Just speak up: Tomorrow is your day to have your say about future

The time for campaigning is over. Everything that needs to be said has been said, and then some.

Now, it is all up to us.

And it is a responsibility we should not shirk.

The United States is a beacon for the rest of the world for many reasons, but one of the greatest is that it really is a country run by its people.

We, not the government or some anointed leader, determine our futures and we can change their course every four years.

There are many places that cannot say that.

So tomorrow, there will be long lines, long waits and lots of people who will be out to cast their ballots.

Don't be discouraged and don't stay away.

No matter for whom you will cast that ballot, it is an important one. It is your chance to tell your leaders what you want to see in the next four years.

Don't listen to anyone who tells you that your vote does not matter. Every check on a ballot sends a message -- and really does influence how Washington conducts itself.

So wear your "I Voted Today" sticker proudly. You are part of a great tradition that has spanned centuries -- and one that should be guarded zealously and cherished as an indication that freedom is still alive today and will be protected at any cost.

And while you are at it, celebrate being an American.

Published in Editorials on November 5, 2012 1:38 PM