| The
Man I Didn't Vote For
In November of 2000 I sent my absentee ballot to New York State from college in Massachusetts. I voted for Nader. All the democrats in my life were upset because they felt that a vote for Nader/LaDuke was a vote for Bush. I felt that a vote for Nader/LaDuke was a vote for Nader/LaDuke. We were all wrong. It turned out that an absentee ballot vote for anyone was a vote for no one. My vote for Nader was not counted because the race in New York State was lead by the Democrats. Apparently absentee ballots are only used as tie breakers in a sense. This made me angry. How many college students had filled out absentee ballots and sent them in to help put a third party on the map? How many of those votes sat in piles just waiting to be shredded, never opened? And how is that democracy? We have a dual party system that is united in its efforts to crush the existence of any other candidate. Now a man whose election win was doused in corruption is trying to take away women's rights the first chance he gets. This is not what I want. How is this democracy? In March of 2003 I found out that the man I didn't want as leader of our nation was deciding to go to war with Iraq. I didn't want war. Nobody asked me. I was not given the opportunity to vote against the war. How is this democracy? On March 17th, 2003 my mother announced that she didn't want to go on our vacation to South Africa because of this war and all the anti-American sentiment surrounding it. I no longer have the freedom to travel as an American because my citizenship endangers my life. This man whom I did not vote for is making decisions that affect my way of life but he is not asking if it is alright with me. How is this democracy? On March 28th, 2003 my Aunt, only slightly sarcastically and perhaps a bit shyly declined when my mother offered her some Perrier. I'm sure there are other no-so-French products that my Aunt will now decline as well. As if the American public hasn't been distracted enough from the true purpose of this war-to gain control of Iraq's crude oil reserves-now it seems we must hate the French. Americans, patriotic ones that is, must boycott French products, stop eating French fries and starting wolfing down those Freedom fries instead. Now, why do we have to hate the French? I am supposed to be angry with a corrupt country that is looking out for its own political and financial interests, that is trying to protect its ties with a country (namely Iraq) that supplies theirs with crude oil. Why waste my time being disgusted with France when my own country is pulling the same shenanigans? I feel as though I am being distracted from my own country's dirty games and made to point a finger at another's. Why aren't we supposed to know and understand what is going on with our country? In April 2003, I see that this man for whom I did not vote has managed to make enemies with many other countries. His decisions have made possible the potential for a serious change in global politics with the States being the target of a great amount of animosity. This man has threatened each person's pursuit for happiness but he has not asked any of us. I suppose I don't understand why we should "liberate" other nations from tyrants, evil dictators and try to install democracy. What is democracy? How does it offer a voice to the people? I am allowed to disagree with the man for whom I did not vote. I can say that he has made very poor decisions that work against the liberties of the people he has chosen to serve. But where is my power? Where is my political freedom? Where is my civil servant? I can accept losing a fair fight. I can accept being a minority. I cannot accept that I have no choice in the matter, no say, that I should support this man who has decided that better than diplomacy, peace, pride and happiness is to give this nation and its people the role of the bully, the killer. We are all warmongers now whether we chose to be or not. In April 2003, people are dying-soldiers and civilians. People in the States are protesting and getting arrested for trying to express their contempt for war. While this man I didn't vote for has people killed abroad, people in the States are arrested, essentially silenced, for speaking out against his decisions. How is this democracy? On April 11th, 2003
I drove by a bar in Phoenix with a sign telling everyone to support the
troops and to "REMBR In April 2003, those who are patriotic pray for the soldiers abroad, support the troops. I am unpatriotic, heartless now because I don't support the troops. I, who wanted to keep the troops at home, who wanted to avoid death and violence in the first place, am heartless. Those who want to send people to die and wish them luck while they're at war are more patriotic. Advertisers have caught on to the more popular view-send people off to die and pray for them-so our media are covered with pleas to support the troops. So you are un-American if you don't support the troops, which really means supporting the war. Stop protesting the war. Start supporting the troops. Now that I disagree with this man I didn't vote for, I am a subversive. Expression of my opinion is reserved for a free publication, a dissident website, while the popular view is plastered on billboards, broadcasted on television. How is this democracy? Abigail Rothberg |
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