Since Friday, August 31st, the festivals began in Lawrence, with the Feast of the Three Saints, organized by the Society of St. Alfio and the Mahrajan, celebrating the Lebanese culture organized by members of the St. Anthony Maronite Church. Both festivals ended on Sunday, September 2. These are three wonderful days where we can share with other cultures, listen to their music and taste appetizing dishes that make our mouth water.
During all these 3 days, the candidates were feverishly working together with their campaign teams giving the finishing touches to make sure that their messages reached the voter, considering that, Tuesday, September 4, was set to hold the primary state elections.
Monday the 3rd arrived and with it, Labor Day. In Lawrence we celebrate the Festival of Bread and Roses. Although some candidates were present at the festival, speaking with those in attendance although most were knocking on doors, distributing literature, under a blazing sun and temperatures of over 90 degrees, putting the finishing touches to ensure that their messages reached the voters.
Finally came Tuesday 4th, Election Day. From early hours the voters’ apathy could be glimpsed. Each candidate and their campaign teams dreamed of seeing the fruit of their effort. A city where many of its citizens say to be poor, that rents are very high, that they have two or three jobs to feed their families and that they are always demanding that our politicians do more for them. When Elections Day arrives, they don’t go out to vote en mass.
It is inconceivable that of 41,425 citizens registered to vote, only about 10,000 (unofficial) went out to vote. If our mathematics is correct, 31,000 people did not fulfill their civic duty. It is a slap in the face to anyone who, with the intention of serving their fellow citizens, does not receive payment for their effort from the citizen’s vote.
