All right, time’s up.
You had your chance to file to run for state and county offices. The party filing period was Feb. 23 to March 1.
By now you probably know all you need to know about your choices for president. But come May 22, you’ll also have an opportunity to weigh in on offices much closer to home. You have 79 days to make your choices.
In the great scheme of things, 79 days is not much time. But it’s ample time for you and me to get acquainted with the folks seeking our votes.
It’s also ample time for the candidates to impress us - or depress us. There will be candidate debates and forums, TV and radio ads, campaign fliers and newspaper articles to help inform us.
It’s already been a somewhat interesting campaign season. One local candidate for state Senate actually has talked about building a time machine.
This is not a joke.
In Benton County, two Democrats have filed to run for Quorum Court - both in the same district. This is notable if only because it seems to dispel the myth that there are no more than two Democrats living in Benton County.
Every election season, Americans are implored to exercise their right to vote. This is a good thing.
We all need the occasional reminder that it’s a fantastic privilege to participate in the process of selecting our leaders.
At the same time, I urge people to remember the words of President Theodore Roosevelt: “A vote is like a rifle. Its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.”
To build on that quote, I would say the usefulness of a vote also depends on the user’s knowledge.
The actual act of voting is easy - especially these days with electronic voting machines. All you have to do is punch a few buttons. A monkey could do it.
But where’s the joy of voting if you don’t know whom you’re voting for (or against)?
So, here’s my challenge to everyone who intends to cast a ballot on or before May 22: Know something - besides political affiliation - about each of the people who will appear on your ballot.
Even if it’s just a single tidbit of information you picked up from a campaign flier, be able to identify that person with at least one part of their platform - assuming that person has a platform.
Don’t automatically dismiss a candidate just because you’ve never heard about him or her.
Granted, finding information on some candidates can be difficult.
Constable races come to mind. In some cases you might strike out on our search.
So yes, by all means, rock the vote. Just remember that it never hurts to do a little homework first.
SUPPORT AT JOHN BROWN
A few weeks ago in this space, I wrote about Dahye “Sarah” Kim and Eunbit “Gina” Oh, two students at John Brown University who were struck by cars and seriously injured while trying to cross U.S. 412 in Siloam Springs on Jan. 20.
The story about the university’s response to the accident, as reported by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, warmed my heart. In the wake of that accident, John Brown students, staff and faculty showed Kim and Oh - both of whom hail from Seoul, South Korea - the kind of love and support that you would expect from family members. I suppose that goes to show John Brown is a pretty tight-knit community.
It is a pleasure to report both Kim and Oh seem to be recovering just fine, according to updates posted on the university’s website.
As of the latest update - posted Monday - Kim remains in the hospital, but is improving. She can talk, sit up and work on a laptop.
There was hope she would be released from the hospital “very soon.”
Oh returned to Siloam Springs on Feb. 13. She is continuing physical therapy as an outpatient at a local hospital. She plans on returning to South Korea with her mother soon.
Best wishes to both young women as they continue to recover.
DAVE PEROZEK IS AN EDITORIAL WRITER FOR NORTHWEST ARKANSAS NEWSPAPERS.
Opinion, Pages 13 on 03/04/2012