As much as I love having the opportunity to be one of the columnists, writers, or journalists, whichever you want to call me, for the SCOOP USA Media Newspapers, this particular column, I’ve been dragging my feet on. This is the last column I get to write before General Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, 2024. I hope that any of our regular SCOOP Readers who get the printed edition of the paper will have this in your hands before the end of election day, November 5, and that you will do me the huge favor I’m about to ask.
Before I ask that favor, let me preface my statement by reminding all of you that the Publisher of the SCOOP Newspapers exercises her right to choose, and she does not make political endorsements in this paper. What we do is share political information. We share information about individual political candidates, and when political candidates make themselves available to us at the SCOOP, we will interview them. My personal experience over the years, as a proud writer for this newspaper, is more often than not, candidates from the Republican party and other political parties have not interviewed with us. When I write about Republican candidates, for example, the information I share is either because I was in attendance at a candidate’s forum and recorded what they said or because I searched for information about the candidate on the internet.
To be transparent, I have done the same with quite a few Democratic candidates over the years. I have not necessarily personally interviewed everyone I write about. The majority of the people I write about–yes, I interviewed them. However, thanks to the World Wide Web and technology, in the 21st century, some things can be done more expeditiously.
Ok, so let me go ahead and get it over with and get to my “ask.” For every single SCOOP Reader who reads this newspaper and reads my column on Monday, November 4, 2024, or even on election day, Tuesday, November 5, 2024, up until around 7 pm, if you are a registered voter, and you did not already vote by mail, please get yourself to your polling place and vote. Honest to goodness, this election right here is the most critical election ever before in the history of our nation. Without mentioning names, there’s one candidate who, if elected, will make major history for the country and whom many are saying could be a breath of fresh air, a new genius, honor, valor, and commitment, who can lead our country forward with dignity. The other main candidate is someone who, if they win, has already declared to run the country like a dictator. Need I say more?
I moaned and groaned about writing this column (in my head) because I knew I had to turn it in just two days before the election. I know this newspaper will be circulated on the streets in Philadelphia, parts of New Jersey, and parts of Delaware before election day. So, the question I asked myself and my Publisher was, “What is the most valuable thing I can write about as a Black Journalist with this election day looming and with everything in America at stake?”
Only one answer came to mind. I had no choice. I had to write about the importance of exercising your right to vote. People always want to complain when things are not going well in our city, state, and nation.
The price of food is too high.
The cost of prescription medications is too high.
Heck, the cost of medical care is too high.
Where’s affordable housing?
How about jobs?
Actually, I do think a ton of jobs are out here.
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Thank you for reading an excerpt of Thera Martin’s article on scoopusamedia.com. To read more of the article, “Tribute to an Afrikan General,” please subscribe to Scoop USA Media. Print subscriptions are $75.00 and online subscriptions (Print, Digital and Vizion) are $90. (52 weeks/1 year)
