Voting in the Democratic Primaries, Even in Israel
I have never cared much for American politics because frankly they have never been very exciting. Compared to Israeli politics that is ever changing, where parliament members threaten to vote no confidence and topple the prime minister on a not so irregular basis, US politics appear to be dull and stagnate. These presidential primaries are an exception.
People often ask me if I miss the states. Besides my friends and family, who I miss dearly, I usually answer "No." I must admit that some part of me does wish that I were in the USA during these times. A friend who was there visiting for a few weeks assured me that I would be sick of the political bombardment after a few weeks. But still, I wish I could experience it for myself.
One American right that I did exercise, from afar, was my right to vote. While most of my American friends voted on Super Tuesday, I cast my ballot on Thursday when I voted in the Democrats Abroad primaries. I could have voted by email but I specifically went in person because I wanted to feel like I was doing something. I was fulfilling my right.
Today I mailed in my request for an absentee ballot for November. I may be Israeli now and have a different permanent address, but I am still excited to vote in the 2008 USA presidential election.
I may be an Israeli now but I am still an American citizen and this is one presidential election that I do not want to miss.
posted by Leora @ 7:38 PM
4 Comments:
What motivates you to participate in the American elections, if you have chosen to become a citizen of Israel? Are you considered an "American living abroad" - even when you have chosen to take an oath of loyalty and citizenship to another country? It is a touchy topic, but is your prime concern for who holds the American presidential office based on how you see them acting in accordance to the middle east situation?
To my comment above - I am merely curious and not at all trying to be provactive. I find it comendable that you have acted on your convictions and made aliyah.
Dual citizenship is certainly a tricky subject and as a newcomer to it I am not exactly sure where I stand. What I can say is that I still feel connected to America and I care who becomes the next president. Middle East and Israeli policy are of course a concern to me, but I also care what the next president will do for Americans living in America. With my friends and family still there I cannot help but care for their well being and I think that a Democratic president is truly the best move.
This is a very interesting debate...for numerous reasons, but I'll just point out 2.
1. A democratic president doesn't appear to be the most supportive or "pro-Israel". i.e. John McCain is much more in line which Israeli foreign and domestic policy than Hillary Clinton and/or Barack Obama.
2. As I am not the first to say it, America and Israel's interests are more or less the same, specifically with regards to foreign policy. That is to specifically say the prevailing of (democratic?) societies who promote freedom. The path on how to (best) get there is where the question of president of the United States...and who gets to vote...comes into play.
Just my 2 shekels.......
ps- I hate blogs...but I love political chat :-P
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