Yesterday was another day for
the history books; whether you were an Obama supporter or not, this is
undisputable. It might interest you to
know that the US presidential race was widely covered here in Brazil, so I fortunately
was not left entirely in the dark. There’s
currently a three hour time difference between Rio and Pennsylvania, so I
decided that I would not remain awake awaiting the results. Instead when I awoke at 6 o´clock for school
I immediately asked my good friend Google for the much anticipated
response. Generally speaking, the
Brazilian population is in favor of Obama, so when I shared the news at school there
were smiles all around. Granted no
outright celebrations, but then again it is not the presidential election of
their resident country.
This year has made me realize
what a big influence The United States of America has on the surrounding
world. While there are undoubtedly
habitants of this world that dislike the US with a burning passion, there are
many that think highly of our nation. Our
music and movies are world wide phenomenons-some of the music that tends to be
infectiously popular here in Brazil I’d rather forget about, but that’s
entirely beside the point. What I’m
trying to say is that while we have experienced many low points as a nation in
the past years, the world still looks to us as an example. It would do our nation well to remember
that.
Interestingly enough, I was
present for elections in Brazil as well.
The ways in which the candidates advertise here share similarities and
exhibit differences when compared to the US elections. One of the hardest methods to become accustomed
to was the jingles blasting from stereos attached to the roofs of cars. To be entirely honest, when I first arrived I
thought that they were actual songs, and I sang along. Hehehe.
(Side note-to laugh on the internet klike a Brazilian, there are many
methods you can use. The first: kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk. The second: rsrsrsrsrsrsrsrsrs. The third, and my personal favorite:
dghdjsilthrjslbgtrjsl. In this method you just pound on whatever keys suit your
fancy.)
Secondly, the candidates pay
many people daily to advertise for them.
This is actually illegal in Brazil, but one of the major problems in
Brazil is that there are many laws but little to no thorough enforcement of the
laws. They stand 20 in a row on the side
of the road with a flag all representing the same candidate. Others wear boards advertising the candidates
and walk downtown handing out little slips of paper with the candidate’s numbers. Driving anywhere one could find little yard
signs placed in incredible numbers along the roadsides. The amount of money the candidates spend on
the campaign is absolutely mind blowing.
Election day was October 6th
here in Brazil. Between the ages of 16
and 18 voting is optional. However ,when
you turn 18 voting becomes mandatory. My
host mother was not born in Brazil, therefore she cannot vote here. So, the political hour on TV in the weeks
prior to the election was a complete annoyance for the entire household. We were in São Paulo at the beach when the
election occurred, thus my host brother Giancarlo could not vote. He may only vote in Rio. Nevertheless, he had to go to the polls that
day and explain why he couldn’t vote.
Had he not done that he would have been fined. Additionally, Brazil decides the winners of
the election based on popular vote. My
history teacher explained the electoral college to my classmates, and many
seemed completely confounded by the idea.
In elections all over the world
I believe there are people who remain disappointed, and those who are
excited. The only thing one can do is
remain grateful that we live in a nation where our votes are counted and our
voices heard. Let us never forget that!
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