By Sarah Hilal

Lately, I have noticed, that the trend among young Lebanese is to say that they will not take part in the parliamentary elections. I believe in freedom of action. It is their right to stay at home on Sunday, the 7th and watch the elections on the television from their homes. They say that they won’t vote for any one of the candidates because none of them is actually going to make a change. They are free to express what they have in mind.

These individuals happen to be the very same ones that complain about the policies of Lebanon and how the same politicians are being chosen at every election. Let us face it, though, you, staying at home and not taking part in the parliamentary elections won’t help Lebanon.

Every person in this country has a voice that can be used to express his/her opinions and thoughts. If you don’t practice that right, you will remain unheard of and your existence will remain unrecognized. Your voice is the most powerful means of expression that you own, USE it!

“I don’t believe in any of the running persons! Why should I vote? I would rather stay home and sleep! It is Sunday after all. Lebanon will never change,” says Rana, a 20 years old university student. She is absolutely correct! It is Sunday and true, people prefer staying at home on Sundays. You have the option to whine and take no action at all OR you can be a Lebanese citizen who is actually willing to do something in the efforts to save Lebanon.

Use your voice in a helpful manner. Exploit it to the maximum. Act in a manner that helps your country and proves to others that you care and that you are trying to make a change no matter how small it is. If you believe that by staying at home you are proving a point, think again. You are not proving anything except that you don’t care about Lebanon and that you don’t like to wake up early and go vote.
“It will be a long queue; I don’t feel like waiting that long. As if my voice will make a change,” says one girl at a local beauty salon.

Shame on those who believe that their voice won’t make a difference.
Shame on those who would rather sleep than go and vote.
Shame on those who don’t try their best to be able to witness a change in this country.

I am 23 years old and on Sunday the 7th I will be voting. I will be expressing my opinion and my voice will reach all of the politicians. I am not saying that we have to like the politicians or that I truly believe in them to make a difference. All I am saying that I want my voice to take on a significant mission and vote.

For those of you who share my passion for this amazing country, wake up, use your voice, make a change and vote. Choose the future of Lebanon because you have options – vote for a specific list or simply vote BLANK. Either way you will be confirming your position and will, in turn, be making a change.

Published in the newspaper distributed with Al-Akhbar and An-Nahar on Thursday June 4th, 2009