My name is Noah Peden and I’m a 27 year old white software engineer Democratic voter in Colorado.

Until 2016 I was told time and again by countless Democrats that my vote doesn’t matter.

Let that sink in. How many of you have heard the echoed opinion, “Why vote? Both sides are the same.” or “I’m not going to vote this year, my vote doesn’t count anyways.” or “Both candidates suck.” or “It’s the same thing year after year after year.” or “My single vote won’t change anything.”

Well guess what, we’re in 2018, we actively have foreign nationals funneling money into our elections, we have foreign governments spreading misinformation and division amongst our people, and we quite literally have children being separated from their parents who thought they were bringing their kids to a better country on our border.

And all I can think is WHY?!?! HOW?!?!

How did we get here? I have my theories, I have my thoughts, but today I’m not writing about that or the past. I’m writing about what we, as peoples of the leader of the free, democratic world have to do this year.

We have to stop being apathetic. We have to stop being lazy. We have to stop holding our tongue in the name of civility or thinking people won’t listen.

We have to vote. We have to register. We have to research and make intelligent, pointed comments and debates on how we think our country is being run. We have to F*CKING stand up for ourselves and say, “No, this is not right, we must vote, we must talk and debate, we must do something.”

Yes, retrospect is 20/20. Democrats should’ve done more and Republicans should’ve had more backbone when standing up to Trump who is now actively attacking Harley-Davidson after campaigning on “America First”.

But again, I say guess what. We are here. The only answer is to vote. Vote your heart out. Get your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your co-workers to vote. This is our civil duty, this is what it means to be American.

YOUR VOTE MATTERS, YOUR VOICE MATTERS, AND IT IS YOUR AMERICAN DUTY TO VOTE.

And if you’re wondering if both sides are the same, they are not. This is me standing up for what I believe in, which is the most American thing to do in my opinion, and Democrats are the answer.

If you need proof of what is more American, exclusivity or taking in those seeking a better life in our lands, look no farther than the Statue of Liberty for whom this poem was written:

“Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

My fellow Americans, please, vote.