As I’m sure you all have heard by now, Amendment One has been accepted into the North Carolina constitution. Although I would have hoped that it would be a close race, nearly 61% of North Carolina voted for the amendment. I have to say, I was both shocked and disappointed by the results. Perhaps it was a bit optimistic on my part, but after seeing so many students on campus who were adamantly against the amendment, I truly thought that most people would take a similar stance.
What shocked me just as much, if not more, was arriving at the voter polls on Tuesday morning. As I stepped out of my car, I was bombarded with elderly women asking me to vote for the amendment; what I did not see, however, were young people who were just as eager as I to vote. Now, I cannot gear this message towards Watauga, as we were one of the few counties who voted against the amendment (go us!), but I will admit that it was distressing that so many of my peers didn’t consider voting a top priority.
As young adults of this era, we will inevitably have a different opinion on more “liberal” issues. Our parents and grandparents were raised in a different time where intolerance was accepted and even encouraged—we, thankfully, were not. Because of this, it is our duty to voice our thoughts if we feel something is unjust. We will eventually run this entire country, so we need to start taking initiative now. Casting your vote on Tuesday, whether for or against, was openly taking a stand for what you thought was right, something we all should want to do. If you made it out to the polls on Tuesday, regardless of what you voted, you should be proud of yourself. You had your say in what you wanted for our state. For those who did not make it, I want to encourage you to try to get involved in understanding the politics that are currently going on, both in our state and the country.