The importance of taking a stance.

Today is the last day to vote for who you want to represent you in the European Union parliament, and it is important to vote, for many reasons (look, a list. I like lists.)

1. Having elections and having a voice in the electoral process is a PRIVILEGE, not a right. Many people in years past have fought for our voice. I, as a woman, feel especially obliged to vote, because so many instance have fought against my suffrage, and so many people have struggled to give me a voice. I would pay these people great disrespect if I squander the privilege their fight have provided me.

2. Fascist, nazi, and other anti-humanitarian forces are gaining ground in Europe, and in Sweden. In many parts of the European Union, human beings are persecuted based on their ethnical background, sexuality, religion, gender, and/or social status. Human beings' rights to their own lives, their safety, and their voices are being pushed aside and ignored, all based on ideology.

3. Politicians fear the educated voter and they fear the educated citizen. Show that you care about what politicians do by turning up at the ballots. Every vote counts, even if your party or representative doesn't win. To politicians, every vote is one person who will be paying attention to what the parliament is doing.

4. In Sweden right now, there is a government supported kind of unpaid labor in which people work full time or more, and then they have to beg the welfare office for the money to pay bills, because the employers are not mandated to pay salaries to these workers. The government calls it "unemployed people having something to do", but really, it's the Employment Agency paying employers money to keep unemployed people busy, without having to actually employ the people doing the work. Taking a stance against cheap labor in the EU gives hints to domestic politicians as well.

5. If you are alloved to vote and you choose not to, you have no right to complain. You didn't care enough to even try to elect a representative, so in my eyes, you have selected to mute your own voice.

Mostly though, I feel that too many people think that their votes don't count, but you know what? There's a great saying that whoever thinks that they're too small to make a difference have never tried to sleep with a mosquito in the room.

DFTBA.

Hedgehog's Summer Vacation

I was browsing my Facebook feed and I came across this lovely thing by the Militant Baker and thought "Hedgehog, you need to make a list of your own. Your organization OCD will thank you." So here it is - my list of 15 things I will get done this Summer.

1. Read the entirety of A Song Of Ice And Fire. (It's about time I get it done. I've been neglecting the poor thing lately.)

2. Buy a bikini and wear it.

3. Pose for beach photos, wearing said bikini.

4. Learn how to knit.

5. Finish a quilt.

6. Visit the open air flee market in the next town over.

7. Organize a BBQ party at the beach house.

8. Keep my pepper fruit plants alive.

9. Fly fish by the ocean.

10. Watch an outdoor movie.

11. Picnic. Because, why not?

12. Write a novella.

13. Finish my "My Year In Las Vegas" scrap book (it's 10 years in the making)

14. Make at least two colorful Summer dresses.

15. Visit all historic landmarks within biking distance.