Your vote matters

Mingyashin Shaiza *

Assembly building at Chingmeirong, Imphal :: February 2013 :: Pix - Bullu Raj

What’s your idea about this forthcoming Legislative Assembly Election? How are you planning to use your one and only vote to practice your power? Each and every vote counts, so how are you planning to give back to those who voted for you?

We have all heard or seen the candidate’s vision, mission and what not. Won’t it be great if they can stoop down from their high places and ask the common people what they really want.

It’s amazing to see some of them walking the road and casually striking up conversations with the people. This way they are ‘of the people’. This way they can really practice their power given to them “by the people”. Only this way, they can use their power “for the people”.

Here are some opinions from all sorts of people on the street. When asked - Whom are you planning to vote? Each one gave almost different answers. Some wants to vote for the person who had already brought development for their place in the past. One who is capable. This means that it’s someone who was already privileged enough to have helped the people.

One particular woman was bold enough to call out those in power and the wrong forces used during the election. She urges the people in power to stop using force and let everyone practice their voting right, like we are supposed to.

Another lady honestly said, “I’ll follow my husband, I’ll support whomever he supports”. Huge respect for her honesty, but it’s naive to give up her right. One young man said that he is not sure whom to choose but he will support the one who comes to him.

Well, that’s something. Many youth within the age group of 18 to 21 doesn’t seem to care that much. Like the young man and the honest lady, they just seem to follow the herd.

A lot of the older people expressed their desire for a leader who will be able to fight for our rights, one who is bold enough to stand up for the people, one who can bring change and so on. Whether we know it or not, like few of them expressed, we all want someone who can walk and eat with the people, get to know the real problems and bring real solutions, not just to gain a name or something out of it.

The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
~Max DePree

Will it be really worth remaining loyal when the leader doesn't really care who and what you are after all you have done? There are some people who remain loyal to their party or leader even if they have to sacrifice a lot, have sleepless nights, give enormous efforts, and still all the deeds go unnoticed.

A group of people voiced their grief: they hoisted flags in their houses, said all the right things for their candidate, hosted the party’s people, fed them day and night thinking that one day when he wins, he will surely notice them and show gratitude. And lo! He won. But it was an unfair win.

He played dirty politics with money and the weaklings. Consequently, all their efforts went down the drain. Who is the fool here? The followers who did everything they could for him. Or the leader who was too blinded to notice the efforts?

And now, here they are wondering if it is really worth staying loyal to the leader or the party this time?

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.
~Margaret Mead

Esteemed leaders, it’s a great shame if you think it’s your money, power and status that gave you this place. You are up there because the people down here pushed you up. It’s only a matter of time that your money, power and status will run out and one day you will be walking among the crowd. Only then, will you realize what you should have done?

Communication, empathy, integrity, accountability, humility, courage, patience, empowerment, honesty, respect are some of the important qualities of a leader. We really wish our leaders have more of these qualities, especially empathy, accountability, integrity and honesty and more...

To the public, the so called commoners, the royal and anyone above 18 years of age - Let us all go out and vote. We have just one vote. This vote is our power to bring change, development and to fight the system. This one vote is our duty, our right. Your vote can decide our leader. Let’s us be wise and choose the person who can bring a positive change.

Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country, and this world. ~Sharon Salzberg

Your Vote, Your Voice!
Let your voice be heard loud and clear!