Go, democracy, go!

Posted by Kate A. in Editors US Election 2008.

Unfortunately, I am about as disconnected from this election as an American could probably be at this point. Not because I don’t care, but because I’m not actually IN America. I’m in Scotland. And throughout most of the meat of the campaigning, I was about as far away as anyone could be: Australia and New Zealand. I can’t help but feel as though I’ve missed out on something really big these past few months.

It’s not as though I escaped what was going on, but I missed a lot of the good stuff. I did not see a single debate, though I wanted to (I watched bits here and there later on the interwebs). I didn’t see any interviews or satire or campaign ads. I didn’t even see the Obamamercial earlier this week (I plan to watch it when I’m done writing this).

I voted 2 weeks ago by absentee ballot and with very little ceremony or hoo-ha. I can’t really tell you it was exciting. I knew who I was voting for in the big one and I researched my ‘local’ elections to the best of my ability from afar, but that’s hard when what the ballot calls ‘local’ hasn’t been local for me for over two years. I can’t join everyone at the polls today. I won’t get an ‘I voted’ sticker or free Ben & Jerry’s (which is the real tragedy here, let’s be honest…). I won’t even get to sit at an election party and watch the results roll in because the first poll doesn’t even close til it’s about midnight where I am, and I’m sorry, but even Obama will recognise that in such financially difficult times, a girl’s got to work. Which involves getting up early in the morning. Which involves not staying up til 5 or 6am to find out who the next leader of the free world will be.

I know, the real world is a cruel place.

The real world is also an enormous place though, and what has left the biggest influence on me throughout this whole process is the point of view of the rest of the world, because that’s where I am. What’s going on in America is never small news, no matter where you are in the world. What our country does effects every other part of this planet, and I think it’s easy for Americans to not see that as clearly because they’re in the middle of such a huge force while everyone else is outside. This has become more and more apparent the longer I’ve been away (especially lately with all the business about the economy and how, you know, it’s awful).

The US is suffering, but the world is suffering as a result. Everyone on the planet is watching this election, and most of them are hoping Barack Obama is victorious. Because the man is right; it’s time for a change.

Editors, US Election 2008 |