Dear UK citizens, I hope that those who could vote
today, would have used voted and use your voices wisely. General election is
the big celebration of democracy. People might not see it that way here in the
UK. People might be fed up with lies told by politicians just before elections.
Fed up with promises they could not - or would not intended to - keep.
Still, elsewhere on Earth people are threatened by
guns on their way to polling stations. Blood spilled, bomb exploded, innocent
children killed. For democracy? For the right to choose one's own future? For
politicians who are going to betray their people? Still, people around the world
are longing to have a peaceful general election like today.
Aceh, March 2004, first democratic election in
Indonesia since Soeharto regime. Was it democratic for Acehnese people? With
big guns everywhere? "Vote for your life", Aceh, 2004 (http://youtu.be/WSdClPsFovc)
I remember my first general election in Indonesia,
1992. (I am now middle age, so I am allowed to say, "I remember...")
There were three parties. In theory. Though for over 30 years only one party
could win. My father begged me to vote for one party, "Or your father
would have no job tomorrow." He was a civil servant then. All civil
servants were members of one party, the one that had to win for 33 years. It was
only two decades ago.
For goodness sake, British people today, you are
lucky to be alive. To stay alive after voting. You are lucky to have the free
choice. This is democracy. Like it or not, the b*****d in Number 10 was your
choice. If tomorrow you have a prime minister who looks like that cartoon
Wallace and Gromitt, he would still be the result of years of freedom to
choose. Embrace it! Somewhere out there, people are dying to have a choice!
In Indonesia we call general election 'pesta
demokrasi', the big celebration of democracy. I hope people in the UK today are
celebrating.
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