Exercising your democratic right... Barack Obama, on Proposition 8, enfranchising Aboriginals

A bit of a muddle of 'yay democracy' type thoughts and some hopes for the future, I think this is the first time I've ever used 'optimistic' as my mood setting...

Well I'm not American, but I think everyone is invested in the American election, and I have to say that I was pulling for Barack Obama this past year, and at the same time was completely consumed by the thought that despite all predictions the republicans would still win.

I think my faith in the democratic system was shaken in 2000, with the questionable circumstances of Bush's win. But in a way I'm grateful for the example (though not the results of his terms!!) I have never appreciated my right to vote as much as I appreciated it that day. I feel that Australia's compulsory voting law is a sound and hopefully enduring policy.

But back to the USA, who have shown the difference that can be made if those who have a voice choose to speak. Barack Obama's election has gone a long way to restore some faith that's been lost. I look forward to better international relations from the US in the future, a non-aggressive and multilateral approach that takes into consideration the world opinions and doesn't dictate rather so much.

As for proposition 8 in California seeming like it will pass (banning same sex marriage and basic civil rights to a minority) it is sad news, especially that it may pass on the same day as Barack Obama has finally stood as proof of the enfranchisement of Black civil rights. However, with this recent hope I turn to the wisdom of Gandhi:

You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.

And so perhaps I should speak of Australia's own need for enfranchisement... This year is the 100th anniversary of Victorian women being granted the vote. Victoria was a democracy in 1856, even before the Federation of Australia in 1901, but women weren't allowed to vote until 1908 (SA and WA women had the vote in 1901). I think it's great that Australia was one the the first countries to legalize the vote for women, however on this day especially, it's important to note that Aboriginal Australians did not get the vote until 1962. In so many ways the Aboriginals are still not enfranchised and in my lifetime I would like to witness a revolution between White and Aboriginals as I have witnessed between White and African American today. 'Sorry day' was just one small step, there's flights of stairs to come and change is badly needed...