- 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?
Their identities as voters did not depend on neighbors' claims. The voters had ink-stained fingers identifying them. Easy targets they were. For the most part, their first voting day in over a generation went smoothly.
Did Americans care? We watched the news, but did we share the joy of those who proudly held up their hands to show, to prove, that they had chosen to vote?
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.
In some countries, people are required by law to vote; however, they are not threatened with death, as Zimbabwe's people were recently, if they forgot to vote, ignored the law, or just did not care one way or the other.
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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