it’s your civic duty: vote, and call your mother.

to my little sister: if you’re reading this, it’s time for you to execute your first amendment right and call mom.

by yael even, guest contributor

While I was interning in the summer of 2022, I had a habit of doing my daily due diligence and called my mom from the halls of the Rayburn House Office Building. On this particular day, after I filled her in on my boss’s latest press clips and what Members of Congress were voting on that day, she gave me the family update.

Mom went down the list, sharing all of her summer activities and the family hiccups she dealt with that day. But, the one that stood out the most? My 13-year-old sister neglected to call her.

Well, as the self-proclaimed “family liaison,” I decided to buck up and give my little sister some of my big-sis wisdom – or, “the business.” And, being the politically savvy one of the bunch, I came up with the line, “it’s your civic duty to vote AND call your mom.”

Now, looking back, she probably didn’t understand the gravity of my message as a 13-year-old who (obviously) doesn’t have the right to vote, nor be able to appreciate the Founding Fathers’ work to grant us our Constitutional birthrights for just being an American citizen.
The land of the free, the home of the brave, and the land where you should definitely take a minute to call the woman who brought you into the world.

Over the years, I’ve begun to appreciate the opportunities I get to enjoy every day as an American  and connect with the people I share it with via my phone. A text, direct message, or a Snap (author’s note: folks, please stop using Snapchat. Don’t make me use the word cheugy on you) can only go so far. We’re in a go go go hustle culture world, but please take a few seconds to talk to your people… the ones you champion most.

And, to my not-so-little sister, if you’re reading this it’s time for you to execute your First Amendment right and call your mother. It’s your civic duty.