The recent protests over Iran’s disputed election results demonstrate the importance politics plays in the life of many people in the world. The stakes are high and some people have been killed by Iranian militias during a rally that attempted to storm the militia’s compound in Tehran. People are not just protesting the injustice of a system that they feel has stolen their vote. They are fighting for the demand to have what many Americans take for granted; basic liberties that provide the substance for a society’s significance.
The basic liberty to choose the leader’s of one’s nation in a fair and just vote is taken for granted by Americans who display contempt and cyncism towards politics. The source of this malevolence towards the political system is the contrast between the messages that bombard the consumer through PR stunts, advertisments, and stump speeches and the human significance found in having the liberty to create enjoyment in life that is peaceful and just.
The American voter is not voting to ensure a better society with significance for the nation as a community. Instead politicians are appealing to the American voter on the basic human level of fear and self indulgence. Advertising and consumerism do not manipulate the person as much as they appeal to the self indulgent desires of the person attempting to convince them that those desires will be fulfilled by the product or idea being offered to them. It’s the consumer’s own desire that fuels the whole system. In politics this means the message and vote are not about creating a better society but what appeals to the basic desires of the voter in order to get their commitment and win the election.
The contrast between the consumer voter in the US and the Iranian voter is vast. In Iran people are voting for politicians who embody a reality, an ideal that will mold their country in particular ways that either provide them with the kind of significance in life they’re searching for or will strip them of that significance. Of course, which politician provides this significance depends on one’s perspective; that’s what an election is all about. But, the vote carries a significance for the people in and of itself because it provides them with the means to wrestle with contemporary issues and embody a vision for their nation that gives them purpose and direction.
The significance in the Iranian vote is the reason people are willing to risk their lives at mass demonstrations. While Americans can become vocal and bitter about the results of an election and even contest the fairness of one in the courts. It’s doubtful Americans would stand up to political oppression in order to guarantee their vote was heard because it doesn’t have any significance for them. The general attitude is that we can always vote again in four years and besides, politicians do whatever is expedient for them anyway so there’s no real substance to the vote.
Violence is never the answer to any act of injustice. May God be with the Iranians to find a just and equitable resolution to their political crisis that ensures their vote continues to have significance in setting the course and vision of their nation. But, may God also be with us to transform our consumer vote into something that is truly worth voting for. Instead of appealing to our selfish desires or even fears but instead to make a vote count by having politicians who are willing to risk their careers (life?) for what is good for this nation.
