To vote, or not to vote....that isn't the question

Growing up in America, I remember being taught about voting:

"You should exercise your right to vote because there are people in the world who don't live in a country where they have the same rights."

While this is obviously true, and definitely a motivating factor, living abroad has taught me a second lesson:

"Americans should exercise their right to vote because there are people all over the world who are not able to vote IN AMERICA."

Being out of the United States broadens a person's perspective in many ways.  One area is more of an awareness of world affairs.  I have CNN International (one of two English channels, the other one is a movie channel) and watch it constantly.  Though it is an American network, it has a surprisingly balanced degree of world news, which means America is just one nation worthy of reporting on.  I remember noticing the distinct difference from most American news networks which are probably 90% domestic news.  This was before the Presidential election.  The past six months to year have been more concentrated on the election as well as the financial situation and how it affects the rest of the world.

Many Americans, including myself, are embarrassingly unaware of international affairs, but this is not a problem in every nation.  Europeans seem to be the most aware of world events and players and are able to have an educated conversation concerning many of them.  However, even the insulated Chinese are aware of the political situation in America.  

People around the world say "I'm voting for Obama" as if they were really filling out a ballot.  When people learn I am American they see me as their one chance to make a difference and they jump on it, giving me unsolicited reasons for why I should be voting one way or the other.  I AM THEIR VOTE.  This sentiment was strongest between Hilary and Obama.  (I've found that few people, at least in China, are very interested in McCain.)  However, during the primary season, taxi drivers to African diplomats were trying to convince me to vote for "their" candidate, often with great conviction and well thought out reasoning.  It was slightly intimidating, especially having grown up in a nation where people avoid political discussion in small talk.  Once I got past being intimidated/offended, I actually started to listen and realized that voting in America is not only a priviledge, it's a responsibility.  The decisions we make in our poll booths don't affect only our pocketbooks, our children, our environment, our wars and peace, but they affect these things for all of the world.  

Additionally, for the roughly 80% of Americans who do not have a passport, the American president is the most prominant person representing them to the rest of the world.  Whatever Americans have thought of Bush, the world has not been particularly fond of him.  For those travelling and living abroad, the past four years (at least) have meant knowing a barrage of criticism would follow an admission of nationality.  I'm proud to be an American, don't get me wrong, because I know the ideals we claim to stand for and the average person in America are worth being proud of.  In fact, living abroad, I'm more proud to be American than ever before.  However, we choose the President to represent all of us, and we benefit or suffer due to that performance.  Many people are able to separate normal Americans from one person in the White House, and realize we may not all be the same.  (Many are not able to make this separation - 9/11 comes to mind.)  However, they cannot separate us from the fact that we put our Presidents into place, which is true.

To many Americans I have met, this world perception may not be that important.  However, as the world globalizes more and more and our traditionally distant neighbors feel closer and closer, our image has growing importance.  The tragedy of the financial crisis has shown that, if nothing else, all markets and all business are now tied together.  

I will never think of voting the same again.  Even if I do not like the candidates, I will see it as my responsibility to vote on the issues.  As many have said, at this point in history America is a city on a hill, whether it wants to be or not.  Our decisions (to shine a light or not) affect outcomes throughout the world for good or bad.  I will use my one vote (and the many I surely represent around the world) to try to make that outcome a good one.