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Earlham College, on the outskirts of Richmond, Ind., is run by the Society of Friends (Quakers), who are famous for their sometimes silent worship services.
Years ago, however, some of the Earlham students held the exact opposite of the traditional Quaker silent meeting. Faced with examinations and attendant academic pressures they felt the need of a tension reliever. So, at 9:30 p.m. on a Friday, about 100 students met on mid-campus to hold their first "All-College Scream."
After screaming and yelling at the top of their lungs for about 15 minutes, most of the students said they felt good and agreed that the "All-College Scream" should be repeated.
This year's election from the top office of Congress of the United States through state, county and local elections have made a number of people including myself, feel like screaming. The attack ads on TV, radio, internet, billboards, the newspaper and door-to-door passing out of information as well as lawn signs on every corner in every neighborhood, different videos that have gone viral and many other things, makes me think that I would not be by myself to go into a huge field and we all let out a collective scream. But with all of the challenges that we have been presented with, I believe it is still not only an honor, but a right and responsibility for every American to vote. A few years ago, my wife and I, took our youngest daughter for her first opportunity to vote in an election. I have tried to stress to her and anyone who will listen that people died, marched, had dogs turned on them, fire hoses shot at them for every man, women and minorities to gain the right to vote. Not only that, but there was a Civil War and an American Revolutionary War to give us a right to vote. This responsibility should not be taken lightly, but seriously and cautiously. In this great vast country, it may be hard to believe, but one vote does matter. Ask Al Gore; ask the people who counted the hanging chads in Florida in the 2000 Presidential elections.
According to recent voting turnout statistics: Total number of Americans eligible to vote are 173.85 million of Americans were registered to vote and only 154 million Americans voted in the 2024 Presidential election. Approximately 65.3 percent of Americans actually voted in the 2024 Presidential election. It is said that more women take voting seriously than men. It is sad that minorities do not always vote as much as others. According to the statistics that were provided for me, the older a person gets the more they take voting seriously and the younger a person is the less likely they will vote. It also seems that the more money someone makes the more likely they are to vote and the more poverty stricken someone is the less likely they are to see the importance of voting. No wonder people who own their homes votes at a higher percentage than people who rent them. Excuses that are the highest percentage is too busy to take time to go vote, not interested in the election, running close in percentage wise is the old excuse to do not like the candidates or the campaign issues, but the worst excuse in my estimation that I found in my research was I just forgot.
No matter whom you are voting for it is assured that one side is going to lose. One of the things I think that makes America great is that we will work with whoever wins. We pray for whoever we thought was the best candidate to win, we work hard, we support in every way possible for our candidate to win, but all things being equal, if they don't we live with the outcome of the election. I've heard talk of people wanting to start a movement to create a revolution to hurt people who didn't vote their way. I've heard of this in Third World countries, but it is shocking to hear it in America.
High up on the peaks of the Andes Mountains there stands a bronze statue of Christ. Its base is of granite, and the figure is fashioned from old cannons. It marks the boundary line between Argentina and Chile.
Engraved in Spanish are the words, "Sooner shall these mountains crumble into dust than Argentines and Chileans break the peace sworn at the feet of Christ the Redeemer."
For many years, the people of these two countries had been quarreling about their boundaries. Both countries were suffering from the mistrust created.
In 1900, things were very tense, and the people begged their leaders to ask King Edward VII of England to settle the dispute. On May 28, 1903, the two governments signed a treaty, pledging themselves to settle future quarrels in the same way.
Great was the rejoicing in both countries. During the celebration, Senora de Costa, a noble lady of Argentina who had done much to bring about peace, decided to erect a monument. She had a statue of Christ shaped form the very cannons used to strike terror into the hearts of the enemy, and it was taken to the summit of Uspallata Pass where the two countries meet amid perpetual snow.
A great audience was present, the Argentines standing on Chilean soil, and the Chileans standing on Argentine soil. Bishops and clergy, soldiers and seamen, statesmen, and three thousand representatives of the people gathered in a temple fashioned by the Creator's own hand.
The statue was raised to position and dedicated to the whole world as a sign of the victory of goodwill.
Senora de Costa knelt before the figure of Christ and prayed, "Protect, O Lord, our native land. Ever give unto us faith and hope. May fruitful peace be our first patrimony and good example its greatest glory." Many believe that this monument stands as a reminder that only Christ can bring peace in our country and in our lives.
Let me encourage everyone to support their candidate, whoever it is, and pray for whoever wins. They are going to need it. God bless America.