A Voice and A Vote

After ten years of living in the States, and five years of paperwork, I got my green card in 2006. Once you’ve got your green card (or at least my type of green card), you’re eligible for citizenship after 5 years. So right now I have a voice and no vote.

I’m still a citizen of Australia, which is holding a national election in two weeks. I have a vote there. And there’s not a candidate I want to use it for. That’s not to say I won’t vote. But I’m going to be voting against someone rather than voting for anyone. I will cast my vote against the greater evil and we’ll see if anything happens.

But the Poets Party is not about voting. It’s about discourse. One voice does not equal one vote. I hope that whoever and whatever you vote for in 2008 will represent your voice. But there may not be anything there that resembles you or your beliefs.

This is about “both both.” Even if you’re lucky enough for your vote and your voice to line up, one doesn’t have to cancel out the other.

Have your voice be heard in the Poets Party by posting your poem, your manifesto, your inauguration speech here. Have your voice be heard in the Poets Party by running for office and speaking your truth. You can even run for office and vote for your opponent.

Opening the discourse does not equate to diluting the discourse. Freedom of speech should have plenty of elbow room for everyone.

Lisa Birman