LESSONS IN DEMOCRACY FROM LIBYANS AROUND THE WORLD
If you haven’t bothered to collect your voting document, or you have decided not to use it, please read this.
Even if you don’t normally care about politics you can’t have missed how deeply Malta was involved in the relief and evacuation operations during the Libyan uprising.
Libya gained independence in 1951, 13 years before Malta did. But, until now, Libyan people have never had the right to vote, never had the chance to choose their own government.
I asked Libyans around the world what the right to vote means to them and what they would like to say to someone who has the right to vote but does not use it. This is what they said.
———-
“Someone who doesn’t vote when they have the opportunity to do so is disrespecting the memories and the struggles of previous generations who worked so hard to secure that right for their country.”
“To those not exercising their right to vote, please ensure that you are making this choice consciously. That you understand that if you do not like what is happening in your country, you can change it by voting. Forgoing that right is up to you but I wish to remind you that it is a right that millions around the world are still fighting and dying for. Ultimately, it is your choice but please do not take it for granted.”
“I will be voting for the first time in my life. I will make the right choice for those who don’t have a vote.”
“In nations such as Libya, where democracy still lies in its cradle, and political freedom is a newfound blessing, there is a lot more potential for your voice to be heard, and a lot more meaning behind the vote. So if you have the power to change the way your government works, then do so.”
“The right to vote means that my voice gets to be heard in my country (Libya). The right to vote means that a democratically elected government, chosen by the people, is given a chance to serve the country for a specific period of time. It means that countries can progress; they can change things to meet the needs of its people. The right to vote in Libya means we finally get to do what we’ve been deprived of for over forty years; to finally be able to participate in the society we live in.”
“Voting is a person’s right to choose the leaders for themselves, for their country and for the coming generation. Avoiding voting will not bring about a solution. You must show [what you think] through the ballot box.”
“[Voting] is the right to have a say in how your country is run.”
“If you didn’t vote don’t complain later on if you don’t like what the government is doing.”
“The right to vote in Libya is a chance to exercise potential change in its current system of government and policies. It carries the potential to steer the nation towards a political ideal and towards principles that you yourself harbour.”
“I would suggest that voters that do not vote in their own respective countries to look carefully at the way in which their government operates their voting system. Here (in the UK) because seats are won via constituencies, more than likely, you can potentially determine the validity of your vote.”
“In relation to the past, the war, and the previous deprivation of political freedom, I think voting in Libya is almost an act of honour. You honour those who risked their lives and those who shed their blood for freedom; and you honour that freedom and that right that they have bestowed upon you, by casting your vote.”
“I’m not Libyan, but here’s my story – my mother always took me with her to vote when I was a little girl in the States, letting me pull the lever on the voting machine for the candidate she wanted. Voting meant the right to force our political leaders to represent what we wanted, otherwise they’d be out of a job. My mom also took me to meet our representatives in their offices when it wasn’t election season, to make sure that I understood that responsible citizenship is not something that happens only on election day. Someone who doesn’t vote when they have the opportunity is disrespecting the memories and the struggles of previous generations who worked so hard to secure that right for their country.”
8 Comments Comment
Leave a Comment
We have just a few hours left. Let us all do what Dr. Gonzi is telling us in this video from the Gozo mass meeting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=a5DyasFyc3s#
Lots of talk about one having a “right to vote” which is understandable.
But I always say rights don’t come without duties.
When it comes to voting one has “a duty” to vote!
Failing to vote means failing one’s civic duty.
If it were for Joseph, that flag would still be green.
A great article, thank you. There is a small correction to be made, however, as Libyan men were able to vote for the first time in the 1952 general elections. Women were able to vote as of the 1963 elections.
Amin
I think the point being made is that no one could vote out Gaddafi.
Benigni said it best during his 17/12/2012 TV show. “Non-voting is terrible. It is like with Pontius Pilate. Everything goes in the hands of the mob and the mob always chooses Barabbas”.
An excellent article! Sadly, often we Americans take voting so much for granted that we don’t even bother.
Perhaps… and that’s a big “perhaps”… here in the States we’d have better representation if we all DID vote!
Daphne – I used to live in Malta and met you once or twice. My husband was the president of Fimbank. I’m a friend of Samira’s and saw this on her Facebook page. I always LOVE your articles!
[Daphne – I remember you well, Cecile.]
We moved to Malta in the late 70’s and endured a few years of Mintoff’s totalitarian rule before moving to the UK. These are some of the things I recall.
Under Mintoff people had to wait years to be given a telephone line and once you had a phone, calls often turned into conference calls!
Big Brother was everywhere and you had to watch what you said. Electricity cuts were a daily occurrence. Water in the taps was rusty, scarce and rationed. Church schools were forced to close down. University education suffered and there was a brain drain with doctors and other professionals leaving the island for the UK.
Arabic was forced down students’ throats because introducing Arabic in schools was Mintoff’s way of pandering to Gadaffi. To this day many Maltese have an aversion to Arabic because of the way they were forced to study it, not to mention an anti-Libyan sentiment because of Mintoff’s close ties to Gadaffi.
We had to ‘smuggle’ Cadbury chocolate into the island because the locally made Desserta (using inferior Chinese ingredients) was like sandpaper. Only one brand of toothpaste was available which tasted awful.
Colour TV’s s were not allowed as they were considered an extravagant luxury as were expensive cars. Yet all the government ministers enjoyed watching Dallas in colour and driving around in their Mercedes.
For me, it’s a great honour to vote this Saturday and I know who and what I’ll be voting for. I know that what I do will affect even those who don’t have a vote.