A sudden gust of icy wind howls across the bay and into the darkened streets of Boston. The year is 1773, just a week before Christmas Eve. Snow begins to fall from the sky as a small group of colonial men emerge from the shadows. Moving quickly, they board a British vessel carrying a shipment of tea. The story is a familiar one; no American history book would be complete without the account of the Boston Tea Party. This single event is seen by many as the beginning of America’s fight for independence. This act of rebellion sent our battle cry across the Atlantic and into the ears of the king: “No taxation without representation!” Hundreds of years later, every American reaps the benefits of our founder’s actions. Because of the bravery of these men, every single American citizen is allowed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Every American is given a say in who represents them. But that’s not completely true, is it?
In the 2012 presidential election, approximately 4 million American citizens were denied the right to vote. Not because of a felony conviction or any other fault, but because they lived in one of the U.S. territories.
As a Guam resident, this issue hits close to home. Any person born on the island of Guam is a citizen of the United States of America, as is the case for anyone born in Puerto Rico, the Northern Marianas, etc. We are full American citizens, equal to someone born in the heart of Texas or native to the streets of New York City.
Why, then, are we denied our right to vote for our president?
Full Article: Guam deserves voting right.