Article November 1, 2004 Issue

MY VOTE FOR DEMOCRACY

By Beverly Goldsmith——Australia

I INWARDLY GROANED WHEN THE AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED October 9 as the date for the 2004 national election. "Not more politics," I thought. "Our media's already full of state and federal political news—not to mention news from overseas." Now I'd have to endure six weeks of political campaigning. I grimaced at the thought. The TV's remote control would definitely receive an extra workout during this period.

Then something happened. On September 9, terrorists attempted to blow up the Australian Embassy in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta—right when this, the world's largest Muslim nation, was preparing to directly elect a president for the very first time. No Australians were harmed, but nine Indonesian citizens were killed and 173 wounded.

As I watched the news, it occurred to me that terrorists aim to bring down freedom and democracy—to take away personal liberty and the right of people to decide who will govern them. That was a big wake-up call for me. I decided it was time I prayed about my apathetic attitude toward the upcoming Australian election. To live in a free society, to cast my vote, was a privilege I shouldn't take for granted.

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