Yesterday there was a long and tense day of partial elections in one district of Beirut and in Metn (Lebanon). People were called to vote for 2 deputies who will fill the seats vacated by 2 assassinated members of the Parliament.
The election day was preceded by an endless and fierce propaganda, accusations from each party to the other side, rallies, TV, radio and board Ads... Wherever you go, people would be talking (rather arguing) about politics, predictions, fears, rumors...
Anyway... Despite all the confusion, the day of elections came and went. Some people chose to vote, others hesitated and abstained. At the end of the day, the votes were cast. It was up to the voters to decide.
That's what democracy is all about!
But... we're in Lebanon. So things are not always what they seem.
Even democracy in Lebanon is a relative notion.
Often people are driven more by emotions than by logical thinking.
Some leaders may be more convincing than others, and that makes some people susceptible to change their minds easily if they liked one speech over the other.
Other people follow a leader blindly, never questioning his faults, errors or failures.
And, alas, some people's votes are "bought" or influenced by promises or similar bribes.
And many Lebanese voters will tell you that they're choosing a certain candidate, because his grand-father, his father or he himself did them a favor one time or another; no matter what are his values or allegiances!
On the other hand, Lebanese people are experts in complaining about their politicians, the lack of dedication to their voters. We always have wise opinions about how they should be, how they should behave and what they should do. But we seems to forget this when we're called to chose between the candidates. When we decide to cast our vote, often we are carried away by other reasons that don't always correspond to our previous lamentations and expectations.
Talking to some friends, I see that we might be able to make some changes in the near future. People are starting to see that the way we were used to couldn't be valid anymore to build a democratic country. We should be able to base our decisions more on a conscious reflection, logical planning and clear agendas...
We can't continue to be "Blind Followers".
Sooner or later, our politicians will be obliged to truly be at the service of their voters. Because if they don't, they'll be questioned and they won't be elected again.
We will learn that we all have a responsibility to work together in order to live freely and happily in our own and common country.
Yes... One day...
2 comments:
I hate politics ..
I always have ..
I think I will always do ..
There is nothing cheering about it .. There is nothing optimistic about it .. No matter how one tried hard to be positive and open-minded and embracing-all and accepting-others .. it is not working. For the main issue is the will of change. And Change in such cases has no effect, whatsoever, when it is limited to a very short number (like one person or two). And another thing, These silent voices, though they may be increasing in number from time to time, they are still Silent. And what one expects from a Silent Movement. It is not even near enough to be A Silent Protest. It is just Silence!!
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From another local perspective, Elections are Power Demos. People who owns the Chairs like to Parade. And we, the people, are like puppets. The threads are money and the dream of benefits. The stage is muddled with blood and innocent skulls.
True, the scene that I am depicting may be harsh and savage, but Reality Bites :S.
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To me, with my poor little uneducated unskilled unexperienced political mind, I believe that we should change our system and stop claiming that we are Democratic.
well i hope that the voters grow up and realise just how they have been taken advantage of again and again.. maybe there will be some change, but not soon
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