Imagine coming of age to vote this year. What kind of choices do our young people truly have?
With important elections coming up this year, it is time for people to really contemplate their choices. Instead of being stuck solely on a party affiliation, we should consider all consequences of one’s choice.
Consider what is happening in the world today with Israel and Gaza. How did it get to this?
In an abbreviated version, while this area of the world has been in conflict for years, it was in January 2006 that an election was held for the Palestinian Legislative Council, which became a huge victory for Hamas that ran under the name of Change and Reform and a disappointment for Fatah. Of 132 seats, 67 seats were needed for a majority. Hamas won 74.
Fatah won only 45 seats. That election was certified on Jan. 29, 2006, by the Central Elections Commission. By Feb. 20, the Hamas nominated Ismail Haniyeh to form a new government and in March of the same year Haniyeh became Prime Minister. There have been no new elections since.
Our party system has become a detriment to our existence. Each side believes it should be the one to dictate to all. Politics have become cultish, religious, and dangerous to democracy, but a scary thing is each political side believes it are the only side that matters and is exhibiting just a slightly lesser version of fanaticism as the extreme Hamas and Fatah — but maybe Jan. 6, 2021, was just a glimpse of dysfunction to come.
— Karen Delkettie
Anchorage
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