Are you happy with the new president of your country?

I cannot count how many times I have been asked this by other students and random Marburg citizens in the past week. Almost always followed with the question, "Did you vote for Obama or McCain?", the questioner has (for the most part) voiced heir support for Obama and their happiness that Obama is the new President-Elect of the United States.

Every time I was asked the question, "Who did you vote for, Obama or McCain?", I answered simply, "It doesn't matter." Shocking I know, exercising my right to secret ballot and all that. Yes, I did fill out my ballot on the bus in full view of at least twenty other people making my ballot anything but secret... but really it doesn't matter what that ballot said and whether in the end the circle was filled in for Obama or McCain. Actually, it doesn't matter who I voted for, it just matters that I took the time to vote and voice my opinions and wants. Indecently, yes I am happy with the election. Not because my candidate won or lost, but rather because people threw off the air of apathy that has surrounded so many previous elections and VOTED! People ignored the little voice that says one vote won't count and went out into the polls.

Yay for voting and the democratic process!

EDIT: Also, do you know how many people watch our election with bated breath, waiting to see who the new leader of the United States will be and what the next four years will be like? Let me tell you, more people over here care about the U.S. election and our voting system than you can imagine. In the course of a day, I had to explain the electoral college five separate times. FIVE. Now think about how much Americans know or care about the other governmental systems, Germany for instance... I am betting it doesn't even cross the mind of the common American. Sad how the world cares so much about us and we don't even notice them.