Friday, October 7, 2011

Election night in Ontario

I voted in yesterday's election.  As I had moved since the last time I voted, I had to re-register at my new address before I was allowed to vote.  During this registration process, the person at the desk asked me, "Do you solemnly swear that you have not yet voted in this election?"  I paused, thinking to myself about the act of solemnly swearing under oath.  I do not believe in the divine, nor do I pretend to believe just to appease the ego of others.  For me to solemnly swear to anything would make me a dishonest person, and would be an affront to the purpose of the act of swearing.  Instead, I affirmed that I had not previously voted in the election, and was allowed to proceed.

I am grateful for those atheists who fought for my protection from religion and to live in a country that protects my freedom from religion.  In particular, I am thankful for the option to affirm in section 14 of the Canada Evidence Act and the secular minded law makers who included this in our law, and I delight in asserting my freedom from religion by affirming at every opportunity where I am requested to solemnly swear.  Oh, and by the way, I affirm that this event really did happen.  :)