Finale: the paper
*thought i'd share with those of you who care my term paper in Poligov, our final grade will be based on this.. in short, we don't have any final exam in the subject. well, it's not much, as i'm not that well inclined in Politics and other things related to it. plus, i did this in one sitting.. so if you've got any violent reactions about whatever i've written in here, please do tell me about it.. nicely that is..*
Making their Mark
Democracy, as in what it means today, is the rule of the people. And taking into account what Abraham Lincoln had said, it is "the government of the people, by the people, for the people." But I think there's something ironic about the term itself. It is already given that Democracy is the government of and by the people. But realistically, there is no such system. You can't claim that each and every citizen in a particular country has given his or her share of direct participation in the country. Can you? I consider it more appropriate to have Representative Democracy wherein the people within the state appoint by voting for a representative.
In the Asian's point of view, what would it be like to have a Democratic form of government? Most people might say that it's often unruly, and we can't deny that. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why there haven't been many Asians who have used the power of the ballot to elect their Presidents or officials in their government for that matter. But in the 2004's presidential elections, it has been very much evident that there has been a great change in all of Asia. Citizens have come to realize how much power they can impose by designating a particular official in office. They have become much more participative than they have before. Needless to say, governments in Asia has given their people more freedom to choose who they think is suited in position. You see, the Indonesians and the Afghans were finally allowed to select their leaders for the very first time. The cleanest election in South Korea's history was held last April 2004. In the Philippines of course, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was given yet another term in office. Other countries in Asia including Hong Kong and Taiwan plus a few others decided to shift to a more reasonable kind of system. These individuals who have helped and decided to cast their vote should be aware on the kind of change they have done and that they have helped in making a difference in their respective countries. Indeed, support should be gained in these changing times.
But what with the positive effects of these changes, naturally, it hasn't been thoroughly simple for most. Like everything in life, getting something one sincerely desires requires courage and strength. The process demands pain and the things related to it. One cannot truly say that he has succeeded when he hadn't experienced the distress of getting through with it. I guess that's one of life's derision. Why have I been saying all these? To put it simply, every nation still has experienced difficulty in the transition. This ain't Utopia. There were flaws and problems. Some even resorted to violence just to get whatever they desire in the elections. These situations are inevitable, even today, I suppose. It is and will always be a part. But even with all these mentioned, still, most of the republics managed to pull it off. I'd say it's pretty much impressive to know how these can happen in this time and date. In fact, in addition to those who already elect their leaders, namely Japan, the former British colonies of India, Singapore and Sri Lanka; a total of 10 other countries were included in the list. Included in those 10 countries was the Philippines, which also started it when the People Power movement became a success. This manifested the rights of the citizens and that they have a say in whatever it is that is concerning the government.
Each individual varies from another, which means that each voter has his or her own reasons for voting a particular candidate as well. And it's good to hear how people choose and mark their choice. They've opened up their eyes in the reality of the political world; I've come to find out how eager they were to elect one. More and more people today would want to be involved. So I think the government should give them that satisfaction. It's not too much to ask, because after all, the people were a part of it. Rather, they were playing a big part in all of this.
Cliché as it may sound; but time really does change people. We have seen people adapt into certain circumstances in the course of it. And I guess, that's the real point. Just so we have been attached to a certain practice doesn't mean we couldn't change it. Now, people have come out of their comfort zones and followed what their ideals really are. They finally realized their goals, not only for themselves but also for their fellow citizens and country. There was not anything wrong with hoping, it even helps right? For had they not hope for a better system of government, nothing would have been made different and nothing would have happened. With hope comes the work of it all. These countries endured everything they can, and they deserved whatever political rights and civil liberties that they have right now. The continent will always remember 2004 as the time of hard-fought, momentous election. The year when and wherein the individuals with full faith and conviction struggled the odds of Making their Mark and changing history as it was.
In the Asian's point of view, what would it be like to have a Democratic form of government? Most people might say that it's often unruly, and we can't deny that. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why there haven't been many Asians who have used the power of the ballot to elect their Presidents or officials in their government for that matter. But in the 2004's presidential elections, it has been very much evident that there has been a great change in all of Asia. Citizens have come to realize how much power they can impose by designating a particular official in office. They have become much more participative than they have before. Needless to say, governments in Asia has given their people more freedom to choose who they think is suited in position. You see, the Indonesians and the Afghans were finally allowed to select their leaders for the very first time. The cleanest election in South Korea's history was held last April 2004. In the Philippines of course, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was given yet another term in office. Other countries in Asia including Hong Kong and Taiwan plus a few others decided to shift to a more reasonable kind of system. These individuals who have helped and decided to cast their vote should be aware on the kind of change they have done and that they have helped in making a difference in their respective countries. Indeed, support should be gained in these changing times.
But what with the positive effects of these changes, naturally, it hasn't been thoroughly simple for most. Like everything in life, getting something one sincerely desires requires courage and strength. The process demands pain and the things related to it. One cannot truly say that he has succeeded when he hadn't experienced the distress of getting through with it. I guess that's one of life's derision. Why have I been saying all these? To put it simply, every nation still has experienced difficulty in the transition. This ain't Utopia. There were flaws and problems. Some even resorted to violence just to get whatever they desire in the elections. These situations are inevitable, even today, I suppose. It is and will always be a part. But even with all these mentioned, still, most of the republics managed to pull it off. I'd say it's pretty much impressive to know how these can happen in this time and date. In fact, in addition to those who already elect their leaders, namely Japan, the former British colonies of India, Singapore and Sri Lanka; a total of 10 other countries were included in the list. Included in those 10 countries was the Philippines, which also started it when the People Power movement became a success. This manifested the rights of the citizens and that they have a say in whatever it is that is concerning the government.
Each individual varies from another, which means that each voter has his or her own reasons for voting a particular candidate as well. And it's good to hear how people choose and mark their choice. They've opened up their eyes in the reality of the political world; I've come to find out how eager they were to elect one. More and more people today would want to be involved. So I think the government should give them that satisfaction. It's not too much to ask, because after all, the people were a part of it. Rather, they were playing a big part in all of this.
Cliché as it may sound; but time really does change people. We have seen people adapt into certain circumstances in the course of it. And I guess, that's the real point. Just so we have been attached to a certain practice doesn't mean we couldn't change it. Now, people have come out of their comfort zones and followed what their ideals really are. They finally realized their goals, not only for themselves but also for their fellow citizens and country. There was not anything wrong with hoping, it even helps right? For had they not hope for a better system of government, nothing would have been made different and nothing would have happened. With hope comes the work of it all. These countries endured everything they can, and they deserved whatever political rights and civil liberties that they have right now. The continent will always remember 2004 as the time of hard-fought, momentous election. The year when and wherein the individuals with full faith and conviction struggled the odds of Making their Mark and changing history as it was.
[but before you start firing me with all your comments or whatever it is that you wanna blab, read the article in the December 27, 2004/January 3, 2005 issue of Time Magazine about the Asian Voter. the article's title is "making their mark".]
posted by Natasha @ 7:13 PM
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