It’s Not My Place to Say

A few words for my American readers on this momentous day: I’m not an American citizen (I don’t live there, in fact I haven’t even visited for something like sixteen years), so it’s not really my place to tell you what election day is all about in your country. I would not be making this statement at all if I did not believe the outcome of the election mattered to you, or indeed to me.

In a free and democratic society, voting for your leadership is not only a right, it’s a responsibility (an opinion I’ve expressed before). What you do today will have an effect on you, your loved ones, your community, and even those of us in other nations. I won’t pretend that I don’t have an opinion about who would be the best choice, both for your nation and mine (ahem), but I’ll ask only these two things of you: first, that you vote. Free and democratic societies are harmed when their people become apathetic, letting their voices go unheard and placing the choice of their leadership in the hands of fewer and fewer people. Second, that when you do vote, you consider carefully the issues and the platforms of the various candidates, and that you then vote for the candidate you believe will do the best job for you, your loved ones, and your society. An active informed electorate is the finest defense against corruption and tyranny. I believe that if you understand who you are voting for, and why you are voting for that person, you will be able to leave the booth knowing that, win or lose, you did your best. It’s a fine feeling, and you deserve it.

Best of luck.

August

Writer. Editor. Critic.

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