Americans have fought for freedom since the Revolutionary War. The Colonies went to war against the British because of taxation without representation.

Enemies of our nation have come along to try to dictate their will over the world and Americans have responded to fight for their freedoms, including the right to vote.

Consider the following dates if you think the right to vote does not matter.

On March 7, 1965, known as Bloody Sunday, black marchers set out for Montgomery by way of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma in protest of a lack of civil rights, including that of voting. They were met with billy clubs, tear gas and bullwhips and trampled by horses.

At the time of the first presidential election in 1789, only six percent of the population was eligible to vote. (The right to vote was extended to male slaves in 1870, American Indians in 1924 and women in 1920.)

Even in today&8217;s world, a handful of votes can make the difference. In 2002, Gov. Bob Riley beat Don Siegelman by 3,000 votes or less than one percent.

The 2000 presidential election hinged on only thousands of votes that came out of Palm Beach County, Fla.

The right to vote is a freedom that hundreds of thousands of Americans have died to protect. And now there are millions of Americans who take that freedom for granted.

The June 6 primary is less than a week away.

We should all do our civic duty and honor those who have given us freedom by heading to the polls next Tuesday