Subject: Pretty or plain, heavy or thin, gay or straight, poor or rich
From: "Maya Angelou" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 14:31:21 -0400

Dear fellow American,

I am not writing to you as a black voter, or a woman voter,
or as a voter who is over 70 years old and six feet tall. I
am writing to you as a representative of this great country
-- as an American.

It is your job to vote. It is your responsibility, your
right, and your privilege. You may be pretty or plain,
heavy or thin, gay or straight, poor or rich.

But remember this: In an election, every voice is equally
powerful -- don't underestimate your vote. Voting is the
great equalizer.

Voting has already begun in some states that President
Obama needs to win. So please use this handy tool to make
sure your friends in those key states know where to cast their
ballot. You will be doing them a great favor:

http://my.barackobama.com/Help-Your-Friends-Vote-Early

As a country, we can scarcely perceive the magnitude of our
progress.

My grandmother and my uncle experienced circumstances that
would break your heart. When they went to vote, they were
asked impossible questions like, "How many angels can dance
on the head of a pin?" When they couldn't answer, they
couldn't vote. 

I once debated with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. about
whether an African American would ever be elected
president. He believed it would happen within the next 40
years at the time -- I believed it would never happen
within my lifetime.

I have never been happier to have been proven wrong.

And since President Barack Obama's historic election, we've
moved forward in courageous and beautiful ways. More
students can afford college, and more families have access
to affordable health insurance. Women have greater
opportunities to get equal pay for equal work.

Yet as Rev. King wrote, "All progress is precarious." 

So don't sit on the sidelines. Don't hesitate. Don't have
any regrets. Vote.

Go, rise up, and let your friends and family in early vote
states know where they can vote today. We must make our
voices heard:

http://my.barackobama.com/Help-Your-Friends-Vote-Early

Your vote is not only important. It's imperative.

Thank you,

Dr. Maya Angelou

P.S. -- Not on Facebook? Send your friends to
vote.barackobama.com -- don't let technology get in the way
of your incredible duty to our democracy.

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