Current events make us ponder over race relations and ethical issues more intensely. Nowadays, many of the historical facts cast light onto social, gender and racial turmoils in the past. The society of modern world battles to prevent any kind of disparity in high-developed countries, adopting different methods. It is a fine line, however, between defending and claiming the rights to vote for the future of the country you are living in or out.
The article tells us a story about a young Australian man working in the UK. As a non-UK citizen, he is planning to vote in the referendum to decide whether Great Britain should leave or remain in the European Union. As a legal resident and a taxpayer in the UK, Michael Ingle eagerly looking forward to folding his ballot in a ballot box. “What happens to Britain is important to me”, he says. However, David Cameron calls the impending referendum "a generation decision”, spawning the ire among racial minorities. With no doubts, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus will get a right to vote in the forthcoming “Brexit” referendum.
It is vital to emphasize that there is a diversity of citizens with different national background living in the UK. Many of them moved there in childhood and have been living in the country the whole life while others just received citizenship in a couple of previous years and still identify themselves as a part of another social group. The article introduces to us two young women from Malasia, Farhan Samsudin and Zila Fawzi are going to vote in the UE referendum, but their opinions seem to diverge. Farhan reckons the UK should strengthen its economic and trading ties with Asia and EU membership might be a hindrance yet she will vote to stay. One the other hand, Zila hopes that EU exit will change the immigration policy and will help people like she is, to mitigate requirements to stay in the UK (Ponniah).
The debate over the race and eligibility in the voting process is dragging; legislation is retaining British expats from voting - those, who left the UK and have been living outside more than fifteen years. People are raving over this issue, but it is indisputable fact that literally, they do not have a right to vote because the decision will not affect their lives as they live outside the country and do not belong to it any longer.
I am inclined to believe that the right to vote is not an issue of your nationality but of your residence. Such decisions have long-term implications that occur and alter society in years. Definitely, it is important to such people as Michael Ingle, who has been living in the country for a while, to have a right for voting. The question is rather about how long he is going to stay in future. Malaysian women are to vote in the EU referendum as they have the UK citizenship and a permanent work within the country. The decision they will make is important to them not because they are politically and economic consciousness, but because they are going to remain within the country in the future. It is not about the present they care, it is all about the forthcoming future they are choosing, regardless race.
Work cited
Ponniah, K. EU referendum: The non-Britons planning to vote. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36316467
