the new prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, is an admirer of Mussolini who heads a neo-fascist party. Her ascent is the result of an election with an unusually low turnout. Republican politicians in the US have praised her victory.
In contrast, in brutal Iran, growing numbers of demonstrating women are bravely defying the authorities by removing their head scarves and cutting their hair to protest the death of a young woman in the custody of the “morality police” for being “inappropriately” garbed. The term “morality police” seems distant to us, but it certainly sounds applicable to new laws that stop women from having abortions and jail their physicians.
And in Ukraine, courage and determination to retain democracy and autonomy continue to amaze and inspire people worldwide.
As Dan Rather said in a recent column:
“Despair can be infectious. But so can hope. Hope should always be tempered by reality, but it also should not be underestimated.
We must join as one at this critical time in our national life to ensure that the forces for stability and progress, equity and kindness, drown out those for chaos, tyranny, and hatred.
Please raise your voice by voting, as early as possible–and make sure your vote’s been counted (see vote.org)–and encourage everyone you can to do the same.
Annie
annieasksyou... 
“Despair can be infectious. But so can hope. Hope should always be tempered by reality, but it also should not be underestimated.
Voting is important in any country and we should vote.
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Thank you! That is true!
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Giorgia Meloni how upsetting . These people are gaining power 0r coming close all over the world. Im feeling down but will soon recover and keep on keeping on.
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“keep on keeping on”—absolutely, Susie!
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Fascists once set the world alight with a world wide war. 3 out of 100 human beings would cease to exist between 1940 and 1946 in the immolation. 70 -85 million lives lost and uncounted millions destroyed and altered. Either we get up and vote this November or we prepare to extinguish the fires to come with blood. Seems to me anyway that voting is a cheaper option.
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I am hoping that amazing numbers of Americans see that voting now is an imperative, Richard
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That hope quote is a keeper. I’m saving it to share later. Thank you for adding hope to reality.
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We can thank Dan Rather, but I quite agree, JoAnna!
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I agree totally, Annie! This coming election day is extremely important. Hopefully with a huge turnout, stimulated by all the things you talked about here–loss of women’s reproductive freedom, loss of our children’s ability to learn a variety of ideas due to book banning, and loss of real religious freedom that allows people to believe what they want without the bullying force of others who want everyone to believe in “their way”.
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Thank you, George. This election is all about freedom, and we must not let those who see it as imposing their will on the rest of us gain control.
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I think the Supreme Court might be seen as the morality police here. Ugh.
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Definitely—setting a dreadful tone for petty Republican politicians.
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Well said, my friend, and thanks for the introduction to ‘cooldog95228’! I am now following her on Twitter and find her ideas run the same path as my own!
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I’m not surprised to hear that, Jill—as quite clearly, her ideas run the same path as mine!😊
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