Limelight: One man -- one vote! By Lubna Abdel-Aziz We the people of Egypt have resolved to embark on a noble adventure, for the first time in our long and distinguished history. It is a moment to relish and to ponder. Seven thousand years of glory, that still dazzle and amase, yet the people of this land who built this mighty civilisation, were always subdued by pharaohs, or ruled by imperialists. Admittedly, an army coup d'etat overthrew a despotic monarch in 1952, proclaiming Egypt as a new republic, but we voted for candidates designated to us. Our role was to approve, not to choose. At long last, Egyptians shall exercise their right to vote freely for a candidate of their choice. At long last, the people of this magnificent civilization shall join the free people of the free world, and form their future government, of the people, for the people and by the people, hopefully. Is true democracy finally within reach, for the people of Egypt? They say that who is outside his door, has the hardest part of his journey behind him. Out of the darkness, we have come into the light, but crossing the bridge to reach the state of a true democracy is not an easy task. We should be mindful of the fact that democracies are not born overnight. They evolve and develop, sometimes for centuries, until they reach maturity. The oldest and most successful democracies, of the UK and the US are a good example. Britain has no written constitution but has strived to apply the general principles of the Magna Carta, dating back to 1215, the historic document that is a symbol of human dignity. The US has, by all accounts, the most powerful and impassioned document in support of human liberty and equality. Fashioned by the 'Founding Fathers', is the Declaration of Independence, adopted in 1776. In both countries the road to true democracy was long and tedious. It was not until 1850 that American white males could vote in all states. In 1870 black men were allowed to vote, and in 1920 women were granted that right. In Britain, English democracy developed slowly. Parliament passed the Bill of Rights in 1689, giving the people basic civil rights, but democracy was still far off. It was not until 1918 that, for the first time, all men were permitted to vote, and only in 1928, could all women vote. Voting is a method created by the people to ensure the people's right to choose their leaders. Australians were the first to use the voting policy of a secret ballot while alone in a screened booth. This system is now used by most democracies, including the US, usually the leader in such matters. Under this system each vote marks a printed ballot, assuming that all voters can read. Literacy was once a condition for citizens to vote in the US, but was barred by Congress in 1970, as this ended in disqualifying only blacks. In Egypt the choice is made simple by assigning a symbol for each candidate, such as the sun or the palm. Campaigns are a main artery of any elections and campaigns are hard and costly. It is often the candidate with the deeper pockets who ends up winning, defying all the noble principles of democracy. Campaigns usually start months before voting day, and require a huge staff of paid personnel, and volunteers, to implement a successful strategy, like getting out the vote, which needs money and organization. Adverying, travel, posters, direct mail or SMS communications are only a few of the many duties of a campaign�ê�.a Herculean effort, to say the least. Many social thinkers and learned scholars believe that not all people are ready or fit for democracy. We have often heard that applied to Egypt. This is an appalling theory, reminiscent of the maxim "of the fool who resolved not to go into the water, until he had learned to swim" Democracy is a living idea. It grows and develops and improves, and is shaped and formed by the people who practice it. Above all, it is to be enjoyed or endured by everyone, equally. "Your freedom and mine cannot be separated" cried Nelson Mandela. With such a great gift in hand, it is astonishing to learn that most eligible voters rarely or never vote. The US considers it a great turn-out when 55 per cent of the electorate, vote in presidential elections. It is therefore understandable when we learn of certain nations not allowing a low turn-out, and may even imprison those citizens who do not vote. There goes the idea of individual freedom in a democracy. Social researchers find that some groups vote more than others. Men vote more than women, and those with higher education or income are more solid voters. It is one's civic duty to vote..." bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote". Truth and wisdom are always on the side of the strongest candidate. Our task is to select conscientiously, the right man for this time in our history. We have to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing. Attractive as they may be, we soon weary of men who try to please all factions, taking us to a blind alley that leads to nowhere. Let us stand on firm ground and not, as on an afternoon's shopping spree, choose what is more tempting or more winning. Prudence is the prime necessity of the hour! Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. -- Thomas Paine (1737- 1809)
