2008 Woodie Awards
Countdown to Election '04
Main Editorial
Karl de Vries
Issue date: 10/28/04 Section: Opinion
In less than a week, one of the most important Presidential elections in the history of this nation will be taking place. Some of us will vote, some of us will not, but nevertheless, all of us, as Americans, will be forced to live with the consequences as citizens of this country.
After the free-for-all that marked the election of 2000, there's little doubt that millions across the country will be following the results on Tuesday, as this promises to be a close and hotly contested election. But as we watch, we also realize that the rest of the world will be watching as well, as this election not only affects America, but every human being from every walk of life.
Iraq, Sudan, England, Afghanistan, North Korea; these are just a few of the many nations whose populations will be directly affected by US policy, as directed by its commander-in-chief. In the post 9/11 era, the stakes have been raised higher than ever, and the issues regarding every conceivable facet of life have sparked more divide amongst the nation now, arguably, than ever before in the history of the union.
If the old saying is true, that you can only please some of the people all the time and all of the people some of the time, then regardless of the results of this election much controversy and debate will continue to persist. Neither candidate is without his shortcomings, and perhaps the tremendous divide in the polls is indicative of the lack of faith Americans have in Bush and Kerry.
But where in the past it was permissible to pass on the opportunity to vote, downplaying the importance of the individual's role in government, the weight of the issues is pushing many to register this year. Of course, it remains to be seen how many will follow through and get to the polls on November 2, but at the same time, this was a different country the last time the election was held.
It was convenient for many of us to simply offer opinions on the elections of past years, but now, as adults, we will be the ones having to live with the ramifications of election night. Every American has the choice between voting or not, but as you look at the issues, from the rising death toll of American soldiers to the rising costs of college tuition, you have the responsibility, at the very least as an American, to make that choice carefully.
After the free-for-all that marked the election of 2000, there's little doubt that millions across the country will be following the results on Tuesday, as this promises to be a close and hotly contested election. But as we watch, we also realize that the rest of the world will be watching as well, as this election not only affects America, but every human being from every walk of life.
Iraq, Sudan, England, Afghanistan, North Korea; these are just a few of the many nations whose populations will be directly affected by US policy, as directed by its commander-in-chief. In the post 9/11 era, the stakes have been raised higher than ever, and the issues regarding every conceivable facet of life have sparked more divide amongst the nation now, arguably, than ever before in the history of the union.
If the old saying is true, that you can only please some of the people all the time and all of the people some of the time, then regardless of the results of this election much controversy and debate will continue to persist. Neither candidate is without his shortcomings, and perhaps the tremendous divide in the polls is indicative of the lack of faith Americans have in Bush and Kerry.
But where in the past it was permissible to pass on the opportunity to vote, downplaying the importance of the individual's role in government, the weight of the issues is pushing many to register this year. Of course, it remains to be seen how many will follow through and get to the polls on November 2, but at the same time, this was a different country the last time the election was held.
It was convenient for many of us to simply offer opinions on the elections of past years, but now, as adults, we will be the ones having to live with the ramifications of election night. Every American has the choice between voting or not, but as you look at the issues, from the rising death toll of American soldiers to the rising costs of college tuition, you have the responsibility, at the very least as an American, to make that choice carefully.