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ZOT: Let's All Vote November 2! (Proposal for WORLD election)
07 September 2004 | Tahar Ben Jelloun

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: a5minuteargument; agoodspanking; ahole; airhead; albatross; allyourduthreads; allyourvoters; allyourvotes; amooseoncebither; anarchosyndicalism; arebelongtous; areyouapoofter; armedwithabanana; awesomekucinich; awfulchick; bannedaccount; beensackedagain; begalabanana; bettergetabucket; biggusdickus; biteyourownheadoff; blitheringidiocy; bloodypeasant; boltonisnotlob; bonghitter; braindonor; bravelyranaway; bravesirrobin; breachbirthanoxia; bringoutyourdead; bubbasgotathong4u; buhbye; buildabridgeoutaher; callmeloretta; cameere4anargument; camelotssillyplace; carville; catchafridge; cheese; cheesealert; cheeseandspam; comeagain; confuseitsomemore; crybaby; dajooz; davidjonesfanclub; deadnewbieposting; deadseatrolls; deadtrollposting; deadtrollsketch; deadtrollwalkin; departmentofpeace; disrupter; dontbesuchababy; dontpostonschoolnite; drugaddledstupidity; dummy; dusrupter; dutroll; everyspermissacred; evilnaughtyzoot; freewynona; friedanisahottie; genderconfusion; hairylegs; hebuggeredoff; here2daygone2day; hidesbehindaskirt; hidinginaskirt; highwankingofficer; hisbrainhurts; hisnamesnotbruce; hitonheadlessons; hownottobeseen; iamwomanithink; idontlikespam; imbeingrepressed; incontinentiabuttox; ineedprozac; internationalidiot; isyourwifeagoer; iwanttobeawoman; judeanpeoplesfront; kampusklown; kneepadlib; koffiischrist; ladyoftheevening; liberalmoron; libisamentaldisease; loonylib; lumberjacksong; maninadress; manindrag; mcgreeveyboy; mobydickless; mobyisthatyou; mobyistthatyou; mobysmarchingmorons; motherwasahamster; mumiacong; mustbefrench; needshermeds; newspeak; nothisisabuse; notlobisbolton; ohtobealumberjack; oneworldgovenment; ozonealert; potkillsbraincells; pufromdu; roadapples; ruapoofter; rule1nopoofters; rule3nopoofters; rule4alldrinking; rule5nopoofters; rule6isnorule6; rule7nopoofters; sandwichshyofpicnic; shehasgotawart; shesawitch; shesbeensacked; shesherstory; shesmadeofwood; shutuppleaseshutup; silliussoddus; somemoistenedbimp; strikeupthebanned; syphilliticdementia; takeyourmeds; toostupidforwords; troll; turnedmeintoanewt; urdressedasawitch; vikingkittens; vkpac; wasmuchrejoicing; wasteofhumanlife; wastingyourtime; weighsasmuchasduck; wevefoundawitch; whatasillybunt; whitetrash; wishhewasagirlie; wishidbeenagirly; worstopusever; yourealooney; zot; zuluoscartango
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To: Jim Robinson
I wish that little chicka-roo would read a book or two..
bout history, geography and turn off the tv.

and then I'd wish that chicka-roo would turn off Mtv
and turn on Rush and Hannity and learn a thing or two..

Off to get a Pepsi and watch Fox news!
61 posted on 09/08/2004 1:42:30 PM PDT by Esther Ruth (As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth & FOREVER)
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To: awesomechick

62 posted on 09/08/2004 1:42:44 PM PDT by baseballfanjm
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To: Phantom Lord

It is funny that Liberals would prefer to weaken the USofA in order to equalize us with the rest of the world, instead of making sure that other countries have the freedom required to strengthen themselves and close that gap!


63 posted on 09/08/2004 1:43:35 PM PDT by CSM ("Don't be economic girlie men!" - Governator, August 31, 2004, RNC)
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To: awesomechick

Yeah, like enough Illegal Aliens aren't voting already.


64 posted on 09/08/2004 1:46:57 PM PDT by martin_fierro (A v v n c v l v s M a x i m v s)
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To: awesomechick

People like this need to go into the same pit as the United Nations...

How long until we see the heads of the European Union, the United States of the Americas, the Asian Union, the Arab Union, etc. each rotate into the chair of World Premier for a term.


65 posted on 09/08/2004 1:47:16 PM PDT by ApesForEvolution (DemocRATS are communists and want to destroy America only to replace it with the USSA)
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To: awesomechick
Comments?"

Yeah, you're a moron

66 posted on 09/08/2004 1:48:36 PM PDT by muir_redwoods
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To: awesomechick

LOL!

If words were like flies, your post would have maggots....


67 posted on 09/08/2004 1:50:41 PM PDT by OpusatFR (Let me repeat this: the web means never having to swallow leftist garbage again. Got it?)
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To: awesomechick

Let's vote on whether Islamists and Democrats should procreate.


68 posted on 09/08/2004 1:52:13 PM PDT by Socratic (Yes, there is method in the madness.)
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To: awesomechick

Geez, they are coming out of the woodwork now. NUT ALERT!!!!


69 posted on 09/08/2004 1:52:58 PM PDT by gramho12 (Buildings fell....a Nation rose.)
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To: awesomechick
We are already trying a Transi-socialist experiment here in Europe - and I DON'T like what I see so far -

There would be legitimacy in their participation...

There is no legitimacy in Irish votes - if they don't suit Franco-German interests (Nice Treaty? - the running of Nice II was unconstitutional according to Bunreacht na hEireann [Constitution of Ireland]).

So, how can one-world-governance operate on a planet as diverse as ours; Man is affiliated to his country, not to his planet.

70 posted on 09/08/2004 1:53:34 PM PDT by Irish_Thatcherite (It really is the Third World War)
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To: awesomechick

71 posted on 09/08/2004 1:53:36 PM PDT by Horatio Gates (This space for sale.)
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To: awesomechick; VRWCmember; perogy22; meowmeow; Constitution Day; Poohbah; Grampa Dave; ...


Preparing the Zot!


The zot is launched


DIRECT HIT!!

72 posted on 09/08/2004 1:54:14 PM PDT by trussell (Women who behave... rarely make history!!)
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To: awesomechick
We are far from Jimmy Carter's will to peace

You want Jimmy? Take him, he's our gift to you. Just remember, NO REFUNDS NO EXCHANGES.

73 posted on 09/08/2004 1:54:37 PM PDT by Casloy (qs)
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To: awesomechick; Neets; Darksheare; scott0347; timpad; KangarooJacqui; The Scourge of Yazid; ...

Troll paving in progress!!

74 posted on 09/08/2004 1:55:06 PM PDT by trussell (Women who behave... rarely make history!!)
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To: awesomechick

This is a fantastic idea. We only have two months to change the US constitution and get everyone in the world registered. We must get on it right away. I'm sure George Washington would understand. You are truly a genious.


75 posted on 09/08/2004 1:55:36 PM PDT by spyone
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To: awesomechick

76 posted on 09/08/2004 1:56:34 PM PDT by evets (God bless president George W. Bush)
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To: awesomechick

YAY!
Imagine there's MUSLIM TERORISTS voting for who is our president!
They'd vote for KERRY!
And you're ZOTTED!


77 posted on 09/08/2004 1:57:07 PM PDT by Darksheare (Conquerors of the nice T-shirt!)
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To: awesomechick

Comments: This is too stupid and suicidal to even consider.


78 posted on 09/08/2004 1:57:23 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn't be, in its eyes, a slave.)
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To: awesomechick

79 posted on 09/08/2004 1:57:45 PM PDT by Shaun_MD ("How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb")
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To: awesomechick
Hey, yeah, we could have a world wide election. And elect someone out of the EU. Who will no doubt want his headquarters located in Jerusalem. Peace and Safety could be his campaign slogan. Yeah, that's never been thought of before. In the meantime, you should check into real estate in the Megiddo Valley. I hear it's gonna be a real hot spot soon.
80 posted on 09/08/2004 1:58:05 PM PDT by small voice in the wilderness (Quick, act casual. If they sense scorn and ridicule, they'll flee..)
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