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There’s no reason you shouldn’t, as a writer, not be aware of the necessity to revise yourself constantly. – John Irving
Shortly before Obama was elected, I watched a documentary on Ralph Nader. It made me think a lot about our government, our society, the entity in which I engage and live. It made me question, momentarily, my “vote for change.” But I stuck to my guns — I wanted to be a part of this historical time. I wanted to look back and remember that I participated, that I voted for the first African American president.
I hoped, along with many others, that Obama would mean what he professed — he would bring change. I had my doubts, but I hoped nevertheless.
If Obama was the progressive individual he appeared to be during the election, things would already be headed in a more progressive direction. We’d see change now.
When I read that a 24 year-old soldier, who has already spent 13 months in Iraq, refused to show up for his deployment paperwork and was thrown in jail for 30 days, it’s solidified for me — change has not come.
What happened to our “vote for change?”
This country has taken what amounts to a negligible step forward — we’ve “made history” by electing an African American. But this doesn’t mean we’ve put racism behind us. What does this step mean in the face of all the other steps we’re not taking?
I voted out of fear, and I think that many of us did. I didn’t want another conservative, greedy man in the Oval Office, so I voted for the other guy. And I was thankful “the other guy” wooed so many of us. But that’s exactly what he was doing — wooing.
I don’t think a vote made out of fear is a real, true, “American vote.” I think it’s a scam. If I were to vote again, today, I wouldn’t vote for Obama, and that scares me, too — if I’m not voting for Obama, who do I vote for? If I vote for Nader, or another third-party candidate, then it feels like I’m giving the McCain’s of the world a better chance. It’s terrifying. And if it all boils down to fear, then I begin to doubt the fairness, the freedom of this democracy.
Some people, both in and outside of this country, still admire America and what it stands for. But I am reluctant to be a “proud American.” Our country has done so much wrong. Does my participation, my vote, inherently mean that I support it? Does it mean that I support the invasion and continued occupation of Iraq? Does it mean I support invading Afghanistan?
If we’re only given two choices for the “most powerful man in the world,” for the President of the United States, then I’m not so sure I want to vote anymore. But I’ve been taught that is “un-American.” I’ve been taught that is refusing my right, refusing to take advantage of the representative system I live in.
I don’t know what my vote means anymore. I don’t know if it has any real value. And, if this is the case, our democracy is a farce.
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Comments
08.12.09
Change doesn't happen over night! Obama has only been in office for 8 months and, luckily, we have a president that is actually aware of the problem with our economy...let's see what happens after the health care reform.
08.12.09
You have the right NOT to vote, which is what some of my friends did. As a conservative, I held my nose and voted for McCain -- I would have preferred someone who had a better record of freedom and liberty under his or her belt. Obama was just completely out of the realm of possibility for me -- he is just way too liberal and believes that the only solution is a governmental solution, which reduces freedom and liberty for everyone.
My friends exercised their right by not exercising it. I exercised my right by voting for the evil of the two lessers.
I think if you participate in our republic, you have to be able to take a risk that your choice may not be the right one, but not making a choice is a far worse option.
My two cents.
08.12.09
He's not a king, he's president of a democracy. So what are you doing to help? That was part of making the change he campaigned on, too.
There are all kinds of change, starting with greater transparency and plain speaking. In the first 100 days there was a positive announcement nearly every day. Undoing the final executive orders of Bush, for one thing. Getting rid of stem cell research restrictions.
No, unfortunately he has not been able to end the wars yet, but that is one thing, not everything. Sounds like all-or-nothing thinking to me.
Take a look at this assessment: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/29/obamas-first-100-days-10_n_1926...
08.12.09
Alas, it just doesn't work that way--Obama is president, not an all-powerful autocrat. If he were single-handedly able to impose change, THAT would make our democracy a farce.
And while he is commander in chief, and the military does have its own legal code and courts, why would you expect that particular aspect to change?
As for being proud of your country, well, this country--any country--has many aspects, some of which are laudable and some of which are not. You can pick and choose what you're proud of; it doesn't have to be all or nothing.
08.12.09
"When I read that a 24 year-old soldier, who has already spent 13 months in Iraq, refused to show up for his deployment paperwork and was thrown in jail for 30 days, it’s solidified for me — change has not come."
I'm sorry, I don't get why on earth someone who committed a crime should NOT be jailed for it. It's only 30 days and a discharge, the consequences to his fellow soldiers that he abandoned is nothing compared to that. Especially since he abandoned them right before a deployment.
08.12.09
@kathleen, I agree. It's one thing to make the argument that we shouldn't be in Iraq, and another to say that laws shouldn't be upheld.
And I do think it's that soldier's right to protest in this way, but there are consequences, which he now is facing. As you point out, in this case those consequences don't even seem that harsh. The ramifications, however, may well be broader.
08.12.09
Huh? You are the only person I've ever heard voted for Obama out of fear. Yes, a lot of people voted for McCain out of fear of a black man being president... Or a liberal being president. But no one I have talked to or listened to in the streets ever said they were voting for Obama bc they feared McCain. They were voting for Obama because they believed in him, and he brought their passions to politics.
This "article" might have been the most inane thing I've read all week. Thanks.
08.12.09
"When I read that a 24 year-old soldier, who has already spent 13 months in Iraq, refused to show up for his deployment paperwork and was thrown in jail for 30 days, it’s solidified for me — change has not come."
Normally, in wartime, he'd be convicted of desertion in the face of the enemy, and shot. At least he's gonna be alive to deal with the ramifications. A 30 day jail sentence for this crime is proof positive that change has come!
As for the rest, changing a country of 300+ Million in less than a year is apparently a little more difficult and time consuming that turning a Vinson-class aircraft carrier with a canoe paddle.
08.12.09
"Our country has done so much wrong. Does my participation, my vote, inherently mean that I support it?" No.
"I don’t know what my vote means anymore. I don’t know if it has any real value." The outcome of the election would have been the same whether you voted or not. So if you believe that a vote has value only if it affects the results of the election, then your vote has no value at all.
"I wanted to be a part of this historical time. I wanted to look back and remember that I participated, that I voted for the first African American president." Here's where the real value of your vote is. Obama's being elected president is a major historical moment. If you have a desire to feel like you were part of that moment, and voting helps you to satisfy that desire, then voting in the election may be useful to you. But it isn't a good way to effect a societal change, be a good American, or influence the results of the election.
Tristan, you seem pretty stunned by things that others find unsurprising. I'm curious, back in January what did you expect life in America to be like in August?
08.12.09
Our Democracy is a considerable farce. I think that knowing that ahead of time I chose the only candidate I could at the time. I see change can't come from the top down, it won't, change rarely happens that way if you look at it from a historical perspective. It comes from the bottom up, starting with local politics, with getting rid of the way are political system is financed. Currently on either side the only way to become president is to have a political machine behind you, that means money and that means you are controlled.
As an individual we have little control but if a whole communities started voting out representative that did not do what they wanted, it would be a start.
At a higher level what is going on now in Afghanistan is a result of what came before, I am not pleased that the situation seems to be getting worse and what we are doing is certainly not helping the women if Afghanistan. Understand though that this administration is following a policy where by what we do anywhere is not based on humanitarian action but based on what is in the best interest of this country from the stand point of security and economics.
Nadar has had chances, he is a bigger farce than most, and for the few things he did right he choose to sit on his laurels and make money of books and a rare telly appearance. He is a joke in D.C. He is someone who could have made a difference had he really wanted to put any effort into it.
08.14.09
Relevant platitudes:
No matter who you vote for, the government still gets in.
If voting changed anything, it would be illegal. (Of course, the opposite is also true: If NOT voting changed anything, it would be illegal.)
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