Election 2012
(Don't let the title mislead you - no in-depth political analysis will be taking place - however much I wish I could articulate that serious stuff).
After spending the majority of Tuesday tweeting the day away whilst turning our apartment
into a CNN studio space, I was more than ready to experience an American election. And
how lucky I was to be here in Iowa, a swing state, to take in the Democrat/Republican
battle.
So, we all woke up this morning with Obama still as the president and, for most of the
students at least, there was a large exhale of anxiety - people (including me) were
genuinely worried that the Buzz Lightyear businessman was going to attempt to run
America Inc.
After being told explicitly in my International Orientation that any talk of politics was
strictly in the don't-mention-to-Americans category, I quickly got fed up of the
more acceptable topic of weather and gathered some thoughts (and sometimes ignorance)
on Iowa's political stance. I watched the Hollywood movie/gameshow-esque debate
nights with intent AND pleasure, as, for once, there were NO COMMERCIALS - getting
intense, eh America?! It made for a much more interesting election night.
From the Americans I have spoken to - mostly students and two random, silver haired men
(sounds worse than it is - totally innocent situation) - there was an overall eagerness for the
election to be over. My excitement could simply not be translated, as the Yanks had been
enduring the election hype for almost two years! Nonetheless, Iowa holds a special place
in President Obama's career and so there was still a couple of butterflies left in the
belly of Iowa.
For the most part, the students of the University of Iowa were ready and raring to cast their
votes, and, with early voting taking place, there has been a rare moment in the past two
weeks where I haven't been mobbed by encouragement to vote (on the streets of Iowa city,
phone calls from Obama's little helpers and texts and emails from Barack and Michelle
themselves), I even got a free Snickers (Ok, it was snack size, but who cares?!).
Yet despite all the efforts on both sides, I was overwhelmingly surprised by the number of
students NOT voting and just plainly uninterested in their right to vote. This week, as I've
watched from the sidelines, I have heard truly tragic reasons for not going to a polling
station - polling stations which, I may add, are situated as conveniently as the Main Library
on campus. Now, I'm not going to rant - I promise - about why one should vote (especially
as a woman, ahem suffragettes - I know, very near ranting stage) but I have to show both
sides y'know. The excuses were all too familiar, including: "I was too busy", "I don't know
enough" and - this is THE worst - "It doesn't really affect me as a person".
If I could have voted, I would have. With a big tick next to Obama. I couldn't justify Romney
after giving him numerous appalled looks and words via the TV screen. I'm truly thankful to
have experienced an American election this side of the pond - to get a taste of the hype
state-side. Having an outsider's view has also made me realise how important it is to take
an interest in your own country AND other countries' politics; it really does matter and I'm
left intrigued to what the next four years will bring for America.
One last thing - GObama!!!
P.S. This probably didn't help Romney.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTCRwi71_ns
