Our Votes Matter
By Laila Kazmi
Seattle, Washington

 

I am an immigrant American. I was born in Pakistan and came to this country with my parents more than twenty years ago. Since that time, of all the presidential elections that I have witnessed, this year’s has undoubtedly been the most charged. Youth, women, ethnic minorities, white males, everyone has been vigorously debating the choices and issues. Everyone has a stake in this election, perhaps especially so the Pakistani-Americans.

In a democracy, the most effective way to have your voice heard is by participating in the political process. Pakistani-Americans are among the groups most adversely affected by the post-9/11 paranoia and policies of the Bush Administration. Therefore, the best way to have politicians address our concerns is by becoming a strong voting bloc. It is the best way to have any representation among American policy makers.

This is the time for many political firsts. Last year, the state of Louisiana elected the first Indian-American, Bobby Jindal, ever to serve as governor of a US state. This year, for the first time, a woman, Senator Hillary Clinton, was among the leading candidates in the presidential primaries. The race is now being led by an African-American, Senator Barack Obama, another first. And these are not just minor firsts, given the history of this nation, these are tremendous achievements. The struggle for racial equality in America, while still continuing, is breaking new grounds.

It is easy to feel disheartened during an election year, especially when there is a slim selection. Senator McCain talks about possibly staying in Iraq for “another hundred years,” and Senator Obama has repeated his tough words against Pakistan. Still, we must look at their proposed policies as a whole and select one of them.

Why? Because next month, one of these two candidates will become our next President. As Pakistani-Americans, it is our responsibility, as well as in our interest to vote and participate in the democratic process of our country. For if we don’t vote, we will never have candidates who can represent our concerns.

So let’s go out there and vote this November 4th . Mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, college students, if you are a registered voter, then go out and vote. Even if you don’t see a candidate who truly represents your values, vote for the one who comes closest to them.

It may be difficult to believe, given the administration that the last two presidential elections have brought us, but our votes do make a difference - if not today then maybe tomorrow, if not for us then maybe for our children. So let’s go out and vote this November.

(Laila Kazmi is a freelance writer)

 

 

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