Outside Looking In

With Tuesday quickly approaching, I thought it might be an appropriate time to share a little about the U.S. elections as viewed through a Nicaraguan lens. Because this is--or so I keep hearing--the "most important election of our time"... and it's been quite the ride to follow it from a distance.

The other day, I received an update on the latest nuances and developments of the election campaigns from someone in the United States, with this disclaimer at the end: "But I bet all of this seems a little frivolous to you right now."

Actually, just the opposite. Far from seeming frivolous, the significance of the U.S. elections has only been amplified for me since I stepped out of the country and into Nicaragua. Everywhere I look (El Salvador is a good example of this too), I see the impressions of the United States... whether that means learning about how we've shaped and redirected their history, seeing a Pizza Hut as I walk around Managua, or hearing "Hotel California" every time I step outside (really, EVERY time... evidently Nicaraguans never get sick of this song. I, for one, might go nuts if I hear it one more time). It's hard to go a day without noticing our influence in this country. So I guess it's not surprising that ever since I arrived here, I have hardly been able to meet a Nicaraguan without them asking about my political views within the first moments of talking with them. The conversation usually unfolds in a manner like this:

"What is your name?"
"Kendall."
"Where are you from?"
"The United States."
"Ah, so who is it, McCain or Obama?"

Really, this is a regular occurrence. And before I can even get a word out, they've already launched into their world view, spilling every detail of their political ideology with fully-developed and well-rehearsed arguments. It never ceases to amaze me. I really think that if I were to do an in-depth comparison, I would find that Nicaraguans are equally, if not more informed on matters of North American politics than U.S. citizens themselves.

Why is this? It's not as if Nicaraguans don't have their own politics to be immersed in; on the contrary, there are nationwide municipal elections here in just one week, on November 9th. The country is brimming with its own political activity. And yet, when someone brings up "the elections" in conversation with me, they are almost unfailingly referring to the U.S. presidential race.

The reason, of course, is simple: for as long as it has been a nation, Nicaragua has been at the mercy of international superpowers. This country has as many marks and scars of U.S. foreign policy as I have freckles... their entire history has been one phase of imperialism after another. And just when they think they're in the clear and moving in the right direction, someone (usually the dear old U S of A) intervenes again. It's unbelievable, really, the parts of our history that have failed to make their way into any U.S. history book or receive mention in any of my U.S. history classes up until this point.

So it has been eye-opening, yes, and also humbling to find myself here during the election. I can tell you this much: whatever ounce of cynicism I had before coming here with regards to my vote and how much it "really matters" has been lost. (Perhaps I've picked up some other cynicism along the way, although, to be honest, I've tried to be mindful of this and contain it as much as possible.) I think sometimes it is easy to lose sight of how much these elections matter, given that we are not always able to feel their direct, tangible effects (although I would argue, and I think most would agree, that the consequences of this next election will be felt both directly and tangibly by most all of us). But since I've been down here, my eyes have been opened to just how much it REALLY matters... it matters to my host family, it matters to the campesinos that we've met, it matters to El Salvadorans, and to so many people in between. And the reason for this is not just because our world is becoming increasingly interdependent, because if that were the whole, sole explanation, the U.S. would be looking in on the upcoming Nicaraguan elections with equal eagerness and enthusiasm.

No, the reason it matters so much is because, when it comes right down to it, what happens in the U.S. has far-reaching consequences in every corner of the world. It's a hard fact to come to grips with, but it can be empowering at the same time. Because inasmuch as we have the capacity to do harm and create instability, we also have the capacity to create good, improve living conditions, and empower populations around the world. We are capable of this... I really believe it. So as you vote on Tuesday (or perhaps you already have), whichever way you choose to vote, be assured that it does matter--not just for you, but for the people all around the world, who will surely be looking in.

:)

And in honor of this post, I've decided to include pictures of Nicole (fellow Washingtonian) and I filling out our ballots because, yes, we DID take pictures to document the entire process. It was our first presidential election, and needless to say, we were a little excited about it. (Note: If our ballots look make-shift, it's because they are. The absentees didn't come on time so we had to get a little creative...)

Beginning the process...



Filling them out...



Sealing them up...



Taping on the "official" address label (if these actually get counted it will be a miracle)...



El fin!



A beautiful thing:



:) Alright friends, happy election week! Miss you all and love you.