America cast its vote a week ago, but in spite of a bad-tempered campaign
that seemed to have raged throughout the Obama first term, the general election
of 2012, in the event, ended in a peaceful outcome as befits a democratic
nation. And besides, the people got the President that they deserve. They did
their civic duty, albeit within a highly fractious environment and, by a slim
majority, elected to maintain the status quo.
In “Two Elections,” my last blog, I
played with the idea that America was running a great risk because the country
was so severely polarized. I implied that I feared that the result might have
been so indecisive that some might have been tempted to draw swords or wield
pitchforks in order to gain ascendancy. Of course, I exaggerated wildly there, but
only with the objective of raising an alarm at the looming danger threatening in another
election. The other election is the one in Sierra Leone, which is about to take
place in just two days. That danger has not lessened. It has probably grown, as
verbal violence and worse, continues to spark among the contestants.
Campaigning has gone on down to the
wire. Parties desperate to win votes have even used tactics that have drawn the
military into the frame. Sensibly, the troops are staying aloof, leaving the
politicos to disgrace themselves. Thank goodness, today, Thursday, the 16th
is supposed to be the last day of on the ground campaigning which, one
hopes, will provide the space for tempers to cool. And on Election Day itself,
the 17th, according to an edict passed by the electoral authorities,
traffic within certain areas will be restricted to all but essential vehicles. This
has caused the lawyers to expostulate, demanding to know under which law the electoral
commission was trying to preserve public order on the Election Day.
A whole bunch of observers have flown in to
make sure that everyone remains on their best manners but somehow, I wonder if
their presence would be enough to satisfy the losers, who are already identifying
themselves by stating their determination not to accept the results if they do
not please them.
Fingers crossed, all will turn out
well.
Tell Fren Tru
