In light of the election.. I can’t believe I sit here and I find myself writing this.. But I am… I could not possibly care any less about the election. And that’s my perogative. But no.. I find myself upset at the current climate of the people. I mean it’s people everywhere I turn.. It’s not making me smile whatsoever.
The election is a contentious subject for me.. And my opinion is what it is. And you know what? We live in a country that enables me to have my opinion and not be persecuted for it. Or so I thought.
There are those of you who are vehement labor supporters, those who are fervently in support of the greens, the liberal party, the sex party, christian democrats, WHOEVER! There are many and varied people in all walks of life, with different priorities and we live in a society where they have plenty of political choices to make. We are afforded options. Don’t get me wrong, this post is not about the calibre of said party’s, because lord knows, in this latest election the choices were pretty shit-house. So for someone who doesn’t care about an election in the best of climates, this was one of the worst so far…
Then there are people like me. I don’t care. I honestly don’t. I don’t believe that any one party is any different to the other’s and I truly believe that in the end, they are all going to move as slowly as each other to get to the end goal. At the end of the day, changes will be made or they won’t be. But in general, it has little or no effect on my day to day life. That opinion is mine to have.
What I can’t stand is the attitude that has swept over the online world (ie-facebook, twitter, etc) and real life in the last 48 hours of: “my opinion is the right one, and my party is the right one and if you don’t agree then you must be <stupid/un-intelligent/close-minded/conservative/un-educated/any other number of insults>”
I know we live in a diverse society. And I know we are all different. But since when do we live in a place where we hurl insults about the place, based purely upon what people do or don’t support. Comments like: “oh, she’s voted for the red-head” “labor supporters” “they voted greens, hippies”. Comments like “coservatives” or “what have you done, Australia? You fucked it up” “Those people who choose to cast an invalid vote are dim-witted/moronic/fucktards”.
Additionally, the people who chose not to vote. In Australia, any person over the age of 18 is legally required to be enrolled on the electoral roll, and even moreso to vote. I’m sorry, but how is that democracy? Forcing people to have a vote? I’m sorry, but I couldn’t care less about the election. You can all jump up on your soap box and tell me till your blue in the face about why I should care, and how it effects me. I don’t care, and I don’t believe any of it is any different. I also don’t complain about who is in power, I don’t complain who runs our country, and I don’t complain about the decisions they make. But how is it that that makes me stupid? I’m not stupid, in fact I am fairly well-educated. I exercise my right to an opinion. I don’t walk around the place telling you all that you should have the same opinion as me. No, I have my opinion and it’s for me. It’s my business. And I live in a country that says I can do so free from persecution. Or so I thought.
The comments I have read about the place in relation to this election make me shake my head. Mentioning things like “Good work, <insert name of place> you elected <insert name here>”. Or suggesting that certain areas are devoid of progression, lacking in intelligence because of who they elect. Likewise, just because an area elects a party that you agree with, why does this make them any more intelligent? Since when do we equate intelligence with people who agree with us?
I personally couldn’t care less what the result is. I only wish it would hurry up so people would stop their bitching and moaning over it.
I do think that the general concensus is that those who don’t vote, or choose to cast an invalid vote have no right to complain about the result. And I think this is fair to say.. If you don’t care enough to vote, then you can’t complain. But just because there are those who are of the opinion that being forced to vote for parties they don’t agree with or support the policies of, this does not make them stupid. In fact, no-one is stupid for having an opinion. And just the fact that anyone suggest I might be stupid for any opinion I have or don’t have is the most closed minded of all.
I believe in a world that is tolerant, one that accepts me for who I am and you for who you are. One that allows me to read, learn and grow, and ultimately to make my own decisions. I also am quite happy to live with any decision I make. If it turns out that I am wrong, I am quite happy to admit to the fact. But in the end, it’s all about choice. You make a choice to vote and to care about who you vote for. I believe it doesn’t make a lot of difference who I vote for. I know more about politics than I would care to know… But in the end, it’s my choice what I do with my vote… and it’s my business. none. of. yours.