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Pakistani
Americans: Please Get Out And Vote
With
US elections few days away, Americans of Pakistani descent are
trying to make up their minds about their favorite party and
candidates.
Most of Pakistani Americans want to vote
according to their party affiliations. Republicans want to vote
for Republican candidates and Democrats want to vote for
Democrat candidates.
Different Pakistani American organizations
have issued voting advisories. Those advisories suggest who they
should vote for and who they should not vote for. Most of these
advisories are issued on the basis of the allegiance of the
advisory makers. Those who belong to GOP have advised their
members and friends to vote for Republican candidates. Those who
belong to Democratic Party have advised their members to vote
for democrats.
Iraq war is a major issue in current mid term
American elections. Mainstream Americans are divided on this
issue. However, majority of them want this war should end and US
forces should come back home as soon as possible.
Many Republican candidates have distanced
themselves from President Bush to win their voters over.
Majority of Pakistani Americans do not
approve Iraq war however they don’t want to cast their votes
solely on the basis of Iraq war. They do want to consider other
minus and plus points of the candidates who they like to vote
for.
There were times when Pakistani Americans did
not care about voting, but this is not the case any longer.
Now, most of the Pakistani Americans take
electoral process seriously. They know their vote makes a
difference and the people they elect make decisions which affect
United States external and internal policies.
Moreover, elections are not limited to
electing Congressmen and Senators. In United States,
representatives are elected from city council to members of
different boards which run different government institutions.
All those offices are important. They all
affect our lives one way or the other. Therefore, it is
important that we really investigate our representatives before
we vote for them. No body knows it better than Pakistani
Americans, because they faced all such institutions in the
aftermath of 9/11
Pakistan Weekly does not have any advisory
list for Pakistani Americans. However, we do urge Pakistani
Americans should elect candidates who are sharp, intelligent,
honest, dedicated, amiable, and who understand the intricacies
of local, national and international politics real well.
Do not vote for the candidates who are
inaccessible. Every public representative has to represent his
voters. If any candidate is not accessible how is he going to
represent his voters?
We also urge upon all Pakistani Americans
that they must go to polling booths and cast their votes. US is
our homeland, we need to make sure we elect the right people to
run its affairs.
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