By Staff
Morgan Tsvangirai is in hiding, and if his story doesn't inspire you to vote this election year, you may simply never understand the value of democracy.
Tsvangirai was running for president in Zimbabwe, but he dropped out of the race and has taken refuge in the Dutch embassy. Government soldiers were reportedly hunting him, and police have killed scores of his supporters. The United Nations has condemned the “campaign of violence” led by President Robert Mugabe.
The violence over an election campaign underscores how much we truly take for granted when we don't pay attention to political campaigns or, worse, don't vote.
I'll admit - with much remorse - that I didn't vote in the June 3 primary. I was home with a new baby and didn't want the inconvenience of getting out to the polling place that day.
New mom guilt has me convinced that I missed an opportunity to teach my 2-month-old the importance of voting, even if he wouldn't even understand what I was doing. I say his prayers at night even though he doesn't understand the words, so why not establish a democratic tradition along with a spiritual one?
After reading the story about Zimbabwe's turmoil, my guilt over not voting has grown. I can't imagine living in a country where your choice of candidate could get you killed. The worst most of us would encounter is a heated argument at the family reunion.
I don't know what sort of person Morgan Tsvangirai is, but surely he could be a better president than one who sends his henchmen out to murder the opposition.
I know that I will strive to be a better citizen because of him and his supporters, and we'd better add Zimbabwe to our nightly prayers.
Kerry Whipple Bean is publisher of The Brewton Standard. She can be reached at 867-4876 or by e-mail at kerry.bean@brewtonstandard.com.