A tale of two countries
At the risk of dipping my toe into politics twice in a week, I just got this e-mail from one of my daughter's best friends who is studying abroad this year and is currently in the United Arab Emirates. As you may know, the leader of that country just passed away. She offers a compelling observation on how we choose our leaders:
I am sitting in starbucks listening to a man recite the Koran over a loud speaker, broadcast over the whole university, in prayer. The leader of the United Arab Emirates died tonight. The people here are somber, and the country will basically close down for the next week so the royal families can decide who will be the next leader...
At the same time the Americans and I are glued to our labtops watching the election. Yes, the electoral college may be out dated, and we have a lot of problems with the way elections are run in our country, yet they are run. It is so interesting to watch two countries decide their leadership on the same day, in such completely different ways. Still, we are sharing so many of our feelings with the Emiratis. There is an anxiety in the air. Each of us are looking to our countries wondering what will come next. Anyways, just some thoughts to ponder.
Thanks Ashleigh!