This is Voting

Many of us take our right to vote for granted. Imagine what is must have been like to want to vote but told you weren't allowed because of your gender or race. Thankfully, I'll never have to experience that. Someday I hope to be able to vote for a qualified woman for President but I have no problem voting for Barack Obama. It gives me hope that this country will make more extraordinary changes as time goes by.

Now imagine being an African-American woman aged 106! Yes, Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old and cast her vote for Barack Obama. Although she's now in a wheelchair she was dancing until she was 103. She was assisted to the voting booth and used the touch screen to do just that today.












An incredible woman with an incredible story.






Ann and her husband, the late Dr.Albert Cooper, a dentist, taken in 1922

The African-American centenarian remembers a time not long ago when she was barred from voting because of her race. Now she hopes to see the day that Obama is elected as the nation's first black president.

"I ain't got time to die," Cooper said with a smile.

"Even if he didn't win, I was happy for him just to be nominated," said the former socialite. "The first black president -- isn't that something, at 106 years old?"

At the Fulton County government center, Cooper was greeted by Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.

"I thought that I would accompany her today to support her, but also to say to all people that this is a choice we have," Franklin said.

"As all Americans, we should cherish the right to vote and take every opportunity we have to vote our opinions. She is an inspiration to me personally, but she is also quite an inspiration to all Atlanta."

Never stay home. Always vote. Never assume your vote doesn't count. Even if you have to leave a blank by a specific candidate there are always others on the ballot. If you don't vote you waste a chance to make a difference. It takes all of us to contribute to this great nation. VOTE!!