Making the political personal

Last night, while watching the first of the Presidential Debates, I was struck by the language that was used by both the candidates. The first quarter of the debate focused on the US's involvement in Iraq. Both Bush and Kerry outlined their plans for ending the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, talking about their obligations to the troops stationed there. Not once did either candidate mention the Iraqui citizens, other than their capacity to fight for or against "democracy." Not once did the candidates mention that while life under Sadaam Hussein was difficult for women and children, life now under the US-appointed prime minister is worse. During Hussein's reign, 65% of girls under the age of 16 were enrolled in school and attended full-time. Now, with the imminent threat of rape, kidnapping, and genital mutilation from Iraqui insurgents, American troops (yes, it does happen, and with shockingly-regular frequency), and genocidal countrymen, fewer than 15% of girls under the age of 16 are enrolled or attending schools.* Women and girls are afraid to leave their homes. Suicide bombings and bombings of public venues have increased drastically since the US began occupying Iraq.

We entered Iraq on the premise of finding weapons of mass destruction. WMD have never been found. We entered Iraq and Afghanistan because women and children were experiencing "atrocious" human rights' violations, as evidenced by the wearing of the hijab (face veil) and burqua (full-length body and face veil). Afghani women have faced the same injustices that Iraqui women and girls have faced, in addition to being indefinitely detained in refugee camps--common breeding grounds for genocide, sexual assault and abuse, and ideological terrorism. We entered Iraq with no exit strategy, limited military personel and equipment, and, more than a year later, we are still there, in the same circumstaces.

The candidates talk about human rights like they're some ideal exclusively held by Americans, or even by those living in democracies. (They're not.) They talk about human rights violations like they're exclusively happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. (They're not--they're happening in the US, in China, and in North Korea, among other places. Yet we don't seem to care about those places.)

There are so many Americans who have the right to vote and don't use it. They don't think their vote makes a difference, or they can't be bothered to stay informed, or they don't like any of the candidates. Not voting is an insult to the sacrifices made by Alice Paul, Lucy Burn, and Dora Lewis. Not voting is an absolute degradation to the men and women who walked miles to cast their ballots, only to be turned away from polling place after polling place because of the color of their skin. Not voting negates any right you might have to complain about the presidential administration, and it negates any right you have to tout the ideals of democracy. You have given up the rights afforded to you under a democracy.

Occasionally, I will read an op-ed piece that mentions the perils of making "the personal political." I say that the personal is always political. Our political convictions come from our life experiences, and cannot be separated from our personal lives. Those who think making the personal political is dangerous usually do so because of their fear of rights that have been limited by sexuality or sexual expression (meaning gay and lesbian rights as well as reproductive rights).

Moreover, the political should be personal. I used to think that the sitting president had very little to do with my daily life. Now I know that's wrong. An irresponsible, war-mad president has restricted the rights of the people and has caused Americans to live in fear. He has shown himself to be a poor leader, a poor planner, and an even worse diplomat.

This November, make the political personal. Vote.

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The deadline for registering to vote (either in person or through absentee ballots) is Monday, October 4th for Indiana and Kentucky. To register online in any state, visit here.

* Data from Women for Women International and Amnesty International.