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On November 4th, 2008, the American voting population will have the opportunity to exercise its democratic right to elect a new president to office to lead the nation for the next four years. Regardless of race, gender, age, religious affiliation, partisan identification, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status, the voter will play a profound role in determining the direction the United States will take in the very near future.
There are monumental challenges ahead for the incoming president. The United States is plagued by the devastating foreign policy blunders of the Bush administration in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The US government is disliked and distrusted by most of the world due to its unilateral and often hegemonic military strategies, especially in the last eight years. Diplomatic options have been abandoned and replaced by interventionism at any cost. The economy is suffering in every way.
We are witnessing the dreadful impact of large company lay-offs on the middle class, a dysfunctional stock market, an enormous deficit, and a grim and fluctuating housing market. Environmental degradation resulting from global warming and human neglect of our earth, human rights violations, bureaucratic corruption, unaffordable healthcare, disregard for education, mistreatment of minorities, the revitalization of sexism, homophobia, and the persistence of racism are simply a preliminary list of the collection of issues that need to be addressed by the new administration.
You may think that the issues and challenges ahead are far too great, and that the change needed is impossible to achieve. You may think that educating yourself on the pressing problems, familiarizing yourself with the parties and the candidates, and then actually voting on Election Day are not worthwhile. I ask you to strongly reconsider and invest your time in doing all of the above. I have a genuine belief in the possibility of change. I believe in hope. I believe that the legitimacy of a democratic government lies in its citizens’ rights. I believe that if we don’t take this particular election seriously and realize how vital the stakes are, that we have failed miserably. If we don’t voice our opinion now, then when will we do so?
I am very fortunate to spend my days and nights as an educator. I am surrounded by brilliant colleagues, ambitious students, and dedicated activists on a college campus. I am exposed to many different political perspectives daily. I am often offended by the views of others and I manage to offend many people with my views. With the election drawing near, we all seem to be increasingly proud of our values and firmer in our convictions. Yet there is a common bond that we all share despite our differences. We are people who matter. And this election matters to us all. So let’s not allow this opportunity to matter pass us by. Read as many newspapers as you can, obtain information from many news sources both domestically and internationally, and take the time to realize what matters to you and your loved ones at this very moment. Please vote.
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