<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; font-size: 26px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The Right To Vote</span><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><br></div><div>by Nhuan Le Xuan</div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I hold my ballot in my shaking hand </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">And say to myself: this is cause and effect. </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The opportunity is so grand </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I have spent all my life to expect. </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">You have lived in a free country, </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Here you and your ancestors were born; </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Your civil rights are numerous and sundry; </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Please do feel pity for the forlorn. </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I had exercised my right to vote </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In my native land’s first ever election: </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Illiterates did not know what cadres wrote; </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Bad factions led them to wrong direction. </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Wanting self-rule, people grew wiser; </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The patriots just built a young nation. </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">But the invaders, however, were slyer: </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Elections were only to shield usurpation. </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">That is why I came to this world; </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">To become a proud citizen I strived. </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Liberty in the starred banner unfurled; </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Human rights by none to be deprived. </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I cast my vote for the candidates I trust; </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I opt for the propositions I approve; </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">No choices imposed by others as a must, </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">No revenge on the dissidents as a move. </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">It is the result of my struggle in the past </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">To resist despotism and exact democracy. </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">It is the stimulus to advancement here fast </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">To expand regardless of geography. </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Though somebody dislikes time wasted, </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Why not to use the right to go to the polls? </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">This is for me Freedom so long awaited: </span><br style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(72, 72, 72); color: rgb(72, 72, 72); font-family: sans-serif, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Let me, the baby, enjoy my favorite dolls.</span></div><div><br></div>————————————————<br><br><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">http://www.MoscowCares.net</span></div><div><br></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div><div>“A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met.”</div><div>- Roy E. Stolworthy</div><div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>