Up until 2000 I was a Permanent Resident with plenty of opinions on the state of affairs yet no right to vote. And now that I have purposely and consciously gone out of my way (after Bush Jr.'s entry into the White House) to trade my beloved Filipino citizenship for America's, I am not about to give up on what I believe is still a country with much potential (though it's not exercising it now) for greatness.

Especially as a person of color, I cannot simply forget that men and women were SLAIN over this very right not more than 40 years ago. I can probably walk to the corner right now and chat with an old timer who can tell me first hand about that brutality around the civil rights era. And while that same elder will say that America - like all us individuals or neighborhoods or any nation - has a lot more improvement to seek, there is plenty of evidence without a doubt that it has made major strides over the years.

As with any sociopolitical machine, those in power rely heavily on the oppressed to suppress themselves, to lose hope, to not participate. That's why it was so revolutionary in 1960s not to take arms (that put on a good show but didn't really do anything) but to feed poor people and above all teach them to read so they can vote.

I know Obama is a politician, and also a human being let's not forget, so yes he will have flaws. Still, he is the right step in the right direction after 8 years of poor leadership.

Voting doesn't solve everything. I will never say that it does. But it  is one way every citizen 18 years and older regardless of status, from the mansion to the cardboard box, can take part in shaping their environment. In the same way, push ups won't guarantee I live longer -- I'll still need to do other exercise, eat well, educate myself, practice peace -- but it doesn't mean they're worthless or that I shouldn't do them.

Lastly, given the global nature of economy and of war, in a world where people of every nation wish they can do something about America's behavior, it would be a shame for folks who CAN do something, a little something, not to.

That's my word.

Yours,
Anthem Salgado
actor, writer, teacher, community member, American citizen