Journal logo

My Vote

It's personal this time.

By Auntie KPublished about a year ago 5 min read
Like
Mother Hen

The 2022 election is fast approaching here in the United States. I am a part of the outliers that is either valued or despised, I am an Independent. Those who know me, know that.

When I register though, I am quietly forced to check either Republican or Democrat if I want to participate in primary elections. I feel a sickness in the pit of my stomach each time I check one of those boxes. The two party system has become so bold that if you do not choose to commit to one of them, in many regions you have no say so as to who makes it on the ballots. So rather than lose my right to participate- I flip a coin and make a choice. Heads I register Republican, tails Democrat. This year I flipped and landed on tails.

This year there are many things at stake. The economy is in shambles, more people are losing their homes, employers are becoming more aggressive, basic necessities of life are becoming luxuries that many people cannot afford, our education system is crumbling, the mental health crisis is real and so is the effects of global warming. My vote must be responsible.

I research, I actually visit the congress.gov website and read legislation, review voting records of incumbent congressional representatives and see who sponsored what bill. I listen to people in my community and the many friends I have spread across the country. The opinions in my circle, hell even in my household, are as opposing as Ted Cruz and AOC.

Through all my research I learned something interesting. All the things impacting my country, are issues impacting people across the globe. There are countries in protests over all these things but more importantly, there is a rise in human rights violations taking place. Even here in the United States.

Whether I vote Democratic or Republican, one issue may be addressed but other issues will be sacrificed. There is not a one size fits all solution when it comes to how I cast my vote.

So I have to make this more personal. Who am I? I am a mother, a wife, an aunt and a sister. I am a woman.

Living in a country that has laws in place that have loop holes for the Brock Turners in the world to take advantage of the legal system and their victims, and judges who rule in their favor.

There are places where a woman cannot divorce an abusive husband if she is pregnant.

There are laws in place that can force a ten year old who was sexually assaulted by someone she trusted to go through with an unwanted pregnancy that can have a negative impact on her life in every way imaginable.

There are judges who have given a convicted rapist custody of the child a teenager conceived from that rape, knowing that child is a young girl.

There are laws in some states in which a simple miscarriage can be investigated as a crime.

There are laws in the making that can even prohibit access to birth control which makes all this even more dire.

This very day, I still have an experience that affects me. My husband had taken me to the hospital because I was experiencing excruciating abdominal pain. The doctor ordered labs and an ultrasound. It was discovered I was nearly seven weeks pregnant. I remember the ultrasound tech turning around the monitor to see if I wanted to see my baby. Tears ran out the corner of my eyes. I held my husbands hand and said "we are having a baby!" I was happy. About fifteen minutes later, the doctor came into my room. He had reviewed everything and with a serious look on his face he explained that I was having an Ectopic pregnancy. It was serious and the positioning was life threatening. He had scheduled an abortion for me at another location the next morning because it was a critical matter. I was devastated.

I remember walking up the side walk to the facility the next day holding my husbands hands. I was scared. I was heart broken. Then I heard the chants. As bad luck would have it, pro-life activists were at the location. They cussed me, called me a murderer, told me to choose life. They didn't know my situation, that I had young children at home who needed me and that my life was at risk. They didn't know I was doing one of the hardest things in my life. I burst into tears.

In today's world, since the ruling against Roe V Wade, I could've been a casualty. My children motherless. I think about that now.

We lack access to quality health care for all these women and girls. My daughter recently gave birth to a baby girl. Her husband has $1200 a month deducted from his pay each month to cover insurance for their family. He makes far less than 100k a year. After having the baby they were hit with nearly $10, 000 in bills for uncovered medical expenses related to the birth of their child. My daughter developed some medical complications so she was not working a few months before birth, so shortly after birth her husband had to start donating plasma so they had enough funds to buy food. A couple times, I had groceries delivered for them, and I covered the cost of a life saving prescription my daughter had to take for two months after birth.

My granddaughter is now four months old and my daughter had to return to work because of expenses and bills. She spends her lunch break pumping breast milk for her baby. She works a full time shift opposite of her husband due to the high cost of child care, so they see each other about a total of three hours throughout the week.

I worry. I see my daughters family doing everything right, yet struggling to have access to well-being. I worry because my daughters condition can kill her during a pregnancy. What happens if she gets pregnant again? What persecution can she face? Will these laws steal my daughter from me?

I worry about my other daughters, and my granddaughters futures also. Will they meet a future Brock Turner? Will they be forced to risk or lose their life to pregnancy?

Why isn't Plan B on the shelves of the Dollar Trees between the condoms and pregnancy tests?

Why is it that men can have an erection pill delivered to their front doors no questions asked. Not even a background check.

My experience. My daughters. My granddaughters. All women. All girls.

That's what is going to be my priority when I cast my vote this year. The Democrats have been working on legislation to protect us. I have to give them a chance to follow through. This election the majority half of the U.S. population... the mothers, daughters, grandmothers, sisters... and yours truly Auntie K.... is what my vote will represent.

advicecriminalseconomyfact or fictionfeaturehistoryhumanitypoliticsinterview
Like

About the Creator

Auntie K

Simply a mediocre human trying to navigate this beautiful planet that struggles to be lovingly embraced by its most abusive inhabitants.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.