Texas Girl in Oz

G’day Y’all - Intermittent, Hopefully Comprehensible, Personal Ramblings

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Mandatory, Obligatory Privileges Revisited

G'day y'all.

Last year I wrote about my excitement at my then impending naturalisation as an Australian: http://texasgirlinoz.blogspot.com/2007/09/mandatory-obligitory-privileges.html

On Australia Day (26 Jan 2008) I became an Australian. I am now privileged to hold an Australian passport as well as an American passport. I am now privileged to vote in the American and Australian elections. Without weighing in on my personal politics I would like to encourage every American to exercise their right, their privilege. Get out and vote.

I would also like to encourage one further step. Read, watch or listen to the news. Make your decision an educated decision. Simply because you share a gender, age group or race with a candidate does not often mean that you share a political purpose with that candidate. Vote for the candidate who you believe will represent your interests and beliefs. This will not always be the person that looks most like you.

I conclude as I concluded my post last year. The way I see it we have two choices. We can register and vote or suffer in silence as others dictate how we live.