What will you do?

As the Election Day draws closer, I can’t help but think what lies ahead for this great country that is America. I am a foreign national and I respect America. This country has given me a lot. I am indebted to America for the education, job, good living it has provided me. I have learnt a lot from people in America. Honesty, hard work, integrity, fighting for the right thing amongst many other traits I have observed and learned from everyday people here. I have been inspired by many, many people here. They are everyday Joe, but they have inspired me. The foremost attribute, if I was asked to pick one about America, would be Individualism. The spirit of independent thinking in America amazes me. And it is this point I want to stress home today. To vote for the candidate based on your individual research and analysis. Election day is not very far from us. It is our chance to make history. Too often we tend to think "What can I do? I am but one person." "I am too small to make a change." Well this is your chance to make a change. Regardless of which party you think you belong to, Democrat or Republican or The Green Party, I would like to request you to keep your party aside for a sec. Let’s keep our defenses out and come on table for a dialogue. Let’s really open up and check the facts. What have the candidates in their past voted for? What bills/laws they have voted against? What’s their political history? Not how rich they were born or how poor. No. Instead let’s find what they stand for through their governing history. If I may, I would like to urge you to keep your religion aside for a sec and evaluate the values that the person stands for, by observing their behavior, their conduct, and their policies. The thing about religion is that most people feel their religion is the correct religion. Almost exuding a sort of self-righteousness, a sort of high ground, as if being part of a religion automatically makes one great. No. It’s what you do, what you stand for that makes you great. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, they both belonged to different religions, but were each remarkable men. And the other thing is, if merely being part of a religion would make one great, there would be no religion based war, no priests abusing kids. Not for a second am I against a religion or religion in general. If a philosophy/religion brings you peace and makes you a better person, I am all for it. But do realize that there is another philosophy, another religion that brings peace to another. So there should be a clear distinction between State and Religion. So if I may suggest, don’t vote based on who is more religious or follows your religion. Also, look for who has new trustworthy ideas. Did you know there is a Green Party? Check out their ideas. See what their focus is. In this so called democracy, mainstream media is only feeding us what will drive their viewership up. How many articles have you read about the Green Party? Please don’t think that this party will never win so you would be wasting your vote. If everybody thinks like that, there is no chance for a new party to win and change things. The math is simple. If enough people vote for an independent party then that party will win. Mind you, I am not urging you to vote for one party or the other. I am urging, requesting you to keep your options open and vote based on factual information rather than popular sentiment around you. In summary, regardless whom you vote for I would like to encourage you to: 1. Study your facts. 2. Learn, read “left”, “right” and independent stuff. 3. Base your vote off of your own convictions rather than what your family, your religious thinkers, your friends have voted for. 4. And lastly, please, please vote. If you don’t vote, then in my opinion, you lose all rights to criticize current state of affairs. If you have done nothing for the nation, then don't be an arm chair critique. Please don’t shirk your responsibility. Here’s your chance to create history. America needs you. What will you do?