Tuesday, June 01, 2004
To vote or not to vote, that is the question.
Many people would be appalled at my proposal of not voting at all, but in all honesty I haven't voted for over a decade.
I voted once because it was my first time. Like a virgin, I entered the old school gymnasium in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia and eagerly entered my mark on the ballot behind little stinky curtains. I had to vote for my Prime Minister position you see. Now, years later, I realize that I voted for the guy representing my chosen party of Prime Minister and I am deeply disappointed at my naivete. The second and last voting experience, where again I went to the local school, I gleefully marked the ballot for a local riding in Abbotsford. This one I actually researched and found great fervor in the activity, making a difference in my mind and hopefully, my community.
Shortly thereafter, I decided that voting sucked. So I made a rule that in order to punish my unpatriotic declaration, I wasn't allowed to diss the current ruler of community, province and country. This declaration worked for the next 10 years, but recently I have felt compelled to recall it.
After India, I realize that voting is a privilege and that to ditch it is just rude to countries that desire it so much. I think of Burma and the leader, Aung San Sui Kyi, who was voted in during a democratic election and is yet to take leadership into her own hands. The military dictatorship has refused to depart and to this day she remains under house arrest. I also think of Iraq and Afghanistan, who are just getting their own governments into office, with the bonus of future voting opportunities.
My dilemma, which is petty next to the countries I previously mentioned, is who to vote for? Vote for someone that I know won't win, but will make a statement? Hmmm...
Many people would be appalled at my proposal of not voting at all, but in all honesty I haven't voted for over a decade.
I voted once because it was my first time. Like a virgin, I entered the old school gymnasium in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia and eagerly entered my mark on the ballot behind little stinky curtains. I had to vote for my Prime Minister position you see. Now, years later, I realize that I voted for the guy representing my chosen party of Prime Minister and I am deeply disappointed at my naivete. The second and last voting experience, where again I went to the local school, I gleefully marked the ballot for a local riding in Abbotsford. This one I actually researched and found great fervor in the activity, making a difference in my mind and hopefully, my community.
Shortly thereafter, I decided that voting sucked. So I made a rule that in order to punish my unpatriotic declaration, I wasn't allowed to diss the current ruler of community, province and country. This declaration worked for the next 10 years, but recently I have felt compelled to recall it.
After India, I realize that voting is a privilege and that to ditch it is just rude to countries that desire it so much. I think of Burma and the leader, Aung San Sui Kyi, who was voted in during a democratic election and is yet to take leadership into her own hands. The military dictatorship has refused to depart and to this day she remains under house arrest. I also think of Iraq and Afghanistan, who are just getting their own governments into office, with the bonus of future voting opportunities.
My dilemma, which is petty next to the countries I previously mentioned, is who to vote for? Vote for someone that I know won't win, but will make a statement? Hmmm...
