Martha Thomases: The Never-Ending Battle
Truth, Justice and the American Way.
That’s a phrase that has special meaning to those of us who love comics. Even if you’re not a superhero fan you remember it from your childhood, when, maybe, you were. Because it’s a phrase that’s associated with Superman, the character that initially defined American comics, it’s a phrase that evokes heroism.
We all want to be heroes, don’t we? Even those of us who might also want to be anti-heroes.
On Tuesday, you’ll have your chance. On Tuesday, you can vote.
It won’t surprise you that I have opinions about the best candidates running for elected office. I’ve alluded to them here and here, when I was supposed to be writing about pop culture. I’m more explicit here, where I get to mouth off about anything I want.
I love New York, but I hate that it has no early voting.
Fifteen years ago, when the terrorists drove airplanes into the World Trade Center, I immediately went and voted in the mayoral primary. It seemed to me that voting was my best tool for fighting terrorism.
I hate that I can’t vote every day.
You may or may not agree with me about who is best suited to lead the country, or what policies will make things better. I still want you to vote. Elections don’t mean much if we don’t. Democracy doesn’t mean much if citizens don’t participate.
Some people tell me that they don’t register to vote because they don’t want to get called for jury duty. Some people tell me they don’t vote because they don’t know where their polling place is. Some people tell me they don’t vote because it doesn’t make any difference. Some people tell me they don’t vote because they hate all the election ads and robocalls.
Heroes don’t give up that easily. Heroes do whatever they can to make the world a better place.
That’s the American Way.
