Posted on 09/08/2004 1:13:51 PM PDT by awesomechick
And what if, this coming November 2, at the same time as millions of Americans, all the world's peoples went to the ballot box to vote? There would be legitimacy in their participation in the election of the president of the world's greatest power. Simply because their lives, their future, depend on it in one way or another. It would be a symbolic gesture, a universal speech in observation of a fact and a direct and unambiguous way of saying that the fate of the world depends in large part on the American presidency. The Vietnamese and the Chileans at one time, the Iraqis today, know something about that.
According to whether the present president is beaten or reelected, the fate of hundreds of thousands of families in Iraq, in Palestine, in Israel, in the whole Middle East, in the Maghreb and in Africa, in Latin America, and in many other countries as well, will find itself changed. This is the only presidential election that concerns so many people outside of the country where it takes place. Far from being a matter that concerns Americans only, [the election result] comes into play in many domains, the most obvious and spectacular of which is the economy.
Let's not even talk about what's happening daily in Iraq. The Iraqis have begun a civil war that all observers had predicted before America and Great Britain's intervention in that country. The Iraqis as well as the Palestinians would have every legitimate reason to participate in the vote.
This does not mean that John Kerry, were he to be elected, will overturn the situation in Iraq, but I think that in any case, the evil has been done and it will be necessary for civilized countries to get together to repair the enormous damage caused by a power that based itself on lies and illegality to give some semblance of a justification for its policy.
Those who would rejoice in George W. Bush' reelection are Al-Qaeda's people- they've already said as much - because he's the one whose policies dovetail the best with their strategy. Hasn't the intervention in Iraq offered this movement's terrorists an opportunity to develop and to pass for resistance to a colonial occupation in the eyes of the Arab world?
If Bush is a misfortune for at least half of all Americans, he's a disaster for all those outside the United States who suffer the effects of his actions dictated by sketchy fundamentalist thinking.
As for the Palestinians, if they know that they will not receive justice at the end of a magic wand, even one held by Mr. Kerry, they now live the horrors of the Israeli occupation which is blessed and encouraged by Team Bush. Their fate has never been as dire as since Sharon and Bush's advent into power.
We are far from Jimmy Carter's will to peace, or even from Bill Clinton's late, but praiseworthy, attempts. However, the world knows now that without a negotiated solution between Palestinians and Israelis (the Geneva plan is still valid), the whole Middle East, whether large or small, will remain a place of murderous conflicts, blind violence, and a laboratory for all the terrorisms of despair or revenge, both individual and state terrorism.
A Pew Research Center study teaches that "foreign policy, for the first time since the Vietnam War, is ranked along with the economy as a top concern of Americans" (Le Monde, August 20). That's one more reason why the people whose fate depends on this policy should also get to choose the next United States' president. It would be the logical thing, even if itvseems strange and above all unrealizable. However, it could be a guideline vote, a sort of signal to the president elect.
If Bush wins, it won't do any good, since millions of Europeans took to the streets to demonstrate their opposition to the entry of American-British troops in Iraq, millions of voices were raised to warn Team Bush about the dangers of such a war, an illegitimate war in spite of all the horror of Saddam Hussein's system and of those like him in the region, but Bush and his team were contemptuous of this massive popular "vote" and overrode it. So it's useless to speak to a mulish man, a man under the worst of influences, those of ignorance and religion.
If his rival is elected, some hope is allowed, even if we know that a well-established tradition will give priority to American interests. And it would be right in this instance to favor those interests by withdrawing from Iraq, indemnifying this slaughtered people, by promoting a negotiated settlement in the Middle East as soon as possible, by acknowledging the mistakes and the digressions of a power that has abused its strength rather than respecting law and right.
Some Americans will never accept such interference in their political life. Why should a Bhopal Indian, an African from the former Zaire (Congo-Kinshasa), an Arab, or a European have anything to say about such an election? Simply because, when the United States of America decides to bring "democracy" into a dictatorship (as though democracy were a pill soluble in a country's water) they don't consult those who are principally involved; they don't listen to the message of millions of demonstrators,and they ignore the opinion of the United Nations. Because they must imagine that what is good for the United States can only benefit those whose destiny they manipulate. When they decide to intervene in a country, bringing their weapons and their baggage, they don't trouble themselves with learning what the population thinks of it.
The arrogance and the contempt they demonstrate towards others would be taught a good lesson if the world's leaders agreed to organize this symbolic vote this coming November 2. It would be like a will to independence and resistance in the face of an advancing hegemony wrapped up in some religious values, certain prejudices, and a few pretexts.
This is a joke, right?
When the recipients of all that U.S. foreign aid actually repay it, and then pay a share of the domestic tax load, then we can start talking about letting them vote in a U.S. election.
Yep, this is going to work. Most of the people of the world can't vote in their own countries. Let them get that straightened out first.
IF this were to happen, I think that Eastern Europe should have the only say because they would vote for Bush. They know what freedom is. I think you should have your US citizenship revoked and you should be deported, maybe to Iran or Saudi Arabia where you can live the life you so desperately want for others.
Here's an idea, why don't we conservatives vote on November 2, and you liberals and the rest of your Europeeing buddies vote on November 3. Fair?
Desperation.
Sure do hope you are good looking. Cause you got crap for brains.
Blonde right?
TRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I really wish I could get a tape of that soccer announcer that yells Goal for like 5 minutes and change it to say TROLL. that would be great!!)
Show-off! ;-)
You called it. Should we get a pool going on how many times we hear the same junk before the election?
Aw...some c**t.
Dang! I did it to myself again!!
I could use a group hug.
How about we just let veterans and active duty military to vote in this election? Do you think Kerry and his supporters would go for THAT idea?
The dems must be getting desperate. I've notice an increase in Trolls lately.
You did see this coming, but the left always does this - expand the base of the voting to include people on your side. Naturally, mullahs in Iran and dictators like in North Korea side with them.
"Comments?"
Femminists suck. They have done more to help destroy family culture in this country than any other entity has. Femminists are unattractive at the core of their being.
Abortion is murder. If you have an abortion you are murdering a person and will answer for it upon your death.
If I think of anymore, I'll let you know.
Yeah, go ahead and vote world wide. Like it matters. Like I care. LOL!
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