Is Voting Free? Some Voters Have Choices and Others Have None
Posted: Monday, July 14, 2008
by Jean Purcell
OpineBooks.com
- When Iraqi citizens of the legal voting age were first able to vote a few years ago, they risked their lives to do so. Do we treasure freedom to that degree?
Could we possibly share the joy to the extent the Iraqi people did that day? I doubt it. We could imagine, but we have never had to risk our lives to vote.
- Recently, Zimbabwe's election reminded me of elections in Cuba. Such elections remind all of us, as one people, that many people who vote in other countries do so not by choice but under duress or fear of terrorizing punishments. Zimbabwe voters had only one candidate, President Mugabe, on the ballot. "His" citizens had to vote...or else. Similarly, in Cuba there has only been the name "Castro" in three generations.
Do we remember that in Zimbabwe individuals and families have fled their homes and villages under threat of torture, dismemberment, or death...in recent days?
Do we give a few moments to hope and pray that one day things will change there? We cannot go and force Mugabe to change, but we can pray for freedom to become a reality in that now-fearful country. We can hope that many citizens there will be able to learn of other possibilities for themselves. We can continue to care.
It is not only voting that is so valuable: it is the right to vote joined with the freedom to vote without fear of reprisals that is priceless.
May we know, remember, and give thanks...those of us anywhere in the world who have this right and freedom.
Whatever our differering views, we share ths important fact: we are free to vote freely. At this moment, I cannot think of anything more unifying to a country's people than the right to vote freely, with no fear of mental or physical reprisal. Can you?
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Voting, interesting, let me see one might think if there is a choice, a real difference one would be encouraged? The sad fact is where is the choice? Only those who don't know really think there is a choice. Now I agree America has lost it's zeal for voting and that is why this Republic is in my opinion now hurting bad. We let the proxy voters do it all. However, there is a real choice I see not many taking this election day. What you ask? Vote every single republican or democrat out. Will it happen, no. Hey pass me another burger and water. I can no loger afford the dressings or cheese or that foreign beer. How sad. Best wishes, Robert.
Robert, I was struck by your comment about America having lost its zeal for voting. If we do not feel deeply about the right to vote, then we are either ignorant of facts or horribly careless. Sadly, there is much ignorance of the facts due to the decline of information about what voting means. Your reference to proxy voters struck me, too. This is a trend that needs to stop. If everyone of this view about how important each individual's vote is does not vote every voting season, does not challenge others to vote, and does not speak up about the importance of voting...the outcome will affect everyone negatively eventually. What that negative will be, how powerful or intense, how threatening, is not known. Whatever it is, it will be significant. Thanks for your comments, and best wishes to you in return, Jane
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