The participation level in Sweden is just over 80% of the voters. That is not bad at all compared to, for instance, the USA where only 40% of the voters usually participate. In the last election 76% of our youngsters casted their vote. Great! On the other hand, in Fittja, which’s a suburb of Stockholm, where most of the inhabitants are immigrants, the participation level is less than 50%.
As I was listening to the radio the other day, I heard an interview with immigrants who have been living in Sweden for many years as well as youngsters who were born in Sweden. They were asked if they will vote on Election Day. Many responded by saying that most likely they will not vote because politicians represent the same crap, regardless of party, and they do not consider their needs. Some also stated that those who do vote shouldn’t moralize and dictate the non-voters to vote. They believe that doing so represents an elitist idea what condemns the non-voters!
Bah Humbug!! Shame on them! Double shame on them!!
People who vote are not voting for themselves only. They are voting to preserve the idea of democracy. To ask all citizens to contribute their vote during an election is not an elitist idea; it is simply a humble wish that we preserve our democracy and demonstrate our respect for those who fought for our rights!
Many of the immigrants arrived from war torn countries and horrific, destructive dictatorships where the freedom of democracy and the freedom of speech do not exist and where people live full of fear and repression. Now that they live in a democracy, however, they are not willing to experience freedom by executing their right to speak up and vote. It makes me furious!
Democracy is not a given. Democracy has to be fought for! Democracy needs to be supported and protected! There are people in oppressed countries that would die for the opportunity to live in a free and open society. There have been people that have paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect democracy and died in the name of democracy. Battles fought over centuries and the people that have fought for it, should be respected. And the best way to show respect is to stand up, do your duty, and vote!
My religion is democracy. I can’t imagine how it is to live in a dictatorship. That’s why, even if I believe that the political parties at present aren’t really representing my views or beliefs 100%, I still cast my vote.
You might say that the present democracy we have today is not good enough? I say that at present, it is the best system known to man, with all of its faults included. And more importantly, it is far better than any alternative.
A one party nation, a dictatorship, is a society where people are not allowed to speak up. In such a country, people do not have the right to believe in what they want, or attend a church that represents their religion, read any paper they want to read or have their sexual preference respected. The list of restrictions of a dictatorship on the individual is long and the point is that individual needs in such a society, human rights and personal freedoms, are completely omitted. Is that the kind of society you want, you non-voting person?
In a democracy freedom of speech is a given. That’s why I partly, but hesitantly, respect the people who state that they will not vote.
Voltaire’s words are ringing in my ears: “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it. “
However, since democracy and freedom of speech go hand in hand, people need not only to speak up, but to vote too. The simple minded attitude of many people today who do not bother to cast their vote dilute democracy and dilute the respect for the those who fought for it.
Think of that before you refuse one of your most valuable and precious rights in the world – to have the privilege to speak up, to be heard, to have an opportunity to vote, to be a part of, and involved in the making of democracy!
Go vote!!!! And think progressively!
No comments:
Post a Comment