Today is October 8 and people decided to leave things the way they are, at least 50% of the country did so. The other 50%, to which I belong, has another vision that does not include President Chavez.
It's really to live and witness the division that exists in one's country of birth. One side still prefers to live in misery and backwardness. People has chosen to stick with the same good-for-nothing-leader, or so it seems, because I don't even want to go into corruption and fraud for now.
There is one particular thing that keeps me from hitting rock bottom, and that is Young voters. This Presidential election had an 80% turnout of voters much more than any previous election over the past four decades in Venezuela. This turnout was push by young voters like me who have grown up all of their lives listening to politics, both from the right and left, and have now step forward and become active about their politics ad country. Both of Chavez and Capriles-Radonsky's campaigns benefited greatly from the young activists who supported them.
Living in America, unfortunately, I haven't been able to see the same response from young people. Especially in cities such as New York City, where educational and class levels should reflect political participation. There is a sense of antagonism among people my age when it comes to voting. They believe it does not matter who they vote for because things are going to stay the same, or it never counts. What I'd give if I was able to vote here, but unfortunately, I can't for the moment. All I can do is push and convince those who can and take it for granted. There's so much irony in my life.
There was such a somber mood at home last night, once we learned Chavez had won, which was minutes before it was officially announced by the CNE, we were speechless. My mother went straight to bed, didn't even say good night. My brother and I, unable to sleep, were just staring at the screens in front of us, waiting for some kind of je ne sais quoi.
