Dear American voter,
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. As Election Day comes closer and the competition heats up for the most powerful position on the globe, we realize (or hope) you are giving your vote much thought and consideration.
It is not easy being one of the few lucky ones who are privileged to have a say in such a world-defining process. We in the non-American world are devoting time and effort to analyzing your presidential elections. We have as much at stake as you do on Nov. 2, and that's the purpose of this plea.
The point of a peaceful and periodic transition of political power (aka the democratic process) is to select a leader who is better fit to run the country. Obviously, only citizens of that country should be concerned with that selection. But what if the country in question is the most influential and powerful nation with the biggest economy, super military capabilities and a hub of technological innovation?
We believe citizens should still be the only ones with the right to vote; that does not mean we cannot hope that you will take what we have to say into consideration.
After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, you recognized the existence of people who wish you harm. You waged a campaign against terror, and we supported you in your endeavor. We know you are frustrated and angry at what happened to you. But carrying your rage everywhere you go does not make things better for you or for us.
OK, let me put it this way: The Afghanistan campaign had the support of the whole world. It was morally right and perfectly legitimate. But the Iraqi campaign is the epitome of everything that is neither right nor legitimate.
Please do not mistake our criticism for hatred or envy -- as some of your nationalistic elements always do. We say these words to convey a different understanding of the world; it's an understanding that you seem to lack.
Our biggest worry regarding your election is a candidate who appeals to the worst in you: A person who embodies the awful stereotype of "Americans," something for which your real enemies are praying day and night. We are frightened that, if elected, that reckless person would overshadow the great features of all Americans and the cultural features that made us love Mickey Mouse, Windows XP and Madonna. We know not all of you are Ku Klux Klan sympathizers, as much as we hope you realize that not all of us are bin Laden supporters.
On Tuesday, you will have the chance to elect someone to represent you to the "others." Hopefully, it will be someone who has traveled abroad, speaks a language besides English and knows something about foreign relations -- political and cultural. A president who, sitting down at global pot luck dinner, would feel comfortable eating his Big Mac next to others who are eating falafel, teriyaki chicken and curry lamb.
He would be welcoming, respectful and willing to try different sorts of food. Our nightmare would be somebody who spends the whole afternoon denouncing any non-McDonald's food, and even worse, trying to shove the Big Mac down somebody's throat.
Nobody is questioning your right to elect whomever you want, but we urge you to see the cause of our concerns. We know what happened to you on Sept. 11, 2001, was terrible; we are suffering from it much more (and way before you saw any hints of it).
We want to help you whenever we can and as much as we can. Yet you will make this task very difficult if you choose someone who is alienating, unilateral and selfish.
Recently, you rightfully asked, "Why do they hate us?" If our worst fears came true, we would be asking, "Why do Americans hate the world?"
Yaser Alamoodi is a political science and religious studies senior. Reach him at Yaser_alamoodi@hotmail.com.
