#YOUMATTER

Speech Commemorating the 100 Year Anniversary of the 19th Amendment

On the second of November, 1920, over 8 million American women voted in elections for the first time.

The story of the United States is not one of being perfect, but of progressive sanctification.  While we have not always lived up to the promise that All Men Are Created Equal… with each successive generation we have fought to make it so.  The 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the vote was one of those fights.  Now…

You’ll notice I said guaranteed women the right, not granted.

It was the intent of the Framers of our Nation to create a system of governance that would protect our rights that exist naturally just for being born human – Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.  In our representative Republic, government exists solely to protect those rights. 

Women’s inability… Our inability… to participate in our own governance was a misuse of government’s expressed purpose – to protect our natural rights. After World War One President Woodrow Wilson praised the women who upheld our nation and urged Congress to GRANT us equal rights… But you see… In this country the power comes from the people.  Neither Wilson, nor any of their elected officials were responsible for granting women the right to vote.  We are governed from the bottom up, not the top down.   The people demanded change and on the second of November, 1920, over 8 million American women voted in elections for the first time.

Remember – Our representatives make rules ONLY by our consent… and that starts… with our vote.

That is why it is imperative that we NOT become complacent in standing by and being governed by our elected officials.

It is OUR RIGHT to maintain our liberty and limit the power of government to impose on our lives.  It is OUR DUTY to participate in the process of deciding what is right, and how laws will be administered.  It is OUR HONOR to ensure the American Dream is true for Everyone.

YOUR. VOTE. MATTERS.

YOU MATTER.

VOTE.