Letter: Time to get involved
CYNTH'YA LEWIS REED - Muncie

Even before civil rights became a hotly contested national issue, my Granddaddy B.J. showed us why it was important to vote. He was always involved in poll work and would repeat a familiar phrase of that day: "If you won't vote, don't squawk." Its logo was a cartoon image of a large emerald parrot in flapping motion. Everyone in our precinct knew exactly what that parrot symbolized, not just during campaigns, but 365 days a year.

If you feel that election forums are trivial, don't squawk. Every last community issue is linked: economics, education, culture, labor. No economics, no trade. No trade, no work. No work, no families. No families, no neighborhoods. No neighborhoods, no schools. No schools, no training. No training, no culturally diverse workforce resulting in (you got it, Sherlock) one big bunch of frustrated townsfolk.

People are living lifestyles on the other side of nowhere feeling powerless. Some dare claim Muncie is fast approaching wasteland status. So why not release the pressure from our fat pads, stand up for common good, call forth whatever degree of English we possess, and make attendance at public forums a priority. A few minutes of talk back-back talk with a candidate may spare citizens from years of moan and groan.

In fact, a catchy new slogan to combat voter apathy might go something like "If you stay at home, please, baby please, don't moan."